SOTERIOLOGY: THE DOCTRINE OF SALVATION (Part II)

SOTERIOLOGY: THE DOCTRINE OF SALVATION (Part II)

This devotional series focuses on a matter of supreme importance.  “SOTERIOLOGY” comes from the Greek root word, “sotero,” which is translated into English as “salvation.”  Understanding salvation, receiving salvation and sustaining salvation is mission critical to our eternal purpose and destiny.

Many people struggle with the idea of personal accountability to God.  Their underlying question is simply this: ‘Why can’t I live in the way I choose?’  Framed in another way, why must the creation be subject to the Creator? 

Even within the ranks of the institutional church, this troubling question has become increasingly prevalent.  In the contemporary church, it has become commonplace that many who lay claim to discipleship now seek to embrace an ala carte connection to Christ.  That is, instead of being open to instruction from the Word of God, these persons choose to arbitrarily define the parameters of their spiritual relationships, and the requirements thereof.  In effect, they have seated themselves upon the throne of their own lives and they have become their own gods.  Although they are labelled as believers, they are actually lost souls “whose minds the god of this age has blinded.” (II Corinthians 4:4)

To gain more understanding of this spiritual malady, prayerfully consider the following:

I Corinthians 1:20 (NKJV)

Where is the wise?  Where is the scribe?  Where is the disputer of this age?  Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

I Corinthians 3:19a (NKJV)

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.

Romans 12:2 (NKJV)

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Understand this.  The original sin WAs idolatry.  It was not about eating the fruit of a forbidden tree.  Not really.  Rather, it was about fulfilling the satanically-spawned ambition to walk in autonomy and freedom from divine connection and control.  Willfully disobeying divine directives, our fore-parents abandoned their covenant relationship, opting instead to exercise authority over their own lives.  The result was the entrance of sin and shame into creation, a God-ordered and God-blessed creation that had been divinely designed to sustain salvation forever, i.e. to maintain an environment of safety, security and soundness.  To wit, the original design of Eden was the absence of sin, i.e. total environmental and spiritual deliverance from the power, practice and penalty of sin.  Our fore-parents did not choose wisely.  What choices are we making?

Consider this.  Recent times have produced tragic and public departures from the faith.  In some cases, even well respected church leaders have totally abandoned the belief that we are ultimately accountable to God.  Their newfound perspective is that ‘a loving God’ could not possibly condemn or punish those who rebel and refuse to embrace Him.  In their newfound theology, God accepts all of us just as we are, with no real requirements that we adjust our attitudes and actions. 

Although their perspective is pure nonsense, in one small way I must agree with them.  Quite clearly, the scriptures state that “God did not appoint us to wrath.” (I Thessalonians 5:9)  Therefore, it is not the will of God that any should perish. (John 3:16-17)  So if we die in our sins, if we are judged unworthy of eternal life and fellowship with Him, if we are ultimately consigned to everlasting punishment, it is not God’s will.  It is not God’s choice, but ours.  If we take the road to hell, we make the decision to travel there over the grace, goodness and mercy of God, over the vicarious atonement of Jesus Christ, over His body and shed blood, over the eternal Word of God, over the preaching of the gospel, and over our own consciences, which tell us (unless we destroy them by continual willfulness) that there is a Creator who rightfully makes demands upon ALL those whom He has created.  Stay tuned…more to come.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

SOTERIOLOGY: THE DOCTRINE OF SALVATION (Part I)

SOTERIOLOGY: THE DOCTRINE OF SALVATION (Part I)

This devotional series centers around a matter of utmost importance to every person on the planet.  “SOTERIOLOGY” is based on the Greek root word, “sotero,” which is translated into English as “salvation.”  Why do we need to understand salvation, and exactly what is it?  Simply put, it is the common biblical expression (used 166 times in the Holy Writ) to identify the overall transformation in our lives when we receive the benefit of Christ’s atonement, “by grace…through faith.” (Ephesians 2:8)  Therefore, understanding salvation, receiving salvation and sustaining salvation is actually a matter of life or death.

As such, salvation is a vitally important concept for the believer to know, to master and to share with others.  Although Jesus Christ only used the term “salvation” once in reference to the tax collector, Zacchaeus, He presented a host of Kingdom teachings and parables that clearly define and describe salvation. (Luke 19:9 and Matthew, chapter 13) 

First of all, let’s define our key term.  When we speak about salvation, we are referring to healing, deliverance, preservation, safety, security and soundness.  Theologically speaking, SALVATION is absolute deliverance from the penalty, the power and the practice of sin.  Please understand that this does not suggest a life of sinless perfection, which was experienced only by The Anointed One.  Rather, it is the application of the work of redemption to the sinner and his/her restoration to full favor and communion with God.  The born again believer is completely sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and thus is no longer comfortable being “conformed to the world,” i.e. habitually practicing sin. (Romans 12:2 and I John 3:9)  Later, we will explore this truth in greater detail.

