Devotionals

1 PETER 5:8-9   Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

Bros, being sober can apply to many things, in this context it means to be calm and collected in spirit, to be temperate, dispassionate, and circumspect. There are things in this world and our flesh that the enemy can use to rob us of being calm & collected in spirit, composed, unruffled, together, serene, and cool and cause us to be scatterbrained. We need to be watchful so that some destructive calamity does not suddenly overtake us. We are encouraged to let Jesus reign in our hearts and make that choice less we be overtaken by the enemy, to resist him, steadfast in the faith.

 It could be easy to be consumed by the lust of our flesh, to be drunk in that lust to stumble and walk in it and not be sober or watchful, longing or hungering for more of whatever the flesh is never satisfied without. We have all seen times in our own lives and others around us that lust at work. Lust comes in many forms and is for the satisfaction of many things of the flesh, but is the flesh really satisfied with anything? Have you ever seen yourself or someone consumed by the beauty of a woman passing by? How all of a sudden and this can happen to all of us bros, you can be so consumed by that beautiful woman passing by, that your whole being can be overtaken by your extended gaze, that long drink you take in,  which can only be described as a never quenched drunken lust thirst. That drink will poison your mind and thoughts and pollute your heart with corruption and cloud your judgment and make your vision fuzzy not to mention make you walk on shaky ground. It opens the floodgates of death and destruction; do not open the lion’s cage. Don’t let the lion devour you he’s looking for someone to devour- don’t you be the one he’s on the lookout for. You can be instantly intoxicated by the desires of her beauty and transported within the mind to a state of lustful drunkenness. At this point we are not being sober or vigilant we are being consumed by the roaring lion, eaten alive, devoured, overwhelmed, overcome, and demolished by our adversary, torn apart, drunk in lust in the twinkling of an eye. Do not take in those drinks of lust, don’t drink of it, you do not want another hit or shot… of death, the wounds go too deep, look away, don’t look back over your shoulder to feed the fixation (Lots wife was turned to a pillar of salt for looking back taking that second look) stay sober and watchful for the things of the Lord; keep your gaze fixed upon Him.

How easily that state of soberness or vigilance can be overtaken with just an extended glance and just as if you had consumed a massive amount of alcohol or drugs you are instantly in a drunken lustful stupor within the confines of your mind and heart and really your whole being. You are now controlled by or mastered by your flesh, bros this is why it is so important for us to be sober to stay sober and be vigilant to remain in that state of being calm and collected in spirit and not allow the devil to use the beauty of a woman to transport your minds and heart to a state of drunken lust. But be sober, watchful, self controlled and guard your hearts and minds to resist him, steadfast, unwavering, resolute, unfaltering, unswerving, dedicated, firm, persistent, committed in the faith knowing that we all experience the same sufferings.

“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” James 4:7

2 PETER 1:2-4 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Gods grace is there anything better than His grace? No not anything… God’s unmerited favor and peace continually and constantly given to us over and over by Him for us and towards us as we grow more and more in our understanding and appreciation of God and Jesus Christ our Lord. His great power affords us the ability to recognize our existence and godliness is in Him and through the knowledge of Jesus Christ who called us by His splendor…. We have been called away from the corruption of the world and having escaped the corruption that is in the world to conformity with Christ.

Lust always wants more and more and we have been delivered from that type of thinking through Christ.

Peter would go on in 2 Peter 1:5-7 and urge us to progress by forging a chain of eight Christian virtues from faith to love. If a believer does not transform profession into practice, he becomes spiritually useless, perverting the purpose for which he was called. We are reminded of our riches of position in Christ and our responsibility to hold fast to the truth and not get caught up in the lust of our flesh that will take us back and down. Nor do we want to be a pillar of salt, but we are to be the salt of the earth…. Don’t look back; look forward to what the Lord is going to do in your life when you remain sober and vigilant…

James 5:19-20 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back,

20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

Faith confronts the erring bro- no he’s not a fish bro, you are thinking of a Herring, this is an erring bro, a fish out of water so to speak or maybe more appropriately strayed from God or outside Gods will.

There are many different and fruitful areas of faith that produce many things i.e.; obedience in the word, faith removes discrimination, faith proves itself by works, faith controls the tongue, faith produces wisdom and humility, dependence on God, faith prays for the afflicted and also back to where we started faith confronts the erring bro and the wanderer. There are many examples of faith in the Bible that we see in what’s commonly referred to as the “Hall of Faith” Hebrews 11 and we can look at many men and women who had great faith. All these had unwavering faith, chapter 11 verse one starts out by saying “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” This is the definition of Faith and with this confidence, this trust, and this belief, and this assurance and reliance in and on our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ is how we approach our erring bro.  

First we have to start out and ask how do we come to this bro and how do we confront this bro that has started to drift or has drifted away? They just did not all of a sudden become separated from God, it was a process. They slowly floated away, glided or “they just went with the flow”. Now I use to say that saying a lot a few years back when someone would make waves about something, I would say “Just go with the flow”. Then one day this older bro told me when I had said this little saying, he said “even dead fish go with the flow”.

