Colossians 3:1-4 – “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”  NASB

I love it when the Bible says ‘therefore’ because if you will continue reading or read the previous you will find out what the ‘therefore’ is there for.  Here the apostle Paul is teaching about the ‘New Self’ and as he begins his discourse in this passage, he says, THEREFORE…Therefore what?

• “IF” you have been RAISED up with Christ.

That is a conditional statement that renders the remainder null and void if the answer to that assertion is in the negative.  This Only Applies to those who have been Raised Up with Christ in the New Birth.  It only applies to those who have been grafted into the true vine, adopted into the Family of God, and have their names written in the Book of Life.  It is not speaking to everyone but has a specific audience in mind – Believers!

• “IF” that is your condition “THEN” keep seeking the things above.

If you are ‘born again’ by the blood of Jesus then make it a daily and continual practice in your life to ‘Seek’ the things of God, those things where Jesus resides at the Right Hand of the Father. 

• “IF” that is your condition SET your mind on the things above not on the things of the earth.

Your focus, loyalty, and desire are to be spiritual things not earthly things.  That should be the overriding characteristic of your life.

WHY? Because you have ‘died and your life is hidden with Christ’.  Because when Christ is revealed, you will be revealed with Him in glory.  You are just a sojourner in this world.  You are just passing through.  Your ultimate citizenship is not this world but the eternal world of God.  You are looking for the City whose builder and maker is God.  Your desire is God above all else.  You have been transferred or translated from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of God’s Light.  You are Born Again!  Therefore…

The ‘therefore’ is there for you to know what you have and where you are headed as well as to give you guidance on How to Live while you make your journey from this natural world to God’s eternal spiritual world, Heaven!  You have an assignment, responsibility, and opportunity but your ultimate objective and goal, Eternity! 

God bless you as you go through your day!

2 Corinthians 10:1-6 – “Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ — who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. 2 But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” NKJV

It has been my experience in life both in practice and observation that too many people do not know how to fight.  They fight but as one ‘beating the air’ and ‘shadow boxing’ without really accomplishing anything except utter exhaustion and disappointment.  I’ve observed people try to fight spiritual battles with natural weapons and end up dividing and alienating other people rather than accomplishing the objective of God and the Spirit of God which is always ‘reconciliation and liberty.’

Paul makes it clear that we cannot divest ourselves of ‘the flesh’ because we live in an earthly tabernacle of clay called Flesh.  We will battle ‘fleshly tendencies’ as long as we remain on this planet or in this life.  However, he made it equally clear that our ‘battles’ are not to be fought in the natural but the spiritual.  The weapons of our warfare are given or supplied to us by God Himself.  Those weapons are ‘mighty’ able to pull down ‘strongholds’ and bring every thought into obedience to Christ.  That is powerful!

This leads to the thought that at least part of the battle is waged in the mind.  If we get our thinking right we will get our acting right, our living right, and our relationships right.  We are not what we think we are but we are what we think.  We are the product of what we allow to be planted, grow, and develop in our minds.  Our ‘thought life’ is incredibly important and a key part of our ‘spiritual weaponry’ and ‘spiritual warfare.’  Too many fail on this front and do not comprehend or seek the assistance of the Holy Spirit to control the Thoughts.  They let them run around unsupervised and unbridled.  That is not only dangerous it is destructive.

If we are to learn how to fight, we must learn how to bring our thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ and thereby pull-down strongholds.  We must be ready to bring rogue and destructive thoughts to the Cross and allow them to be crucified there with Jesus nailing them to the Cross and having the covered with the precious blood of Jesus. 

Our thoughts are far more important to our victory in our Christian walk than most are willing to acknowledge.  I say that because to acknowledge that would mean we must take responsibility for what they think.  That would mean that we can no longer argue, “I can’t help thoughts coming.”  That is true but you can prevent them from staying!  You can prevent them from being able to take root and grow.  You are responsible for What You Think!  Our entire person belongs to God, not just parts!

As you go through this day go with the realization that your thoughts are important, and you are responsible for what you think on. 

