1 Peter 5:5-7 – “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for 

“God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”  

6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”  NKJV

I almost laugh when I hear someone being lauded for something they have done and their response is, “Well I want to be humble…”  Humility needs no declaration of humility for in calling attention to one’s personal humility is to virtually destroy it.  The Bible clearly reveals that ‘pride’ goes before ‘destruction’ and ‘haughtiness’ before a fall.  Humility is evident in its conduct and deportment and needs no proclamation.

It is easy to become prideful and begin the dangerous endeavor of ‘comparison’.  Too many times one can fall into the trap of the Pharisee and the Publican Jesus referred to and injure our arms patting ourselves on the back.  I have known people who seem to believe that saying from the Book of Pride: ‘He that tooteth not his own horn it will not be tooted.’  Proverbs 27:2 declares that we are to let praise come from others not ourselves.  It is one thing to say, “I’m humbled by that” and another to say, “I am humble.”

Jesus said in the Beatitudes that the “meek” would inherit the earth and I had a preacher tell me once, “Yea, they’ll get a mouthful it as people walk on them.”  He could not envision being anything but forceful and demanding, after all he was THE PASTOR.  That kind of pride has an odor about it that draws but not what one would desire.  If we are truly ‘humble’ we need no recognition of our deeds for we do them as unto the Lord.  I have had people tell me they wanted to make a donation of money or an item to the church and wanted no recognition.  Some meant that but others said it wanting to appear ‘humble’ but made it very clear that if you failed to recognize them they would be offended.  Then when recognized they would make a big deal over ‘being humble’ and not wanting praise.  I’m humble, can’t you tell?

I have watched people come to the Lord, receive a call of God on their lives and follow the directive of James from their heart.  Their humility was inspiring and infectious.  Some of them waited patiently for long periods of time before any recognition or promotion came.  They were content to ‘do all as unto the Lord’ and whatever their hand found to do they did it with their all.  They were genuinely humble and God rewarded them in His time.

I believe humility is a reflection of trust.  It is a demonstration of total confidence in the promises of God.   A truly humble person can, without reservation or hesitation, ‘cast all their care on the Lord’ for they are fully confident and secure in the knowledge that God ‘cares for them.’  If I know I am loved unconditionally and the God of all living is watching over me guiding and guarding my life I can TRUST.  It is out of a position of trust that I can walk in true humility.  Pride says, “I have to make you know what I’ve done and how valuable I am.”  Humility says, “I know God loves and cares for Him and I can trust Him.”

May God help you learn to trust to the point that you can walk in humility.   Blessings be upon you is my prayer and desire!

James 1:12-15 – “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”  NKJV

I have known some people who almost became Monkish in their lifestyle after responding to the Gospel message of salvation.  They had the idea that if they could isolate themselves from ‘temptation’ they would be able to live a godly life.  The flaw in that thinking is multiple but one particular flaw is we are commanded to ‘go into all the world’ not become ‘isolated from the world’.  We are told to ‘come out and be separate’ but that separation is not a physical isolation but a decided change in lifestyle and attitude.  It is to become so attached to and filled with God and His love that we are distinctively different from the world.

Temptation is something that can either make us stronger or shipwreck us and that is dependent upon our response.  James presents the idea that if we ‘endure’ or ‘overcome’ temptation refusing to give in to its lure we will find incredible benefit spiritually.  Some almost seem to blame God for temptation that comes to them and I suggest that it is an ‘inside job’ more than an external stimuli.

Notice what James says about temptation and the process:

• Temptation DRAWS away from the right path.

