Trials vs. Temptations

God uses trials to develop us and draw us closer to dependence and a deeper trust in Him, but Satan uses temptations to destroy us as he seeks to devour our very souls to the grave; therefore, submit to God and rejoice. He will never allow you to face more than you can handle. His grace is sufficient and His power is made perfect in your weakness. For when you are weak, then you are strong because you rely on His strength with which you can do all things. Our response to the trials in our lives builds our integrity and strengthens our faith. Moreover, count all trials as joy and do not give in to the devil’s temptations, resist them and seek His peace.

“Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you will be mature and complete not lacking anything (James 1:2-3).”

“My grace is sufficient for you, my strength is made perfect in your weakness. For when you are weak, then you are strong (2 Corinthians 12:9).”

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me—todo lo puedo en Cristo que me fortalesce—(Philippians 4:13).”

“When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, neither can He tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when by his own evil desire he is dragged away and enticed (James 1:13-14).”

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man.  God is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted beyond that you are able.  With the temptation He will make a way of escape so that you may be able to bare it (1 Corinthians 10:13).”

Contentment!!!

Content is about Content what is inside of you.

If you want to be more content examine, or rather let God examine the content of your life.  The more you yield yourself to God and fill your life with His content, the more content you will be.  If you are discouraged or not content with your life, take your eyes off of yourself and look to Him.

Seriously, isn’t always when our eyes are on ourselves that we are consumed with uncontrollable longings in our hearts for things that only He can fill.

Love is the only way our hearts can be won back.  We are enabled to love because He first loved us.  God needs to be enabled by us to change our lives in order that we may live the way we were meant to live.  All He asks of us in order that He work on us is that we be yielded to and still before Him.

Contentment is the content inside of a life that looks to Jesus for everything.

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do everything through Him who gives me strength (Philippians 4:11-13).”   

It is by no means easy, but by looking to Jesus and letting Him be the strength of your life, you can overcome discouragement and be more content with your life.

Choose to Live God’s Way!!!

Since then you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things (set your minds on things) above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  Choose to live this way in everything you do.  So, how do we do it? How do we set our minds on things above?

1. Don’t be critical in how you act toward others.  Do unto them as you would have them do unto you.

2. Be Discerning.  Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders (or those outside of the faith).

3. Be Dependent on the Heavenly Father. Pray for His direction, His guidance, ask, seek, and knock  and it will be given to you.  God does not not answer prayer.

4. Choose the Narrow Path.  Narrow is the way that leads to life, and few find it.  Help others find it by living a life that is merciful, God-Dependent, and follows Jesus daily.

LORD, it is far too easy for me to keep your good news to myself.  In doing so, I miss opportunities to shine for you.  Help me to live my life with even more integrity.  Make my heart more like yours so that I will more willing seek the things that are above, and strive to see things your way.  I want others to see you through me without question especially in the new adventure you have for me.  I look forward to how you will use me and I thank you that you help me when I am weak.  Thank you for your strength because with it I can do all things.  Thank you that you so rock my world.  I Love you. Amen.

It is Imperative to Follow Christ and Blessings will Follow!!!

“Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD. 

Blessed are they who keep His statutes and seek Him with all their heart.

They do nothing wrong,  they walk in His ways. 

You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.  

How can a young man keep his way pure?  By living according to your Word.

I seek you with all of my heart, do not let me stray from your commands.  

I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you (From Psalm 119).”

So, how do we really live this out? How will we be blessed?  What kind of attitudes should we have?

Allow me to show you what Jesus says in Matthew 5 when He breaks it down in terms we can understand:

He says:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.

These are the attitudes you need to have before you can fully live out what what the Psalmist says in the 119th.

Listening and doing what Jesus clearly lays out not only brings blessing upon blessing, but it is how you can truly be His disciple.  This is what it means to take His yoke upon you, His yoke that is easy and His burden that is light.  He wants all your junk because He loves you.

His style and system of communication never got in the way of His message.  It is crystal clear and essential to the fulfillment of what is written in the Word.  Jesus’ words are what it means to apply gospel truth to real life.  He shows us our desperate need for God in what He says.  It challenges us to take the Word seriously every day that we am alive.  Deep spirituality is between us and God.  He tells us what to do and we do it.  Think about it.  It is that simple.  This is what the Christian life should look like if it is applied and lived out.  This is how you will be blessed according to Psalm 119.

