John 1:19-34 – “This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, ” I am not the Christ.” 21 They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am A VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” 24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, and said to him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them saying, ” I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know. 27 “It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 “This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘ After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ 31 “I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.” 32 John testified saying, ” I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. 33 “I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ 34 “I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.” NASB

It is another beautiful morning here in North Texas. The temperature is pleasant, and the morning is breaking on the horizon with all the sounds coming to life. I have my Bible on my lap opened to a place that the Holy Spirit prompted, a song in my heart, a praise on my lips, and a prayer for the labors of the day being sent heavenward. The first five words are what I heard today! BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD!

Sometimes we just need to stop everything else and focus on the only truly important thing – HIM!  We need to be reminded that Jesus is truly the “Lamb of God, slain from the foundation of the world for us.”  As John Baptist said here, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the SIN of the world!” The SIN that reaches back to the Garden of Eden where man lost his way.  That time when and where the devil, satan became the god of this world and all the torment that has ensued. 

Now, Jesus has bought us back!  His sacrifice enabled us to be transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of God.  We have moved from darkness into light. We have moved from servants of satan to servants of God. We have moved from lost sheep to the redeemed!

BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD!  I encourage everyone to meditate upon Him and what He has done!  Mediate upon on His ultimate and complete sacrifice – His Finished Work!  Rejoice in the relationship that you have and is available with and in Him.  We shall behold Him!  We do behold Him!  We are beholding Him!  Today, make it your singular objective to BEHOLD HIM!  Like the old song, “Turn your eyes upon on Jesus…. Look full into His wonderful face…”  Then, truly the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of HIS GLORY AND GRACE! Make this a day of rejoicing and worship. Make Him the beginning of your day!

BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD! May the Lord richly bless each of you as you begin your day and may this be the best day you have ever experience to this point and may tomorrow be even better!

Blessings to all, you are my special friends and my prayers are with you today and every day!

Philippians 4:4-13 – “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. 10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” NKJV

I love the way Paul begins this passage with Double Rejoicing!  Don’t just rejoice but rejoice again, that will get your heart pumping and get your focus pointed in the right direction.  Then he adds something that is not always easy “Let your gentleness be known to all men.”  Be steel wrapped in velvet!  Quit worrying!  That’s much easier to do once you have rejoiced and rejoiced again, prayed and made supplication while giving thanks and the Peace of God floods your heart and mind through Jesus!

He proceeds to tell us how to walk.  It is too bad those in Washington DC and too many in church don’t read and practice this.  For believers, this is our marching orders.  The truth, the noble, the just, the pure, the lovely, the good report, the things of virtue and that which is praiseworthy is to occupy our thought processes throughout the day.  Do them, do the word, follow His instructions and you will find the Peace of God flowing out from you because it is in you.

Paul advised that he had learned contentment because he had practiced the things listed above.  He knew how to abound and how to be abased. How to have plenty and to have little. How to be rich and be poor. How to be celebrated and how to be hated. How to be full and how to be hungry. His secret was In Christ!  No matter what he faced it was “In Christ” out of the Peace of God!  

He said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” That was his secret and ours!  Out of the Peace of God that passes all understanding, from our position In Christ,  we can face whatever we face with rejoicing, prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving demonstrating gentleness, noble character, being just, pure, virtue, and the reports will be good and lovely.  It is In Christ out of God’s Peace that we live and move and have our being.

Today, begin the day rejoicing even if you don’t feel like rejoicing and once you’ve done that rejoice again!  Refuse to allow worry to fill your heart and mind. Meditate on the true, noble, just, pure, lovely, good report and virtuous and walk in what you have learned in the Peace of God.  Remember You Can Do All Things Through Christ!  He is Our Strength! Get out of the way devil, we are coming through!

Blessings on this beautiful day!