Temptation could have no appeal if there was not something ‘inside’ to which it could appeal.  It is an identification of a kink in the armor, a possible deficiency in character and an evidence that there is something not fully committed to Christ and crucified on the Cross.  I am not suggesting that the one tempted is not saved rather the one tempted has something that still needs to be brought to the Cross where the spiritual surgeon can remove it roots.  Therefore, temptation is truly an inside job and the outside stimuli used of the devil is what brings it to light.  Once in the light it should be presented at the altar not nurtured, justified or excused.  Saying, “Everyone is tempted sometime” is not a good approach.  We should say, “Lord this temptation is exposing a weakness in me and I ask you to make me strong through your grace.” \

• Temptation not dealt with PRODUCES death.

Notice how James takes the progression of temptation:  It springs from internal desires and when that desire is given life it gives birth to sin and when sin runs its course it produces death.  That death is both natural and spiritual in nature.  It all springs from a condition of the heart.  It is an indication that in that particular area of your life self is still king.  It could be physical gratification, greed, pride, a quest for power or position or ego.  Whatever cultivates the desire that gives rise to temptation if left unchecked will result in spiritual death!

Please hear me, being tempted is not sin but allowing temptation to go unchecked produces sin.  We should rejoice in those areas of our lives being exposed to the light of God’s holiness so we can overcome them and mature into a perfect man/woman in God.  If we understand that temptation is an inside job we will more readily respond rightly to it and find victory in the grace and mercy of our Lord!

            God bless you as you go through this day!

Acts 4:13-17 – “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. 14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. 15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 16 saying, “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.  17 But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.”  NKJV

The Politically Correct world and the world that is now catering to various violent religious factions seek to silence any person or persons who attempt to implement biblical guidelines in their lives.  Transformation of lives and even the miracles of God they cannot deny so rather than attempt to disprove them they seek to silence those practicing such.

In the day of Acts 4 the religious leaders were concerned about their lofted status, position and privilege and the ministry and message of the disciples of Jesus was disrupting their status quo.  They acknowledged that the fruit of the disciples’ ministry was undeniable so they sought to silence the message and messenger.  I see much the same happening by religious and political heads today.  The legislators or politicians have systematically followed the path of removal of God from the public arena.  Religious leaders are seeking to modify and adapt the message of the Bible to fit the politically correct narrative.

Appeasement is a common theme in much of today’s religious world except in the extremist of Islam where the desire is not appeasement but domination.  That is another issue but in those who claim to be followers of Christ there is a willingness and even sense of obligation to rewrite the Bible or reinterpret it to accommodate sinful lifestyles, corruption in politics and business, lasciviousness in relationships and redefining of Salvation.  The one thing missing from their effort is the Power of God which transforms lives from the inside rather than attempting to transform from the outward in.

The religious leaders of the Sanhedrin issued a decree that the Name of Jesus could not be invoked publicly and desired it to be banned privately as well.  I see signs in our modern politically correct world working with the approval of some religious leaders doing the same thing.  Some nationally recognized religious leaders have voiced that Jesus is not the only way to salvation contrary to the teachings of the Bible.  When we call evil good and good evil we are in a very dangerous place spiritually which will be walked out in the natural on the political, economic and social scene.

It seems that there is the theory that if you cannot actually and factually disprove something then censor it and remove it from the consciousness of the public.  I contend that today is the day when every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ must determine they will not be silenced but will speak the truth in love and be ‘forever faithful’.

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

Judges 5:2 – “When leaders lead in Israel, when the people willingly offer themselves, Bless the LORD!”  NKJV

The Song of Deborah considered it a great day when “leaders lead” and the “people are available.”  That is the time when the work of the Lord will advance mightily and revival will break out in the land.  It is a time of restoration and renewal.  It is a time of victory and overcoming.  It is a time when the Body of Christ functions as a Body rather than individual parts, sectarian entities, and isolated movements.  It is when the Church becomes the Building God is building and a Beacon on the Hill for all to see.

My experience has been when “leaders lead” and the “people are available” the entire community is touched by the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.  Lives are transformed and ministry performed on a daily basis from house to house and the mass gatherings become more of a celebration of reported victory than a religious preaching event.  While it is wonderful to gather in mass celebrations and church services it is more wonderful to see the Body of Christ function as the Body of Christ.

