Monthly Archives: March 2018

Choose Life

Foundation Scriptures: 

For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? 14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. 15 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil.  Deuteronomy 30:11-15 KJV

 

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: 20 That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.  Deuteronomy 30:19-20 KJV

 

Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge.

In life, and at one time or another, people have good or bad experiences.

People often feel that they deserve the good, but not the bad.

They expect good things to happen, but are not thankful when they do.

When bad things happen, they are upset or angry. Many times, they blame it on God.

People believe wrong things about their life, because they are ignorant of God’s Word; even some Christians.

God has not hidden anything – He has laid out in His Word how we can prosper in every area of life.

Hosea 4:6 KJV – “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.”

God says that His people lack knowledge, because they have rejected His knowledge.

People can’t receive the blessings God offers when they have rejected or ignored God and His Word.

 

We Are Not in Heaven Yet.

God is a good God and the devil is a bad devil.

Matthew 7:11 KJV – “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”

James 1:17 KJV – “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

John 10:10 KJV – “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – is the source and origin of life, blessing, and all that is good.

He gives life, preserves life, restores life, and prolongs it by His power.

When Adam relinquished his God-given dominion to the devil, then death, cursing, and evil began to operate in the earth and in the lives of every person born on the earth.

When we chose Jesus, we choose Life.

We are translated out of the kingdom of darkness, and into the Kingdom of Light (Colossians 1:13).

Jesus defeated the devil, but the devil still has dominion, or authority, over those who are still in his kingdom – the kingdom of darkness.

 

It is Your Choice.

God tells us, in His Word, that we have options here on the earth.

We don’t have to wait for heaven, to have life, or be blessed.

He tells us that we are the ones who can, and should, choose.

The options are: Life, blessing, and good. Or death, cursing, and evil.

By default, if you don’t actively choose Life, then death, cursing, and evil will try to do its thing in your life.

Do not tolerate death, cursing, or evil, in your life or your home.

Choose Life!

John 1:4 KJV – “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”

Jesus offers us eternal life.

When you choose Jesus, you choose Life for the first time.

When we belong to God, we can begin to walk in His blessings.

God wants to bless you.

Choose blessing!

Choose good things!

 

Choose Life.

You choose life, good and blessing, by loving God, obeying Him, and cleaving to Him.

1 Corinthians 8:3 AMPC – “But if one loves God truly [with affectionate reverence, prompt obedience, and grateful recognition of His blessing], he is known by God [recognized as worthy of His intimacy and love, and he is owned by Him].”

Love God – with affectionate reverence.

Mark 12:30 KJV – “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”

Obey Him – promptly obey Him; submit yourself to His Word.

Cleave to Him – cling to Him – hold fast to Him.

Never forsake Him, in your heart and in practice (what you say and do).

Romans 12:9 AMPC – “[Let your] love be sincere (a real thing); hate what is evil [loathe all ungodliness, turn in horror from wickedness], but hold fast to that which is good.”

Love sincerely; hate evil; hold onto what is good.

Trust and rely on Him in all things.

If you do these things, you will be blessed.

How to Get Faith – Part II

Have faith in God

So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.  23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.  24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.  Mark 11:22-24 NKJV

Jesus commands us to, “Have faith in God.” If people could put as much faith in the Word of God as they do in the word of man – then they would assuredly get their prayers answered. If people have faith in God, their prayers would be answered without any human effort. Prayer would be a simple transaction of everyday business between them and God. If you claim to have faith in God, then your actions should bear that out. Most people won’t come out and admit that they place no confidence in God’s word, or that they do not believe that God is faithful to His word, but by their actions, they prove it’s so. They are happy to believe that unanswered prayers are God’s fault or God’s will. They will fight tooth and nail and go to court with other people over broken contracts, but they don’t exercise any faith in God to keep His contracts. God goes out of His way to emphasize to us that He will keep His word to us if we will claim all the promises of that word!

God speaks to every generation to remind them of His faithfulness and that He will never do anything that’s contrary to His word. He means what He says and He says what He means! God obligates Himself to His word and He keeps those obligations as long as we extend our faith according to His word, with nothing wavering. All failure is on the part of man, not God, so the sooner you realize that and make the adjustments or the corrections, the sooner you will see God answer your prayer.

Listen to good preaching

Good preaching is not a matter of style or technique – three points and a poem!

Good preaching is preaching that:
– presents the truth of the Word of God
– preaches the integrity of the Word of God
– tells us of all the great things that God has done
– inspires us to believe His word
– inspires us to believe that He’ll keep His word today

For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith]. As it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith.  Romans 1:17 AMP

When we hear all the great miracles God has done and how He blessed and protected and delivered His people, when we hear personal testimonies of God’s faithfulness, then our faith rises. We realize that whatever God has done – He can and will do, to keep His obligations to give us what He has promised. Our faith is built up and we have a powerful expectation of answered prayer. Believe and accept any record of what God has and will do that is in harmony and agreement with the Word of God.

And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.  1 Corinthians 2:4-5 NKJV

Reject all bad preaching

When we go to churches where the minister belittles the Word of God or explains it all away as either something that didn’t really happen or something that’s “passed away”, or he claims that God didn’t really mean what He said, then our faith is hindered and squelched.

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” 20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.  1 Corinthians 1:18-21 NKJV

The message of the cross is foolishness to the world, but to the believer it is the power of God! On the other hand, the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; 20 and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”  1 Corinthians 3:18-20 NKJV

No one can listen to preaching where man’s wisdom is exalted, and where God and His word are criticized, and expect to have their faith built up. If you want to develop a simple, unwavering faith, you cannot listen to preaching that contradicts the Word of God. Any man-made traditions or religions or sects that are faith-killing, Spirit-quenching, and truth-destroying, must be rejected if you want to build your faith and get results. Don’t tolerate any church or any preacher who slanders God’s word – for it is the source of your faith and your eternal life.