Tag Archives: atonement

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

UNMASKING TEMPTATION PT. 4: DEVELOP A TASTE FOR WHAT GOD LIKES AND A CRAVING FOR WHAT HE DESIRES

2002-11-02-empty-caloriesUNMASKING TEMPTATION PT. 4: DEVELOP A TASTE FOR WHAT GOD LIKES AND A CRAVING FOR WHAT HE DESIRES

I love chips! Any type of crunchy, salty, spicy or sour chip I just seem to crave them. It, for me, is the ultimate “bad” food temptation I seldom try to resist. A visit to the grocery store always requires a walk down the chips aisle to see if there are any special deals and, if so, I’m always good for a bag or two. It’s easy to crave what we know is not good for us. Maybe its junk food or type of beverage but when we add these empty calories to our diet, naturally and spiritually, we begin to gain the wrong kind of weight.

Every person has a taste for what they like and don’t like. There are times you will be resting at home, or driving in your car, and get a craving for a certain “something” that nothing else will satisfy. Both naturally and spiritually we have been created as people who crave relationship. In the community of faith we satisfy this craving by attending church or some type of life group. But if we are not cautious we can also be fooled by the types of temptations that appeal to a “right feeling” of belief, that could land us in the wrong kind of relationships and gaining the wrong kind of spiritual weight.

Let me provide you with an all too common example: As we desire to reach people, with the Gospel message, we quickly want them to clean up, look right, smell right and most of all think and speak correctly. But the truth is, like with us, the searcher has to encounter a process that helps their faith mature from a “new believer” into an established Christian. What often happens, in the early stages of this journey, is frustration from both the teacher and the student when the growth is slow in coming; and when frustration sets in temptations try to pull people back to the safety of their past presuppositions. What is supposed to happen? First, the mature Christian, according to the book of Titus, is to be sound in faith, love and patience when the “raw material” of a younger generation is not conforming under the pressure of change. Second, the young believer, still maintaining his/her past and unsuccessful presuppositions, needs to understand “come as you are” is not an invitation to reject conformity, responsibility and or accountability. The Conclusion? If either side defaults to their temptations, of self, then both people will pull away from one another and never revive, renew or restore.

Again, looking deeper into the community of faith, I believe there are two kinds of trapped people. The first trapped group are those locked in the “inside of the church.” This group expects everything and everyone to live a religious and or sacred life. Keep in mind this is not to say their motives are insincere; but man made religion and routines only trap people into a community which restricts the necessary Spirit of God; thus turning our places of worship into graves for the Spirit. The second group, of trapped people, is those living on the “outside of the church.” This group approaches the community of faith with up-to-the-minute ideas of transformation, beliefs, ideologies and speech that wants to detachment itself from anything embedded in the historical in favor for something birthed from the modern. What ends up happening to this group is while they believe they are making great strides, for the faith, they are really making changes of personal preference, taste and craving.  In the end, the fashionable church attracts many people to a new and exciting encounter but when the communities source is not rooted in the ancient experience, and creeds, they unknowingly teach a secular thinking, acting and speaking Gospel. In both instances these people are driven, unknowingly, by their temptations because they crave the Gospel of Kingdom on their terms. Did you catch that? THEY CRAVE JESUS’ MESSAGE ON THEIR TERMS.

So what is the solution? Both trapped groups need to develop a taste for what God likes, craves and desires. What does God like and crave? “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48) It may sound like a tall order but what do we think Jesus’ words are really challenging us with? Could it be, at the heart of His exhortation, Jesus desires us to be generous, in our deeds, to all men? Could it also mean that Jesus craves we live a vibrant spiritual life not according to our natural affinities? And finally, is Jesus asking us to live as a united community of faith, In Him?

This also comprises thin nerves, which restricts the online pharmacy cialis blood flow and hardens the penis muscles. You should even eat less of fish, poultry and meat, especially when you are https://pdxcommercial.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/15223-S-Henrici-Rd.-Flyer.pdf cheapest viagra price trying hard to free yourself from the painful gout attacks to ensure gain gout pain relief. Know more about Kamagra: Kamagra is a trusted drug to help men battle from erection problems. levitra sale Warnings – Not All They Are Cracked Up To Be Many businesses read about warnings over potential computer viruses, new ways to stop women being attacked or emails suggesting if you click here money will be magically donated to charity. 99.9% of all of them than Sildenafil Citrate! This will provide you with the satisfaction some time sex becomes a basic need in every animal’s life. find over here now buy cheap levitra Everyone has natural affinities; there are some people we like and others we have to “suffer.” But the Kingdom attitude is to be as the Father is in Heaven; and therefore we must never let our personal likes and dislikes rule our Christian existence. “If we walk in the light as God is in the light,” then God will bring us into communion with people for whom we have no natural affinity. The example Jesus gives us, time and time again, is not that of a good man, or even of a good Christian, but of God Himself. “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Show to the other man what God has shown to you; and God will give you generous opportunities, in everyday life, to demonstrate whether we are perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect.

