Blog Archives

Have a Seat

3/28/2019

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” - Psalm 23:5 NIV

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because I never have to do anything (do not judge me). My wife bought all the supplies and the day before she began cooking. She, along with her family set the table and served the food. When it was time to eat, all I had to do was take a seat at the table. God says, He will prepare a table for you but are you spiritually mature enough to consume the meal (blessings) He wants to serve you?

“I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren't ready for anything stronger…” - 1 Corinthians 3:2

Immature Christians are influenced by their feelings, thoughts, circumstances and desires. They are more concerned with pleasing people rather than God. While mature Christians remain confident in the face of uncertainty, disappointment and negativity knowing that no matter the situation they will see the goodness of the Lord in this life (Psalm 27:13).

God is up to something. While you are worrying, God is preparing. While you are frustrated, God is fighting. While you are mourning, God is resurrecting. If you want to eat at the table God is preparing for you – you are going to have to wash your hands (forgive and repent) order off the proper menu (declare) and leave a generous tip (praise).

Wash: Before every meal it is important for you to wash your hands, to clean all the dirt off. In the same manner, before you eat at God’s table you must wash yourself free from unforgiveness and sin. Forgive those who have hurt and deceived you while also asking God to forgive you from your sins and transgressions. You cannot be forgiven if you are not willing to first forgive.

Order: Are the things you ordering on the menu God has placed before you? Fear, doubt, depression, jealousy, hatred and lust are not on God’s menu - so do not order those things. Instead, order love, joy, peace, faithfulness and purpose. God loves you so much that he even has a secret menu – a menu only accessible to believers. On that menu, whatever you order in Jesus’ mighty name will be given unto you according to His will (John 14:13).

Tip: It is customary to leave a tip after eating. The better the meal/service the higher the tip. After you eat at God’s table, do not forget to tip your heavenly server. We tip (praise) God not for what He has done or is doing, but instead we praise God for who He is in our lives. He is savior. He is provider. He is love. He is everything we need. Therefore, praise God in your giving, praise God in your declarations, praise God in your actions and offer your life as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God--this is your true and proper praise and worship (Romans 12:1).

God is preparing a blessing exclusively for you. Everything meant to destroy you and everyone who sought to hurt you, doubted and spoke negatively towards you will have to watch as God promotes you. So, wash your hands, order off the right menu and leave a tip worthy of His glory.

Have a seat, it is time to eat!

3 Comments

Get in (Spiritual) Formation

3/18/2019

0 Comments

“But all things should be done decently and in order.” – 1 Corinthians 14:40

At the end of each year, many of us find ourselves reflecting on the past while preparing for a better, more prosperous new year. Yet, according to U.S. News & World Report, 80 percent of New Year’s resolutions fail by February. The underlying reason why our plans fail is because of a lack of discipline. We make vision boards but fail to make action plans. Your enemy, the Devil, is organized and uses coordinated attacks against you. That’s why it’s so important to remain disciplined, make schedules, budget your money, be punctual, etc. How can you defeat an organized foe if you’re unorganized?

Spiritual formation is the stance we take when fighting back against the attacks of the Devil. Your fighting stance is the most fundamental position that you will ever learn in any type of fight. Getting into spiritual formation will require you to be disciplined, align yourself with God and trust His process.

Discipline:

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self- discipline.” – 2 Timothy 1:7

It’s important for you to understand that God has already given you the gift of discipline. As Christians, it is our responsibility to cultivate that discipline so that when the enemy attacks we do not give into our fears, worries, doubts or temptations. Create boundaries in your personal, spiritual and physical lives and enforce them. Discipline requires you to sacrifice short-term satisfaction for long-term gains, or as Joyce Meyer put it, “discipline enables you to think first and act second.”

Alignment:

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11

Wheel misalignment causes your vehicle to become off-center, making it more difficult to steer. Drivers will notice that it takes more effort to steer their vehicles in a straight line when wheels are not aligned properly. Just like a car, when we are not aligned with God our lives become off-centered, making life more difficult to navigate. The enemy wants to keep you off-centered, misaligned with God. Getting into alignment with God will require you to pray, seek and obey His commands even when they do not make sense. That may mean separating from some of your plans and relationships. You will be in alignment with God when your thoughts, words and actions reflect His will for your life.

Trust:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6

Once you strengthen your discipline and align yourself with God’s will then you will be ready to trust in the Lord. Your opposition wants you to surrender before the fight. He knows that you will win if you don’t give-up, so he wants you to be discouraged, to lose your faith and quit. If you trust in God, you will be like David when facing Goliath and able to declare your victory before the battle begins. Get out of your own way and place your trust in God. He will give you the strength and grace you need to overcome all the attacks of the enemy.

We are under constant attack from an enemy that is after our mind, peace and happiness. Being in spiritual formation will help you fight against those attacks. So, remain disciplined, align yourself with God and trust His process. You already have the victory!

0 Comments

Level Up

3/12/2019

1 Comment

“After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” - Mark 9:2-3, 7

A significant event recorded in the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark & Luke) is the Transfiguration of Jesus. To transfigure, is to change the appearance of a person, usually in a very positive and often spiritual way. On the Mountain of Transfiguration, Jesus became radiant in God’s glory and God spoke his love and approval onto Christ.

There is a level of grace and favor attainable to us all that far few Christians achieve. As believers, we oftentimes allow ourselves to get stuck in the blessings of the day instead of trusting God for a better tomorrow. God wants us to level up, to seek Him on a level beyond our current understanding. Leveling up requires us to wait on the Lord, obey his commands and surround ourselves with like-minded individuals.

