Keeping the very best.

"But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly" (‭1 Samuel‬ ‭15‬:‭9‬ KJV). We too are guilty of keeping the very best for ourselves, what ever it may be. God will speak to us through His Word, message, and Spirit, and He will show us very clearly what is in our hearts that must be let go of. There are many things that are easy to let go of because they are of less importance to us. These are the ones that are easier to let go of and to forget. I am talking about sin in the heart of man, sin that one is trying to hide from loved ones, friends, and even God. Just like King Saul, you might have a problem keeping what is good to your flesh, and God has spoken to you many times of this particular thing. He has spoken many times to let it go, but it's funny because we tend to ignore His voice when it comes to personal hidden sin. We act as if He is not around or cannot see what the flesh craves and plays with. There is a solution to this guilt and shame. One does not need to live this way. However, it is up to that individual. They must want freedom from it. Then Jesus will set them free. We have to meet Christ all the way, not just halfway. We must meet Him with all our hearts or have no freedom. Saul lost every promise that God had for him and his family. He was a man that chose to do what his flesh desired, and today we have the same choice to live wholeheartedly for Christ Jesus or for ourselves. Choose! God bless you. Amen

Trusted in thee

"Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them." (‭Psalms‬ ‭22‬:‭4‬ KJV). Jesus shows us His faithfulness throughout the Bible, from the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation. He shows us through His Word that those who believe in, trust in, and rely on Him will have eternal life. There are so many people in this late hour that have a trust issue. Their hearts have been broken many times. Men and women have hurt them, abandoned them, and left them without a cause. Best friends seem to come and go. You may say, "that is a thing of the past". In today's world, the mentality is "no one can be trusted". However, there is One you can trust. Trust is powerful because it opens the heart of the individual to rely on another. In order for us to trust in Jesus, we have to begin a relationship with Him, and in doing so we must open our hearts up to Him and allow His Word to saturate us in His love. Some people will give you their word and others will give you a hand shake, but Christ Jesus gave you His life. Which one would you trust the most? God bless you. Amen

Thy name

"And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee" (‭Psalms‬ ‭9‬:‭10‬ KJV). Trusting in someone can be difficult if you and that individual don't have a relationship. Trust is built on a relationship between two or more people. Behind every good name is a good person, who is known by his or her character. There is no other name like the name Jesus. Christ's name is known by every man, woman, and possibly every child around this world. His character and willingness, which He has demonstrated, surely shows that He is the One True God whom we can trust in. To gain our trust in Christ, we must love Christ and obey His Word. Those who love someone will obey them, and in doing so trust begins. B.H. Clendennen once said, "If I love God, I obey God. If I obey God, I am walking in the Word of God. If I am walking in the Word of God in obedience to God, then I am walking in the faith of God. If I walk in the faith of God, I walk in the Spirit of God". Love, obedience, and faith; they are all separate, but where one is the other is there also. God bless you. Amen

If the world hate you

"If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you" (‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭18‬ KJV). Today we live in such an evil world, where darkness floods so many minds and blinds so many eyes from seeing the Light and Truth in Jesus Christ. There are many radical groups in this world that are coming against the born-again believer and their faith in Jesus Christ. These groups of people have anger, hatred, and murder within their hearts. This can only come from one source, satan himself. These groups are out to steal, kill, and destroy every believer who confesses Jesus as Lord over their lives. They will not stop until they see everyone of us hurting, broken, and dead. However, little do they know nor do they understand that they are not only coming against the body of believers, but against Christ Jesus Himself. He is our refuge and stronghold, and with our faith in Him nothing or no one can hurt us. We're one with Him, and He is within us. "If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." (vs. 19) We are not of this world. We are just passing through and are on our way to the Glorious City in the sky. People may come against us, but they cannot take our souls. We stand in Jesus. God bless you. Amen

Self-seeking

"For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there." (‭James‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ NKJV). Wow! This is so true. Confusion has risen and made its way into this young generation, teaching them that what is bad in the Word of God is now okay to do. Young people are being taught in the public schools that it is okay to express themselves in any way they choose. Boys can be girls and girls can be boys. It is the way of the culture. Many people are blind to the traps and snares of the enemy, for it is hard for one to see the Truth when they are blinded by self. Where the Truth is absent, darkness abounds and many deceiving spirits flood the grounds. Self opens the door to other things because it is limited, is filled with desires, and has its own appetite for ungodly things. Self seekers allow pride to rule, and along with pride comes all other familiar spirits. Envy and bitterness, which begin to surround the heart of the self-righteous soul, causes them to rebel against the Truth. Evil stands at the door of their hearts, convincing them to do other things, for self is never satisfied, but is always hungry for more. "But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic." (vs. 14-15). Satan is all about himself, and that is why self can never understand the Truth of God. God bless you. Amen

Peace and holiness

"Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord" (‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭14‬ NKJV). How do people recognize you as a born-again believer? Can they see and recognize the difference between you as a believer and the people of the world? Do you hold your peace and allow God to do His will? There is so much chaos in this world today. People need to see Jesus living through you and I. They are looking for the Truth, and we must show them the Truth. In today's church, holiness is looked at as a thing of the past. It has been forgotten about in our lives and in the church. To many people, holiness has been defined by modern man as legalism. Some people believe that holiness was the way of the past and it is not for today. They will argue the fact that it is okay to drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes, only to allow more compromise in their lives. Holiness is a way of life that is given to the born-again believer through the Holy Spirit. One will recognize themselves as being a child of God, purchased by Christ Jesus, and as a result their lives will be surrendered unto His will. Then comes the separation from the things of this world that the Holy Spirit convicts and speaks to the born-again believer's heart about. This separation comes through the finished work on the cross of Christ and our faith in His work. The more one grows in the Word of God the closer he or she gets to our Lord Jesus and the deeper the separation from this world through the flesh becomes. We need holiness and peace. God bless you. Amen

You are all

"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus." (‭Galatians‬ ‭3‬:‭26‬ NKJV). To stay in God is to stay in faith. Faith lifts us out of time and puts us back into eternity, where God the Father meets us. Faith comes from God. It is a gift from God and a fruit of the Spirit. Every born-again believer will receive the gift of faith, a faith that will not keep them down but will ever so keep them moving forward in the name of the Lord Jesus. Faith's one function is to regain heavenly ground. Faith continues to grow as we, the believers, continue to obey the Word of God. It is by hearing the Word of God, applying it to our lives, and obeying the Word that causes faith to grow within us. The same faith Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Hannah, Paul, Peter, and the rest of the patriarchs of old had exists in you and I as born-again believers. Faith is activated and comes through hearing the Word of God. "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." (‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭17‬ NKJV). Faith is a powerful gift from God because it puts one where God is. As the believer hears the of voice their Savior all so near, faith opens up the believer's heart and pushes doubt and fear aside. Faith positions us as though we have never fallen. Receive the gift and you will not be disappointed. God bless you. Amen