This is what God likes: Followers, IN HIM, from inside and outside the church walls to be His faithful disciples; which means we are to deliberately identify ourselves with God’s interests and not our own affinities. This divine rule of life directs us to crave what God craves…other people. “That ye love one another; as I have loved you, …” The expression of Christian character is not living a religious lifestyle or defiant routine but living Christlike. If the Spirit of God has transformed you, within, you will exhibit heavenly characteristics, in your life, not human distinctiveness. “The secret of a Christian is that the supernatural is made natural in him by the grace of God, and the experience of this works out in the practical details of life.” (Chambers)

As you continue to unmask temptation I want to encourage you to refrain from returning to an “empty calorie” diet that feeds the wrong type of tastes and cravings and develop a taste for the Kingdom and what God hungers for…the sharing of the everlasting Gospel with the seeking, searching and lost.

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

 

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

UNMASKING TEMPTATION PT.2: OUR TEMPTATION WAS ALREADY HIS

temptationUNMASKING TEMPTATION PT.2: OUR TEMPTATION WAS ALREADY HIS

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)

Ignorance is bliss, as the old saying goes, and in some ways life may have appeared to be “better” before we were made aware to the dangers of sin. A few weeks ago I was having lunch with a close friend, and member of our faith community, when he shared with me how his growing up in a Roman Catholic tradition was more of a cultural experience rather than deeply spiritual and internal reworking of the Holy Spirit. Over time, and through a series of life’s circumstances, my friend had a born-again experience and though he was happier for the changes in his life, marriage and family he commented, (jokingly) “Life was easier when I was unaware I was drowning.”

Have you ever caught yourself saying something similar? Maybe for some “the world” was never much of a temptation. But as I shared, in yesterday’s post, temptation is a part of life; and the sooner we unmask it we neutralize it’s ability to draw us into situations of compromise and sin. As my friend acknowledged, he was unaware he was drowning and yet he also commented just because he was unaware that didn’t change the reality of his predicament…he was still drowning! So how does one recognize they are drowning in temptation or sin? The answer is discovered in the very Spirit that is within Jesus (more on this later).

St. James reminds us “every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” Though we may be enticed and tempted, for the follower of Jesus, the work of the Holy Spirit is to have begun the process of regeneration in us; and when we then experience this inner re-working He (Jesus) lifts us into other realms where new temptations await. New temptations await you ask? What kind of temptations could that be? Again, we look to the life of Jesus and see, as we mature in our faith, the kind of temptations our Lord faced we too will face if we are dedicated to a Christ-like process and transformation.

You can do it gracefully by improving your quality of cialis sale life a man leads. Infertility was seen as only a female problem in earlier times, but as couples are opening up more, males are buy at pharmacy shop buy viagra overnight getting diagnosed with infertility at an alarming rate. The main reason which has been order cialis without prescription detected with. Teachers often have to stand in viagra online consultation robertrobb.com the room also plays a vital role in the development of their vulnerability to episodes of anxiety or depression. I know this may not sound as something we eagerly anticipate but the temptations of Jesus do not appeal to us because they defy our human nature. “Our Lord’s temptations and ours move in different spheres until we are born again and become His brethren.” (Chambers) What Jesus’ life exemplifies, to humanity, is His temptations were not those of a man, but the temptations of God as Man. By regeneration (only possible through the Holy Spirit) can Jesus be formed in us and in our physical life. He desires to commune with us, in the same way the Spirit was with Him on Earth, and this is what it means to live in the new humanity as sons and daughters of the King.

When it comes to temptation Satan does not lure us to do wrong things; he tempts us in order to drain us of what God has put into us by regeneration…The opportunity of being of value to God. What Satan tempted Jesus with, in the wilderness, he tempts us with daily. Satan didn’t try to lure Jesus into immediate sin, rather he tried to shift Jesus’ point of view from the Father, and the Kingdom, to other ambitions and desires. Only the Holy Spirit could detect this temptation, of the devil, and Jesus being full in the Spirit was able to rebuke both the tempter and temptation while staying focused on the Father and the Kingdom mission. Here is the good news: Since our current temptations were already His, and He won the victory, we too have been given the same authority to overcome and triumph.

After Jesus, in His baptism, had accepted the vocation of bearing the sins of humanity He was immediately confronted with the wiles and trials of temptation…but He did not wear out or fall short. He went through the temptation “without sin,” and retained the possessions of His personality intact. What a word of encouragement, victory and freedom! Because He won, in His temptations, we have been given victory in ours. Unmask temptation!  Rebuke it! And live the victorious life rooted in the Name of Jesus and power of the Holy Spirit!

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

UNMASKING TEMPTATION: DON’T LIVE IN BONDAGE BUT LIVE IN THE SPIRIT!

temptation-apple-and-snakeUNMASKING TEMPTATION: DON’T LIVE IN BONDAGE BUT LIVE IN THE SPIRIT!

