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Showing posts from March, 2016

My Beloved Stand Fast in the Lord

My Beloved Stand Fast in the Lord Has civility gone out of the window especially during this presidential campaign? How do we see one another? Paul said I have stopped seeing people in the flesh. What about you and me? Do we see people based on their color, accomplishments and their sins? We must look beyond what we can see presently in people. Watch and note the dear terms Apostle Paul used to address the Philippians while encouraging them to stand fast in the Lord: “Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved”. Philippians 4:1 How can Paul go from almost rebuking the Philippians to calling them my beloved and my joy and my crown? It is because of the great word “therefore” in the verse. What is the therefore for? In the previous section Paul had just reminded the Philippians of their citizenship in heaven and that Christ is coming to transform their (and our) lowly bodies to his glorified body. That is enough to ...

I will Rise from the Dead. Will You?

I will Rise from the Dead. Will You? With the latest ISIS bombing in Brussels Belgium, the Western world is scared and worried about the next target. We condemn every act of terrorism and pray God’s comfort for the families in Brussels who lost their loved ones. Worldwide, there are about 56 million deaths per year, 153K deaths per day, 6.5K every hour and 107 deaths every second. We cannot not escape death because “it is appointed unto man/woman once to die and afterwards, judgment”. The real question is am I going to rise from the dead into a glorified body to be with God forever? Are you? Everyone will rise from the dead for judgment, but some with a glorified body that will never die again. I thank God Jesus rose from the dead and is alive and sited at the right hand of the Father. Like Jesus, I will rise from the dead with a brand new glorious body just as Jesus’ resurrected body. I believe and trust in the crucified and risen Christ who paid for all my sins and reconciled m...

Enemies of the Cross of Christ

Enemies of the Cross of Christ Unfortunately many of the enemies of the Cross of Christ are in the Church. Hello! Are you hearing Paul? He says watch out and note those who walk/live in the pattern of Christ. Many are not walking after Christ and are walking/working for themselves. Paul warns his Philippian friends and us: “17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things”. Philippians 3:17-19 Observe the characteristics of the enemies of the cross of Christ: 1. They preach a different gospel and not “Christ crucified”. They make up various criteria of being a Christian other than believing and trusting in the finished work of Christ on the cross. They reject and oppose Chr...

Never Look Back Press Forward

Never Look Back Press Forward As a student, I used to be good in Tracks and Field. One of the rules is never look back. Regardless of your position (first or even last) you never look back to see how far you have ran or who is coming behind. You only looked to the finish line and to wearing the winners crown or ribbon. Apostle Paul reminds us of how he was running and ran the race of life. Listen to Paul: “12 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 laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we...

Fellowship in His Sufferings

Fellowship in His Sufferings Many of us are trying to operate the JESUS RELATIONSHIP SOFTWARE without reading carefully and signing off on the user agreement of terms and conditions. No wonder it does not seem to be working properly and often having system failures and crashes (evidenced with anger and frustration). Jesus was very clear and explicit. “In Me you may have peace. In the world you will[a] have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” John 16:33. First, do you agree and have you signed on before continuing to relate to Jesus? He has “overcome” not you. Apostle Paul at conversion was given a specific disclaimer before signing on with Jesus. “16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” Acts 9:16. As we continue our study of Philippians 3 Paul while in prison prays for himself as he pours his heart to his friends regarding suffering: “Not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through f...