Following The Wrong Gospel….

The problem with the prosperity gospel, or what the “word faith” teaches, is that it never establishes deep roots. People believe that their behavior earns God’s favor. When hard times come (and they will come), people fall away because things don’t work like they should. People think their faith doesn’t live up to what it’s supposed to. When someone dies of cancer or tragedy strikes a prosperity believer is told the reason it happened is because they didn’t pray enough, or they were sinning in some way. This is the scheme of the devil. Those that believe “riches” come to the faithful confuse that same lie with the truth. Think about it, if your goal in “being nice” or “living by our (perceived) faith” is to get something in return, then you’re following the wrong gospel. Your roots won’t be deep enough to sustain you, or the worries and distractions of life will see to it that you won’t ever find contentment in chasing the “prosperity gospel”. The rewards that come from a true life of faith in Jesus, can’t be measured. Money is a measurable device. It won’t ever fall under the guarantee of eternal life. Why? As I said it’s measurable, and it’s perishable. The only two things that will last for eternity are the souls of people and God’s word. Trusting God is the reward. And it’s benefits are immeasurable (peace, patience, purpose, security). Don’t allow yourself to believe in counterfeit gospels. Hold everything up in the light of what the Bible says. It will be exposed when compared to the “Real Thing”. For nothing compares to God. Nothing. When you know Him, you know this to be true. Real prosperity is being rich in your relationship to God, and to others.

1 Once again Jesus began teaching by the lakeshore. A very large crowd soon gathered around Him, so He got into a boat. Then He sat in the boat while all the people remained on the shore. 2 He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:3 “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed.4 As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it.5 Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow.6 But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died.7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain.8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”9 Then He said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”10 Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked Him what the parables meant.11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, 12 so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: ‘When they see what I do,they will learn nothing.When they hear what I say,they will not understand.Otherwise, they will turn to Meand be forgiven.’” 13 Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables? 14 The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others.15 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away.16 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.17 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.18 The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word,19 but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.20 And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” Mark 4:1-20

The Greatest Thing About God….

The greatest thing about God is His willingness to forgive. He can and will forgive the most vile of sinners. If Adolph Hitler truly repented of his sin, God would’ve forgiven him and welcomed him into His family. Digest that thought for a second. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done, forgiveness is just one contrite, spirited prayer away, and your sin will be cast into the deepest part of the ocean, never to be seen again. God loves us so much, that He gives us a choice: to reciprocate His love, or deny it. God allows “no” to be acceptable response from us, for love does not demand its own way (1 Cor 13). When we choose to deny His love, we can change our minds and embrace it. But if we continue to deny His love, there will be no forgiveness. It’s that clear-cut. The only sin that God will not forgive is not believing Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and God are One. He can’t grant you eternal life with Him if you choose not to want to be there with Him. Now, that’s real love. It always gives us a choice.

28 “I tell you the truth, all sin and blasphemy can be forgiven,29 but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. This is a sin with eternal consequences.”30 He told them this because they were saying, “He’s possessed by an evil spirit.” Mark 3:28-30

They say a "good name” goes far. Integrity has no holidays. When your name is tarnished by some split-second, thoughtless act, it can take a lifetime to rebuild it. As the saying goes, it takes a long time to establish a good name, and only a second to ruin it. Set a goal today to establish a good name for yourself. When people think of you it should bring joy to their hearts. If you’ve tarnished your name, then make a plan to make it right. God has a way of restoring what the locusts have eaten. Regardless what society says about truth, a good name will take you far in this life. And it guarantees a good night sleep to those who walk its path.

7 We have happy memories of the godly, but the name of a wicked person rots away. Proverbs 10:7

The Distance Of Your Relationship….

The only difference between being legalistic (politically correct) and being truly humble is Who it is you’re trying to please. If you try to please men, your priorities are not about the welfare of “doing right” at the expense of others. If you’re trying to please God, from your heart, others will always be in the equation. All of this is directly related to the distance of your relationship to God. You’ll find your patience and respect levels for people are much higher when that distance is short. It’s really easy to become legalistic when that distance is far.

1 Declare me innocent, O Lord,for I have acted with integrity;I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.2 Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me.Test my motives and my heart.3 For I am always aware of Your unfailing love,and I have lived according to Your truth.4 I do not spend time with liarsor go along with hypocrites.5 I hate the gatherings of those who do evil,and I refuse to join in with the wicked. Psalms 26:1-5

He Is Just And Fair To All….