 I thought about this and he was right dead fish follow the flow or current too, they just drift, glide away wherever the current takes them just like the wanderer or the erring bro. They do not have anything to get a foot hold on or in, they have no way to hold on because they are just following the ways of the world or being led astray by the desires of their flesh. They have lost their anchor and their soul to the things of this world, you see they were not firmly grounded and rooted in the Word of God, they got separated from their foundation in Christ Jesus, because they allowed the bond to become broken they had lost their faith, their trust, their reliance on the One who is able to keep them from drifting or floating away they went deep out into the mainstream current maybe to be popular or cool or they were trying satisfy their flesh the insatiable flesh that is always calling out for more and more, never satisfied. And that’s where the trouble began the current was too strong and too fast. They allowed their anchor to be pulled up that was holding them to the truth that kept them from drifting and they slipped back out into the fast moving current. The strong man held them out in the current until they were too tired and too weak to get back. And bam before you knew it they were set afloat headed downstream like a dead fish away from God. So how do we confront them or deal with them. First we need to make sure we are right before the Lord we can do this by looking in the mirror and seeing if we see the erring bro in that face in the mirror staring back at us and if we do then we need to get back and get right with God first.

Matthew 7:3-5 says; And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

 Bros, I know sometimes you hear these erring bros say they just want to live a little, you know have a life outside of church life but you cannot live forever without Jesus! But with Jesus you are guaranteed to live forever. So the choice is easy the erring bro can live for the moment in this world that a few seconds of pleasure might bring and the hell that they would go through for a few seconds of pleasure, it’s unbelievable the pain a few seconds can create or they can live forever with Jesus! A few seconds, think of the difference of what a few seconds can mean. Living separated from God to experience in the blink of an eye lustful pleasure or living eternally in His good pleasure. The few seconds time would be better spent on their knees before the King of kings and Lord of lords

Why do we call the paramedics when someone is hurt? Obviously it is to receive help as quickly as possible until they can be seen by a Doctor or get to a hospital. It is a way of helping save a persons life or help them get the best help as soon as possible so they will not have to suffer or possibly die. Everyone is willing to take the time to intervene to call a paramedic. In fact most folks will help when they see someone in distress or great need.

Why is it bros we are not willing to get involved when we see a bro in need, a bro who has strayed to the edge of the herd or fallen away, someone who is watching from afar, wondered into enemy territory, crossed the line, severed ties with the flock, broke ranks, stumbled, went down to the wide gate, is Missing in Action, went A.W.O.L., lost cell signal, flying out of formation, acting out of character, no longer willing to break bread together, out of fellowship with the brethren, can’t or won’t study the doctrines and no longer attends church regularly.

Why won’t we find the time or go after a bro that is going down, to deliver him from the error of his way, to help restore a bro? We would call a paramedic for the physically hurt or dying but why not be willing to call a “Prayeramedic” for the spiritually dying bro? The Prayeramedic is a spiritual First Responder, which is our first line of defense.  We call on the name of Jesus Christ so they can receive according to His perfect Will His healing power as quickly as possible from our “Great Physician”. This is where we start to turn the erring bro back if he wanders right there praying on our faces before God calling on other bros to stand in the gap and deliver a sinner from the error of his way, save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. Bros we need to take a stand and come together in the name above all names Jesus Christ for those who may be slipping by the wayside. The bro who is way too weak, to even come to the supper table to receive the Bread of Life, the spiritual food and nourishment to sustain him by the Grace of God.

Then as we are praying and seeking and waiting on God for His hand to move in this situation to touch the heart of the erring bro. We can begin to show the love of Christ through coming alongside this erring bro to help restore and fetch him back through the power of prayer by lifting him up in the name of Jesus Christ. We reach out and let the Lords love shine through us as we minister through Gods Word and share the tender mercies of a loving, restoring and healing God our Creator as we come along side and hold this erring bro up. Let us not pull away but draw closer and go to the mountains and meet and seek the Lord for the erring bro that he might see Gods love for him and His tender mercies toward one of His lost sheep.

Matthew 18:11-16 "For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.”What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? "And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.”Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. "But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.'

So bros if we know or see any of these lost or roaming sheep let’s fetch them back and deliver them unto their Shepherd so that they may be fully and completely restored by our Father who is in Heaven so we can rejoice with Him over that which was lost but is now found…

May the Lord Jesus Christ grant you much mercy and favor as you chase after Him,

Romans 14:19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. 

Hebrews 3:13   "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."

Bros,

With love in the air this month! For reasons that have to be purely financially and emotionally driven and motivated, you are made to feel guilty by the flower, candy, gift, card and restaurant folks if you do not do something wonderful and expensive for the one you love and this is all by the world’s standards. Now I am not saying it is not a great thing to honor and do wonderful things for your wife and show her how special she is to you on this day and really every day.

But let’s look at the love God has for each one of us, not that He has not given some of you that special love through your wife. But let’s look at His love towards us and how that love should be reflected in our lives to be able to be a living loving example to those around us.

Bros have you ever tried to minister and witness to your family members and they reject what you are trying to share with them and then wondered or thought how God could love some of my family members because they are so hard hearted and hard headed. You know the ones that won’t bend on hearing anything about God and are content on going in a continuous direction away from God an all His ways especially if you are pointing the way towards Him.

What about God loving your neighbors how could He after the way they treat you? You know how they get on your nerves always doing completely stupid stuff that completely irritates you to no end. Of course then there are those hard to get along with co-workers who seem to enjoy rubbing you the wrong way how can God love them when you cannot even love them.

Or how about those long running lifetime enemies that have shown up over your life time not really by anything you did intentionally to make them your enemy, but they made you their enemy.

Over the course of time all those types of relationships do seem to take up space in your thinking and that small area of your heart that has just a little sliver of space or a small slot reserved or maybe it’s not a reserved area but an area that has never even been given over to God to cleanse and purge out those Un-pleasing things that are to Him sin but we do not like to call it that. In your heart you use this sliver or slot for lost causes or people that are lost or the one’s we cannot deal with or cannot love the one’s that do not fit anywhere in our Christianity we don’t like to acknowledge that space is there, but we do not know what to do with them because we cannot love them and as a result they do not love us.

