Words of Encouragement

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. – Matthew 6:14-15

He is Risen, What Next? We can forgive the unforgivable. Sometimes it seems impossible to forgive the mean and hurtful things people say and do to you. This is especially true when those hurting you say they belong to Christ. It is hard to reconcile the things people assume and then speak as if it is truth. I must be honest; this was an area that was very difficult for me. I could not understand the saints saying the mean things they did to me.

I could not understand the hurtful words that come from their mouths, instead of the words that should encourage. I could not understand how do we claim to be Christians and do such mean things. Sometimes the hurt and struggle does not come from outside the church, sometimes the struggle comes right in the midst of the place that should be a place of worship.

Well what does that mean? It means that regardless of what others do, we must be like Christ. It means that when some one lies on us, we must continue to be like Christ. It means that when others would say mean hurtful words, we must continue to be like Christ.

This is not something we can do in our own ability. I could not forgive those that hurt me, lied on me and misused me in my own ability. It took the risen Christ living in me to enable me to do so. It takes the Holy Spirit helping me to be able to forgive the unforgivable. To be able to forgive means you do it, even when the other party may never say a thing, or acknowledge their need for forgiveness.

I pray for us this week that we seek God to help us forgive those that have hurt us, talked about us, lied on us and mistreated us. Help us to show love even though others may not be showing it in return. Jesus showed loved to an angry mob as he hung on the cross. He could have rightly called angels from heaven to stop what was happening, but he knew that it was all to fulfill God’s plan. We must look at the mistreatment of others and ask the same question, what is best for me? Is it best that I move from this area, or is it best that I allow you to bring me through? You’ll find out that God many times wants us to go through because he is using these times to bring about something in us. So let us turn to God when people mistreat us, or do us wrong. If we are not willing to forgive what others have done to us, we then cannot expect God to forgive our sins. For our sins against God is far greater than anything anyone else could do against us.

Someone You Should Know!

This is my middle daughter singing with another one of the children.

We want to finish the interview with Michelle regarding the recording of her CD.

Jewel - What do you hope to do going forward with your music? I have some ideas, don't forget I'll be needing someone to score my movie.

Michelle - That's great that God has planted so many wonderful ambitions in your heart...and He will surely bring'em to pass as you continue to consult him. Well, all this initially was of course--merely an annual Scholarship Benefit initiative. So even though the first year featured piano performances from summer students and the second year was the CD production, I feel the Lord is leading me to produce a Music/Production/Play where there will still be another CD release (with approximately 17 more songs) but incorporating a story/drama in the production. Again, the Lord was speaking to me at last year's Youth Convention, this time--from the Grapevine, Texas area and I was pretty much asking Him what His specific will was--for '08. So pretty much the overall future looks like...to continue providing artistic venues for youth to express themselves as they honor their Heavenly Father--and ultimately benefit their futures by raising funds from these annual events--so they can enroll in various music classes that will partly be funded by some of the available monies.

Come back again for the rest of this interview.

Words of Encouragement

But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. – 2 Corinthians 3:16-18

He is Risen, What Next? We can reflect Jesus. Easter or Resurrection Sunday has come and gone, but does that mean we should lose the focus we gained during this time? I believe the answer to that is no. In fact, we should begin to ask the next question, what is next for us to do? This isn’t just a question for the unsaved that have now accepted Christ, but also for the one that already believes. We should continually ask, what next Lord?

In this scripture, the New Covenant is being spoken about. Paul speaks about Moses and how he wore the veil over his face because the people could not look upon the glory of God on his face. The comparison is we do not have to place a veil on our faces, we can allow the Spirit of God to reflect through us and have the freedom of reflecting Jesus.

The glory that shown upon Moses faces faded, but this does not have to be what transpires with the believer today. We can reflect the Spirit, which is the Lord’s Spirit, and continually be transformed into his likeness with an ever-increasing glory. In other words, as we release more of ourselves into the hand of God, the more we will reflect his Son (Sanctification).

We can be changed to show the world the beauty of the Lord. We are not able to do this without the risen Christ. So what’s next? The next thing for us to day is to release ourselves into the hand of God so that He can receive glory from our lives as we walk before him and before men.

I pray for us today that we reflect on what the Lord has spoken to our hearts during this past Holy Week and then move into action on what he has shown us. Has he shown you he desires more worship? Then worship. Has he shown you he wants more commitment? Then commit, yield. Has he shown you that there are some things in your life that need to be nailed to the cross, put to death so that the new purpose in your life can be resurrected? Then nail those things to the cross and move forward in His purpose. Today, is our call to action, what will you do, what is next for you?

