It has been several months that I felt the Lord has been speaking to me about faith, faithfulness and forgiveness. Throughout it all I have found myself wanting to write about what He has been showing me regarding having “faith as a grain of a mustard seed” where Jesus tells His disciples, “you might say unto this sycamine tree, ‘Be you plucked up by the root, and planted in the sea,’ and it should obey you.” I have sought various opportunities of late to write so concerning faith and a few other things that I might leave my own children a record of what I feel the Lord has revealed to me pertaining to the promises and conditions of the Kingdom of God of which Jesus testified “every man presses into it.” However, I have felt restrained by His Spirit prior till now that it wasn’t time to write. Why, I am not really sure, the Lord knows though. Perhaps so will I when I am finished.
Posts Tagged ‘victory’
faith, faithfulness and forgiveness
Posted: February 27, 2012 in Shared Thoughts, Wake Up!Tags: Christian, Faith, Forgiveness, grace, Holy, hope, Jesus, justified, Mustard Seed, victory
The Strait Gate
Posted: January 4, 2012 in Shared Thoughts, Uncategorized, Wake Up!Tags: Christ, Christian, Faith, God, grace, Holiness, Jesus, LORD, Narrow Path, Obedience, repent, righteous, salvation, Strait Gate, victory
Jesus taught us that “all things whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you unto them: for this is the law and the prophets.” This is one of the great distinctions from those of other belief systems clarified by Jesus’ teachings on the oracles of God. Many religions out there aggressively preach messages of constraint, i.e., don’t treat people the way you don’t want to be treated. Often such religions and institutes affix to their messages oppressive obligations of repetitious prayer, have vain ceremonies and require their followers to maintain a cultural appearance of (perceived) piety.
Here Jesus takes us immediately into servitude to others, “Do for others what you would want them to do for you.” All those out there who continually harp on the difference between the law and grace, they would do well to pause and consider Jesus words here “for this is the law and the prophets.” Jesus wasn’t throwing away the law and saying, “From now on, this is what we do.” He was actually warning everyone not to get caught up in mere religion, that this is what God has always really required.
In the Old Testament when Balak, king of Moab, consulted with Balaam what he needed to do that he might know the righteousness of the LORD. Being ignorant to the righteousness of God, he asked what was it he had to give. Listen to his question and Balaam’s reply –
Micah 6:6 Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? Should I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? 7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Should I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what the LORD requires of you, do justly and love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.
Sadly, because the churches are no longer teaching from the whole Bible, many people nowadays fail to understand the distinction between the two separate aspects of “The Law,” that part which was fulfilled and done away with, and that part of which not one jot or tittle will pass away until after all is fulfilled. Let’s look at Jesus words –
Wretched Men
Posted: November 4, 2011 in Devotionals, Shared Thoughts, Wake Up!Tags: Christ, godliness, Jesus, judgment, Obedience, Rapture, salvation, sin, trust, victory, Wretched
Sometimes I think people had more fear and reverence for Comet Elenin then they did for God. It seemed so many people sat up and started paying attention to all the noise about the comet, everywhere there sermons available, youtube videos and articles (just like mine) that grabbed the attention of people all across the world. I too was caught by the fury of claims and uncertainty around it. But if we truly believe God’s word, the ultimate certainty, the sure word of prophecy, then why isn’t the Gospel of Jesus Christ having the same effect around the globe? Is it because it has become powerless in so many places? Has it become incapable of living up to its claims? Or have we become powerless and lost our sight of where our faith is to be?
It was really unbelievable the incredible rousing Comet Elenin was having in every corner of the earth. I even had my post about it translated into Korean, German and at least one other language I cannot immediately recall. My initial reaction was extreme disappointment which I thoroughly articulated to my cherished friend Sister Rhonda who shares this blog with me. I sorrowfully shared how there were several other more valuable posts I have written that I felt would truly benefit earnest seekers of Christ, but except for a few readers many of those posts have been completely ignored by the masses. Why so many are caught up about the end of things and yet for the most part neglect that which matters here and now still amazes me today as much as it did when I lived the very same way myself . . . back when I was “a wretched man” myself.
