There is a saying that was made ever so popular and famous in the mid 80's through a song by Tina Turner and later as a movie in the early 90's that says "What's Love Got to Do with It?". Well I'm here to tell you that it has EVERYTHING to do with it! The Word of God says in John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. So it's not just the fact that we should love one another, but it is COMMANDED of God that we do so. God also says something very particular in this passage of scripture, and that is the fact that the world, or as He puts it "all men", will know that we are followers after Christ Jesus, or "disciples", by the love that we show to one another. In Ephesians 5, the "Blueprint" for our Christian walk as I call it, verse 2 says And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour. This is not any ole type of love that He is talking about. This is that Agape love, that kind of love that would lay down his/her life for a friend.
We must ask ourselves are we really being examples of Christ through the way we treat one another? Do people really know by my actions toward my fellow man that Christ lives through me? With everything that is going on in the world today like mass killings, terrorism, suicides, abortion, rape, abuse, bullying, divorce, poverty, backbiting and scandal, and a host of so much more; there is an overwhelming need for LOVE. The only way to rid the world of such misery is to replace what we feed our mind, body, and soul through television, music, and pop culture with a heavy dose of the Word of God and by following His example of true Love.
About a week ago, the Holy Spirit woke me up out of my sleep at 4:04 AM and dropped a word in my spirit pertaining to love and it is this: Love is Living Our lives Virtuously Engaged. This simply means that we are to live our day to day lives with an exceptionally moral and upright involvement with one another. As I sat or actually at this point laid back in my bed and pondered what the Spirit of the Lord had given me; it was two words that actually stuck out in my mind, which were virtuously and engaged. So as I began to do some research on these two words I found that virtuously, an adverb of virtuous derived from the word virtue, is a word that as we all know exemplifies morality, moral excellence, uprightness, and that which conforms to ethical principles. However, as I began to get into what engaged meant, one small assessment of the word really caught my attention, and that was to attach and secure. The reason being is that this is how Jesus Christ essentially showed His love towards you and I. His sacrifice of dying on the cross for our sins made it possible for us to attach ourselves to His righteousness and by His blood and the grace of God secure our salvation for eternity!
So my question to my spirit filled believers is who's life have you changed through following the example of Jesus Christ? Who's life have you attached yourself to and shown through living a morally excellent life that they too can secure their future through the salvation of Jesus Christ? It is our duty in this Life of A Believer that we exemplify Christ in every aspect of our lives. Jesus Christ is Love, so let's start today and do what we have been commanded to do, and that is LOVE. Be Blessed!!!
#LifeOfABeliever #AreYouSaved
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Monday, October 21, 2013
The Power of Prayer: The Lords Prayer
The Lords prayer, Matthew 6:9-13, is one of those scriptures that can be quoted backward and forward by even the most non believer. It is widely known by its popularity because it was engrained within so many of us as youths as the prayer to say at many different occasions. I truly believe that it's popularity has greatly diminished it's power and what God truly wanted us to understand about the power of prayer. As spirit filled believers and followers after Christ I believe that a strong prayer life is essential for growth and sustainability. It is direct communication to God through the words spoken out of our mouths through what we are known to understand and believe. So let us delve a little deeper and take a closer look at what I believe prayer to be as inspired by the Holy Spirit.
I think that in order for us to fully understand what prayer is, we must first understand what prayer is not. Early on in this passage of scripture, Jesus instructs His disciples that prayer should not be boastful and braggadocios for people to see, but personal and secretive between you and God; He tells us to enter into our closet (Matt 6:5-6). I don't believe this is telling us not to pray openly and for one another, but to be ever so careful about the motives in which we pray. Prayer is not a talent show to display the illustrious words you can use, or how beautifully you can put sentences together, but rather to be used as a tool where you can touch the very heart of God. Secondly, Jesus tells us that when we pray we are not to use vain repetitions. He wants us to understand that asking for things over and over will not move the Father in heaven to action; He says your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask them (Matt 6:8). So just ask and know that God is already working things out in your favor.
So now, He says, since you know what not to do, this how you are to pray. Our Father which art in heaven, hollowed be thy name. We must first begin prayer by getting Gods attention, by acknowledging who and what He is and the significance of His name. When you are addressing your parents, you just don't start talking to them without addressing them properly. You get their attention by saying mom or dad, and then you proceed with what you have to say or with your petition. The same applies with God. You want to recognize who God is. Acknowledge that He is your Father; His name is holy, wonderful, and beside Him there is none other. Know that you are speaking to a true and living God who is not dead, but is risen and and reigning in heaven. Complementing someone moves them to action a lot faster than simply bombarding them with what you have to say, and God is no different.
Jesus then instructs his disciples to next give a statement of permission: Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. It is not as if God needs our permission to do anything; He is the Almighty! However, being that He made us creatures of free will and the fact He will not force His will on any of us, makes this a statement of permission to do what it is He needs to do in our lives. We must be open to what God has for us and this simply says God I'm getting out of the way so you can do what you need to do in my life.
