The Report Of The Lord: July 2016

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Why Me?

Something to think about.

Why Me?

It is good for me that I was afflicted,
that I might learn your statutes. Psalm 119:71 (ESV)

Often times when we are in a desperate situation, and we have reached the end of our wits. It is because we have ignored God. It is then when we come to the realization that the answer has always been God.

Friday, July 29, 2016

For Everyone

Something to think about.

For Everyone

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16 ESV

The Gospel Is the good news for all mankind; it is our guarantee of salvation.

Thursday, July 28, 2016

To Be Near God

Something to think about.

To Be Near God

28 But for me it is good to be near God;
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
that I may tell of all your works. Psalm 73:28 (ESV)

It’s a choice, you choose to be near God, you choose to accept His protection, you choose to tell of His wondrous works. As for me I choose Him every day, as for you ?????

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Strategy

Something to think about.

Strategy

The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. John 5:15 (ESV)

Today, we have devised strategies to evangelize the world. We have large evangelistic organizations creating successful campaigns, sharing the good news of Christ. We have systems designed to encourage and exploit every opportunity to advance the gospel. Yet, what still remains the most successful strategy is you telling your friends and neighbors “it is Jesus who saved me.” God has always intended that your story be the driving force of revival. All other efforts while useful and productive will never rival the individual that tells his story to his friend. It is the story of what Christ did for you that will change the world. Share your testimony.

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Author of Life

Something to think about.

Author of Life

15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. Acts 3:15 (ESV)

In one verse Christianity is defined. Jesus Christ, the “Author of Life, ” was killed and resurrected by God, and by faith and belief in the word of God “we are the witness” of this.

Monday, July 25, 2016

Power of Salvation

Something to think about.

Power of Salvation

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16

The gospel, the good news, is Christ. Through Him and because of Him salvation is available to all mankind.

Saturday, July 23, 2016

Believed

Something to think about.

Believed

Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, John 4:39
How many will believe because of your testimony, none if you don't share it.

Thursday, July 21, 2016

Faithful

Something to think about.

Faithful

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (ESV)

We may think this verse is about confession and cleansing, which it is, but it is more about faithfulness. It is about God’s continual faithfulness in forgiving us of our sin. We could confess into eternity, but if He were not faithful to forgive, our confession would be pointless.

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Strong and Courageous

Something to think about.

Strong and Courageous

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

If you don’t “go” anywhere if you don’t attempt anything, this scripture does not apply to you. If you do not venture beyond your safe zone, you need not be strong or courageous.

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Glorious Splendor

Something to think about.

Glorious Splendor

to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds,
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations. Psalms 145:12-13

Have you made it known to your children? Have you told them about His everlasting Kingdom and the permanence of His dominion?

Friday, July 15, 2016

Is Your God Alive

Is your God alive? If your answer is yes, prove it. We Christians claim that God is alive, that He is still involved in our lives. We pray, worship, glorify and speak about His wonders. We believe the Bible to be the directly and divinely inspired word of God. These ancient texts credit Him with creating the universe and everything in it to the inclusion of man. In these ancient writing, the authors ascribe to God miraculous abilities. Abilities to include the reshaping of the world as in the story of Moses. The capacity to interact with humanity in a variety of ways. He spoke with Moses one on one, by his spirit, he communicated with Abraham. He used angels and prophets He even used a donkey.

We turn to the Bible to seek comfort, meaning and purpose in our lives. We dedicate our lives to the propagation of these beliefs.We try to live by the precepts outlined in His word

Yet, I ask you is your God alive? All of what I have mentioned can be attributed to education. We can be educated to believe falsehoods. People were taught to believe that the world was flat. People were trained to believe the earth was the center of the universe, that the sun orbited the earth. People are still being taught we evolved. We can be taught to believe anything. If it comes from people we esteem and recognize as experts in their fields, we tend to believe their conclusions.