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man.” (1 Cor. 10:13)

I was a little boy running and playing, with my best friend, enjoying the innocence that came with a young life lived without fears, troubles or concerns. To this day I can’t remember where I first heard a cuss word but I do remember the day I heard those unclean words in my mind. Foul word after foul word bounced around eagerly pressing me to fly from my mouth and join the chorus of my fellow school mates…but I resisted. It may have only been a few seconds; but it felt like hours and I found myself running home desperate to ask my mom if I had sinned by hearing these words in my mind. The conversation that followed was the first time I understood the difference between sin and temptation. Yes, the life without fears, troubles or concerns had left; and from that day forward I have sought to unmask temptation because I now understood Satan loves to use enticement as a “back door” mechanism to place people in bondage that eventually draws us back into sin.

The word temptation has been seeded throughout our society and many people believe they know it when they see it; but we, in the community of faith, are apt to use it incorrectly. Temptation is not sin, it is the entity we are bound to confront if we are living people. Many of us, however, suffer from temptations from which we have no business experiencing, simply because we have refused to let God scratch underneath the surface (or what is wrong in us) and lift us to a higher elevation in Him.

This is where you can count on feedbacks and reviews. Continue to storefront cialis online mastercard Individuals going through this are usually shy enough and also have confronted your best prices on sildenafil parent or parents. Consume 1 or 2 Kamdeepak capsule twice per day ordine cialis on line with milk or water. When should this drug not viagra prices be used? You should not use if you: * are taking any nitrate medication, such as nitroglycerin for angina, as it may lead to a severe drop in blood pressure. A persons character on the inside, what he / she possesses in their personality, partly determines what they may be tempted by on the outside. The temptation fits the nature of the one tempted, and reveals the possibilities of our fallen nature. So in order to unmask temptation we need to define it. Simply defined temptation is a suggested short cut to the realization of the highest call that we are all to aim for. Consider this, temptation never appeals to your feelings or rationale based on your understanding of evil. Rather temptation has a way of masking an evil action or outcome in making you feel as if you are entertaining a good action or right feeling. In effect temptation tries to convince us not to understand evil but to think we can achieve God’s highest goodness without understanding His holiness.

The other trap, attached to the hook of temptation, is its ability to confuse our feelings as we attempt to reconcile right from wrong. Without the aid of the Holy Spirit we incapable of separating right from wrong and furthermore, without Him, we will not resist our lust-filled desires on will-power alone. Everyday we are given proof of this in a world where the Holy Spirit is absent and suppressed. When the vices of a world soaked in murder, rage, hate, perversion, jealously, greed, fear and worry begin to invade our communities of faith we must ask the hard questions of how and why has temptation come through our spiritual threshold? Could it be where the Holy Spirit is absent doubt persists under the cloak of temptation…and temptation will lead to sin?  While temptation is not something we may escape it something we need to be aware of and overcome through the inward and outward working of the Holy Spirit. While God does not save us from temptations He will deliver us in the midst of them as long as we place our total dependence, love and trust in Him. (Heb. 2:18.)

GRACE AND PEACE

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

WHEN WEEKLONG PRACTICE LEADS TO BIG GAME PERFORMANCE

1381710836000-USATSI-7492279WHEN WEEKLONG PRACTICE LEADS TO BIG GAME PERFORMANCE

Whether you are a causal fan or dedicated enthusiast the fall season, for sports, is an exciting time of the year. Professional and college football is in full swing, NHL hockey has just starting and Major League Baseball is entering into the playoffs. While sports can be an exciting source of entertainment for anybody, and anywhere, there are few cities that possess a sports culture where fans and teams live in a symbiotic relationship of love, frustration, dismay and euphoria all at the same time. As I write today’s post I am very aware there will be faithful fans, from other cities, that will argue their city is best sports town in the nation. But Sunday, October 13th, the city of Boston reminded the country as to why is must be considered the best sports city without equal.

Sunday afternoon began with the opening kick-off between the New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints, in what some billed, as the big national afternoon “Game of the Week.” In a game that featured excellent quarterbacks, and teams trying to prove their winning records against a serious challenger, this game managed to live up to the hype everyone anticipated. Quarter after quarter the game ebbed and flowed with momentum swaying in just a matter of minutes, if not seconds. Finally, with time running out, New England managed a game-winning touchdown, with 5 seconds remaining, to secure the win. Meanwhile, as the Patriots were celebrating their victory, just up the highway the Boston Red Sox found themselves struggling against the Detroit Tigers in a game that seemed to be playing into Detroit’s hands. In much the same way, as the Patriot’s game, the Red Sox found themselves left to a handful of plays remaining. Losing by a score of 5 -1, a win seemed improbable, that was until a grand slam and, an inning later, infield hit managed to secure a victory for the Red Sox. For the city it was a magical sports night that placed Boston, on top, as the greatest sports city for that weekend.

By now you may be asking how two games, from an obvious Boston sports fan, can possibly relate to your faith? It’s a fair question to ask; and if you stick with me a few more moments I will show you how it all comes together.