There was a time when I thought I was a Christian, a follower of Christ. But like so many others, I too believed what so many religious teachers out there are teaching as the Christian dilemma, that we will always be somewhat stuck in those things we hate and many times unable to do the right things we want.
Romans 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20) Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21) I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22) For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23) But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24) O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
I was told that sin was in me and evil was always going to present with me and therefore (like Paul himself admitted) I was always going to be sinning and unable to be the person I wanted to in Christ. I just needed to accept that as fact and quit being so hard on myself and accept that was who I was “in Christ” or I would never have any peace. To this day I continually meet believers who teach this and have wholly accepted it as sound doctrinal fact and consequently have absolutely no real motivation to be “perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” That is scary, since without holiness no man shall see God on favorable terms.
Strongholds, False Prophets and Teachers
Posted: June 6, 2011 in Devotionals, End Times, Shared Thoughts, Wake Up!Tags: Christian, End times, Eschatology, Faith, False Prophets, False Teachers, God, Jesus, Obedience, religion, righteous, salvation, Strongholds, trust, victory
I would like to start by sharing a quote by John H. Leith, who compiled a book concerning Christian doctrine from the Bible days to the present entitled “Creeds of the Churches”
“. . . the nature of man is an intelligent being. Just because of intelligence the Christian, of all men, has to learn to discern with agonizing clarity what is conceivable by him about God Himself. What cannot be thought through critically and expressed with reasonable clarity cannot demand the allegiance of man’s whole being. Understanding is necessary for man’s full commitment. Hence faith must be spoken and made intelligible. That is not to say faith must be enclosed within the limits of reason, but it does mean that faith must never require neither the closing of the mind nor the sacrifice of the integrity of the mind.”
This statement is one that has influenced me probably more than any other man’s words of wisdom to always try my best to understand every man’s profession of faith and to share mine as simply and clearly as possible. That is why before I share my thoughts on my next post regarding the Seven Year Tribulation, I would like to state a couple of things for some readers who do not know me.
Prayer-Preaching
Posted: April 21, 2011 in Devotionals, Shared Thoughts, Study!Tags: Christ, Christian, cross, Faith, Obedience, prayer, preaching, Prophecy, repent, salvation, victory
If you have been to many churches, religious gatherings, or have been a Christian for a while now, then I am sure you been exposed to Prayer-Preaching. It is that part of public prayers where the person who is supposed to be praying is actually speaking to everyone else in the room instead of to God. Sometimes people treat prayer like it’s a pulpit in the pocket, any opportunity to pray to them becomes a must take opportunity for them to preach. Now, let me state right off that prayer-preaching isn’t a bad thing . . . but that doesn’t mean it is a good thing always. Sadly, some people just can’t seem to stop themselves from taking public prayer and using it to show others what they know, or pass over a chance to address someone in the room “anonymously.”
I have to admit most of the time when I hear someone prayer-preaching, I feel the sanctity of prayer is being compromise, that it is almost insulting to our Lord. However, sometimes it is the absolute right way to be praying . . . which is why I want to look at some of those last words of our Lord on His Cross.
Matthew 27:46 – And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken Me?
There have been so many conclusions put forth as what Jesus was saying here. Some say that the Father literally turned away and abandoned Jesus on the cross and therefore Jesus cried out in forsaken agony. The reasoning goes that the Father couldn’t look upon Jesus with all the sins of the world placed upon Him.
It’s Easter again, what exactly happened at the tomb?
Posted: April 2, 2011 in Shared Thoughts, Study!Tags: Christian, Easter, Faith, gardener, God, grace, hope, Jesus, justified, love, Resurrection, Sabbath, salvation, Sunday, Tomb, victory
Trips to the Tomb
I have posted this before, but since it is Easter this coming Sunday I figured it would be a good repost for those who may have missed it. I hope it blesses you.