The redemptive operation of the Holy Spirit (known as salvation) is intended for all humankind, “for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)  It is brought about by repentance toward God, which produces (increased) faith, personal conversion, justification, regeneration, sanctification and spiritual baptism.  Of course, “it is GOD who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)  In a word, it all starts begins and ends with JESUS CHRIST, who is “the author and finisher of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2) 

The Wesley brothers (John and Charles) often preached about “PREVENIENT GRACE.”  This term describes the faithfulness, graciousness and mercy of God, who was always present (with us and for us) “while we were yet sinners,” lovingly securing our salvation through the vicarious sacrifice of His Son on Calvary’s cross. (Romans 5:8)  Even when we were not in search of His truth, He was there, always looking out for us and for our eternal salvation.

Hallelujah…what a Savior!  Stay tuned…more to come tomorrow.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

JUGGLING CHAINSAWS

JUGGLING CHAINSAWS

Yesterday, I read an intriguing essay by Marlene Buffa.  Rather creatively, her article addresses the complexities of modern-day life.  Ms. Buffa employs the metaphor of “juggling chainsaws” as an apt description of how so many handle all the stress and stuff of life.  Read, reflect and enjoy.

Years ago, “Saturday Night Live” included a skit where Billy Crystal and Christopher Guest played blue collar workers discussing their masochistic habits.* Describing painful physical events that were absurdly orchestrated, they grimaced and replied, “Ooh, I hate when that happens.”  The audience laughed heartily, not only because of the performers’ comedic talents, but because they recognized the irony of their own self-destructive behaviors.  

(*) Editor’s Note: “MASOCHISM” is gratification gained from pain imposed on oneself (or) the act of turning one’s destructive tendencies inward or upon oneself. [Source: Dictionary.com]

We, too, have our own chainsaws that we desperately try to juggle, and all too often we end up unwittingly grinding away at the solid trunk of our foundation.  All too often, our peace and productivity is felled at our own hands, which have wielded the instruments of our self-destruction.

For many people, life has three major aspects which comprise daily existence: our work, our play and our relationships.  We opt to savor them one at a time, or we grab each precious experience by the handful, anxiously wondering how to make sense of it all.  One by one, we examine each component, and given the luxury of time and patience, we learn to fully appreciate the role of each aspect in our lives.

But what happens when we neglect two parts to actualize only one portion of life?  Sitting on the sideline, waiting for engagement, the other two neglected orbs of life try to operate on their own.  In truth, when we cannot handle each portion of life in equal balance, the neglected parts profoundly suffer.

We must learn how to focus.  More often than not, the loudest chainsaw in our lives gets the most attention, just as the squeaky wheel gets the grease.  When we find ourselves crying out loudly for healing of one aspect over another, we must recognize the imbalance and seek to correct it.  As in juggling, coordinating all areas of life requires skill, timing and constant attention.  Struggling to keep all parts of ourselves active and alive requires tireless effort which might eventually lead to fatigue, but focusing on one portion over another ultimately produces the failure of the whole.  

But here’s the problem.  Juggling itself produces no results.  Look at your life.  In what ways is your life enriched by your constant attention to making everything always turn out neat and even?  Life just doesn’t work that way.  It’s not all neat…not all even…not all beautiful.  We must learn to take the good with the bad, and not get so lost in the process of juggling that we forget to enjoy every day that is afforded us.

When things are good, they don’t require much juggling.  Only perceived difficulties require shifting to avoid our feeling bad too long with one thing at a time.  We do not hear too much about juggling and struggling when we are experiencing perfect health, happiness and abundance.  Even so, as humans, we tend to interject ‘drama’ and find a reason to experience “I hate when that happens” moments at our own expense.

Take a close look to see what you are actually juggling in life; you might discover an absurd struggle!  You see, misery requires focus, energy and perpetual motion to exist.  Never be afraid to evaluate your success in these three aspects of life.  Why are you juggling, on what are you focusing (hence creating more of the same), and what are you juggling, i.e. how does it show up in your life?  Someday you may realize the thing in your life you’ve desperately tried to keep in motion is not anything you ever wanted or needed.  If it doesn’t empower you and others, move forward, drop it, and be happy that it happened.  You just might have been juggling chainsaws – and that’s quite dangerous.

