Category Archives: Christianity

2019, Christianity, Inspiration

Your Thought Life

I felt lead to do a blog post regarding what Scripture tells us about our thought life. I want you to ask yourself what do you spend most of your time thinking about? Also, how many of your thoughts are positive, and how many are negative? How many of your thoughts lead to fear or even sin? The thought life is a very important key to the Christian life. It is something that all of us struggle with, even me included. When you think about it, we have so much that goes on in our life, it is no wonder our thought life can become a mess!

Our Mind

So, what does the Bible say about our mind and thought life? Look at what Paul told us in Romans 12:2 (NKJV), “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”. How do we renew our minds? Well, get the Word into you! The Word of God is the main ingredient we need so that we can become complete. Most people cannot control their thought-life because they do not get into the Word enough. If people would get into the Word as they should, then they would be able to control their thought life and renew their mindset. You don’t need psychology to renew your mind, you need the Word of God. 2 Timothy 3:17 tells us that the Word of God makes us equipped and completed.

Why Renew Our Mind

So why do you want to renew your mind? Many people just look at Romans 12:2, rather than Romans 12:1-2.  Let’s rather look at Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV), “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”. So, the reason we want to renew our mind is that our bodies are a living sacrifice to God. Not only should we be free from sin in our actions, but our mindset must be renewed into the likeness of Christ. When you are thinking something sinful or negative, ask yourself what Jesus would think about it. When your mind starts going off in fear, ask what Jesus would think about it.

Get the Word Into You

It is time that we stop putting our-self in subjection to the worldly thought system and begin to subject our-self to a mindset that is renewed by the Word of the Living God! If you cannot keep your thoughts under control, then get into the Word of God more. The reason people have trouble controlling their mindset is that they don’t know what God’s Word says about the new nature they have in Christ Jesus.

Put Every Thought Captive to Jesus Christ

2 Corinthians 10:5 (NKJV) tells us, “We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ,”. Many sophisticated arguments come against us every single day. If we are true sons and daughters of God, then why on earth would we subject ourselves to an ugly thought life that is nothing but disobedient to our Lord and Savior? I’m not trying to beat you down; I am trying to push you to clean up your thought life. I know what it is like personally to have negative thoughts, it is challenging. But the only way to push through it is by renewing your mind by getting into the Word, and then put your thoughts into captivity and obedience to Jesus Christ.

You Are a New Creation

When the sophisticated arguments that are against the obedience of Christ come into your mind, get into the Word. You can even play an audio Bible. The more time you can spend in the Word and absorb what it says, the more effectively you will be able to get a handle on your thought life. I can tell you personally that my thought life has significantly improved since getting into the Word more. Don’t get me wrong, I still have a long way to go. But every bit of progress made is so worth it. Keep in mind that it is not us who renews our mind, it is the new nature that is in us from the moment we accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. That is why we must get rid of the old man and put on the new man. That means we need to erase the thought life of the old man and reprogram our thought life with the new nature.

Final Thoughts

If it is written in Scripture that the Word of God makes us complete and fully equipped, then we need to take that home with us! If the Word of God is what fully equips us, then that should be our go-to with every single problem and thought in our life. We need to get to a place where first pray to God and get in His Word, rather than jumping instantly into an earthly exit. So, for the next month, I want you to spend at least 30 minutes in the Word a day. Then increase it gradually as your schedule allows you to and meditate on the Scripture by keeping a journal. It is time you make an investment in something that is guaranteed to work, rather than something that is imperfectly made in this World. Investing time in the Word of God is one of the smartest investments one can make in their life.

2019, Book of Acts Series 2019, Christianity, Inspiration

Acts 14:8-28: Standing Firm

In this post, we are going to look at an issue that the Apostles encounter in the Book of Acts. There are many important takeaways from this problem they encountered, along with an example of how to deal with problems as they arise in the church today. No matter what, no church is going to be totally perfect. We need to look to the Word of God and look at the best examples to help us deal with issues when they arise. The most important aspect of being a Spirit-Filled believer is being filled with the wisdom and revelation that is within the Word of God.

Lame Man Healed

If you followed my previous teaching in my series on the Book of Acts, you will see that the Apostles went to Lystra. We see in Acts 14:8-10, while they were in Lystra they saw a man, who was lame since birth. Paul perceived that this man had faith to be healed and told him to stand up and walk, and the man was made well through the power of Jesus Christ. Now one thing to keep in mind is that many of the signs done in the New Testament are to be a sign to unbelievers and show us the sovereignty of God.