When I see leaders leading without protecting their place or turf but LEADING and people becoming the hands, feet, arms legs, eyes and ears of the Body it is a Great Day in the Kingdom.  I do not wonder that our Lord would tell His followers to “Pray to the Lord of Harvest that He send forth laborers into His harvest.”  No wonder He would further clarify that the “Harvest is large but the workers needed to do the harvesting few.”  Too many times the idea of leadership is being boss or head honcho rather than actually facilitating the effort, organizing, delegating, and releasing those who work in the trenches and elsewhere to do the work of ministry.  Being a leader is not sitting behind a desk or having a title after or before your name.  If that were leadership the church would have won the world by now.

It is a great day when leaders lead both in word and deed and the people WILLINGLY become available.  It is a sad day when the church resorts to manipulation, shame or intimidation to provide laborers for the various functions of the local congregation.  That is not leadership or willing offering of oneself.  It is not being the Body of Christ it is being an organization that exists to perpetuate itself rather than having a higher purpose.  Leaders seek to release as many people into service as possible insuring they are equipped for that service or ministry.  Leading involves recognition, preparation, delegation, authentication and examination.  It is not micromanaging as though the church or work belonged to them.  It is recognition that the Church is God’s, being built by the Lord Jesus through His workers and we are collectively the Body of Christ with unique and particular functions and roles.  A real leader is not insecure but confident in the Lord and therefore unafraid to allow people to function.

True dedication and commitment offers the self willingly for the cause of the Kingdom of God and when you combine genuine leadership and commitment you have the seedbed of revival, restoration and renewal.  God will utilize that condition and commitment.  I long for that day in the church of today and when I see it I say, “Now, that’s what I’m talking about…”

             God bless you as you go through this day!

Luke 4:18-19 – “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”  NKJV

We have all met people who believe that the reason they have achieved something is because they are somehow special and better than others.  It is a very egocentric and even narcissistic view they view the world, themselves and others through.  Most of the time, over time, this comes to light and the sheen leaves their star as they topple to the ground of reality.  I have met preachers who had the misguided idea of why they were anointed of God.

I believe that Jesus makes it perfectly clear the reason for the anointing and if we lose sight of that we will not only be in danger of losing the anointing but polluting it.  He declared that the REASON the Spirit of God (Anointing) was on Him was MINISTRY and SERVICE.  It was not to cause people to rave about his oratorical ability, enhance fund raising, or grow a big local congregation.  It is nice to have people attracted to your speaking ability and style as it opens doors.  It is nice to be able to see the funds for ministry roll in and having a large local congregation is or should be good but that is not why the anointing comes.

Jesus identified several things for which He was anointed:

• Preach the Good News to the Poor. – – Poor in spirit and poor in the flesh which would cover all of humanity.
• Heal the Brokenhearted.
• Proclaim Liberty to the Captive.
• Recovery of Sight to the Blind. – –Both spiritually and physically but especially spiritually.
• Set At Liberty the Oppressed.
• Proclaim the Acceptable Year of the Lord.

             I am resisting the temptation to launch into each of those but suffice it to say that the reason we are anointed and the Spirit of God is upon us as believers is to MINISTER and SERVE.  The reason God set the ministries in the Church according to Ephesians is to “equip and train” believers to do the work of ministry.  Our ministry is ministry.  If we lose sight of His purpose and somehow allow our ego to attempt to share His glory we will find ourselves in danger of Herod’s fate when people began to attribute god-likeness to Him after he spoke on one occasion.  Acts 12 informs us that when this happened and Herod believed it or allowed it an angel struck him and he was eaten by worms and died.

I would never want to presume upon God’s glory as somehow being mine.  We are vessels, nothing more and nothing less.  Any ability we have is from Him and all glory belongs to Him.  He is the one that can transform lives not we.  He is the one that can save the soul not we.  He is God we are His creation.  To Him be all Glory Honor and Praise!