God bless you as you go through your day!

1 Corinthians 11:1 – “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.” NASB

Of course, you can, but my real question is “Do you dare make this appeal?”  Dare you make it in light of the fact that the ‘all-knowing’ and ‘all-seeing’ God of the Universe observing?  Dare you make it knowing your own heart?  Dare you make it with the flaws in your own vessel?  I truly hope that you say YES but realize that many would probably be wise to take the path of caution.

Paul was telling those hearing him ‘imitate me’ because or just as I ‘imitate Jesus Christ.’  However, in keeping with the contextual interpretation of Scripture Paul is saying, ‘imitate me in the matter being discussed, just as I imitate Christ.’  

I’m pressing this further and saying, ‘Dare we appeal to be to imitate us in life based on the truth and reality that we imitate Christ in life?’  That’s the issue for me today.  That’s the question in my heart and mind today.  That is the goal and objective of my life today.  I want to be able to appeal to people to ‘follow’ and ‘imitate’ me because or as a result of my ‘complete dedication, following, and imitation of Jesus Christ.’  I want them to truly see Jesus when they see me.

I never want to be one that says, “Do as I say not as I do.”  I do not want my life to declare that.  I want to be able to appeal to people both in the church, the family of God, and the lost to ‘follow my life’ because you see a life that is following Christ without reservation or hesitation.  That should be the objective of each of our lives and thus we should be carefully examining our own hearts, lives, words, deeds, and actions daily to see if anything is wanting in our lives and if there is run to the Cross.

Paul’s complete commitment to God is more than commendable it is a genuine example and a target that each of us should adopt as our life’s goal.  We never want to be a stumbling block or hindrance to anyone, and it is imperative that we always remember ‘who we are’, ‘where we are’, and ‘whose we are.’  If we do that many of the conflicts in our life will become minor rather than major and we will win people to the LORD JESUS through our lives which present and demonstrate Christ in a very real tangible way in this present world.

So, as you go through your day go with the consciousness that God sees, and people see you so conduct yourself in that light. 

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

Ruth 2:15-16 – “And when she rose up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. 16 Also let grain from the bundles fall purposely for her; leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her.” NKJV

  The story of Ruth, who is incorporated into the lineage of our Lord Jesus, is a most interesting one.  After the death of her father-in-law, brother-in-law, and husband, her mother-in-law Naomi decided to return to Israel this Moabite committed to going with her.  She told her mother-in-law “your people are my people” demonstrating amazing loyalty. 

Upon arrival in Israel, she and Naomi were struggling to survive.  Naomi sent her to the fields to gather grain so that they could live.  When the owner of the fields Boaz saw her, God touched his heart and after talking with her instructed his laborers to ‘purposefully leave handfuls’ of grain for her.  It was a custom in those days to leave the corners of the field for the hungry and needy but Boaz went far beyond that custom and his instruction while missed by Ruth was not to Naomi.

It was this act of kindness and godliness that prompted the counsel of Naomi to send Ruth to Boaz which would lead to her becoming his wife and from there the rest is history as she is listed in the genealogy of Jesus.  Matthew lists Jesus as the son of David although Abraham is listed as the first in the line.  It appears that Matthew wanted to introduce Jesus as the coming King.  Luke takes a little different approach and seems to have been prompted to show Jesus as both King and Priest and took his genealogy back to Adam. 

Matthew lists six very significant women in Jesus’ mother’s lineage. They were Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary all-powerful women that had an incredible influence on those of their generation and their children.  But the thing I want to focus on is the kindness of Boaz and the provision of God for us.

If we allow ‘handfuls on purpose’ to be distributed to the needy, God will open the door for an incredible return to us in the natural and spiritual.  If loyally serve those that God has placed in our lives He will open doors and bring to pass divine encounters that will position us for greatness in the kingdom.  Both are important!  Both require commitment, obedience, and faith.