That brings us to this next area what about ourselves do we find ourselves hard to love, I mean we love ourselves enough that we all feed our faces whether we need food or not and lavish ourselves with almost all the amenities one could imagine, never denying ourselves, but do we find ourselves wondering or asking how God can love us because of the way we are and how we treat others? If we find ourselves hard to love how can anyone else love us? And if our families, friends, neighbors, co-workers and those long running enemies of time do not love us how can we get them to love us or let them know we love them so they will love us, but more importantly come to know Jesus and how much He loves them so they can love Him too.

The Bible says in 1John 4:19“We love Him because He first loved us.”

Is that saying that God loved us first? That is why we love Him? Could we minister to our families, friends, neighbors, co-workers and those long running enemies of time through this example of love?

If Gods example is that Christ loved us while we were still His enemies why couldn’t this be an example for all our relationships too?

Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” He died for us bros, are we Sayers or Doers?

Now I am not saying that we immediately all go physically die for all of our families, friends, neighbors, co-workers and those long running enemies of time, which is what Jesus did for all of us. John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.”  

But whatever is holding us back from loving them and ministering to them we ought to lay down. So we can love them like Christ loved us before we loved Him. Have you ever had someone be extremely nice to you when you were extremely upset or very angry? You know what I am talking about where you are going off in wrath and all the while they are showering you with kindness and gentle love- pouring coals on your head and you feel so convicted and completely foolish because you are “walking in the flesh” and they are showering you with love because they are “walking in the Spirit”.

Proverbs 25:21-22 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, And the LORD will reward you.

 Love is such a huge word but only has four letters, how do you define love or describe love? The best description of love I have ever read or heard or the best description of love I have ever seen or the best real life example of love is described in, no not in a Valentine card or some romantic love song or some mushy movie but it comes right out of the Bible and every believer knows this scripture.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

That is love and that is “What Gods love has to do with it” what a great reward of Love and everlasting life we have as believers in Jesus Christ. We are sinners and when we confess our sins and acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior He rewards us by giving us His eternal life and eternal love, Jesus Christ is the only one who can show us this and teach us and love us like this so that we can follow by His example of love and love others the way He loves us.

The world may find its temporary love in a valentine but we found our eternal love in Gods eternal love for us through the gift of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

May He shine brightly in and through your lives today and everyday as you follow Him,

Romans 14:19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. 

Hebrews 3:13   "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."

Bros as we start this New Year we have much to be thankful for to our Lord Jesus Christ. We could and should spend the whole year being thankful for the many blessings God has bestowed upon us. We never had it so good! God is good and His tender mercies, love and grace are more than we could ever imagine or ever deserve, but yet He gives it to us freely and does not give us what we really deserve… God seems to have a never ending supply for each one of us, you know His mercy is like no other mercy, He is so full of leniency and compassion towards us; His love can not be matched or fathomed, He finds us irresistible and cares for our every need and then He still gives us more- “Unmerited favor” His grace abounds, oh so plentiful, yet we His own special people so undeserving yet His grace abounds all the more. Only God can love us like that bros and I do not have to tell you to go take a good long look in the mirror and ask yourself why He loves the man you see in the mirror, there is no good thing in what we see in that mirror, no not me or you bro. Yet He says “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

Whatever our need or struggle our God, our Creator, our Provider deserves more than we can ever give. Our worship cannot properly give Him the glory He deserves, nor our words the honor He deserves. He wants our whole heart and sometimes there are many things that stand in the way in our hearts that stop us from giving Him our whole heart.

Maybe as we start this New Year there are issues in our heart that we need to hear from God on- like relationship issues, people issues, ministry issues, serving issues, bench warmer issues, hardness of heart and sin issues in our lives that God wants to deal with us and deliver us and heal us to use us and help us in all areas of our lives. If we would just turn to Him, look to Him, go before Him, humble ourselves before Him, seek Him and wait on Him. He wants to do marvelous things in and through our lives. Maybe just maybe this is the year that you can declare major spiritual victories in your walk with Jesus.

Maybe your heart will change this year so He can deliver you from that sin issue that has been dogging you and always shows up like a dark shadow standing next to you when you try to stand in His light dragging you down and is keeping you down, but not allowing you to be down on your knee’s to seek Him and maybe keeping you from being used by God in a powerful way for most of your Christian walk. If that is you, you are not alone we all have issues that God wants to deal with us on and deliver us from today. God desires to do a work in us, He wants to deliver us, He wants to use us, and He also doesn’t need us, but He loves us more than we can comprehend.

But He wants your heart; the surest way to give Him your heart is to let Him have a 100% of your focus. Give Him your heart by devoting your heart purely to Him. Letting Him bring you to that place where it is just you and Him and maybe that place He has to take you to is the backside of the desert or the wilderness.

Where there is nothing that comes between you and Him during that time. Fasting, praying, seeking and waiting on Him is one of the most wonderful times you can have with God. A time where you have no demands or requests other than His perfect Will in what He desires to teach you and reveal to you during this time. It may be just a time of closeness with the Lord and you may not know right away what He wants to do. But He will begin to do a work in you that you can see as you focus purely on Him and as He empties your heart of the things that are not of God. Ask God to speak to you about what He wants to do in your heart, give Him your heart and see what He shows you. See what is pleasing to the Father, seek what is His will, wait on Him and He will show you.

May our fasting be to glorify God not us, not some empty ritual, but pleasing to God. Let us look at some fasting that is pleasing to the Lord and some not so pleasing fasting to God and may the Lord guide your heart and speak to you in a powerful and wonderful way as you consider Him during this New Year through worship, fasting, praying, seeking and waiting on Him. Be still before the Lord and see what He shows you…

Fasting that Pleases God

Isaiah 58

"Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression, And the house of Jacob their sins.2 Yet they seek Me daily, And delight to know My ways, As a nation that did righteousness, And did not forsake the ordinance of their God. They ask of Me the ordinances of justice; They take delight in approaching God. 3 'Why have we fasted,' they say, 'and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?'

