CHRISTmas

The reason we give gifts is simply in response to the gift God gave to us! Isaiah 9:6-7 says His name is Wonderful. When I think about what makes Him Wonderful, I first begin to reflect on the fact the SON OF GOD became the Son of Man in order to make us Sons of God. What a powerful reality! Here are some revelatory thoughts about Jesus, the greatest gift ever given to mankind. As the Son of Man - He hungered for bread. As the Son of God - He blessed & multiplied it. As the Son of Man - He slept & grew tired. As the Son of God - He calmed the waves & the wind on the sea. As the Son of Man - He wept. As the Son of God - He will wipe away your tears. As the Son of Man - He walked in the flesh. As the Son of God - He was born of a virgin. As the Son of Man - He hung on the cross. As the Son of God - He rose from the dead. As the Son of Man - He was a friend to sinners. As the Son of God - He is Savior to sinners. As the Son of Man - He is Wonderful. As the Son of God - He is Wonderful.

Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits. There is a lot of wisdom in this statement and it's very true. Work didn't come as a result of the fall of man and it's certainly not a cruse on humanity. Proverbs 15:19 says:The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain. As a matter of fact the apostle Paul said in Romans 12:10-11 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord. Everyday we should be about the Fathers business! Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits. We are stewards of God's resources, therefore everything I'm involved with entails His resources, which makes it His business.

Kingdom Commonwealth

Kingdom Commonwealth is something that is vastly misunderstood or something most individuals have no concept of at all. The Apostle Paul stated in Ephesians 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world When you accepted Christ as your Savior you became a citizen in God's Kingdom (Eph. 2:19, Colossians 1:13) and thus you were made a part of the commonwealth. First things first; one must understand that in a Kingdom the King is Lord. This means, the King owns everything. There is no such thing as private ownership in a Kingdom. Everything belongs to the King and his citizens have the responsibility to manage his resources. The Kings resources have been entrusted to the individual. The individual owns nothing, but because he is a part of the Kingdom and the Kingdom is a commonwealth, this means every citizen has access to everything and anything he/she may need. Praise God for this wonderful revelation on citizenship and commonwealth! Romans 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? All things we need because we are citizens of a commonwealth called the Kingdom of Heaven!

Faith to Faith

Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. Focusing on the words faith and by in this 17th verse: Faith (pistis) is defined as information or revelation received from God that we must act upon. Using this definition of faith in the verse it would read: The just shall live by the information they receive from God and they must act upon it. by (ek) - is the greek preposition which means "out of" it is used in the ablative case which implies - origin or source of something. Now let's use the definition of both words in our verse: The just shall live by (ek = out of) faith (pistis - the information they receive from their source) We who are justified live out of the revelation we receive from our Source who is God!

Profession

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised. The word: Profession - Homologeo is a Combination of two Greek words: 1. Homo - Same 2. Logeo - To Say. Combine these two words and you get: "Say the Same Thing" First and foremost we are to be in agreement with what the Lord say's over our situation. The words of our mouth are acceptable in His sight when they are mirror the Words of Life.

God's Word Our Foundation

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith – Pistis: is information we receive from God. Acting on that information becomes belief. “Now the information that we received from God for us to act upon is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” Substance – Hupostasis Combination of two Greek words: The First word is the Greek Preposition: “Under” The Second Greek word means to: “Stand” Now let's incorporate these definitions into Hebrew 11:1 with our new understanding of Pistis: “Now the information that we receive from God that we are to act upon stands under, as a foundation, the things we hope for and this foundation becomes our evidence for things we cannot see yet with our physical eyes... Let me sum this up: Revelation we receive and act upon becomes our foundation. This foundation assures us of things we cannot see yet we are believing for. When your feet are standing on the foundation you will be convinced of the reality of the promise.