Psalms 122 – “I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”  2 Our feet are standing Within your gates, O Jerusalem,  3 Jerusalem, that is built As a city that is compact together; 4 To which the tribes go up, even the tribes of the LORD  An ordinance for Israel — To give thanks to the name of the LORD.  5 For there thrones were set for judgment, The thrones of the house of David.  6 Pray for the peace of  Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. 7 “May peace be within your walls, And prosperity within your palaces.” 8 For the sake of my brothers and my friends, I will now say, ” May peace be within you.” 9 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good.” NASB

David’s love for worship is unparalleled in Scripture.  His love for the Lord, his desire to be in the presence of the Lord, and his quick response to a revealed sin through repentance caused him to be identified by God as, “a man after My own heart.”

It is good to learn to worship and praise God while we are alone, but there is something irreplaceable in a gathering of others for the express purpose of worshipping God.  You draw strength from those around you as their joy, exuberance, faith, and presence encourage you to enter in and continue.  No man is an island.  No man or woman lives or dies to themselves we need others for this journey.

David recognized that God’s presence was the key to life.  In the second portion, he identifies a need to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.  Why?  Jerusalem represents the seat of the government of God.  David is crying that God not only is Lord in Jerusalem but in so doing be Lord in the hearts of all men.  It is only as God is the center of our lives that we walk in victory continuingly.

God is to be sought first and foremost.  He is to be placed above all else. He is to be relied on and trusted explicitly. He is to govern our lives in every aspect and dimension.  As we allow His love to permeate our hearts and lives, we become vessels of honor to be used by Him in the labors of His Kingdom.

May God bless you as you go through your day.

1 Corinthians 3:18-23 – “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become foolish that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, “He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness”; 20 and again, “The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise, that they are useless.” 21 So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, 23 and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.” NASB

I ask that you consider a few words in verses 21 and 22 and allow me to expand on them and hopefully inspire and challenge you to a new level of life in God.  Let’s read the entire verses together and let me emphasize a few words.  “So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you,’ 22 WHETHER Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you…”  It continues with the incredibly powerful and important words, “and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.” [Emphasis mine].

I ask that you read that again and tell me what is missing.  What time dimension is missing?  It speaks of things present and things to come or the present and the future, but did you notice that the past is not mentioned.  Why not?  Why did the apostle Paul omit that time dimension? 

Let’s read Romans 8:38-39 in conjunction with this and I will give my thoughts on the reason for the omission.  “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” [Emphasis mine].

What did Jesus do on the Cross?  He paid for our sin, right?  He purchased our past.  Yes, he purchased our present and future too, but as Paul declared the present and the future belong to us but yesterday does not.  It has been bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus.  I say that in the sense that the past is off-limits to us.  It is bought and paid for and if we have repented of our sins and accepted the Grace and Pardon of God our past has been erased.  It is gone and we have no right to access it any longer.  We have no right to bring it up and beat ourselves over the head with it.  That is the tactic of the devil to bring us shame and regret, but Jesus paid for my past.  IT IS GONE!

In Psalms 103:12 we discover, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”  It is UNDER THE BLOOD of JESUS!  You live in the present and what you do will either bring you nearer God or place you in the need of repentance and forgiveness, but it belongs to you.  It is yours to access and live.  The past is not, it is gone!  You are not who you were, you are a New Creation in Jesus.  You have been born again and are a brand-new person with a brand-new DNA and history, the history you are creating right now!  Make it a victorious history! 

The future is yours to move into and become who God says you are. You are an overcomer and more than a conqueror in Jesus!  The devil wants to use the past, yours, or someone you have dealt with and cause you to have resentment or regret.  Those are not part of the Kingdom of God and if you allow the devil to use the past to refresh old wounds and remind you of failures you will suffer on every level in life.

I suggest that resentment and regret have virtually the same effect on the human body and the human spirit.  Why?  Because they are both tied to the past.  We must not allow our identity to be who we were but WHO WE ARE!  Our identity must be GOD and our present relationship with Him. 

I remind you of Paul’s words in Philippians 3:12-16 and ‘forget the past.’  Let’s determine that we will ‘forget what lies behind and reach for what lies ahead in God.’  You are more than you are now and more than you think you can be because of what Jesus did and is doing!  Nail the past to the Cross and NEVER go back and revisit what no longer belongs to you. 

