THE TEST OF OBEDIENCE

IT'S HARD TO BE OBEDIENT TO OUR LORD WHEN WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON , OR WHEN WE ARE TOO ANXIOUS ABOUT THE POSSIBLE OUTCOME ISN'T IT ?.................... BUT THE TRUE TEST OF OUR FAITH COMES AROUND JUST AT THESE PRECISE MOMENTS ............ FOLLOWING THE LORDS COMMANDS REVEALS TO US THAT WE TRUST IN HIS DECISIONS FOR OUR LIVES NOT ONLY IN THE BIG AREAS OF CONCERN BUT IN THE LITTLE AREAS AS WELL ..............HIS WORD REMINDS US THAT OBEDIENCE DOES NOT COME EASY BUT WILL CREATE EASE IN OUR SOUL ............ WHEN WE EXAMINE THE SCRIPTURES GOD REVEALS THAT OUR SAVIOUR WAS 100 % MAN AND 100 % GOD ......... JESUS WAS NOT HALF MAN AND HALF GOD HE WAS 100% OF BOTH ...... CONFUSING AS IT MAY BE IT ALSO UNRAVELS ANOTHER MYSTERY ABOUT US AS HUMANS : WE CANNOT BE OBEDIENT WITHOUT DEPENDENCY ON CHRIST ...... THE OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES TELL US , "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding ; in all your ways acknowledge HIM , and HE will make straight your paths . " PROVERBS 3:5-6 .........WHEN WE LOOK AT THE NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES , THE TOPIC OF BEING OBEDIENT TO GOD IS REVEALED TO US AS WE LOOK AT HOW JESUS WAS OBEDIENT TO HIS FATHER IN HEAVEN , "If you obey MY commands , you will remain in MY love ,just as I have obeyed MY FATHER'S commands and remain in HIS love . I have told you this so that MY joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete . " JOHN 15 :10-11........... WE MAY NOT UNDERSTAND OR EVEN BE AWARE THAT WHEN WE ARE OBEDIENT TO GOD IT WILL CREATE A JOY THAT IS COMPLETE !! ...............IT'S REVELING TO SEE THAT JESUS WAS OBEDIENT TO THE POINT OF HIS OWN DEATH , BECAUSE OF THE RELATIONSHIP HE HAD WITH HIS FATHER ........... JESUS NOT ONLY DID HIS FATHERS WILL WHEN IT WAS EASY TO DO , BUT ALSO WHEN IT WAS VERY UNPOPULAR , DIFFICULT AND EVEN UNBEARABLE ......THIS WILLING SUBMISSION BECAME A GIFT OF LOVE GIVEN TO GOD THE FATHER............JESUS KNEW THAT THE TIME WOULD COME WHEN HIS OBEDIENCE WOULD AFFORD HIM THE TIME HE WOULD SPEND WITH HIS FATHER ONCE HE COMPLETED HIS WORK ON EARTH ,"Later , knowing that all was now completed , and so the SCRIPTURE would be fulfilled , JESUS said , ''I am thirsty . '' A jar of wine vinegar was there , so they soaked a sponge in it , put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant , and lifted it to JESUS' lips. When HE had received the drink , JESUS said , "It is finished . " With that , HE bowed HIS head and gave up HIS spirit . " JOHN 19: 28-30.............. GOD WANTS US KNOW THAT WE TOO CAN AND SHOULD BE OBEDIENT TO HIM EVEN WHEN DOING WHAT HE SAYS IS DIFFICULT OR STRANGE , " This is love for GOD : to obey HIS commands . And HIS commands are not burdensome , for everyone born of GOD overcomes the world . This is victory that has overcome the world , even our faith . Who is it that overcomes the world ? Only he who believes that JESUS is the SON of GOD . " 1JOHN 5:3- 5.........THE TRUE TEST OF OUR OBEDIENCE TO GOD IS : WILL WE LISTEN ?.......................................................................SUMMER

ARE YOU ALIEN ENOUGH ?

