Category Archives: Salvation

2021, Christianity, Discipleship, Inspiration, Salvation, Sin

The Holiness of God

In a world where there is so much wickedness of man, we can often become blinded to the full truth of how Holy God is. Isaiah 6:3 (ESV) says, “And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!””. Not only does this verse describe God as holy, but it uses the word three times in a row. When the Bible says anything three times in a row we ought to take it seriously. 

Too often many of us have become so earthbound that we may not even realize it. Romans 12:2 (NKJV) instructs us, “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.”. Other translations may say “do not be conformed to this age”. We are living in a day in age in which men of this world call evil good. Simply turn on mainstream television and you will see our entertainment system promote things that go against God’s Word. 

Psalm 96:9 (ESV) says, “Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!”. We ought to worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24), we ought to approach God with reverence. This is something that is sadly missing in the modern church at large in the wake of the seeker-friendly movement, or as David Wilkerson rightly called it “the Gospel of accommodation”. The true church and the world operate out of two different kingdoms. The church should not be attractive because it offers things similar to the world, but because it offers something you cannot find anywhere else in the world and that is Jesus Christ. 

We have ought to have a right view of God, when we have a proper view of God everything else will fall into place. We need to realize that as born-again believers we are saved from the curse of the Law. We have been set free from sin, while at the same time we will fall short. This is why we develop a lifestyle of being submitted to the Holy Spirit and He will convict us when we need to repent. 

As we grow in our walk with the Lord we will develop in higher levels of holiness and sanctification. This is something not too many people want to talk about in the church, but yet the Bible gives clear instructions for us to be holy. 1 Peter 1:16 (NASB) says, “because it is written: “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.””. We are to be a holy people, this is not done through our own strength, but because of the power of God operating in our lives. 

Often when a believer falls short they might get bent out of shape for a long time, please don’t fall into that trap. When you do sin, repent and move on, continue pressing in towards God. Ask God for strength, and resist the devil. Don’t entertain the lies of the devil. The devil would love to torment your mind over one mistake and rob you of the joy of the Lord. There is a promise that you can take to the bank regarding this in Phillipians 1:6 (ESV), “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”. If you are genuinely saved, God will do a work in your life and you will see a change in your life that glorifies Him! 

2021, Christianity, Gifts of the Spirit, Salvation

The River of Life

This year I have really been touching on walking in faith and the importance of coming to the knowledge of who we are as new creations through Christ Jesus.

I would like to draw your attention to the Book of Ezekiel when he describes the vision the Lord gave him of The Temple. We see him describe the glory of the Lord in Ezekiel 43:2 (ESV), “And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. And the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory.”. We then see the reaction of Ezekiel to the glory of the Lord filling the Temple in verses 4-5, “As the glory of the Lord entered the temple by the gate facing east, the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple.”. Ezekiel in this very passage was given a vision of the Temple of the Lord that was to come. I want you to look at this passage with the mindset that as new creations in Christ Jesus that we are all individually a Temple of the Spirit of the Living God (1 Corinthians 6:19).

Let us take this a step further and look at some keys in Ezekiel 47:9-12. In this very chapter Ezekiel describes a river that is flowing from the Temple.

  • In verse 9: “ And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea  may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes.”.
    • Jesus told us in John 7:38 that those who believe in Him will  “Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water”.
  • In verse 10: “Fishermen will stand beside the sea. From Engedi to Eneglaim it will be a place for the spreading of nets. Its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea.”.
    • In Matthew 4:18-19, Jesus called two fishermen, Simon Peter and Andrew to come follow Him and that He would make them “fishers of men”.
    • Additionally, Galatians 3:28 (ESV) tells us, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”.  The Body of Christ will be composed of both men and women, and people from many different ethnicities and cultures around the world.
  • In verse 12: “And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.”
    • Jesus told us in Matthew 7:15-20, that we “would know a tree by its fruit”. He is talking about believers here. It is not about how long ago we prayed a prayer, but the fruit that we bear as disciples of Jesus Christ.
    • We also know that through the finished work of Jesus Christ we have Salvation from sins, healing from all sickness and disease, and deliverance from every type of demonic oppression.

Too often when we read about the Temple of God as in the Old Testament, we may be quick to brush over it. However, we should pay attention to this, because as New Covenant believers we are each a temple of the Holy Spirit. This is just one example of how the Temple in the Old Testament relates to us as believers today. I pray that you will study these passages for yourself, and that the eyes of your understanding would be enlightened to know who we are as new creations in Christ Jesus.