Idolatry in Lystra

Continuing in Acts 14:11-13 we see something strange taking place. We see the people in this area who noticed the miracle take place begin to praise false gods. The people in this area mistaken Barnabas for the false god Zeus, and Paul as Hermes. This was a cultural issue in the area from local folklore roots. There are many articles written about this, but I am not going to get into the extra details. As the people started praising their false gods, the Priest of Zeus lead the people in worship. I could not imagine being the Apostles during this ordeal! One similarity I see with the church today in this manner is with the healing ministries that go on. Sadly, many people only go to healing ministries and don’t even have a home church.  Too many people only focus on the signs and forget to get to know Him! Don’t get me wrong when healings happen it is a great thing, but we cannot get carried away and only seek God just for healing or breakthrough. We need to be seeking Him because without Him we would be going to hell!  Many people who do get genuinely healed might say ‘that Pastor healed me’. Well, that is incorrect, when people are genuinely healed it is through the power of Jesus Christ. God certainly will use certain people as vessels. But we must keep in mind that no pastor or minister is above God, and we should not view them in that way.

Stand Firm

We see that Paul and Barnabas do not tolerate this form of idolatry at all in Acts 14:14-18. We see that they speak up about it. They tell the people to turn away from what they are doing because it is vanity and useless. These people in this area of Lystra were unrighteous people, who participated in wickedness. They did not worship the true living God. In Romans 1:17-32 we are told that the realness of God is revealed through creation. Just think to yourself how everything in the world we live in is formed. Our bodies are so well designed and programmed, you would have to be a fool to say we evolved from apes or all of this is an accident. God gives people who fail to realize His realness and live in unrighteousness over to reprobate minds. People with reprobate minds are unprincipled people. Some synonyms for the word reprobate are good-for-nothing, villain, wrongdoer, and evildoer.  I don’t know about you, but I would not want to be any of those!  However, we must be mindful that we will encounter people like this when we witness the Gospel to others.

Facing Tribulation

As we continue, we will see in Acts 14:19-20 that some unbelieving Jews come from Antioch to stone Paul. They then convinced the people of Lystra that Paul is dead. However, we find out that Paul was not dead, and he does recover. Regardless of the persecution that took place, they moved on to Derbe. The Apostles could have easily given up, but they did not. When we are faced with temptation or persecution, we should not give up either we should continue! Psalm 119:28 (KJV) tells us, “My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.”. The Lord is our strength and we need to put our full trust in him when difficulties come our way!

Not ‘Your Best Life Now’

In Acts 14:21-23 we will see that the Apostles were in Debre and then returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch. I find it inspiring that they returned to areas where there was persecution. The Apostles set for us a high standard in terms of persecution, temptation, and tribulation. We also see that more disciples were added and that they ordained elders of the churches. Also, we see that the Apostles told these new disciples that they “must go through much tribulation to enter into the Kingdom of God”. So, this Christian walk is not easy. This lifestyle is not meant to be ‘Your Best Life Now’.

Share Your Testimony

Lastly in Acts 14:24-28 we see that the Apostles continue to travel as they were led by God. Every place they traveled to; they shared their testimony as to how God was faithful to them. When we minister to others, we need to share our personal testimony. It is often our testimony that will be a sign to the unbeliever.

Final Thoughts

I would like to encourage you to reflect on how you deal with persecution, tribulation, and temptation. Where are you weak at? Where are you strong at? Where can you improve? This Christian walk is not easy in this dark world. But by leaning on God, all things are possible because He is our strength and salvation. I encourage you to go back through Acts chapter fourteen and look at how the Apostles set an example for us in dealing with persecution, temptation, and tribulation. In my next post, I will continue in Acts chapter fifteen and we will see a bit of a transitional period within the Book of Acts, so be sure to subscribe to this blog!

2019, Christianity, Healing, Inspiration, love, Wisdom, Word's of Wisdom

A Word on Anxiety

What is Anxiety?

I decided to make a blog post on something that everyone can relate to. No matter what everyone has dealt with some form of anxiety in their life. Anxiety is defined as a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. We all deal with bouts of worry from time to time. Maybe you are worried about things at work, your health, family, or financial issues. Or maybe you had some major life-changing events that had a negative impact on your mindset, and this resulted in a chronic type of anxiety. In this post, I want to talk about anxiety and how to deal with it according to the Word of the Living God.

What is Your Go-To?

So, what do you do when you are stuck worrying about something and cannot get it off your mind? Many people both believers and unbelievers will often find themselves doing some sort of stress-relieving activity. It could be reading, going for a walk, listening to music, talking to someone, the list goes on and on. Is there anything wrong with the activities I just listed? Absolutely not! But I would like to pose a better solution, that is Biblical.

