Greetings to all of our WIFI visitors, subscribers, family and friends. We would like to take the time to thank you in advance for your support in patronizing our blog by hitting that like button or sharing our inspirational messages with a family member or friend. As we know, the spirit is always willing to do right, but this old flesh of ours, we have to continue to work on daily. So, today I want to share a few highlights on the beautiful Queen Esther.
You all be encouraged and be blessed and as it says in : Galatians 5:16
“So I say, walk by the Spirit,l and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.
And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon.
So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified.
Paul says in the opening words of the eighth chapter of Romans, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death,” (Romans 8:2 RSV). A new law, a new edict, has gone into effect. “It is no longer I that live,” he says, “but Christ liveth in me,” (Galatians 2:20a KJV). The law of his life in me is able to counteract the effects of sin and death. It is no longer I that work, but it is he who works through me and so I live his life. It is still I who live it, but “I live it by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me,” (Galatians 2:20 KJV). And when I count on his indwelling life to work through me step by step, he turns even my failures into victories! That is what he is saying.
“Your sorrow shall be turned into joy” (John 16:20), the Lord Jesus said to his disciples before he went to the cross. Notice he did not say, “Your sorrows shall be replaced by joy.” He said that the thing that causes you sorrow shall itself be translated, transmuted, turned into joy. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus turns adversity into adventure, and affliction into praise. It does not always change the circumstances. But it uses them, overpowers them, reverses their effect. The strange thing is that it works best in weakness and in defeat.
This is what Paul discovered when that thorn in the flesh, that raw, grinding, nerve destroying thing kept eating away at him.
We don’t know what it was — something in the flesh that bothered him like a thorn continually pricking him in the side. He prayed three times that it might be taken away, but the answer came, “My strength is made perfect in weakness, my grace is sufficient for thee,” (2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV). So the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus sets you free from the law of sin and death. There need be no defeat for your spirit. There need be no discouragement, no terrible crushing sense of despair even though the circumstances remain unchanged, his indwelling life in you is sufficient to meet everything that comes.
The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, working in a shepherd lad named David, took hold of the very situation that was causing despair and pessimism in the camp of Israel and turned the very threat itself, Goliath the giant, into triumph for Israel. David’s faith in an indwelling, all-adequate God was the only new factor added to that situation. Gloom and despair had spread like a cancer throughout the whole camp of Israel and one man, a mighty man of towering stature and strength, was holding the entire army of God immobile and helpless. Then David came along saying, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that dares defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26). Though his sight, like the others, is fixed upon Goliath, his faith was fastened upon a living God who was able to meet every circumstance no matter what it was, when it came, or how it occurred. And he said, “In the face of those resources, who is this?” That quiet faith worked the miracle by which the very one who threatened became the ground of victory, triumph, and blessing.
Song of the Day!
(Cited: We do not own any rights to the music. It’s being used on this blog for inspirational purposes only.)
“ (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.”
This part: –——–> “calleth those things which be not as though they were.”
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
10:6-14 Carnal desires gain strength by indulgence, therefore should be checked in their first rise. Let us fear the sins of Israel, if we would shun their plagues. And it is but just to fear, that such as tempt Christ, will be left by him in the power of the old serpent. Murmuring against God’s disposals and commands, greatly provokes him. Nothing in Scripture is written in vain; and it is our wisdom and duty to learn from it. Others have fallen, and so may we. The Christian’s security against sin is distrust of himself. God has not promised to keep us from falling, if we do not look to ourselves. To this word of caution, a word of comfort is added. Others have the like burdens, and the like temptations: what they bear up under, and break through, we may also. God is wise as well as faithful, and will make our burdens according to our strength. He knows what we can bear. He will make a way to escape; he will deliver either from the trial itself, or at least the mischief of it. We have full encouragement to flee from sin, and to be faithful to God. We cannot fall by temptation, if we cleave fast to him. Whether the world smiles or frowns, it is an enemy; but believers shall be strengthened to overcome it, with all its terrors and enticements. The fear of the Lord, put into their hearts, will be the great means of safety.