Reading through Leviticus can be exciting for the scholar or historian, but for the rest of us it can be a long, drawn out read/study. I’m not saying, in any way, it’s not important, I’m just saying all the details can be a bit overwhelming. Most of these details are no longer applicable to those that follow Christ Jesus. With that said, when I read all the details of the procedures for cleansing of healed lepers or skin-diseased people, one thing stood out: God knows every thing about every single one of us. He knows our thoughts, our financial status, and our commitment to Him, to name a few. And the best news is that He is just and fair to all of us. If a healed leper or any skin-diseased person was healed, there was a stringent, detailed procedure they had to go through in order to become ceremonially clean. Lambs, birds, flour, and olive oil were all part the requirements. If the person couldn’t afford lambs, God allowed birds as a substitute. And even the birds were allocated to the levels of affordability. God cares for us so much, He even takes our financial status into play. What God in the history of planet earth has ever done that? None, because there’s only One, True God. And He is just and fair.

32 These are the instructions for purification for those who have recovered from a serious skin disease but who cannot afford to bring the offerings normally required for the ceremony of purification.” Leviticus 14:32

Jesus Got Angry….

Jesus got angry. We get angry. The difference is what we do with that anger. Do we continue down a path of sinful behavior? Or do we take it toward the opposite end of the spectrum as righteous indignation? When Jesus asked the Pharisees if it was right or wrong to heal or do good on the Sabbath, their response of silence angered Him. Why? Because it was their knowingly, stubborn way of agreeing with Him. It is right to do good. It is right to save life, no matter what day it is. Their silence actually screamed out their hatred of Him and “doing what is right”. Their rebellious nature, their prideful legalistic view, prevented them from being honest. Jesus took a legal issue (in their eyes), and turned it into a moral one. Their pride in their legalistic system overrode their ability to see the truth. Or better stated, they saw the truth, but refused to allow it to penetrate their hearts. If being “politically correct” angers you, good, it should. Legalism should never trump morality. If it angered Jesus, it should also anger those that follow Him. The one thing we must always be aware of is in this anger, we do not allow ourselves to sin. We must also designate if it’s righteous indignation or personal irritation. In these times we must stop ourselves, and ask God to intervene. When we stand up and oppose legalism with truth, people will listen. We must do it with gentleness and respect. That is a tough job. But that’s why we depend on Jesus to help us. In a world full of angry souls, we must learn the difference between what is right and wrong when it comes to dealing with anger. Jesus’ example is one we need to examine more closely, and pursue for His glory.

1 Jesus went into the synagogue again and noticed a man with a deformed hand. 2 Since it was the Sabbath, Jesus’ enemies watched Him closely. If He healed the man’s hand, they planned to accuse Him of working on the Sabbath.3 Jesus said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand in front of everyone.” 4 Then He turned to His critics and asked, “Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” But they wouldn’t answer Him.5 He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. Then He said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! 6 At once the Pharisees went away and met with the supporters of Herod to plot how to kill Jesus. Mark 3:1-6

God’s Way Or Our Own Way….

There are two ways in which we can live: God’s way or our own way. When we choose which way to live we see the opposing lifestyle as contradictory to the one we’ve chosen. We fail to see the benefits or consequences of the opposing lifestyle. Under God’s design, having integrity and being honest actually protect us. Yes, they may be difficult to consistently carry out, and they may isolate us from others, but in the bigger picture they are for our good. Integrity and honesty are two character traits that God possesses. When we make them part of our life, we become a little more like Him. I’m not saying we are to become God (that’s not possible), but more like Him. For when we put our hope in God, integrity and honesty will protect us, from the false accusations of others, and especially from ourselves.

20 Protect me! Rescue my life from them! Do not let me be disgraced, for in You I take refuge.21 May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in You. Psalms 25:20-21

Better Than Me, Or Better Than Them…

Attitude is everything. This couldn’t be more clear than today’s passage. There are those that think their poop doesn’t stink. And there are those that know their excrement reels of foul odor. It’s supposed to. The body gets rid of it because it performs no more benefits to it. The difference is attitude. One has the ability to be honest with oneself. They can accept truth in life and apply it to themselves. The other lives a “pretend life”. They are always looking to justify or defend themselves for their actions. One sees people from an equal and sometimes “better than me” perspective, while the other sees themselves as “better than others”, or at least “better than some”. The difference is one knows they are a “sinner”, while the other thinks they are “healthy”. Jesus came for sinners. And the bottom line is that we are all sinners. Some get it, snd some don’t. And the saddest part is, the reason some don’t get it, is simply because they don’t want to get it. Either way when it comes time to be confronted with the truth, how we respond determines everything. Levi responded well. The Pharisees didn’t. Being righteous means “being right” with God. The only way to do that is through repentance and faith in Jesus. Which group do you fall in? Are you a sinner in need of a Savior? Or are you content with the state of your own health?

