ARE YOU A HONKER OR A HELPER?

"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.." Matthew 7:12. Confession time!! My friend, I like to share an incident happened to me years ago during my college years. A woman driver had the misfortune of having her car to stop and stall in heavy morning traffic and she couldn't get it started. My friends and I were car-pooling behind her and we expressed our impatience by blowing our horn several times. Finally the upset and shaken lady got out of her car, walked towards me and said, "I am having difficulty starting my car. I'll appreciate you guys if you try to start my car for me, I'll honk your horn for you". OUCH!! AND, we all were Bible College Students going to the Bible class. With heavy conviction, all of us got out of our car and jump started her car. After saying a "BIG THANK YOU" she drove off. Few hours later, we found out that she was one of the worker who made delicious lunch for us in the Cafeteria Kitchen. That was a Monday Morning sermon!! Hey Hey, It is easier to honk than to help, to talk than to work, to criticize than to assist. Let us do it in Jesus' way! He let a woman in Samaria interrupt His rest, a woman in adultery interrupt His sermon, a woman with disease interrupt His plans, He stopped for a woman who was crying by the tomb even though He was on the way to heaven. Bro: Are you a HONKER or a HELPER? Well, ARE YOU????

PEACE IS POSSIBLE!

"This Sunday morning, do you have peace in your life my friend? We are continually hearing reports of tragedies around the globe. Wars, aggression, rumors of war, human trafficking, and hunger. May be you are troubled by personal problems and crises. First of all, Paul assures us in Romans 5:1 that it is possible to have PEACE WITH GOD. Yes yes, we as disobedient and sinful creatures can enter into a state of reconciliation with God through faith in Jesus (v11). We can enjoy EMOTIONAL PEACE as we cast our cares on the Savior as we worship this morning (Philippians 4:6-7). "As much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men". Romans 12:18) - that's INTERPERSONAL PEACE or peace with others can be a reality. Do you know that "Bitterness is a poison you drink thinking that the other party will die". Bro. this is the prayer I have for you this morning "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord" 2 Peter 1:2. Amen AMEN!!!

SPIRIT LED!!!

"And he rose and went: and behold, a man of Ethiopia".....Acts 8:26-27. My friend, are you willing to be a Philip? Philip was one of the seven men to lead the New Testament church. Why? Because he had certain qualities. And he had ability to be Spirit-led. Philip was not only a faithful preacher; he was an obedient personal worker. Philip started out as a deacon working in the administration department of the church. But he went on to become an evangelist, conducting city-wide meeting in Samaria drawing multitudes because God was working miracles through him(Acts 8:5-6). Now the idea of staying there and building a church must have been very appealing to Philip. But God had other plans. Scripture says "An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip..Arise and go towards the ..DESERT. So he arose and went". If it were you and I, we will question God: "Go where? To the desert? Are you serious, Lord"? Here is a lesson: When God speaks to you He may not tell you what you want to hear, or send you where you'd like to go or stay. Bro: have you considered that? Is that why you're not actively seeking His guidance and grumbling and complaining? You want God to work in your agenda?. But remember "BIG DOORS SWING ON LITTLE HINGES", right? Philip's assignment was to introduce Christ to the secretary of Finance of Ethiopia and baptize him. History says Eunuch went back and won multitudes for Christ. But it only happened because Philip could leave His comfort zone, step out in faith and follow God. WILL YOU DO THAT BUDDY? Hey hey "IN ORDER TO LEAD OTHERS YOU MUST KNOW HOW TO BE LED BY GOD"! Y'all hear me partner? Yeah!! Good.

Let's do His work!!

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost".....Matthew 28:18-20. The kingdom of God is plagued with labor trouble. The task of evangelism is so urgent that it calls for the best of our efforts not poor preparation, half-hearted, shoddy, and partial efforts. The clear intention of Jesus is that every Christian is to be a proclaimer of His good news. Every Christian is intended to be a minister and evangelist commissioned to do this work. Far too often our vision of Him has been woefully weak and inadequate. He has been to us the babe of Bethlehem, meek, mild; lowly teacher of Galilee; the one would not retaliate even when reviled; the gentle sufferer. We must REMEMBER who it is that commanded this to us. He is the risen GLORIOUS LORD, to whom we have to give accounts of what we did with our life. God never intended His Church to be a REFRIGERATOR in which to preserve perishable piety. He intended it to be an INCUBATOR in which to hatch converts. A thousand or ten thousand ordinary priests or pastors or teachers could labor quietly on almost unnoticed while the spiritual life of Israel or the church was normal. Business as usual. The church today is standing on the sidewalk watching with passiveness, fear, fever, and frustration, while the sin dominated evil is breathing out it's agenda threatening our religious freedom in the name of tolerance. Wake up Bro! Wake up!! Let's do God's work with same enthusiasm. Let's plunder the hell to populate heaven!! Well, the preacher came out this morning!!

