Hi Everyone!

We have had 4 mass shootings in the United States in the last two weeks, and mass shootings have been more and more of a common thing. Yesterday, I saw the news report of a mass shooting at an elementary school, where an 18 year old man shot his grandmother at home first before going into the school, killing 19 children and 2 teachers in Uvalde, Texas.  The gunman then engages in gunfire with the police where he was ultimately murdered himself.

What would possess a person to walk in a school and murder children for no apparent reason whatsoever?

This is another example of the influence of Satan in the heart and minds of people in the world, and how many people are in the world. As the world becomes more Godless, the world becomes more evil, and there have been more mass shootings this year than days of the year.

This needs to stop, but sadly, it is only getting worse. Today, we will look at Matthew 25:40, sin against man being sin against God.

”And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

The ”King” here is Christ speaking of Himself, the King of Kings and the Lords of Lords. The word ”answer” means ”to respond or begin to speak”. Christ was responding to the questions raised in Matthew 25:37-39, in which He says, ”Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?”

Do we really realize that whatever we do or don’t do unto others is the same as doing or not doing unto God. So if we sin against our brothers and sisters, it is no different than us sinning against God. When we hurt our brothers and sisters, we hurt God, but when we help our brothers and sisters in the way of the Word of God, we are helping God.

In Genesis 1:26-27, the Bible says, ”And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

God created mankind with intention, one being that we would bear His image and likeness in the earth.

God’s idea was that when the world saw us, they saw God, because we would embody the character and attributes of the One who created us. In the midst of creation God equipped us to make a choice on whether or not we would bear His image or likeness in the earth, or choose our own way.

In Genesis 2:16-17, the Bible says, ”And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.’‘  God equips us with choices, but He gives His command, what He requires of those who bear His image and likeness in the earth. After that, the choice becomes ours.

Satan has been busy since the beginning, deceiving and lying to compel people to sin against God. In Genesis 3:1, the Bible says, ”Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?’‘

The first thing the enemy does is get us to question God’s commands. If we will question God, then the odds of us defying God becomes stronger. In Genesis 3:4-5, the Bible says, ”And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”

The second thing Satan does is plant a lie in, and make sin attractive, so people will focus on sin and not on God.

The enemy is crafty at blurring the line of right and wrong. This is Satan’s nature. If Satan can destroy our perspective, and blind us from seeing what God desires for us, then He has effectively ensured that sin becomes second nature.

In 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, the Bible says, ”But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

The enemy plants seeds of doubt and then blinds those who have no clue who we are in the Lord, and who we were created to be. If the enemy can establish bad seed in us, then we will accept and live by his lies. In John 10:10 Christ says, ”The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.’” The enemy is trying to steal souls away from the Lord, trying to kill those who serve God, and also kill them to prevent them from knowing and serving God. The enemy is trying to destroy the world and the best instrument he can use is mankind. If he can get mankind to forget or not acknowledge that mankind is created in the image and likeness of God, then it is easy for us to sin against each other.

Just because the enemy has influence, doesn’t mean he has power in a believer’s life.

In James 1:14-15, the Bible says, ”But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.’‘

The enemy knows what makes us tick and his influence is in the form of what can sway us away from the presence of God. We have to come into agreement with the lie in order for us to act upon it. We can’t say, ”The devil made me do it.”

We have to accept responsibility for what we accept as truth. When we refuse to hear the truth, no matter how many times God sends people to drum it in our heads,

He eventually says, ”Have it your way”.

In Romans 1:28-31, the Bible says, ”And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful”.

We tend to ask ourselves in the midst of tragedy how God could allow something terrible like a mass shooting to happen? Why doesn’t God stop them in their tracks, or send someone to stop them before it happens? How can a loving God allow babies to be murdered?

The answer to these questions is the hardest to receive, and that is one thing: free choice.

We have the ability to serve God with every fiber of our being and we have the same choice to murder, rob, steal and kill.  When we have free choice, someone can always be hurt by the choices we make.

Don’t mistake God giving us free choice with Him not caring because it grieves God to see sin in the world. God won’t force us to serve Him, and that is a part of the love He has for us.

In Romans 13:8-10, the Bible says, ”Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

The reason mass shootings happen in our world is because these people are without the love of God in their hearts, and hatred has been the choice made by the shooters.

In 1 John 4:21, the Bible says, ”And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.’‘

 If a person doesn’t have the love of God in their hearts, or have never known the love of God, they will never look at mankind and see God.

Let’s put this together. God created man in His own image and likeness. He formed us from clay and breathed the breath of life in us.

When a person commits sin, they are sinning against God.

Joseph knew this, which is why Genesis 39:9, the Bible says, ”There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and SIN AGAINST GOD?” Joseph knew that if he laid with Potiphar’s wife, that he would be sinning against God.

In 2 Samuel 12:13, the Bible says, ”And David said unto Nathan, I have SINNED AGAINST THE LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.” David knew when he had Uriah killed in order to take his wife from him that his sin was against the Lord.

This is why sin is so grievous to God, because it is not only a direct assault on people, but it is a direct assault on God himself.

Committing murder is like pointing a gun at God and pulling the trigger.

When someone kills another, this is the picture that needs to be seen. Our world is at war against God, and our babies are becoming the victims of the sin that is running rampant in the earth.

Gun control will not solve this problem, nor trying to stop mass shootings from happening. Tough on crime initiatives won’t solve this problem of people effectively pointing guns at God and pulling the trigger.

I know this firsthand and I bear the sorrow of my actions when I didn’t fully understand what I was doing. With tears in my eyes, I understand now deeper than I ever have before.

In Mark 12:30-31, the Bible says, ”And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”

Love is the greatest commandment, and with love, sin can’t abound in the world.

Our hearts go out to those beautiful souls murdered, injured, and emotionally damaged by the horror at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, and our prayers are with them.

Love is the answer.

God Bless!

Marshall & Jessica

Hi Everyone

1 Peter 2:5 “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”

“Lively” in this verse means “living or alive”. So what gives us life? The breath of God gives us life! In Genesis 2:7, the Bible says “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” So God’s breath, or His Spirit is what makes us living or alive. All things begin with God and without God’s breath, we can’t live or move.

The fact that the Scriptures describes us believers as “lively stones”, let’s us know that there is more than one kind of stone. The words “Ye also” means that we are being referred to as something already mentioned, as in 1 Peter 2:3-4, “If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,” it speaks of Christ. So us being “lively stones”, our reference is Christ, so our appearance should reflect Him. If our appearance, faith, actions, beliefs, and love don’t reflect Christ who is our example, then are our stones really living?

1 Peter 2:5 also says, “are built up a spiritual house”. So our living stones come together to make a spiritual house, which is the church, the body of God. We can only build a house together as we are only a stone by ourselves. When we come together, we are a structure, strong, and immovable, built on the foundation of Christ.

The verse also states that we are a “holy priesthood”. The word “holy” means “set apart for sacred use”, so God has designated us to receive and share His Word as his priesthood. A priest is one, but a priesthood means a brotherhood, many people working together for the kingdom of God. This means we serve together, minister together, as our individual ministries are a part of a whole body that reaches souls for Christ.

Our job as the priesthood is to “offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. “Sacrifices” here means “service”, so the service we are to be offering is spiritual. When we help, we help according to the Scriptures. When we love, we love according to the Scriptures, and when God puts it on our hearts to move then we have to be willing to move right when He requests it. If we move according to His Spirit, then it will be acceptable to God, which means “God will approve!” We have to give our will over to God and accept His will as a body, to reach souls for Christ. This is our mission and that is what makes us “Red Granite”! God bless and keep you all!

In Christ,

Marshall

NOV 2, 2020 – Romans 13:1 – Submission to governing authorities

“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” Romans 13:1 KJV

Hi Everyone!

I am putting together this devotional with a heavy heart. In the prison I am currently housed in, there was just an act of group disobedience last night (10-30-20) in response to policy changes within the prison due to an outbreak of positive Covid cases. The memo posted was very vague, and to be honest, we weren’t informed about a policy that was going to change right before our already limited day room time. Guys here became irate and refused to lock in, and stayed in the day room for 2 hours, until the actual day room shut down for the night. I WAS NOT, in any way involved in any of it, and I sat in my room and heard the nonsense play out. I prayed before I went to sleep, over the unit and over my state of mind and heart.

Today (10-31-20), to my knowledge, there were about 20 guys who were taken out of the unit by officers in tactical gear and put immediately on a bus out of the institution. They will undoubtedly be placed in segregation status, and could possibly be sent from this medium security to another medium security prison or even to a maximum security prison. I was told that security staff are looking to lift the lockdown, so things can go back to normal.

So, the topic of the day, given all that has gone on, is about submission to governing authorities, in Romans 13:1.

“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.”

The word “every” rings loud and clear here. That means no one is exempt, and because this letter by Paul is written to the church in Rome, it is really specific to believers. If we bear the image of Christ, and we are to follow His example, then He always submitted to government. Being “subject unto” means to “submit or place oneself under the authority of”, so this is a choice we have to make on our own. Even in Titus 3:1, the Bible says, “Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, and to be ready for every good work”. So not only do we have to submit to governing authorities, but we are to encourage others to do the same. “Put them in mind” means to explain or instruct others. The Bible will always confirm its truths in more than one Scripture, which brings more power to Matthew 18:16, which says, “But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established”. In 1 Peter 2:13, the Bible says, “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme.” When God repeats Himself, it is extremely important that we take heed.