13 Then Jesus went out to the lakeshore again and taught the crowds that were coming to Him. 14 As He walked along, He saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow Me and be My disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed Him.15 Later, Levi invited Jesus and His disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.) 16 But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw Him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked His disciples, “Why does He eat with such scum?”17 When Jesus heard this, He told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor–sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” Mark 2:13-17

No Other Way Around It….

When unbelieving people try to tell you that Jesus never claimed to be God, you simply respond with, “where are you getting your information from?” Jesus clearly demonstrated He was God throughout the 4 Gospels. Here is one of those examples. Jesus tells the paralyzed man that his sins were forgiven. The religious leaders were offended because only God Himself can forgive sin (for a human to say it is blasphemy). So Jesus “proves to them that the Son of Man (another word for claiming equality with God) has the authority on earth to forgive sins” by restoring the man’s ability to walk. What more evidence do you need? The problem isn’t ample evidence, it’s simply refusal to believe. It still goes on today, because people refuse to be honest with themselves. They are deceived into thinking “pleasing ourselves” is the ultimate goal. They don’t see there is more to life than serving self. We all struggle with this, but the difference between the believer and the non-believer is Jesus’ presence. Jesus has overcome. And so can the believer. Faith is trusting God to do in you what you can’t do yourself. It starts with the belief that Jesus is God. If Jesus said He has the authority to forgive sins, you either believe Him or you don’t. He’s either a liar, or He speaks the truth. There’s no other way around it.

1 When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that He was back home. 2 Soon the house where He was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While He was preaching God’s word to them, 3 four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. 4 They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above His head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. 5 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”6 But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, 7 “What is He saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”8 Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so He asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? 9 Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’?10 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, 11 “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”12 And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!” Mark 2:1-12

Provide The Necessary Means….

God always provides the means in which He expects us to carry out His will. It may not be fully understood or even foreseen, but He won’t ask us to do something, that He won’t provide the necessary means in order for us to accomplish it. One more reason to put our complete trust in Him.

29 After Jesus left the synagogue with James and John, they went to Simon and Andrew’s home. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. They told Jesus about her right away. 31 So He went to her bedside, took her by the hand, and helped her sit up. Then the fever left her, and she prepared a meal for them. Mark 1:29-31

Dismisses Honesty At The Door Of Comfort….

Here’s a question I’ve always wondered about, “if this evil spirit was legit, why didn’t the people witnessing the event listen to him when he called Jesus, the Holy One of God”? They believed what they saw (a true exorcism). They said Jesus spoke with authority like no other ever had. News spread quickly throughout the region. Why then did they still not believe in Him? The answer still goes on today. The people didn’t want to believe. That would mean they would have to change, to give up certain behaviors. This is the worldly mentality many possess. They wanted “a show”, to be entertained, to be told the truth without any obligation on their end. That’s the sinful nature of man; it’s opposed to God. It’s comfortable and doesn’t want to do the “hard things”, so it dismisses honesty (being honest with yourself) at the door of comfort. Unless God draws you in, there’s no way you will come to God. When He calls and you don’t respond, He eventually stops calling. People don’t believe because they don’t want to. That’s the cold hard truth. It’s not up to us to decide someone’s fate, so we present the gospel to all. But when they reject it, we are to wipe the dust off our feet and move on. There’s no point in beating a dead horse. Get off, and move on foot to your next destination. You can’t know God, if you don’t put in the effort. You can still physically benefit from God’s Grace living in this world, but you’ll miss out on the spiritual, mental, and eternal aspects of what “knowing God” brings. Why don’t people believe God, especially when they witness His miracles? Simply because they don’t want to. It’s our nature to turn away from God. But it’s His will for us to return to Him and be made right. What’s stopping you from pursuing Him like you should? Is it worth it?

23 Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit began shouting, 24 “Why are You interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are–the Holy One sent from God!”25 Jesus cut him short. “Be quiet! Come out of the man,” He ordered. 26 At that, the evil spirit screamed, threw the man into a convulsion, and then came out of him.27 Amazement gripped the audience, and they began to discuss what had happened. “What sort of new teaching is this?” they asked excitedly. “It has such authority! Even evil spirits obey His orders!” 28 The news about Jesus spread quickly throughout the entire region of Galilee. Mark 1:23-28