YOU NEED A CAR WASH!!

"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come". 2 Corinthians 5:17. My friend, I am so thankful to the Lord that God used me to lead you to Christ your Savior. It's an incredible feeling of being saved. Realizing that all your sins have been forgiven by Jesus, and you are on the way to heaven. It's kind of "new car smell" feeling, you know what I mean!! There is something about that smell, right? You and I love it!! It's so clean and fresh and nothing like it!! Hahh..You even don't want to remove the plastic coverings on the seats!! But, but, it doesn't last long. Tada! Before long the filth from outside gets in.. you know the crumbs, dirt, dust, spilled soda, french fries, Ketchup, napkins, dirt etc..Even kids will write on the window "wash me". Soon the new car smell is gone- it doesn't smell like it used to be.. right? Hey, many Christians let their NEW LIFE with Christ get dirty- with sin. As times goes by we all mess up and we sin again. Humm, a loss of temper, an idle word, a lie, a lustful thought, (well- you fill up the blank) we don't quite feel like we did when we first got saved- like that "New Car Smell". David was describing this problem in Psalm 51. "Create in me a clean heart..wash me with hyssop, and I will be clean, wash me and I will be white than snow". I have a suggestion for you Bro; Some choose to let that filth build up and before long there is no new looking, no good smell, and feel dirty all over. The right thing to do is acknowledge your mistake to God. No matter what you have done, God can forgive you. You will need a good car wash, a "detailing" by GOD!! Will you do that? Will you?

DO YOU KNOW THE GOD YOU ARE WORSHIPING?

"In the beginning "GOD" created the heaven and earth". Genesis 1:1. My friend, Do you know the God whom you are worshiping this Sunday? The first revelation God gives is that He is ELOHIM, as recorded in the Hebrew text. This name is always connected to creation, authority, power, greatness, dominion, and glory. Elohim's actual meaning is a plural form of God, because when the name is translated from the Hebrew in Genesis 1, it reads "in the past, Gods brought out of nothing the heaven and the earth". Indeed, Genesis 1 we find the words, "...and God said..and God said..and God said," repeatedly, and in each instance it is plural form of Elohim. God presents Himself with the plural name Elohim to His creation and the angels. "And God said, Let us make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness" Genesis 1:26. The second revelation God gives is that He is JEHOVAH. "And the LORD GOD (JEHOVAH) formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul" Genesis 2:7. Whereas the name Elohim presents God's existence, we see His personality revealed in the name of JEHOVAH. This name is associated with covenant relationship, fellowship, and blood sacrifice. Elohim presents love, power, mercy, His Glory whereas Jehovah reveals love, power, mercy, and His Glory. The Bible tells us that the angels cry "Holy! Holy! Holy!" while beholding His majestic holy presence. WE will do the same when we experience a revelation of His GLORY. But there is somethings that angels cannot do. THEY CANNOT KNOW HIM AS JEHOVAH- THEIR FATHER. Because of the work on the cross, which allows us to experience the INTIMATE father-to-child fellowship, a covenant relationship with the GOD JEHOVAH!! Hey, worship HIM, worship..worship HIM. Don't sit there cross- legged feeling important!! Y'all hear me!!

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?

"And Moses said unto God, who am I, that should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt". Exodus 3:11. Hey Brother: Do you have what it takes to be a leader? You cannot become who you need to be by remaining who you are. TADA. LOOK AT MOSES! You MUST identify and change your limited, small thinking by renewing your mind with the Word of God and act on it. When I was the Senior Pastor of a Church, a friend of mine said Pastor, "It must be hard leading a good life, handling all those pressures, people waiting for one sign of weakness so they can jump on you. They are complaining for anything and everything. Even they are saying "there is no Salt in this Banana". How do you handle it? It's COMMITMENT" I replied. "I stay home a lot with my Lord" I said. Only in God's strength I will be able to handle the demands of people , pressure and problems that come my way. If you are a Leader, "Problems MUST unlock your creativity" also. Not giving up and hanging your head down and walking like a Zombie. My friend, if you are a leader be CREATIVE. My professor in our Leadership Class told a story about an Arkansas Chicken Farmer whose land kept flooding and killing his chickens. In despair he told his Pastor, I've had it; I can't afford to buy another place and I can't sell this one either. What can I do? Calmly the Pastor replied: Brother, Buy ducks and start a duck farm! Do you get it BRO? A good and wise leader prays, looks for a solution in every problem, then acts on it. Hey Hey Hey "if there is a will there is a way"! Y'all hear me? Yeah GOOD!!