“For there is no power but of God:”

When we are subject unto higher powers, we understand that God has the power, so we obey them the same way we obey God. The only way the government is in power is because it is of God, something that God allowed to be instituted, like it or not.

“The powers that be are ordained by God”.

The word ordain means, “to arrange in an orderly manner; to appoint to a position or duty”. That means God intentionally put the people in authority where they are, and because He arranges authority in an orderly manner, it is supposed to be run in an orderly manner as well. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case, and sometimes authority can mismanage their positions or make mistakes. It doesn’t mean we don’t submit to the authority due to the flaws of its members. They are still ordained by God.

Our job as believers is to take the people out of their positions in our minds, and replace them with God, carrying ourselves as if we are serving God by submitting to their authority.  In essence, it is no different. We are supposed to see them and see God in our respect, in our obedience, and in our service to authority. It doesn’t have to be government. It could be your boss, your pastor, the clerk at the Dept. of Motor Vehicles, but anyway it goes, if they are in authority, it is given by God.

God has brought me a mighty long way, from someone who once participated in acts of civil disobedience years ago to someone who now speaks against it and encourages others to do the same. Authority is God’s and ordained by God. It is our job to respect God by respecting His choice on who He puts in authority. As with anything, this situation within this prison will pass and some form of normalcy will come as a result. I am happy that God allowed this situation to serve as a teachable point in the people I have spoken to.

May you take courage to respect those God placed over you. God bless and keep you all!

In Christ,

Marshall

Nov 3, 2020 – 2 Timothy 3:16 – Scripture is inspired and profitable

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” 2 Timothy 3:16 KJV

Hi Everybody!

During the course of my walk with the Lord, I have realized how powerful the Word of God truly is. We have heard the acronym for the Bible as “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth”, but the stronger I have grown in the Word, the more I realize that the Bible is much more than “basic instructions”. In John 1:1, it says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” We all have embraced the fact that the Bible is the Word of God, but have we really identified that if we want to know more about God, then the Bible would be where we can study on His attributes, learn His purpose for mankind since the beginning, discover how deep His love runs for us, and receive teachings on how to live a godly life. Today we are going to look at 2 Timothy 3:16, for a closer look into the Scriptures’ function in a believer’s life.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

“All scripture”. It is always important to know the context of scripture and what and who it is pertaining to. Paul is writing Timothy to prepare him thoroughly for ministry. He is passing down truths like a father would a son, which is the same thing we ought to do for each other. So, the first thing I want to show is: Paul starts it out by saying “All scripture”, so you can’t leave any out. That means from Genesis to Revelation, God’s power rest in his Word, and there is definitely something to glean from all scripture, including the chapters that make us sleepy reading. 🙂

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God,”

To inspire means to “divinely breathe into”. So, the Scriptures we read God breathed into them. He filled His writers with His breath, or his Spirit, and they wrote out Scripture that God gave them the inspiration to write. How important is the breath of God? In Genesis, 2:7, the Bible says, “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul”. So, God’s breath is life, and when He breathes into something it becomes living. God’s Word is alive because He breathed into it! Also, in John 6:63, the Bible says, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak, they are spirit, and they are life”. The word “spirit” in this passage means “breath”. So when we read the Word and plant it inside of our hearts, we should come alive too. 🙂

“and it is profitable”

God doesn’t do anything for nothing. When something is profitable, it means it is “helpful, serviceable, or advantageous”. God breathed into Scripture for it to help us and for it to operate beyond expectation. When someone profits, they make more than what was invested, so we will receive more than just Scripture. We will receive revelation of Scripture as well, that beauty mortar between the bricks!

“For doctrine”

This word means “instruction”. We learn how we are to walk as believers, love as believers, live faithfully, and how to resist in evil of the world. Instruction teaches us, and the Bible becomes the manual for our lives.

“For reproof”

This word means evidence. To “proof” something means to make sure it is correct, so to “re-proof”, means to check it again. How do we do that? The Word of God! The Bible is the place where everything is supposed to be weighed against, the point of reference when something doesn’t hit the ears or heart so well. It is the template of truth that we make the comparisons to. When the government wants to spot a counterfeit bill, they don’t do so by studying the fake bills. They study every millimeter of the real bill extensively, ingrain every contour, every detail, and every letter in their minds. When they see a fake, they will be able to show why it is a fake. That’s what the Word will allow us to do if we study it and allow God to reveal His truth to us.

“for correction”

This word means “to rectify”. The Word will not only reveal when something is wrong, but it will also reveal how to make it right. God’s Word perfects the imperfect and corrects what is wrong. It has happened to me a ton of times where the Word given became this tool for correction, revealing flaws in me I never realized.

“for instruction in righteousness:”

The Word instruction means “tutorage, training”. So the Word of God trains us in righteousness. When a person trains, they are instructed and then they put the instruction into practice. This shows that we are to use the Word of God in our lives and make every attempt to apply the Word to our lives. If the Bible tells us to pray, we have to pray. If it tells us to speak, we have to speak. If the Bible tells us to love, we have to love. We may get it wrong a million times, but we will get it right if we stay in training. How long is the training? A lifetime. There is always something to work at when we are trying to live a Godly life. As we are training, we receive doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness, and we go back out there and try it again. The Word of God does all of this and makes all of this available to us today because the Word of God is still as alive as it was way back then when the world began.

ALL SCRIPTURE has this amazing power to transform a believer’s life. Study the Word today with a deeper impression of the Word’s impact on our lives! It is more than just a book!

God Bless and keep you all!

Marshall

Nov 4, 2020 – Acts 20:28 – Feed My Sheep

“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” Acts 20:28 KJV

Hi Everyone!

We have a great responsibility as believers. Life and death are at stake, and I once heard a pastor say when we don’t share the Word with others, we are messing with their “forever”. Imagine a person drowning and all you had to do to help save them was either tell them about your Lord and Savior or show who your Lord and Savior is in your life. When we think about it, the responsibility may seem great but is it really? Christ said the greatest commandments are to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. Pretty reasonable judging by the fact that Christ was tortured, beaten, nailed to and strung up on a cross, where His death paid for the sins of the world. We just have to believe this and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and spread the word. Today, we will look at Acts 20:28, a closer look into our role as believers in the church.

“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”

“Take heed” is another way of saying “be on guard”. Paul is speaking to the elders at Ephesus in this passage, but it also applies to us as well. We not only have to be on guard for ourselves but for other believers as well. The word “flock” is a group under a Shepherd. We can’t be passive Christians who safely “mind our own affairs” and don’t look out for each other. The flock weakens we sheep are lost.

We are made “overseers”, shepherds in our own right, which means we are responsible for each other. A shepherd is not only protective, but we are able to effectively lead people in the way they should go. Our job as little shepherds are to lead the sheep to shelter, which is described by Psalms 91:1, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” It is our jobs to help lead people to this place. God is a habitation, and we as believers are at home in Him. Why wouldn’t we invite people to the most amazing home we were once invited to ourselves? We don’t have to be pastors, bishops, or clergy to show people where we live, right?

“To feed the church of God”

We as shepherds have to lead a sheep to the food, because food is important to the sheep. The word “feed” here means “tend to as a shepherd”. The church is not a building but a body of people, where Christ is the head. There are people that shepherd us and people we shepherd, but all have to play our roles in our service to God. When God puts someone on our hearts to speak to, then it is our job to do that. When God gives us a poem to write, a word to speak, or a hug to give, or an ear to lend to someone in need, we are “feeding the church or God”.

“Which he hath purchased with his own blood”. Christ bought the church of God with his blood. His shed blood was the atoning sacrifice for us once and for all. In Hebrews 9:22, the Bible says, “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” If Christ’s blood couldn’t cleanse us from our sins, then His blood couldn’t remit, or pardon, us from our sins, and that means His blood couldn’t pay for the penalty of sin to be removed. Praise God that Christ blood has done it all! Now it is our job to share this precious gift with others, in any way God gives us the ability to do.

It is our job as believers to look after each other the same way Christ looks out for us. We are extending the same treatment we have received and following the example of Christ given to us in God’s word. We are our brother’s keepers, and we can’t pass the responsibility to someone else. Our love for God’s people should always triumph over the weight of the responsibility, right? Our time for shepherding is now.

May you all find comfort in our roles in the kingdom, no matter what it may be!

God Bless and Keep You!

Marshall

Nov 5, 2020 – 2 Corinthians 5:7 – Our focus in conflict and affliction

“For we walk by FAITH and not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV

Hi Everyone!

We all have encountered heavy conflict or suffered waves of affliction that seemed to have no end. We looked at mounting offensives by people and by circumstances, mounting expenses and not enough capital, and we have endured ordeals where the odds were completely stacked up against us. When life throws hardships at us, and the odds seem insurmountable, what are we looking at, the odds, the people, the bills, or are we looking at God and His faithfulness?

In 2 Kings 6, starting at verse 8, the King of Syria waged war with Israel, and two times was completely unsuccessful. Why was this? Because Israel had a man of God, Elisha, who warned the King of Israel of the approaching attack and they were able to protect themselves from it. The Word of God will serve as a warning system when the enemy is prone to attack, but we have to pay attention to the warnings given and heed the commands we are given. 

