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Archive for the ‘Motivation’ Category

Can’t Drink Of Both Cups

13 Mar

1 Corinthians 10:21- 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.

I think this can happen when we abuse grace.  We are taught to accept the Lord ask for forgiveness and acknowledge Him.  The modern day church chickens out after that and fails to preach the unpopular message of repentance and serving the Lord.

It’s important to attend services where you are challenged to live for the Lord and to strive to live holy.  Thank you Pastor for sticking up for the Truth.  In the last days, the Truth isn’t a popular message.

 

Security

07 Mar

Psalm 56:10-11 – 10 In God, whose word I praise,
in the LORD, whose word I praise—
11 in God I trust; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?

If we are right with the Lord there is nothing in the end that can be done to us.  Man can kill the body, but he doesn’t kill the soul.

Luke 12:4-5 – 4 “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

In the end people that are living will have to choose rather to take allegiance to the antichrist and be damned forever if they dawn the mark or stand up for Christ.  Fear not those who only kill the body, but Him that can kill the body and the soul.

Fear God and serve Him as He is Love.  Don’t chase after man and his dark lost ways.

Our security is in the Lord.

 

Add To Your Faith Goodness

01 Mar

2 Peter 1:5 – 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;

I don’t usually write too much on opinion.  Some would say all I write on is opinion.  I think usually I write on perspective.  Today I will admit that I am going to add some opinion with a little Patrick flair that anyone knows me well will grin.

Goodness.  We need to strive for goodness.

We know this as Christians deep down.  Yet the world has made the squeaky clean look prude and boring.  It’s not hard to understand why.  The devil likes darkness and so does his fallen angel demon friends.

Most all of Hollywood does its best to make sure that the line is crossed and reset.  They break as many of the Ten Commandments as possible.  Making sure to use foul language.  Why do they call it foul?  Because it’s edgy.  It brings out the bad boy or bad girl in oneself.  Hollywood can’t argue that it’s not bad.   Many of the makers of movies use the foul language to get that edgier rating they are looking for.

Edgy.  That’s my word now for flirting with rebellion.

Why do people start to smoke when they are young when they are taught that it is expensive and kill you anymore?  It’s edgy.  Why drink as a minor when you know it’s against the law?  It’s edgy.   Do I even need to mention drugs?

I know many people don’t agree with the next one especially, but why do people get massive tattoos and pierce body parts all over?  Why do Goths wear all black, the color of darkness?   It’s wild, it’s edgy.  How edgy?  Why do girls wear revealing clothing?  Why do guys seduce women with words when they know it’s not sincere?  It’s edgy.

What do all of these things have in common?  They are things we all have to address in our walk and decipher.

To not struggle with any of these would be incredible.  I would imagine there are those who do well.  Most of us do not.  However that doesn’t mean we don’t strive to do better.  I am a lot better today than I was a few years ago.  I am doing a hundred times better than when I was in the military or college.

We need to make every effort to seek goodness.  How do we know what is good?

Ah, that comes from knowing God’s Word!  KNOWLEDGE!

Which that leads into tomorrow’s scripture.

 

There Is No Darkness In God

27 Feb

1 John 1:5 –  5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

God has given us, like He always does, a great parallel to understand darkness.  We have light on this earth that is produced by the sun or light generated by sources.  We have all been in very dark rooms or outside where we are literally blinded.

God and Jesus are light.  There is no darkness in them.  Satan on the other hand is the prince of darkness.  Does that mean we can’t see him?  No.  The further you get away from the light, the darker it becomes.

Darkness is a form of not understanding God or His ways.  That is when you hear the term spiritual darkness.

When we try to reach others who don’t have the Lord, we’re trying to reach a place with no light.  We are trying to shine God’s light so they may see or understand.  We’re trying to light a wick and hope that if it ignites and starts to burn and hope it won’t blow out too quickly.  We want it to become a constant burning flame fueled by the Word.

John 1:1-5 – 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.

3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

As Christians who have come to know the Truth, it can be hard to fathom how the devil can be around so long and yet not understand that He’s lost the war.  He’s seen prophecy after prophecy happen and yet refuses to accept it.  That’s because he is in darkness.  How can people today have a book explaining the end times and those who don’t believe in it still follow it?  Because they are in darkness.  They are far away from God and the further they get away, the darker their understanding becomes.  It’s like spiritual amnesia.

God is Light, Jesus is Light, and the Holy Spirit is Light.  There is no darkness in Them.  Without them we are all in darkness.  They are the Ones who bring us back.  That is why it says there is a way that seems right unto man but in the end it leads to death.  Everyone needs the Lord.

 

Fatherly Duty To Each Other

24 Feb

1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 – 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

We need to always be encouraging and not afraid to urge each other in living our lives for the Lord.  We feel like we lived worthy when we stand before the Throne of God.  Where as we know that only He is worthy and our worthiness comes from Him, we don’t want to face Him not living our lives for Him.  Comfort one another and help each other strive for this goal.

