You Can With God…

¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. ¹⁷ If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. ¹⁸ But even if he doesn't, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up."^[1]

The enemy seeks to destroy God's creation. But you can know that when the battle is over, you have won. The devil wants to capture your soul for hell but God has saved you. The devil wants you to see pleasing yourself on earth is living, but that is defeat. God shows that submitting and serving others is winning and that is victory.

Bullies do too - i.e. knocking down books, casing & fights just look to discourage you and have you to think you are powerless. When you know God is able to fight your battles you are able to stand in quietness knowing God's actions are louder than your words.

Knowing God is able to deliver is not why we serve.  Even if God does not deliver us we will serve him. The Hebrew boys have made up their mind that they would rather die than not honor God. This is obedience until death. They have counted the cost and have counted all lost.  They know God is able to deliver them and they know that if he does not he is still God.

Just like Job 13:15-16 – KJV "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him."

Knowing God's will is knowing that God moves in according to his will and not the will of man. God knows what is best and trusting in him is submission. Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego submitted to God's will.

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^[1]Tyndale House Publishers., Holy Bible : New Living Translation., 2nd ed. (Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers, 2004), Da 3:16.

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Trusting God

Trusting God more….

1 Timothy 6:10: "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows."^[1]

 

 

         Be content living for God for this will bring you great gain (see 1 Timothy 6:6). God will provide for his children better than you can provide for yourself. Do not love the world more than you love God. Do not love money and follow it to your destruction (see 1 Timothy 6:9).

         To understand what is meant by "the love for money" is to understand it meaning to allow the great desire for greed to lead your life in always trying to gain more wealth. This great evil desire is able to destroy your priorities, marriages, households, companies and even the economy.

Loving money will lead you away from the true faith, Jesus Christ. The writer says that those who go this way of seeking after money end up piercing themselves with many sorrows. Not just one sorrow but the pain of suffering many sorrows. Jesus knows all about your life and knows what is best for you. Trust him to provide for you and see how faithful is God to his children.

Hebrews 13:5:

Don't love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,  "I will never fail you.  I will never abandon you."

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^[1]Tyndale House Publishers., Holy Bible: New Living Translation., 2nd ed. (Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers, 2004), 1 Ti 6:10. All scripture cited is NLT.

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Clear Consicence

Clear Conscience

Acts 24:16 So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man. (NIV)

 

         How is your conscience? Is it clear before God and man? Having a clear conscience before man is easy because man's standards are not God's. God has a higher standard that he has set which is called righteousness. God is righteousness and he alone can define this, and therefore he has shown us this through his only son.

         Jesus showed righteousness is honoring God over man. Jesus did his father's work. The apostles in Acts say they have testified for what they have seen and what they have heard. This was keeping a clear conscience. Knowing the right that should be done and it is being done. Our conscience reminds us of our past actions and that will either bring forth guilt or peace. Jesus and the apostles wanted peace to come to mind and for that reason they worked on living for God daily. Guilt comes from knowing better and not doing what should be done. When the quiet time comes in the day your conscience will let you know you should have done better.

         Having a clear conscience is having a good relationship with God the loving father through Jesus the Christ. Knowing Jesus you know that obedience to the commandments of God is the way to live with peace. 

         So strive to always keep you conscience clear before God and man. Do it now.  God is waiting for you and is always ready. So let Jesus truly reign in your life as Lord, and surrender to his will. 

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LISTENING TO THE RIGHT VOICE

 

John 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. ~NIV

 

Listen for Jesus voice. Hear his voice above all the others sources that you can search on the Internet, at the library and from your friends and family. None of those sources have the ability to give life and life more abundantly. Jesus speaks the truth, because he is truth. Jesus' tender mercy is filled in every word he says to you. He has come to show you how great his love really is by laying his life down for you.

Stop and listen to him.

Take the time to reflect on Jesus grace in your life. Take the time to count your blessings in life, how you are able to read this, how you are able to hear this or how you are even able to hold this. The day-to-day activities that you can do are reasons to praise God for the life he has given you through Jesus His Son.

Are you listening?

Pray to God. Communicate to him and ask him to speak to your heart.  Allow Jesus to lead you with his message of love in your heart. See how Jesus' love will show you how to love your neighbor and improve your relationships. Jesus love is strong enough that it hopes and endures all things. Love never fails. Will you Let Jesus be your Shepherd and follow His every Word.

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Who Is Like the Lord…

 

"Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, Ps 113:6 Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!" (Ps 113:5-6 KJV)

 

Praise the Lord our God for his great work for man. Who can be compared to God? God's great power and glory is evident through the world. God's great love toward man is a wonderful expression to behold. God's great love is worthy to be praised.