1 Corinthians 10:12 Commentaries
Matthew Henry’s Commentary
1 Corinthians 10:1
Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
10:1-5 To dissuade the Corinthians from communion with idolaters, and security in any sinful course, the apostle sets before them the example of the Jewish nation of old. They were, by a miracle, led through the Red Sea, where the pursuing Egyptians were drowned. It was to them a typical baptism. The manna on which they fed was a type of Christ crucified, the Bread which came down from heaven, which whoso eateth shall live for ever. Christ is the Rock on which the Christian church is built; and of the streams that issue therefrom, all believers drink, and are refreshed. It typified the sacred influences of the Holy Spirit, as given to believers through Christ. But let none presume upon their great privileges, or profession of the truth; these will not secure heavenly happiness.
1 Corinthians 10:2
And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
1 Corinthians 10:3
And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
1 Corinthians 10:4
And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:5
But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
1 Corinthians 10:6
Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
10:6-14 Carnal desires gain strength by indulgence, therefore should be checked in their first rise. Let us fear the sins of Israel, if we would shun their plagues. And it is but just to fear, that such as tempt Christ, will be left by him in the power of the old serpent. Murmuring against God’s disposals and commands, greatly provokes him. Nothing in Scripture is written in vain; and it is our wisdom and duty to learn from it. Others have fallen, and so may we. The Christian’s security against sin is distrust of himself. God has not promised to keep us from falling, if we do not look to ourselves. To this word of caution, a word of comfort is added. Others have the like burdens, and the like temptations: what they bear up under, and break through, we may also. God is wise as well as faithful, and will make our burdens according to our strength. He knows what we can bear. He will make a way to escape; he will deliver either from the trial itself, or at least the mischief of it. We have full encouragement to flee from sin, and to be faithful to God. We cannot fall by temptation, if we cleave fast to him. Whether the world smiles or frowns, it is an enemy; but believers shall be strengthened to overcome it, with all its terrors and enticements. The fear of the Lord, put into their hearts, will be the great means of safety.
1 Corinthians 10:7
Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
1 Corinthians 10:8
Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
1 Corinthians 10:9
Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
1 Corinthians 10:10
Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
1 Corinthians 10:11
Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
1 Corinthians 10:12
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
1 Corinthians 10:13
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
1 Corinthians 10:14
Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
1 Corinthians 10:15
I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
10:15-22 Did not the joining in the Lord’s supper show a profession of faith in Christ crucified, and of adoring gratitude to him for his salvation ? Christians, by this ordinance, and the faith therein professed, were united as the grains of wheat in one loaf of bread, or as the members in the human body, seeing they were all united to Christ, and had fellowship with him and one another. This is confirmed from the Jewish worship and customs in sacrifice. The apostle applies this to feasting with idolaters. Eating food as part of a heathen sacrifice, was worshipping the idol to whom it was made, and having fellowship or communion with it; just as he who eats the Lord’s supper, is accounted to partake in the Christian sacrifice, or as they who ate the Jewish sacrifices partook of what was offered on their altar. It was denying Christianity; for communion with Christ, and communion with devils, could never be had at once. If Christians venture into places, and join in sacrifices to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, they will provoke God.
1 Corinthians 10:16
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
1 Corinthians 10:17
For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
1 Corinthians 10:18
Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
1 Corinthians 10:19
What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
1 Corinthians 10:20
But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
1 Corinthians 10:21
Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
1 Corinthians 10:22
Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
1 Corinthians 10:23
All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
10:23-33 There were cases wherein Christians might eat what had been offered to idols, without sin. Such as when the flesh was sold in the market as common food, for the priest to whom it had been given. But a Christian must not merely consider what is lawful, but what is expedient, and to edify others. Christianity by no means forbids the common offices of kindness, or allows uncourteous behaviour to any, however they may differ from us in religious sentiments or practices. But this is not to be understood of religious festivals, partaking in idolatrous worship. According to this advice of the apostle, Christians should take care not to use their liberty to the hurt of others, or to their own reproach. In eating and drinking, and in all we do, we should aim at the glory of God, at pleasing and honouring him. This is the great end of all religion, and directs us where express rules are wanting. A holy, peaceable, and benevolent spirit, will disarm the greatest enemies.