The Senseless Game Of “I’m Not To Blame”…

We live in a world of hypocritical, “judge you but not me”, “tolerate me but not you”, “anything goes until it offends someone”, “there is no set standard for anything”, and “if you mess up it should be written in your obituary” type of society. When you remove God’s standards, you remove restraint in people’s behaviors. Without responsibility to God, people abuse the freedom His love allows. Even though the world doesn’t desire God’s truth, it doesn’t change the value and benefits truth brings. Never being disgraced, never forgetting God’s compassion and unfailing love, and being forgiven of our sins of the past because of God’s mercy and grace, separates those that believe from the rest of the world. Though believers will be persecuted for their faith, we will never experience true despair. And though we have to live in a world that operates against God, we don’t have to conform to it. Knowing God, and knowing truth sets us free from playing the senseless game of “I’m not to blame”. David knew this, and although he made many mistakes, he responded to them in the way God wants us to respond; with a contrite and humble heart. We don’t have to live under the “world’s way”, when we live under grace, the world loses its appeal and takes notice that we are different. And that difference will either draw people toward God with conviction, or it will turn them away from Him with condemnation. It’s how it works. Our job is to be the salt and light in the world. God will take care of the rest. Knowing our place and purpose changes everything. It helps us live in a crazy world, without losing our minds. Just one more aspect of the role faith plays in a believers life.

1 O Lord, I give my life to You.2 I trust in You, my God!Do not let me be disgraced,or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat.3 No one who trusts in You will ever be disgraced,but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others. 4 Show me the right path, O Lord;point out the road for me to follow.5 Lead me by Your truth and teach me,for You are the God who saves me.All day long I put my hope in You.6 Remember, O Lord, Your compassion and unfailing love,which You have shown from long ages past.7 Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.Remember me in the light of Your unfailing love,for You are merciful, O Lord. Psalms 25:1-7

Playing Russian Roulette…..

Wisdom comes from God. Embrace it, and you benefit. Scorn it, and you suffer. Why is the fear (proper reverence) of the Lord the beginning is wisdom? Because knowing our place, knowing the Truth, and knowing we are accountable for our actions, puts us in a secure place. It’s like knowing the rules of a game before you play; it grants us the freedom to enjoy playing. Not knowing the rules would be so frustrating. Think about it, not knowing what the rules are would make the game no fun. Every move, action, or strategy would be like playing Russian roulette. You move to get ahead, only to find out you can’t do that. When you know the rules, it gives you confidence to make bold moves and win the game. Having a reverence for our Maker grants us the security and confidence we need to live life full of joy and proper restraint. We don’t have to worry if our next move will be allowed or not. The world has a set of standards, and it’s not merciful to those that play outside the rules. It just doesn’t work that way.

10 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. 11 Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life.12 If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer. Proverbs 9:10-12

There Is Always Hope….

For the believer, there is always Hope. And this Hope, anchors our soul.

18 Jesus came and told His disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

The Lengths People Go To Discredit God….

Isn’t it amazing the lengths people go to to discredit God? The leaders of Israel heard the truth about what happened, Jesus being resurrected. Instead of believing in the religion they practiced, they put their pride ahead of their honesty. They lied and told the Roman soldiers to lie as well. Wouldn’t you think the Roman soldiers would’ve been killed for not following orders to guard the tomb? The only explanation I can come up with is evil protects evil. Satan protected the soldiers from getting the death penalty, which was guaranteed to soldiers who fail to carry out orders (we are never told if they lived or were executed). And the fact that Romans would conspire with Jews, is also mind-boggling. They despised each other. But as it says, the obvious adversaries, the Pharisees and Sadducees became friends that day (in their attempt to distinguish Jesus), as did Pilate and the Herod. Evil supports evil. When you participate in evil acts, and you are not found out, you are conspiring with the devil. The ultimate fate of those who see no problem doing this is an eternal fire that is never quenched. To think of the lengths that people go to to discredit God, eventually results in eternal punishment, continues to boggle my mind. If we care about these souls, we will at least present the Gospel to them, right? There is a cure for this kind of deception, but it’s only received by those whose hearts are willing to embrace it. Those who refuse, will continue to go to great lengths continue spreading lies about the one true God.

11 As the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and told the leading priests what had happened. 12 A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe. 13 They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole His body.’ 14 If the governor hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.” 15 So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today. Matthew 28:11-15

Without Jesus, No One Can Truly Know God….

11042024 If David is correct, then everyone belongs to God. Why is it then only those that follow His plan of salvation get to experience Him intimately? Everyone can experience God’s creation. Everyone can experience someone who has an intimate relationship with God. But only those whose hearts and hands are pure can experience God intimately. And in order to have clean hands and a pure heart, they have to be purified. That’s only possible because we are under Jesus’ sacrifice. You see it’s only when we are covered by the blood of Christ, that God sees us as righteous and worthy of experiencing His presence. It changes us. And it’s only when we truly worship Him, that He reveals more of Himself to us. Without Jesus, no one can truly know God. With Jesus, we can stand in His Holy place. True joy comes from experiencing God’s presence. And only those saved through Jesus get this privilege. Share this truth today with someone. Share your testimony. Point someone to Jesus. It’s the only right response we have we we live under His mercy and grace. David knew this. Do you?

