Author: Dr Glen

Greed

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Greed

1 Timothy 6:9-10

“Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” NIV

Greed can be a negative force that will drive people to do evil. The bible gives a warning about having a “love of money.

There is nothing wrong with having wealth or being rich, but a person that has wealth has to be constantly on guard against not trusting God to supply their needs. No matter haw much wealth that is obtained, or how rich a person becomes, a person has to remember to continue looking to God as their source.

Philippians 4:19 “And my God will liberally supply (fill until full) your every need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Amp

On many occasions individuals have become wealthy or gained riches by working hard in a business that they own, or by receiving promotions and raises at their place of employment. There is nothing wrong with a person enjoying the success they have worked hard at, but they still have to keep a healthy perspective on what they have accomplished.

1st John 2:15 “Do not love this world nor the things that it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.” NLT

Allowing oneself to succumb to “the love of money” or getting “caught up” in having material possessions, can lead to a person’s down fall. So one might ask themselves the question “how much is enough and what needs to done to get more”? The bible gives the answer and clear direction to this question;

Luke 12:15 “Then He said to them, “Watch out and guard yourselves against every form of greed; for not even when one has an overflowing abundance does his life consist of nor is it derived from his possessions.” AMP

God knows exactly what we need and how much we need. He provided fresh manna daily for for the people that were in the wilderness for 40 years.

Jeremiah 29:11″For I know the plans that I have for you, says the lord. they are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” NLT

Father in heaven, thank you for being the source that provides, in Jesus name…Amen!

Continuing in His service…Rev

Pride

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Pride

Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Scriptures give several examples of pride:

Proverbs 8:13 “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: Pride and arrogance and the evil way, and the perverse mouth I hate.”………This type of pride, God hates.

Galatians 6:4 “But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.”……….This type of pride is what a person feels about something that has been well done.

2nd Corinthians 7:4 “Great is my boldness of speech towards you, great is my boasting on your behalf.”……….This type of pride expresses the accomplishment of others.

Pride can have either a positive or a negative effect in a person’s life. Pride can be used as motivation to accomplish great and might things when it is used in a positive way.

On many occasions a parent may try to motivate their child to do better, or be the best at something by using pride to accomplish a goal. Sometimes a parent will tell a child that they what to be proud of their accomplishments.

Many athletes that compete in a sport, or other individuals that are in a type of competition, will use pride as a driving force to win or become successful.

Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”

If a person is not careful, pride can cause a person to have distorted or cloudy thinking hindering a person from making rational decisions.

When pride is used in a negative way, it can lead a person down a path of ultimate destruction. Pride used in a negative way can cause a person to have a haughty or arrogant spirit about themselves. This can cause a person to think more highly of themselves than they should.

Proverbs 29:23 “A man’s pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor.”

If a person allows it, pride can become a daily struggle in their lives and become an on going problem.

Father in heaven, help us with putting pride in its right place, in Jesus name…Amen!

Continuing in His service…Rev

Nothing Hidden

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Nothing Hidden

Luke 12:2 “For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.” NKJV

From the top of the highest mountain to the bottom of the deepest sea, nothing that happens in this universe is hidden from God.

Psalm 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

The word of God whether it is logos (written) or rhema (spoken), will give a person the guidance needed to do or speak what is pleasing in the eyes of God.

Some individuals may think that depending on when or where they do what they do, or say what they say, God won’t see or hear them.

There are three attributes of God that prevent what is said or done from being hidden from God.

God is:

Omniscient—all knowing

Omnipresent—is everywhere at the same time

Omnipotent—all powerful

Galatians 6:7-8 “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.“ 

A person’s actions or words can come full circle back too them. That being said, a person should not ignore the warning signs of negative thoughts, urges, desires or areas of interests.

Genesis 1:11 ” Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to it’s kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so.”

Every “seed” will produce after “its own kind”. If a person yields to Negative thoughts, negative urges, or negative desires, they will get negative results. An apple tree can only yield apples.

Galatians 6:9 ” And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Vs.10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith”

Father in heaven, I ask that You give your people the will and strength to say and do what is pleasing in Your eyes, in Jesus name…Amen!

Continuing in HIs service…Rev

Wake-Up-Call

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Has the world been given

a wake-up call?

Revelation 3:20 “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (NIV)

People that travel on business and staying overnight at a hotel, will often use a “wake-up call” service that many hotels provide. When checking in, a person can request that a “wake-up call” be made to the person’s room at a specific time.

This wake-up call is made to insure that the person the call is being made to, wakes up in time to start getting ready and make it to their scheduled appointment on time. When the hotel makes the call, the hotel has done their part to wake the person up.

If the person that the call is being made to does not answer the phone and get out of the bed when they receive the call, it is possible that they will either be late or miss their scheduled appointment.

2 Chronicles 7:14 “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”(NIV)

I want to ask the question, is it possible that God has allowed this COVID-19 to be a wake-up call to the world? God may not always cause something to happen, but He can allow all things to happen.

Could it be that those of us that have been so busy with enjoying the pleasures in this world, have not heard the wake-up call that God has been making to us?

Focusing or getting caught up in the pleasures of this world such as money, security, or material items that we possess, can very dangerous and distracting. They can easily get our attention away from God.

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (NIV)

As born again believers, we are in this world but not of the world. We have to remain focused on whose we are, and at-tentative to hearing God’s voice that has called us into His wonderful light.

John 5:24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”(NIV)

Daily reading of the bible and meditating in the word of God, will help with hearing what God is saying.

Romans 10:9-10 “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

I encourage you, the next time you hear your phone ringing, don’t screen the call or let it go to voice mail, answer the phone professing your faith…it just might be a wake-up call from God.

Continuing is His service…Rev