Without Excuse

In the beginning creation started with God.

Genesis 1:1,2 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters

I like this point by William Law that the world that is was not created out of nothing. The creation that we behold is out of the invisible things of God; so that the outward condition and the frame of the invisible  nature, is a plain manifestation of that spiritual world from whence it descended.

Romans 1:20 is Apostle Paul's resounding support of this point. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse

Gratitude

These be the names of the mighty men whom David had:The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite:he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.... 2 Samuel 23:8

Dear Lord,
Remind me to to be always thankful and to remember men who have been a blessing or had an impact positively in my life.  Men who have seen me grow and helped me cease opportunities to be who I am today and I as I look to a transformation in the coming days that lie ahead! I will forever be grateful to you that have mentored, sharpened, positioned me for the next level of success.

That, Lord during my time of plenty and blessedness I will reciprocate their kindness.
 Amen!

King David accounts names of mighty men whom he had! I wonder how many in your sphere of influence would include you in their honor roll!  While I am thankful and indebted to  men/women of valor  in my life - I must aim to be one.  I will not be one by living on edge to be one but by practicing to do the basic principles of the faith in action that God has laid out in his Word.
 Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.  Walking is a consistent cause of action.  Keep walking and you never know when the time and chance will strike for you to be a man or woman to be reckoned with.
All these risked their lives for their king! All of these men had a price to pay to be who they became - they are in God's book - for us to learn the cost of being a man or woman of honor in God's word.

I am thankful to you! I desire to reciprocate someday!

12 Leaders On A Mission

Numbers 13:1-3 ¶ And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2* “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them.” 3 So Moses sent them from the Wilderness of Paran according to the command of the LORD, all of them men who were heads of the children of Israel.

It was not like that game we used to play as children where would line up and the leader would select the two teams this way and that way/ one-two-one-two!  Moses by the instructions of the Lord chose leaders who were heads of the children of Israel.  A leader's influence has a big impact on what the outcome of the led will be! 

The Assignment is outlined in Numbers 13:17-20.  Same opportunity, same assignment - ten leaders saw it as impossible while two saw it as possible.  What you see is what you get! The 10 leaders said we are not able to go and possess the land Numbers 13:31. We are like grasshoppers.  Indeed their confession and surely they did not get to go to the promised land.

Caleb and Joshua had a different spirit within them. They saw opportunity - Their thoughts were with resolve! Numbers 13:30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

My point! God is pleased and will always reward faith - Hebrews 11:6 Paul testifies in Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"

If you see impossibilities those are what will follow! If you see possibilities the likewise will you see them! May God reward us as we faithfully trust him upon his word! 

Reasons NOT To Practice Church Discipline

We are in the environment of sin! We need deliverance from the allure of sin and the things that it brings.  We all need the grace and pardon of God. Our Our Lord Jesus is our High Priest and He is touched by the feeling of our failings. - Hebrews 4:14,15

Mark Dever in his book nine marks of a healthy church says:
(1) We certainly should not practice church discipline to be vindictive. - Romans 12:19
(2) Corrective church discipline is never to be done out of meanness of spirit but  only out of a love for the offending party and the members of the church individually, and ultimately out of our love for God Himself.
(3) Discipline should never be meant to take place out the mistaken notion that we have the final word from God on a person's eternal fate.

Instead, we are to practice church discipline because with humility and love, we want to see good come out of this ministry.

Therefore as the  leadership serves the members in the Church many Biblical exhortations are to come into play. Here are just a few:

1. A Spirit of meekness Galatians 6:1
2. Self-evaluation - You are no better except by the grace of God. That will lead you to tamper your exhortation correctly. - Galatians 6:1,3
3. Embrace the law of Christ which is Love.  Do to others as you would want them to do to you! Galatians 6:2
4. The right timing - 1 Corinthians 13:4; Proverbs 25:11
5. Speak the truth & impart grace - Ephesians 4:15,29

May God help us to lovingly restore and support.

Zaccheaus' Triumph

Our former Pastor recently shared a message on Zaccheaus  entitled the Tax Collectors Triumph.  He highlights some fundamental truths from this Sunday School story. Zaccheaus met with Jesus and he was no longer the same again.

Zaccheaus Tree

From this story we learn that:
1) God sees us (verse 5)
  God saw me even before my physical birth, yea even before my form in my mother's womb. Psalm 139:14-16
He sees us, even when our choices are for Him and when we are prone to wander!
Proverbs 5:21; Proverbs 15:3
2) God knows us (verse 5)
He knew Zaccheaus by name.  He called out his name and told him he would be a guest in his house. Psalms 139:1,2
God is touched by the feeling our our weaknesses.  Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 5:7
 Lastly and not least
3) God needs us!
He needs our testimony. This meeting that Jesus had with Zaccheaus brought tremendous change in this disliked wee little man! Our testimony speaks of what God has done in our lives.

Expectations & Deferred hopes

Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

I had an assignment from a friend of mine.  When I got the assignment it was to take a some weeks. It was more time and work - took several months.  On the onset of the discussion my friend told me he would compensate me with some cash for the job.

When the job got done! I was all very glad that at last my lean purse would get some reprieve.  My friend registered appreciation and presented their compensation to me.  I laugh at my self now that the work done seemed more that the amount of compensation - on the other hand it is a heart issue!

King Solomon said so himself in this quoted Proverb. Desires when met have a wonderful feeling - a tree of life! Expectations when deferred deal with the heart - a heart that is dissatisfied can even result to sickness.   I would have done the assignment gladly for no pay or compensation - I do that all the time! It is grace!  Will I allow a fiscal settlement, offered by my friend to spoil all the good in the assignment?  That I have answered in my heart. Will you? Deal with it and move on!! 

Another proverb says that, Wisdom is a tree of life to those who take hold of her.

Psalms 71:5 For You are my hope, O Lord GOD; You are my trust from my youth.

Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things!

Robert Collier in one of his writings  says, 
"The power to be what you want to be, to get what you desire, to accomplish whatever you are striving for, abides within you...."

So how do I get to be what I want to be? I must realize first that I possess that power.  I must also get acquainted with that power.  Accomplishing whatever I have dreamed to be is an exciting experience.  I realize that, intense desire is a prerequisite and the catalyst is faith - Hebrews 11:1,2.  God says that with Him nothing is impossible! Luke 1:37.

The best type of accomplishment, being what I want to be then, is best within the confines of God's will! God's will.  His plan for my life or yours could be different!

Collier further says, "You can be whatever you make up your mind to be."  The Apostle Paul says it ever better in Philippians 4:13  "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."