Your Mind-Set

So, thoughts of worry, anxiety, and depression all come from our mind, right? So instead of bandaging the problem, why don’t we tackle the cause? Why don’t we begin to tackle our mindset? If you are struggling with anxiety, depression, and worry, then you probably need to work on your mindset! Romans 12:2 (AMP) tells us, “And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].”. So, we are all to transform our minds as believers by focusing in on the things of God and learning who He is and who you are in Him.

The Word of God Transforms

So how do you begin to know who God is and who you are in Him? Well, get into the Word! Psalm 119:105 (NKJV) says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”. When you truly know who God is, and who you are in Him, along with knowing His Word you will be well equipped! So many people often jump too quickly to all the earthly exits for their situations in life, rather than taking the time to seek God in prayer. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes you might have to talk to someone else for advice or go to a doctor. But we cannot let our earthly exits be valued more than God! I myself often pray every time before I go to the doctor, that God would give the doctor wisdom and knowledge, and God has been faithful to me with that.

The Word Makes Us Complete

The people of this world will go to self-help books on how to deal with their problems. Often, they will need several self-help books for all their problems! We as believers are lucky! We only need one book, and that is the Word of God! 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV) tells us, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”. The Word of God is our ultimate source of wisdom, knowledge, doctrine, correction, and instruction.

Know Who You Are

So how does reading the Word of God help you with anxiety? Well once you begin to read the Word of God, you will begin to learn who you truly are in Him. You will know that God did not give us a spirit of fear, but one of power and of love and of a sound mind, as written in 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV).  I could have given you many scriptures about anxiety, but I didn’t. Because we all need to know who we are in God, and what God’s Word says about the things we deal with in our life. Once you get the Word into you and let the Holy Spirit teach you, you will see transformation take place in your mindset.

Final Thoughts

So, if you have been struggling with anxiety or depression, I want to encourage you to take some time and get into the Word like you never had before. Make yourself some good notebooks! Each time you start reading, ask for the Holy Spirit to teach you. Start getting into the habit of getting in the Word and praying when storms come your way in life, rather than jumping to an earthly exit right away.

2019, Apostolic, Book of Acts Series 2019, Christianity, Gifts of the Spirit, Salvation, Testimony, Wisdom

Being Used By God

How do you know that someone is truly called by God? In this post, we are going to look at two people in the Book of Acts, who were truly called by God. Additionally, we will look at a few signs to look for in someone that is being used by God. At the end of this teaching, I am also going to dig deep into the term Apostle in hopes to bring some clarity.

The Need for Boldness Today

Starting with Acts 14:1 we see that the Apostles Paul and Barnabas were in Iconium speaking in a Jewish synagogue. If you look in the Amplified Bible, it tells us they both spoke with boldness and power. How did they have this boldness and power? It was because they were Baptized in the Holy Spirit. They spoke with boldness and power because they had the Holy Spirit working through them. Therefore, their ministry was powerful and bold, even though it faced much opposition. This is the way the church today needs to be! Additionally, in Acts 14:1 it tells us that many Jews and Greeks accepted the message of the Gospel. In the Amplified Bible, it tells us that they confidently accepted Jesus as our savior.  I am not sure how we can possibly get true conversion today if the average church in America is weak and dehydrated from the Holy Spirit. In America’s church today I see many people who say they have been born again for so many years, but no evidence of it, you cannot tell them apart from the unbelieving world. Therefore, we need bold and powerful preaching in our churches today! Many people are going to go to hell when they die, and it is truly sad!

Facing Opposition

Acts 14:2 goes on to tell us the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against Paul and Barnabas. This is what will often happen to people who are truly being used by God, they will have people oppose them, they will often face opposition regularly. One way to know for certain that someone is being used by God is that they are facing opposition regularly. God never promised that this walk would be easy, and He never promised that the work of ministry would be easy. In fact, Jesus even warned us that we would face rejection and even persecution.

Signs and True Salvation

In Acts 14:3 we see that God allowed signs to follow Paul and Barnabas as they continued ministering to the people in Iconium. Verse three specifically tells us that God granted signs and wonders to be done. I think it is safe to assume that these signs were healings, miracles, and deliverances. Jesus told us in Mark 16:20 (NKJV), “And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.”. God will allow signs to follow those who are truly seeking Him. God will use a minister who regularly spends time with God in the prayer closet, rather than a minister who only reads the Bible when they are preparing their Sunday sermon. Someone who is truly being used by God will have bold teaching that cuts the heart of the sinner, and even corrects the believer. This type of preaching is what should bring true salvation and conversion. We should not be concerned about the number of people we get to say the sinner’s prayer, we should be concerned about the number of people who are truly saved and converted. This is something that is lacking in the church today, which has resulted in much carnality in the church today.