Many thanks are extended to Ms. Buffa for sharing so eloquently with us.  Moreover, I would add an additional and all-important life ingredient for our consideration, which is the spiritual aspect of life.  While we are attending to our relationships, our work and our play, we must never neglect our spirits, which will significantly impact the other three areas, in a most profound, personal and permanent way.  What do you think?

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF LOVE (Part V)

THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF LOVE (Part V)

The primary evidence of genuine Christianity is the believer’s demonstration of love.  Christ declares, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35, NKJV) 

Since JESUS CHRIST is the ultimate manifestation of divine love, our definition of love is connected to His person and work.  To wit, LOVE IS THE CHRIST-ANOINTING – spiritually activated in our thoughts, attitudes, words, decisions, actions and ministries – for the express purpose of transforming our lives, increasing our faith, restoring our relationships and authenticating our witness.

It is liberating to know that Satan has only ‘three tricks’ up his demonic sleeve!  His power is actually limited, not unlimited like God’s power, and by extension, less than our spiritual authority as we walk in divine power.  According to I John 2:15-16, “ALL” that Satan has within this world system is 1) the lust of the flesh, 2) the lust of the EYES, and 3) the PRIDE of life.

Genesis 3:6 informs us that Satan gained the upper hand over our fore-parents by launching these three carnal weapons.  “When the woman saw the tree was good for food [the lust of the flesh] and that it was pleasant to the eyes [the lust of the eyes] and a tree to be desired to make one wise [the pride of life], she took the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” (Genesis 3:6)

Satan strategically deployed these same temptations against Jesus.  However, he was patently unsuccessful in doing so.  Following Jesus’ 40-day fast in wilderness (Matthew, chapter 4), He was systematically tempted of Satan via 1) a command to turn stones into bread [the lust of the flesh], 2) a suggestion to throw himself down from the pinnacle of the temple so that angels would be dispatched to rescue and reveal His glory [the pride of life], and 3) a deceitful promise that he would be given all the kingdoms of the world that Satan showed to Him [the lust of the eyes].  This final temptation was sheer lunacy since “the earth is [already] the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.” (Psalm 24:1)

How did JESUS respond to satanic temptation?  Not by entering into dialogue with the devil…not by some ostentatious display of divine power…but by immediately dispatching His primary weapon (and ours), THE WORD OF GOD.  He assigned a specific Word to eVERY satanic temptation, thus dismissing and overcoming it.  Wow!  We too walk in this covenant of faith victory.  Listen with your spirit to what THE WORD has to say about YOU and your capacity to overcome:

II Corinthians 10:4 (NKJV)

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,

I John 5:4 (NKJV)

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

Our God, Who is love personified, offers ten specific promises to all winner-believers who OVERCOME.  Because of our faithfulness, 1) We will eat from the tree of life (Revelation 2:7);  2) We will not be hurt by the second death (Revelation 2:11);  3) We will eat of the hidden manna (Revelation 2:17);  4) We will be given a white stone with a name inscription known only to God and the recipient (Revelation 2:7);  5) We will be given power over the nations (Revelation 2:26);  6) We will be clothed in white garments (Revelation 3:5);  7) We will be confessed by Christ before the Father and the angels (Revelation 3:5);  8) We will dwell eternally in the temple of God (Revelation 3:12);  9) We will be personally inscribed with the name of God and the New Jerusalem (Revelation 3:12); and, 10) We will inherit all thing as the children of God (Revelation 21:7).

All of these benefits are made available with the condition that we accept the covenantal gift of grace, which is the sacrificial atonement of God in Christ, and we must remain faithful to Him, i.e. to His Word. (John 10:21 and Revelation 2:10)

This is possible ONLY because of (and by way of) God’s transforming love.  “As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (II Peter 1:3-5)

Once we have been thus transformed, it is our signal honor that we become “stewards of the mysteries of God” (I Corinthians 4:1) with the distinct privilege of serving as ambassadors of the King of Kings within this fallen world system.  Love transforms and infuses life into dying souls and dire circumstances.  So ask yourself this vitally important question: “What am I doing to exemplify and share His transforming love?”

