Category: Ministry

“Letting go of the past”

Philippians 3:12,13 and 14 “ Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also hold of me. Vs 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, Vs 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

We have just transitioned out of the previous year of 2019 and into the New Year of 2020. It is also the time that many people make what we call “New Year’s resolutions.” Normally people make a resolution on New Year’s Eve to do something different and life-altering in the coming year.

Many times people don’t realize the difficulty in breaking old or bad habits, and developing new and better habits. Holding on to the past will keep a person from moving forward into their future.

The apostle Paul uses the analogy of a runner running in a race to describe the believers’ spiritual growth. Like the runner in a race, we must continue to pursue and put forth an effort to reach our goal. When a runner begins to get close to the finish line, that runner will start to lean forward in an effort to be the first to cross the finish line. If that runner is leaning backwards, there is a chance that he will lose the race.    

Paul also uses several terms in Philippians chapter 3 that describes positive actions toward “letting go of the past”

Press on; to continue attempts to reach forward with energetic action 

Lay hold; making something your own possession

But one thing I do; remaining focused in spite of distractions that happen.

Forgetting those things that are behind; and reaching forward to those things which are ahead

From time to time we will remember events that happened in the past, both good and bad. It’s acceptable to remember the past, but if a person dwells on the past, they are allowing themselves to be distracted by the past. Dwelling in the past can hinder efforts in the present to move forward.

Letting go of the past has to be done in order to move forward into the future. Believers can use their imagination to be able to see themselves accomplishing the goals that have been set.

Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, “let us lay aside every weight” and the sin which so easily ensures us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

In order to accomplish goals that have been set, there are some people, places and things that you are going to have to let go of because of their weight. If we don’t remain focused on the goal, weight will ensnare us.

Isaiah 43:18,19 “Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Vs 19 Behold I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

If a person continues to do what they have always been doing, they will continue to have the same results. With new ideas and new vision, a change can take place, and the impossible will become possible.

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Letting go of the past will enable a person to grasp and hold on to the future.

Mark 2:22 “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.”

New ideas will not work if you hold on to old plans. It’s acceptable to glance back at the past, but the main focus should be on looking forward to the future.

Abba Father thank you for the many blessings that You bestowed upon your people in 2019. May the year of 2020 bring additional blessings and prosperity to your people as we “let go of the past” and look to the future…in Jesus name. Amen!

“Perfect Peace”

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Many times we can feel over whelmed with everything that is going on around us and sometimes wonder “why is this happening to me?” If we are not careful we can easily get caught up in what is going on in the world and loose our focus on what we need to do to obtain and keep “perfect peace.”

If we allow fear to be our main focus, it will be extremely difficult to obtain the victory over tribulations that come our way.

There will be individuals around us that might be experiencing the same tribulations that we are experiencing, but are allowing fear to control what they see and how they feel.

Mark 4:41 “And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

This was the response from the disciples when they were on a boat in a storm on the sea after Jesus rebuked the wind, and spoke to the sea.  

Mark 4:37 “And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.”

Mark 4:39 “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”

As believers, we have the authority to speak to storms, trials and tribulations and command the presence of “perfect peace” to rule in the place of fear and experience freedom from disturbances or unrest.”

Philippians 4:6,7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. Vs 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

The “peace” of God surpasses all understanding. When others around you allow themselves to be overwhelmed by what is happening, and you are calm because of having “perfect peace”, this type of peace will not be understood by those around you. It is hard for them to understand why you are not acting, or behaving the way that they are, and the question might even be asked about you “what’s wrong with them, don’t they see what’s happening?”

“With peace comes strength”

Isaiah 26:3,4 “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You” vs 4 Trust in the Lord forever, For in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength.”

Because of God’s grace and mercy, He will provide strength with His peace. All we have to do is keep our mind on Jesus

“With peace comes safety”

Psalms 91:1,2 “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him will I trust.”

Because of God’s grace and mercy, He will provide safety with His peace. All we have to do is trust Him.

“With peace comes rest“

Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.“

Because of God’s grace and mercy, He will give us rest with His peace. All we have to do is come to Him.

Lord you said in your word that you have overcome this world that we live in. Thank you for the “perfect peace” we can have that comes from only you…in Jesus name. Amen!   

Continuing in His service…Rev

One person can make a world difference

Genesis 6:8 “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord”

Because of Noah’s grace with God, he not only made “a world a difference”, he “made a difference in the world.”

Genesis 6:7 “So the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I made them.”

Noah was one person who was able to “make a difference” by becoming an instrument in saving mankind from total destruction by the flood.

Genesis 6:9 “Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.”

Noah’s priority was to be focused on having a righteous lifestyle that was pleasing to God.

Genesis 6:14 “Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it with pitch.”

Noah was singled out by God from his contemporaries and God chose him as the person to accomplish this great work.

Genesis 6:13 “And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has become before me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.”

Violence and corruption filled the earth during this time that Noah was living. The reason that Noah stood out as one who “walked with God”, was because he did not allow what was going on around him to affect his fellowship with God.

Genesis 6:22“Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.”

Because of Noah’s faith in God and his obedience to what God commanded him to do, Noah became “one person that made a difference”. Noah’s family, the many animals and every living thing that was in the ark during the flood, survived the flood.

Genesis 8:1“Then God remember Noah, and every living thing, and all the animals that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters subsided.”

After the flood, Noah continued to show his faith and displayed his gratefulness to God by building an alter and making a sacrifice, which God accepted.

Genesis 8:20 “Then Noah built an alter to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the alter”. Vs 21”And the Lord smelled a soothing aroma. Then the Lord said in his heart, I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done.”

Many times we may feel that what we are doing is some thing small, minor or of no significance. That way of thinking can be a distraction and keep us from accomplishing what God has instructed or commanded us to do. When God commands us to do something, let us remember the powerful example that Noah displayed.

Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

All of mankind have benefited from what Noah did, Noah was truly a person that made “a world of difference”. 

” Lord Jesus, may your people remain focused on what you have commanded them to do, and remember the example that Noah displayed.” Amen!

Continuing in His service…Rev.

 

Giving Thanks

Ephesians 5:20  “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ“ (KJV)

The Thanksgiving holiday will be celebrated this week by many Americans and others in countries around the world. It is recognized as a day to give thanks for the blessings received in the previous year.

Some will celebrate Thanksgiving as a holiday based on religious principles and some will acknowledge it as a traditional point of view.

It is not always easy to have an “attitude of gratitude” when someone is in hard times of a trial or tribulation.

Some may ask the question “how can I give thanks for what I am going through right now?”

1st Thessalonians 5:16, 17 and 18 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

A person can look at a half of glass of water two different ways. They can say it is half full, or they can say it is half empty. Either way, it is still a half glass of water. How a person looks at what they are experiencing can make a big difference with the outcome of the experience.

God has a way of developing what he has deposited in us by allowing trails or tribulations to come our way.

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you might have peace. In the world you will have trials and tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

When a person looks at the glass of water as being half full, that person can have the “peace and good cheer” that the scripture speaks of. They will give thanks for having a glass of water that is half full.

When a person looks at the glass of water being half empty, that person could be looking at the half glass of water as having “trials and tribulation”, and not giving thanks for what they have.

Saying the words “thank you” is a small but powerful phrase that can go a long way towards acknowledging kindness that is big or small. It is an expression of one’s gratitude of a benefit or favor that they have received.    

Philippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God , which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”    

As we approach this Thanksgiving holiday, I would encourage everyone to look at what they can give thanks for not only on Thanksgiving Day, but to give thanks each and every day of the year.

“He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me”

Happy Thanksgiving…Rev