If it is in your hand to leave ‘handfuls on purpose’ for the needy do so.  If you are the recipient of ‘handfuls on purpose’ realize that it is the hand of God that has engineered your situation to provide for you.  In both cases allow rejoicing to be the rule of your life and if you are the needy one, remember this when you become prosperous and do the same for others.  The principle or law of reciprocity comes to mind as I write.

Blessings as you go through your day!

Matthew 5:21-26 – “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER’ and Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ 22 “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘ You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. 23 “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. 25 ” Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 “Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent. ” NASB

Matthew 18:15-18 – – Instructs us on how to deal with trespasses between brethren.

As I went to bed last night this thought was on my heart and He revisited it this morning. it was about “Receiving Complete Forgiveness.“

I’ve heard people say, “Well I asked the Lord to forgive me, so I don’t need to go to them to ask forgiveness.”  That’s not exactly what the Bible says, and it seems that you may be leaving out a very important part.  If they sinned against you and you were totally innocent then you are to forgive them, but if you had a part in the issue you need to go to them and ask forgiveness. Most don’t do that part.

Preacher “X” had a small church and went to Pastor “Y” to ask if the two churches could merge. After time Pastor “Y” agreed with the understanding that Pastor “X” would take a background role and work to merge his flock with the new flock so both could accomplish more for the kingdom.  

Both had properties and all went well for a few months then Pastor “X” began to draw people to him and turn them against Pastor “Y”. The properties were sold for large sums of monies with plans to build a new and better building. Over time, things escalated with Pastor “X” drawing enough people around him to attempt a takeover and oust Pastor “Y”.

The denominational officials were called in and allowed a minority under Pastor “X” to have control and get everything. They gave Pastor “X” and his following the money from both properties, the name of the fellowship, and dismissed Pastor “Y”.  Pastor “Y” was not allowed to attend the meeting, but Pastor “X” was in attendance and able to vote in the proceedings.  Both groups moved on and there was bad blood between the two.  Pastor “X,” wrote some things saying that God forgave him, and he didn’t need man’s forgiveness.

Pastor “X,” wrote articles and declared in public forums lauding his victories and promoting himself as a great man of God.  He never went to Pastor “Y” or any of the leaders under Pastor “Y” to ask forgiveness or receive forgiveness. He seemed to be oblivious to the hurt that might be in the hearts of Pastor “Y” and his followers over what was done.  True Forgiveness requires going to the offended brother and seeking forgiveness.

If you and I have a difference and we go separate ways with ill will in our hearts to truly clear the air and receive the fullness of God’s mercy we need to go to the “offended brother or sister” and ask forgiveness (not bringing up their sins just ours). In doing so we open a door for them to do the same and walk out of the Prison of Pain they live in and are bound by and we set ourselves free. To do less, in my view would be dishonest!

I’ve gone to people in the past with whom I’ve had a bad parting and with genuine sincerity asked them to forgive me (even when they had sinned too). I did not bring up their sins because my reason for seeking them out was to release them from my judgments and be released from their judgment toward me. It has always been my desire that they would also be able to repent and be free, but I cannot control that. 

My forgiveness to another is not conditional or based upon whether they forgive me or not. When I go to the Lord and go to them, I can walk free knowing that I have followed the Biblical prescription and done what is right in the eyes of God. My objective always is restoration.

If you have had bad dealings with someone, I would urge you to take it to the Lord and repent of your part before the Lord and then as He leads and opportunity affords itself, seek the forgiveness of the other person involved.  It is more than a little liberating it will Set you Free!  Don’t make excuses and place conditions upon your forgiveness or asking for forgiveness. Go genuinely in a repentant spirit and the Lord will raise you up out of the morass and set you on Higher Ground. I didn’t say this was easy, I just said it was right! You address your part and trust God to work on their part.

Blessings as you go through your day!

James 1:2-4 – “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”  NASB

I quoted this passage to a man going through a very difficult time hoping it would encourage him.  I gave him a mini-sermon on the development of patience, persistence, endurance, and constancy and told him that he should “rejoice” in his trials.  He looked at me incredulously and said, “You want me to do what?” 