 "In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, And exploit all your laborers.

 4 Indeed you fast for strife and debate, And to strike with the fist of wickedness. You will not fast as you do this day, To make your voice heard on high. 5 Is it a fast that I have chosen, A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, And to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, And an acceptable day to the Lord?

6 "Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh? 8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.'

"If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, 10 If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday. 11 The Lord will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. 12 Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.

13 "If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, From doing your pleasure on My holy day, And call the Sabbath a delight, The holy day of the Lord honorable, And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, Nor finding your own pleasure, Nor speaking your own words, 14 Then you shall delight yourself in the Lord; And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the Lord has spoken."

Fasting to Be Seen Only by God

Matthew 6:16-18 "Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you *openly.

A Call to Repentance

Joel 2:12-13 "Now, therefore," says the Lord, "Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning." 13 So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm.

Daniel's Prayer for the People

Daniel 9:3-5 Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. 4 And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, "O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, 5 we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments.

Nehemiah Prays for His People

Nehemiah 1:4-6  So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

5 And I said: "I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love *You and observe *Your commandments, 6 please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father's house and I have sinned.

May our fasting be real and pleasing to God and may our repentance be as equally real.

God bless you today & always and make you a mighty man of God in all things for His glory and honor,

Romans 14:19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. 

Hebrews 3:13   "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."

Let His birth celebration be a time of rejoicing and a time of sharing His love and His unmerited favor with all those we are close to this Christmas.  

As we seek our King Jesus Christ this season of celebration let us rejoice and worship Him with prayers and thanksgiving. We all are able to share Christ in a more intimate way, more so, this time of year than any other time. There is an openness a willingness if you will, in every heart this time of year to at least listen. A time where we are able to talk about and share Christ, a time where some family members won’t scoff at the mention of His name, a time where our witness to our family is greater than any other time of year.  You see its CHRISTMAS; it is this time of year everyone loves! In addition, everyone loves to receive gifts. Therefore, we have the best gift to offer that anyone could ever receive or want the greatest gift in the whole world. A gift that is eternal and has more love than we can fully comprehend, the gift that never stops giving, nor stops loving or blessing or having mercy on us, it is the Perfect Gift for all mankind, our Redeemer Christ Jesus.

Bros, this is a great time to fully give thanks to our Creator, make amends, ask forgiveness from someone whom we have wronged or give forgiveness to someone who has wronged us. Humble ourselves heal old wounds, build new bridges, love our family the way Christ loves us with much forgiveness and mercy with that never-ending supply of compassion, love and grace. It is so simple and the only way to the cross. Think about that for a moment if you will. So easily we forget that love that is so freely given us, may we extend it to all this Christmas. Show everyone how loving Christ really is, how He can love the unloved and heal the unhealed, repair the broken lives through forgiveness of sin. Jesus not only died for us on that cross, but before that, He was born for us. As we are born again in Him, let us live in Him and let Him live in and through us this Christmas. Not just maybe, but for sure He wants to touch hearts and lives in your family this Christmas. We are weak but He is strong and He is willing but are we willing to let Him shine through us this Christmas season?

If you have the holiday blues and feel a little light on cash, stressed out, running a little thin on patience and hair, weary from all the crowds, feeling like you might have to take a second mortgage to finance this years presents, feeling like you have to be in too many places at once or you still haven’t lost the weight you gained from last years Christmas dinner’s  then come and let us all get our focus back on Jesus and put Christ back in Christmas. Let us go to Him…

 Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."  Therefore, Bros get some rest in Him this Christmas.

When we look through the scope of our life, our sights should be on Christ and when we set our sights on Christ, we will see the cross every time. Jesus not only died for us on that cross, also that is where we met Him and can continue to meet Him daily, hourly every moment at the foot of the cross. But before that He was born for us.  This day a Savior is born unto us…

Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Christ Born of Mary

(Matt. 1:18-25)

2And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed *wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Glory in the Highest

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And *behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14 "Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made *widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Matthew's Account of the First Advent (copy and paste this link to open and hear the story as read by Stephen Johnston)

http://www.blueletterbible.org/audio_video/bible/nkjv/ram/Mat-advent.ram

May the Lord use you this day to share the Good News with the ones you love and may this be the most joyous Christmas celebration ever for you and your family. God bless you and use you continually for His glory and honor,

Romans 14:19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. 

Hebrews 3:13   "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."

Deuteronomy 7:6 "For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.

1Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Bros, while the Marines might be looking for a few good men, God has already chosen us as His own special people. While some of us, me included may not be qualified or good enough for the Marines we are certainly qualified and good enough for God. He calls us a chosen generation and His own special people, that we might proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light; we are a chosen generation, can you dig that, bros.

Can you believe that God would choose you and me, that is a tough one to swallow, but it is true, He loves us more than we can understand or comprehend? Moreover, praise the Lord He chooses us not based on our accomplishments or works, but in His love, His never-ending mercy and His loving grace towards us.  As if that is not enough then He calls us His own special people. To know that He would declare that He has a personal intimate love for us to call us His own and look where He called us from- darkness. I do not know about you but He pulled me out of the outer limits the twilight zone, the Biblical stranger zone... Now if we are not in darkness anymore that only means one thing, we are in His marvelous light. No better place to be than walking with Him in His marvelous light, when we are in His light we will not stumble, so stay to close to Him bros.  We are so special to Him to first be chosen by our heavenly Father and then to be called His own special people, pulled out of darkness and into His light; and as His special people He has set His seal of redemption upon us that we may proclaim the praises of Him. Meaning we are to announce, make known, declare, state publicly, assert and say publicly those praises of Him… let our hearts rejoice in Him.