In opening up to God, there can not be any hindrance to do so. Sometimes in life we can let what is material and the gain of material things to blind us to the awesome power and magnitude of God. Jesus tells His disciples to pray that God give us this day our daily bread. Bread can be defined as food or sustenance, which is a means of sustaining or the state of being sustained. Proverbs 30:8-9 says feed me with food convenient for me: lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, who is the Lord? I believe Solomon understood here what Jesus would later on instruct His disciples what to say in prayer, and that is Lord give me exactly what I need and can handle without it coming between me and You. Let it be sufficient for me so that I may continue to long after you and not after the things of this world.
As Christ continues, He now addresses forgiveness: And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Forgiveness can be seen divinely in two areas in the scriptures. The first deals with forgiveness of all sin in relation to salvation from being a sinner. The second deals with forgiveness between a child and their divine Father. The forgiveness mentioned here deals with the second. Once we are saved by grace, we as believers are given a direct and open line of communication with our heavenly Father. Sometimes we may slip up and go against what He has commanded us to do, but we as his children can confess and forsake that which has caused us to fall. We also in our prayer for forgiveness entreat God to forgive us just as we follow His commandment to forgive others (Ephesians 4:32).
Jesus Christ understood that we are only human and that we are prone to make mistakes. Therefore, He instructs His disciples to pray that God lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Jude said that God is the one who is able to keep us from falling. I so often think we as believers automatically expect God to magically cause us to do things that we are physically capable of doing ourselves. When we pray that God "Lead" us, we are actually recognizing and proclaiming God as our supreme leader. One can only lead if they are being followed. So we must follow the perfect example that God set as He manifested Himself in the form of man, who is Jesus Christ. Following this example is definitely the blueprint you need to avoid all temptation, and when it seems just to overwhelming, we then pray that God deliver us. God is our shield, fortress, strong tower, and ever present help. He is our 23rd Psalm. He is our Father, and a father will protect his children at all cost.
Jesus finally teaches us that we understand and know that He is the one and only that has the ability to do and complete everything that you just prayed: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
When we pray in the correct manner and with the right heart, I believe that there is nothing God will not do for us, and that He will answer our prayers every single time. All we need is faith in Him. The word of God says in Mark 11:23 when you pray, believe that you receive, and you shall have it. I also believe that the Lords Prayer doesn't necessarily have to be prayed as a whole prayer straight through whenever we kneel to pray, and for the most of us that's in the morning and at night. We as spirit filled believers need to develop a strong prayer life. The bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Pray without ceasing. The Lords Prayer is an outline for us to follow when praying that applies to every aspect of our lives. So throughout our daily lives we should constantly be in the spirit of prayer using what God has taught us to apply it to our lives individually. Prayer is such a power tool, and if used in its right manner, will keep and sustain you in this Life Of A Believer. Be Blessed!!!
#LifeOfABeliever #AreYouSaved
I think that in order for us to fully understand what prayer is, we must first understand what prayer is not. Early on in this passage of scripture, Jesus instructs His disciples that prayer should not be boastful and braggadocios for people to see, but personal and secretive between you and God; He tells us to enter into our closet (Matt 6:5-6). I don't believe this is telling us not to pray openly and for one another, but to be ever so careful about the motives in which we pray. Prayer is not a talent show to display the illustrious words you can use, or how beautifully you can put sentences together, but rather to be used as a tool where you can touch the very heart of God. Secondly, Jesus tells us that when we pray we are not to use vain repetitions. He wants us to understand that asking for things over and over will not move the Father in heaven to action; He says your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask them (Matt 6:8). So just ask and know that God is already working things out in your favor.
So now, He says, since you know what not to do, this how you are to pray. Our Father which art in heaven, hollowed be thy name. We must first begin prayer by getting Gods attention, by acknowledging who and what He is and the significance of His name. When you are addressing your parents, you just don't start talking to them without addressing them properly. You get their attention by saying mom or dad, and then you proceed with what you have to say or with your petition. The same applies with God. You want to recognize who God is. Acknowledge that He is your Father; His name is holy, wonderful, and beside Him there is none other. Know that you are speaking to a true and living God who is not dead, but is risen and and reigning in heaven. Complementing someone moves them to action a lot faster than simply bombarding them with what you have to say, and God is no different.
Jesus then instructs his disciples to next give a statement of permission: Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. It is not as if God needs our permission to do anything; He is the Almighty! However, being that He made us creatures of free will and the fact He will not force His will on any of us, makes this a statement of permission to do what it is He needs to do in our lives. We must be open to what God has for us and this simply says God I'm getting out of the way so you can do what you need to do in my life.