HAVE YOU EVER KNOWN THE FEELING OF BEING ALL ALONE ? SOMETIMES WE CAN BE IN A ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE AND FEEL THIS WAY ........................... AT TIMES THIS FEELING COMES OVER US WHEN WE REALLY THINK OF HOW TRUTHFUL JESUS' WORDS ARE . "Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves , you are slaves to the one whom you obey -whether you are slaves to sin , which leads to death , or to obedience , which leads to righteousness ? " ROMANS 6:16......................STILL YET AT OTHER TIMES WE CAN FEEL QUITE LONELY IF THE ONE WE LOVE DOESN'T LOVE US BACK OR IF WE HAPPEN TO HAVE A NON BELIEVING SPOUSE ................... TO THE CONTRARY , HAVING EXPERIENCED THIS FEELING AT DIFFERENT TIMES DURING OUR LIVES, STILL DOESN'T GUARANTEE THAT WE WILL BE EMPATHETIC AND COMPASSIONATE TO THOSE AROUND US WHO ARE GOING THROUGH THIS...............THE FEELING OF BEING ALONE HAS TWO CONTRASTS .........................THE FIRST BEING THAT INNER SPIRITUAL & EMOTIONAL EMPTINESS THAT CAN ACCOMPANY US WHEN WE DO NOT HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD JESUS .......... THIS TYPE OF LONELINESS OCCURS WHEN THE DRAW OF THE SECULAR WORLD PULLS US DEEPER AND DEEPER INTO THE ABYSS OF MATERIALISM ............IT'S AN ALL CONSUMING OBSESSION THAT CONTINUES TO EAT AWAY AT US , WHILE WE TRY TO SATISFY OUR SPIRIT WITH BOUTS OF TEMPORARY HAPPINESS , YET NOTHING IS EVER ENOUGH. " Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth , where moth and rust destroy , and where thieves break in and steal . But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven , where moth and rust do not destroy , and where thieves do not break in and steal . For where your treasure is , there your heart will be also. " MATTHEW 6:19-20 " No one can serve two masters . Either he will hate the one and love the other , or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both GOD and Money ." MATTHEW 6: 24 ............. PREOCCUPATION WITH SUCCESS WILL ALSO CAUSE US TO FEEL QUITE CONFIDANT AND SURE AT FIRST ONLY TO LEAVE US DROWNING IN OUR SORROWS AS WE LOSE TOUCH WITH GOOD INTENTIONS AND OUR LOVED ONES . " But many who are first will be last , and the last first . " MARK 10:31...................THE SECOND CONTRAST OF BEING ALONE COMES ALONG ONCE WE HAVE REPENTED OF OUR SIN AND ACCEPTED JESUS CHRIST INTO OUR HEARTS............. BELIEVING IN CHRIST AND BEING OBEDIENT TO HIM MEANS THAT WE WILL HAVE DIFFERENT MOTIVES AND GOALS THAN THE PEOPLE AROUND US .............. WE WILL LOOK AND ACT DIFFERENT THAN THE WORLD WHICH CAN OFTEN LEAD TO LONELINESS ( which may in turn lead us to sinful behaviors ) ESPECIALLY WHEN WE DO NOT PARTAKE IN GENUINE FELLOWSHIP WITH BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE LORD ...........WHEN WE SEE SOMEONE IN NEED OF A " LIFTING UP '' IT IS OUR DUTY TO ENCOURAGE THEM . "See to it brothers , that none of you has a sinful , unbelieving heart that turns away from the living GOD. But encourage one another daily , as long as it is called Today , so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in CHRIST if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first . "HEBREWS 3:12-14...........BEING CHRISTIANS PUTS US AT ODDS WITH THE WORLD , WE ARE ALIENS ." Dear friends , I urge you , as aliens and strangers in the world , to abstain from sinful desires , which wage war against your soul . Live such good lives among the pagans that , though they may accuse you of doing wrong , they may see your good deeds and glorify GOD on the day HE visits us . " 1PETER 2:11-12 ...................AS A CHRISTIAN WE ARE CALLED TO A HIGHER STANDARD ...................THE QUESTION IS ARE WE ALIEN ENOUGH TO GLORIFY THE GOD WHO HAS CALLED US ?.............................................................SUMMER