These privileges have been transferred to the church, Peter was writing to the church when he declared these words in 1 Peter 2:9. In Deuteronomy 7:6, this verse was spoken for Israel. However, Peter is talking to us the church that is you and I when he says,  

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

Let us look at this a little closer bros. At the beginning of the verse it says you are a chosen generation, does this mean God chose us our generation? Yes and every generation that comes into His Kingdom after us as well. Why because all true Christians are a chosen generation, we were chosen in Christ and sanctified by His Spirit. We as true servants of Christ are a royal priesthood sanctified and set apart by Christ. When we have a relationship with Christ, we are His royal priesthood separated from sin and this world and consecrated to Him. All Christians wherever we are and live are a holy nation unto Jesus. We have One thing in common Jesus Christ, we have One head Jesus Christ, we are following Him and this makes us a holy nation because we are called by Him, devoted to Him and consecrated to Him.

Have you ever went to another place or country and noticed that no matter where you go and you meet Christians, it is the same. You immediately have a love and heart for them and there is this bond, caring, loving nature towards them and closeness that you just cannot explain in human terms. Well let me explain it in One Word, it is because of “Jesus” we have this One thing in common which is not common but is the way to say that we are His own special people, His chosen generation and we have been set apart by Christ. You see He chose us and sanctified (blessed) us “His own special people” because He chose us otherwise we could never be a holy nation if He had not chose us and sanctified us in His Spirit.

So Bros if we are a special people, in fact “His own special People” what are we to do? We can honor Him, we can serve Him, we can spend time with Him, we can seek Him, we can obey Him, and we can confess our sins to Him. We can receive forgiveness of sins in Him only; we can follow Him and chase after Him. We can praise Him, we can give Him the glory, we can get in His Word, we can pray to Him and in Him, and we can choose to let Him reign in our hearts and by making that choice, we let Him have His way in our lives, our thoughts, our words and our actions. His way is the only way. Just one choice we have to make a choice to let Him reign in our hearts, invite Him in today. When that choice is made, there is no room for the things of the world or the lust of our flesh and certainly no room for satan to rule our hearts. But that One thing that is not common but common in a Holy way to us who are believers and that is Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

Bros today proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness. So many of us have been delivered out of the slimy pit and what a great place we are in today in His marvelous light. As we stand firmly and boldly in that marvelous light let us state publicly, announce, declare, make known, assert and say publicly that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior to this dying world around us. We need to kneel before Christ and ask Him to take away whatever is keeping us from serving Him and following Him and then make a stand bros, to stand for Christ against the things of this world. How can we be afraid if we are His chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

What are we waiting for Bros; let us proclaim the praises of Jesus and live and breathe for Him today and everyday He gives us.

Romans 14:19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. 

Hebrews 3:13   "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."

Jesus Comes to Zacchaeus' House

Luke19:2-10 Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house." 6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner."

8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold."

9 And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

There are times when we can and do get buried in the filth of this world, and the things of our flesh when we lose sight of Jesus Christ. If Jesus comes to stay at your house today, will you receive Him joyfully or will He be like the unexpected guest who drops in and you wish he had called first so you could be ready.  Maybe because we are caught up in things that we should not be involved in and because of where we are, we cannot see Jesus either. Jesus wants to lift us up- we need to be able to see Jesus… to keep our gaze fixed on Him always.

 We have a need to see who Jesus is, but we let the things of this world get between us and block our view then we can lose sight of Christ Jesus in our life, and what He wants to do in our life. God can and will bring you to a place where you can see Jesus again ask Him to lift you up above all the distractions so you can see Him. Jesus is always everywhere and can be found in all situations if we can get just look above the crowdedness of our lives.

Lord bring us to that place where we can see You Lord Jesus and nothing is standing in the way or blocking our view. Lift us above the crowds to the place where we can have a clear view of You Lord so You can stay at our house today. So that we can walk with you Lord. Maybe the Lord has wanted to stay at your house before but you were too busy and did not hear Him knocking or see Him coming. Jesus saw Zacchaeus, He sees you today right where you are at bro, but can you see Him… If you feel like you are failing the test bro call on the name of Jesus, He has come to Seek And To Save. Does not matter how short we are on our own merits. He will lift you up and even put you in a tree if that is what it takes to stay at your house today. He does not want us to become a tree hugger and stay above everyone, but to get away from the things of this world and our flesh so we can see Him today and let Him stay at our house today and everyday.

 Jesus told Zacchaeus to make haste and come down for today I MUST stay at your house. Jesus wants us to hurry and come closer and along side Him at this moment right now He has to live at our house. In other words, it is a prerequisite coming from Jesus.

Our Lord would say to you and me today to be ready for Him and if you have too then go-ahead take drastic measures as Zacchaeus did when he got up in that tree to be able to see Jesus, then do it. Oh, it might involve cutting off all those things that keep you from looking for Jesus. Whether it be too much of this or that or maybe it should be none of any of whatever just know that if you cannot see Jesus then something is blocking your view bros… and it is not of God. He will not cause your vision to be obstructed. Jesus said, “I am the Way the Truth and the Life” John 14:6, there are no exceptions for this or that’s in this scripture 

So if you are up a tree and still cannot see ask the Lord to cut those branches off so you can have a full view of Jesus in your life. Do not let anything keep you from being ready to receive Jesus at your house today bros. Zacchaeus was not ashamed to do what he had to do. He did all he could to prepare himself to see Jesus and came down joyfully to accept Jesus in front of all his peers and a lot of his enemies were there too and they did not like seeing Zacchaeus getting blessed. In fact they were complaining about him to Jesus. See Jesus can see us and our hearts and He can forgive our sins but man never forgets it seems we cannot out live our sins in the light of man. But Jesus that is a different story He forgives and forgets and never brings it up again.

