All posts tagged: Christ

Overcoming Temptation

Published by

For decades I have applied this battle plan to sexual temptation but hardly at all to the sins of selfishness, anger, self-pity, blaming, and sullenness. I have engaged my will head-on with sexual lust. I have heard Jesus say, “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell” (Matt. 5:29). Nobody spontaneously tears out his eye. That is an act of will overcoming all kinds of natural disinclination. That’s what I do when any illicit sexual thought tries to gain the ascendancy in my mind. I go on the attack with A.N.T.H.E.M.: AVOID. Say NO! within five seconds. TURN to something magnificent, like Christ crucified. HOLD the pure thing in the mind until the temptation is gone. ENJOY the greater pleasure of the blood-bought promises of God. MOVE on to meaningful Christ-exalting activity. There is nothing passive in my will when the lion of lust comes out of the bushes. I …

Are you willing to Risk being liked for being Extraordinary?

Published by

A few hours ago I wrote a post entitled 7 things self-absorbed super-spiritual pastors say in the pulpit. The post was about the Unfortunate behavior of some preachers who relentlessly use their teaching to cut and hurt people. My purpose was to argue that sometimes sensitivity,  tact and cleverness in the way we communicate pays off greatly as we seek to deliver a difficult to swallow kind of message, convey a rebuke, or bring correction to a person who really needs it. For me, sometime our so-called speaking truth to power can come across as vicious, rude and simply disrespectful. However, if not careful, balanced and in tune with the Holy Spirit, we can find ourselves slipping into that place where we are only concern about making people feel comfortable and doing everything not to get them offended. Unfortunately, some churches, preachers and writers have fallen into the trap of being politically correct because of fear that somebody is going to get offended. This is spiritually dangerous not only for the leader, the membership, but also the …

Is Jesus God?

Published by

People have responded to Jesus Christ in many different ways, however one of the most prevalent perceptions of him is that he was a great moral teacher. I grew up in a Jehovah Witness home and attended the Kingdom Hall with my entire family. I was taught that Jesus is not God – that He is a created being – much like the angels. So my first question after my conversion was – Jesus, are you God? Are you God as my new found faith says? I got an immediate revelation that was consistent as what I learned in the scriptures. Let’s focus on what I learned from scriptures, because that matters most. Let’s examine the accounts of Christ’s life, paying special attention to his claims, his character, and his miracles. 1. His claims. There is one claim that is important for this discussion: Jesus lived and taught as if he was God. Explicitly, Jesus accepted the titles Son of God, Messiah, Lord, and Son of Man, all designations with divine implications. He also said …

6 Questions that defy all Odds

Published by

The following questions from Romans chapter 8 are so compelling. They serve as a strong defense for the unbending and unchanging love of God for us. They are compelling questions that will help you to believe God and trust HIM no matter what. Here they are: If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen – since it is God who justifies? Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? Logical Conclusion: No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, …

Again in travail …

Published by

Let me start by asking you a question about what you think it takes to start a church. What do you think it takes to win your friends or lead a community into a vibrant life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ? For some of us the answer to those questions may be simple. Simple as get some good connections, a celebrity preacher to do a spot for you, run it on radio or TV – than get a little social on all the social networks and you are on your way. But it wasn’t that easy for Paul and his companions. For them, it was great labor both physically and spiritually. My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you. Galatians 4:19 There is one thing worth mentioning in this verse: Besides the many details mentioned in Acts 13 and Acts 14 about his sorrows and bitter sufferings, there had been an agony of travail (like that of a woman in childbirth) on Paul’s part at the founding of …

Holy Spirit Fall

Published by

Sometimes I wonder why Acts of the Apostles is actually called – Acts of the Apostles. From my understanding of the entire book, there is just one person fueling, empowering and anointing these apostles to work miracles, signs and wonders – the Holy Spirit. So, why is the book not called – The Acts of the Holy Spirit? What I mean to say is: If we are to wait for, seek the power the Spirit, that should tell us that we can do nothing without him… Acts 1:8 – you shall receive power… If we are to walk by the Spirit to be victorious over the flesh, that should cause us to rely on him more… Gal. 5:16-18 – live by the Spirit… If the only way we can belong to Christ or be a part of Him is through His Spirit, that should speak volumes of how desperately we need him… Rom. 8:9 – we don’t belong to him… If apart from Him we can do nothing – that we should do everything in our power …

Is there a “Balm” in Edgard Allan Poe’s Raven?

Published by

Jeremiah 8:22 Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered? Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. ”Tis some visitor,’ I muttered, ‘tapping at my chamber door- Only this, and nothing more.’ Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December, And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor. Eagerly I wished the morrow;- vainly I had sought to borrow From my books surcease of sorrow- sorrow for the lost Lenore- For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore- Nameless here for evermore. And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain Thrilled me- filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before; So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating, ”Tis …

Merry Christmas

Published by

Wishing you the 5 words of Christmas So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love… 1 Corinthians 13:13 ESV Behold… I bring you good tidings of great joy. Luke 2:10 Glory to God in the highest and on earth, Peace. Luke 2:14 May Faith come alive in you this Christmas because it makes all things possible May Hope shine through for you this Christmas because it makes all things work May Love burst forth in you this Christmas because it makes all things beautiful May Joy abound for you this Christmas because it makes you strong in the Lord. May Peace abide with you this Christmas because it surpasses all understanding and guides the heart and mind. Merry Christmas Everyone!

A Savior is Foretold

Published by

Christmas has always been about God fulfilling his promises to his people. Just like it was two thousand years ago so it is again this year. There are four promises according to this passage that God wants to release upon us this christmas. Jeremiah 33:14-16 Parallel Translation: The Promise of Justice The Promise of Righteousness The Promise of Salvation The Promise of Well-being he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely… God always keeps his promises, and as he did in time past to direct the future (Jeremiah 33:1-5), heal the land (Jeremiah 33:6-13), and fulfill the Davidic covenant (Jeremiah 33:14-26), so will he fulfill all his promises toward you at christmas. May this message create in you an expectation for great things this Christmas.