 

God takes care of the poor and the needy. God blesses the house of a barren woman into a house of children (Psalm 113:7-9). Be encouraged that it matters not how limited are your resources or if your bank account does not exist, this does not limit God. ""Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, Ps 113:6 Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!" (Ps 113:5-6 KJV)

 

Server God and praise his holy name and see how your obedience allows God to bless you. Your situation is neither out of God's reach nor out of his sight. He sees you and he is high above and loves this much, "That he gave his only begotten son (see John 3:16)."

 

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Who Jesus Calls Friend

Who does Jesus Calls Friends?

"You are my friends if you do what I command."

(John 15:14 NIV)

 

         Jesus does not call just anyone friends. Jesus says, "You are my friend if you do what I command." Jesus specifies what it means to be his friend in the obedience to him.  Jesus as Lord could exercise Lord and servant role, but Jesus desires to share with his followers. When we fail to obey we are betraying Jesus friendship.

What is Jesus commanding for you to do in your life that you are struggling to do? Why is this an issue? Jesus will not ask you to do anything that will harm you in your life. Jesus has come to so us the way to life and life eternal by dying to the world and living for him. Friendship with Jesus will cost you, but Jesus shows us how it is all worth it.

         Jesus shows us that friendship involves sacrifice, humility, forgiveness and love. Those are just to a few characteristics of friendship. Jesus showed this and more by forgiving us our sins, the humility in washing feet, the sacrifice of his life all because he loves us so.

         What greater love is there, than Jesus laying his life down for you so that you may have eternal life. What greater friend is there than Jesus who represents you before the father? There is no greater love than the love of Jesus Christ who commands our life and by our obedience we are qualified as friends.

Ties that Bind

 

Col 3:14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

 

Love will bind and keep unity and harmony. Above all use love to lead in showing forgiveness. This will show Christ ruling in your heart that in daily task love is shown first. Jesus said, "John 13:35 "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35 NAS95S).

 Let love be the center point in your relationships and all that you do. Let love be that compass that guides your decisions and points you in that right direction. God's love toward us is that great that he daily shows it to us and He has commanded us to do the same to others.  Follow Jesus lead and show love.

 Prayer:

     Lord, purify my heart and show me how to love more in my life. I want to be more forgiven and patient with all that I meet. No more excuses but it is time for me to make that change and show my love to you how I love your world you made. Amen. 

"Building a Better Community"

Zion Baptist Church

323 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr

Peoria, Il 61605

wk: (309) 676 4828

fax: (309) 676-8195

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Meeting Jesus

"When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today."" (Luke 19:5 NIV-G/K)

 

You may have met a teacher, a relative, friend or even a stranger that changed your life. You have come into contact with some people who have in turn left an impact in your life. You may have told your closest friends about this person and now they would like to meet this person that changed your life.

You can do that now. You can introduce someone to Jesus. Did he change your life? He changed Zacchaeus life. This is what happens when Jesus found it necessary to stay in Zacchaeus house. Zacchaeus went on to correct his wrongs and made them right. He repented when he accepted Jesus into his life. Just like Zacchaeus you too can change. Allow Jesus to come into your life and live with a clean heart.

Living with a clean heart is to actively seek Jesus every day. Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem passing through Jericho and Zacchaeus wanted to see him. He climbed a sycamore just to see Jesus. Just seeing Jesus put him in the place to welcome Jesus. Everyday make an effort to see Jesus and welcome him into your house. See how your life will change. Make haste and let Jesus come live in your heart. 

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BE CLEAN INSIDE

Luke 11:39 ¶ Then the Lord said to him, "Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. ~NIV

 

Clean on the outside but dirty on the inside. The saying goes that beauty is skin deep but ugly is to the bone. Society pushes image and how you dress because to show your social status and the appearance of being well in life. You can wash up real good and put on expensive clothes but this only covers up what is truly inside. That is why Jesus teaches, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (see Luke 12:34)."  Do you treasure you money, status and appearance more than integrity, the love of God and his commandments? Have you allowed material wealth drowned you in debt looking for God to redeem you? Living in this bondage of this material world is a life of hardship. Jesus has come to set you free of the chains of this world in living for him. Who the Son sets free is free indeed (see John 8:36). Be free of trying to impress others and just serve God and see how peace will fill you up and want will not be an issue but you learn how to be content with God.