2020 Posts, Christianity, Inspiration, Salvation, Wisdom

Tough Words – Our Heavenly Father

Today is Father’s Day, a day that we recognize our earthly fathers for all that they do for us. For some, this is a day to remember fathers who are no longer with us. I am thankful for a great God-fearing earthly father.

Today I want to talk about who our Heavenly Father is. I am convinced that many people today do not know who God truly is. Yet it is more troubling that many people in the church do not truly know who God is because there is a major distortion in the church. There are even many preachers who are not even truly saved. How do I know this? Because we are living in the days of the Great Falling Away. 1 Timothy 4:1 (ESV) warns us, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons”. The enemy has been setting up camp in churches through false teachers and philosophies of man. Any gospel that is not the True Gospel does not save.

Not only do people in churches not know who God truly is, but they also take him lightly. Modern Christianity has been dumbed down to a few bullet points with a prayer to join a social club.  We have a type of Christianity that accommodates to the way of this dark world. 1 John 1:5 (ESV) tells us, “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”. God is light and has no darkness. Why is this significant? Because it is one of God’s many attributes and we are in a world that is filled with darkness. There are many professing Christians who claim to be filled with the Holy Spirit, but there is no difference in their lifestyle from an unbeliever.

Truly coming to God for Salvation is giving up. We cannot save ourselves, only Christ can do that. When is the last time in private you cried out to God for help with the sin you still need to conquer? When is the last time you sought your Heavenly Father and waited until He showed up? In today’s fast-paced world, we want everything to happen right away. I can be guilty of this, I work in technology, and I have the mindset of things always being fast paced. But we all must learn to sit in the secret place and wait on God. Psalm 91:1 (ESV) tells us, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.”.  Additionally, Jesus told us in Matthew 6:6 (ESV), “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”.

Jerimiah 29:13 (AMP) tells us, “Then [with a deep longing] you will seek Me and require Me [as a vital necessity] and [you will] find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”. We must seek our Heavenly Father with all our heart. Not only do we need to seek Him with our full heart, but we must also seek Him with the right motives. Are we seeking Him just for the benefits? Are we seeking Him to just have our ticket to Heaven stamped? These types of mindsets have become normal in much of Christianity because the me-centered gospel has become mainstream. We must realize that the Bible is not about us, it is about a God who is willing and able, sovereign, and the same yesterday, today and forever.

We need to have a higher view of our Savior Jesus Christ. So many people take the Cross lightly. Revelation 19:12-15 (ESV) tells us, “His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.  And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.”. Let those words sink in and reflect on why the Blood of the Spotless Lamb is taken lightly and abused in the church today. I cannot think of the words He will say on the day of judgment to the leaders of the great falling away.

We must wake up to who God is. We must recognize who our Heavenly Father is according to His Word. Everything we need for this walk is found in His Word, and we have the Holy Spirit to teach us all things and to lead us into all truth. The best thing the church in America can do today on Father’s Day for our Heavenly Father is to take its trash out. Everything that is in the church that is not of God needs to be thrown out and burned. Everything that is of the world that has been allowed in the church, needs to be thrown out. Everything in our lives individually that does not line up with His commandments needs to be removed. Dear friends the end is near! Jesus is coming and there are going to be many pew warmers and even pastors who are going to be in shock when this day comes.

As we celebrate Father’s Day take time to reflect on what our Heavenly Father expects from us as both a church and individually.

2020 Posts, Book of Acts Series 2019, Christianity, Inspiration, Salvation

Acts 21:37-22:30 — A Reflection on Real Christianity

I have been working on making some changes that you will soon see on this blog, which is why I have not posted as much as usual. I wanted to pick back up in the Book of Acts. In my last post, I left off on Acts 21:36 which is where Paul was attacked in Jerusalem and taken to the barracks.

Acts 21:37-40

In verses 37 thru 40, we see that Paul asks the commander if he is permitted to speak, the commander is surprised by Paul’s use of the Greek language. In verse 40 it says Paul spoke to the people in Hebrew, he was likely to be speaking in Aramaic since this was considered the new Hebrew. Paul also states that he is a Roman citizen from Tarsus, a city of importance.