Division and the Enemy

Continuing Acts 14:4 tells us that the city of Iconium was divide, some sided with the apostles, and some with the unbelieving Jews. The enemy’s work was at hand right here, because there was division. The enemy loves to divide churches and families. I would like to encourage you that when you start seeing division happening in your church or family, make sure your first action is to start praying rather than letting your flesh get the best of you!

Grace and Opposition

In Acts 14:5-7 we see that there was a violent attempt to harm and stone the two Apostles. However, both Paul and Barnabas became aware of this and went to Lystra and Derbe to continue their ministry. As I have said before they did not let the opposition get the best of them. Whether you are in ministry or not, you will face opposition. It might be from people, circumstances, or even your own health. We cannot let circumstances stop us from doing what God has called us to do, along with praising Him and staying in the Word. In fact, this past week, I was dealing with some tooth pain, which in my opinion is one of the worst pains you can get. I do not like dental pain at all, however, I knew that I could not let that dental pain stop me from getting into the Word, and spending time with the Lord. So, whatever it is you are going through, do not let it get the best of you. Each time you deal with opposition and push through it by leaning on the love and grace of God, you will be more prepared next time.

Apostles of Christ

Lastly, I would like to get into something a little deeper. I would like to bring some clarity to the term Apostle. We see the term Apostle used in the New Testament several times. You may have even noticed that some people today might refer to themselves as Apostles. When using the term Apostle today, we need to be careful of our meaning behind it, because there are two types of Apostles. The first type of Apostle were the ones who were an eyewitness of the resurrection of Jesus, these are called Apostles of Christ. These ones are limited because these only refer to the 12 and Paul. 1 Thessalonians 2:6 (NKJV) tells us, “Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ.”.

Apostles of the Church (TODAY)

The second type of Apostle we find in the Bible are the ones who are considered Apostles of the Church. They obviously were not eyewitnesses of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 8:23 (NKJV) tells us, “If anyone inquires about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you. Or if our brethren are inquired about, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.”. These types of Apostles are also noted as sent ones of the church. Today we do have people who operate in the office of an Apostle, even though they are not eyewitnesses of the resurrected Jesus Christ. These people bring a big impact on our church today, and I feel that God will be calling more people to fulfill this rule to be Apostles of the Church today!

Final Thoughts

So, I want to challenge you to ask yourself, is God calling you to do something that you have been holding off on? Maybe this is doing more evangelism in your community, or volunteering at your church. Maybe God might be calling you to the five-fold ministry? Lastly, are you prepared to put time aside and truly seek His Face? By doing so are you ready to face some opposition? I encourage you to take some time this week and ask God to show you what He is calling you to do at this point in your life.

2019, Book of Acts Series 2019, Christianity, Inspiration

An Example of Missionary Work

As I continue my series on the Book of Acts, I would like us to look at one of Paul’s first public speeches in the Book of Acts. This is also his first recorded missionary speech in the Book of Acts. His speech goes on from Acts 13:14-41, this is one of his longest recorded speeches he did in a Jewish synagogue.

Paul’s First Missionary Teaching

When we look in Acts 13:14-41 he discusses several concepts with the people in the synagogue. He first discusses the Jew’s time in the wilderness, as mentioned in Exodus 16:35 (NKJV) “And the children of Israel ate manna forty years until they came to an inhabited land; they ate manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan.”. Secondly, he talks about some key people from the Old Testament which are the prophet Samuel, and King David. He then goes on to talk about John the Baptist. He reminds the people that John the Baptist was to fulfilled Old Testament scripture. As we know John the Baptist was the forerunner to Jesus Christ, he was the voice crying int the wilderness. Isaiah 40:3 (NKJV) says, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God.”. Paul also talks about how John the Baptist taught about the remission of sins and water baptism. Not only does John the Baptists fulfill Old Testament scripture, but Jesus fulfills the Old Testament prophecies of the coming of the Messiah.

Death is Defeated Through Jesus

Paul then talks about how Jesus was raised from the dead and defeated the devil.  Praise the Lord! Death no longer has a hold of us if we abide in Jesus Christ. Hebrews 2:14 (NKJV) taught, “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,”. Lastly, Paul reminds us that those who truly abide in Christ are counted righteous.