 

Open up your heart to God and allow him to deal with the issues inside. Do not try to cover them up or even drown them out with drug and alcohol abuse. Do not attempt to mask the problem but do unmask and expose yourself to be changed. Jesus wants your full devotion and life. Give it all to him by releasing your pride and embracing humility. Be willing to confess where you fall short and stop trying to cover this all up. God knows all and sees all. Come to Jesus and let him clean you from the inside out.  

Trust In Me

 John 14:1  "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me (italics mine NIV).

 

We too can find comfort in these comforting words from Jesus to his disciples. Jesus tells them to place their trust in him saying, "Do not let your hearts be troubled". Understand that your trust is only as good as whom or what you place your trust.

 

Trust issues come up when the source you trust in is not a trustworthy source. Your trust is not in question but the source is in question. For example you desire food from a vending machine. You trust that the vending machine will give you what you pay for and you will be satisfied. When the vending machine does not give you what you have paid for you are not satisfied. You may actually be troubled. The machine shows itself to be untrustworthy, not you. Your trust was right but misplaced in a machine that is not consistent and not trustworthy.

 

God on the other hand has shown himself to be true, faithful and trustworthy. Also Jesus is the radiance of God's glory and his exact representation of his appearance (see Hebrews 1:3). Therefore put your trust in Jesus and his commandments and teachings. See how trusting God to guide your life will be better for you and your hearts will not be troubled. Trust in God is like an investment with a guarantee return of profit. Trusting in Jesus is the same. Trusting in Jesus as God's provision for the worlds Sins.

  

Gain comfort in Trusting in Jesus now and have peace in your heart knowing that God can supply your every need all through Christ Jesus.

Reflect

Take Time to Reflect…

2Sam. 7:18 ¶ Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: ¶ "Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?

How you see yourself in comparison to how God sees you? Do you see yourself the same God does? Or do you see yourself differently?

David desired to honor God by building God a house. God desired to eternally bless David's house. David was looking to do something to honor God because of what God was doing for him. God wanted to bless David not just for today but also for eternity. God saw David for he was and who he can be. God can see above and beyond the time of today.

David reflects and sees he is not truly deserving of the blessing God is giving him. How worthy are you? Where are you in showing your gratitude to God who is blessing you? God is willing to bless us with eternal blessings even knowing of the trials we are soon to face. Just as David had his struggles with God forgave him. God will see us, for who we are, and will give us exactly what we need and more.

Take the time in your life to pray to God a prayer of thanksgiving as David and thank God for how he has brought you this far and how God will see you through. The loving God who knows who you are and loves you as you are.

Rewarder

Eph. 6:7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, Eph. 6:8 because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.

 

Deut. 10:17 For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.

 

 

No matter your ethnic status, social class or political affiliation God will reward those who do his will. God does not show partiality and is not pleased with you doing well for only others to see. The reason why is God sees you in the dark as well as the light. Know that God is light and in Him there is no darkness (see 1 John 1:15). So whatever you do and wherever you do it God sees you.

 

Yes, you may be able to fool others but God will not be mocked. Galatians 6:7 NIV says "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." The result of your actions will produce fruit whether you like it or not.  It is better to do the work of the Lord and receive is good and great blessings. For God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is great, mighty and awesome.

 

Take this time to repent of your wrong ways and turn in obedience to God. See how God as your Lord and Master is the great "rewarder" of those who seek his will. That is why Hebrews 11:6 says, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exist and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

 

Live Worthy

Eph. 4:1 ¶ As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. - NIV

God has called you for a specific purpose. When you chose to serve God are you not in the position to fulfill that specific purpose he has prepared for you? You were not made without a purpose. You were fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14) with a specific purpose. Walk worthy and suitable in the calling you have received. Show your humility in your home, work and social life. Let God be the focus of your life and purpose. It will reflect in your prayer life how you honor God and submit yourself to his will.

It is possible through the Holy Sprit, which God has given to us through Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit teaches you. Now you need to submit to him and not to your sinful desires. Say yes to God and no to sin. This is living worthy of the calling you received. This is a daily action and daily submission.

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Servants of Christ

 

Phil. 1:1 ¶ Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, ¶ To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:

 

Serving Jesus is an honor. Do you see service to the Lord as an honor? Serving Him involves surrender of rights and your will and full devotion to His will. Serving Jesus is willing to do His good and pleasing will.

 

Humbly place yourself under Jesus and let Him be your guide and see how serving Jesus will bring you peace and joy to be a servant of Christ. Serving Christ just as Christ served God is a service that involves humility but will ultimately end in exultation. When you let God's will be done in your life you can see more of His good will and grace in your life. Serve him and be called His servant and see the Lord exulted on the throne.