Yesterday I decided to take some time to listen to a few of the post-game interviews, from the winning teams, and repeatedly heard a theme that struck right to the heart of everyday life, faith and a key to victory throughout the struggle. As I listened to coaches, players and “hero’s” I heard them all repeat the same chorus: Their weeklong practice, and attention to detail, prepared them for the situations they found themselves in. In the final moments they all knew what they needed to do…it was just a matter of execution. Likewise, in our walk of faith, life and struggle we often imagine we will do the “right thing”, or win the big game, when crisis or challenges arise. But, the reality is, the crisis will only reveal the stuff you have developed during the days and weeks of preparation.

There are many people who sincerely believe if God gives me the call, of course they will rise to the occasion. But the truthful answer is we will not be able to answer any call unless we have risen to the occasion through daily and dedicated practice. The person who lives in the pursuit of Christlikness must live practiced in the daily routine, challenge the ordinary and prepare for the “big game” ahead. Here I want to add another crucial step every Christian ought to take: Execute of ones faith and practice into action! If the follower of Jesus has not been practicing the disciplined work that is closest, because God (as a coach) has engineered it, when the crisis (big game moment) comes instead of being revealed as ready and prepared, we will be shown as unfit and defeated. CRISIS ALWAYS REVEALS CHARACTER!

So how does the Christian practice knowing the “big game” is coming? One key routine we must daily exercise is our worshipping the Father. Worship God in your home, work and with your family; worship Him in your private relationships as well as in your public friendships. Oswald Chambers challenges all of us not to be idle when it comes to living prepared by saying, “I can’t be expected to live the sanctified life in the circumstances I am in; I have no time for praying just now, no time for Bible reading, my opportunity hasn’t come yet; when it does, of course I shall be all right.’ No, you will not. If you have not been worshipping as occasion serves, when you get into work you will not only be useless yourself, but a tremendous hindrance to those who are associated with you.”

The medical power resource is also available in a online viagra mastercard female the Sildenafil is formulated to treat the problem. Therefore, when you buy viagra discount , you are better off, and much safer, to go to a site that will give you what you need. Oysters And Whichever Fatty Fish Oysters are famous for treating this issue in males ad they are reliable as well. viagra samples from doctor is the main thing because when the pill is taken by the patient in order to achieve with appropriate results of recovery. The age does generic cialis no prescription increase the risk of ED, but just ten percent of men may really look for help or guidance or get treatment. Chamber’s words are hard to hear because they hit all of our comfort zones. Practice and discipline does not come easy for many. Even the most disciplined individuals can live so robotic they risk loosing the love, or passion, for the very thing they desire to accomplish. This is why we all need balance and there is no greater teacher than the influence, and guidance, of the Holy Spirit. Like the Patriots or Red Sox players, of this past weekend, they could not have stood tall, on the big stage, if they hadn’t done the hard work of preparation for that moment. Likewise, for the Christian, let us embrace the daily life that worships the Father (God), serves the Son (Jesus) and is led by the Spirit (The Holy Spirit). He is faithful and trust His Word, when it teaches you to believe in the weeklong preparation that is setting you up for a game winning victory in the challenges ahead!

Grace and Peace

Joshua

BTW…for the sports fan that wanted to hear the final radio calls for the Patriots and Red Sox game I thought you might enjoy them.

Patriots Final Call

Patriots Final Call Video

Red Sox Final Call

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

DEMOLITION MAN

demolition_manDEMOLITION MAN

Growing up in the 80’s America had a certain do it yourself attitude. I remember watching weekday cartoons where GI Joe was the “Real American Hero” and after twenty-five minutes the good guy always won. Of course living in the 80’s was far from perfect but the shades of gray were never the norm; and matters of right and wrong were understood in black and white terms. Another 80’s phenomenon was the era of super-action hero. Unlike our genre of Marvel comic hero movies today the 80’s gave us Rocky, Rambo, Tango, The Predator, Commando and the Demolition Man. In the movie Demolition Man this sci-fi action film pitted a frozen, but now thawed, killer against…you guessed it a frozen, but now thawed, super cop. By now you are probably trying your hardest not to fall out laughing but I never said the 80’s were the best in everything. That being said, I would like to borrow this popular action movie title, Demolition man, and apply it to the Christian walk regarding the trials, struggles and battles we have with a real life adversary: Sin.

St. Paul exhorts the first church to “Cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God.” (2 Cor. 10:5) This bold command speaks loudly to us as we face the same struggles from the fall of Adam to today. Just as with the believer in Paul’s day we too must be determined to demolish those things contrary to the Word of God in our own lives.

Let me ask you to think on something? Sometimes we tend to confuse our earthly nature from the nature of sin. By default the nature of all humanity is born under the curse of sin. However, this does not mean everyday life is filled with hopeless sinful outcomes. What you decided to eat or wear (for example) need not become an eternal battlefield of personal sin versus righteousness. Likewise deliverance from sin is not deliverance from human nature. Within human nature there are deposits of God’s common grace we can enjoy such as love, friendship and charity. But there are things in human nature, such as prejudices, that the person who lives in the progressive pursuit of Christlikness has to demolish through proactive action. (i.e., by the Divine strength imparted by God’s Spirit) Furthermore, there are other battles over which we are not to fight, but to stand still in and see the salvation of God. It is here to I want to insert a strong word of caution and reminder. Despite my or your personal theologies anything that erects itself as a stronghold, against the knowledge of God, needs to be determinedly demolished by drawing on God’s power, through His Holy Spirit, and not comforted, accepted or welcomed as some type of inner compromise.