For centuries there has been much confusion when people try to reason the different accounts of Jesus’ resurrection as recorded by the apostles. The fact that they all seem to have a different story to tell does not help. Perhaps, a good way to consider their seemingly different reports is to view them like transparent overlays, similar to the one’s we have seen in books showing the skeleton, then the nerves and blood vessels, organs, muscular and finally the skin and hair.
The Gospels, similarly, are each reporting different events which had taken place around a major singular occurrence, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The fact is that these different events are recorded in God’s word and are therefore true. Perhaps the answer to the confusion is to consider that there were multiple trips made to the tomb.
The best way to determine the possible order of these trips to the tomb is to consider the different details that have been given about the time of day and light of the sun. Was the sun going down or coming up? These questions are actually quite easy to answer. However, we must remember that the Sabbath, like all the other biblical days, began and ended with sundown, see Gen. 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31 and Lev. 23:32.
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
Posted: March 15, 2011 in Deity of Jesus Christ, Devotionals, Study!Tags: belief, bible study, church, Faith, God, godliness, heaven, Holiness, Holy, I Corinthians, Obedience, religion, repent, righteous, salvation, trust, victory
I Corinthians 15:20-28
Here is a passage of scripture which many people quickly read through and think they “got it,” but never really slow down and take time to verify what they think is “obvious,” concerning what Paul was saying here. The very succinct nature of the passage alone demands further investigation into the depths of Paul’s meaning and intent. Simply consider how Paul takes us all the way from Christ rising from the dead and being the “firstfruit of them that slept,” then covers the redemptive plan of God from the consequences of Adam’s sin which brought death upon all men, to the very conclusion of God’s plan for all things – when God will be “all in all.” That’s a whole lot to cover in just nine verses.
I Corinthians 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
Most believers fail to stop and marvel how so much theology has been so efficiently congested into just nine short verses. For most simply read straight through them thinking “OK, yep, I got it. seems perfectly clear to me.” However, with such a vast expanse of time and information being addressed, it appears obvious to me that Paul was merely doing a quick connection and summarization of several key tenets of the Christian faith; points which he obviously expounded upon when he was there in person teaching the Corinthians, reasoning with them Old Testament scriptures in greater depth, and only makes allusion to here.
Therefore it would be prudent of us to humbly ask God’s Spirit for enlightenment that today we too may grasp the magnificent gravity of these words by trying to expand them and gaze into the depth and riches of God’s plan and promises for His people. My hope is for this post to be an encouragement to the readers to invest time to carefully look at each verse and search with me the scriptures Paul had, whereby he would have proved to them their current understanding this passage and his other teachings/epistles as well. (more…)
Where two or three are gathered together in My name . . .
Posted: March 10, 2011 in Devotionals, Shared ThoughtsTags: Faith, Fogiveness, God, Holiness, hope, humble, Jesus, judgment, justified, love, prayer, repent, victory
Matthew 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
A brother and I were praying for another when he quoted parts of these verses in his prayer. It got me to thinking about how these two verses are possibly the ones I hear taken out of context most when praying with others. Each verse seems to have their own catch phrases that tend to be quoted by young or untrained believers. Even believers who appear mature and seasoned are still only repeating without evaluating what they’ve heard from some preacher, trying to “claim” the promises of God. However, I need to ask, is that really Jesus’ intent here? Was He merely trying to teach us the formula of what and how things need to be done so we can then successfully claim His promises and get our prayers answered?
So, wen I hear people misused verse 19, it is actually quite troublesome to me, because they really believe that by getting me or another to stand in agreement with them that they’re more likely to have their prayer answered. This flawed understanding literally keeps these believers in a position of trying to perfect the way they do things so they can have faith for their prayers… rather than simply praying because of faith.
Sadly, I am absolutely certain there are many Christians out there who cannot even understand what I just said. Because they been taught things incorrectly, they are left believing “faith” is something they must somehow muster up to compel God to move on their behalf, or even to hear their prayers.
Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.