Wait: As Christians, it is difficult serving a God who can speak a word and change our situation in an instant but who often takes up through the steps of life to teach us lessons in humility, patience, faith and love. Elevation is a spiritual process that requires us to humble ourselves before the Lord, so that he may exalt us.
Obey: Jesus led Peter, James and John up the mountain. They were instructed by God to listen to Christ. Obedience is essential for elevation. It is natural for us to want to follow our own path – believing that we have all the answers, but if we obey God’s commands he will order our steps and take us higher.
Affiliation: Jesus only chose three of his disciples to go higher with him, not because he loved them anymore than the rest of his disciples, but Jesus understood that everyone is not ready to elevate with you. Associate yourself with positive, like-minded individuals who are going to encourage and be there for you in the valley and on the mountain top.

Christ said, “that I’ve come so that you may have life and have it more abundantly.” Abundant living isn’t about things or people it’s about relationship, about walking with God on a level that no matter what you’re going through you’ll still seek and praise him knowing that he will work all things out for your good. Elevate with God through Christ and He will take you to a level that you never imagined.

1 Comment

By Faith

3/10/2019

0 Comments

“By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.”
- Hebrews 11:17-19

We are all familiar with the story of Abraham and Sarah. While they were both well-beyond child bearing age, God blessed them with a son named Isaac. In testing Abraham’s faith, God instructed him to sacrifice Isaac (the son God promised him). Abraham was so faithful to God that he did not question Him and went forward with the sacrifice. God would eventually intervene, but through Abraham, we learn that obedience and faith to God’s commands is the only way to unlock the promises God has for us.

Throughout the twenty-second chapter of Genesis, Abraham teaches us to sacrifice, elevate, believe and expect:

Sacrifice:
“Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” -Genesis 22:1-2

What are you willing to sacrifice for God? In order to build a strong relationship with the Lord we must sacrifice those things that may be hindering us from getting closer to God. As Christians, it is essential for us to conduct an honest audit of our lives and rid ourselves of those things that are coming between us and God.

Elevate:
“On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there.” Genesis 22:4-5

Getting closer God will require you to leave some people and relationships behind. Everyone is not equipped to elevate with you. Evaluate the relationships in your life and if you have some people that are coming between you and God, do not hesitate to tell them to stay with the other “donkeys”.

Believe:
“We will worship and then we will come back....” “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together. Genesis 22:5,6-8

Though God instructed Abraham to sacrifice his son and Abraham obeyed, he still proclaimed that we (him and his son) would come back. Abraham believed that God would save Isaac, even if he did not know how. God is not a man and cannot lie, so trust and believe that God will do what He said He would do in your life.

Expect:
“Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So, Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” – Genesis 22:13-14

Before Abraham could lay a hand on Isaac an Angel of the Lord interceded and provided a ram to be sacrificed instead. Expect God’s provisions in your life no matter your situation or circumstances. The Lord Will Provide for you if trust, obey and believe.

During the tests of life, we often pray and ask God for clarification and deliverance. Sometimes God says yes, but more often than not He says no. God does not say no to punish us – He says no because He knows the plans He has for us. Plans to prosper and not harm us, plans to give us hope and a future. God’s grace is sufficient for whatever trials you are facing today. When you find yourself in a test, do what Abraham did and sacrifice, elevate, believe and expect.

0 Comments

Blessed Radius

3/5/2019

2 Comments

“… [Jesus] said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” Mark 4:35 - 39

A blast radius is the distance from the source that will be affected when an explosion occurs. A blast radius is often associated with bombs, mines, explosive projectiles (propelled grenades), and other weapons with an explosive charge (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blast_radius). Simply put, a blast radius is the area affected when an explosive device is detonated – the closer you are to the source of the explosion the more devastating the damage.

Once you accepted Jesus as your Savior he became your source and dwells within you. Now, because of your proximity to God through Christ you have a “Blessed Radius” – the closer you are to Christ the more blessed you and those around you will be.

In Mark 4:35-39, Jesus tells his disciples that they are going to cross over to the other side, but on their way, they encounter a storm. The passage informs us that there were other boats that crossed over with Jesus and his disciples. We do not know who were on these boats, but we do know the same storm Jesus and his disciples faced the other boats faced as well. Though Jesus was not physically on the other boats when he calmed the winds and waves they received the blessing too. This is why our proximity to Jesus is critical, not just for our lives but for the lives of those around us.

Think about the “others” around you – your family, friends and associates. Is there more you can be doing as a Christian to be a blessing unto them?

Doing these three simple things will increase your Blessed Radius:

Sow: Sow into those around you – not just financially, but sow with your time, words of encouragement and deeds. “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” -Luke 6:38
Pray: Prayer allots us direct communication with God. Pray that those around you are blessed and favored by God. As Christians, we should have a desire to see everyone living in God’s grace, especially those around us. “And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” -Job 42:10
Glorify: In all you do, achieve and obtain give God the glory. Displaying a strong and meaningful relationship with God inspires those around you to want the same. Share your testimony, so that when God elevates you He will receive all the glory. “…let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” -Matthew 5;16

Therefore, we must judge our effectiveness as Christians by the blessings of those around us.

2 Comments

Have a Seat

Get in (Spiritual) Formation

Level Up

By Faith

Blessed Radius

Author

Archives

Categories