There is a fundamental flaw with this model. Every advancement is based on the acceptance of prior information as being correct and without error. Which we know is factually impossible. The world is not flat. The sun does not orbit the earth. Humanity did not pop up out of nowhere. These experts we believe in are limited by their acceptance of prior information that may be in error and is most certainly incomplete. To put it plainly there is more information about any given subject than anyone knows. What makes a difference is that we do not know which assumption is so wrong as to change the landscape of prior knowledge, as in the world being flat. No body of knowledge is exempt from of this reality. At any time someone may come up with a discovery that radically changes prior accepted theories.

So I ask you again is your God alive? If your answers is yes and you arrive at that conclusion based on education. The experts you esteem, and respect may be believing in a precept that is wrong. They may have been educated to believe that there is a God. Their whole premise might have been built on an acceptance of a flawed model. This is important because a God that is based on the rational conclusion of an educated mind is subject to a yet unknown reality that will change everything.

Is my God alive? Yes, is my answer. Yes, I have been educated to believe there is a God. Moreover, I have been taught to believe in precepts about God that are wrong. I also know that there are expert theologians that are still teachings ideologies that are wrong. I also know that there are biblical experts that are perverting the word of God to fit their worldly model. You might ask me, why then do you believe in God?

It comes down to one thing, relationship. I believe in God because He is real. I have experienced His presence just as I have experienced the presence of any other person. He takes up space, physical space, He has a voice. He has emotions, He feels, hurts, loves and has passion. He has a spirit, a mind, intellect, and reason. He possesses all the attributes of man plus one; he is perfect.

The determining factor of my belief is relationship, my relationship with him. It is an ongoing personal relationship much like a father and his child. He is the one I can call daddy, and He responds, he is the one that I can turn to, and He will uplift me. He is my constant rock that will not leave me. He is more existent than the land I walk on for He created the land. He is extant.

If your God is alive as mine is you have to have a story share it.
Share your testimony.

Thursday, July 14, 2016

Being Silenced or Speak Out

Something to think about.

Being Silenced or Speak Out

18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:18-20 (ESV)

As our government is on a constant crusade to silence us in every area of public life; to keep our testimony to ourselves, we must say with Peter and John “ for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” Share your testimony.

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Everlasting Kingdom

Something to think about.

Everlasting Kingdom

They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom
   and tell of your power,
12 to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds,
   and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations. Psalms 145:11-13

Who, is going to tell of His everlasting, glorious kingdom, His mighty deeds, and His splendor? Certainly not those who don’t know Him. If it is not us then who, if it is not now when? We have the magnificent opportunity to tell of His awesome splendor.

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Enemies

Something to think about.

Enemies

44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Matthew 5:44

This verse was never intended for the non believer. Can we do this today? Brother, sister can we love our enemies and pray for them?

Monday, July 11, 2016

The Same Spirit

Something to think about.

The Same Spirit

13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak,

If we have the same spirit of faith, and we, believe we must speak. Christ Is Lord.

Friday, July 8, 2016

The Offer

Jesus said, “I have come to give you life and life more abundantly.” John 10:10
In a sentence He states the purpose of His life. He came to give us something we could not obtain on our own. He came to give us life.

Before Him my life consisted of monotonous, meaningless repetition. I remember as a young man looking through my living room window and asking God is this it? Is this all there is, working, eating and sleeping?
I was twenty something when I asked that question. Now as I look back I realize God answered my question immediately. Shortly after I ask that question I became a Christian and my life began. You might expect me to say something like everything in life became wonderful. The truth is life, real life is not easy.

Though I became a Christian and became a new creature the only thing I knew was my old nature. My new nature was at war with my old nature and my life has never been the same. My new nature is a life filled with purpose, joy and expectation. The spirit of God in me is working to give me the abundant life Jesus speaks of. My new spirit was and is at war with the “spirit that comes to steal, kill and destroy.” John 10:10 This spiritual war within me played out in poor, disastrous decisions and actions that plagued my life. I have walked through the valley of doubt and fear, of loneliness and abject disappointment. Through it all God has been there to pick me up and carry me when I could not walk.