Recompense

Recompense is a result of Justice and proceeds from God's vengeance. As a matter fact when God avenges His elect, He is bringing justice and when justice comes, it will always be accompanied by recompense. For example, Abimelech in Genesis 20 took Abraham's wife, Sarah. God told him, he was a dead man if he didn't return Sarah. When Abimelech concurred his life wasn't worth Abraham's wife he returned Sarah. What's amazing in this story is Abimelech gave Abraham: cattle, sheep, men-servants and women-servants for his trouble. What's even more amazing is the fact Abraham blessed the very man who took his wife! The greatest lesson in this account is not the recompense, but the fact that God will bring recompense to the pure in heart! There is more to come on this subject.

This

This is the day This is the time This is the hour This is the season This is moment This is your opportunity This is our destiny This is God's plan This is the church This is your church This is the city This is your city This is the transformation God was looking for This is: KINGDOM Mentality THIS IS OCOG!

Devotion

There is only one true devotion but many that are false and empty. Some men are devout in prayer, maybe even reciting a vast number of prayers daily, but after saying them they utter the most disagreeable, arrogant, hurtful words at home or against their neighbors. Another gladly gives a homeless man the coins from his coat pocket, but he cannot extract mercy from his heart to forgive his enemies. True devotion is evident from a man/woman who when cut by others or circumstances bleed Jesus. Psalm 37:21 says: "The righteous show mercy." Mercy is the Christian way of honoring God. Proverbs 14:31 states: "He that honors the Lord shows mercy..." So one can see that true devotion is more than a mere religious act, such as reading scripture or reciting prayers. Its a life that mirrors the heart of God. The world has distorted holy devotion much like those who tried to discourage the Israelites from going into the Promised Land by saying it was a country that "devoured its inhabitants." What a distorted view! We can look back and see clearly that wasn't the case for God's people. They were living under the blessing of the Lord. Joshua and Caleb's words were expressive of men who were truly devoted to God and his plan. They said the land was good, beautiful, and its possessions would be sweet and agreeable. The contrast is clear. Jesus said it best: "by their fruits you shall know them." James 3:10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Especially for those who are seeking to live a life of True Devotion.

Affection

God, in his word, greatly insist that we be in good earnest, fervent in spirit, and that our hearts be engaged vigorously in our religion. Romans 12:11 "Be not slothful in business; fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." Even in the Old Testament the children of Israel were given the same command, see Deut. 10:12. This fervent, vigorous engagement of the heart is the fruit of real circumcision of the heart that alone has the promise of life! See Deut. 30:6. If we are not earnest in our religion, and if our wills and inclinations are not strongly exercised, we are nothing. The reality is simply this: You are only earnest and fervent for what your affectionate about. Think of it this way, affection we call covetousness moves people to seek worldly goods. The affection we call ambition moves people to seek worldly glory. The list could go on and on.... Now on the contrary, affection for God moves people towards holiness! We pursue our affections and without affection there would be no movement in the world. Affection is the very thing that sets us moving in our lives and causes us to engage in activities. Your activities are a true reflection of what your affectionate about! Nothing is more apparent than this: our religion takes root within us only as deep as our affections attract it!

The God-like

In Genesis 1:26 we read where God made man in his own image, male and female created he them. The key word is image! When you look in the mirror whose image do you see? I hope you see your own. If you see someone else beside yourself, stop reading and drive straight to the hospital and ask to see someone on the sixth floor. When you look in the mirror you see your image. When the Lord peers down from glory and looks at you, guess who's image he beholds? His own! If we can see ourselves as He does we will give no place to the devil. When we forget what manner of man we are we find ourselves in a place of trouble. 2 Peter 1:5-8 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Miracles VS Intimacy

Exodus 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These [are] the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

God's original plan was for the nation of Israel to serve as a Kingdom of Priests unto Him. Priest are those who represent people to God and minister to the Lord on the behalf of people. Prophets on the other hand, go to the people on behalf of God thus the roles of the two are clearly defined. However, despite of God's desire for the entire nation to serve him as a Kingdom of Priest the children of Israel placed boundaries on their relationship with the Lord. Unwilling to come apart and meet with the Lord the children of Israel demanded that a mediator go on their behalf. This mediator was Moses.

Moses desired intimacy with God and enquired of the Lord in Exodus 33:13 Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee...