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF LOVE (Part IV)

THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF LOVE (Part IV)

The primary evidence of genuine Christianity is the believer’s demonstration of love.  As Jesus Christ declares, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35, NKJV) 

Since JESUS CHRIST is the ultimate manifestation of divine love, our theological definition of love is directly connected to His person and work.  LOVE IS THE CHRIST-ANOINTING – spiritually activated in our thoughts, attitudes, words, decisions, actions and ministries – for the express purpose of transforming our lives, increasing our faith, restoring our relationships and authenticating our witness.

As the express manifestation and epitome of divine love, JESUS CHRIST breaks the vicious cycle of sin, tears down the wall of separation between God and man, and gains absolute victory over this satanic world system.  In the words of The Anointed One, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NKJV)  The Word declares that as JESUS IS in the world, so are we, who follow Him as winner-believers!

I love to preach about “The Christ Anointing” because you and I, as winner-believers, have the exact same spiritual authority and spiritual anointing that Christ walked in and demonstrated daily. YOU AND I have CHRIST’S ANOINTING…that yoke-destroying…burden-removing…POWER OF GOD!

To fully apprehend the OVERCOMING ANOINTING that JESUS has (and we have deposited within), we need to look briefly at how humankind failed to overcome when originally tempted by Satan.  We will contrast this with the manner in which JESUS handled satanic temptation and achieved absolute victory.

Prayerfully consider the following scripture passage:

Genesis 3:1-7 (New King James Version, NKJV)

¹ Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”

² And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 

³ but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’”

⁴ Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 

⁵ For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

⁶ So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.  

⁷ Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.

Fortunately for us, Satan has only ‘three tricks’ up his demonic sleeve!  His power is actually limited, not unlimited like God’s power, and by extension, less than our authority to walk in divine power.  I John 2:15-16 admonishes us to avoid falling in love with this world system, and further informs us of its basic limitations.  The Apostle John writes, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.  If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For ALL that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”

Let’s seek to understand this more fully.  Since Satan is “the prince of the power of the air,” he is the prince and the power of this world system. (Ephesians 2:2)  Nevertheless, John informs us that, Satan’s position notwithstanding, he has only three weapons in this world system that can be deployed against us.  Only three!  “ALL” that he has in this world system are the lust of the flesh, the lust of the EYES and the PRIDE of life.

Question: How did Satan use these three worldly weapons to gain advantage over Adam and Eve?  Genesis 3:6 states “When the woman saw the tree was good for food (the lust of the flesh) and that it was pleasant to the eyes (the lust of the eyes) and a tree to be desired to make one wise (the pride of life), she took the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”

That is precisely how our fore-parents failed to overcome.  Tomorrow, we will discover how Satan deployed these same temptations against Jesus and totally failed.  Stay tuned…more to come tomorrow.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF LOVE (Part III)

THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF LOVE (Part III)

The primary evidence of genuine Christianity is the believer’s demonstration of love.  As Jesus Christ declares, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35, NKJV)  Since JESUS CHRIST is the ultimate manifestation of divine love, our theological definition of love is directly connected to His person and work.  LOVE IS THE CHRIST-ANOINTING – spiritually activated in our thoughts, attitudes, words, decisions, actions and ministries – for the express purpose of transforming our lives, increasing our faith, restoring our relationships and authenticating our witness.

Today we revisit a primary passage on covenant love (I Corinthians, chapter 13, The Message Bible):

¹ If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.

² If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing.

^3-7 If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

^8-10 Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.

¹¹ When I was an infant at my mother’s breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good.

¹² We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!

¹³ But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.

Stay tuned…more to come tomorrow.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF LOVE (Part II)

THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF LOVE (Part II)

The primary evidence of genuine Christianity is the believer’s demonstration of love.  As Jesus Christ declares, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35, NKJV)  Since JESUS CHRIST is the ultimate manifestation of divine love, our theological definition of love is directly connected to His person and work.  LOVE IS THE CHRIST-ANOINTING – spiritually activated in our thoughts, attitudes, words, decisions, actions and ministries – for the express purpose of transforming our lives, increasing our faith, restoring our relationships and authenticating our witness.

When Adam and Eve made the fatal decision to disobey God’s basic command, the door was left wide open for Satan to become the “prince of the power of the air,” and he has been broadcasting lies and deceit ever since.  In fact, by humankind’s failure to hold up our end of the divine covenant, Satan was legally positioned to become ‘large-and-in-charge’ in this world system. (Genesis 2:8-15 and Ephesians 2:2) 

Nevertheless, on the stage of human history enters JESUS CHRIST.  Oh, how I love Jesus, for He broke down the post-fall barrier that existed between God and man.  He transcended an immeasurable distance, overturned a wall of separation (erected from the base materials of sin and shame) and restored all who believe to full and free fellowship with The Creator.

