Thursday, December 29, 2011

Haughty at Heart

Recently, I have encountered many followers of Christ that have a spirit of haughtiness. Yes, there is power in His name and yes, God tells us that we become part of that power when we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. We know there are many spiritual gifts that come with accepting Him and being obedient to His Will. However, we are ALWAYS to behave humbly. The power is not our own and any blessings, favor and mercy we receive is for His Glory, NOT OURS.
Before you say that you have not ever behaved this way, I will list a few examples of what I mean:

David coveted His servant’s wife (although he was the king of Israel and possessed greatness above all, being blessed with great power by the LORD), and lifted within his heart a hatred toward his servant, Uriah, because he believed he was entitled to more than God blessed him with (2Samuel 11). HAVE YOU EVER FELT AND PURSUED GETTING MORE THAN WHAT GOD HAS CHOSEN TO BLESS YOU WITH?

Solomon, although given wisdom by God above all man, rebelled against God’s commandment and married women that believed in other gods, resulting in Solomon’s heart being turned away from God (1Kings 11). HAVE YOU EVER DATED, BECOME FRIENDS WITH, OR ENTERTAINED THE COMPANY OF SOMEONE THAT HAS OPENLY DISCUSSED OR SHOWN THEIR CONTEMPT FOR GOD (THROUGH ACTIONS) YET YOU CONTINUE TO BE AROUND THEM?

Peter, although he loved Jesus Christ, denied Him three times. Jesus told Peter that this was going to happen but Peter responded in disbelief, denying that the flesh is weak and prayer was needed to fight off satan and the temptations he floods man with (Mark 14:29&30,66-72). HAVE YOU EVER BELIEVED YOU COULD CONTROL A SITUATION AND FIGHT TEMPTATION WITHOUT THE HELP OF CHRIST? ONLY TO BRING OUR FLAWS TO THE FOREFRONT…

These are just a few examples of haughtiness. When the Spirit of the Lord is within you, it is important to obey it at all times. Do not believe that you are above God in any area, or above the temptations that satan sends to ALL MANKIND, including you! Christ tells us to remove the beam from our eye before we clear the mote from out brother’s eye (Matt 7:3-5). He is telling us that it is simple for satan to deceive and we (often inadvertently) attempt to make God’s power our own. In doing this, satan is able to reveal our flaws and snatch us from under the protection of Christ, JUST AS HE TRIED TO EXPOSE MAN’S WEAKNESSES AND IN THE PROCESS, SHOWED HIS OWN (covetousness, envying, jealousy, overall hatred toward man). Do we want to be as satan or as Christ?! The Lord teaches us, in John 8:44, that those allowing satan to rule them are those that do NOT abide in truth! When we abide in truth, we BELIEVE ALL THINGS THAT THE LORD TEACHES US…. We BELIEVE what the Lord says about satan’s character. We do attempt to prove God wrong, nor do we become as satan, lifting our hearts above God.

I ask that you evaluate your motives in ALL that you do. When you minister the Word of God, is it to bring souls to God, as a humble vessel… Or is it to become a recognized person within this world? When you say you love the LORD, are you willing to lay down your life for him, or are you saying this to make people believe you are a “good person?” When you do for someone, are you doing it in joy and knowing it is the Will of God, or are you doing it to receive a blessing in return? When you enter a relationship (friends, dating, marriage, etc.) are you looking to show the love of Christ to them or are you looking more toward receiving it?   

I pray for your understanding and growth regarding this topic!

Monday, December 26, 2011

God's Prescription for a Better Life

Today, I was thinking about the commandments that the Lord left for His people to follow. I will address, in detail, the 10 commandments in an upcoming blog but right now I want to stick to just a few he left us that many believe are too difficult to keep. In Deuteronomy 5:33, the Lord says “Ye shall walk in all the ways of the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.” Now, I’m aware that He was speaking to the children of Israel that He freed from Egypt’s bondage. However, wouldn’t these same words apply to us? Has the anatomy of man changed from then until now? Doesn’t man still face the same challenges from that time up to present day? Was God the same then, now and forever- holding the same love and concerns for us?
If you have answered yes to the following questions, then I’d like for you to continue on this journey of vindicating God’s character…

In 1Peter 2:9, Peter refers to followers of Christ as “peculiar people” and if you have ever declined to engage in particular behavior or activities as others that do not follow the ways of Christ, you have probably experienced the ridicule that comes with staying true to Christ’s Will for our lives (If you have not given your life to Christ yet and therefore, have not experienced this, I can assure that once you do, it will be easy to see and feel the separation of you and those that do not follow His Will). Peter said this to offer comfort to those that have felt ostracized from the world because they are different due to their obedience of the commandments of God, as Christ offered comfort to him and the other apostles when He told them (in John 15:18&19) -

18If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

19If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Moreover, it is understood that there is a separation of those that follow Christ and those that do not.

