Greater Than Money

Good Morning!! There’s nothing wrong with making money and earning a living. We all have to do it to survive. The Bible says it is God who gives us the power to get wealth,...as mentioned in the verse below. But your heart is greater and more valuable than any material possessions. Jesus gave us this powerful warning in Luke 12:15: " Take heed and beware of covetousness,"...which is materialism or greed. A greedy spirit can develop in a hurry, because money has a way of deceiving us into thinking that it's all we really need.

But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant, which He swore to your ancestors, as it is today.—Deuteronomy 8:18 (NIV)

Jesus followed up His warning with the parable of the rich, greedy farmer in Luke 12:16-21). This successful businessman set his heart on his wealth and ended up having to face the God he had ignored. The Scripture says, " The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil " (1 Timothy 6:10). Paul didn't say that money itself is evil,...but that it tends to exert a downward pull on our hearts. This pull was illustrated in a fascinating Gallup survey, that asked participants what effect money has on a person's spirituality. Among people who reported making more than $50,000 a year, 62 percent said money caused their spiritual lives to decline. Only 25 percent of this group said money promoted spiritual growth.

Just keep in mind, that Satan is always looking to use anything he can to ambush us, and cause us to fall,...even money.

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Holy Spirit, don’t let the devil have hold of our lives, or cause us to stumble through greed, and the lust for money. All that we have in our possession is only because of God’s unfailing blessing in our lives. Let us thank Him for the provisions He has given, and we ask You help us to resist the love of money,...that may tempt us in the future. Amen.

" Anger, hate, and revenge imprisons us,...only forgiveness sets us free."

Off With The Old

Good Morning!! There are so many articles in magazines, presentations in businesses, and self-help books containing information about how to succeed, today. But, true success is to know, and do, the will of God for your life. The Bible tells us how to dress spiritually for success in His Word. We are to take off the grave clothes of our past life without Jesus,...and put on the grace clothes of our present walk with Him.

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; o be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.—Ephesians 4:22-24 (NKJV)

One of the simplest illustration of this can be found in Scripture in the story of the resurrection of Lazarus. Lazarus had died and been in the tomb for three days. The process of decay had already set in, and yet Jesus spoke and said, "Lazarus, come forth." The one who is the Resurrection and the Life gave new life to Lazarus. But when he came out, he was in his grave clothes,...looking almost mummified wrapped in cloth-like bandages. Jesus said to the servants who were there, “Loose him and let him go!” Jesus wanted Lazarus out of the grave clothes and clothed with a new life in Him.

God calls us, He calls us to be decidedly, definitively different for Him.

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Father God, we are to walk in true holiness. We want to take seriously Your call to discipleship, to become devoted followers of Jesus Christ,...faithful in the Christian life. Amen.

" Anger, hate, and revenge imprisons us,...only forgiveness sets us free."

Abundantly God Pleasing

Good Morning!! The life Jesus offers is abundant. When we look at the tasks that God has assigned us, and as we dream big in bringing glory to Him, there is no humanly way possible it could be accomplished. But, if we look at the Word of God and what it says, it is absolutely possible.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,—Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV)

We can’t out-think or out-dream God. We can’t out-do what God wants to do in us, because He is the door to abundant life, supply, and service. Do you know that kind of Christian walk and life? Are you following Him in the fullness of His presence in your life? This ought to be the normal Christian life…not the abnormal. Call it what you will, but it’s simply falling completely in love with Christ, and moving closer to Him each day.

Jesus is the door to abundant supply. The Bible says in John 10:9 that " pasture" is all a sheep needs. Jesus says, " I’m all that you need."

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The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

" Anger, hate, and revenge imprisons us,...only forgiveness sets us free."

Only By Grace

Good Morning!! There is such a thing as having a form of Christianity, which is merely “churchianity,” ...where you’re comfortable and casual, but you don’t know Jesus! It’s not enough to just know about Him,...you must KNOW Him! If we could just get our prepositions correct, we would have it, wouldn’t we? We are saved BY what? Grace. THROUGH what? Faith. And it’s not because of who you are, or how much money you have, what kind of status you hold, or how much good you’ve done in the last five years. It is all because of the unmerited love of God who gave us a precious gift through Jesus’ death on the cross,...salvation.

