Who is The LORD?

But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” So He said, “I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.” Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” (Exodus 3:11-13)

Moses made excuses because he felt inadequate for the job God asked him to do (Exodus 3:10). It was natural for him to feel that way. He was inadequate all by himself. But God wasn't asking Moses to work alone. He offered other resources to help (God Himself, Aaron, and the ability to do miracles). God often calls us to tasks that seem too difficult, but He doesn't ask us to do them alone. God offers us His resources, just as He did to Moses. We should not hide behind our inadequacies, as Moses did, but look beyond ourselves to the great resources available. Then we can allow God to use our unique contributions.

Our Hope is in Jesus!

Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.  (1 Peter 4:1-2)

Some people will do anything to avoid pain.  As followers of Christ, however, we should be willing and prepared to do God's will and to suffer for it if necessary.  Sin loses its power to defeat us in our suffering if we focus on Christ and what He wants us to do.  When our bodies are in pain or our lives are in jeopardy, our real values show up clearly, and sinful pleasures seem less important.  If anyone suffers for doing good and still faithfully obeys in spite of suffering, that person has made a clean break with sin. 

Take up your Cross and Follow Me

Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels." (Luke 9:23-26)

Although Jesus offered salvation as a free gift (John 1:12; 3:16–18; Eph. 2:8, 9), He also warned that following Him would entail suffering and hardship (Matt. 5:10–12; Rom. 8:17; 2 Thess. 1:5). People are willing to pay a high price for something they value. Is it any surprise that Jesus would demand this much commitment from His followers? There are at least three conditions that must be met by people who want to follow Jesus. We must be willing to deny self, to take up our crosses, and to follow Him. Anything less is superficial lip service.

Unity within Christ's Church

Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2: 1-4)

Many people - even Christians - live only to make a good impression on others or to please themselves. But "selfish ambition or vain conceit" brings discord. Paul therefore stressed spiritual unity, asking the Philippians to love one another and to be one in spirit and purpose. When we work together, caring for the problems of others as if they were our problems, we demonstrate Christ's example of putting others first, and we experience unity. Don't be so concerned about making a good impression or meeting your own needs that you strain relationships in God's family.

The Unconquerable Love of Jesus

Today would have been my son Jim’s 35th birthday. My wife and I plan on going out to the cemetery to put a few fresh flowers on his grave and then spending the rest of the day hanging out together giving comfort and love to each other. Even though it has been seven years since Jim went home to be with our Lord and Savior, it sometimes feels just like yesterday when my wife and I received that devastating news of his suicide. Sometimes the hardest emotion to overcome is the guilt that comes from not being there when your child needs you the most.

God has been so good to us over the years and has given us so many blessings. I want to personally let all of you mom and dads out there know that if you have ever had a child die, for any reason, my sincere condolence and prayers go out to you. I can tell you personally that even though the grief and pain returns every now and then, I can testify to you this day that you can still have the peace, joy and happiness if you have Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord.

Humble Yourself in Prayer

Then the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:12-14)

It had been months, maybe years, that had passed since Solomon's prayer of dedication for the temple (2 Chronicles 6). Several other building projects had been completed after the temple (2 Chronicles 7:11; 8:1). Then after all this time, God told Solomon that He had heard his prayer. In the next several verses (2 Chronicles 7: 13–15), the Lord reviews and answers the petitions of Solomon (2 Chronicles 6:14–42). Solomon’s prayers had been heard and would be answered, but there were conditions (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Are You a Doubting Thomas?

Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” (John20: 24-25)

We often remember Thomas as “the doubter,” because he doubted Jesus’ resurrection. Shortly after Jesus' resurrection He appeared before His disciples in a closed room, however, Thomas was not present (John 20:19–23). When Jesus appeared to the other disciples, He showed them His hands and His side (John 20:20). No doubt they told Thomas about seeing the Lord's pierced hands and side because Thomas said that he would not "believe" unless he could touch Jesus' wounds (John 20:25).

God’s Sovereignty

Have you ever questioned God’s sovereignty? With all the tragedies happening in the world today some folks may question whether God is truly in control. Every time we turn on the television, radio or read the newspaper we are subjected to all of the violence and assaults on humanity. Our churches are beginning to water down the FAITH and manipulate God’s Word by interpreting Holy Scripture to fit man made doctrines and traditions.