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.The world and all its people belong to Him.2 For He laid the earth’s foundation on the seasand built it on the ocean depths. 3 Who may climb the mountain of the Lord?Who may stand in His holy place?4 Only those whose hands and hearts are pure,who do not worship idolsand never tell lies.5 They will receive the Lord’s blessingand have a right relationship with God their savior.6 Such people may seek Youand worship in Your presence, O God of Jacob. Psalms 24:1-6

Why The Gospel Is So Important….

Here’s a thought many have never entertained in their minds: when we sin, regardless if we realize it or not, we are still guilty. In the OT, specifically in the book of Leviticus (probably the reason why many haven’t thought of this, because they’ve never read it), when someone sinned, either be it the high priest, leader, or community, when they realized it, they were given a specific task to be done that would make them right with God again. In order to be forgiven, blood must be shed, i.e., an animal must die. I’ve heard people say all kinds of things about God, specifically those that oppose Him, or think He’s something He’s not, and if they really knew Him, how kind and forgiving He really is, they probably wouldn’t ever say the harsh, critical words they do. The problem with society as a whole is we are all guilty. We are all sinners. And God has provided us with a way to be right with Him. It still requires the shedding of blood, but Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross was a once-and-for-all acceptance by God for us. If God loves us, and He’s provided a way to be restored to a relationship with Him, how can anyone have a harsh opposition to Him? The only answer is that they don’t realize their guilt in their sinful nature. That’s why the Gospel is so important. It presents a mirror into the life of unbeknownst sinners and provides a way to be made right with God again (forgiven of their sin). Guilt does an amazing job dictating people’s lives. But to think people want to live under that bondage rather than in God’s love, just doesn’t make sense. Present the Gospel today to someone, and watch a slave be set free. Watch a blind person see. And watch a deceived person be freed by the truth. To think this all came out of reading a chapter in Leviticus. It pays to be in the Word.

13 “If the entire Israelite community sins by violating one of the Lord’s commands, but the people don’t realize it, they are still guilty. 14 When they become aware of their sin, the people must bring a young bull as an offering for their sin and present it before the Tabernacle. 15 The elders of the community must then lay their hands on the bull’s head and slaughter it before the Lord. Leviticus 4:13-15

22 “If one of Israel’s leaders sins by violating one of the commands of the Lord his God but doesn’t realize it, he is still guilty. 23 When he becomes aware of his sin, he must bring as his offering a male goat with no defects. Leviticus 4:22-23

27 “If any of the common people sin by violating one of the Lord’s commands, but they don’t realize it, they are still guilty. 28 When they become aware of their sin, they must bring as an offering for their sin a female goat with no defects. Leviticus 4:27-28

Through this process, the priest will purify the people from their sin, making them right with the Lord, and they will be forgiven. Leviticus 4:35c

Willingly Unwilling….

The irony in the Bible could not have been written by Human beings. It’s too far above our thinking. When the religious leaders went to Pilate to ask him to seal Jesus’ tomb, to prevent His prediction of rising from the dead on the third day, their words could not have been more ironic. To think, they were trying to prevent, what in their minds was impossible, the very thing they believed the Messiah would do some day. And then to state that if this resurrection, or the perceived resurrection would make them worse off than before, is just irony at its finest. It’s like they were saying, “please help us prevent the very thing we believe will happen, from happening”. See what I mean? When selfishness comes around at full blast, prepare yourself for confusion. It blinds us from seeing spiritually. And prevents us from knowing we are doing God’s will, willingly unwilling.

The next day, on the Sabbath, the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate. 63 They told him, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while He was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise from the dead.’ 64 So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent His disciples from coming and stealing His body and then telling everyone He was raised from the dead! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.”65 Pilate replied, “Take guards and secure it the best you can.” 66 So they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it. Matthew 27:62-66

Before You Climb Onto Your High Horse…

If you truly want to see what the sinful side of man’s nature really looks like, read today’s scripture (below). To think that God’s creation, which He intended to be good, turned out to do this kind of treatment to Him, shows a clear representation of man’s true inner self. Before you climb onto your high horse, just think, you have this same kind of capacity inside of you. When you get prideful, or get your feelings hurt, you think and sometimes show this kind of contempt towards others (His creation). When you think, “I’m glad I’m not like this or that person”, it’s you’re pride, or as it should be called “sinful nature”. When you get offended so easily, it’s your sinful nature responding. Any time you step into God’s role, and we do it all the time, we are acting just like these Roman soldiers. So next time you think, “I’m not like that”, pinch yourself, because you are just like that. It’s just a matter of degrees. This is a humbling thought isn’t it? Something, once you know, you never allow yourself to forget. It’s what allows room for God to work in your life. It’s the humility God always talks about.