ACCOUNTABILITY!!

"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor..two shall withstand him and threefold cord is not quickly broken". Ecclesiastes: 4:9-12. "For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil". Ecclesiastes 12:14. Accountability..Humm, accountability. This morning Lord led me to "The Realms of Accountability". My friend, ARE YOU? Do you know that accountability takes priority over authority? Scripture teaches that everything God does is accomplished on the basis of His authority. Scripture also teaches that God delegates authority to individuals, to family, to church, to ministry and to civil government. But always authority is balanced by accountability. Every leader was accountable to the vision, mission, progress, and accomplishment of the purpose God had given too. Personal agenda should not be a stumbling block to inhibit God's plan. The common reaction to Accountability: 1) NO!! 2) WHY!!! 3) HOW!!! The reasons for Accountability: 1) LESS LIKELY TO STUMBLE. 2) MORE LIKELY TO SEE THE WHOLE PICTURE. What are the rewards of Accountability you may ask? Well, 1) Builds friendship and comradeship. 2) Transparency and Growth. 3) Capacity to admit mistakes and sin. 4) Willing to learn, quick to hear and respond to reproof. 5) Accessible, touchable 6) Committed to truth even when it hurts (Honesty) 7) It develops CHRISTLIKENESS! Bro: This is what I learned during my devotion. Hope it helps you!!!

DO YOU HAVE A VISION?

"Where there is no vision the people perish" Proverbs 29:18. My friend, I know you are a Bible college graduate and you are anticipating to be a pastor of the church, But but "Do you have a vision my friend? Leaders had vision. Moses: Leading the people of Israel, Solomon: Building a temple, Nehemiah: Rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, Paul: saw possibilities in pagan cities and planted churches etc. As you delight yourself in the Lord and His Word, He deposits His desires into your heart. Your vision comes from Him, and He will bring it to pass. God gives us vision to show us our true potential. Vision brings out the best in people and takes us to a new levels in life. God's vision allows us to see things as they become and it is always possible. What is our part, you may ask? 1) Expand your horizon by stretching your imagination and nurture new ideas. 2) Go for positive changes with a welcoming attitude. (No place for personal agenda). 3) Imagine the impossible, invent the future, stay ahead of tomorrow and expect great things from God. Bro: Do you want to see where God wants to take you? Really? No more status-quo? Then, PRAY FOR GOD TO GIVE YOU A NEW VISION, OPEN YOUR HEART TO GOD, HAVE FAITH THAT GOD CAN AND WILL DO GREAT THINGS THROUGH YOU, AND BE COURAGEOUS ENOUGH TO STAND AND ACT ON IT. How about resources, you may ask? Well, "IF GOD HAS ORDERED IT, HE WILL PAY FOR IT!! TADA!!!

RIGHT THINKING AND RIGHT LIVING!

"My thoughts are not your thoughts" Isaiah 55:8-9. My friend, have you heard the saying "God don't make no junks"? Even some Christians don't believe that. They go through life having imprinted many words such as good for nothing, humiliation, unworthy, failure, rejection, ugly, stupid, clumsy, inadequate, unlovable, burden, nobody likes me etc. on their hearts and mind. These are satan's lies and they allow themselves to be beaten down by such lies from the father of lies. SUCH WORDS ARE NOT FOUND IN GOD'S VOCABULARY, DO YOU KNOW THAT? Right thinking thinks spiritually- the way God thinks. Wrong thinking is carnal thinking, unspiritual and warped. Bro: I have some suggestions for you, can I say? 1) Focus on the future, NOT ON THE PAST. 2) See yourself as God sees you. "Fearfully and wonderfully made" by your God. Psalm 139:14. 3) Set goals: Get a vision from God about yourself. Do you know that God has a blue print of your life already? Sit down with Him. Do not make plans without God's will. James 4:15. 4) Refuse to worry. Worry is self-centered. My father used to say "Worry is an acid which eats its container". God has great plans for you. You are not a junk. It's not your fate. God's thoughts are greater and purposeful about you. Heaven has decreed that you are blessed!!! Speak Life and Speak Blessing. Y'all hear me? Yeah GOOD.