1 Corinthians 10:24
Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.
1 Corinthians 10:25
Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
1 Corinthians 10:26
For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.
1 Corinthians 10:27
If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
1 Corinthians 10:28
But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof:
1 Corinthians 10:29
Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?
1 Corinthians 10:30
For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
1 Corinthians 10:31
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:32
Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
1 Corinthians 10:33
Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Just praising God that we have made it this far by faith.
Today marks 40 days of our Pecking Orders directly from Bishop T.D. Jakes, and I’m excited about what these next 12 days are going to bring. We expect positive changes for our lives. We have truly been blessed these past 42 days and look forward to breaking into dreams of lifetime.
PECKING will call forth dreams you’ve buried prematurely that God wants to resurrect in your life. He will resurrect these dreams because they are a part of His purpose for your life. Grieve the past wrong choices you’ve made, but forgive yourself. Take COURAGE and celebrate hope for brand new opportunities. Face the facts about your dreams and how you’ve changed over the years. Are you COURAGEOUS enough to step into resurrected dreams? PECK!
“At Woman Thou Art Loosed, I preached a message titled “The Pecking Order”. If you missed it, get your hands on a copy or download the MP3 from our site. During the conference God also moved me to share one of my breakthrough scriptures — Luke 2:52 “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”
For the next 52 Days, beginning tomorrow, we’re going to meet in the Spirit via social media. I’m going to be giving you “Pecking Orders” to help unlock FAVOR and POTENTIAL in your life and coach you into your destiny. Some of these orders will be spiritual…others will be natural, concerning issues like credit, debt, and leadership.
I’m challenging you to have 52 days of undistracted devotion with God. Get up early and give God the first fruits of your day. Have private devotion time. Meditate over Luke 2:52 and pray “Lord, Make me increase in wisdom and stature and favor…” Then, read your pecking orders for the day and believe God for a shift in your life. I want to pray for you as we embark on this journey!”
Praise God from whom all blessings flow… We greet each of you in the name of Jesus. We just wanted to encourage someone on today to hold on to God’s unchanging hand no mater what… Look to God which is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble… No matter what the problem is, there is no problem to hard or no relationship too deep for God to fix… Fast, pray and seek answers from God which is the greatest physician I know….
I have enclosed day 38 directly from Bishop T.D. Jakes… Read them, meditate on them and apply this great Pecking Order to your life…
As you keep PECKING, you’ll be faced with the temptation to end a relationship of any kind. Before you do, consider the consequences. Ending a relationship carries with it unseen ripples of regret and second thoughts. Before you “sign the dotted line” to terminate a relationship, look at all the facets of the relationship along with your motives. Do everything you can possibly do to preserve a relationship before ending it. Your experiences here will help you as God EXPOSES you to more relationships.
2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
Born Again Believers
John 3:3 ESV
Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:5-7 ESV
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ESV
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. …
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Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
1 John 1:9 ESV / 21
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:8 ESV / 19
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
John 3:16 ESV / 19
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Romans 6:23 ESV / 15
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
2 Peter 3:9 ESV / 14
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
1 Peter 1:22-25 ESV / 12
Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
John 3:1-36 ESV
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. …
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit. “And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.
Psalm 91:1-16 ESV
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, …
Hebrews 4:15 ESV
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Romans 6:1-23 ESV
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. …
Romans 10:10 ESV
For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
John 4:24 ESV
God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
John 1:1 ESV
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Isaiah 7:14 ESV
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Proverbs 1:1-33 ESV
The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, …
John 1:19-34 ESV
And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” …
John 1:14 ESV
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Luke 7:30 ESV
But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)
Luke 1:35 ESV
And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.
Matthew 26:39 ESV
And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
Matthew 3:2-6 ESV
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’” Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
1 Peter 1:2-3 ESV
According to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1 Corinthians 7:17 ESV
Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.
1 Corinthians 7:14 ESV
For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
Romans 10:1-9 ESV
Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. …
John 4:1 ESV
Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John
John 3:1 ESV
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
Mark 13:12 ESV
And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death.
Matthew 16:18-19 ESV
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Isaiah 2:1-4 ESV
The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.