In opening up to God, there can not be any hindrance to do so. Sometimes in life we can let what is material and the gain of material things to blind us to the awesome power and magnitude of God. Jesus tells His disciples to pray that God give us this day our daily bread. Bread can be defined as food or sustenance, which is a means of sustaining or the state of being sustained. Proverbs 30:8-9 says feed me with food convenient for me: lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, who is the Lord? I believe Solomon understood here what Jesus would later on instruct His disciples what to say in prayer, and that is Lord give me exactly what I need and can handle without it coming between me and You. Let it be sufficient for me so that I may continue to long after you and not after the things of this world.
As Christ continues, He now addresses forgiveness: And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Forgiveness can be seen divinely in two areas in the scriptures. The first deals with forgiveness of all sin in relation to salvation from being a sinner. The second deals with forgiveness between a child and their divine Father. The forgiveness mentioned here deals with the second. Once we are saved by grace, we as believers are given a direct and open line of communication with our heavenly Father. Sometimes we may slip up and go against what He has commanded us to do, but we as his children can confess and forsake that which has caused us to fall. We also in our prayer for forgiveness entreat God to forgive us just as we follow His commandment to forgive others (Ephesians 4:32).
Jesus Christ understood that we are only human and that we are prone to make mistakes. Therefore, He instructs His disciples to pray that God lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Jude said that God is the one who is able to keep us from falling. I so often think we as believers automatically expect God to magically cause us to do things that we are physically capable of doing ourselves. When we pray that God "Lead" us, we are actually recognizing and proclaiming God as our supreme leader. One can only lead if they are being followed. So we must follow the perfect example that God set as He manifested Himself in the form of man, who is Jesus Christ. Following this example is definitely the blueprint you need to avoid all temptation, and when it seems just to overwhelming, we then pray that God deliver us. God is our shield, fortress, strong tower, and ever present help. He is our 23rd Psalm. He is our Father, and a father will protect his children at all cost.
Jesus finally teaches us that we understand and know that He is the one and only that has the ability to do and complete everything that you just prayed: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
When we pray in the correct manner and with the right heart, I believe that there is nothing God will not do for us, and that He will answer our prayers every single time. All we need is faith in Him. The word of God says in Mark 11:23 when you pray, believe that you receive, and you shall have it. I also believe that the Lords Prayer doesn't necessarily have to be prayed as a whole prayer straight through whenever we kneel to pray, and for the most of us that's in the morning and at night. We as spirit filled believers need to develop a strong prayer life. The bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Pray without ceasing. The Lords Prayer is an outline for us to follow when praying that applies to every aspect of our lives. So throughout our daily lives we should constantly be in the spirit of prayer using what God has taught us to apply it to our lives individually. Prayer is such a power tool, and if used in its right manner, will keep and sustain you in this Life Of A Believer. Be Blessed!!!
#LifeOfABeliever #AreYouSaved
Monday, October 7, 2013
The Life of A Believer
Where do I go from here? How do I hold on? How do I continue to live righteously before God in this evil world? Who can I talk to? Is there anyone who can relate to what I'm going through? Who/What is the example I should follow when there is so much dissappointment in my life? Will I ever get this life as a Christian right? These are just some of the questions that I and so many others like myself ask ourselves on a daily basis feeling like there is not an answer in sight. However, with these and many, many, more questions asked, the answer is Jesus Christ. As a young Spirit filled believer I have found that through prayer and the study of Gods holy word, that you can find every single answer that you are looking for. I have also realized that between the time you get saved and the time that you have developed a dynamic prayer and study life, that there is a gap that must be bridged. I feel that in this life of a believer there is a blueprint that we must follow. I also believe that each one of us must be accountable one towards another and hold each other up by sharing our life experiences, for the bible says in Revelation 12:11 that we conquer him (the devil) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony. This is why I have decided to create this blog. I want those who believe in Jesus Christ to know that you are not alone, that there are others going through exactly what you are facing, that it is okay to feel the way you do, that when it seems like there is no way out and all hope is lost that Jesus will be there to see you through. All you have to do is trust, believe, and hold on to Gods holy word and He will see you through.
The fundamental basis for this blog will be Ephesians 4 & 5, but specifically Ephesians 4:17-32 & 5:1-21. I call this "the Blueprint". My goal is to post 1 blog per week, by the leading of the Holy Spirit, that will inspire, evoke change, and help someone along their Christian walk. The blog will have a new post at the beginning of each week. These post will be taken from my personal life experiences, topics of interest from others, and whatever else God places on my heart to share. There will also be blog post by invited guest from time to time. This will be an open forum for discussion so please feel free to post your comments and thoughts as the Lord leads you. I will only ask that you be respectful in your comments and that you keep in mind the sensitivity and nature of certain post. This is a forum overseen by God Almighty so please govern yourselves accordingly.
Disclaimer: I am not an ordained minister or any other type of clergy of the cloth, nor am I an authority on any biblical scriptures or principles. All post will be that of the leading of the Holy Spirit as I pull from my personal walk with Christ and from the reading of Gods word. Like I said before, this is an open forum for discussion so others might be encouraged and blessed by what they read to help them along their "Life of A Believer".
BE BLESSED!!!
#TheLifeOfABeliever #AreYouSaved
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