THE EMPTY TOMB

TODAY IS A JOYOUS DAY . WE SEE BEAUTY AROUND US AND EVERYTHING COMING UP NEW AS SPRING UNFOLDS BUT MORE THAN THAT WE CELEBRATE A VICTORY OVER THE FACE OF DEATH ......... '' The angel said to the woman , ' Do not be afraid , for I know that you are looking for JESUS , who was crucified . HE is not here ; HE has risen , just as HE said. Come and see the place where HE lay . Then go quickly and tell all HIS disciples : ' HE has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you in Galilee . There you will see HIM .' Now I have told you ." MATTHEW 28:5-7 ............. WE DO NOT HAVE TO GRIEVE ANY MORE ............ THE TOMB IS EMPTY !! .......... JESUS CHRIST IS ALIVE ..........WE SERVE A LIVING GOD .............JESUS CHRIST HAS SUPREME AUTHORITY AS WE READ IN THE SCRIPTURES........... " Then JESUS came to them and said , ' All authority has been given to me . Therefore go and make disciples of all nations , baptizing them in the name of the FATHER and of the SON and of the HOLY SPIRIT , and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you . And surely I am with you always , to the very end of the age.' " MATTHEW 28: 18- 20 .........................HAPPY RESURRECTION SUNDAY !!..........................................SUMMER

BREAKING BREAD .....

AS WE APPROACH THE HOUR WHEN OUR LORD GAVE HIS LIFE SO THAT WE MAY LIVE ETERNALLY WITH HIM IN HEAVEN , I REFLECT ON WHAT IT REALLY MEANS TO HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST....... JOHN 13:1-9 STATES, " It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for HIM to leave the world and go to the FATHER. Having loved HIS own who were in the world , HE now showed them the full extent of HIS love. The evening meal was being served , and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot , son of Simon , to betray JESUS. JESUS knew that the FATHER had put all things under HIS power , and that HE had come from GOD and was returning to GOD ; so HE got up from the meal , took off HIS outer clothing , and wrapped a towel around HIS waist. After that , HE poured water into a basin and began to wash HIS disciples' feet , drying them with a towel that was wrapped around HIM. HE came to Simon Peter , who said to HIM , '' LORD , are you going to wash my feet ? " JESUS replied , " You do not realize now what I am doing , but later you will understand . " '' No" , said Peter , " YOU shall never wash my feet ." JESUS answered , " Unless I wash you , you have no part with me . " WHEN WE LOOK CLOSELY AT WHAT OUR LORD DID FOR US , IT IS CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT JESUS CAME TO SERVE AND NOT BE SERVED . THIS VERY MATTER STRIKES AT OUR HEARTS . ARE WE WILLING TO SERVE THOSE AROUND US AS JESUS DID , OR ARE WE QUITE THE OPPOSITE , MAKING DEMANDS ON THOSE AROUND US AS IF WE ARE ENTITLED TO SOMETHING ? .......THEN , WHEN WE DO SERVE OTHERS, DOES OUR ATTITUDE REFLECT OUR KING OR IS IT A MOCKERY OF HIM ? IN 2 CORINTHIANS 9 :6-8 THE LORD SAYS , " Remember this : Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly , and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give , not reluctantly or under compulsion , for GOD loves a cheerful giver .And GOD is able to make all grace abound to you , so that in all things at all times , having all you need , you will abound in every good good work . " YOU SEE WHEN IT COMES TO GOD ITS ALWAYS A MATTER OF OUR HEART !! .......... AND NO ONE KNOWS OUR HEART BETTER THAN GOD .......... WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WE SERVE, IT NOT ONLY SUPPLIES THE NEEDS OF GODS PEOPLE BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY IT GIVES MANY EXPRESSIONS OF THANKS TO GOD AND GIVES HIM THE GLORY HE IS SO RIGHTLY DESERVES .......... SOME 2000 YEARS AGO OUR LORD JESUS BROKE BREAD WITH HIS DISCIPLES NOT ONLY AS A SAVIOUR BUT AS A SERVANT TOO........ ARE WE WILLING TO DO THE SAME ? ..............................SUMMER