27 Some of the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into their headquarters and called out the entire regiment. 28 They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. 29 They wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on His head, and they placed a reed stick in His right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt before Him in mockery and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” 30 And they spit on Him and grabbed the stick and struck Him on the head with it. 31 When they were finally tired of mocking Him, they took off the robe and put His own clothes on Him again. Then they led Him away to be crucified. Matthew 27:27-31

Do I Want What They Have?

These two verses in Proverbs chapter 8 pretty much summarize Romans chapter one, John 3:16-21, and pretty much summarizes the Bible in two short sentences. It’s self-explanatory. Those that know Jesus (wisdom) have “life”, and those that don’t know Him (wisdom) don’t have life. It’s that simple. The dividing factor is those that pursue God know where their significance and purpose come from. They know what to value in life (they have priorities). They know where true joy comes from. They pursue what’s right, and leave alone what they know are empty, vain pursuits. They know how to treat others, not necessarily always doing it, but they know. And most importantly, they have peace and know Who to go to when adversity comes. That’s life, true, real life. That’s what believers need to show others, and most of the time, use very few words in doing so. When someone else sees a true, committed, faithful follower of Jesus, they have a decision to make, “Do I want what they have? Or do I not want that”? The way you live your life is your testimony. When people ask, “what’s your secret?”, you respond with the gospel of Jesus, your Lord. That’s what it means to “have life”, rather than “love death”.

35 For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. 36 But those who miss me injure themselves. All who hate me love death.” Proverbs 8:35-36

One Common Bond….

One common bond that all believers have is God’s promises. Regardless if you haven’t been born yet, you will hear them, be taught them, study them, and learn to hold them near to your heart, if you are “willing”. When an older believer meets a new believer, regardless of age, there’s a bond, a shared commonality that cannot be gained by other means. Knowing God is the ultimate unifier. And it’s genuine, authentic, and real. In a world that strives to belong, and have purpose, there’s nothing more purposeful and unifying than being a follower of Christ Jesus. God knows this and has made a way for every person, past, present, and future to come to experience this. The challenge is if they are “willing”. God removes all the barriers to knowing Him, so it’s up to you. There are no excuses. Before you were even born, God knew you’re name, and set up people in your life to teach you these truths. If that doesn’t light your fire, your wood must be wet.

31 His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born. They will hear about everything He has done. Psalms 22:31

Speaking Truth Without Understanding….

Truth can be spoken without understanding. Have you ever experienced this? I’ve seen it on many occasions. People talk like they know what’s going on, when in reality, they don’t, but what they say is true. Here in Matthew chapter 27, we get a glimpse into two lives that say one thing yet believe another. Pilate declares Jesus’ innocence in this matter. Pilate is guilty of unjustifiably abusing and putting to death an innocent man. He symbolically washes his hands declaring his innocence. He is guilty even though he thinks he’s not. He thinks he is speaking truth, when in reality, is not true. Then we have the Jews unknowingly taking full responsibility in Jesus’ crucifixion. Not only do they say they take responsibility for Jesus’ death, but also include their children’s part in it, as well. They are speaking truth, but have no clue of what they are talking about. It is possible to speak truth without embracing it. The only difference is that speaking truth and embracing the One Who is Truth, grants us eternal salvation. Speaking truth without embracing Jesus only grants the words you speak will fulfill their obligation to others without granting you salvation. Unless you embrace truth, accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you’re words are full of life, but inside yourself there’s any emptiness that will never be filled. Is it possible to speak truth without understanding? Yes, but unless you embrace the truth through repentance, your words will benefit others, without rescuing yourself. And you’ll be left with regret and remorse that haunts you all the days of your life now, and eternally. Know the Truth, and embrace it, and it will set you free. Speak the truth without embracing it, and you’ll be deceived, spiritually starved, and eternally condemned. The choice is ours. Stop fooling ourselves, wake up. Wake up and smell the deception in our view of truth. There’s a responsibility when it comes to truth. If we speak it, even without understanding it, we are still responsible for what we say. Understand this. Repent, and then embrace the Author of truth. Then you will know the truth, and it will set you free.

24 Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. The responsibility is yours!”25 And all the people yelled back, “We will take responsibility for His death–we and our children!”26 So Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned Him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified. Matthew 27:24-26

Having A Bad Day…..

