Devoted to Christ

Bible knowledge in the world is pretty much useless if you are spiritually diseased in your heart. If you have lost your heart for God, all your knowledge and even religious habits won’t help you. I’ve been reading so much biblical reference within the last year, I have to admit it’s the best knowledge I can ever obtain, but through the rigorous times if something is hounding your heart that causes you to go your own way, it is difficult to reach deep down into your heart in finding the answer to your problem biblically. If you’re heart is dead, it can come back to life is you are spiritually rooted. If you’re not spiritually rooted, your heart will remain dead (and dangerous).

“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ.” Colossians 4:2

The doors that God opens in our lives lead to new beginnings, new blessings and new opportunities to be effective witnesses for the Lord. Certainly things may not have gotten my way this week, but you know, it’s not my way in life, it’s God’s way. There’s certain things you expect out of life, and ALL of us, don’t meet that expectation. You think the door is open for you, you enter in, only to experience it doesn’t work out for you. Could be a job, a task, a project, or a certain hope. But who are we to argue and fight with a God that loves us and will not give us anything we can’t handle. God shows us the door to a new opportunity. And I thank God that even when a door is closed, he shows me a new door in enter in. As long as the leading of the holy spirit is there, I’m entering in! There are times of hardships, but be grateful my friends, God is with you. Emmanuel, God is with us.

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? – Matthew 16:26

I’ve met a lot of people who have committed their life into profitting a business or gaining power to help save society. With much sacrifice, these people have accepted this role or career in doing whatever means necessary to gain this type of means. Even if it’s losing their relationship with their loved one. My love one for me, is Jesus. I used to be so focused on a career that it deprived me of God’s spirit. Then as soon I began experiencing the wordly success, I wasn’t really satisfied with it. Yes, there’s probably many people who will trade my success with their no education minimum wage life, but I tell you folks, it isn’t all that. Success is promoted by God, and if the holy spirit dwells in you, God will make your work happy and proud. It is my prayer that God will continue to bless my work, have me focused on the kingdom, and not on primarily being sucked into my own undoing.

Luke 18:17 NKJV
Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.

Just saw this film last night. It’s something many people can relate to. Cancer. An incurable disease. I’m always inspired from people who survive cancer. I truly believe that’s it’s the work of the Lord that does the job. I’ve had a cousin recently pass away 2 weeks ago. And although there is suffering in this world, there always hope. Hope for a better life. Hope for a better body. Hope of no more suffering and sorrow. The film was about a young boy who was diagnosed with cancer and although it seemed grim for this family and friends, young Tyler still chose to be used for God as an instrument to lead others to Christ. Very heartfelt and very hopeFUL. Not hopeLESS.

Dear God,

This letter to you is a thank you one. Thank you for giving people (even people whom I don’t know) the gift of salvation. For inspiring me and at the same time using me as instrument to reach out to people. I pray that you will use me more for your glory. Thank you for your holy spirit in resisting temptation. You word says, Blessed are those who resist temptation. I cannot pray to not let temptation come to me. It’ll always come. I just have to endure. You will not give us anything we can’t handle. Thank you for accepting me. I commit my life and sacrifice my body for you.

Love,
Michael

Can’t say I haven’t run into these types of people yet. But I sure can feel unsure and doubtful when someone comes to me with a bible and says. “Times are changing, we need to adapt to what the world is coming into and accept the things of it.” I’ve encountered one this week and can say this week was a testing week for me. Pastor Chuck preaches of what false prophets we may encounter during the times of Jeremiah and the times of today.

Like whoa! It’s times like these we need to check ourselves and make sure we are protected of the holy spirit for if you let it, you will know what is right and wrong.

Bible study last night with Pastor Raul Ries was very uplifting and gives Christians a chance to check themselves when entering the church. He taught about the hypocritical people that engage in worship. He talked about the people who raise their hands in praise and worship but at the same time live totally different lives outside of church. People who party hard, drink, lie, steal, do drugs, etc. are the same people who come into church raising their hands and praising God. The bible mentions these kinds of people in Isaiah 1 (verse 15) where their hands are full of blood.

And in Jeremiah 7, the prophet Jeremiah prophesizes to a group of people (even comparable to the church today) that they must repent because they continue to do these acts of sin (worship other God or stuff) and continue to go to church. These people have religion in them more than a relationship with God. DON’T PLAY CHURCH. Submit your life to God and make sure you are granted the ticket to eternal life of peace and joy. Not eternal life of this world, but of heaven. Don’t live a double life thinking you’ll always be taken care of in church. You life does not evolve once a week in the church but in everyday spiritual communication with God. Oh woes me that churches are going backwards. Turning upside down. People just hanging out and not fellowshipping with God. Makes me sad and sometimes my head hurts just thinking about it.

Churches that do not teach how to repent is scary. It says in verse 34, “I will bring an end to the sounds of joy and gladness and to the voices of bride and bridegroom in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem, for the land will become desolate.” The holy spirit could not be in the city of Judah anymore because the people refused to turn away from their idols and not repent. The Lord left them. Church are for witnesses, not for tourists.

In 1 Samuel 4:1, the word “kindness” is important; a better translation would be grace. Grace is a very important word to us as Christians. One definition of grace is “God’s unmerited favor.” Let’s further define grace by contrasting with with a couple of other words; justice and mercy. Justice is getting what you deserve. Mercy is not getting what you deserve. Grace is getting what you deserve.

So the sight of seeing people come to Christ is a spectacular thing to witness. But to see someone not be able to grow fruit is a concerning matter. Where do you stand in your faith in Christ today? A sprouted root or an eaten up seed or bad root?

The article below was taken from Pastor Lionel of Ambassador for Christ Worship Center. You can check it out here.

I would like to share a message from the words of God about what it means to become the church of Jesus Christ. It is my prayer that this message will minister to your needs and will give you the strength to continue to respond to the calling of God in your life. To become the church of Jesus Christ is the first stage of our spiritual calling. In fact, the word church means the assembly or the group of those who are called by God. They are the group that responds to the call of God. There are chain of events that sequentially happens in order to realize this calling. It all begins with faith that produces conviction in our spirt that is made for us to respond to the word of God. This kind of faith comes from when we listen to the words of God or being touch by the Holy Spirit. This is a very powerful experience. We will be able to obey the words of God because of these experiences.

The object of self determination here is to continue to experience the touch of the Holy Spirit in order to get used to this kind of spiritual environment. Our daily devotion plays a great role in making this experience a reality. As we know, our devotions are the woks that we consistently do for God. It will lead us to the next stage of our calling which is to become children of God. My prayer for all of you is to see you in the next stage of our spiritual calling.

As we know, life isn’t all about chasing what the world has to offer. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21) If you’re hungry and thirsty, let the Lord dwell in your life. For God gave us living water. Let our life be Christ-like and not of this world.

Solomon experienced everything what the world had to offer in his life. Solomon said, “4 I made my works great, I built myself houses, and planted myself vineyards. 5 I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. 6 I made myself water pools from which to water the growing trees of the grove. 7 I acquired male and female servants, and had servants born in my house. Yes, I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before me. 8 I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of the provinces. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, and musical instruments of all kinds.” (Ecclesiastes 2:4-8)

Solomon lived for the pleasure and the bible warns us that, “She who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives.” (1 Timothy 5:6)

So for us to live, is to live for the Lord. What do you live for? What drives you? If you say, “For me, to live is Christ,” that is real spirituality.