ONLY JESUS (acting as very God and very man) was actually able to satisfy the righteous demands of God.  Mankind lacked the capacity to save himself, but was justly required to do so since we had deliberately broken a covenant relationship and separated ourselves from God.  ONLY JESUS – as ‘very God’ and ‘very man’ – had the ability to resolve the dilemma of the justice of God in opposition to the mercy of God.  as man, he had the obligation to restore the lost relationship.  And As God, He had the capacity to “overcome the world,” (John 16:33 and I John 5:4-5)  

To recap, JESUS CHRIST is very God and very man.  He is man-enough to have experienced every possible pain, pressure and problem in the Garden of Gethsemane; yet, he is GOD-ENOUGH to become our “great high priest that is passed into the heavens…touched with the feeling of our infirmities…in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  (Hebrews 4:14-15)

He is MAN-ENOUGH for his own natural body to hunger and thirst – but He is GOD-ENOUGH to receive a little boy’s lunch and transform into an abundant and sumptuous meal for thousands.

He is MAN-ENOUGH to have been a homeless traveler, for He said about Himself “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.” (Luke 9:58)  Yet He is GOD-ENOUGH to declare “In my Father’s house are many mansions…I go to prepare a place for you…that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:1-3)

He is MAN-ENOUGH to have wept at the gravesite of His dear friend, Lazarus.  Yet He is GOD-ENOUGH that every believer may cast “all care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (I Peter 5:7)  Hallelujah!  What a loving Savior!

Stay tuned…more to come tomorrow.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF LOVE (Part I)

THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF LOVE (Part I)

The most profound and pivotal evidence of the Christian faith is our sincere demonstration of love.  In the words of Jesus Christ, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35, NKJV)  John, the apostle of love, affirms the fact that our relationship with God (and others) is directly mediated through the covenant of love: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.  He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (I John 4:7-8, NKJV)

THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST is the epitome of DIVINE LOVE.  That is, “God was IN CHRIST, reconciling the world to Himself…and has [thereafter] committed to us the word of reconciliation.” (II Corinthians 5:19, NKJV)  When Jesus Christ walked upon the earth, He existed as the literal and physical manifestation of the LOVE OF GOD, inhabiting this mortal plain.  His life-long, sacrificial representation of the LOVE OF GOD forever redeems us from the power and penalty of sin, and of death.

JESUS is the supreme embodiment of divine love, so here is my theological definition of love:

LOVE IS THE CHRIST-ANOINTING – spiritually activated in our thoughts, attitudes, words, decisions, actions and ministries – for the express purpose of transforming our lives, increasing our faith, restoring our relationships and authenticating our witness.

Allow me to explain this another way, by taking a trek back to the beginning of time.  In the infancy of human history, we took our first-step away from God.  Quite often, Eve is saddled with the blame of succumbing first to satanic deception, but this line of reasoning puzzles me.  After all, God issued His divine directive to both Adam and Eve.  “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.  Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”  (Genesis 1:27-28, NKJV)

We don’t know where Adam was when the serpent stealthily slithered his way into Eden.  Perhaps he was tending to the garden; perhaps he was simply asleep at the switch.  Nevertheless, it is my contention that Satan was able to launch an effective attack against the matriarch of humanity because the patriarch had left her all alone.  At the risk of sounding a bit sexist or chauvinistic, women do need the covering of men.  Likewise, men definitely need the covering of women.  We are much better together…than apart.

As a matter of fact, a prime satanic strategy is to isolate us and (via the entry door of our aloneness and loneliness) to gain access to our thinking and to thereby influence our attitudes and actions.

However, there is an absolutely amazing reservoir of divine power that resides in UNITY and AGREEMENT.  Jesus Christ declared “where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20, NKJV)  The sage Solomon stated “two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9, NKJV)  Indeed, it is possible for one to chase a thousand, but standing in the unified power of God, two shall put ten thousand to flight! (Deuteronomy 32:30)

Now hear this!  The foregoing principle represents a spiritual geometric progression that literally terrifies Satan!  We have little comprehension of the spiritual force that will be released when we walk together in purpose and unity.  As we awaken to realize the power AND POTENTIAL of unity, a wide array of demonic devices will be nullified and obliterated in our families and in churches.  Stay tuned…more to come tomorrow.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

HAVE YOU PRAYED ABOUT IT?

