Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Come Lord Jesus Come
Is this what you want for my life
Do i just need to learn the great purpose of sacrifice
Do i lay my heart on the lineSo it can be devoured by lions
Do i get nothing in return
So i can see the ultimate discern
Am i the string that holds it together
But feels like it will brake and wont last forever
Do i give up what i crave
And stand here in the pit to be brave
You are the rock that i stand upon during a flood
And you did shed your pure sin free blood
So tell me Lord what is your desire
My heart hurts and burns with love like fire
You paid the price for my lack of faith
I have dreams of you I'm running this race
The world is filled with total disgrace
People will fall while the beast they chase
I don't want this world full of sin
I want to please you and win
Conquer the flesh, let my spirit begin
Oh Lord fill me with all you have
So i can do what's right and make you glad
Show me the way to go on this road
This place we call earth i call home
Let your spirit arise and let my burdens of lack
Be taken away off my back
I want a love i can not have It's you i need very bad
So open my eyes to your heart Lord
And let your will be done with so much glory
Let me end this disrupted story
By: Christina Hancock
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Your The ONE
Your the ONE who set me free
Your the ONE who gives me peace
Your the Almighty GOD without You there's no me
Your the ONE who gave your son
Your the ONE who bore the pain
Your the ONE who would do it all again
Your the bread of life, earths precious device
the Comforter, Healer the Ultimate Sacrifice
The Lamb of GOD and his right hand
who would of knew I am your biggest fan
Your the ONE who poured the land with manna in their hands
Turned a stone to a meal to feed the man
Your the Light of the world, the only begotten
The ONE that for me is so easily forgotten
Your the ONE who's gonna fight for the unright
With the two edged sword on a white horse
Your the ONE winning the war for the poor
When you knock I will open my door
Dine with me LORD JESUS please
Allow my mind to focus and be at ease
Because your the ONE every eye will surely see
So let me live a life that is for you and not for me
Give me your grace and mercy,let me surrender all to thee
You deserve all Praise and Glory forever and ever
Let your will be done, so let it BE!
By: Christina Hancock
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.
Temptation of Jesus
I want to reflect on the following 11 verses from the bible:
(I was always puzzled by these 11 verses)
Mat 4:1 ¶ Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
Mat 4:2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
Mat 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Mat 4:5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
Mat 4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in [their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Mat 4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Mat 4:8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
Mat 4:9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
Mat 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Mat 4:11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
When I read God's word I find myself asking questions like, why would God do that if He is God? If Jesus is God then why would Satan have tempted Him? If Jesus is God then why does Jesus say the Father is greater than I?
Time after time God has revealed answers, that provide the answers, that take away the why to a point I can no longer find a why. This is when you find truth. Truth will bear witness to itself and ultimately divide good and evil like a two edged sword. Let's focus on the temptation of Jesus for now.
If I read these 11 verses before I felt as if the devil had some control over Jesus to a degree before Jesus cast him away. These verses may sound like they are saying that the devil had the power to take Jesus on top of a pinnacle and that the devil had some sort of power or control of Jesus. Please pay attention to the first verse:
Mat 4:1¶Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
This verse puts everything into perspective because the verse is clearly stating that Jesus went to Satan to be tempted. Satan did indeed tempt Jesus so that he could know if in fact it was the real Messiah. Satan tempted Jesus in a way that would prove if Jesus was God on earth. Satan does have power but even his power comes from Jehovah GOD. Satan knew the prophecies from the old testament better than any other man on earth but I don't think he knew what the Son of GOD was going to look like before he was born until he was in fact born and actually manifested himself. Jesus Christ manifested himself to the entire world through his death but Jesus manifested Himself to Satan when Jesus went to the wilderness so that Satan could tempt Him. Satan placed Jesus on a pinnacled only because Jesus allowed him too in order that He could manifest to Satan that He was here and He is claiming what is His because He bought and paid for us in full with His innocent blood that poured on the cross for the sins of the entire world.
Satan never had any power over Jesus and as it also clearly states that Satan left as soon as Jesus said to go. It is also clear that GOD loves us so much that he brings Himself down to our level so that we can have a real understanding of the truth. In short, these verses are saying that Jesus went to Satan and said it is now time for me to take back what is mine because I am GOD and I have all power over you. Because of the questions Satan asked he knows that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and our Lord and Saviour. Satan had to become more real with how short his time is at this point. Satan has one passion and that is to take as much of God's creation with him in eternal death as he can. The more he takes the more God hurts. This is the war behind all wars. Most call this the "Spiritual War".
I will follow up with this posting explaining how God answered my prayers and searching for the following question: Is Jesus GOD? Many times God will give us our answers when we very well least expect it but it is always at the perfect time. Besides, what other way could it be. Today I was praying on my wife. It was while my eyes were closed and I was praying for her silently that at the end of my prayer I saw the answer of why satan would tempt Jesus. For me this just didn't make sense to me before. But now it seems so simple and so clear. Please feel free to post your comments on this subject and praise God that we have this ability at this time to share Jesus Christ with each other. We love your Lord and know that you are worth so much more than we can ever offer because you already provided the ulitmate sacrifice through your power and love forever and ever. AMEN.