Acts 22:1-4

This is where we see Paul’s first apologetic speech that is documented in the Book of Acts. Apologetics is defined in the Oxford Dictionary as, “reasoned arguments or writings in justification of something, typically a theory or religious doctrine.”. Many Christians do not realize the importance of apologetics today. Apologetics is necessary to defend the faith, there are many great people in this field who serve God. An example of this would be defending the Biblical account of creation over the theory of the Big Bang or Evolution. If you are going to be going to a college in the fall, I would highly recommend to you to study some apologetics on Genesis. We must stand strong on our faith!

During Paul’s speech, he first introduces himself and provides his background. We then see that he talks about how before he became a Christian, he was involved with ordering persecutions of Christians. This right here is an example that we must pray for our enemies. Even though we cannot tolerate what our enemies do, we must pray for their Salvation.

Acts 22:6-21

Paul goes on and talks about the encounter he had with Jesus, which you can read the full account in Acts chapter nine. Those who were around Paul when this happened, as he recounts what took place had great fear over the light, which was the Glory of God, that they saw. When the presence of God came in Acts chapter nine, during Paul’s encounter, the presence of God was taken seriously. People were not joking around or taking it lightly, they were fearful of what they were experiencing.

The Presence of God

In John 8:12 (ESV), Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”. Jesus is the light of the world. This light they saw in Acts during Paul’s encounter was referring to Jesus being the light of the world. The light of Jesus is brighter than anything we can ever imagine. The people that were around when this took place in the Book of Acts became fearful of what was going on because the presence of God was there. They were not joking among themselves or carrying on like they normally would, they were afraid. Yet today when God’s presence supposedly shows up in many churches, people are still on their cell phones. Really? I would honestly question what type of presence showed up at your church. I can say with assurance that most churches today do not really know what the true presence of God is like. Why do I say that? I say that because a lot of what I have seen, and other people have seen shows that the church in America on average has little to no reverence for our Lord.

Let us look at Exodus 3:5 (ESV), “Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”. Now let us look at Leviticus 19:30 (ESV), “You shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord”. Why am I pointing these Scripture out? Because if we want the presence of God to truly show up in our church services to convict and reveal people’s sin, then our houses of worship must give reverence to God. Why are so many churches in America and around the world looking like the bars and night clubs of the world? Why are so many churches making it casual to come to worship Jesus? The new norm in the church is “go grab your favorite drink and get comfortable”. Really? That is not the God of the Bible, and that is not the God I worship.

Proverbs 1:7 (ESV) tells us, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”. Having true knowledge from God is reflected in a sincerely God-fearing character. We have too many people who claim to be Bible-believing Christians and are concerned about going against the trends and customs of this world more than they are fearful of the Living God. Hebrews 12:28 (ESV) instructs us, “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,”. If we are profoundly grateful for the gift of Salvation, then it should be reflected by how we worship God. We need to get back to having total reverence to God.

Acts 21:22-30

Going back to the Book of Acts we see that Paul also talks about meeting Ananias. He is the one who baptizes and converts Paul. We then see the people listening to Paul speak tell him to stop speaking and condemn him and want him to be put away. The leaders realize that since Paul is a Roman, they are unable to put him away or mistreat him. Because of this the Sanhedrin council becomes divided and Paul is put in the protection of Roman soldiers.

Final Thoughts

This chapter gives us another opportunity to review Paul’s conversion to Christianity. Before he became a Christian, he was in a position of power, after he became a Christian he was in a position of persecution and poor health. Yet he still pushed on. He did not live his best life now; he was not prosperous in the sense of earthly things. Yet why do so many Christians think they are entitled to chase these things? Christianity is not built on the wealth of men, but on the blood of men. Let us take the time to really re-evaluate how we view our Christian walk. Are we seeking power for our own gain, or are we seeking God alone diligently because we need a Savior?

2020 Posts, Bible Study, Book of Acts Series 2019, Christianity, Salvation

Acts Chapter 20: Foundational Truths

Introduction

As we have seen through the Book of Acts, there are many important lessons and principles found in this book of the Bible. We must note while the church may never exactly function the way it did in the Book of Acts, we still have many principles to apply from this book.

Acts 20:1-3: In It for Personal Gain?