You can reign in life in Christ but not if you harbor resentment or regret and focus on the past.  We must focus on the present our condition and position in Christ and the future, what He says we are and what we are becoming! 

Have a Great Day in Jesus!

Isaiah 6:8 – “Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!”  NASB

In this passage, Isaiah begins by informing us that King Uzziah had passed away and that was a troubling event for Isaiah.  It was at that time that the prophet saw a vision that rocked him to his core.  He saw the Lord enthroned as Majesty and the Seraphim having six wings and he used two to cover his face, two to cover his feet, and with two he flew crying “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.” 

That experience caused Isaiah to see his own sinfulness and he lamented, “I am ruined because I’m unclean and the people I dwell among are unclean.”  He understood that nothing was hidden from the eyes of the Lord.  Then he saw the Seraphim flying toward him with a burning coal he had taken from the altar and he took that coal and touched Isaiah’s mouth declaring, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sins are forgiven.” 

After this, Isaiah heard the Lord asking, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?”  Isaiah had been prepared for service by cleansing and with a renewed heart he cried out, “Here am I. Send me!”  It was at that point the Lord said, “Go, and tell this people…”  God gave him a message and a purpose.  None of that would have any meaning had Isaiah not Volunteered for service.  God will not force us into service but will open the door of opportunity for us to serve. 

That is true in our individual lives and true in our church life.  We may see the need, be convicted of our condition, receive the cleansing and preparation of the Lord But until we volunteer it means nothing.  I’ve observed churches through the years who labored feverishly to press people into service.  People who had not volunteered although greatly qualified were the target.  My attitude has always been that I would rather have a person with lesser qualifications who really wanted to serve than someone with impeccable credentials who did not.  One will invest the time, the energy, the prayer and God will produce the results, the other will simply go through the motions based on their wealth of knowledge or ability and little will be truly accomplished lastingly for the Kingdom.

I’ve heard preachers and churches lament we do not have workers for a particular program and my response has usually been, “If there is no one to perform the task or carry on the program maybe God doesn’t want the program.”  I believe that God provides for that which He desires be that money, people, or whatever. 

If the Holy Spirit has touched your heart and quickened, you with regard to the need you see – Volunteer!  You may only be the intermediary until the one that God has designed and prepared for the task is ready or arrives but you just might be that one.  You will never know until you respond to the calling of the Holy Spirit. 

May God be with you as you go through your day!

Psalms 5:11-12 – “But let all who take refuge in Thee be glad, Let them ever sing for joy; And mayest Thou shelter them, That those who love Thy name may exult in Thee. 12 For it is Thou who dost bless the righteous man, O LORD, Thou dost surround him with favor as with a shield.”  NASB

I want us to take a brief look at the treasure that is embedded in these two verses.  In some of my most difficult times, this and verses like it provide an instant charge in my spirit and inspire me to move forward.  David said that he encouraged himself in the Lord and if we are to do the same passages such as this are essential.  Let’s take it one step at a time and hopefully in a few paragraphs we can mine the needed nugget of truth that will help us rise above whatever is trying to press us down. 

Refuge in God.

We are told repeatedly, in Scripture, to seek God and to set the Lord before us.  We are to focus on His Person as well as His Promises and Power.  It is in the relationship with Him that we find true victory and genuine peace. 

As I read this Psalm, I immediately think of Psalm 91 and Psalm 23 and focus on the provision of God to provide a shelter or refuge for us to run to in times of difficulty as well as in times of blessing.  Notice that the Psalmist follows the declaration that those who ‘take refuge’ in God are to be Glad. 

Wow!  You mean we are commanded and instructed to ‘be glad’?  How do we make that a reality?  Notice the second part of that instruction – “Let them ever (always) sing for joy.”  What happens when we begin to enter God’s presence with a genuine attitude and expression of Praise?  He shelters us. 