Glory to GOD,
Kerry Dale Hancock Jr
messenger in CHRIST
Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Love is Holy, Part 2
by Carletta D. Jemison
Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21
www.bibleplaces.com
God is love.
Love is holy.
Love knows what is appropriate. According to 1 Corinthians 13:5, love "[d]oth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;...."
God's love knows how to operate in the varied circumstances and relationships of life. When His love is operating in us, we will experience that same wisdom in operation.
God's love knows how to flow between the husband and wife who are yielded to His power rather than their own. God is love and God is holy. The love between husband and wife is holy because of the covenant of marriage. God honors godly marriage. He is in it. God's love between the husband and wife yielded to Him bows to the limit of marital exclusivity. They guard their hearts and minds against all breaches or intruders, keeping themselves true to one another before Him.
God's love knows how to flow through parents who are yielded to Him. After all, He is Father God. He knows something about having the highest expectation for a child only to have him make other choices. (Remember Adam and Eve!) In fact, as God's love works in the parents, a lot of what the children are taught is caught through their observations of how the parents interact with each other and with them. Godly parents protect their children and allow them to grow up rather than forcing them out without the proper tools because they want their lives back.
God's love, the same love that grants marital liberty, gives boundaries to the expression of love between unmarried men and women. God is love and God is holy. When, then, the unmarried meet and enjoy Christian fellowship, they do not stumble over or kick against the limits placed on the relationship through God's love, God's lordship over their lives and faith in His wisdom. As a matter of fact, they rejoice and thrive in it.
God's love between friends is rich and true. God's love between friends knows what is appropriate because God is love and God is holy. The holiness of His love inspires them to act with fidelity, unselfishness to provoke to love and good works. All that would be welcome in His holy, loving presence is theirs to appreciate and enjoy. Friends don't let friends run amuck!
God's love is working through yielded teachers and students; employers and employees; church leaders and congregations. He's right there to turn our hearts in a holy and loving direction. When He isn't holding the reins of our lives firmly in His hand, we see yet another sad result. Love helps us sort through the impossible menu of options and still say, "Lord, I choose You."
Love secures the boundaries of acceptability, not by brute strength or human will, but by helping our hearts to acknowledge that He is very present and will aid us in how best to handle those in our lives...who belong to Him.
We loose sight of a sense of appropriateness when He ceases to be our focus. The more we look to others, the world system, political correctness, error-laden splinter groups or the will of the flesh, the more the pendulum of our lives swings to the beggarly elements so ready to enslave us to those things of which we will be eternally ashamed.
His limits provide boundaries along the path that leads to His best. Did not Jesus say, "...I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) Why are the boundaries necessary?
God has a specific thing in mind for His children. He wants our lives to be strewn with blessings, the evidence of His presence.
Psalm 16:11
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
He wants us, like the skilled matador, to side-step the pitfalls of life.
2 Peter 1:4
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
His limits ensure that we reach our wealthy place...that place of the promise fulfilled.
Psalm 66:12
Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.
Perhaps you have listened to other voices concerning what is appropriate. Now, you are unable to look up for shame, despair and heaviness. But "[t]o day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts." (Hebrews 4:7) Do not resist Who He is or what He offers another moment. He is your God and Jesus Christ is His Son who speaks to you today.
Acknowledge today that you have stepped away from Him. Admit that you need Him. Allow His words and eternal Love to wash over your life. He now calls you back to the path of life in Him.
At the Altar:
If you have never acknowledged God, you can do so now and He will receive You. Take His hand, now.
Father, I never realized how much I need Your love, but now I come asking you to be my Savior. Forgive me of every sin I have committed. Teach me Your ways and lead me in Your righteousness. Create in me a clean heart. Now, fill me with Your Holy Spirit and teach me to hear and follow You in all things. Amen
Maybe you have been on the religious scene. You might even be a regular at church, but haven't allowed God's holy love to move you to obedience and commitment. Yield now to the compelling love of God drawing you to Himself.
Lord, I ask that your grace be upon me as I bow in repentance. I have sought to do it mh and teach me Your ways. Thank you for turning my heart fully to follow you in all things. Amen.
Rejoice and take comfort in His words to you:
John 6:37
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
Lord, I ask that your grace be upon me as I bow in repentance. I have sought to do it my way. I have listened to everyone except you. My life is a mess and I'm not going to blame anyone else for it. Remove my tendency to stray from You and take Your place as Lord of my life. Refresh my weary heart with Your Holy Spirit. Lead me into all truth and teach me Your ways. Thank You for turning my heart fully to follow You in all things. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Reading the Psalms!
As you read through the 150 chapters of the Book of Psalms, you'll soon discover that many of the things you feel and experience are shared in the text. If you read 5 chapters each day, you'll read through the entire Book of Psalms in a month.
I can hear you! You're already reading Proverbs! Well, read the Psalms during your lunch break, during the drive to or from work. You might want to start your day with the Psalms.