Posted: March 8, 2011 in Devotionals, Shared Thoughts, Uncategorized, Wake Up!Tags: Christ, encouragement, Faith, God, godliness, grace, Holiness, Holy, Jesus, LORD, repent, righteous, salvation, sex, victory
The other night I was busy working on some studies and took a break to check a few other things, email, read the latest news online and then decided to dropped by my Facebook page real quick. I really don’t use it too much; it is more of just a way to stay in casual touch with a few friends and my sons . . . and also to shamelessly promote Gates of the City. While I was there I saw that one of my friends I met via my sons had a post that looked like a typical nonsensical YouTube link.
Now, I love this young friend and speak frequently with them, sometimes with private messages over personal things trying to encourage them. I am thankful the Lord has placed quite a fondness in my heart for this individual and therefore I usually pay attention to their status and posts. But this time the post seemed a bit odd for them, the title actually seemed to indicate mischief on the part of whoever made the link. However, since this was my young friend, I figured I would click it to see why they posted it. All it did was change the page a bit as the picture of the link got a little bigger as YouTube links normally do, but that was it. Apparently it wasn’t a video, or if it was it certainly didn’t work. So I just clicked back, read down my FB page real quick and went back to working on other stuff.
Within minutes of going back to work I get a YIM from my friend Rhonda who shares this blog with telling me I may have a virus on my FB page. Naturally I am a bit surprise and ask her what she means, to which she asks me if I clicked “like” on a link called such and such. Now, upon re-reading the title with it removed from my other friend’s name next to it, it now appears a great deal more mischievous than before, provoking an embarrassment as now on my FB page it reads that “William Males ‘likes’ this link.” I asked Rhonda why people create these things, what is the purpose, what are they gaining? She simply said something about it’s a type of cyber graffiti, just getting their handiwork across the web on as many “walls” as possible, because there is some sort of a ping back where they keep score I guess. I am so thankful God has given me such higher goals to press forward to.
However, being computer savvy enough to create a good impression of being capable, yet still ignorant to all the aspects web life and warfare, I asked how to eliminate this distasteful thing from my wall and name since it doesn’t respond to my feeble efforts to delete it. Rhonda patiently explained the process where I had to change the password in order to delete it. Well, it’s gone, but the whole experience really troubled me on a few levels.
Dwelling in the Secret Place
Posted: February 27, 2011 in Coffee House, Devotionals, Prophecy, Shared Thoughts, Uncategorized, Wake Up!Tags: Bride, Christ, Christian, cross, encouragement, End times, Faith, God, godliness, grace, judgment, Obedience, Prophecy, religion, repent, righteous, salvation, victory
So often as believers we are content to dwell in the world with our belief system, thinking that it is sufficient. We know our scriptures, go to our church, busy ourselves with other things that we truly believe to benign, indulging in leisures and entertainments . . . all while the time we need to purchase necessary oil for our lamps and eye salve for true godly vision is quickly slipping away.
We must be found to be in Christ, not just a church. We must have true works of faith which bear witness to our love for God. We need to be godly, not just good. We must be holy as He is holy and not merely moral, for if we are not in Him then all our “good works” are worthless, reprobate, and actually witness against us because we knew the truth and did not truly live in Him.
Re 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Live for the King
Today, God is in our midst.
Posted: February 7, 2011 in Coffee House, Devotionals, Shared Thoughts, Wake Up!Tags: control, cross, God, Holiness, Holy, Jesus, lives, salvation, save, sin, trust, victory
If God can’t deliver you today, it isn’t because He isn’t able. It is because you aren’t willing to let Him be God. Today is the day of salvation and as long as it is called “today,” Jesus Christ is able to save the utmost those who surrender and entrust the absolute control of their lives into His hands.
Coming to Christ and Baptism
Posted: January 10, 2011 in UncategorizedTags: Baptism, Christ, Christian, cross, Faith, God, godliness, grace, Holiness, Holy, hope, Jesus, justified, LORD, love, Obedience, salvation, trust, victory
Since the fall of men it has been debated to the point of bloodshed what God requires of men to be found pleasing to Him. Some like Adam’s son Abel were not hesitant to offer the first born of his flock, as well as the fattest to the Lord as an offering, while Cain brought forth of his bounty from the earth as an offering. Yet it is clear from the scriptures that Abel’s offering was considered by God to be “a more excellent sacrifice than Cain.” God’s words to Cain regarding his offering was rather simple, “Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shall you not be accepted? and if you do not well, sin lieth at the door.”