He was looking for sympathy and when out of empathy I gave him this counsel he was stunned.  He looked me squarely in the eyes and asked, “Preacher, do you do that?”  I confess, I was not expecting that response and had to stop and think about it for a moment before answering!  The truth is I was not!  It was one of those do as I say not as I do moments that sent me to my prayer closet and a place of repentance.  I cried out to the Lord and asked, “Lord, how can I do this?  How can I change my outlook and elevate my faith to the point that this is a reality in my life?”

My problem was I knew it was the truth because it was God’s Word and God’s Word is truth!  I knew it was the pathway to freedom and victory in difficult times! I knew it was the way to elevate my level of trust and confidence in God and His ability and willingness to keep His promises!  I knew it was a way to prevent the devil from gaining a foothold or a stronghold in my life! 

I knew those things but looked at my action and reaction to trials and realized that I had spent more time focusing on the problem than the problem solver.  I was focusing more on the problem than the promise.  I was allowing my emotions to control me rather than bringing every thought into captivity and making them obedient to Christ.  I was looking earthward rather than heavenward.  I had to confess I was Guilty! 

From that event, I determined to bring humor into every situation to the degree that it was tasteful.  I found that laughing brought a different perspective and allowed me to rest in the confidence that “this too will pass.”  It enabled me to overcome very difficult times in my life. 

Recently, I became aware that I had drifted back into the mind-set of “wrong focus” and have fallen on my face before God in repentance.  I cried out to the Lord the words of David in Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”  I can tell you that it has made a difference and I have made the choice to rejoice! 

I frequently respond to trouble saying, “What is the worst thing that could happen?”  Seriously, if the trial were to kill me, I go home early and gain the ultimate victory.  If it does not kill me, I have an attitude of gratitude and can smile, sing, rejoice, joke, and enjoy life during the trial.  Therefore, my declaration to the devil is, “Be gone you are not welcome in this house!”  Yes, I want you to “rejoice” in the midst of your troubles!  Try it you just might like the results. 

May God bless you as you enjoy this day in Him!

Acts 1:6-8 – “So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; 8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” NASB

Jesus was about to ascend to heaven and leave his followers to walk out this new life in the strength of the invisible other Comforter that He was providing. Their walk would be one of faith not sight. That is the walk we are to walk, A Faith Walk!

They were still focused on the natural and He, once again, had to bring them into the Spiritual Realm.  He made a promise that would enable them to walk through and in any situation and do so with victory, assurance, and peace. “…but you will receive POWER when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you SHALL be My witnesses EVERYWHERE!”  (Emphasis mine).

There are so many things in this world and in our lives that demand attention and can cause fear and alarm.  One thing we must never forget is that He has afforded us the Holy Spirit who brings into our lives the Power of God and is an enabler, in a good sense, so we can be living epistles known and read among men.  

We witness not with words only but our lives.  We manifest Christ not just keep a set of religious rules and laws.  We demonstrate His character not maintain a checklist of what we’ve done that others have not.  We exhibit His love to a dying world and share the Good News that He not only came, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died as our sacrifice on the Cross but He Is Risen and ascended to the right hand of the Father making intercession for us.

Like a radio preacher of years ago used to say, “You can’t lose with the stuff I use.” I say you cannot fail with Jesus on your side and in your heart.  Freely you have received, freely give. Allow Jesus and the Holy Spirit to manifest themselves through you today and even if you don’t say a word lives will be touched.

May the Lord richly bless and keep you and empower you today as never before! Blessings my friends. Have a great day!

Elijah said to Ahab 1 Kings 18:41 – “…. there is the sound of abundance of rain.”

There is both trouble and revival or restoration coming!  We are informed of that reality in Hebrews 12:27 which tells us that everything that can be shaken will be shaken. I have long believed that day is coming.  I have preached it, testified of it, and now deep inside I, sense it an imminent reality! 