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.—John 10:9 (NIV)

Works are not the way to Jesus, but instead Jesus is the way to works. When we truly know Jesus and trust complete in Him, then out of the abundant life we will serve and work for good unto His glory. You’re most important job as a Christian is to stay close to Jesus, and the rest of what you do in this abundant life is a by-product of that blessing.

" For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourself; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

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Holy Spirit, help us to stay focused on what we do, and for whom we do it. Any good we do, is because of our relationship with Jesus. All that we have, and all that we do is only by the grace of God. Amen.

" Anger, hate, and revenge imprisons us,...only forgiveness sets us free."

Existence Is Not Livung

Good Morning!! Life versus no life. There are people who believe in Christ and those who don’t. The Scripture says, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him” (John 3:36). There are three kinds of people: natural, carnal and spiritual. The natural man doesn’t know, or want to know Christ,...and has never been " born again." The spiritual man is one who lives the normative Christian life. And those carnal people are the babes, or immature believers in Christ.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.—John 10:10 (NIV)

Maybe you’re a Christian, and you could confidently say, "I am saved. I know I’m going to heaven." But that’s all it means to some,...just fire insurance for the future. You’re certain of heaven, but you’re not quite certain why you’re certain. And the fact is that you’re not enjoying the Christian life,...the abundant life. And then…there are those believers who have heaven as their hope and future home, and they hold it in their hearts. That, my friend, is having abundant life! Unfortunately, some people think that the spirit-filled Christian life is only for missionaries, ministers, and church leaders, and that the rest of us should just sort of grin and bear it through life until we can get to heaven.

Those who have never experienced new life in Christ still live,...they have existence, but no life.

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Father God, I know You want us, Christians, to live a vibrant, victorious, dynamic, and delightful spirit-filled lives. We don’t want to bring the Bible down to our own experience, as many people often do. Help us to always seek above all else, to do what Your Word commands, and promises. Allow us to live the abundant life Christ has promised, today. Amen.

" Faith does not mean the death of your old fun, old freedom, and old live,...Faith is the injection of REAL life into what you only Thought was life before."

The Impossible, Just Takes More Effort

Good Morning!! When Peter took his first step focusing his eyes on Jesus, he began walking on water as well. But he soon felt the boisterous winds, became frightened, and started to sink. When he called out to Christ to rescue him, Jesus said, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" You can be certain of the purpose regarding the way this scene unfolded. Jesus was teaching the disciples in this storm to walk on water. At least Simon Peter was willing to get out of the boat. Jesus wanted to show His disciples how to have faith, and he wants to show you how to live in that same arena.

...Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"—Matthew 14:29-31 (NKJV)

Too many of us live in our quiet, quaint comfort zones. You may have a comfortable pew, have your life together, and think you don’t need to learn faith. But if you’re not committed to a cause or a goal that has the risk of failure in it, then you haven't learned to walk in the arena of faith. If your ever going to know the real joy and victory of the Christian life, then you’ve got to start believing God enough to come through in any situation. F.B. Meyer, a great Bible teacher, said, "We never test the resources of God until we attempt the impossible."

Get out of the boat and be all that God wants you to be!

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Lord Jesus, help us to be ready to walk on water, with our focus on You,...as the storms of life come our way. Amen.

" Faith does not mean the death of your old fun, old freedom, and old live,...Faith is the injection of REAL life into what you only Thought was life before."

Wait!

Good Morning!! We live in a technologically advanced age of immediate satisfaction. From microwave meals to online bill payments, and from quick cash ATM machines to speedy checkout lanes in the local grocery store, we have become accustomed to instant results. Have you ever stopped to think that this may be the reason why it is so difficult for us to wait on the Lord to help solve our problems?

My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him.—Psalm 62:5 (NKJV)

When facing life’s choices, whether they be difficult or not, it is too dangerous to choose the road that leads to the quickest solution. Waiting upon the Lord expresses dependence on Him and brings quietness to the soul. If you’re facing overwhelming problems or feel you are on the verge of a breakdown, remember that your heavenly Father “acts for the one who waits for Him” (Isaiah 64:4).

A quick fix, almost never leads to God's ultimate plan.

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Holy Spirit of God, teach us to wait, for the "better" that God has,...just for us. Amen.

" Faith does not mean the death of your old fun, old freedom, and old live,...Faith is the injection of REAL life into what you only Thought was life before."