Le 2:1 And when any will offer a meat [grain] offering unto the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour; and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon: 2 And he shall bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests: and he shall take there out his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, to be an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour [aroma] unto the LORD.
Now many have reasoned that the displeasure God had with Cain’s offering was that it was a bloodless offering, yet scriptures tell us that God accepted such offerings. So it is clear here that the problem was not in that which was offered . . . rather the trouble was with the one making the offering. Today however, God is not asking for us to make these types of sacrifices, He is however still looking for that which Cain obviously lack in his offering to God and that for which “the Lord respected Abel and his offering.” But on this I will touch briefly a bit later.
Since the crucifixion of Christ when a sinner yields to the Holy Spirit’s conviction that their sins have caused them to fall short of God’s righteousness in their life, that simple acceptance of God’s judgment against them is sufficient to bring them to the point where true reconciliation with the Redeemer can begin through repentance. But this is only a starting place, the beginning of a new life, a new birth where they can continue on to grow in wisdom and stature before God.
Hallowed Be Thy Name
Posted: January 9, 2011 in UncategorizedTags: God, Hallowed, Holiness, Holy, Jesus, justified, LORD, love, Name, Obedience, praise, prayer, religion, repent, salvation, save, Thy, trust, victory
Hallowed Be Thy Name
This was a message God laid on my heart concerning the deity of Jesus the Christ, the Lord’s Prayer and its exhortation for us to petition that God’s name to be hallowed, revered and feared in this fallen world. God’s people need to recognize the necessity to daily seek first His kingdom and righteousness while the long-suffering of God’s waits as with one hand he holds His love and mercy while with the other hand holding back His coming wrath and judgment on a wicked world.
Judging righteous judgment
Posted: January 3, 2011 in Devotionals, Shared Thoughts, Study!Tags: Christ, church, Faith, grace, Holiness, Holy, hope, judge, judging, judgment, love, repent, righteous, salvation, save, trust, victory
This is a small study I put together on Judging and the need for the addressment of sin in the church.
Because the Word of God states, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation,” it is of fundamental importance to endeavor to interpret the scriptures in their context, i.e., to whom where they written, what subject matter do they address and their time and place, etc., etc.
Since we are going to be dealing with the second letter to the Corinthians, and the third chapter in particular, it is prudent to examine the previous chapter in which Paul does make these comments, “I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all . . . Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.”
It is evident that Paul wrote something to them which he now refers them back to, and what was presented to them was done so in order that he “might know the proof of” them, whether they would be obedient or not. Is this obedience unto him? Or unto the precepts of God’s word? That of course which was first written is I Corinthians, in which Paul dealt with an issue of sin being committed by the same one Paul is now encouraging them to “forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.”
Do you love me more than these?
Posted: December 27, 2010 in Devotionals, Shared Thoughts, Uncategorized, Wake Up!Tags: Christ, Christian, cross, divine, Do you love me, Faith, God, grace, Holy, hope, Jesus, LORD, love, Peter, religion, repent, salvation, trust, victory
“Do you love me more than these,” Jesus asked of Peter who not too long before boldly stated “Though all men forsake Thee, I will not.”
Here Jesus was administering some much needed comfort and healing to Peter because of his earlier three denials with three opportunities to confirm his love. Yet Jesus clearly takes Peter further and instructs Peter in how He wants Peter to love Him; 1. Feed my Sheep and 2. Follow me. What blessings of the Lord that He instructs us how to pray, love, serve and worship Him.
Certainly nobody could deny Peter’s love for Christ in view of the fact that he had been willing to lay down his life for Jesus who tells us there is no greater love than that . . . however, love needs to be . . . no, actually, love must be to the honoring of its proclaimed point of affection. Godly love doesn’t merely seek its own expression; rather it pursues the gratification of the other.
Gates of the City 