Non-believers and believers alike are becoming confused when they hear the Gospel because of all the fighting and bickering regarding the interpretation of God’s Word. Is it any wonder that there are so many people in this world that turn to false religions and cults instead of turning their life over to Jesus Christ.

The Prayer of Faith

And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (James 5:15-16)

People in the church are not alone. Members of Christ's body should be able to count on others for support and prayer, especially when they are sick or suffering. The elders should be on call to respond to the illness of any member (James 5:14), and the church should stay alert to pray for the needs of all its members.

Humble Yourself Before God!

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7)

We often worry about our position and status, hoping to get proper recognition for what we do. But Peter advises us to remember that God's recognition counts more than human praise. God is able and willing to bless us according to His timing. Humbly obey God regardless of present circumstances, and in His good time - either in this life or in the next- He will lift you up.

The Supremacy of Jesus Christ

Paul interrupts his description of his prayers for the Colossians (Colossians 1: 1-14) with a song of praise. This early Christian hymn (Colossians 1: 15-20) emphasizes the superiority of Christ over all creation. Christ is the One who created all things, whether they be material or immaterial, seen or unseen. This idea is in direct contradiction to the false teaching, later known as Gnosticism, that was developing in the Colossian church. In general, Gnostics believed that various angelic beings were the creators of the earth and that Christ was one among many of these angels. Not only did Jesus create all things; everything was created for His purposes (Hebrews 1:2). But the glory of the earth, the heavens, or the sun, moon, and stars cannot be compared with the glory of His new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. (Colossians 1: 15-20)

The” Body of Christ” is His Church!

In this hectic world we live in today, we sometimes loose sight as to the true meaning of the word “church”. Usually most Christians meet once or twice a week in a building that they commonly refer to as their church. But is the building that we all gather to worship and praise our Lord and Savior really the biblical church that God instituted?

Let us look into what the Word of God has to tell us in Ephesians 1: 22-23, where the Apostle Paul encourages and strengthens the Ephesus believers in their Christian faith by explaining the nature and purpose of the church, the body of Christ.

"And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." (Ephesians 1: 22-23)

Having been raised from the dead, Christ is now the head of the church, the ultimate authority over the world. Jesus is the Messiah, God's Anointed One, the One Israel longed for, the One who would set their broken world right. As Christians we can be confident that God has won the final victory and is in control of everything. We need not fear any dictator or nation, or even death or Satan himself. The contract has been signed and sealed; we are waiting just a short while for delivery. The Apostle Paul says, in Romans 8:37-39, that nothing can separate us from God and His love.

God Will Make Everything New!

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. (Revelation 21:1-3)

The earth as we know it will not last forever, but after God's great judgment, He will create a new earth (Romans 8:18:21; 2 Peter 3:7-13). New here suggests freshness, not just a second beginning. This is the fulfillment of the prophecies (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; 2 Peter 3:13). Significantly, this eternal renewal has already begun in the life of the believer because, using the same term, Paul says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17). The present heaven and earth, including the sea, were burned up in the great white throne judgment (Revelation 20:11, 13), and thus have passed away before the arrival of the new heaven and earth. The fact that there will be a continuation of some features of the present creation in the new heaven and new earth is implied by the description of the New Jerusalem as the holy city, a title that is applied to the present Jerusalem in Revelation 11:2. Yet the drastic difference in the new eternal state is obvious from the fact that there will be no more sea, which was a major part of the original creation (Genesis 1:6–10).

The True Church

Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:16-19)

The disciples answered Jesus' question with the common view - that Jesus was one of the great prophets come back to life. This belief may have stemmed from Deuteronomy 18:18, where God said He would raise up a prophet from among the people. Peter, however, confessed Jesus as divine and as the promised and long-awaited Messiah.

LET US ALL BE "One in Christ"

I can hardly believe that it has been a whole year now since I was led by the Lord to start up this blog and spread the good news of the gospel. I can honestly say that it has been a very exciting and challenging experience for me. There are so many folks out there with "Christian blogs" that are just as dedicated as I am to reach the lost souls of this world. I want to thank all of my friends that follow and post comments. You have all been an encouragement too me and I consider you all my brothers and sisters in Christ.

This is My Prayer

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:14-21)

In the original text, Father and family are related words. All families of men and angels derive from God the Father, their Creator. The family of God includes all who have believed in Him -- in the past, all who believed in the present, and all who will believe in the future. We are all a family because we have the same Father. He is the source of all creation, the rightful owner of everything.