Zacchaeus gave half of his riches to the poor and restored those he took advantage of fourfold. It is obvious the impact of seeing Jesus had on Zacchaeus. He wanted Jesus after He saw Him, he had heard about Him but now He had seen Him up close and personal. Zacchaeus knew in his heart that Jesus came for Him to stay with him in other words he started to clean his house the things he could do first by making that confession that there is sin in my house. Made his house ready to receive Jesus he did the footwork took the first step to receive Jesus so Jesus could complete the good work and clean his house thoroughly for Zacchaeus.  Joyfully we can prepare too Bros. Then what are you waiting for? We need to be ready waiting and watching keep looking for Him. Then by all means hurry up and do what ever is necessary to be ready for Jesus when He comes to stay at your house. Take that first step climb that tree bro He is coming can you see Him…   

Luke 19:9-10  And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

Thank you Jesus for being our Lord and Savior, please come trim our trees Lord so we can see you today and you can stay at our house today and forever... 

Romans 14:19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. 

Hebrews 3:13   "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."

For mature audiences

Psalm 71:19-20 Also Your righteousness, O God, is very high, You who have done great things; O God, who is like You?

You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, Shall revive me again, And bring me up again from the depths of the earth.

As we mature in age or physical nature, are we maturing in our walk with the Lord? Our bodies are growing more mature. However, are we growing mature in the trials that God allows us to go through?

How much do we all love a good trial? In fact, I never really hear anyone boasting or praising the Lord about going through a trial. I think it might sound something like this though; “Oh man what an awesome trial I have going on in my life, this is the best one yet, man it is a beauty. I can hardly wait to see what happens next. Last week I wrecked my new car, I lost my job, I’m three house payments behind, I found this strange growth on my side, I haven’t been in church or fellowship for the last three months, and my wife an I have not seen eye to eye on anything lately. You know this is really getting exciting. Thank you Lord for making my life exciting, you are awesome Lord. Thank you for making my life a challenge and for making me grow in new areas. Can you feel the love…? On the other hand, saying I consider it a privilege or labor of love if the Lord allows me to go through the daily living trials, things like this.

  It is so much fun and such a joy to see myself grow and be stretched like “Stretch Armstrong”. (Toy action figure that you can stretch as far as your arms can pull in any direction and he goes back to his original size shape)  Just when I feel like I’m going to snap I spring right back into my original shape”

Sure, we all hear bros talking like this all the time- right…

In fact I believe it is just the opposite for most or all of us when are faced with a heavy growing pains. We do not love going through trials or anything that pains us or creates growth in our walk-faith. It is just too hard. We are crying out to God for mercy and asking Him to help us get out of this so-called mess right now. When in reality this is right where He wants us right where we need to be to experience and grow in all areas that God desires.   For most of us, it brings us back to our knees before our Father pleading for Him to rescue us and save us calling on Him day and night. We ask, Father please take this burden from me, show me what you desire for me to learn, teach me O’ Lord God…  I know one thing when we do go through growth periods God does not want us to spring back into our original shape like old “Stretch Armstrong” back the way we were before the growth periods. He is refining us, praise the Lord He is in control of the refining. 

Nevertheless, what about the trials where God is doing something in our hearts. You know where something is so painful and it is out of our control. In addition, is seems as though we cry out to God and our prayers are not being received. We cannot figure out why God is allowing this or not stopping it. It has us crying from our heart appealing to Him, asking Him to please, let us understand why this has to happen to us. Moreover, why does it last so long and it hurt so badly? That it feels like part of our heart is being ripped out with pliers. Heart surgery can be painful bros, but the healing it brings is beyond words, it is such a joy to see Gods healing powers through these trials of everlasting love and growth periods.

 Oh, wait a minute, now we remember all those times we have been praying, “Lord, please examine my heart and see if there be any unclean thing in there or anything or way unpleasing to You. I ask that You remove anything that does not honor or glorify You Lord and create in me a pure heart for You.” Oh, now I get it- I asked God, I invited God into my heart to do a work; this is answered prayer- Wow! Wait a minute I did not know I was getting surgery without pain meds… I need something to take away the pain though, no that is part of the growth My grace is sufficient the Lord says in His word. 

But wait, Lord you are removing things and causing growth at the same time… Should have had a scheduled appointment or something so I can plan and prepare myself for this surgery? Naw, God knows what He is doing and when He is going to do it. He is the Great Healer and our Creator, He can cause things to grow, He can remove things and He knows our tolerance level or pain threshold- the turning point to make the desired change, not that He wants us to suffer- but if it takes that to bring us closer to Him- then its all gain even with pain… He is the Refiner, to create in us a pure heart. He hears our cry, He sees our tears, He knows our fears. He knows our hearts what it will take to bring about His desired growth.  He knows our name and He knows us intimately because we are His sons His creation and His love is perpetually everlasting for us and towards us…

A sure sign of mature growth is when we can consider it joy like it says in James 1:2-4 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

God loves us and wants us to grow so He sometimes allows us to be stretched and pulled so we can grow not to go back and be the same as we were before. However, to go forward in a new everlasting love and new growth new creation for His glory and honor. He has His way of molding us, shaping us, and most times it is very painful and hard to realize that there will be much love and growth from this trial that sands us some more until we are shaped for His use. God knows what it will take to change us and help us to draw closer to Him. Remember Bros we are in pursuit…  We know how painful it can be to discipline our own children. We all believe it actually is more painful for us than our child, but they think we enjoy punishing them… I believe the Lord disciplines us because we are His children and He loves us and wants us to grow as He teaches us through His tender mercies and Everlasting Love.