Evil has increased its activity and has been emboldened by the complacency of the church.  However, I believe that God will allow it to go only so far and then say, ENOUGH!   At that moment in time, there will be an outpouring on hungry hearts that will be in a greater measure than we have ever seen, or history has ever known. We read in Psalms 8:2 and Matthew 21:16 that, “Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings will come strength and perfected praise.”   My cry is “I’m thirsty Lord! I’m hungry Lord! Let it begin in me!” 

In Acts 2:14-21, we read, “But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17’And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. 18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants, I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. 21 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved.’”

I’m not as young as I once was and I’m having dreams about this Outpouring!  It’s not a question of will it come, it’s a question of “Will we be in it? Will, we present vessels, new wineskins to receive the New Wine?”   I believe that Preparation Always precedes Blessing! We need to make the valleys of our lives full of ditches so the water of God can fill us to overflowing!

May the LORD help you to create a hungry heart and thirst for His outpouring.  Walk in the rich blessings of God on this beautiful day!

Romans 8:26-27 – “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” NKJV

Sometimes, in life, we do not know how to pray or what to pray.  We know that according to 1 John 5:14-15 – “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”  There are times when we pray, and nothing seems to happen.  In those times we wonder, are we asking according to His will? 

We are reminded of the words of our Lord in, John 14:13-14 – “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”  Also, in Matthew 7:7-9 – “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” Yet, we sometimes still seem to be praying into a brass covered heaven and hitting a brick wall.

Those are the times that we need for the Holy Spirit, our comforter, our advocate to come into the situation and “pray for us” because He knows exactly what the will of God is and Exactly what to pray, what to say when to say it, and how to say it.  He knows the Purposes of God.  We sometimes get lost in the immediate, the pain, the problem, the circumstances, the situation, but He Always sees the Big Picture and the Whole Counsel of God.  He is to be trusted!

More times than I can count, I have relied on that truth to get me through situations that I could not explain, did not understand, and could not seem to break through praying in my own understanding.  I needed the divine help of the Paraclete, the Comforter, the Helper, the One Jesus said He would send to guide us and teach us all truth. 

In our current battle with the pain my wife is suffering, I have called upon the Lord to allow the Holy Spirit to pray for me, through me, and intercede before the Father.  I have many friends doing that and I know that victory is ours although not yet manifest in the natural world.  We believe it is a spiritual reality.  Therefore, we rest in the comfort of the Comforter and know that His intercession will prevail in this battle leading us to triumph and He will do the same for you in your struggle.

May God grant you His peace, power, presence, and promises as you go through your day and days in pursuit of His purposes in your life!  Blessings!

Hebrews 12:1-3 – “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” NASB

The Lord reminded me of what a friend told me as I was preparing to leave for boot camp in the ’60s. He said, “When I went to boot camp, I told myself there have been thousands of people who made it through before me so if they could do it I can.” I made that my goal and made it through. I had the same goal in my other training and in Vietnam. Now I have that goal in my Christian walk.

We have a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us.  The angels who have seen it, and the saints who have run the race and gone on to their reward are testimonies of the reality.  I do not make this goal in my own strength but as the writer of Hebrews instructs, “fixing my eyes upon Jesus, the author, and perfecter of my faith…” It is through Him, by Him, and in Him that I can run this race.

Like the athletes in the competitions of Paul’s day, I lay aside every encumbrance, weight, and sin that would entangle me.  I run the race with the endurance of the Holy Spirit’s strength.  I can because He has!  I will because He did!  I am because He is!  We must run with no thought of quitting or turning aside. We must run totally dependent upon His grace and strength.

Because He lives, I can face today, tomorrow, and embrace yesterday. Jesus is our Hope, our Strength, our Life! As someone said, “I don’t know what we will look like when we get there, but we will get there!”  The battle scars, the wounds of life do not matter, only finishing the race matters!  He has made the way. He has and does give us strength. Though all hell assails me, Heaven will not fail me, and I will make it through to the other side in Jesus!

I speak a blessing upon each of you as you begin this day and as you take the next step in your journey through this thing called life!  Keep your eyes fixed upon Jesus and you will run your race with patience and obtain the prize of the High Calling and enter in!

May today be the best day of your life thus far!