Romans 3:23 ESV
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Mark 1:1-5 ESV The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’” John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
Matthew 3:13-17 ESV
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
1 John 5:11-12 And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.
This passage tells us that God has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son, Jesus Christ. In other words, the way to possess eternal life is to possess God’s Son. The question is, how can a person have the Son of God?
Man’s Problem
Separation From God
Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
According to Romans 5:8, God demonstrated His love for us through the death of His Son. Why did Christ have to die for us? Because Scripture declares all men to be sinful. To “sin” means to miss the mark. The Bible declares “all have sinned and fall short of the glory (the perfect holiness) of God” (Rom. 3:23). In other words, our sin separates us from God who is perfect holiness (righteousness and justice) and God must therefore judge sinful man.
Habakkuk 1:13a Thine eyes are too pure to approve evil, And Thou canst not look on wickedness with favor.
The Futility of Our Works
Scripture also teaches that no amount of human goodness, human works, human morality, or religious activity can gain acceptance with God or get anyone into heaven. The moral man, the religious man, and the immoral and non-religious are all in the same boat. They all fall short of God’s perfect righteousness. After discussing the immoral man, the moral man, and the religious man in Romans 1:18-3:8, the Apostle Paul declares that both Jews and Greeks are under sin, that “there is none righteous, not even one” (Rom. 3:9-10). Added to this are the declarations of the following verses of Scripture:
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, that no one should boast.
Titus 3:5-7 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Romans 4:1-5 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about; but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not reckoned as a favor, but as what is due. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness,
No amount of human goodness is as good as God. God is perfect righteousness. Because of this, Habakkuk 1:13 tells us God cannot have fellowship with anyone who does not have perfect righteousness. In order to be accepted by God, we must be as good as God is. Before God, we all stand naked, helpless, and hopeless in ourselves. No amount of good living will get us to heaven or give us eternal life. What then is the solution?
God’s Solution
God is not only perfect holiness (whose holy character we can never attain to on our own or by our works of righteousness) but He is also perfect love and full of grace and mercy. Because of His love and grace, He has not left us without hope and a solution.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
This is the good news of the Bible, the message of the gospel. It’s the message of the gift of God’s own Son who became man (the God-man), lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sin, and was raised from the grave proving both the fact He is God’s Son and the value of His death for us as our substitute.
Romans 1:4 who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord,
Romans 4:25 He who was delivered up because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.
2 Corinthians 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;
How Do We Receive God’s Son?
Because of what Jesus Christ accomplished for us on the cross, the Bible states “He that has the Son has life.” We can receive the Son, Jesus Christ, as our Savior by personal faith, by trusting in the person of Christ and His death for our sins.
John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, {even} to those who believe in His name.
John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
This means we must each come to God the same way: (1) as a sinner who recognizes his sinfulness, (2) realizes no human works can result in salvation, and (3) relies totally on Christ alone by faith alone for our salvation.
If you would like to receive and trust Christ as your personal Savior, you may want to express your faith in Christ by a simple prayer acknowledging your sinfulness, accepting His forgiveness and putting your faith in Christ for your salvation.
If you have just trusted in Christ, you need to learn about your new life and how to walk with the Lord. May we suggest you start by studying through the ABCs for Christian Growth. This series will take you step-by-step through some basic truths of God’s Word and will help you build a solid foundation for your faith in Christ.
Posted by: Minister Evelyn Diane Thomas D&T: 09/24/2012
Greetings to all of our WIFI subscribers, visitors, family and friends… On today I just wanted to leave a few thoughts with you below… I pray you are blessed by them.. Please feel free to comment, and subscribe to our Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/www.wifiministries.org
Minister Ev’s Thought of the day: Sometimes in life, we have to become hungry after the things that means the most to us.. of God… I seek after GOD with everything that is within me and with everything that I have, knowing that my very life is dependent upon God and God alone… ` Min. Ev
1 Peter 1:13-16 “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be ye sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lust in your ignorance: But be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye Holy; for I am holy.”