We thank God for you and believe that He is drawing you to Himself. Remember: There is no substitute for Him.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Love is Holy
Love is Holy
The Bible tells us a few remarkable things about God:
1 John 4:8
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
1 Peter 1:16
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
From these three scriptures, we can begin to see that:
God is love. God is holy. We can say that the love of God is holy, since God is holy. We can also say that God's word is holy, since He Who is holy is the Word.
What does it mean to be holy? A person who is holy is available for the Master's use. God said:
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,…” (2 Corinthians 6:17)
Why does God want His people to be separated unto Him? He wants to use you and me! He uses us to:
Hebrews 10:24
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Matthew 5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
When God’s holy love has free course in your life, He can use the way you live, the way you respond to life’s ups and downs to provoke the hard, unbelieving hearts around you to love. He can use the way you give, so humbly and sweetly, to provoke the self-indulgent people around you to do good works. When the light of God shines in your life, your good works cause others to give God the glory.
What is a good work?
Philippians 2:13
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
A good work is the will of God. As a result of God’s work in us, we do His will and what pleases Him. A good work, then, has its root in God. A good work is not something we do to look good or because of pressure someone else puts on you.
God wants to use you to bring forth good works. If ever we needed good works in the earth, it is now!
I can’t do my will and God’s will at the same time unless I submit my will to Him and learn to delight to do His will. Then we can say with the psalmist, Prophet David:
Psalm 37:4
Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Job 22:26
For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.
Job 27:10
Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God?
Psalm 1:2
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Psalm 40:8
I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
When Job began to be discouraged, he said:
Job 34:9
…It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.
But David shows us that training the spirit to focus on God brings peace.
Psalm 94:19
In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.
God’s love helps us to follow His will rather than our own. The more we pursue our own interests and pleasures, the less satisfaction we find in those things. This same tendency spills out into our relationships. We spend so much time seeking our own will, we expect others to seek our will too! Man was not made to be worshipped. Father, teach us to love one another and worship You.
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
1 Corinthians 13:5-7
[Charity d]oth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Love’s reward comes from the Father.
James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
True faith originates in our love of God rather than the intensity of our pursuit of what we want or see.
Galatians 5:6
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
We love because God first loved us. (Romans 5:8) We love because He, Who is in us, is love. The love He has planted in our hearts can never be depleted. The love we muster up to "tolerate" others is soon depleted. (Thank God!)
Love is not manipulation. Managing and handling every situation apart from the Holy Spirit is a work of the flesh and is the result of fear.
2 Timothy 1:7
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Love is not obligation. Obligation is another poor substitute for love…another work of the flesh. Love is not a compulsion (knee-jerk response). Obligation makes everything a responsibility, a duty, or a requirement. Love comes from God’s nature of giving.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Love does not spring forth from frustration. Frustration can mean irritation or annoyance. Love is not easily provoked to irritability. (1 Corinthians 13:5) On the other hand, frustration can mean prevention, hindrance, blocking or obstruction.
1 Corinthians 13:7-8(a)
[Love b]eareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity never faileth.
Manipulation, obligation and frustration are imposters! We must know the difference. All imposters bring their victims into captivity to sin.
Galatians 4:9
But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
All imposters use three means of bringing us to ruin:
1 John 2:16
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
The Unholy Trio
The lust of the flesh
The lust of the eyes
The pride of life
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
You see, love does not act inappropriately or unseemly. (1 Corinthians 13:5)
Let’s look at love again.
Love is holy.
God is love.
God is the Word.
Did someone offer you lust, calling it love?
Did you “love” that outfit so much that you were willing to do anything to get it?
Is being the boss so important that you have joined forces with those who are opposed to everything you really believe?
Jesus says:
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
The love of God will flow through a meek heart. Jesus will teach us how to be available to Him moment by moment, now just when we feel like it. When we are available to Him, we will avoid the pitfalls that every imposter digs for those who refuse His love. If you are tired of the imposters' love, pray this prayer:
Yes, you can ask God to save you, and He will!
Lord Jesus, come into my life and save my soul from the power of sin. Forgive me of the sins I have committed. Wash me of every stain sin has left. Create in me a clean heart and renew a right and steadfast spirit in me. Teach me Your ways. Lead me and guide me into all truth. Thank you for saving me.
Romans 10:6-9
But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
He will free you from every imposter and reveal the True Love of the Father in and through you.
Father in the Name of Jesus, I am weary with the world's kind of love. Many imposters have hurt me, and now, they taunt my memories with things You never intended for me. I call You Lord over every situation, circumstance and relationship in my life and I believe that the same way You raised Jesus Christ from the dead You will raise me up victorious over the things that have terrorized me. Thank You for the power to turn from every imposter to the True and Living God, through Jesus Christ.
Read the Book of Proverbs each day!
There are 31 chapters in the Book of Proverbs. If you read the chapter that corresponds with each day of the month, you will continually read through Proverbs. Keep a journal of the questions you have. Ask God to answer them. Note the things you learn, too.
Do you have questions or comments? Contact us at:
CarJem@gmail.com
We love hearing from you!
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Jude 1:24-25