The next time you are having a bad day, read Matthew 26:67-68. You’ll read about how the chief priests, the religious leaders of Jesus’ day, spit in His face and slapped Him, mocking Him all the while. Why do you need to read this section of scripture? Because it reveals so much about our God. The self-control He exhibited was unmatched. He could’ve easily called a thousand angels to defend Himself. Or He could’ve even just said a word, and it all would’ve stopped. He didn’t do either. He quietly and humbly stood there and took it. Imagine, the Creator of the universe allowed His own creation to treat Him in this vile, hateful manner. It just shows us, exactly what He endured to fulfill prophecy. All of this shows us one thing. He loves us so much, that He was willing to take this abuse from His own chosen people in order to go to the cross, suffer and die on our behalf. That means we are significant. If the Creator of the universe cares that much for us, then His affection for us means something. It means we are loved. It means we serve a purpose. It means we are valued. It means that our bad day will be over soon. And one day, if we decide to serve and follow Him, our bad days will cease forever. For in Heaven there will be no more sorrow or tears. And He has promised to prepare a room for each of us who believe. Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so, little ones to Him belong, they are weak but He is strong... yes, Jesus loves me. He proved it on the cross. He did it then, once and for all. And if He had to do it again (though He doesn’t), He would. He loves us that much.

67 Then they began to spit in Jesus’ face and beat Him with their fists. And some slapped Him, 68 jeering, “Prophesy to us, You Messiah! Who hit You that time?” Matthew 26:67-68

Count Your Blessings….

According to scripture success and common sense come from God. Regardless if you’re a believer/faithful follower or not. God determines if you have insight or not. It’s by His help that kings reign, and leaders make righteous judgements. And any gift given by God is more valuable than gold. Count your blessings today. And help show others how to count their’s too.

12 “I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment.I know where to discover knowledge and discernment.13 All who fear the Lord will hate evil.Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance,corruption and perverse speech.14 Common sense and success belong to me.Insight and strength are mine.15 Because of me, kings reign,and rulers make just decrees.16 Rulers lead with my help,and nobles make righteous judgments. 17 “I love all who love me.Those who search will surely find me.18 I have riches and honor,as well as enduring wealth and justice.19 My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold,my wages better than sterling silver!20 I walk in righteousness,in paths of justice.21 Those who love me inherit wealth.I will fill their treasuries. Proverbs 8:12-21

The Most Valuable Resource….

The most valuable resource a man or woman can possess is the insight to order his/her life by the standard of truth. It’s more precious than gold. Money can’t buy it. And without it, we live a tumultuous life, never knowing what’s next, or how to deal with things. It’s the reason Jesus said, “you will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free”. Free from what? Condemning ourselves. Embrace truth today, nothing compares to it.

10 Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. 11 For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it. Proverbs 8:10-11

Why Do We Need Jesus?

Why do we need Jesus? The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. He knows our strengths and weaknesses. He knows our breaking point. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows our future. That is why we need Jesus. Because He is our future and our hope. He is the Savior of the world. Without Him, there is no salvation, no redemption, and no hope.

40 Then He returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with Me even one hour? 41 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!” Matthew 26:40-41

Our Willingness To Serve God….

The one quality that makes all the difference in the world is having a willing heart. Even if you never fully accomplish what you’re willing heart was promoted to do, because it never came to be (not of your own doing), it gave you the right attitude and changed the way you treated, viewed, or perceived others, correct? Ninety-nine percent of the time it prompts action that accomplishes great things. It’s our willingness to serve God that matters most. Our attitude of service, respect, and knowing our place, is what God seeks. Some might call it humility, meekness, or even “being poor in spirit”, but God is pleased when we employ it, for it brings Him glory. This willingness of the heart is the right response to God’s love. And it’s all a matter of the heart. Never forget this.

So the whole community of Israel left Moses and returned to their tents. 21 All whose hearts were stirred and whose spirits were moved came and brought their sacred offerings to the Lord. They brought all the materials needed for the Tabernacle, for the performance of its rituals, and for the sacred garments. 22 Both men and women came, all whose hearts were willing. Exodus 35:20-22a

Repentance Clears The Air For Future Generations…..

God is full of compassion, unfailing love, & faithfulness. He is quick to forgive, but does not excuse the guilty. So what does this mean for us? It means when we “mess up”, we are to “fess up” to God. That’s what He expects from us. When we don’t, our sinful behavior is impressed on our children who repeat the same sinful be behavior, and if it isn’t dealt with, is passed on to their children. If God is so forgiving, and wanting to lavish us with His unfailing love, why are people so miserable and unfulfilled? The answer is simple. It’s because we fail to repent. We don’t see our own sinfulness as detrimental to our living. The longer it goes on, the worse things get. It’s our pride, our volitional rebelliousness to God (our sinful nature), that keeps us from experiencing God’s best for us. And in this process we tend to blame God for our own self-inflicted grief. If we make the decision to repent, we not only please God and help ourselves, but we clear the pathway for our children and grandchildren to be free of the burden we created and kept going. Repentance clears the air for future generations. It frees them from the smog they’d have to breathe that we created. Repentance is more than “I’m sorry”. It’s exactly what God wants. It’s exactly what we were created to be. And that is knowing God intimately; knowing He is forgiving because of His love for us. Knowing He’s just and ready to cancel the debt we created. Knowing God means knowing ourselves. Knowing God means repentance is required. Knowing God means knowing our place. Knowing God is everything. Pursue Him today, and put to death this generational sin that has been passed down in your family for generations. It starts with you, and stops with you as well.