FORGIVENESS!!

"..how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?..until seventy times seven". Matthew 18:21-22. My friend, Everything we think about forgiveness is measured with our measuring rod and logic. God may be shaking His head and saying "your thoughts are so little and look at me and get the BIG PICTURE my boy. Here is how you and I measure forgiveness: 1) We think who? Who should I forgive? He or she did this and I don't know if I can forgive him or her. Are they worthy of my forgiveness? 2) We think how much? We measure things on our list, right? We say, "I can forgive that- NO PROBLEM- to some selective one and I could NEVER forgive that" to him or her. 3) We think how often? "Fool me once, shame on you- fool me twice, shame on me: NOBODY'S going to do that to me again! Nada, Zippo. As I was meditating this portion this morning, God really convicted me. "If I ever really brought my sin before the Lord, He would turn His back- I just have to carry this one myself because He's just not merciful enough to forgive me: What would I do? He has totally forgiven my sins when I accepted Him as my Lord and savior. My slate is clean. He threw ALL my sins down at the deepest part of the ocean never to be remembered and put a sign "NO MORE FISHING". BRO: God is challenging us "LET'S COMPARE" our way to His ways. Can we?? Thank you Jesus!!

PRAYER!!

"When I cry unto thee, then shall my ENEMIES TURN BACK; this I know; for God is for me". Psalms 56:9. My friend, do you realize that our prayers will turn back our enemies! When David prayed he was saved from his enemies. Notice that there is defensive and offensive power when you pray. When David prayed his enemies were turned back and ran. Alone, we are not strong enough to stop the onslaught of satan, yet through prayer, God can move mountains. The Lord is ready to pour out a blessing greater than you ever imagined. But first, you need to seek His face in prayer. The words of Jesus still ring true: "If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it". John 14:14. Modern day churches and believers only know about historical faith of our forefathers, instead what we have is hysterical faith. Our accent is on paying, theirs was on praying. When they prayed- the place was shaken; when we have paid, the place is taken. How can an individual or a ministry expect to build a sturdy, unshakable family or ministry without a strong foundation? It's impossible. There is only one way to lay the cornerstone and that is on our knees. PRAYER is the anchor that will keep a life grounded. Those with out it "..are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carries away". Job 21:18. Bro, stop telling me that you don't have time to pray and you are busy. When God grounds you, then you will have plenty of time, right? Just a thought!!!

MISPLACED PRIORITIES!!

"Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest". Matthew 12:28. Hey Hey Slow down my friend! You are going towards a dead end man and you don't want to face reality? You are finding ways to "get away" not to relax trying to escape reality- Aren't you? Impulse buying, thrill seeking, purposeless driving, lots of eating out, excessive time in front of Television, yes, that vacation you took you couldn't afford- all these because you couldn't take it anymore, right? This escapism behavior is too dangerous my friend. Your spouse is saying "slow down" and starving for love, your kids are clinging to your leg right now, wish you had 36 hours a day, you are experiencing chest pains, trouble sleeping, restless- uneasy indecisive, unhappy, worn out, Burnout? Your good intentions to be a changed and improved seems to be fading as quickly as they are made? There are a lot of things you know are important that you even told others to do that you are not doing. It's getting to you buddy. Robbing your peace. You may be asking "How did you know this is what is happening in my life". As you can see, misplaced priorities can be destructive in all area of our life. Symptoms that may seem "temporary" concessions in the beginning, appearing as minor aberrations, are gateways to disaster. Bro: Don't be discouraged! God has given us clear directives on how to find genuine peace, fulfillment and productivity in our lives. JESUS says "COME UNTO ME". Prioritizing, renewing, and reevaluating is essential in our life. After all "I have never seen a casket going to the grave yard with a U-Haul attached to it". OUCH!!! Change your way of living man!!!

YOUR SPEECH!!!