In the first three verses of chapter twenty, we see Paul travels from Macedonia to Greece. He stays in Greece for three months and then the Jews plot against him. Paul then goes back through Macedonia. We must realize that the Apostle Paul faced much persecution, trials, and tribulations in his life. His life was by no means ‘his best life now’. 1 Corinthians 4:11-13 (KNJV) tells us, “To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.”. This Scripture tells us that as Christians we are not promised a problem-free life on earth. We will face tribulation, trials, and persecution. The Bible does not guarantee us a luxurious lifestyle on Earth. I really will never understand the basis of the people who get behind the pulpit and believe God for private jets. These ministers are false prophets because they want to use the Gospel as a means for a luxurious lifestyle for their gain. Paul also told us in 2 Corinthians 2:15-17 (NKJV), “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.”. The words ‘many, peddling’ in this Scripture means false prophet. This Scripture is talking about false prophets who are only in the business for their gain. This just gives us a warning as to how the Gospel has become so Americanized.

Acts 20:4-12

In verse four through twelve Paul’s traveling companions meet him and they sail from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread. After the feast, they end up in Troas and it was the first day of the week and they broke bread together. While Paul was gathered with disciples on the third floor of a building a man falls from the third story and dies. Paul then goes and prays over the man and goes back with the disciples to break bread. We then see the man who was dead rises back up. Paul and the disciples did not let this situation stop them from breaking bread.  

Acts 20:13-24: Not to Be Moved by Tribulation

In the next few verses, we see Paul travel from Troas to Miletus. Paul then wants to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. As Paul goes to Ephesus, he speaks to the church elders and tells them how he served the Lord in humility and with many tears. Oh, how if the church today could get back to the call of anguish. There is a great teaching by David Wilkerson on anguish. We also see how Paul talks about how he faced tribulation in many cities he went to, but he was not moved by it. How come we become so easily moved by the situations in our lives or the world? We must not be moved as Paul tells us in verse twenty-four. Additionally, Paul says that his life on earth is worth nothing, he has this mentality because he is completely and fully surrendered to Jesus Christ. We must be like this, we should not want our lives, we should only focus on glorifying God more and more every single day. We must strive to finish what God has called us to do with our lives for His Glory alone.

Acts 20:25-31: Importance of Overseers

In verses, twenty-five through thirty-one Paul talks about the importance of overseers in the church and warns of false prophets. Paul warned us about false prophets because we will be in great danger if we believe a false gospel. In verse thirty-one he tells us he “did not cease to warn every one night and day with tears”. Here we go again it should hurt us inside when we see people falling false doctrines and false prophets. We need to see things the way Jesus sees them. Paul tells us to be watchful in this passage and 1 Corinthians 16:13 (NKJV) “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.”. He also tells us to be vigilant in Colossians 4:2 (NKJV), “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving”.

Acts 20:32-36: Scripture and Grace Alone (5 Solas)

In the last few verses, we see the importance of the Word of God and Grace. We are complete in Christ as it is written in Colossians 2:10 (NKJV), “and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”. Additionally, we are complete with Scripture also. 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.”. It is very important to take this concept home of being made complete with Scripture and with Grace through Jesus Christ. Sadly, today many people will take a ‘prophecy’ spoken over them more seriously than the Word of God. Many people today will make it more of a priority to seek physical healing over true Salvation. I have seen too many healing services where nothing on the correct Gospel was taught. Sermons must all have a foundation of the Gospel and then built upon from there. Don’t get me wrong I believe our God is willing and able to do miraculous things far beyond our imaginations, while at the same time focusing on the foundation of the Gospel is our number one priority. In verse thirty-six we see before Paul departed that he knelt and prayed with the disciples. He didn’t have any prayer line, he knelt and prayed with them. Oh, how greatly we need to kneel in church services more and more and learn to give God reverence.

Final Thoughts

There were so many things I covered in this post, and I encourage you to go through this chapter on your own time and study it for yourself and meditate on it. I feel today we as a church need to get back to the foundation of the Gospel because there is so much distortion. We need to learn to take diligent time to meditate on Scripture, worship our God as a church and individually, and rely on the Holy Spirit in our prayer life.

2020 Posts, Christianity, Fruit of Spirit, Inspiration, love, Old Testament, Prophetic Flow Teaching, Salvation, Sin, Wisdom, Word's of Wisdom

White as Snow

Two Phrases

As I was spending time with the Lord today the Holy Spirit put two phrases on my heart which were, ‘white as snow’ and ‘whiter than snow’. Both phrases are found in Scripture in Isaiah 1:18 and Psalm 51:7. I encourage you to read those passages when you get the opportunity. However, the Holy Spirit drew my attention to Psalm 51:7, and the context of this passage is talking about being cleansed of sin and being renewed with a steadfast spirit.