Paul Faces Rejection

In Acts 13:42-43 and 49-50, we will see that when Paul was done speaking many wanted him to come to speak on the next Sabbath. Additionally, many Jews followed Paul and Barnabas. Then in Acts 13:44-45, Paul and Barnabas come again to the synagogue to speak but because of the number of people who came to the Jewish leaders become jealous and expelled them from their region. In Acts 13:46-47, Paul and Barnabas knew they were to bring the Gospel to the Jews first, but since it got rejected, they went to the Gentiles to preach.

Dealing with Rejection in Ministry

In Acts 13:49-50, when the Jews expelled Paul and Barnabas from their synagogue, they both shook off the dust from their feet. This was something Jesus instructed us to do when someone does not accept their message while ministering. Jesus told us in Matthew 10:14 (NKJV), “And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.”. Sometimes when we minister or witness to people we might be rejected. We cannot let it bother us or hinder us from spreading the Gospel. We ought to do as Paul and Barnabas did and continue with what God has called us to do.

Pressing On

Lastly in Acts 13:51-52, we see they travel to Iconium and the people there do accept the Gospel Message and become filled with the Holy Spirit. You know that Paul and Barnabas could have gotten upset when the Jews did not accept their message and could have stopped ministering. But despite the rejection and difficulty, they continued. This is an example for us!

Start Journaling

This week I would like to encourage you to start keeping track of the victories you have through God. Keep them in a journal. Then when you face difficult times go back to that journal and look at how faithful God has been to you. Also, journal scriptures of Gods promises as you go through trials, you should confess these over your life! In my next teaching, we will look at what goes on in Iconium.

2019, Baptism of Holy Spirit, Book of Acts Series 2019, Christianity, Discernment, Gifts of the Spirit, Inspiration

Being Led By the Spirit

In this post, I am going to talk about the importance of being led by the Holy Spirit. You should let Him lead you and not your flesh. Romans 8:14 (NKJV) tells us, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”. If we want to truly be children of God, we not only need to be born again, we need to let the Holy Spirit lead us in everything we do!

What Are You Called To Do?

Starting with Acts 13:4-5 we see the start of Paul’s missions’ trips. Most importantly we see that he was sent out by the Holy Spirit. I am sure there are many believers out there today who have a divine call on their life but fail to answer that call. Paul was sent out by the Holy Spirit to go and minister to different regions. He could have resisted and stayed in his comfort zone, but he led by example and yielded to what the Holy Spirit called him to do. Just because you are not called to the five-fold ministry does not mean you are off the hook from serving God! Some people are called to help at their church, whether that as administrative, cleaning, or any other tasks. 1 Corinthians 12:28 distinguishes the office of helps.

Walk the Walk

We even see that Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit throughout His earthly ministry. Luke 4:1 (NKJV) tells us, “Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness”. When we live according to the Spirit we walk in it, Galatians 5:25 (AMP) tells us, “If we [claim to] live by the [Holy] Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit [with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage—our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit].”. When we walk in the Spirit, we must have a godly character and be a light that shines in the name of Jesus! We also need to have the nine fruits of the Spirit evident in our lives. I wrote a book on the nine fruits of the Spirit, click here to check it out.

The Holy Spirit Empowers Us

Continuing Acts 13:6-13 We see that Paul has a confrontation with a sorcerer. In verse nine it specifically tells us that Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit when he confronted this sorcerer. Paul rebuked this sorcerer and a dark blinding mist fell upon him. When the proconsul saw this, they believed and was astonished at the teaching of the Lord. This sorcerer that Peter dealt with was trying to turn the proconsul away from the faith. This is often what false prophets do, they will turn people away from the truth of the Gospel. However, Paul was able to address this issue only because he was filled with the Holy Spirit. We all should seek God for the discerning of spirits! The gift of discernment is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10.

A Personal Challenge

I want to challenge you to something different this week when you read your Bible ask the Holy Spirit to open your spiritual eyes. Also, when you read your Bible, act like you never read it before each time. This is how you will get a fresh revelation. If you get fresh revelation please feel free to share it with me, I would love to hear your testimony.

2019, Christianity, Gifts of the Spirit, Healing, Inspiration

Putting Away Fear

Today I want to talk about how to deal with fear as a believer in Jesus Christ. I looked in The Barbour’s Bible Dictionary and it has two definitions for fear. The first one is an emotion aroused by danger or risk. The second definition of fear is used as respect or reverence to God. We should strive to be God-fearing people, but we should not be emotionally fearful of the circumstances of life and this world!