The children of Israel lived in a miracle culture. Think about it, fiery pillar by night & cloud by day, manna from heaven, & shoes that never wore out for 40 years.

Psalm 103:7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

The children of Israel only knew His acts and His acts were not enough to keep them. The point is simply this: living in a miracle culture is not enough to keep people in obedience. Those who walk in obedience are those who desire to know His ways and seek intimacy with God.

ONE MAN

One man changed the culture everywhere he went for nearly 3 1/2 years. It really didn't matter if he was in a boat on the Sea of Galilee or on a mountain side with a couple thousand hungry people. From speaking peace to storms to multiplying fishes and loaves, Jesus brought the culture of the Kingdom with him everywhere He went!

While seeking rest within the home of Peter in Capernaum Jesus encountered Peter's mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. I would say the atmosphere within Peter's house changed quickly once Jesus brought the culture of heaven to Peter's home. I would say the atmosphere in Bethany changed as well when Jesus brought life to Lazarus's dead body after it had laid in a tomb for four days, again enforcing the culture of His Kingdom!

Here's my point, men pressed into the Kingdom (saved, born again, redeemed) where the culture of heaven was being manifested. I truly believe soul winning will come with little or no effort where the culture of the Kingdom is being manifested. If it worked for Jesus it will work for us today. Take some time and consider the culture of heaven. What is it like? Is there love, grace, mercy, forgiveness? Is there limits, doubt, unbelief, or unforgiveness?

As we begin to manifest the culture of the Kingdom of Heaven in our daily lives, I truly believe we will see the harvest press into the Kingdom!

LUKE 16:16 The law and prophets were until John, since that time the Kingdom of God is preached and every man presses into it!

Cain

It is very interesting to note the circumstance of events that happened proceeding Adam's decision to declare independence from Heaven in Genesis chapter 3. Upon Adam's decision to declare independence from Heaven, the first significant account recorded in Scripture was a confirmation of the chaos that was now permeating the earth through its new governor, Satan.

Genesis 4:8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

Today we still see his dark ways at work not only through physical murder but through spiritual murder as well. Think about it. Every time we speak evil of another person, believer or non-beliver, we are guilty of exemplifying the kingdom of darkness. Children of Light do not murder with their lips.

The most amazing piece surrounding Cain's action to me, was he targeted his brother! Such an action would be incomprehensible towards a neighbor let alone a brother. The point is not to bash Cain but to learn the lesson being emphasized here. The lesson is the first major event of one human to another, now under the control of the Kingdom of Darkness, was murder.

Lord, let our words and actions exemplify the Kingdom of Heaven! May we learn from the things that were written afore time for our learning and may each of us declare to every Cain: there is forgiveness with Christ! There is mercy with God for the repentant! May every professing believer of Christ exemplify the life of Christ in word and in deed. And finally Father take every Cain and convert them as you did the apostle Paul and others for your glory and use them to advance your kingdom.

Cups to Crowns

Matthew 26:39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

If Jesus was served a cup before he could attain a crown, who are we kidding if we think we will live our life and be allowed to bypass cups of difficulty? Life can and will throw hard times at each of us but one thing will always remain true throughout, and that is God will use good times, hard times, victories and failures to perfect us. His goal is to make us Christ-like and to conform us into His image. It is during these times of difficulty we think to ourselves: God where are you? Don't ever lose sight of this, He knows where you are and behind every cup lies a crown. Listen to how John describes what he observed about Jesus:

Revelation 19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns

Praise the Lord! Keep the faith my friend and look to Jesus our example and learn from Him. Behind every cup lays a crown!

It Takes Time

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

The fruit of the Spirit is the character of Christ manifested through the believers life. It is up to each of us to cultivate the character of the King in our hearts, for it is out of the heart the issues of life proceed. No doubt there is a very deep meaning hid in the analogy of the character of Christ the Spirit seeks to bring forth in our lives. Paul refers to this as the "fruit of the Spirit." So here is a thought that I hope will bring comfort to your hearts and reassure each of us that God will perfect that which concerns us!

Fruit is never developed over night, its developed over a process of time!