2 Peter 1:3-9: “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness.” (2 Peter 1:3).
As I awake on today, I can hear the late Isaiah Bishop’s voice so clearly as he taught so profoundly over the years on “Holiness…” I will be celebrating my 46th birthday on this year, and I met him when I was 7-years-old, and he was preaching Holiness or hell way back then, and as I became an adult and began to walk on my own two feet, I understand more now that I’ve become a mature adult in Christ… I did not say perfect, and I make no excuses for random things I might say or do… Nevertheless, through Holiness, God is working on me and changing my life everyday so that I can become so close to God that I know he is more than just a friend, he is my Father…..
I know it seems rare that anyone tackles this subject anymore… However, there is a need for this subject to be preached to dyeing world and a new generation that really don’t know that heaven and hell are both real. I say that hoping that someone would take heed to know that we only get one life to live, and living it in holiness is the only way I know that fulfills every void….
Holiness definition: In the highest sense belongs to God (Isa. 6:3;Rev. 15:4), and to Christians as consecrated to God’s service, and in so far as they are conformed in all things to the will of God (Rom.6:19, 22; Eph. 1:4; Titus 1:8; 1 Pet. 1:15). Personal holiness is a work of gradualdevelopment. It is carried on under manyhindrances, hence the frequent admonitions to watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance (1 Cor.1:30; 2 Cor. 7:1; Eph. 4:23, 24). (SeeSANCTIFICATION.)
When we are born again by the Holy Spirit He, the Holy Spirit, begins to work in us the character of God. No, more than that! He plants in our spirits ‘the divine nature’ of God. We share in His divine nature. (2 Peter 1:3-4).
What is God’s nature? It is His righteousness, His holiness, His patience and comfort and strength. His nature is glorious and believers reflect it in the way they live (2 Cor 3:17-18).
How do we participate in these many aspects of God’s nature. Our fallen nature is exchanged for His nature. Under the Spirit’s direction and control, our fallen nature is reconstituted. Our nature takes on again the originalimage of God which was muddied and spoiled by sin. So Paul could say to the believers at Corinth, “you are new creations in Christ” (2 Cor 5:17).
Our journey through life gives God time and space to remake us “in His perfect image.”
David said, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters,” (Psalm 23:2-3). We feast on Him; we drink deeply of His divine nature and we take on the characteristics of our Father in heaven.
Those who drink alcoholic beverages take on the nature of the beverages they drink. Those who drink of the Spirit, take on the nature or fruit of the Holy Spirit “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.” (Gal 5:22-23).
Because our nature is changed to be like God’s nature, Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers, saying, “Here am I, and the children God has given Me.” (Heb 2:11-13). The writer also said, “Both the One who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family” God’s family. Holiness is the hallmark of God’s family.
The Holy Spirit by His very presence and nature works holiness of life in the believer. If a man or woman does not have the Spirit, he or she is not a Christian (Rom 8:9). By the power of the indwelling Spirit, believers can live holy lives, according to the Scriptures.
From the beginning, God demanded holiness. Holiness equals righteousness. God said men of faith were righteous (Gen 15:6). They lived holy lives and they “walked with God.” (Gen 6:9). He demanded holiness in the days of Moses (Ex 19:6). And He demands holiness of life for all who would enter His Kingdom.
When God created Adam and Eve in His image and likeness, I believe He clothed them with His glory and holiness (Eph 4:24). When they rebelled and broke God’s command, that glory fell away and they saw themselves naked, and they were ashamed (Gen 3:7).
God cannot walk and talk with sinners, so He put Adam and Eve out of the garden. Only in Christ can we gain the holiness we lost and have God’s likeness fully restored in our lives.
The Risen Christ told the apostle John, “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may go through the gates into the (Holy) city. Outside are those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” (Rev 22:15; 21:8). Because nothing impure will ever enter it (heaven), nor will anyone who is shameful or deceitful. (Rev 21:27).
Isaiah 61:1 (ESV) The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
As we embark on this journey of our 40 days of Lenten season, today we will be praying and discussing Incarceration. When I hear the word incarceration I immediately began to think of a person that is not free.