God-Fearing People

So, what does the Bible say about fear? Let’s look at what the Bible says about being God-fearing first. Deuteronomy 6:13 (NKJV) tells us, “You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him and shall take oaths in His name.”. Additionally, Psalm 33:8 (NKJV) tells us, “Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.”. So, everyone is to be God-fearing, but what does that mean? Well, Proverbs 9:10 (NKJV) tells us, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”. So, when one is God-fearing it is the start of wisdom. Wise men and women of God fear the Lord and are humble.
To be God-fearing you must be humble and hate all sin and evil. Proverbs 8:13 (NKJV) says, “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.”. To be God-fearing you must put away the lust of the flesh because the lust of the flesh leads to death! 1 John 2:16 (NKJV) says, “For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.”.

Are You God-Fearing or Flesh Fearing?

So, my next question to you is do you want to be a God-fearing Christian, or do you want to be so consumed with your circumstances and the things of this world? You cannot be both, otherwise, you are double-minded! Of course, fear will come naturally to all of us from time to time. If we want to walk in the fullness of what God has called for each of us, then we must put away our fears! We are only to fear God and nothing else! It is time that Christians stop worrying so much about earthly things and start learning how to fear God!

What Our Identity in Christ Says About Fear?

2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) tells us, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”. I think many people need to speak that over their lives every day, especially when the enemy comes to attack. If you are truly a born-again believer, then why are you worrying so much about your health, finances, family, and job? We should not be walking in a spirit of fear! We need to be walking in a spirit of power, love and sound mind. Time spent worrying about this and that is lost time with the Lord. You could spend an hour worrying and thinking about how you will pay that bill. But why not spend that hour in prayer, worship, or simply reading the Word?

What About Circumstances?

Lets look at the next verse, 2 Timothy 1:8 (AMP) says, “So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord or about me His prisoner, but with me take your share of suffering for the gospel [continue to preach regardless of the circumstances], in accordance with the power of God [for His power is invincible]”. We should not be afraid to tell others about God. We should continue preaching the Gospel regardless of our circumstances. The power of God is so powerful that He has given us a spirit of power, love and sound mind!

How to Deal with Fear?

It is time that believers learn how to tap into their spirit man and walk in the power, love, and sound mind that God has given us. How do you do this? How do you put away your fearful spirit, and walk in the God-given spirit of power, love, and sound mind? The first thing is to get the Word of God into you and speak it over your life. Also, spend time praying in the Spirit. I want to encourage you when you go to pray in the Spirit, ask God to let the Holy Spirit do intercession for you to help you put away your fear, and anything else in your life hindering you from walking in the fullness of what God has called you to do. I’d encourage you to make time for this, leave an hour and let the Holy Spirit make the intercession for you. Often, we don’t always know what is stuck deep down inside of us causing our problems, but the Holy Spirit does. So, we need to let Him pray for us. Romans 8:26-27 (NKJV) tells us, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”.

Final Thoughts

So, I’d like to challenge you to the question of if you are a God-fearing believer, or are you still fearful of your own circumstances? I want to encourage you to give time for the Holy Spirit to make intercession for you, and breakthrough will come! If we can learn to yield to the Holy Spirit in our lives, then we will begin to see drastic changes take place!

2019, Christianity, Gifts of the Spirit, Inspiration, Word's of Wisdom

What Is Your Lifestyle?

As I was spending time with the Lord today, I got hit with a word of wisdom. I felt led to share this as it is important for many people to hear regardless of where you are in your walk with the Lord.

The Word I Got

So, you have accepted Jesus as your savior, and maybe you have the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with evidence of Tongues.
But what is your lifestyle? Besides making ends meat, what is your lifestyle?

Is it a sport or a hobby that defines your lifestyle?
Is it drawing popularity to yourself?
Is it money, luxury, expensive cars, or other material things?
Is it building up your ego or pride?
Is it an addiction you cannot seem to let go of?
Is it pushing yourself so hard because you think you are not good enough?

What is your lifestyle? Is it one of the things I just listed? If so then there is a problem.
Or is your lifestyle living your life as Jesus did?
If not, then why isn’t it??

Are you seeking Him daily?
Are you listening for His voice?
Are you studying His Word with spiritual eyes or just by someone else’s side notes in your Bible?
Are you worshiping Him out of spirit and truth?

If your lifestyle does not revolve around Him first then how can you expect to grow, and for Him to move in your life?
When is the last time you got down on your knees and cried out to Him for a need, a revelation, forgiveness, or a fresh infilling?

His plan from the beginning of time was to have daily fellowship with you. Not just when you are sick or broke.
If your lifestyle isn’t seeking Him daily, then what are you waiting for?

Maybe you can’t let go of your pride or ego.
Maybe you can’t let go of that pain or addiction.
But if you truly looked to Him daily, you’d understand and see His power at work.