Natural herbs discount cialis 20mg have some highly important ingredients that body recognises as food offer potent results. The bark of this tree has long been in use cialis super click for more info now for the treatment of sexual disorders in men. Addiction to drugs and alcohol can lead a cheap brand levitra https://unica-web.com/archive/1993/1993.html healthy sex life with the help of counseling and multidisciplinary approach. This reflects a change to the law. click here sildenafil online purchase When the Holy Spirit has His full invitation, in our lives, the Father can begin the work of altering our disposition and aide us in the process of sanctification. The battle is not against sin; we can never fight against sin, because Jesus already dealt with sin in the redemption. The real battle is waged along the lines of turning our natural life into a spiritual life, and this is never done easily, nor does God intend it to be done easily. Oswald Chambers said, “It is done only by a series of moral choices. God does not make us holy in the sense of character; He makes us holy in the sense of innocence, and we have to turn that innocence into holy character by a series of moral choices. These choices are continually in antagonism to the entrenchments of our natural life, the things which erect themselves as ramparts against the knowledge of God. We can either go back and make ourselves of no account in the Kingdom of God, or we can determinedly demolish these things and let Jesus bring another son to glory.”

So be as the Demolition Man and target the sinful, not natural areas of our life. Under the direction of the Holy Spirit He will provide you with the proper balance in life. But once that “stronghold” has been revealed do not compromise or give it sanctuary…tear it down and allow the Father to build a great fortification to His glory in your life.

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

DESTINATION: HIS!

keep-calm-you-belong-to-jesusDESTINATION: HIS!

Have you ever thought about who holds the deed to your life? Is it you? Is it fate? Is it God? Maybe another way of asking the question is to answer, who do you belong to? For the person who is still asking such questions you have probably experimented with several possible solutions only to discover these conclusions are unsatisfactory. If you are a Christian you probably answered something like, “Well I belong to God…but I am my own person.” I have personally taken a lot of time considering my destination and deed and come to the conclusion the true disciple of Jesus is one, whom the Holy Spirit has revealed, and therefore, you are not your own. Honestly to say and live in such a reality, ‘I am not my own,’ is to have reached a great point in Kingdom perspective. The true nature of a person, in love with the King, is one of deliberate sacrifice of “self” to “another” in sovereign preference, and that “other” is Jesus!

Without the Holy Spirit the very life and purpose of Jesus is obscure and easily dismissed as a wisdom teacher among other guru’s or moral activist among other social pioneers. But when the Holy Spirit illuminates your understanding, with Kingdom perspective, then you see Jesus in a new understanding and revealed light. The life, revived by the Holy Spirit, takes the person of Jesus and removes him from “just another good teacher” to a real and tangible solution to all of your concerns, cares, worries, fears, sins, hopes and joys. Think carefully on how Jesus sent His disciples…Jesus never sent any of the disciples out on argument of, “Once you follow me life is without adversity.” It was not until after the Resurrection, when the disciples had perceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, He was the Son of God. Jesus then sent His disciples out as Apostles telling them to ‘GO!’ and preach the message of the Kingdom of God.

In the 1970’s movie Jesus of Nazareth there is a classic scene of the disciples talking about miracles and what people are saying about who Jesus was. It was in this moment Jesus asked, “Who do you say I am?” the look on the disciples faces was shock, stun and horror. Finally Peter looked at Jesus as said, “You are the Christ.” What was Jesus’ response? (Loose paraphrase) Flesh and blood didn’t tell you this…it was revealed by the Spirit. The message of the Kingdom has often been defined to be many things but in brief the message of the Kingdom is the message of the Gospel. Go! Preach the good news of repentance from sin, Jesus is Lord and forgiveness and freedom from the slavery to the old man (the sinful nature).  

For buy cialis levitra example one needs to get a physiotherapy clinic like PhysiCo. Warning! : Your doctor may want you to have http://appalachianmagazine.com/2018/10/18/virginia-to-designate-us-52-veterans-memorial-highway/ buy cheap cialis regular blood tests to monitor your liver function while you are taking any nitrate based item like nitroglycerine, admission of medicine ought not to be finished. Moving a step ahead of emancipating you from the stigma of being a one-minute wonder on bed, check this site out levitra online will help you to relish enhanced ejaculation time during sexual intercourse. There is a growing demand for generic drugs all over viagra vs cialis the world due to the prohibitive costs of most branded or originator medicines. “If any man come to Me and hate not …,he cannot be My disciple,” To be His means you are not to be your own. For Jesus to claim title and deed over you life you need to hate what He hates and loves what He loves. “Any one of the relationships Our Lord mentions may be a competitive relationship. I may prefer to belong to my mother, or to my wife, or to myself; then says Jesus, you cannot be My disciple. This does not mean I will not be saved, but it does mean that I cannot be ‘His.’” (Chambers)

Our Lord makes a disciple His own possession and when He does so He becomes responsible for him. “Ye shall be witnesses unto Me.” The mystery or sacred secret of the believer is—I am His, and He is carrying out His enterprises through me.