The new life that Jesus is speaking of comes with a very big caveat. It will not coexist with the spirit of death which lived in me before I was born again. The spirit of God is selfish, unyielding and unrelenting. He demands to be the sole ruler of your life. He will not share His glory and position with anything. In return He will give you a life that is unattainable in any other way.

You can wake up every morning defeated or you can wake up everyday expectant of what the God of creation has for you this day. Every morning is an opportunity to experience the wonder and majesty of God. Every day you get to choose a new experience with him. With the newness of each sunrise you can step into a new facet of God. In the bible it says “your mercies are new every morning.” Lamentations 3:23

God is not the God who lived on the pages of an ancient manuscript He is the great “I am” (Exodus 3:14), the one who is constantly and forever present in this moment, always at this time.

We Christians are always asking God what am I called to do? The answer is the same for each of us it is to offer everyone what Jesus has provided you, an abundant life.

Thursday, July 7, 2016

Mediator

Something to think about.

Mediator

5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, Timothy 2:5

God made it very simple, you want to get to God you have to go through Christ, there is no other way.

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Shine

Something to think about.

Shine

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Sometimes your only testimony is being an example of God.

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

One Generation

Something to think about.

One Generation

One generation shall praise Your works to another,
And shall declare Your mighty acts.Psalms 145:4

This verse is not referring to the old testament acts. It is meant to be current. It is you praising the works of God to your succeeding generation. You are testifying to what God has done in your life.

Monday, July 4, 2016

Bear Witness

Something to think about.

Bear Witness

Jesus speaking of Himself.

If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. John 5:31

For those who do not know the word of God don't’ know of the witnesses of Jesus. It then becomes our responsibility to be the witness to those who don’t know.

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Deliverance

Something to think about.

Deliverance

13 And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil. Matthew 6:13 (ESV)

As evil explodes throughout the world, it is apparent to me that we need to ask God to fulfill this prayer now more than ever. God please delivers us from evil.

Friday, July 1, 2016

Truth

Evil is forcibly introducing itself into our daily lives. From the killing of innocent citizens in our streets to massacres in nightclubs and theaters. Our leaders are quick to blame the weapons of warfare as the culprit for these actions. However, weapons are weapons, without intent and use they are but physical items without purpose.

We hear in popular culture that love will overcome hate. The only problem with that premise is that the problem is not hate, the problem is evil. How do we defeat an enemy that cannot be persuaded or deterred from completing its singular purpose? As long as we hide behind words such as hate, prejudice, injustice, extremism, radicalism, sickness, racism and intolerance we will never be able to defeat evil. Though these words describe current realities, they do nothing to address the cause of evil. Evil stands on a level of its own. Evil is not rational, it is not intellectual, it does not contain an iota of morality, justice, compassion or care. You can’t reason with it, you can’t negotiate with it. You can’t legislate it away. There is nothing within it that you can appeal to. It has no saving grace. There is nothing redeeming about evil. Evil cannot and will not be appeased, it won’t be satisfied. It is relentless and without remorse. Evil does not respond to love. It only exists to destroy.

In Ephesians it says:

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 (ESV)

What does this mean for Christians? The verse says “For we”. It is not optional we are at war. We are at war against overwhelming evil forces we cannot defeat. Spiritual forces in high places, an enemy that will not be identified by conventional means which is invisible to those who deny it's existence. Whose fruit is evident to all and becoming more apparent each day. What is happening in the world is it is losing a battle, a war it was never designed to win. The only way to defeat evil is with truth, not good will, not love.

The only one that will win this war is the God of truth. The only people who will share in this victory are those who call Christ Lord. How will the world know of Him? God has commissioned us to make the world aware of Him. The world will not hear it from any other source because there is no other source, we are it, you and me. You may feel insignificant and unimportant in a cosmic battle beyond your comprehension but your testimony is the unstoppable force that will unleash the power and truth of God into a lost world.

Your testimony is crucial for the world to be saved. It won’t happen without you.

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