Jesus Cleanses Us

When one gets truly born again, they are cleansed of all sin and iniquity. 1 John 1:9 (NKJV) tells us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”. There is so much power in the Blood of Jesus that it is often underappreciated in the church today.

Purification

Going back to Psalm 51:7 it tells us, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”. Hyssop was a plant used by the ancient Hebrews for purification. In terms of the New Covenant, the Blood of Jesus is used for our purification. Even after we are truly born again, we will fall short from time to time. We may even have some habitual sins that might take some time to fully flee from. But may I raise a question to you, are you ‘as white as snow’ or ‘whiter than snow’?

White as Snow?

Today as I was writing this, we got about six inches of snow. When snow falls there is either a very small dusting or enough accumulation to cover the ground completely. Often many believers are not as ‘white as snow’ as they should be. Far too often we might have a small dusting of snow. Having a dusting of snow reveals the grass, and I would like to think of the grass as our sinful habits we are struggling to get rid of or even one’s secret sin. To be mighty men and women of God we must flee from the lust of the flesh and walk in our new nature. When we truly do this, we will begin to have more of an accumulation of snow, rather than just a dusting. We should strive each day to be purer. Remember He is coming back very soon for a pure bride, the hour is very late!

2019, Announcements, Christianity, Salvation

Merry Christmas

‘Tis the Season’

I would first like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas. I was debating on how to write my Christmas post this year. I remember as a child always looking forward to Christmas Eve spent at my grandparent’s house, and then opening gifts on Christmas morning. This is the time of year when many great memories are made with loved ones. This is also a time of year to look back on memories made with loved ones who are no longer here. For some people, this year’s Christmas might be difficult, because of a loved one no longer being here. Or you might be spending Christmas at work. Regardless of our circumstances for this Christmas, we must remember the main reason behind the season. 

Why We Celebrate Christmas

What is the first thing you think of when you hear the word Christmas? I want you to be honest with yourself on this question. Do you think about the gifts, family, work parties, family gatherings, church services, music, movies, decorations, or just the time off from work or school? I think far too often people think of Christmas incorrectly. We get so focused on the worldly stuff rather than the true meaning of Christmas. The true meaning of Christmas is the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Conformed to the World

I know many people who seem to get distracted by the things of this world during this time of year. Romans 12:2 (NASB) reminds us “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”. I find it amazing that we as the Body of Christ will exhort so much time, energy, and money into making sure our Christmas traditions are perfect. While I like Christmas traditions, why are we not giving this much attention to our personal discipleship? Why are we not spending all this time we find to shop for gifts, meditating in the Word during the rest of the year? 

Continuous Joy

Many people seem to be in a more joyous mood this time of year. Why do we get so excited for one day of the year for our traditions? Why are we not excited every day that a Savior was born that saved us from eternal death? We should be excited about that every day! Psalm 95:1 (NASB) tells us, “O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD, let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.”. Additionally, in Acts 13:52 (NASB) “And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”. If the disciples were filled continually with joy, then we should be too! We should continually have joy because we are saved, healed, and delivered by the Blood of the Lamb. We celebrate His birth this time of year. We shouldn’t just be filled with joy during the Christmas season, we should be filled with joy all the time.

Distortion 

Just like Christmas gets distorted by the world, so does the Gospel. It is not just Christmas that gets distorted by secular things, it is also the Gospel that is distorted. There are far too many ministers who preach another Christ. If a sermon is titled ‘Nine Steps to Happiness’, I would suggest running from that church! The Gospel is not about how to fix a flat tire, it is about the Blood that was shed at the Cross. More people are following prosperity gospel preachers today than ever before. God is not going to give people the desires of their unregenerate hearts, no matter how much you waste your voice “speaking it into existence”. The Gospel is not about fulfilling our lust of the flesh, God isn’t going to tell you to go out and purchase a luxury item. God will tell you to be a good steward of your finances. It always seems that the average church has yet install discerning filters to filter out the garbage of this dark world. The American dream was never meant to be tied in with Scripture. Just like Christmas was not meant to be a time of year when millions of people go in debt awaiting their tax refunds. 