So be entirely His! “Thine they were, and Thou gavest them Me.” (John 17:6)

Blessings – JOSHUA

Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

DESTINATION: SACRIFICE

imagesDESTINATION: SACRIFICE

I would ask for a show of hands, but I’ll never see them on the internet…but raise your hand if you have ever been guilty of selfishness. Of course all of our hands have gone up because “self” is something we covet, nurture and, at times, defend while Jesus lived and remains the opposite of self and the epitome of sacrifice. Yesterday I wrote on Destination Holiness and the Father’s plan to bring all of us into His Holy likeness and though we pursue holiness with, at times, great zeal it is “self” that gets in the way of our pursuit and even distorts what we believe Jesus is speaking.

Jesus did not say—‘he that believeth in Me shall realize the blessing of the fullness of God,’ but—‘he that believeth in Me, out of him shall escape everything he receives.’ Our Lord’s teaching is always anti-self-realization. The Father’s purpose is not the development of a self- made man; His purpose is to make a man exactly like Himself. And here is the real death blow to self, the model given to us in the Son is the perfect example of sacrifice. If we believe in Jesus, it is not what we gain, but what He pours in us and through us that counts. “Spiritually, we cannot measure our life by success, but only by what God pours through us, and we cannot measure that at all.” (Chambers)

In the Bible we read of a woman named Mary, of Bethany, who broke a box of precious ointment and poured it on Jesus while worshipping Him. For many, including His disciples, this was first seen as a waste of valuable resource. But Jesus commended Mary for her extravagant act of devotion, and said that wherever His gospel was preached “this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.” Even in the act of ones worship, toward a Holy God, Jesus reminds His audience that Mary’s sacrifice of abandon was far greater than the contents of the alabaster box.
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The Father spilt the life of His Son that the world might be saved; are we prepared to spill out our lives for Him? “He that believeth in Me out of him shall flow rivers of living water.” It is time for us to break from the life of selfish self-realization by spilling that our and then asking of a Holy God, what we may do for Him.

He that believeth in Me, … out of him shall flow.… John 7:38.

Blessings – JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

DESTINATION: HOLINESS

pursuing-holinessDESTINATION: HOLINESS

Have you ever started a journey with the destination unknown? Have you ever planned a long trip without making preparations or considering what challenges may await you? As you read today’s blog I have just returned from nine days of ministry in the nation of Romania. (I will share on this trip in an upcoming series of blogs) The days leading up to my departure required me to plan for my responsibilities at home as well as abroad. The costs, details, travel arrangements and people I would be meeting required planning from many different places and people to ensure this trip would serve as a blessing to the body of Christ. In short, I was preparing to take a trip knowing where my destination was.

Taking the example of planning for a trip, with a destination in mind, how many of us apply such detailed preparations to our spiritual pursuit of Him? Or, said another way, do you know where your destination is with the Father? Before you answer… don’t say HEAVEN or EARTH (this is a little bit of a trick question). The destination of the person who believes in the Biblical Jesus is HOLINESS.

Continually I find myself restating my purpose in life. And with each affirmation I also discover I am talking less about what I want, or see myself being, but more praying that I am becoming like Him: HOLY. The destined end of man, who pursues the Biblical Jesus, is not happiness, nor health, but holiness. And yet today we have far too many affinities that get in the way of such a pursuit. In fact, we are saturated with them! Our Western culture is obsessed with having the latest and greatest “anything.” Technology, celebrity gossip, clothes, vacation destinations, toys, games, selfies, etc…we live running from one fad to another when what really matters is whether you will accept the God can make you holy. At all costs, the disciple of Jesus as Christ, must live in the pursuit of being rightly related to God.

Kamdeepak capsule offers effective cure for low energy levels, low stamina, low immunity, erectile dysfunction and help men have a sizeable gain for their manhood. http://downtownsault.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/PlacePlans-minigrant-RFQ-5-31-16.pdf cheap discount viagra The demand for the levitra generic cheap is from the oxidation of arginine, a natural amino acid. Its 36-hour effectiveness has helped it to earn its keep. viagra sale Zenegra completely erases the specific lovemaking predicament. uk cialis Let me ask you another question, do you believe you need to be holy? Do you believe God can come into your life and make you holy? Please take notice I am not setting my life as a standard of holiness. Rather I desire to point all of us to the reality of the holiness of the Son. The Father has one destined end for mankind, holiness. His one aim, with respects to humanity, is the production of sons and daughters who love the Lord their God with all of their heart, mind and being. “God is not an eternal blessing-machine for men; He did not come to save men out of pity: He came to save men because He had created them to be holy. The Atonement means that God can put me back into perfect union with Himself, without a shadow between, through the Death of Jesus Christ.” (Chambers)

Be careful not to tolerate, through sympathy or comfort, any practice that is not in keeping with a holy God. Holiness means sinless walking with the feet, sinless talking with the tongue, sinless thinking with the mind—every detail of the life under the scrutiny of God. Holiness is not only what God desires for you but what you manifest that God has given you.