The King of Syria realizes that the reason Israel has thwarted their attacks twice is because the man of God has warned them. What does he do? Send spies into Israel to figure out where He dwells. Why? Because if you take the man of God out of Israel, you take the Word of God out of Israel, and without the Word, Israel has no protection or covering from the enemy’s attacks.

If the enemy understands the power of God is in His Word, then he mounts and offensive to take the Word out of our lives … then why don’t we have the same respect for the Word’s power in our lives.

Think about this too. The King of Syria sends spies to find the man of God’s location, so he could send an army to take him by force. Now, if it takes an army to attempt to remove the man of God from Israel, then it must take the same type of army to attempt to remove the Word of God from our lives, right? The Word of God is meant to remain in our lives, and be the source for instruction, direction, protection, peace, and love in our lives. We don’t always appreciate its power, sadly.

So this army comes, and it is no small affair! They are serious about taking Elisha from Israel. The enemy is not playing about, his desire is to take the Word of God from our lives. In verse 14, the Bible says, “Therefore he sent horses, chariots, and a great host: and they came by night and compassed the city about.”

Came by night? While we’re sleeping and while they couldn’t easily be seen. The enemy is trying to use the element of surprise against us, and his job to blindside us. Does the Word have power when our guard is down? Absolutely not! The Word has to dwell in us and dwell richly in us, for us to remain armed and ready, and then the enemy can’t still creep in unawares.

So the servant to the man of God rises early to tend to his business, In verse 15, the Bible says, “And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?” 

Think about it, if the servant rose early and met an army, that should let us know that the enemy rises up earlier, ready to pounce. I like the servant, because he doesn’t panic too hard, even though he is scared. He turns to the man of God and asks him … what should they do. Fair enough question, right? Look at Elisha’s response.

In verse 16, the Bible says, “And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” 

When we are in the Word, we are able to see things clearly, including our prospects of success. We don’t see the mounting army over the power of our Awesome God, we don’t see a bad report over the promises of our Faithful God, and we don’t see a bill over Jevovah Jireh, which means “The Lord Will Provide”. Elisha addressed the servant with the truth, and shared that with him, that the enemy is outnumbered, not them. Sometimes, the truth is not going to seem accurate because our eyes see one thing and the truth debunks what we see clear as day. In that case, is your faith in the Word or what you see? In 2 Corinthians 5:7, the Bible says, ” For we walk by FAITH and not by sight.” Do we trust God with our sight?

Then Elisha doubles down, desiring that his servant see things the way he does. In verse 17, the Bible says, “And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.”

The prayer Elisha offers up gets answered, and the Lord opened the servants eyes, beholding the mountains full of horses and chariots of fire around about Elisha.

How many times when our sight betrays the Word of God, do we actually ask God to help us see things the way He does?

How honest are we in our prayer life about our faith? There were indeed more in the army of the Lord than in the army of the enemy, and they got the victory that day. 

We have the opportunity to get the same victory every time the enemy comes up against us. We have to allow the Word of God to lead us, we have to trust the Word over what it looks like, and we have to trust that God will never involve us in a fight where He isn’t right there fighting for us. We always have the numbers when God is involved. Victory is ours in Christ Jesus. 

May you take comfort in the FACT that God sends us into conflicts to win. God bless and keep you all!

In Christ,
Marshall

Nov 6, 2020 – Psalm 23:1 – The Lord is my Shepherd

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1 KJV

Hi Everyone,

Today, I want us to take a closer look into one of the most familiar passages in the Bible, the 23^rd Psalm. Sometimes, the most powerful messages are in the things we know well, in the things we are most familiar with.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

Pretty simple, huh? It really shows how simple God is versus how complicated we make Him out to be. “The Lord is…” Look at the word “is”. It is a term that is spoken to identify something or someone, but it is also spoken to identify something or someone in present tense! In Exodus 3:13-14, Moses is having a conversation with God, he had concerns about the questions Israel would ask him about God, one being His name.

In verse 14, God answers Moses by saying, “I AM THAT I AM:

and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” Once again, present tense! Then, when Jesus was speaking with the Jews about His identity and His origin in John 8, in verse 58, Christ said,

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”           Yet again, present tense!

These three words are so important, “The Lord is”, because our God isn’t the God of our past, of our Grandparents, of Israel only. He is our God today, Christ is our savior today, and the Holy Spirit is still moving hearts today the same way the Holy Spirit moved on the day of Pentecost! If our God is the God of right now, then we should have no doubt as to His presence in our lives today. The minute we begin to think that God isn’t the same God He was then, or He doesn’t move the same way He once did, then we disconnect ourselves from the knowledge of His presence and His power.

In Hebrews 11:6, the Bible says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” You see? We must believe that “He IS”. Do we come to our God believing that He IS?

David did. He was identified as a man after God’s own heart, and so must we be as believer. He believed that “The Lord Is”, and the Lord always showed himself faithful and present in David’s life.

“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want”.

So, we identified that the Lord Is very much present. Now look at the verse again. “The Lord is my shepherd.” David identified the Lord as MY shepherd, meaning there is a clear relationship there. David didn’t rely on his father’s relationship with the Lord, or his brother’s relationship with the Lord, he sought his own relationship with the Lord, where he could know the Lord for himself. When David stated that the Lord is His shepherd, he admitted that he was a sheep, helpless, dumb, incapable of directing his own path, and unable to protect himself from the enemy. This was the King of Israel telling God that he was completely useless without the Lord leading him. Pretty humble, right?

When David identified the Lord as his shepherd, he is making the statement that he only wants the Lord to lead him. He is saying he belongs to the Lord. In John 10:14-15, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.” When we make the Lord our Shepherd, we enter into a relationship where we discover that we were always His, He knows us and we know Him, and He laid His life down so we could have everlasting life! When we allow the Lord to Shepherd us, we give our will, our vulnerability, our knowledge, and render ourselves completely helpless for the Lord to direct us as He wills.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

The last part of the verse is the easy part. 🙂 The word “want” in this passage means “lack”. That is important, especially for the people who incorrectly believe that God will give you everything you want. 🙂 “I shall not want (lack)”, means that I will have my needs supplied. In Philippians 4:19, the Bible says, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Because the Lord is our Shepherd, He will make sure we are taken care of, having all we need. There is a difference between want and need, just a reminder. 🙂

God bless and keep you all!

In Christ,

Marshall

Nov 7, 2020 – Psalm 23:2 – He maketh me, He leadeth me.

“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.” Psalm 23:2 JKV

Hi Everyone!

Today we are still looking at the 23rd Psalms, journeying to verse two. There is a lot of good food in this verse.

Psalms 23:2 “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.”

A shepherd’s job is to lead the sheep to water, to food, and to shelter. The shepherd provides everything for the sheep, as God so freely does for us. Our God knows what’s best for us, even when we don’t. When this verse begins with, “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures”, it implies that God wants His sheep to rest, to enjoy the beauty of His creation, a fertile land teeming with growth and gentle grass. God wants us to rest in His provision. When we lie down, it means that there is no plan to have to get up, so it is a picture of a permanence that only God can give. The word pasture means “a home, a dwelling, an abode”. So, our loving God leads us to a place where He makes us totally at home.

Sounds familiar? When the Israelites left Egypt, they wandered through the wilderness, He made sure He didn’t lead them through the way of the land of the Philistines, because they weren’t prepared for war. He led them in a pillar of a cloud by day, and led them by a pillar of fire by night. He gave them manna from heaven, quail when they complained about the manna, and gave them water out of a rock twice! They were protected, but also were disciplined along the way. God led His sheep into the promised land, into a land flowing with milk and honey, into their green pastures that God made them lie down in. “Green pastures” is the appointed place He ordained for us to lie down and make roots.

The second half of the verse, “he leadeth me beside the still waters.” After he makes me lie down to experience a home of fertile land and growth, He then gives me peace. “Still waters” is a picture of peace, both for the water and for the person beholding the water. Still waters means there is no wind, no trouble, and it also means you can see your reflection in the water. If God is leading you besides the still waters, then you most certainly can see your reflection. A lot of times in our lives, we don’t have the peace to see ourselves clearly, but praise God that He gives us a permanent home and peace within our souls to understand that we are safe in Him.

A shepherd’s job is to make sure the sheep are secure. In Jeremiah 23:3-4, the Bible says, “And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries wither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord.” See what God did for us? We must do the same for others, leading them to these green pastures and still waters in the Lord. We don’t have to fear or be dismayed because we are safe in His care. God loves us that deeply that He provides the place for our rest.

God bless and keep you all!

In Christ,

Marshall

Nov 8, 2020 – Psalm 23:3 – He restoreth my soul, He leadeth me.

“He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”  Psalm 23:3 KJV

Hi Everyone!!

Today we look at Psalms 23:3, a deeper look into one of the Bible’s most well-known passages. We talked about how God is our leader, guider, protector, sustainer, provider, and as long as He is our Shepherd, we won’t lack. We also talked about how God gives us a home in Him where the land is fertile for growth, and how He gives us His peace. This Shepherd does a lot more than we give Him credit for, doesn’t He?