So, what is your lifestyle?
Is it like the people of the world’s lifestyle, or is it set apart?

Final Thoughts

When I got this word of wisdom two scriptures came to my mind, the first one is James 4:8 (NKJV) which says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”. The second scripture that I’d like to point out is 1 Chronicles 22:19 (NKJV), “Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God. Therefore arise and build the sanctuary of the Lord God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the holy articles of God into the house that is to be built for the name of the Lord.”.

It is time that all believers truly seek God on a daily basis. Going to church every week and inconsistently reading the Word will not result in much growth. It is time that all believers seek intimacy with Him. By seeking Him, I mean consistently spending time in the Word daily, praying in the Holy Spirit, and worshiping Him. Do you only know God by warming a church pew once or twice a week, or do you know God by seeking Him on a daily basis? You can make as many excuses as you want, but if you really want to know Him, you will do your part and put aside the time for Him.

2019, Baptism of Holy Spirit, Bible Study, Book of Acts Series 2019, Christianity, Gifts of the Spirit, Inspiration, Testimony

Acts 12:1-17 — The Power of Prayer

person praying with bible opened on table

Another Reminder of the Persecuted Church

In this blog post, we’re going to look at two incidents that take place with Herod and two of the Apostles. It has been a few weeks since I addressed the issue of the persecuted church. This blog post is another reminder to continually pray for those in persecution. I did some research and found that in the last year over 245 million Christians are living in places of high levels of persecution. Also, 4,305 Christians are estimated to have been killed because of their faith. Additionally, 1,847 churches have been attacked. I feel that one Christian persecuted is one too many. These numbers are saddening. I encourage you to take some time regularly to pray for the many Christians around the world who are being persecuted.

Herod Kills James

When we look at Acts 12:1-2, we find that Herod had a goal to attack the Apostles of Jerusalem. He starts by killing James the brother of John. In Mark 3:17, James and John are called the Sons of Thunder. It is widely assumed that they were called this because of their temperament. I feel this is a good fact to keep in mind about James and John, it just shows us that God can use anyone.

Peter is Captured

In Acts 12:3-4 we find that Herod then captures Peter to be killed, however, he does not kill him right away because it is the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Herod has soldiers’ guard him during the four watches of the night. The four watches of the night were from sunset to 9 pm, from 9 pm to midnight, midnight to 3 am, and 3 am to 6 am. The soldiers would rotate based on these four watches of the night.

The Power of Prayer Shown

In Acts 12:5 (NKJV), the church leads by example as Peter was in prison, “Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.”. This verse should be an inspiration to us to pray for those being persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. After these prayers are given by the church, something amazing takes place! In Acts 12:7-11 we find out that an angel came down and pulled Peter out of his chains and takes him out of the prison. At first, when this happens Peter thinks he is having a vision, but afterward he realizes that this angelic encounter is real. This just goes to show you that the power of prayer has no limit when we fully trust God. I feel that the early church in the Book of Acts had much more faith than what the average American church has today. I feel this because they had some spirit-filled leaders who truly sought God, and this, in turn, resulted in strong spirit-filled believers. This is something we desperately lack in the American church today because many churches want to look at the Bible with denominational eyes rather than spiritual eyes. This results in many denominations that don’t believe in the power of Jesus to set the captives free, heal the sick, deliver people from demonic oppression, and much more! How can we fix America in the eyes of God, when many churches don’t want to acknowledge that the same power the church in the Book of Acts had is available to us today?

The Power of Jesus Sets Us Free!

As I was reading this passage, I was reminded of two other scriptures. The first one is in John 8:36 (NKJV), when Jesus said, “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”. Another scripture I was reminded of was Psalm 142:7 (NKJV) which says, “Bring my soul out of prison, That I may praise Your name; The righteous shall surround me, For You shall deal bountifully with me.”. With putting these two scriptures together, we not only need to think of the persecuted church being set free, but also ourselves being set free. The power of the name of Jesus Christ is so powerful, it will set people free from sickness, depression, addiction, and many other types of bondages.

Peter Gives Testimony

In Acts 12:12-17 we find that Peter goes to Mary’s house, and as he knocks on the door a woman by the name of Rhoda answered and was shocked. She was so shocked that she forgot to let him in, she thought that Peter had already been killed, but he was right there at the door. She went and told the others, and they didn’t believe her, they thought it was an angel at the door. When the others came to the door, they were amazed, and Peter told them what happened. He then left and went away to another place so Herod could not find his trail. Peter did what many of us would do if we had that type of encounter, he told others of his testimony. Our testimonies are so powerful and are often a sign to unbelievers. We may not be able to win people over to Christ by only teaching them scripture alone, but when you tell others about what Jesus has done for you, they will want what you have!