But WHY does God say this separation is needed? Well, let us look around throughout just the United States and see all of the avoidable illnesses that people have. Obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes (type 2), migraines-headaches, stress and  insomnia are just to name a few. Ask any doctor and he/she will tell you that by keeping a proper diet, getting enough rest/do not over exert oneself, follow a consistent schedule and avoid “stress triggers” you can live a long and healthy life.

But wait! The bible instructs us to do the same things!
Deuteronomy 14 instructs us of what we should and should not eat. It also tells us not to over-indulge in anything and that when we do, it is replacing God (Galatians 15:16-21). The Lord gives us a very specific day of rest so that we can be away from the world and spend time with our family and commune with Him (Exodus 20:8-11). The bible also teaches us to be with like-minded people & avoid relationships with those that refuse His Will (Amos 3:3, Romans 12:10, Hebrews 3:13, Psalms 1:1 Matthew 7:6). Christ tells us that worrying changes nothing (Matthew 6:27).

In closing, I pray that the commandments of God are implemented daily and that you see the Lord is not trying to make life harder on you- but rather, make it easier for you. When a parent instructs their child to do certain things, the child may not understand why at the time but if they love their parent, they are willing to do it, in knowing their parent loves them and is trying to keep them from harm. Well, the same goes for our Heavenly Father. He instructs us to do certain things so that we are protected and can live happy, healthy and peaceful lives. Yes, many will look at us as “peculiar” but we know that the things God asks of us are only to help. It is alright if the world does not understand His way… The importance is obedience to His Will and he promises you will see the reward that comes from doing so, not only on earth but in Heaven!


Sunday, December 18, 2011

Will you be the first liar your child knows?

Often times parents believe they are preserving their child's innocence by telling them various "fairytales" or to be blunt, lies...Parents were placed on earth as a foundation for and keepers of God's Word and Will for their children to tell and teach their children the TRUTH (Proverbs 22:6, Deuteronomy 6:6-9, 1John 3:18).
Lies are a product of satan and there is no other way to tell a lie and make it appear for a good reason.

Know that Satan is a Liar and Deceiver!

John tells us this about Satan in John 8:44:
44Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Satan speaks lies and partial truths, even twisting Scripture to his own purposes. Remember how he tempts Jesus to throw Himself off the top of the temple, quoting Psalm 91 to “prove” that Jesus will not be hurt. This is his character. He will take good desires, good words, good advice – and twist them seemingly just a little bit to tempt us to follow him.
How effective is he at this? He is a master. Indeed, none of us can fight him alone. He will always win. In Revelation 12:9 we are told that Satan deceives the whole world. Matthew 24:24 clarifies the meaning of that statement:

24For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Satan is so cunning, it will appear that even those chosen by God to be His are deceived. By God’s grace, in the end they will not be. God protects His own. But without that protection, every one of us would fall prey to Satan’s lies.

Since Christmas is approaching, we will address this holiday and all of the lies that accompany it:

During this holiday, we use the lie that Christ was born on December 25th, yet give glory to this mystical man - Santa Claus (one of the many forms that satan takes on)- that enters our homes in the middle of the night, descending from a chimney and placing gifts that he brings from the North Pole to all children HE judges as good, under a tree.
What does the bible say about this? In Jeremiah 10:2-5, the Bible (KJV) says:

2Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
3For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
4They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
5They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

In Isaiah 14:12&13, The Bible says:
12How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north

In Mark 7:9, the Lord warns us of "traditions of man"

9And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

Lets go over more of the characteristics of santa claus and match them with satan so that you can further see how this myth is not what you should be teaching your children. Santa has covertly taken the place of Christ in the hearts and minds of families across the world.

1. Parents speak of Santa's exploits and children pray to him for gifts.
2. Millions adorn him
3. Churches host feature Parties for Him
4. Parents take their children to him for his blessings and favor upon them
5. He writes children's names in his book of whose good or bad
6. He travels at night by a chariot drawn by magical beasts
7. Children long for His arrival
8. Parents take a backseat to the hardwork THEY have done to buy their children gifts and give credit, not to Jesus (the one that makes all things possible by giving us health among various other blessings) but santa!

Now, tell me, is this what we are suppose to tell our children? The Lord says He is the TRUTH, WAY, and LIFE! Let us please Christ and tell our children the truth. If the truth these children are to receive doesn't exist WITHIN their home, what kind of lies will they seek outside of the home? Preserving a child's innocence is when you tell it the truth, preparing it for the world being as wise as serpents, harmless as doves (Matt 10:16). When Jesus sent out his apostles to spread the Gospel, He spiritually prepared them with TRUTH. When they asked Him of the signs of His coming, Christ armed them with TRUTH so they would be prepared (Matthew 24)
 If you claim to love God, do not be a lukewarm worshipper (Rev. 3:15&16), resulting in God's wrath against you!
It is time that you repent for deceiving your children, the Lord will forgive you! You can start a new "tradition" - and that is being TRUTHFUL to your children!

If you want to further discuss this, leave a comment and/or contact me on twitter @MoniceSharde