God's Everlasting Love

Romans 8:31-39  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:

"For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."

37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Bros “Nada can separate us from the everlasting love of God” If He loves you and you love Him then you are going to grow, what more can we ask for? Grow me show me; teach me all Your ways and precepts Lord Jesus…

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:8

Romans 14:19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. 

Hebrews 3:13   "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."

Peter Freed from Prison

Acts 12:5-115 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but *constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. 7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, "Arise quickly!" And his chains fell off his hands. 8 Then the angel said to him, "Gird yourself and tie on your sandals"; and so he did. And he said to him, "Put on your garment and follow me." 9 So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.

11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, "Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people."

Power of Prayer

Two things to notice in these verses, the first is there is power in prayer. Verse 5 * constant prayer was offered up to God for him by the church. The bros were offering up constant prayer to God for Peter. So many times, we have the absolute best and least used weapon as Christians. Prayer is a powerful tool for bringing down strongholds.

“The fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much”- James 5:16

We have many opportunities as believers to pray for our bros, yet many times, we leave that powerful weapon to be used by someone else or not to be used at all. How many times have you told someone I will pray for you bro only to forget about it the second you leave that brother or maybe you might pray right then and then never again for this brother. It appears clear that constant prayer avails much as we look at Peter’s situation, it was the only thing the church could do and the best thing they could do and the only thing that they needed to do. They took it to heart and took to their knees to be before the Lord for Peter. They did not talk endlessly about Peter’s situation, but prayed endlessly for God to intervene, it is that simple and yet sometimes we can make it so complicated. Let us take note bros and take to our knees to wage the battle and give it to God our Creator our deliverer for His perfect plan.

Second, I noticed Peter said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod…” Many times God sends His deliverers to us and it could an Angel or maybe He sends us someone in our lives could be a friend, a bro or family member to help us and encourage us at any given moment or for a season. It might be that God uses different ways to help us and encourage us. Who would ever think God would use an Angel to break Peter out of jail… Many times God has used various methods to speak to me, although mostly through His Word. I remember one time something was troubling me for a quite a long time almost a year and I kept praying for an answer and for God to show me what He wanted me to learn. One day there it was the answer on the back of a car license plate frame on the 405 freeway at the Y- someone had put a scripture reference on their license frame. I remember I saw it and knew that God was going to speak to me. I pulled over on the shoulder of the road and looked it up. Bros God blew me away, it was exactly what I was asking God for and He showed me that day on the freeway. Another time I had been praying, searching, and asking and really, if it was the Lords Will that He reveal something to me- this went on for five years. I actually let it go and left it up to God if He wanted me to know. I woke up at 5 AM one morning and a light bulb went off in my head and immediately God revealed the answer to me through a scripture verse He gave me in the twinkling of an eye- that quick and once again I was blown away that God gave me the answer right there on my bed before my feet had touched the floor.

I mean for all I know and all you know He could have had one of His angels driving that car in front of me so I would see and get that scripture. In addition, for all I know His angel could have turned the light bulb on in mind that morning at five AM…

We can know for certain, that God will send us His help when call on Him.

Herod's Violent Death

Acts 12:20-2320 Now Herod had been very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; but they came to him with one accord, and having made Blastus the king's personal aide their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food by the king's country.

21 So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. 22 And the people kept shouting, "The voice of a god and not of a man!" 23 Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.

Power of Pride

Now that Peter has been delivered from prison, broke free by the power of prayer. We see Herod is soaking up the praise that should be for our mighty God. Herod was so filled with himself that he surely thought he deserved to be addressed in this manner, can you see him all puffed up. You know the way men are when they suck their stomachs in and hold their head high and throw their shoulders back and gloat in them selves.  The kind of man that can make you sick by looking towards him, the kind of man that thinks they are something when they are not. They elevate themselves at every opportunity, wallowing in their pride, displaying all their wealth and all the power of their position in life. Then they think they are equal to or above God. Then God brings them down, He says in His Word--  

18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.19 Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud. Proverbs 16:18-19.

God will not divide His spoil or praise that should be for Him alone and Him only, He is not going to share that with the proud and arrogant Herod. One thing we can know and learn from pride is it is deadly.

Let’s look at James 4:6  6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."

God resists the proud always has and always will we are His creation. But He gives grace to the humble, even more grace. We know Gods Grace means “Unmerited Favor”, but do we think on the meaning when we read this scripture “He gives grace to the humble” or Gods unmerited favor to the humble… Oh, that we would desire to be humble and walk in His unmerited favor.

Brothers in Christ, this monthly email is sent and meant to be an encouragement to all and to build up and edify in the Lord Jesus Christ. Oikodome means "Builder". The Lord has put this on my heart to send out a monthly Iron Man Oikodome {oy-kod-om-ay'} to build up and encourage the men who love and follow Jesus Christ in their walk with Him.

Romans 14:19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. 

Luke 9:56 *For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them."

So many times, you always hear folks say that they are afraid that if they accept Jesus they will lose their life or He will ruin or destroy their life. However, it is really quite the opposite. Of course, the old man will have to be destroyed to build a new man in Christ that is a fact. In one sense, they are right their life that they knew will have to be destroyed to save them; they will lose that life that leads to death. Nevertheless, gain that new life in Christ that leads to eternal life.  