 

Press On Towards The Goal

23 Feb

Philippians 3:12-14  –12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.

I’ve had some great memories in my past, but I don’t live for those.  This whole earth is going to be our past.  Everything worldly that we do is going to be gone and left behind.  Everything we do for our Lord is coming with us.  Everything the Lord has to offer lasts forever.

Who are the ones warning us about not living selfishly for the world today?  That would be our Creator and King along with the Holy Spirit.  I’m going to take Them at Their (His) Word.  I am going to trust Them.  I’m going to choose to listen when They say:

Matthew 6:19-20 – 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

James 5:3 –  3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.

Revelation 3: 17-18- 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

The goal!  The goal is working for our Lord and His kingdom.

 

Your Obedience Helps Spread God’s Love and Power To Others

21 Feb

What if no one obeyed God?

It would be time for Him to close shop and move on to the next phase of eternity.

However, there are those who love Him.  We see this especially in their obedience.

Does the Lord care about obedience?

1 Samuel 15:22 – 22 But Samuel replied:

“Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD?
To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

Luke 11:28 – 28 He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

Very much so, in fact it’s what the Lord wants from us.  If we obey what He asks it means we’re loving Him, serving Him, and reaching others for Him which are lost.

The world is full of people who aren’t doing what He wants them to do, or that care about Him.

I see people who have gotten their lives closer to God.  They have a loving relationship with Jesus which wasn’t all that strong or much existent before.  As a result I see their families getting closer to the Lord.  Their obedience is helping to spread God’s love and power.

Obedience strengthens our own lives with God and it helps bring others to Him.  It is so important to seek and obey our Lord.

 

Think About These Things

17 Feb

Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

We really need to strive on the above scripture.  As a perfect God we have no idea how much He wants us to succeed in getting our hearts right with Him.  If we do that, we care about all those things mentioned above. 

 We’re in spiritual war and it’s for the hearts of men.

God wants us to live for Him and concentrate on eternity, not a fallen temporary abode in which we are trying to build a kingdom. 

I saw the movie the Bucket List.  The thing I don’t like about the Bucket list is people are trying to get things in before they die as if they will not have any opportunities in the future. 

I don’t know about you, but the Lord has put on my heart that real living begins at that time.  We have a job to do now and if we focus it on Him, the next step is going to be more glorious than ever.

 

Evil Corrupts

15 Feb

Deuteronomy 3:6 – 6 We completely destroyed them, as we had done with Sihon king of Heshbon, destroying every city—men, women and children. 7 But all the livestock and the plunder from their cities we carried off for ourselves.

The Jews were told to destroy all women, men, and children.  Why?  Because the corruption against God and how they were supposed to live had gotten to that point where it was detestable.  If the Israelites went in after just killing the men and soldiers, the women and children would have worked their detestable beliefs and ways into the Israelites.  God didn’t want bad apples spoiling the bunch.

Man struggles with this idea.  People who don’t know or love the Lord don’t believe they should have to live any one particular way anyways.  So when they read this they think it’s terrible.

The reason they think it is terrible is because they sympathize with the enemies of God instead of sympathizing with God.

God didn’t allow the Israelites to destroy nations until they got to be evil enough in His Eyes.

Genesis 15:16- 16 In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.”

So what happens further down the road to the Israelites?  They eventually let some of those live who the Lord said to get rid of and sure enough, they corrupted the Israelites and led them astray from God’s law and Word.  What was the result of that?  They also got temporarily removed themselves after things got bad enough.

Today, stronger than ever we become more corrupt as a nation.  Sin shows up at the door and no one does anything about it.  Thirty years later that sin becomes accepted.  In democracy people seem to prefer voting on rather they think something is right or wrong, instead of looking at God’s Word.

The one thing man has learned from history is man never learns from history.

 

We Can All Be Sons Of God

14 Feb

Who as humans are sons of God?

God and Jesus created all humans, but creation doesn’t make them automatic sons of God.  Jesus Himself was talking to some of the Pharisees and He was telling them that the devil was their father.

John 8:44 – 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

So who is a Son?

Galatians 3:26-29 – 26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

The Jews are not the only ones who are of Abraham’s seed.  In fact those who don’t believe in Christ are on the outside.  Abraham was the line that Christ came through as promised.  If you believe in Christ as your Lord and Savior it doesn’t matter what else you are.  We are heirs according to the promise.

It all makes sense.  You can’t be royalty on earth without a bloodline.  However, anyone can be part of the bloodline through our Savior.  It’s a free gift.  We all have a spirit inside of us capable of reaching out to God.  Many people feel that due to upbringing some never have a chance.  I have been watching closely and I would say those with a silver spoon in their mouths have a harder time than someone with a rough upbringing.

The Lord will Judge correctly and we can count on that.  We need to submit to the King now and be His sons and daughters now.  We need to serve and love Him now.

Make today a new day and strive to serve Him where He leads you.