In Psalms 23:3, the Bible says, “He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”

“He restoreth my soul”. Think about that. In order for God to restore my soul, that means my soul is not in the intended design of the creator. Think about cars that get restored. A great restoration job is from the frame up, because we go all the way back to the beginning and rebuild according to way it was intended to be. Cars that are restored, usually have had parts attached or taken away, maybe with some things cobbled together just for the car to run, but all of which cheapens the vehicle and negatively affects its performance. Now take that vision about the car and think about how we attach things to ourselves, or take things away from ourselves that cheapens us and negatively affects our performance. Why is that? Because we are building outside of God’s intention for us, attaching things to our person that God didn’t authorize us to have. So what happens is, God breaks me down to the frame and rebuilds me with every piece that was intended to be there from the beginning. God wants to bring our true value back into our lives, and in order to do that, we have to allow Him to restore us.

To restore means to “turn back”. Kinda sounds like the definition of repent, which also means to turn back. Restoration is a process, and in this verse it is no different. God wants to be our shepherd, and when He becomes our shepherd, we will not lack anything we need, we will have a home in Him, and He will give us His peace. THEN, comes the restoration. God won’t allow anything to threaten our restoration. He stands behind His work!

“He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”

The second part of this verse takes us into what happens after restoration. When he leads me in the paths of righteousness, He is teaching me His Word, making His Word available for me to feed myself on. In Psalms 119:11, the Bible says, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”  Thy Word is the means for us to walk in the paths of righteousness, and only through the Word being hidden on our hearts will we have the standard that will help us stand against sin. Why does God allow us to learn and understand His Word? The words “for his name’s sake” is the same as “to bear His name”. Simply put, God restores us and teaches us His word so that we can bear His name, which means we represent Him in our lives and by our lives. Christians are supposed to bear the attributes of Christ, just as the Israelites were supposed to bear the attributes of God. No difference. The Word teaches us how to do that. In John 14:26, the Bible says, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” We are never without God’s leading when He is our Shepherd, and the Holy Spirit makes God’s Word clear in our lives.

We can do nothing or have anything that matters without the Lord being our Shepherd. May God comfort you in His love today.

God bless!

Marshall

Nov 9, 2020 – Psalm 23:4 – He restoreth my soul, He leadeth me.

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”  Psalm 23:4 JKV

Hi Everyone!

Today we are taking a look a verse 4 in our study on Psalms 23. What do we do when we experience things in our lives that threaten our peace, our safety, and leave us uneasy about the path God is leading us through? How do we feel when we are afraid by the environment that seems to horrify us in every way? Just because we are believers, it doesn’t mean we are exempt from terrifying ordeals, experiencing fear, or being close to life or death situations. We are sheep and you better believe that the enemy will try to use our worst fears to separate us from our Shepherd. What should our state of mind be?

Psalms 23:4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

For anyone who thinks that this won’t happen to them, look at the first four words of the verse. “Yea, though I walk”. Doesn’t say “if” does it? We all are going to face times like these, scary dark times that can make us unsure about moving forward. Knowing that we aren’t alone in this really helps. Let’s look at the first part of the verse. “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil”. The key to this verse is the word “through”. Walking through any place means that it is only temporary, that is a very short season in our lives. We will have time to see the sights and experience the fear, but we don’t have to remain in it. Knowing the terrors in our lives are temporary can completely change our impression and our circumstances. The verse also says, “the valley of the shadow of death”, so we’re not talking about a life or death situation here. We’re talking about the shadow of death, so it is the fear that comes from something around us, not to us. Sometimes, really seeing things clearly helps us to keep the right perspective. So, when we walk through this valley, we won’t fear evil. Why?

“For thou art with me”

Our Shepherd is always with us, protecting us, sustaining us, fighting off our enemies. The security of knowing God is right there with us should give us the confidence we need to not fear any evil. When Christ ended His commission in Matthew 18:20, he said, “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” So, God is with us and isn’t going anywhere. There is nothing to fear, and David professes this. Do we profess that God is with us when we are afraid? Do we trust in Him when life is pouring more rain than sunshine?

“Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” 

A Shepherd has two tools he uses, the rod and the staff. Both are used to provide comfort to the sheep. The rod is a tool that is used for correction, and discipline. In Hebrews 12:6, the Bible says, “For whom the Lord loves, he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives”. We are going need discipline and it is not pleasant. In Hebrews 12:11, the Bible says “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto the them which are exercised thereby.” So discipline doesn’t feel good at first, but if we allow it to teach us, we can bear the fruit of righteousness, and please our Shepherd. The staff is used for direction, because as sheep, we have no clue where to go, but our Shepherd does. If I was going to a city I have never been before, and I had to get to a set destination there, I would lose my peace trying to find my own way. 🙂 If I ask for directions, I may still be anxious because I don’t know the person so I don’t know if they are leading me the right way. But in most cars now they have navigation systems available to lead you all the way to the door, but we still have to listen for the directions. The staff guides us in the direction we need to take, especially when we are headed in the wrong direction. So, in God’s correction or God’s direction, they provide comfort to us because we know that God truly cares about our well being and has our best interests at heart.

No matter where we go or how bleak the situation looks, we have an awesome God who is always there with us, ready to lead us into a beautiful life and relationship with him. Some parts of it aren’t pleasant but it all works together for our good! May you be encouraged in the God that will never leave your side. Never! 🙂

God Bless!

Marshall

Nov 10, 2020 – Psalm 23:5 – God provides and anoints.

“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” Psalm 23:5 KJV

Hi Everyone! 

Today, we are looking at verse 5 of Psalm 23. We have already established that God is our Shepherd, and as long as we are allowing Him to lead and guide us, we will have everything we need. We then discussed how God has given us a place of permanence, a home on fertile ground, sure to reap a harvest. He also shows us His peace, waters so still in which we can see our reflection. The passage also speaks on how God allows us to turn back to Him, restoring us, and shows us how to live a righteous life and bear His name. Now we unlock further truths in verse 5.

“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”

The first part of the verse shows us that we are going to have enemies. Please don’t be fooled into thinking that everyone is going to like us or wish us well, because if we look at Christ, He always had adversaries. He walked the earth healing the sick, raising the death, causing the blind to see, freeing people from demonic possession, and He told the truth everywhere He went. He should’ve been the most liked person on the planet, but He was called a liar, they said He had a demon, and said he was a son of fornication, everything He wasn’t. In Mark 13:13, the Bible says, “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved.” Christ said we were going to be hated of all men, so we can be secure in knowing that we will have some enemies. 🙂

So God breaks out a table in front of my enemies, and then tells me to sit down in front of them. Wouldn’t that bring a certain level of nervousness? Would that require some trust on our part, that God isn’t putting us in front of a firing squad, that He knows what He is doing. Trust that we are going to have enemies, and also trust that we are going to have to face them. We can’t run from our adversaries, especially Satan. In James 4:7, the Bible says “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” We have to resist the enemy, and because God leads us in the paths of righteousness, we know that we resist the enemy with the Word of God. Truth is how a lie is resisted, right? So God puts me on display in front on my enemies, and I have to trust that this is all for a reason. 

The second part of the verse holds the reason. “Thou anointest my head with oil.” When someone in anointed with oil, they are blessed and set apart for a spiritual purpose. We will identify someone as anointed, we are saying that they are filled and led by the Spirit of God. So in the presence of our haters, of the people that have bad intentions for us, God pours His Spirit upon us, blessing us in the faces of those who hate us. Imagine the sense of humor God has to have, setting up a table, sitting us at it, and saying, “Watch this! Watch this!” and pour His Spirit upon us, showing the haters that they are hating on someone who is blessed. God puts their hatred on display and establishes who we belong to in the process. 

The last part of the verse jabs at the haters a little more. “My cup runneth over”. God is going to bless us so much with His Spirit and in life that we are going to have more than what we need. He gives us an abundance to share it with someone else. God makes us a living testimony in front of everyone that said we are nothing, who threw our past in our faces, who plotted against us and mistreated us, and who never meant us any good. 

Our God is awesome and also allows us to triumph in the face of trial. May you trust in God to take a seat at the table He prepared for you in the presence of your enemies, because a blessing is in store.

God bless!

Marshall

Nov 11, 2020 – Psalm 23:6 – Goodness and mercy in the House of the Lord forever.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” Psalm 23:6 KJV

Hi Everyone!

Today, we are looking at Psalm 23:6, completing our study on the 23^rd Psalm, one of the most famous passages of the Old Testament. There is incredible depth to Scripture and the purpose of devotionals is to bring our study of Scripture to life, to give us gleanings from the Word that can encourage and instruct us in our course of life today. The 23^rd Psalm gives a believer assurances of how life will be under God’s shepherding, how we will be provided for, protected, restored, led in how to live a Godly life, how we realize God is with us when we are fearful, how he corrects and directs us, and how he blesses us in the presence of our enemies, our blessings overflowing. Now we will look at verse 6.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”

Because of God’s goodness and mercy being poured heavily upon us causing our cup to overflow, goodness and mercy will follow us. In every environment we enter into, God’s spirit should fill the room, and when we leave an environment, it should be positively impacted by God’s present in our lives. This requires us to engage with people, talk with people, share the Word with people. Remember, God led us in the paths of righteousness to bear His name, to represent Him everywhere we go. So, goodness and mercy will definitely follow us because we are allowing our light to shine, and allowing God’s presence to reach us and the reach after His people. As we enter a space, what do people see in us? Do we personify the God we serve or do they see the world? What do they say about us when we leave a room? What impact do we make?

If goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of our lives, then we have to dwell in God’s house all the days of our lives. If we stay connected to God, we remain connected to the attributes that will exude goodness and mercy, and we will make positive impacts everywhere. In Psalm 27:4, the Bible says, “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.” What are our desires? Is it to dwell in God’s house forever, to see His beauty, and seek after Him in His temple? Where is our focus? If we focus on our Shepherd and go where He leads us, we will bear His name everywhere we go, in word and in deed.

I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever!!! This is the life I chose. Hope this look into the 23^rd Psalm opens your heart to something new in the Word.

God Bless,

Marshall

Nov 12, 2020 – Psalm 133:1 – Brethren to dwell together in unity!

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” Psalms 133:1 KJV

Hi Everyone!

How important is unity among believers? When God created Adam, He saw him and felt it was not “good” that Adam be alone, and He created a helpmeet for Him. We are called the bride of Christ, and if He is the bridegroom, then God created us to be a type of helpmeet for Christ, right? Husbands love your wife as Christ loved the church, right? So God’s intention was for us to never be alone, for us to always have unity in our lives in all relationships we have. We hear about “the power of one” but what happens when there two or more gathered in Christ’s name? He is in the midst. Today I want us to look at Psalms 133:1, which breaks down something so simple that society seems to be so out of tune with.

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”

Look at the word “behold”. To behold means to ” fix your eyes upon” or “look intently”. When behold is being used, it is telling a person to pay very close attention because what is being said or what is being done is very important. This Psalm was said to have been written after David regained his throne from Absalom, to show Israel how beautiful unity is.

The “good” here is a creation word, going back to Genesis, where God saw what He spoke into existence appear and declared it good. When God declares something good, that is Him putting his stamp of approval on it. It has always been God’s intention for His children to live in unity, but mankind’s sin threw a wedge in God’s design for the word He created. When David beheld Israel on one accord, He saw what God’s intention for His people looked like, and David declared it good as well. He was a man after God’s on heart, remember?

Anything good spiritually, is also pleasant, or pleasing to our God. When we operate according to His intention for creation, and are being the people He desired for us to be, He is greatly pleased with us. Parents, think about a time you gave your kids directives and they went right to work on it, working together in perfect harmony, like a well-oiled machine. As a parent, you see this and you smile, pleased by what you see. That’s how God sees us when we are living out His purpose and intentions for our lives.

What is “good and pleasant” to God in this Scripture?

Brethren dwelling together in unity!

The word brethren means “brothers or people of common ancestry”. So the body of Christ are all brethren, but remember, Christ also welcomed Gentiles into the fold and we are brethren with His elect, Israel. When we are dwelling together in unity, it doesn’t mean we are all robots performing the same function. It does mean that we are all using our gifting and our talents to collectively build up the kingdom of God. The singer is working with the poet, the pastor is working with the people who feed the needy, the missionary is working with the prisoner. Unite is the basis of unity, and when we come together for one cause, Christ, and the building up of the kingdom of God, we are definitely pleasing God.

May we all work together to build up God’s kingdom. It pleases the Lord!!!

God bless!

Marshall

Nov 13, 2020 – 1 Corinthians 4:2 – A man be found faithful

“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” 1 Corinthians 4:2 KJV

Hi Everyone!

Our job as believers is extremely important. I didn’t say our job as pastors are important, but our job as believers is important. Whether you are a pastor, or in the last pew at church service, we have the same responsibility, to embody Christ and point people to the Way. The great commission applies to us all and in Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus clearly says in the Bible, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” That’s the job, and in our own ways, according to the abilities God has given us, we are to live out this commission in our lives. Today, we are going to look at 1 Corinthians 4:2, which deals with stewardship.

“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

The word “steward” means “general manager of affairs and accounts of the owner”. So when an owner leaves, he entrusts all that is in his house to a steward, who will manage his house in his absence. When someone entrusts everything they have to someone else, that implies a great deal of trust, and with trust, there are requirements. In the great commission above, we are instructed to teach them to “observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you”, so we are only supposed to lead with the instructions of the owner. That means nothing is supposed to change between the time the owner leaves and he comes back, because the stewards are entrusted to manage the owner’s affairs and accounts the same way he has and would. In Jeremiah 23:4, the Bible says, “And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.” See what I mean? Because we have been entrusted with stewardship, the same way the Lord is our Shepherd, is the same way we have to be shepherds for others. We are to feed them love, the Word, direction, and every other thing the Holy Spirit puts on our hearts to give them. They won’t fear, be dismayed or lack anything because we are there for them.

A steward carries a great responsibility, and that requires us to have the mind of the owner. In Philippians 2:5, the Bible says, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” We have had the privilege of studying the Word of God, breathing in the example of Christ as a guide to what we shall do when He ascended to the Father. In 1 John 4:17, the Bible says, “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.” So we are to imitate Christ in our stewardship.

The second part of the verse, “that a man be found faithful” is the result of the work we have done as a steward. The word faithful means “trustworthy in the performance of duties”. If Christ came back today to give an account of our stewardship, what would He see? Would He come back to find us slack, with the sheep He’s entrusted to us scattered and led astray? Will He find our talents buried instead of practiced and multiplied? Or will He come back to find us rejoicing, ready to give a report on the work we were able to do and the lives that have been changed during our stewardship. In 1 Corinthians 3:13, the Bible says, “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.” The fire will try our work when Christ comes back, so what will remain? God has already trusted us when He made us stewards, but will we prove Him right in trusting us or make Him to be a liar? Trustworthiness is a requirement in stewardship, that we will manage the affairs and accounts of the Owner until He comes back the same way He did an if possible, better. Christ said in John 14:12, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” We have the ability to do all Christ did on this earth and more, but the question is do we believe on Christ?

Can Christ entrust His work to us? Will we be trustworthy stewards?

May God bless and Keep you All!

Marshall

Nov 14, 2020 – Romans 12:2 – Renewing the mind

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2 KJV

Hi Everyone!

Our walk, in faith, is not always an easy one. We have a world around us with their own “rules” or the lack thereof, and one doesn’t have to go as far as cutting off the TV to see just how Godless this world is becoming. Division, strife, violence, immorality abounds right on the TV, planting seeds in the children we are trying to train up in the Word. As believers, it can be easy for us to lose focus, and embrace some of the values of this world instead the truth in the Word. Scripture says in 2 Corinthians 10:5, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”.

Every high thing. Every thought. Sounds like a lot of work doesn’t it? We have to keep our diligence to live a Godly life, because if we don’t, then we will slowly allow the world to seep into our lives until a person can’t tell the difference between us and the world we are saved from. Today we are taking a look at Romans 12:2, a look into practicing Godliness.

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

***Whenever we read this verse, it is important to look at the first word. “And” is a word of continuation, showing that the verse you are reading is a continuation of a previous verse. Verse one is about presenting ourselves as living sacrifices unto God, people ready to put the kingdom business first over their own business. It expresses that this living sacrifice unto God is our reasonable service, that God isn’t asking much from us at all. Verse 1 and 2 are a complete thought!***

In verse two, the word conform, means “to be fashioned alike”, so to “be not conformed to this world”, it means that we are not to fashion ourselves to look like the world. People have to see us and see the world, and then see the difference. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 6:17, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” We have to physically step out from the world around us and intentionally stand apart from the world around us. It doesn’t mean we be hermits, but people should once again see the difference between the way we operate and the way the world operates.

If you look through Scripture, separation was normal. Moses separated himself to hear from God, Abraham separated himself to offer Isaac as a sacrifice, Hannah separated herself to pray for a child, and Christ separated himself to pray many times. Separation allow us to give God our undivided attention, and when God sees we are available to Him, He receives us!

“But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind”

The word transformed is really the same as metamorphosis, which means “a change in nature or form”. The body is the same, but the heart and mind are changed. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, the Bible says, “If any man be in Christ, he is a NEW creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new”. Think about a caterpillar that goes into a cocoon and comes out a butterfly. That butterfly will never be a caterpillar again, and that is how we are as believers. So, we are transformed by the “renewing” of our minds. In Psalm 119:11, the Bible says, “Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I may not sin against thee”. In Colossians 3:10, the Bible says, ” And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him”. Putting those verses together, we study the Word, meditate on it to put in our hearts, and that knowledge allows us be new creatures in Christ, bearing His image. Look at the word “renewing” in the verse. The “ing” means that it is a continual process, daily is the idea. We go to the Word and allow the seed to grow and bear fruit in our lives.

“That ye may prove what is that good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.”

The word prove here means, “establish truth by evidence”. That means we study the Word of truth daily, and our daily study will build into a ton of concrete evidence about the accuracy of the Scripture, and about God’s will for our lives. When a person knows something and has tons of evidence to back it up, it is extremely hard to shake them from their position, correct? So, our daily search of God’s word builds the knowledge we need about Him, His will, our identities in Him, and how the world works, all of which allows us to come out from among them and be ye separate.