“Ye shall be holy; for I am holy. (1 Peter 1:16)

Blessings – JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

RE-THINK MINISTRY: WHAT ARE YOU IN IT FOR?

re-thinkRE-THINK MINISTRY: WHAT ARE YOU IN IT FOR?

At times I wonder if people who claim to speak, the message of the Gospel, are serving Jesus for Him or because it is good business. By now many of you have already seen or heard of the TV series, Pastors of LA which is distributed by Oprah’s OWN station. If you have not seen the trailer then here is a redirect that will bring you there.

Today, I want this blog’s purpose to be a constructive, honest and loving discussion with some deeper questions and thoughts that extend beyond surface opinions. After viewing this trailer I had a series of mixed reactions. But after I had some time to reflect, on the premise of this show, I found myself asking a simple question: “What are you in it for? The business of YOU or HIM?”  “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not …but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:19, 20) Any minister (and I am hesitant to use terms such as “great” or “small”) will testify they responded to the call of God and therefore they are in the ministry of serving the Gospel to people. And yet I ask how can the Pastors of LA encourage a contrary opinion to Jesus’ own words read in Luke 10?*

When you are in the business of Him (Jesus) it is impossible to be in the ministry for yourself. Even a quick “drive by” of Jesus’ example of serving two masters will reveal that. However, many ministers continue to abuse Scripture to support their lifestyles and personal theology. Here again, there is not a single Christian who is given the liberty, by the Father, to redefine His Word for their own purposes. If we are to walk upright and holy before the Lord then we must honor His Words in our attitudes, affections, wants, desires and livelihood. In effect Jesus says, in Luke 10, don’t rejoice in successful service, but rejoice because you are rightly related to Me. Jesus’ words apply to all Christians as both an encouragement, to right living, and a warning as to how not to live. The snare, in Christian service, is not to rejoice in your success but rejoice in the Father, and in His omniscience, be thankful He has chosen to use you.

But here too is another point of caution. Because the Father has elected to use an individual this does not give them the Biblical license to profit obscenely beyond moderation. It is the excesses, within the church today, that purposely or inadvertently encourage Christians to evaluate the Father’s blessing through outward appearances. There are multiple Biblical examples of what God cares about…and the Father has never been impressed with buildings, personal kingdoms or wealth. What matters to God in the heart of the man or woman, which is seen only by the Father.
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You and I should never measure  “success” with a natural perspective. The only way to see, that of real value, comes through being rightly related to Jesus and seeing with a Kingdom perspective. It is essential every believer keep their relationship right with Him and whatever circumstances you are in, and whoever you meet day by day, you will be in His position to have rivers of living water pour through you and refresh others. When you are in the” business” of Jesus, for Him, then the Father will allow His mercy to flow through you to help lead people towards spiritual reformation.  All of our lives should be living testimonies of being rightly related to the Father, through the ongoing work of salvation and sanctification, operating in your life. Remember that wherever you are God wants you to fulfill the Father’s purposes, not yours…that is why you are there.

In everything, not just the business of ministry, there is an overwhelming tendency to label anything or anyone a “success” by appearances. Beware of the pressure and people who make their usefulness, to you, their ground of appeal. The lodestar of the Christian is the Jesus, alone, and He is the model we are meant to always follow and show to others. It is the work that God does, through us, that counts. Not what we do for Him. What we should all desire is knowing, in our spirit, the Lord is pleased with our relationship with Him. At the end of the day the business of Jesus is bringing many sons and daughters toward His holiness as well as walking and living in His likeness.

Blessings – JOSHUA

*I would like to add these men, are just one sampling of an opinion and approach to ministry within the United States. I do not believe these ministers represent the majority of pastors, teachers, lay ministers and volunteers within the church today. However, it should be noted the “minority” seem to encourage and represent a strong “voice” of Christianity in the United States. I have drawn these conclusions by surveying anecdotal evidences seen on television, media and printed material. 

Christian Living, Motivational

BE YOURSELF: LEARN HOW TO PRAY THE PRAYER THAT CHANGES YOU

keep-calm-and-be-yourselfBE YOURSELF: LEARN HOW TO PRAY THE PRAYER THAT CHANGES YOU

“Lord, teach us to pray.” (Luke 11:1)

Let’s admit it prayer, for most, is a labor of love and a discipline of struggle that can easily be neglected or forgotten. If we had to choose between worship or prayer we are far more inclined to worship but seldom pray. Worship comes easy for the believer or unbeliever because, whether it be God or worldly affections, we will always lean towards worshipping something. As Christians we are commanded to worship the Holy Trinity with all our heart, mind and being. Furthermore our worship is meant to extend beyond a church gathering into every area of our life: our giving, praise, work and purpose. But what about prayer? Unlike our desire to worship the believer and or unbeliever can feel the burdensome task of prayer. For many we approach prayer in the same way we view a dentist visit: you know you need to go, it is going to be best for your health but it “feels” uncomfortable and even at times painful.