Final Thoughts

In my next post, I will wrap up chapter twelve and discuss what happens to the soldiers who were keeping an eye on Peter overnight, along with what happens to Herod. So please be sure to subscribe to this blog! I encourage you to take some time this week and think about what Jesus has done for you in your life and then share it with someone this week. Even if you share it with someone who is a believer, our testimonies also build each other up, along with being a sign to unbelievers. I would also like to remind you to continually pray for the persecuted church and encourage others to do the same.

2019, Bible Study, Book of Acts Series 2019, Christianity, Discernment, Gifts of the Spirit

Peter Gives Great Revelation to the Jews (Acts 11:1-18)

The Jews Find Out What Happened

If you have not read my previous blog post, I encourage you to do so by clicking here. There is much information from chapter ten that plays a role in chapter eleven. In the previous chapter, we learned that the Gentiles received the message of the Gospel from Peter. Additionally, Peter had a vision from God that showed that the law of Gentile’s and Jew’s dealings being separated was no longer in effect. The news of Peter teaching the Gospel to the Gentiles eventually spread to the Jews, and they were not too pleased with it (Acts 11:1-3). The Jews felt that Peter was compromising what God’s Word says, however at this point in scripture they’re completely unaware of the revelation he had received from God in his vision.

Peters Defends His Ministry to the Gentiles

In Acts 11:4-17, Peter explains to them what took place in the previous chapter when he went to Caesarea. Peter also explains the vision he had from God, which he had three times. He then explains to the Jews that the vision God gave him was to show that the law of Jews and Gentiles having no dealings was no longer in effect. He also tells them the great testimony of the Gentiles receiving the Gospel message and accepting it. I would have loved to of been there to see the facial reaction of the Jews when Peter told them all of this! In Acts 11:18 (NKJV) we find out their reaction, “When they heard these things, they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”. The Jews were first in silence because of the shocking revelation Peter taught them, then they glorified God. I think all of us who seek God daily can relate in a way to their reaction. Think about when you are reading your Bible, and then you suddenly get hit with revelation knowledge, you might first be in silence re-reading scripture, and then you become excited of what God just revealed to you.

Taking it a Step Further

Let’s look at Romans 10:12-13 (NKJV) which says, “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”. Paul is telling us that there is no longer a distinction between the Greek and Jews. He is also telling us that God gives the same blessings to all believers regardless of their ethnicity. This means the same gifts of the Spirit are available to Greek and Jewish believers.

Important Revelation in Galatians

Let’s take this a step further, look at Galatians 6:28-29 (NKJV) which says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”. Paul again is confirming what he told us in Romans 10:12-13, but he is taking it a step further. He is not only saying that your background does not matter, but also your gender does not matter either. All believers regardless of where they come from or their gender have the same seed. This shows us that if we all have the same seed, then God can use anyone, in any way He wills. This also confirms that any true believer can be called into ministry, it does not matter their background or gender. Some people argue the fact of woman pastors because of what certain scripture says, I believe if you look at the Bible in its entirety a woman can be used in ministry just as much as a man can. Can there be women today in ministry who are false prophets? Absolutely, just like there are many men in ministry today who are false prophets. How do we know if someone is truly called to ministry? Well, Matthew 7:16 tells us “You will know them by their fruits…”. There are many men and women in ministry who are very fruitful, while at the same time there are many who are not fruitful. Therefore, I pray that God gives us all a discerning spirit.

God Can Use Anyone!

One last scripture I would like to point out is 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 (NKJV) which says, “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.  For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.”. Paul again is confirming that we are all one in the body of Christ, it does not matter your background. I would also like you to keep in mind that in this same chapter Paul also lists the gifts of the Spirit in verses 4-11 when you put this in context it again confirms that all the gifts of the Spirit are available to all true believers. If all the gifts of the Spirit are available to all true believers, then God can use anyone as He wills.

Final Thoughts

This was a rather short blog, post because this expands on revelation from chapter ten, in my next post I will wrap up chapter eleven in the Book of Acts. I encourage you to take some time before you begin reading your Bible and ask God to open your spiritual eyes and ask Him to reveal to you a fresh revelation. You will be amazed at what you will learn!

Important Announcement

I would also like to encourage you to check out my YouTube Channel! I will be starting a series soon on the Gospel of John, which is one of my favorite books of the Bible. This series on the Gospel of John will only be available on my YouTube Channel, so be sure to subscribe by clicking here!