When a person sees you, do they see world or Word? What SHOULD they see?

May God bless and keep you all!

Marshall

Nov 15, 2020 – Psalm 37:4 – Delight thyself also in the Lord

“Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Psalm 37:4 KJV

Hi Everyone!

Today, we tackle the desires we have as believers, and the things we ask God for in prayer pertaining to those desires. Some of us ask for things and don’t get them, and we wonder why. We read verses like Psalm 37:4, and say, “God, I am taking pleasure in you, but I am not getting the desires of my heart. Why not?” If a person tries to apply a promise, but interprets the promise incorrectly, the provisions of promise can’t be made available to them, because they have not fulfilled the conditions of the promise itself. It isn’t because we blatantly disregarded the conditions, but we didn’t understand.  It is important for us to understand the Scripture correctly, so we will break down Psalm 37:4, so we can all understand how to receive the desires of our heart.

“Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

Most people look at the word “delight” and automatically think that it means “to take pleasure in”, or “be pleased with”. Delight is a word that actually means “to be soft or pliable”. When something is soft or pliable, that means it is flexible enough to be formed. Hold that thought for a second …

“Delight thyself ALSO in the Lord”. The word “also” means that there is something else attached to this. In 37:1, the Bible says “Fret not thyself (blaze up in anger or jealousy) because of evildoers”. So that means, ‘don’t get mad when you see the worldly become wealthy, and you don’t have what they have’. In 37:3, the Bible says, “Trust in the Lord and do good…” So these are the additional directives given to go with 37:4, explaining the word “also” on verse 4. So God doesn’t want us to be affected by what the world has, and He wants us to trust in Him and do the things He ordained for us to do. Now we can go back to the thought I had you hold for a second …

Delighting ourselves in the Lord, means that we make ourselves available to be formed the way God wants to form us. That means, we give up our will to be what we want to be, and allow God to form us according to His design and intent. Remember in Genesis, where God said, “Let us make man in our own image, and in our own likeness”? Remember in Genesis 2:7 where the Bible says, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground..” So letting God form us will naturally shape us according to His initial design for us, and our appearance will bear His image. in Romans 8:29, the Bible says, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” So God has always had the intention to form us to the image of His Son, but are we allowing God to form us or are we still trying to be who we want to be?

“And he shall give thee the desires of thine heart”

The word “And” connects the conditions to the promise. The word “shall” is not bound by our impression on time. It means “it is going to happen”, but we have to trust God on the timing. The word desire means “request or petition ” That means we can make our requests to God and under these conditions, we see He will answer our requests. We all know the “heart” as being the “seat of one’s inner nature”.

Let’s put this all together. Don’t look at what the world has as a guide or example for what we should have as believers. Trust in God and do what he ordained for us to do. Allow God to form us into whom and what He designed for us to be, and He shall then give us the request of our inner nature. If we allow God to form us into His image, then what we ask for will be resoundingly different than what we’d ask for under “normal” circumstances. We should ask for things that will further advance God’s plan for our lives and not to fulfill our own personal desires. Our desires will be selfless if we allow God to form us into His design.

When Solomon became King, the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said in 1 Kings 3:5, “Ask, what shall I give thee”. Solomon asked for the wisdom he needed to be the king God wanted him to be. He knew he didn’t have what he needed to be king so he asked God to give him what he lacked. God gave him more wisdom than anyone in the world and because He didn’t ask for riches, God made him the richest man in the world. Think about it. This is a dream, and even in a dream, Solomon mind was on pleasing the Lord by doing what God ordained him to do. God appeared to Solomon, not the other way around. Solomon basically asked God to form him into the king He designed Him to be, not the king he wanted to be.

If we aren’t getting our heart’s desires, then maybe we should ask ourselves, “Have we made ourselves available to God to be formed according to His will and design?” If not, maybe we should start there, because James 4:3 says, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” May we all follow the examples set before us and become a people formed by our Loving God.

God bless!

Marshall

Nov 16, 2020 – 1 Corinthians 9:22 – To the weak I became weak

“To the weak I became as weak, that I may gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” 1 Corinthians 9:22 KJV

Hi Everyone!

Before Christ ascended to the Father, he said “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world “. Knowing Christ with be with us always, we have no reason to feel alone. What about the unbeliever who hasn’t received this word of truth into their heart? What covering do they have to ensure they don’t feel alone? Who becomes their bridge to the Kingdom of God? Unbelievers look at us like there is a world between them and us, and they have the hardest time with receiving the truth because there are few of us willing to step outside of the comfort of their salvation to help someone find their way into the kingdom. Unbelievers experience judgement before they experience understanding, and they receive a sermon about why they need to change before anyone gives them an understanding ear. If we are unwilling to exercise compassion as believers, then how can we ever show them a loving and forgiving God? They see us, and it should be a reflection of the God we represent.  Today, we are going to look at 1 Corinthians 9:22, the importance of understanding people their level.

“To the weak I became as weak, that I may gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”

The word weak here means “strengthless, implying a lack of firmness of mind: weak-minded, i.e. doubting or hesitating in opinion or faith.” So Paul is saying to the church at Corinth in this passage, that when he saw the weak he became ‘as weak’. This doesn’t mean he gave up the strength or the faith he had, but it means he strove to understand what the weak experienced directly from the source. This is important, because we can’t look at a person’s situation and assume we know what is going on. We have to be willing to step into their fire and see what they face from their perspective. Let’s say a person is coming to your house but gets lost along the way. They call you and say, “I am lost”. The first things you ask them are where they are, what street are they on, or things that may help you understand where they are. Why do you ask them these questions? Because it is easier to direct them to your house when you know where they are right now. In a believer’s life, it is no different. We can only direct a person to “Our Home”, the Kingdom of God, if we know enough about where they are to then show them the way. Paul walked a mile in their shoes, so he could show them the way to the Kingdom, so that he could show the weak how to be strong. If we are unwilling to meet a person right where they are, then how will they ever come to know Christ the way we do.

“I am made all things to all men”

In Romans 15:1, the Bible says, “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves”. God builds His strength into us, not for us to merely display our strength, but so we can use our strength to show others how to be strong. We bear their burdens so we can show them how to give their burdens to the Lord. Ministry is totally about God and nothing about us. Paul was made all things to all men, meaning he desired to be what all men needed him to be. That means our work as believers is never done because there is always someone we can work with and edify for the kingdom. “All men” means all men, believers or unbelievers. I highlighted unbelievers in my opening because if we put this in practice with unbelievers, then working with believers the same way becomes easier and easier. We have to make ourselves available to our brothers and sisters being willing to uplift and direct them in the Lord and in love for “All men”.

“That I might by all means save some”

Paul here isn’t trying to replace Christ as ‘The Savior’ in their lives, and neither should we. The word save here means “to preserve safe from danger, loss or destruction”. So we are doing our part to help people stick around long enough for them to receive salvation, and also regain their focus if they are believers, but have fallen away. All we do as believers is show people to The Way, The Truth, and The Life.

It should be our desire to meet people where they are so we can identify with their struggles, and help them see the road to all take for their salvation and restoration. Sounds familiar? Last time I checked, Jesus Christ came to this world, robed himself in flesh, and now intercedes on our behalf. In Hebrews 4:15-16, the Bible says, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” He met us where we were with a plan for salvation, walking as we did, but not sinning.

Our journeys to the Lord don’t mean anything to people if we are unwilling to understand them at their level. It is through our compassion for others that the attributes of Christ project from us. May we all become as the weak so we can gain the weak for Christ.

God bless and Keep You All!

Marshall

Nov 17, 2020 – Psalm 18:30 – HIS WAY IS PERFECT

“As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him” Psalm 18:30 KJV

Hi Everyone!

Do we really trust in God with the direction for our lives? We read the Bible, we say we trust in Him, but what happens when God allows us to go through a place where we have to rely solely on Him to make it through? Do we panic, or do we turn to Him, establish ourselves under His mighty hand and really look at God’s record to find security in His plan? When we trust in God, we allow Him to direct us where He purposed us to be, and we will see why His way is way more effective than our own. Today we will look at Psalms 18:30, a word about why we should trust in God.

“As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him”

The word perfect here means “without blemish”. So not only is our God perfect, but His “course of life” is perfect as well. How can God’s course of life for us be perfect? Doesn’t He have to figure out unexpected variables in His plan for us? Absolutely not! In Isaiah 46:10, the Bible says, “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from the ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:” So God’s plan for us was declared from the beginning, so that means God knows every detail of His plan for us, and He knows exactly how His plan will end. If God created me and created the plan for my life, then there is no way His way is not perfect.

“The Word of the Lord is tried”

The word tried means “refined or tested”. So God’s word has already survived scrutiny, stood against people trying to poke holes into His Word, and has remained true. When something is refined, it goes into the fire, and the fine burns off any impurities, leaving the metal pure and without blemish. So not only did God’s Word go out, but just for good measure, He allowed His word to enter the fire. He knows His word is true, and the fire proved it!

“he is a buckler to all those that trust in him”

A buckler is a shield that goes over the arm, protecting a person from attack. A buckler is good against arrows, but it is also great in “up close” battle, that can be used to protect and in some cases used as a weapon. The buckler only works if it is used effectively, and if the person using it, trusts that it will work as intended. We have to trust God even if we are under attack, even if things don’t seem to be going our way. If we trust God to protect us, He will do just that, but we have to trust him. In Psalms 17:7, the Bible says, “Shew thy marvellous loving kindness, O thou savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them”. See? All it takes is for us to trust in God and he will deliver us from the enemy.