5 Then the Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and He called out His own name, Yahweh. 6 The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord!The God of compassion and mercy!I am slow to angerand filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.7 I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations.I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin.But I do not excuse the guilty.I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren;the entire family is affected–even children in the third and fourth generations.” Exodus 34:5-7

When We Don’t Start With Prayer….

The other day in Sunday School class, we were discussing modern day issues. We were talking about one particular issue, when one of the members said, “I never understand how people, when they are debating controversial issues, don’t start with prayer”. I thought, that’s exactly the problem. We can debate, quote scripture, and make rational arguments for our cause, but if we don’t consult God, and invite Him into the conversation, our words and pursuits will be in vain. What sets believers apart from the “world” isn’t based on status, or possessions, or favoritism. What sets people of faith apart is God’s presence. It’s God’s presence that sets all faith followers apart from all other people on earth. It’s when we ask Him to be present, to fill us with His Spirit, that things get accomplished. People’s hearts are opened, their eyes start to see spiritually, when God moves in their lives. There’s nothing wrong with debates, public demonstrations, or apologetics. The problem lies when believers forget to invite God unto the arena, that things get out of hand, and fail to accomplish His will. It’s God’s presence that sets His people apart. It always starts with prayer. It sets the mindset of the believer to demonstrate God’s qualities, to be like Him, when it starts with prayer. Always remember this truth: start everything you do in prayer. It’s what sets us apart, and makes the biggest difference in the end.

15 Then Moses said, “If You don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place. 16 How will anyone know that You look favorably on me–on me and on Your people–if You don’t go with us? For Your presence among us sets Your people and me apart from all other people on the earth.” Exodus 33:15-16

A True Seeker Is Bold…..

A true seeker is bold. It takes boldness and persistence to pursue God. Daily seeking leads to knowing God more deeply. You have to be willing to ask, in order to find what your looking for. Moses did this, and so should we.

12 One day Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Take these people up to the Promised Land.’ But You haven’t told me whom You will send with me. You have told me, ‘I know you by name, and I look favorably on you.’ 13 If it is true that You look favorably on me, let me know Your ways so I may understand You more fully and continue to enjoy Your favor. And remember that this nation is Your very own people.”14 The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest–everything will be fine for you.”15 Then Moses said, “If You don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place. 16 How will anyone know that You look favorably on me–on me and on Your people–if You don’t go with us? For Your presence among us sets Your people and me apart from all other people on the earth.”17 The Lord replied to Moses, “I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name.”18 Moses responded, “Then show me Your glorious presence.”19 The Lord replied, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will call out My name, Yahweh, before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose. 20 But you may not look directly at My face, for no one may see Me and live.” 21 The Lord continued, “Look, stand near Me on this rock. 22 As My glorious presence passes by, I will hide you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove My hand and let you see Me from behind. But My face will not be seen.” Exodus 33:12-23

The Other Half Of The Truth…..

The second we think we have God figured out, we need to stop and realize we don’t. God’s ways are above our ways, His thoughts are above our thoughts (Isaiah 55). Here is a great example. God tells Moses to take the Israelites into the Promised land. But He also tells him that He (God) won’t go with them because if He did, He would destroy them along the way due to their stubbornness and rebellion. What we think about God, may not always be accurate. Here the Israelites would think God’s absence was because of something they did (their rebellion). And it’s partly true. The other half of the truth is God stayed away to protect them, for their benefit. Yes, He was angry, but in His anger He still did the right thing. Never allow yourself to get too comfortable in your own skin, that way when we think we “got it figured out”, we aren’t shocked to find out we don’t. God is in control; that’s where our confidence and security comes from. Faith in Him is where our true purpose exists. Never forget this truth.

1 The Lord said to Moses, “Get going, you and the people you brought up from the land of Egypt. Go up to the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I told them, ‘I will give this land to your descendants.’ 2 And I will send an angel before you to drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 3 Go up to this land that flows with milk and honey. But I will not travel among you, for you are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I did, I would surely destroy you along the way.”4 When the people heard these stern words, they went into mourning and stopped wearing their jewelry and fine clothes. 5 For the Lord had told Moses to tell them, “You are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I were to travel with you for even a moment, I would destroy you. Remove your jewelry and fine clothes while I decide what to do with you.” 6 So from the time they left Mount Sinai, the Israelites wore no more jewelry or fine clothes. Exodus 33:1-6