"Put away perversity from your mouth: keep corrupt talk far from your lips". Proverbs 4:24.. My friend, be careful- I heard you!! "Garbage in- Garbage out" - Isn't it? The language we use reflects the attitudes of our hearts. As Christians our speech should be a testimony to our relationship with the Lord. According to God, what we say is important. Although some may not place much stock in their words, according to God, what we say is important. Our speech is an important part of His ideal for us. " It (tongue) corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell". James 3:5,6: Jesus put His finger on the crux of the matter when He told the Pharisees: "You brood of Vipers...For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks". Matthew 12:34. Jesus even went so far as to say that "men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned". Matthew 12:36-37. The question is "How then, should we speak?" New Testament offers a number of exhortation regarding our speech. Paul tells Christians to do away not only with obscenity but also foolish talk and coarse joking. Ephesians: 5:4. It is interesting that in Paul's mind filthy language followed close on the heels of anger, rage, malice, and slander". Colossians 3:8. " Let your conversation be ALWAYS full of GRACE, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone". Colossians 4:5-6. Hey hey, do you know that a large part of our witness to a watching world is our speech. The language of our surrounding culture is hard at times to screen out. Even the most guarded people can be influenced by speech of those around them. Be a careful gate keeper, Did you hear? That is not an excuse. Hey, you can refuse to listen to, read, or watch offensive material, can't you? You can say: "SAY WHAT? YOU NEED MOUTH WASH!!!" Can't you??

World Shaping Earth Shaking Life!!

"..The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the Glory of His Inheritance .." Ephesians: 1:18-21. During this morning devotion, God showed me something from this scripture. Can I share? Paul wants us to stand the hope that is ours because of this calling! He asks God to open their eyes to the HOPE, GLORY, AND POWER that works on a level beyond empty idols. Paul prays for them to reach a level of World Shaping, earth shaking level. Paul says God can use us in three ways. 1) God will give us INFLUENCE WITH INSIDERS. Whenever Paul preached in a new city, he started in a Synagogue and reasoned with other Jews. INSIDERS ARE THE PEOPLE THAT GET YOU. My friend, your greatest battle may be in your own family and facing persecution in Jesus' name at work. If the enemy is attacking from inside, it's because God's not finished with you yet. His best is yet to come. Tada. 2) God helps you to OVERCOME OUTSIDERS. In Ephesus there was a union of silversmiths that opposed Paul's message. Craftsmen who made idols believed that Paul was messing with their money and income.(Acts 19). Bro: Have you ever harassed by someone who didn't know first thing about you or your business or your message? Well, when the dust settles, God's truth will always expose the lie, and Christ in you can and will overcome any hostile outsider. Tada. 3) God will EMPOWER YOU TO BLESS THE BELOVED. Paul departs from Ephesus in Acts 20 after appointing elders in the church there. His final words blessings to the elders are, "Remember the words of the Lord Jesus.."It is more blessed to give than to receive". Then it says that the men he prayed with FELL on him and WEPT freely. Amazing- Isn't it? A man who terrorized Christians demonstrated so much love in Ephesus that GROWN MEN WEPT. TADA. I know it's too long a posting, but I could not resist to post this what HE showed me.

GOD'S WAYS ARE HIGHER!!!

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways...so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts". Isaiah: 55:8-9. Our world emphasis wealth, glory, and power as the ultimate goal in one's life. So it is that some have pierced their own souls with many griefs because of the pursuit of riches. My friend, I know you are a victim of this craziness. The world will not give you a second chance. "It's now or never". "Three strikes you are out". Hey, don't let other failures tell you how much of a failure you are. God's ways and thoughts are much higher for you! BRO, Listen to me: What you and I might rate as an absolute disaster, for GOD- it's a pimple-level problem. For GOD, your life is the way you watch a movie after you have read the book- GET IT? Because when every one else gasps for air at the crisis on the screen, you are cool as a cucumber. Because you read the book. God is in control buddy. He is ALPHA AND OMEGA: BEGINNING AND THE END. Rejoice and be thankful that the ways of the Lord are higher than our ways. We are too limited by our sinful flesh in our earthly thinking. God gave me a verse for you my dear, " For I know the plans I have for you, declare the Lord, plan to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give hope and a future". Jeremiah 29:11. "Yes Jesus loves me // , for the Bible tells me so!! Sing it man SING IT!!!

SPEECH!!

"And after a while come unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee". Matthew 26:73. Whoo.. people are listening. Here in the case of Peter they were sure that he was "one of them", for his speech betrayed him. The Christian simply is not interested in low-level thinking or speech. If the conversation of the gutter appeals to you, check your standing with the Lord. Words are powerful. Christians have to stop impulsive and emotional speaking. Words can kill and they make alive. Think, think, think before you say anything or write anything. Don't take permanent decision on the basis of temporary circumstances. Speaking your mind instantly may win the battle but surely you will lose the war- then you will be sorry. Texans say like this "If people and fishes keep their mouth shut they will not get into trouble". David prayed: Let the words of my mouth, and meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O lord, my strength, and my redeemer". Psalm 19:14. Well, just a Sunday morning thought!!!!