God doesn’t ask for much for what He provides, does he? David gave this song of victory in Psalm 18 after the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. What will be our Psalm of victory?

May God bless and Keep you All!

Marshall

Nov 18, 2020 – Isaiah 26:3 – Keep him in perfect peace

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusted in thee.” Isaiah 26:3 KJV

Hi Everyone!

How do we gain peace in such a world of turmoil? Look at the state of our world right now. A pandemic is sweeping through every country like a flood, many people are affected, and many have died as a result. The United States is a country of confusion, protests, riots, police shootings, and our leadership has no answers for how to effectively deal with these problems we face. Violence is everywhere, Godlessness abounds in every corner, and sadly, believers seem to be the minority everywhere we go. How can a person find peace in a world that is so corrupt? Well, the world was never designed to give us peace! Today, we are going to look at Isaiah 26:3 for a look at where our peace actually comes from.

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusted in thee.”

The words “wilt keep” means “guard or protect”. The word “in” implies a habitation of sorts for us to dwell. So, to paint a picture, God places us in a house of perfect peace, and then protects that house to allow us to rest in the peace. What is this “perfect peace”? The Bible describes it as “peace, peace” as if to say, “not regular peace, but real peace.”

What is the difference? In John 14:27, Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” So, we have peace that the world gives and the peace that God gives. The world’s peace is momentary, based on trivial, temporary things, like money, materialistic things, feelings, relationships, sex, drugs, and even music. It can make us feel better, but it doesn’t give us the peace that only God can give. God’s peace is not depending on outside factors, tax brackets, relationships or the lack thereof. His peace fills us, and he desires for us to dwell in His peace. That is why His word says he will KEEP us in perfect peace. The word “keep” is a word that implies a permanent state, so God wants us to remain in His peace.

“Whose mind is stayed on thee”

There are almost always conditions to a promise. Receiving a habitation in God’s perfect peace requires us to do something. That something seems simple, keeping our minds stayed on Him. If our minds are “stayed”, that means our minds are in a fixed position where God is all we see, so if we can’t physically see God as a Spirit, we have His word to fix our minds on. God freely gives us His peace under this condition, but within this condition He also leaves it completely up to us to keep the peace He gives. The minute we take our minds off of God’s word, and make the choice to receive the world’s peace, we essentially walk out of the house God placed us in and guarded for us to remain in. In Colossians 3:2, the Bible says, “Set your affection (mind) on things above, not on things on the earth”. We have to keep looking to Christ, who is above, seated at the right hand of God. The word “set” means “fix upon”. So, if we are believers where God freely makes perfect peace available to us, yet we don’t have peace, then what does that mean? Our minds are stayed, or set, on the things of the earth. Do we focus on our problems or God’s word? So, our peace depends upon us fixing our minds on Him and His Word.

“Because he trusteth in thee”.

The word trust here is the key to the end of this verse. To trust means “to hie for refuge”. That is no spelling error, “hie” is actually a word, meaning “to hasten or hurry as a reflex”. So, to trust here means we hurry to our refuge by reflex. So, when we feel ourselves absent of peace, our reflex is running to our loving God for the peace we need, to retrain our minds on His, so we can be guarded in His perfect peace. If we don’t trust God for peace, then our minds won’t reflectively run to Him for refuge. We will try to figure it out for ourselves or seek comforts to temporary fix the problem. If we DO trust God, then our minds stay on Him and we remain in His peace.

It doesn’t mean that bad things won’t happen to believers, or we won’t face hard times, but in the face of hard times God will guard us in His perfect peace. I know this firsthand because I am in perfect peace with life imprisonment without parole, and I seem to possess more peace that the people hired to confine me. One thing I am sure of, we can’t rely on the world’s peace because that can only take us so far. We can fail at receiving God’s perfect peace, but God never fails to extend it to us.

May today bring you abundant peace that only God can give. Let us fix our minds on Him today.

God Bless You All!

Marshall

Nov 19, 2020 – Isaiah 29:13 – But have removed their heart from me

“Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:” Isaiah 29:13 KJV

Hi Everyone!

We live in a society that tends to pay a lot of “lip service” to the Lord, but are our hearts with the Lord? We say we are Christians, but does the world around us see that in motion? Have we become so religious that we follow after what man says before we follow after the Word? Pretty deep questions, ones we should always be willing to ask. I have one more question. Do people hear about our faith only to never see it? If we think that this goes unnoticed by God, we are sadly mistaken, and I would like us to take a look at Isaiah 29:13, because actions really do speak louder than words.

“Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:”

This is the people, who by their speech, sound like they are strong in the faith and have amazing relationships with God. They are the people that make God powerful, and exalt him verbally. They are the people who openly pray and praise God, giving the appearance of holiness and sanctification. I used to be this person, the church goer that could quote Scripture and participate heavily in service but didn’t have a relationship with my God. If these are the words of the Lord making this acknowledgement, then that shows he knows whether we are sincere or not, whether our praise is real! Yet, He still loves us and still has been drawing us to Him.

“But have removed their heart far from me,”

Think about this. It says “have REMOVED their heart”. Doesn’t this really express that we have made a choice to take our hearts out of our relationships, out of our praise, and out of our relationships with God? This is deliberate. So, God knows when our heart isn’t in it, and when we actually take our hearts out of it. Yet, He still loves us and keeps drawing us to Him.

“And their fear towards me is taught by the precepts of men.”

The fear of God, that deep moral reverence, is something that comes naturally through a sincere relationship with God. We get to know God by studying His word and allowing Him to speak to our hearts, also allowing Him to direct our paths. When this fear is taught by man’s precepts, or commandments, instead of from a deep, fruitful relationship with God, then our fear towards God is going to be because of man and not because of who God is. An example of this would if my Auntie and Uncle, who raised me, made me go to church every Sunday. Sure I went to church every Sunday, and it may have looked like I was faithful on the surface, but in my heart, if given the chance, I would’ve gladly slept in and missed church. I went to church to follow orders. I really enjoyed church and I am glad I was forced to go, but I didn’t develop my own desire to attend service until I developed my own relationship with my Lord and Saviour. Man’s commands can only take you so far, sadly, a lot of believers never make it past this point.

If we received our fear from the commandments of men, and not from our relationship and knowledge of God, then the heart of our service is removed, leaving us with empty words of praise and honour that doesn’t bring us any closer to God. In 1 Corinthians 4:20, the Bible says, “For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.” The word power here means “miraculous force or power”. That shows there is going to be evidence of God’s power working in our lives. It is bigger than words. Our words have to carry power and that only happens when we turn our hearts to the Lord and allow Him to speak and work through us.

May we all give our God willing hearts of service, allowing us to speak words of truth, and live lives of power.

God Bless You All!

Marshall

Nov 20, 2020 – Romans 12:20 –  Feed  thine hungry enemy

“Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head”. Romans 12:20 KJV

Hi Everyone!

Who is our enemy? Ask people that and you will receive a number of different answers. My definition for an enemy is anyone who hinders the work of God in my life. No matter what our definition of an enemy may be, how we should handle our enemies is the same. Today, we will look at Romans 12:20, to understand how we are to treat our enemies.

“Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head”.

The word “therefore” is a word that continues a point and usually establishes a course of action for us to follow. To understand why the course of action is necessary, we have to understand the context. Verse 18 tells us to live peaceably with all men as much as it depends on us, and verse 19 says to not get revenge for ourselves; but allow God to avenge whatever wrong was done to us, because He will repay it. God desires us to leave wrath in His hands, to not pay someone’s evil with evil of our own.

“If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink:”

One of the hardest things to do is be nice to someone who has mistreated us, even more difficult to feed them when they are hungry, or give them drink when they are thirsty. Even more difficult than that is sharing the Word of God with someone who has cursed us out, disrespected our faith and made sport of our God. How easy would it to be to teach someone the Word that spread rumors about us or spoken horribly about us to people we know. How Christ-like would we be if something like this happened? This part of the verse is bigger than just food and drink because Jesus says in John 7:37, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink”, and in John 6:35, the Bible says, “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” Not only are we supposed to feed our enemies physical food, but we are definitely expected to feed our enemies spiritual food as well! Doesn’t, Jesus say in Matthew 7:9: “Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?”

“For in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head”

Coals of fire on the head signifies guilt. It doesn’t mean that we purposely feed our enemies and give our enemies drink IN ORDER TO make them feel guilty for mistreating us. It is not our job to get the increase, but God gets the increase. This verse says that by feeding our enemies and giving our enemies drink shall bring guilt upon their heads. The action itself should bring the guilt, not our intentions for the actions. Everything we do as believers should have love as our intent, because our enemies will definitely know the difference. In Matthew 5:44-45, Jesus says, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven:” If we to be the children of God, then we have to love our enemies, be there for them when they need us, be ready to speak a word of truth to them when they need it, treating them like they never wronged us at all. It is not easy, but it is necessary.