However, it is never just about us.  In the process of taking refuge in God and being sheltered in Him through Praise, we are empowered to exult Him.  I ask that you consider the KJV rendering – “But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. 12 For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.”  Also, consider the Amplified – “But let all who take refuge and put their trust in You rejoice, Let them ever sing for joy; Because You cover and shelter them, let those who love Your name be joyful and exult in you. 121 For You, O LORD, bless the righteous man [the one who is in right standing with You]’ You surround him with favor as a shield.”

The shelter and refuge of God are so that we can bring honor to His Name and make Him known among the peoples.  In doing that we take the blessing of peace He gives us and administer it to those without peace.  We become tools of evangelism by our lives. 

The Shield of The Righteous…

The Psalmist expresses the reality that as God’s people focus on Him, enter into Praise unto Him, and exult His name we are Blessed by God.  We are Defended by God against all attacks.  We are surrounded by the Presence of God and the Favor of God as a Shield!

The devil accused God of putting a hedge around Job and protecting him.  God had done exactly that, and in this Psalm as well as in Psalm 91 and Psalm 23 we realize that the Promise of Matthew 6:33 becomes a present reality in our lives.  God becomes our Shield and Buckler.  He becomes a Sun and a Shield for Us.  He lifts our heads and gives us Protection and Peace.

What we need to do is take Refuge in God through Praise and Exultation of His Name.  We need to receive the Shield of God’s Protection and Peace.  We need to embrace the Blessing of God.  We do not earn it; it is a Free Gift of His Grace!

God bless you as you endeavor to become one who takes Refuge in God with overflowing Gladness and Joyful Singing.  May you learn to be Sheltered in His Presence!

Have a Great Day!  

John 19:28-30 – – “After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!”  29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. 30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” NKJV

When I think about Salvation and what is needed to receive Salvation I think of this passage of Scripture where Jesus said, “IT IS FINISHED!”  The final divine legally satisfying act to complete the transaction of purchasing man back from the “dominion” of the devil “spiritually” had been completed. 

Divine Justice had been satisfied that “blood had been shed” in sacrifice for sin.  Jesus’ innocent blood had been shed to satisfy the penalty for the sin of mankind and allowed us the opportunity to be “transferred” from the Kingdom of darkness into the “Kingdom of Light” through the Blood of Jesus that He shed on the Cross.  HE PAID OUR DEBT!  He broke the legal hold that Satan had on man and now we can “Whosoever will, can come unto Him” and receive His mercy!  THAT IS CAUSE FOR REJOICING!

The work is “complete”.  How complete is complete?  What else must be done to obtain Salvation?  Is there something that we must do to EARN IT?  NO!  Is there something other than repentance and accepting Him as Savior that we need to do?  NO!  The action on our part is to believe and receive.  The action on our part is to recognize the fact that we “have sinned and come short of the glory of God,” repent of our sins and accept His sacrifice and atonement.  At that point, He accepts us into the beloved and we become part of the family of God. 

The process after that of maturity is lengthy and lifelong but the door has been opened. Divine Justice has been satisfied.  The Cross is the symbol of the ultimate victory of Jesus over the devil and the triumph of mankind.  That’s why I value the empty Cross, the Empty Tomb, and the Risen Lord!  He has prepared for us an Eternal Abode that where He is we may be also!

Therefore, just a Joseph responded when I am confronted with sin or temptation my question is, “How could I sin against my master and my God in this way?”  Oh, I stumble, we all do. But I/We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous to make intercession for us. When we run to the Cross in repentance He accepts us into the beloved and restores our fellowship with God.

Truly, we are weak but He is strong. We must never despair over a stumble here or there but fix our eyes on the ultimate goal and the Finished Work of Jesus on the Cross! It is here that we declare “For, I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.”  We then can walk in complete peace knowing that the Work of Salvation has been Completed in Eternity and in us. We do not have to and cannot Earn it, we simply Receive it!

It is my prayer that you go through your new week with exuberant joy, complete peace, and filled with rejoicing as you walk in the Keeping Power of the Lord!  Blessings!