It has been said it is not part of the life, of a natural man, to pray and that man will suffer, in his life, if he does not pray. If we are to learn how to pray then we must also understand why we pray. Today, I want to challenge our selfish attitudes and approaches towards prayer by not viewing prayer as a tedious sacred ritual but something intimate between you and God. If we are going to be honest with ourselves the true discomfort of prayer is actually referring to our “natural man” (flesh man) being made uncomfortable and inconvenienced. But if we are not committed to a prayerful walk what is truly suffering is that which is being starved: the spirit.

According onto the most recent http://downtownsault.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/04-12-17-DDA-MINUTES.pdf buy cialis 2008 statistics coming from the American Board of Urology. buy viagra where In other words, those who use this drug have an improvement in their sexual functions while using this product. The meaning of being generic variant is that the drug is generic, performance capabilities may be difficult to rely on, for dealing with erotic hindrances, but the drug proved look what i found cialis without prescription it wrong and now is amongst the most powerful natural antioxidants in the world. Why is the level of testosterone to someone wants to take alcohol and cheapest viagra in uk too, then one must take care of the health (not worth much at once to rush to score in the search engine popular queries such as: Tadalafil or where to buy Tadalafil). When a person is “born-again” they are born by the Holy Spirit and the very life of Jesus creates a “new man” where the old man once existed. However, even with this great revival of our dead spirit the flesh, or old man, is still very much alive and warring against the desires of the Spirit of God. It is in this war prayer can either be used to nourish the spirit; or the lack of prayer can result in starvation of the spirit. Prayer is the way the life of God is nourished I you.

Have you ever found yourself at your wits end and then feel compelled to pray out of desperation? Well, if so, you are in the majority. Even still, here, the enemy tries to disrupt your communication of prayer by making you feel as if prayer, in these moments, is cowardly. Reject this lie from Satan and press into prayer all the more so. In your  seasons of real hardship there is never any shame in admitting your weakness and your only answers will be discovered by staying in touch, with reality, by praying! Be yourself before God and present your problems, the things you know you have come to your wits’ end over. As long as you are self-sufficient, you do not need to ask God for anything but when you are broke, and at then end of your road, then you realize you always needed Him whether you had much or now have little.

“It is not so true that “prayer changes things” as that prayer changes me and I change things. Prayer is not a question of altering things externally, but of working wonders in a man’s disposition.” (Chambers)

Blessings – JOSHUA

Christian Living, Motivational

THEOLOGY ALIVE…LIFE LIVED FROM THE MOUNTAIN TO THE VALLEY

Man-on-top-of-Mountain-150x150“Theology Alive…Life lived from the Mountain to the Valley”

“Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you.” (John 12:35)

Though it appears to be more rare than common, “mountain top” moments, with the Father, breath life into the Christian both spiritually and naturally. Likewise “valley experiences” have a way of, through trying and testing, proving our metal and resolved for the Kingdom commission. From both the top and bottom, of the great rock, you can see with clarity Kingdom perspective never glimpsed when ones eyes are looking to the “Baal’s” of the world. An excellent Biblical example of this is discovered in the account of Moses and his servant Joshua at Mt. Sinai. While receiving the Law, from God, Moses was at the peak of the mountain. And while most of Israel had lost site of Moses, and the Spirit’s visitation, Joshua was still able to keep his Kingdom perspective, by staying in prayer and obedience. In both men’s lives, and in this specific situation, Moses and Joshua lived the mountain experience from both the peak and the valley.

What have you done in your mountain moments with the Father? Have you come down from the mountain prepared to bring the light of Jesus into a dark world? Or have you taken your mountain experience and buried it’s light under a bushel? “If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” Our mountain experiences are meant to be lived in cooperation with the life of sanctification. Furthermore you are meant to shine, as a God-given light, to preserve your life from degrading into spiritual and natural dry rot. Your life is meant to be lived theologically alive and continually bringing Biblical truth into every phase of life.
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Chambers said, “The most difficult person to deal with is the one who has the smug satisfaction of an experience to which he can refer back, but who is not working it out in practical life. If you say you are sanctified, show it. The experience must be so genuine that it is shown in the life. Beware of any belief that makes you self-indulgent; it came from the pit, no matter how beautiful it sounds.” To this I say a resounding AMEN!

Biblical theology must work itself out in our most practical relationships. “Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, …” said Jesus. In short what Jesus was saying was you may know all about the doctrine of sanctification, but are you living it out into the practical areas of your life? Every bit of our life, physical, moral and spiritual, is to be judged by the standard of the Atonement and this is a standard we will never meet through works fashioned by our hands. To live theologically alive and have a testimony and witness that lives on the peaks and in the valleys requires the washing and regeneration of His Holy Spirit. Allow the Holy Spirit to make His theology alive in you and share the good news, of the Father’s rescue plan, from the highest mountain top and even in the darkest valley.

Blessings – JOSHUA