May God grant you a rich anointing to do the work of ministry and may He bless you as you go through this day!

2 Timothy 1:3-7 – “I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, 4 greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, 5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”  NKJV

Mother’s Day is a special time set aside each year to recognize and honor our mothers.  Mine has been promoted to heaven but her influence and memory is fresh and real in my life and that of our family.  In looking at this passage on this particular day the one portion that leaps off the page for me is found in verse 5.  The apostle reminds Timothy of his heritage of faith that was demonstrated in his grandmother and mother and called it ‘genuine faith’. 

That distinction is of great value in considering the important role of mothers in our lives.  Timothy’s grandmother and mother manifested ‘genuine faith’ which speaks of permanence, consistency and foundation.  They believed and walked out what they believed and instilled that confidence in Timothy, a quality Paul recognized and learned to depend on.

Faith is a critical element in walking with God for the Bible tells us that without it no person can please the Lord.  That speaks to the need to have confidence in God to weather the storms of life without becoming shipwrecked and a castaway.  If our faith is one of timidity, superficial and conditioned upon circumstance we will be an easy target for the devil and our walk and life will be little more than outward show, noise and fluff without substance.  If we had or have a mother who demonstrated the consistency, persistence and continuance of faith we will have learned that trusting God is not only desirable but possible.

I was blessed to have a mother who consistently demonstrated her faith, faithfulness and fidelity before the Lord and all who knew her.  Her example was invaluable and instilled in us the confidence that a mortal could walk upright before the Lord in faith.  Her love warmed our hearts, her encouragement inspired us to achieve and her faith provided an anchor for us in life.  The value of a mother who gives a heritage of faith is, as Proverbs declares, ‘far above rubies.’

To all the mothers reading this today I tip my hat to you and say ‘thank you’ for what you have done, are doing and will do for your families.  May God give you a special blessing on this day and lift your hearts so that you soar with the eagles.

            Blessings on your special day!

John 3:3 – “Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  NKJV

When Nicodemus came to Jesus in the secrecy of the darkness He was seeking answers to questions beyond what he even knew.  He was a Jew, a ruler among the Jews so he had a reputation to protect, a place and a position.  His heart told Him that something was different about Jesus and that the hand of God was upon Him but he was confused and searching.  The conflict of what he had been taught was tormenting him so he came risking everything to inquire of Jesus.

Jesus read his heart and spoke directly to the question that was not asked and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  Nicodemus, as the disciples, thought in the natural and that statement of Jesus brought even more confusion to his troubled heart.  Jesus spoke further clarification about the ‘new birth’ something that some in modern Christendom seem desirous to omit.  Nicodemus expressed his honest confusion for this was beyond his natural ability to conceptualize.  How could one be ‘born again’? 

Jesus addressed the distinction between the natural and the spiritual and as He acknowledged the confusion of the carnal mind He questioned Nicodemus, “Are you a teacher of Israel and yet cannot understand?”  Jesus identified His coming death on the Cross and then gave the fabulous oft quoted passage of John 3, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”  Therein is the door, path, channel through which we are to enter the Kingdom and Family of God – JESUS!

Our Lord speaks with clarity that we are all born naturally “of the water” but we must be born again spiritually “of the Spirit”.  He speaks of that transformation spoken of in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “…if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation (born again); old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”  We are translated from the Kingdom of Darkness and the Domain of the Devil to the Kingdom of Light and the Family of God as we receive Christ as our personal savior through repentance and faith.

There may be many voices, even respected voices in the world of Christendom, offering another gospel but there is no other gospel that that which is presented by the Bible.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  He is the Door.  He is our Savior having paid the debt of sin that we could not pay.  He went to the Cross to open the door to the Kingdom and now the only way into the Kingdom is through that door and He is that door!

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