Conclusion 

The key takeaway is to keep our eyes always focus on what the Bible says about everything our lives. If we can keep our focus in line with the things of God, our lives will be much easier. The world always distorts the true meaning of Christmas, just like it does the true Gospel. I encourage you to make incorporating Christ into each part of your life as best as you can. I also encourage you to make your Christmas focused on Christ rather than how this world tells you to celebrate it. Maybe instead of saying Merry Christmas to people, we should say “A Savior is Born”. 

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, Bible Study, Christianity, Salvation, Testimony, Wisdom

How Do You Know?

Picture of John 3:16 in the Bible.

How do you know that you are truly saved? This is a very important question I felt led to address in this blog post. I was originally going to post another teaching from the Book of Acts, but God led me to post this. We all know that to be saved that you must call upon the Lord and ask for your sins to be forgiven and ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart. Many people call this is the sinner’s prayer. When someone truly says the sinner’s prayer it is a very important and special moment of their life. The sinner’s prayer results in one being born again, which is the only way that you can get to Heaven. John 3:3 tells us that we must be born again, otherwise you will not see the Kingdom of God.

The Truth About Water Baptism

Many people confuse the subject of being born again for something else when reading the Bible. John 3:5 (NKJV) says “Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”. There is a large denomination of Christianity that believes the water in this scripture means that a person must be baptized in water when they are born, which results in them being born again. The practice of this is nothing but false doctrine straight from hell. If you take the time to study the Bible, you will see that the water it is referring to in this scripture is the amniotic fluids from birth. As we all should know water baptism is only symbolic after one says the sinner’s prayer. However, since water baptism is only symbolic it is not required to enter Heaven, but I strongly encourage it.

‘The Sinners Prayer’

Romans 10:13 (NKJV) tells us, “For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”. Many people will think that saying the sinner’s prayer one time is all you need, and you don’t need to go to church anymore, read your Bible, pray, fast, and worship God. Some people even think that saying the sinner’s prayer gives you a free pass to sin all you want. However, if you know what God’s Word says, when we become born again we should have a strong desire to go to church every week, read the Bible daily, pray daily, worship daily, and even fast (if you can). How can you expect God to work in your life if you only pray to God when there is a problem? We should be praying to God daily regardless if life is going good or bad. If the only time you read your Bible is when you are following along with your pastor in church, then how will you be prepared to proclaim God’s promises over your life when the enemy comes to attack. The sad truth is many people are claiming to be Christian, but the way they live their life is like unbelievers.

The Old Man vs. The New Man

It is time we know truly how Christians ought to be. Ephesians 4:20-24 (NKJV) tells us, “But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:  that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,  and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”. When we become born again, our sinful habits should begin to dwindle. Our sinful habits won’t go away instantly, but as we seek God continually, they will. Therefore, we need to get the Word in us daily, along with prayer and worship. I accepted Jesus at a young age, however, I lacked getting in the Word. I thought reading through a devotional that had scripture in it and reading Books of the Bible inconsistently was good enough. It wasn’t! Until over a year ago I started getting more deeper into the Word of God, and then God started speaking to me and revealing things to me. I wish at a younger age I would have put down those devotions and would have read the Bible more in its entirety and consistently. Don’t get me wrong devotionals can be great, but you will get closer with God when you read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Don’t just read it once, read it as many times as you can.

Ask God to Search Your Heart

So, my question to you is how do you know you are truly born again? Is it just because you said the sinner’s prayer, or is it because of the transformation that has taken place in your life since you said the sinner’s prayer? This is something we all need to think about because sometimes we can fall into many traps that will hinder us from getting closer to God. I encourage you to take some time this week and ask God to help search your heart and reveal to you what areas in your life that need to be put away for the new creation you are in Jesus Christ.  

2019, Book of Acts Series 2019, Christianity, Salvation, Testimony

Saul is Converted

Light shining on body of water near mountains.

This is now my sixteenth teaching from the Book of Acts. This series has lasted longer than I expected, but that is okay because I am flowing with this as the Lord leads me. I hope that these blog posts have been a blessing to those of you who have been following. In this blog post, I want to cover the first part of Acts chapter nine which shows us a major change in the life of Saul. Now from previous chapters, we know Saul was very involved with the persecution of Early Christians. However, many of us who are truly born-again believers know that God can grab a hold of anyone and change them.