HAVE YOU PRAYED ABOUT IT?

Before you allow yourself to stress, worry, fret, or complain, please ask yourself this simple question: Have you prayed about your situation…in a sincere, transparent and honest manner?

Might I state the obvious truth?  Prayer changes people.  Prayer changes things.  And more things are resolved positively through faithful prayer than this world can possibly conceive.

So many times we confide (or place confidence) in others to no avail.  At all costs, we must avoid placing total confidence in fellow humans who occupy the same ship and state as we.  In the words of the Apostle Paul, “we…worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus…and have no confidence in the flesh.” (Philippians 3:3)

Nevertheless, there is a miraculous lifting of our physical, spiritual and emotional burdens whenever we “come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

So don’t pray and worry.

The Apostle Peter describes our ideal faith position, which is always fortified and actualized through the vehicle of prayer.  His prescription is as timeless and basic as it is effective: “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (I Peter 5:7)

So today, sisters and brothers, we will trust in HIM.

Belinda and I love to sing one of Brooklyn Tabernacle’s popular praise choruses during our family devotionals.  It goes something like this:  “I will trust in You, my God, my Provider.  I will trust in You, my Hope and my Friend.  You give me peace…you give me joy…for this I know…I will trust in You.”

YOU GIVE ME PEACE…YOU GIVE ME JOY…FOR THIS I KNOW…I WILL TRUST IN YOU!

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (King Solomon, Proverbs 3:5-6, NKJV)  Our parents had hung a plaque (verse 5) on our dining room wall as a constant reminder of the “Author and Finisher of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2)

Our God is faithful.  Our God is awesome.  Only believe.  My life verse breathes assurance into me at every turn in the road: “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

I DECLARE: THINGS ARE GOING TO GET BETTER!

I DECLARE: THINGS ARE GOING TO GET BETTER!

Always remember that with every apparent disadvantage in life, there is a corresponding advantage.

There is a message in every mess.
There is opportunity in every difficulty.
There is promotion after every reversal.
There is hope in every hopeless situation.
There is great grace waiting for you in every disgrace.

So you don’t have to cry over seemingly sad situations.  They are divinely reversible.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

BEING THERE FOR SOMEONE ELSE

BEING THERE FOR SOMEONE ELSE

One of life’s most important lessons is learning not to be selfish, i.e. to exemplify and demonstrate genuine concern and empathy for the circumstances of others.  The following story by an unknown author aptly illustrates this principle.

My mother occasionally asked me a mysterious question: “What is the most important part of the body?”  Through the years I would take a guess at what I thought might be the correct answer. 

When I was much younger, I thought sound was very important to us as humans, so I responded, “My ears, Mommy.”

She replied, “No, son.  Many people are deaf and lead very positive and productive lives.  But you keep thinking about it and I will ask you again soon.”

Several years passed before she asked me again.  Since making my first attempt, I had contemplated the correct answer.

So this time I told her, “Mommy, sight is very important to everyone, so it must be our eyes.”

She looked at me and told me, “You are learning fast, but the answer is not correct because there are many people who are blind.”

Stumped again, I continued my quest for knowledge and over the years, Mother asked me a couple more times and always her answer was, “No, son.  But you are getting smarter every year, my child.”

Then last year, my grandfather died.  Everybody was hurt.  Everyone was crying.  Even my father cried.  I remember that especially because it was only the second time I saw him cry.  My Mom looked at me when it was our turn to say our final goodbyes to Grandpa.

She asked me, “Do you know the most important body part yet, my dear?”

I was shocked when she asked me this now.  I always thought this was just a game between her and me.

She saw the confusion on my face and told me, “This question is very important.  It shows that you have really lived in your life.  For every body part you gave me in the past, I have told you were wrong and I have given you an example why.  But today is the day you need to learn this important life lesson.”

She looked down at me as only a mother can, and I saw her eyes well up with tears. 

She said, “My dear, the most important body part is your shoulder.”

I asked, “Is it because it holds up my head?”

She replied, “No, it is because it can hold the head of a friend or loved one when they are crying.  Everybody needs a shoulder to cry on sometime in life.  I only hope that you have enough love from your family and friends that you will always have a shoulder to cry on whenever you need it.”

Then and there I knew the most important body part is not a selfish one.  It is an instrument of compassion, and it is always sympathetic to the pain of others.

Remember: Forge intimate connections along life’s journey, and never forget to be there in someone’s hour of need.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!