Many of us have loved one’s that are behind prison walls… It tend to be a pretty common place for most of our black and brown men of today and yesterday… I encouraged each of you to begin to pray for someone you may or may not know that is incarcerated. Also, pray those loved one’s that are free but has imprisoned their minds to the mental capacity that they have given up on life.. I believe, if we began to intercede on their behalf, lives will be change right where they are and the captives mind will be set free, which gives them another chance at life. No matter what a person has done, Jesus still loves them in spite of their mistakes or intentions. If a person is honestly sorry, repent and or ask the Lord for forgiveness, he is a faithful and just God and will forgive you of all your sins.
Please, if you will… Take time out of your busy schedule and go pay a surprise visit to a love one or friend that is incarcerated.. .You never know, you might be that face that will change their mindset forever… Most of all, it’s a matter of them feeling free withing themselves… Locked away, yet free… The bible says: whom the son set free, is free indeed…
The Disciples Cross: The Message Behind the IHVS Christian
The first discipline is Obedience and faith,it is the central focus of book one, What Does the Bible Say? Obedience and faith is what binds all the other spiritual disciplines together. Without them the cross can not support itself. In the pages of the Bible, Jesus instructed: “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:15). Obeying God’s Word is not easy. History has shown that our human nature is prone to resist authority. We see that in Genesis chapter 3 when man disobeyed the Heavenly Father and the result was devastating. Man was separated from God. Disobedience has a similar affect upon our relationship with the Lord today. But God is faithful. He will forgive us our sins and restore our relationship if we will confess our sins and return follow His instructions (1 John 1:9).
Witnessing is another Christian discipline and will be the central focus of book two,Fishers of Men. Witnessing is not an option for a Christian. Jesus commanded the preaching of the gospel to all nations (c.f., Matthew 28:19-20), and it is the duty of every child of God to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ by verbal witness under girded by a Christian lifestyle in harmony with the gospel of Christ. Jesus also reminded us that God is pleased when we witness. “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:8).
Prayer will be the central focus of book three, Move Mountain. Is has been said that prayer is to the Christian what breathing is to the body. More specifically, prayer is both talking and listening to God. At the same time, prayer is recognizing the presence of God (Psalm 118:18) as we claim promises of God (2 Peter 1:4). Equally important, prayer is the Christian’s source of strength and power, a means of discovering the will of God, and biblically mandated means of having our needs met (Philippians 4:19). Jesus promises, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7).
Fellowship will be emphasized in Love One Another. Based on what I like to call The Eleventh Commandment, Jesus’ instructions in John 13:34-35 is clear, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” We are to love others because Jesus loved us first. His model is our inspiration and his legacy is the defining quality of our new life as disciples.
Service will be the focus of IHVS book five, You Are My Friend. A New Testament church is an autonomous local congregation of baptized believers that can affect lasting, positive change in the lives of others. Both men and women are gifted to serve and be friends to others. One of my favorite passages in all of scripture is John 15:13. There we read, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.” It is fascinating to me to realize that Jesus considers me to be his friend. Being a friend to others has a similar impact on people.
Finally, the focus of the last book in the IHVS series, Show Thyself Approved, will bediscipleship. This is the all-encompasses discipline that expands the entire cross. Christianity is the faith of enlightenment and knowledge and in Jesus Christ rests all wisdom. Thus, all sound learning is a part of our Christian faith, and Christian education is a necessary component to a complete spiritual program for Christ’s people. Once again, Jesus teaches, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock (Matthew 7:24).
Isaiah 42:1-25 (ESV)Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law. Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it: …
People are most commonly incarcerated upon suspicion or conviction of committing a crime, and different jurisdictionshave differing laws governing the function of incarceration within a larger system of justice. Incarceration serves four essential purposes with regard to criminals:
to isolate criminals to prevent them from committing more crimes
to punish criminals for committing crimes
to deter others from committing crimes
to rehabilitate criminals
Incarceration rates, when measured by the United Nations, are considered distinct and separate from the imprisonment of political prisoners and others not charged with a specific crime. Historically, the frequency of imprisonment, its duration, and severity have varied considerably. There has also been much debate about the motives for incarceration, its effectiveness and fairness, as well as debate regarding the related questions about the nature and etiology ofcriminal behavior.