Saul Has an Encounter with Jesus

Let’s start by reading Acts 9:1-2 (NKJV) which says, “Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest  and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.”. At the beginning of chapter nine Saul is still involved with persecution, he is a very strong driving force behind the persecution of the early church. Continuing Acts 9:3-4 (NKJV) tells us, “As he journeyed, he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”.  A light came to Saul from Heaven, when this happened Saul fell to the ground because of the presence of Jesus. Just to digress for a moment let’s look at the aspect of Saul falling because of the presence of Jesus. There are many instances when people fell or were shaken by the presence of God in both the Old and New Testaments. When God’s presence comes on someone very strongly one can fall or be shaken. Some people refer to falling in the Spirit as ‘slain in the Spirit’. I have personally seen the presence of God manifest at different churches where people did get slain in the Spirit, and some miracles took place. Many people will argue with the notion of being slain in the Spirit as not Biblical. If you take the time to study the Bible you will see the presence of God can cause someone to fall or be shaken. This can still happen today simply because of Hebrews 13:8 (AMP) which says, “Jesus Christ is [eternally changeless, always] the same yesterday and today and forever.”. In one of my future blog posts, I will cover this subject in more detail. It is also important to note that some people do abuse certain Gifts of the Holy Spirit, and this can happen with being slain in the Spirit. Again, this is a topic I will cover in more detail in a future blog post!

Saul is Blinded

Continuing with Saul’s encounter with Jesus Acts 9:5-6 (NKJV) tells us, “And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So, he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”. Saul is confronted by Jesus regarding the persecution and then is instructed to go to the city of Damascus. Notice where he said “Lord, what do you want me to do”, he was surrendering to Jesus at this point which is part of Saul’s conversion. Acts 9:8 (NKJV) goes on to tell us, “Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.”. Saul is now blinded and has other people help him into the city of Damascus. Acts 9:9 (GNT) tells us, “For three days he was not able to see, and during that time he did not eat or drink anything.”. Saul’s struggle with blindness was a few days long, also since he had nothing to eat or drink, we can expect him to naturally lose some strength.

Ananias Instructed to Step Out of His Comfort-Zone

Acts 9:10 (NKJV) continues, “Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”. Ananias is a disciple who will play an important role in the change in Saul’s life. Acts 9:11-12 (NKJV) goes on to tell us “So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. And in a vision, he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him so that he might receive his sight.” God instructs Ananias to go to Saul and lay hands on him and pray for him to receive his eyesight in the name of Jesus. Acts 9:13-14 (NKJV) continues, “Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.  And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”. Ananias knows of Saul’s persecution and does not think well of Saul, but God is still instructing Ananias to go to Saul and pray for him. Acts 9:15-16 (NKJV) tells us why God is doing this with Saul, “But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.  For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”. We all know that God is not a respecter of persons. Acts 10:34 (GNT) tells us, “Peter began to speak: “I now realize that it is true that God treats everyone on the same basis.”. The Message Bible translates it as “Peter fairly exploded with his good news: “It’s God’s own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open.”. We also know as followers of Jesus Christ we are to pray for all people. In 1 Timothy 2:1 Paul tells us, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people”. Often in life, we will encounter unbelievers that we will have problems getting along with, whether that be at work, the store, or even your friends and family. We often must realize that the reason we have problems with certain individuals who are unbelievers is because of the spirit behind them. 1 Corinthians 2:14 (NKJV) says, “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them because they are spiritually discerned.”. So, I encourage you to pray for all people, and do spiritual warfare! I would also like to remind you that God will sometimes call us to do things that we are uncomfortable with, however, we are to be obedient to what God leads us to do. If God is leading you to do something out of your comfort zone, ask Him for strength and wisdom.

Sauls Healing

As we read on, we do find out that Ananias does lead by example and goes to Saul as the Lord instructed him. Acts 9:17-18 (NKJV) tells us, “And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”  Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once, and he arose and was baptized.”. Saul was healed and received the Holy Spirit and was baptized. Isn’t it amazing to see someone who was heavily involved in persecution convert over to accepting Jesus! This should be an encouragement to us believers as we pray for our unsaved loved ones! Acts 9:19 (NKJV) goes on to say, “So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.”. Saul did spend some time with the disciples after he converted. This shows us the importance of personal ministry with new believers and ensuring they get a strong foundation.

A Challenge for You This Week

I encourage you to take some time this week and ask God to reveal to you one person that you can minister to this week. Whether it be an unbeliever or a believer. Maybe you know someone who never accepted Jesus, or maybe you know someone who did accept Jesus but is struggling. Let’s lead by example from this passage from the Book of Acts I shared with you this week and do some personal ministry with someone as God leads us!