Moreover, just as a vessel cannot contain salt water and fresh water and be pure water for sustainability in your life. In other words, you cannot mix salt water and fresh water and sustain your life. We cannot be double minded or live with one foot in the church and one outside of the church. Eventually we will be doing the splits and get broken like a wishbone; one side is going to end up being longer or shorter. You can guess who will receive the short end of the wishbone…

 Therefore, you have to be rid of one so the other can sustain your life, in the same way the old man must die. He is a killer and will continually keep trying to destroy what God wants to do in your life. I know he can keep trying to come back to life but he cannot he is dead and buried and will never produce life only the pathway to death. You cannot be a dead man walking when you are walking in Christ- He is alive! Our God is a builder; he builds us according to His specs and He saves us according to His Grace. Therefore, whatever was existing (old man) is man made and will not last (dead man walking), that is why we need to be God made (new creation). A new creation in Christ and a new man in Christ old things have passed away… 

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Notice “old” things “the old Man is an old thing”…

Resurrected from the dead old man by Him (beauty from ashes); made alive in Him, saved by Him, built by Him, trained by Him, equipped by Him, armed with the sword of the Spirit and the whole armor by Him and sent out by Him.

Remember we had to be destroyed for us to be saved by our builder Jesus Christ. You see He destroyed our earthly fleshly life when we invited Him into our hearts and lives, that one life that is without Him on a path that leads to a destiny of destruction for eternity.  The life He gives us here on earth is approximately 70- 80 years give or take a few years either way. If we were to keep living on in the flesh, that would be it for us a few decades. However, He gave us life more abundantly, eternal life with Him. Therefore, why would we not want Him to take out the old man, he is a loser anyway and he is headed straight for hell. What kind of deal is this, where the One who is called Savior is also the destroyer of an old man who use to be a part of us so very near and dear to us so we thought. However, that old man was always a back stabbing, double-talking, lying, cheating stealing, conniving self-seeking hypocritical maniac who was so in love with him self it was sickening and even frightening. Well I will tell you what kind of a deal it is, it is the once in a lifetime greatest deal in the whole universe to have the grace of God descend upon our lives through the life changing power and blood of Jesus Christ.

I guess you could say it is better to have Him destroy the old man put him out of his misery before it becomes an on going eternal thing… I say get it over with the old man is a nuisance always trying to get his foot in every door. All he needs is a crack to get his toe in and pry the door open, just a little vulnerability on our part and bam he is back into our lives in a major way practicing his destruction front row and center stage he goes mainstream so he can make you scream.

Poking his nose into Christ’s business, always trying to grieve your heart and the Holy Spirits by trying to get you to come back to him for a few more times of pleasure that he says are fun. Never giving in or giving up but lurking around every work of God in your life. You can hear him breathing right now outside the door, waiting, just waiting for the opportunity when the time is right and the guard is down.

When you have missed a few bible studies or prayer meetings, fellowshipping or breaking bread with the bros or just been to busy to get in the Word or get on your knees to seek our mighty God.

He sees God wanting to do something with you in your life and he wants some of the glory for himself, he is shameless, guiltless and utterly despicable. Who likes the old man? I will tell you who, the devil likes the old man, in fact the devil loves the old man; they are old friends and the cream of his crop. Do not let him have any time to practice his destruction with you.

1John 3:8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

The devil has sinned from the beginning, God sent His Son to make us new men, new creations in Christ, to put away the old man that is a puppet of the devil and for Christ the purpose given by God was this; to be a destroyer of the devils works. God sent in His destroyer Jesus Christ. Therefore, our Mighty God is both a Builder and Destroyer… A builder of those who call on the name above all names Jesus Christ and receive His eternal life and a destroyer of those works of the devil that lead to eternal death. Jesus came to destroy the enemy, the enemy came to destroy us “our Lords work”

Hebrews 3:3-4 For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. 4 For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God.

 Who is building your house?  Are you letting God build your house? Do you give God the glory more than yourself? Is He the God of your house? He has to be the God of the house. He is a Master Builder, Who builds with His truth and light and He will not use the old man in His building, which will cause it to burn up. God hates bad building materials; self centeredness, self-absorbed, prideful, arrogant, high self-esteem builder of oneself, self-seeking worldly lover & flesh serving mentality, inferior and faulty motives, promoters of self, strong willed, defiant for things to be done your way- none of these flesh materials will meet His specifications or standards.  He wants the humble new man a new creation in Christ to build on and build up, so He can see His reflection in the finish product with His love and mercy and grace looking back at Him with gratitude and humbleness of heart and prayers of thanksgiving. He builds from the heart out, not from the flesh; He is not a flesh builder….

Hebrews 11:10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

He will build you if you let Him… remember He is the Master Builder and Creator of everything! We have a solid foundation in Him.

I do not know about you but I want to follow in my Fathers footsteps to be a builder.

 Build up in Him, by Him and for Him and remember Jesus is the One who said if you destroy this temple I will rebuild it in three days… They said it could not be done! He is the Master Builder; no one can give a guaranty like that and then fulfill it that is except our mighty God. So why not trust Him to completely and fully build your house… Your foundation will be on the Solid Rock Jesus Christ.

Are you a builder of others sharing the things of God with them, building them up in Him, exhorting others in Him, pointing them to Him, letting them see Jesus in your walk, talk and all your ways? Are you more like the Builder Jesus Christ today or the old man who tries to make a come back to destroy what Jesus is building…

We are either Builders or Destroyers….What are you today? You can be a new creation in Christ today if you let go and let Jesus build you, invite Him in to do the work, He will kick the old man out and bury him, He is the Master Builder…

Romans 6:4-11 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.