We have been graced for impact and the impact is detailed.  You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, it is time you lived like it.  Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ.  His grace is sufficient and He promises to help us when we are weak.

Your MISSION: Should you choose to accept it…

Go and make disciples (Mark 16:15).  This mission is for everyone, regardless of where you are.  This is our Kingdom appointed assignment using whatever Spiritual gifts you have to do so.

How do you do this most effectively???

This mission starts inwardly as you:

1. Develop strong convictions.  These are standards that you set for yourself in accordance with obedience to His Word because though everything may be permissible, not everything is beneficial.  By developing strong convictions, you will live a life that is wholly devoted to the LORD.  The world needs more of these people.  Will this be you?

2. Determine to be courageous.  You have no reason to be afraid because God is on your side and He will never leave you neither will He forsake you.  Moreover, He holds victory in store for the upright.

3. Draw your confidence from God.  It is not by might, nor by power, but by His Spirit that you can do all things.  He is your confidence who will keep your foot from being snared.  He renews you from within so that your frame is strengthened and you are renewed like the eagle day by day.

4.  Dare to confront the enemy.  Remind Him of His future.   He attacks you the most in areas of strength, when he knows God is going to do something big.  So, be on your guard and do not let Him win.

5.  Do what you can with what you have.  Use the gifts God has given you to fulfill the mission He has set out for us to accomplish on this earth.  It is ultimately to bring more people to Him because it is not His desire that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

This is your mission.  It is clearly stated.  Will you choose to comply and let your light shine?  or Will you be a person who little by little conforms to the world forsaking their individuality and in no way brings people to Him?  The choice is up to you.

DO NOT ever limit God.

DO NOT forsake wisdom, it will protect you.

DO NOT set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men.

DO NOT swerve to the right or the left, keep your foot from evil and your eyes fixed straight ahead.

In order to accomplish this important mission, it must first start upward as you acknowledge Him with all your heart in all things.  When you put Him in His place, you will grow inwardly as you learn more about yourself.  Then, you will be able to reach out more effectively to others.

Remember, this MISSION is only possible with God.  It must be in tact every day of your life, wherever you are.  You are His ambassador created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that you should walk in them.

Good Luck.

He is with you.

Go and Make Disciples.

Come out from among them…

…and be separate.  What exactly does this entail??? You might ask.  For every person who walks this planet, there is an intense craving to understand the world around them, to discover the truth amidst so many lies.  But, that is part of the problem.  So, many people feel that your truth is not my truth.  It surrounds me everyday.  Believe what you want, and I will believe what I want.  It isn’t enough just to be a nice person anymore.  There are so many of them around.  It isn’t enough to say I am a Christian or to say, I’ve got religion.  Do you really or are you really???
I don’t want people to say that I am religious.  I want people to say that I am  Christ-like Christian, one who follows my Jesus, one who denies myself, takes up my cross and truly follows Him as I strive to be like Him.  This is what it means to be separate to be an imitator of Christ.  It is more than religion, for religion is man’s attempt to reach God, while, Christianity, is God’s attempt to reach man.  Call it what you like, but our search ultimately ends whether we chose to follow Jesus in this life.  Did we give Him our all?

This calls for wisdom and discernment as we are reminded of our true citizenship we are not true residents of this earth (Philippians 3:20).  We are sent here from Him and we have a mission to reach out to a lost and dying world, therefore, we must come out from them and be separate as strive to live a life that glorifies Christ and is an example for others.

“And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not (Malachi 3:18).”  

“Come and See” (a summary of this Sunday’s Message)

This is the unique strategy of Jesus’ ministry while He was here on Earth.  He wanted all to choose for themselves whether they would follow Him.  This is the work of the Holy Spirit today.

The Jesus way wedded with the Jesus truth leads us to the Jesus life.  The Jesus life is a life of significance that can only be found in Him.  Jesus does not disappoint, He affirm.  You are known in terms of who you will become because He knows the bigger picture of your life.

Christ’s emptiness is crucial for our fulfillment because He came so that we may have life and have it more abundantly.

The first step is deciding to follow Jesus, the second is to aim first and foremost at loving God.

So, I urge you come and see.

“Taste and See that the Lord is good: blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him (Psalm 34:8).”