Words of Encouragement

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. – 1 Corinthians 15:56-58

Sacrifice of Praise. Sacrifice brings victory. On this “Good Friday” we take the time to reflect on what took place for you and I to be able to stand in victory. Jesus willingly allowed himself to be crucified as the scripture foretold for our transgressions, our sins. He became the living sacrifice for the atonement of sin. What that means is the blood of the animals was not enough to remove the sins of the people. It was only a temporary covering. The blood of Christ became the true remover of sins. The blood of Christ doesn’t simply cover them over and allow them to still be there, he completely removes them. Yet, these sins were not removed with out the payment of Christ blood.

Jesus’ sacrifice became the door to victory over the sting of death. Jesus’ sacrifice gives us victory. Paul then tells his listens, “therefore”. Therefore means as a result of this, something else can happen. So as a result of Jesus’ sacrifice for our victorious living, we then should live victoriously. That means we should stand firm in the truth and allow nothing to move us. Bad treatment, bad attitudes, bad situations, bad circumstances, NOTHING, should move us.

We should always give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord because what we do for Christ will last. One sacrifice (Jesus’) calls for another sacrifice (ours). Jesus gave his life for us, so that we can lay ours down for him. Our sacrifice of praise manifests itself in our willingness to live a victorious life for Christ. When we live victoriously we show the world that the power of Christ is real.

When we live defeated, angry, complacent, fearful or unfulfilled lives as believers, we bring doubt to onlookers about the ability of God. Is this Christ really resurrected? If he is, why does his people have no power over the natural things? For if this Christ be raised, then shouldn’t his people also be raised (moved from sin)? Shouldn’t they have power over those things of the flesh? Shouldn’t they have power to overcome as Christ did? If Christ was able to fulfill his mission on the cross, shouldn’t his people be able to fulfill theirs also? If Christ did not allow naysayers, mockers and enemies to stop him for going to his cross, shouldn’t his people be able to go to theirs and carry that which is for them to carry?

Today as we prepare for the resurrection, let us take one more look at the cross. As I saw a play at New Life Church of God on last Sunday and it came to the part where Christ lowered his head and said it is finished, I thought about myself. We most times think of this saying of “it is finished” as the end of life. But there are going to be times when we must carry one cross to be later replaced with a different cross throughout our spiritual walk. There are sometimes I must crucify some things, nail them to the cross (my fleshly way of handling it) and speak it is finished over them. So that I can be resurrected to newness (the place where I have victory over the flesh in that area), where that which was crucified has no more affect over me, for I have received the victory over that.

Yet, I will have to repeat the process with the next cross I must pick up. I pray that we seek God this Resurrection Sunday and ask, is there something I need to nail to the cross? Is there some attitude, some behavior, or some mindset that needs to be crucified? If so, let me make the sacrifice so that I can have victory over it, when you resurrect me to the newness of my walk.

Words of Encouragement

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. – Matthew 6:14

Sacrifice of Praise. Forgiving the unforgivable. Jesus taught what was required of those that would call themselves children of God. What Jesus taught was not only in words, but also in deeds. Jesus willing showed us how to forgive, by his speaking his forgiveness over those that nailed him to the cross. He also spoke not only forgiveness for those standing there but he also spoke a prayer for us to come.

This is one of the gifts that salvation has brought to us. It has brought us the ability to be a living sacrifice as Jesus was. It gives us the ability to withstand the deeds done to us by others. This is the only answer for how we are able to forgive hurts, lies and betrayal.

Jesus gives us this commandment with a stipulation. If we are not willing to forgive others sins against us, how can we expect God to forgive our sins that are far worse than anything anyone can do to us? How can we expect to seek forgiveness from God for our sins that hurt the heart of God, the lies we live and the betrayal of his ways, if we won’t do the same for others?

Jesus then is telling us, we must be willing to give a sacrifice of ourselves, which is praise unto the Lord. I have come to believe praise is not just what I do when I sing songs on Sunday. It also is when my life lines up with the will of God and I walk in the ways of the Lord that my life begins to show as a sacrifice of praise unto God. When my personal time of worship comes, I am an act of praise.

Today, I speak to someone that is having a hard time forgiving hurts, disappointments in others, fears of trusting again, those that have been betrayed by friends, family and loved ones. You can forgive because God has equipped you with the ability to do so. God has given you the tools you need to forgive any injustice you have suffered. He has not removed these things, but he has thought it best to allow you to go through them so that he could perfect something inside of you. Let God help you offer a sacrifice of praise through your life by offering forgiveness to the unforgivable. When you do, know that God stands waiting to forgive you of all that you do that transgresses his will. He not only offers forgiveness for what we do now, but also his forgiveness stands waiting for us for those sins yet undone. His forgiveness is endless. Lord I forgive those that have hurt me and release them into your hands; I forgive them even for those things yet undone, because of the offer of forgiveness that you have offered to me. So help me now to heal from the hurts, so that I can continue to walk in my path and have the victory over all that has been done against me, in Jesus name, Amen.

Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. – Matthew 26:14-16

Sacrifice of Praise. Even when Judas is in the midst. We oftentimes talk about how Jesus examples for us what it looks like to be one of his followers and that is true in this chapter of scripture as well. This chapter begins with Jesus telling of his coming death. The religions leaders gather to plot how to destroy Jesus. This information is placed right in the midst of this chapter as Jesus begins to prepare for the Passover.

In the midst of the celebration of the Passover, Judas in his mind is plotting how to handover Jesus to the chief priests. In the midst of a time of remembering the sacrifice made so that the children of Israel would be safe from the spirit of death that came upon Egypt, Judas plots the death of the Lamb of God. They were celebrating the Passover, which was an Old Covenant observation. Jesus was showing them now the “Passover” celebration that would be part of the New Covenant.

Our sins are covered and then the spirit of death passes over us because we are under the doorpost that has been covered by the blood of the lamb. This Lamb is Jesus and the doorpost that has been covered is the doorpost to our hearts. So Jesus sets in motion the new observation of Communion, of remembrance of His sacrifice that came to all people to keep us safe from the death penalty of sin when it comes passing through the land.

An important things for us to see is even though there was one in the midst that had come to destroy, Jesus did not stop his purpose of observing the Old remembrance and installing the New one. He did not let the devil in the midst stop him from honoring His Father.

The example is the same for us. Even when we find ourselves in situations where there is a Judas among us that is seeking to destroy us, we must continue to be about our Father’s business. And part of that business is praising and honoring him. Jesus made a sacrifice of praising His Father even when there was one that he knew would betray him. How many of us can continue to stay focused, when we know someone or something is about to destroy us? It would not be easy to do. We would want to defend ourselves, or expose the situation. Yet, that isn’t our responsibility (unless God tells us to). Instead our responsibility is to continue to offer up our sacrifices of praise unto the king.

Today I pray for us that we continue to offer up our sacrifices of praise even in the midst of our own situations that seem to be waiting to destroy us. Let us continue to focus on and remember the gift of the blood. Let us focus on the lamb that was slain and let God handle the Judas’ amongst us.

Words of Encouragement

You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts. – Jeremiah 12:2

Sacrifice of Praise. Praise is not lip service, but heart service. This 12th chapter of Jeremiah does not reference the word praise and it might seem like a strange place to go in reference to praise. This scripture (the entire book of Jeremiah) has meaning, especially to me. Jeremiah has a complaint he is giving to God in this chapter. Jeremiah is asking God a question about the wicked. He starts this chapter by saying that God is a righteous God, yet his question is about how God judges.

He asks God how do you allow the wicked to prosper and the faithless to live in ease? Here Jeremiah says in this verse that you have planted them, they have taken root and grow. Yet, even with all that the provisions you have given them, they are only giving you lip service. Oh you are on their lips, but you are not the motivating factor behind their actions, which come out of their hearts. He then says, but you know me. You have seen my heart and you know my motivations.

God’s answer, which is quite funny, comes shortly after Jeremiah’s question. It is funny because when I accepted my call to preach, this is the book God sent me to for eight months to speak to me about what he was requiring of me. I too like Jeremiah had a complaint about telling what he gave me to tell, when the wicked only seem to continue to prosper, while I had to deal with the fallout of being obedient. This is God’s answer (starting with verse 5). “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?” It took me a moment before I began to laugh. What God’s answer to Jeremiah was, if you are being worn down by those I send you to on foot, what will you do when I send you to those on horses. Or made even simpler, if I send you to these (the people) and you are tired, what happens when I send you to those greater (kings and rulers), those more challenging, and those that will require you to run a stronger race?

What does this have to do with lip service and praise? God was telling Jeremiah this; I see those that give lip service to me. I know those that profess, but do not possess. You, though I am requiring to continue to run where I send you. I require you to do as I say even when your brothers and family may want to destroy you. You, I am requiring to make a sacrifice unto me of yourself, your praise, and your very life.

We today are required to do the same. It is not longer the lone prophet that is required to make the sacrifice for God. It is a requirement of all God’s children. Jesus gave us this ability through his sacrifice of blood and the gifting of the Holy Spirit. I pray for us as we draw closer to Resurrection Sunday, that we take a close look at ourselves. Are we where God has called us to be? Are we making the sacrifice, as he requires it? Let us make sure we are not as Jeremiah said regarding the people of his time, planted (having given ourselves to being God’s people) but only having God on our lips but not in our hearts. Let us be set a blaze for the Lord so that both our lips and our hearts are in union as we offer up praises unto God.