As believers, we shouldn’t want God’s wrath to come upon people. We should make every opportunity to cover them in prayer so they can receive healing, salvation and a transformation in their lives. No one is incorrigible, and all can change under the right timing and in the right environment. One thing is for certain; if our enemies can’t find love and forgiveness from the very people they expect to show it to them, then how can we bring credibility to the cross? I have had two instances with this very subject in the last 24 hours, so I had to apply this to my life. It wasn’t easy but I thank God for this victory.

May God grant us the sight to look beyond our enemies’ faults to see who they could be in Christ. May our love be ever-present and overflowing towards them. They will know we are Christians by our love, right?

God Bless!

Marshall

Nov 21 2020 – Psalm 27:1 – The Lord is my light and my salvation

“The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom should I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1 KJV

Hi Everyone!

Believers find themselves in situations where they become afraid by what is going on around them. Fear is natural but it is not of God. In 2 Timothy 1:7, the Bible says, “For God hath not given us the Spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” So, if God didn’t give us the spirit of fear, then it must come from the enemy. What do the sheep do when they are afraid? They scatter, leaving the security of the flock and the shepherd, making them highly vulnerable to attack. The enemy wants us afraid, so we will take our attention off God and place our attention on our fear. As believers, we have to keep the truth planted in our hearts and minds so when the enemy tries to scatter the flock, we will realize that there is nothing to fear. Our Shepherd is mightier than the enemy! Today we are going to look at Psalm 27:1, a verse where David encouraged himself in the Lord with the truth in the face of fear.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom should I be afraid?”

“The Lord is”. This statement is in present tense, meaning our God is alive and active in our lives right now. If we don’t believe that “the Lord is”, then we will feel like His word no longer applies to us today. In Hebrews 13:8, the Bible says “Jesus Christ (is) the same yesterday, and today, and forevermore “. So, the first thing we have to understand in the face of fear, is that our God is on the throne right now, ready to work on our behalf.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?”

We established that God is the God of today. Now, is he OUR God? David uses “my” to express ownership that comes by relationship. If God isn’t ours, then we can’t have access to his light and salvation. The word light here means “luminary”, which means “someone who enlightens, or gives light to someone else”. In John 1:9, the Bible says, “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world”, speaking of Jesus Christ. What does light do? Fills a room so we can see everything in it. If God is our light, then He shines the light and fills us with His light, so we can see everything around us clearly, and so people can see the God in us clearly. In darkness, we can’t see what is out there, so that is what causes fear.

The word “salvation” means “deliverance”. When we know that God is going to deliver us from the enemy, we are safe, and we don’t have to worry about attacks from the enemy. Knowing that The Lord is our Light and Salvation, we are secure; and we can really be still no matter what comes our way.  The word “fear” means “revere”. That means we don’t give anybody the same deep reverence that belongs only to God. There is nothing to fear when we can see clearly. In 1 Peter 5:8, the Bible says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” Lions use the element of surprise, hiding in the brush, slowly creeping up until they are close enough to give chase or attack. The enemy tries to use “darkness” so we don’t see his offensive. If the “light” is on, then we see everything as it is, also seeing our Deliverer, ready to rescue us. With this visual, is there really anything to fear?

“The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom should I be afraid?”

We don’t have to rely on our own strength! God is more than willing to be all the strength we need to triumph over the enemy. In Isaiah 26:4, the Bible says, “Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength”. So not only is the Lord strength, but He is everlasting strength! When we don’t have to worry about our own strength, then we certainly don’t have to worry about when we have weak moments. In Psalms 33:16, the Bible says, “There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.” See? Our own strength means nothing, and we have every reason to fear, if we have left God out of the equation and chosen to handle the enemy on our own. When we rely of God’s strength there is no reason to be afraid, or experience dread. God is all powerful, and the enemy is nowhere near stronger than our God. When we are fearful we can have refuge in our God

Fear is inevitable, but always know that God didn’t give us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind. In Him lies everything we need to defeat the enemy. Are we going to let fear reign or are we going to let the Lord’s strength to encourage us? The choice is ours.

May the Lord’s light, His salvation, and His strength make you courageous in the face of the enemy.

God Bless you All!

Marshall

Nov 22, 2020 – Isaiah 43:2 – I will be with thee

“When thou passeth through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” Isaiah 43:2 KJV

Hi Everyone!

Life can bring so much uncertainty. As believers, we have times where we go through situations that have the potential of consuming us. The disciples were on the boat with Christ and a storm came, they panicked, and woke Christ up out of His sleep, accusing Him of not caring whether they lived or died. In a state of panic we can lose our memories and our minds and forget about the Word God has given and the prayers we lifted up in faith, causing us to fold under the weight of fear. When we were kids, we felt the security of our parents (or caregivers) and we were able to move comfortably because we knew they were right there with us. Well, I have news for you! God is right there with us too, through everything we face, and through every ordeal we encounter. Today, I want us to look at Isaiah 43:2 and be assured that God is always here for us.

“When thou passeth through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”

The word “passeth” means “to cross over”. When the Israelites crossed over the Red Sea on dry land, God was right there with them, and it was God that turned the sea into walls on both sides of them as they crossed over. When Peter asked Christ to give him permission to come out on the water Christ was walking on, Christ said in Matthew 14:27, “Come”. We know the story, how in Matthew 14:30 Peter started looking around, seeing the wind’s effect on the seas, he became afraid and began to sink. Training his eyes on Christ was the thing that kept Peter on top of the water. But it was Christ’s word, “Come”, that was the reason he was able to come out on the water at all. Christ was standing right there the whole time, but when Peter looked at the circumstances and not the Word, he sank. The first word of Isaiah 43:2 is “When”, which means that there won’t be an “if”. We WILL cross over some waters at some point in our lives, and what we are looking at will determine our state of mind and circumstance. If we are looking at God, we will maintain our peace as we cross over the water, but if we take our eyes off the Lord, we are going to be terrorized in our spirits and in our lives.

“and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee”.

When Joshua and the Israelites crossed over the Jordan River, they actually had to step into the water first before the waters were removed. In Joshua 3:15, the Bible says, “And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest).” So, the waters were very deep, but they had to trust in the Word that was given, and when they moved in faith, the waters opened up to them, allowing them to cross over on dry ground. The word “overflow” means, “drown or conquer”. God is right there the whole time, and His presence and His Word ensures that we will survive and succeed in Him.

“when thou walkest through the fire, thou shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”

Remember when King Nebuchadnezzar ordered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego to be thrown into the fiery furnace, heated seven times hotter, because they wouldn’t worship the image of gold Nebuchadnezzar had made? In Daniel 3:22, it said the men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were killed by the flame because the fire was so hot. In Daniel 3:25, the Bible says, “He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God”. So, the Son of God was in the fire with them! In verse 27, the Bible says, “And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.” See? God’s Word is the truth, and He always backs His Word up. They were thrown into a fire heated seven times hotter with all of their clothes, and instead of burning, they were walking with the Son of God in the fire! They didn’t look like what they’d been through.

We are not exempt from going through waters, rivers, or fires in our walks with the Lord, but one thing we can bank on is God will be there every step of the way. That reassurance should give us confidence to press through anything that comes our way. Our God is right there, ready to deliver us. What do we see when we are going through turbulence? God or the turbulence?

May we all find reassurance in that the Lord will never leave us, nor forsake us, no matter the circumstances.

God Bless you All,

Marshall

Nov 23, 2020 – Psalm 37:23 – The steps of a good man

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.” Psalm 37:23 KJV

Hi Everyone!

Who orders our steps? Who is the first person we speak with when we need direction in a certain area? Some people call their parents for the pathways they seek, others seek out their friends, and yet still, there are people that seek their spouse out. David was identified as a man after God’s own heart. Why? Because he always sought God for direction, for insight, and for purpose. He was also the writer of the 23^rd Psalm, David recognized that he is a sheep and the Lord is his Shepherd, the One that leads him to where he needs to be. Now we take a glimpse into Psalm 37:23, also written by David.

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.”

The word “good” here needs a stronger look. The first reference of the word good was given in Genesis, after God said, “Let there be light”. In verse 4, the Bible says, “And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.” God commanded light and there was light, and he called it good. Why? Because it was created exactly how God intended for it to be. So, the word good is a term associated with creation, meaning “someone or something that is operating according to God’s intention for them”.

The word “man” doesn’t just mean man. It means valiant man, or warrior. This automatically screams bravery, and the bravest people in the Bible were men and women of faith, who took God’s word, believed it, and raced after it. The good man receives his direction and the Word from the Lord and seeks Him first.

Let’s look at the word “ordered”. It means set up or established. So, the Lord sets up (or establishes) a good man’s steps, someone who is operating according to God’s intention for them since creation. If our steps are set up, that means that there is only one path we can take because they are already laid out for us. God does this to ensure that we will get to where He ordains for us to be, but it is our job to follow the path He’s laid for us. That requires us to keep inquiring of the Lord, as David did, to make sure that we are going in the right direction. God will not set up and establish our steps and then not protect and keep us along the way. He stands behind His people. What we have to do as believers is reach after God’s intention for us, not our own, and we have to seek out His plan over our own.

“and he delightest in his way.”

The word “delightest” is the key to the second part of this verse. That word means “to incline oneself towards, to bend”. So, the valiant man who operates according to God’s intention for their life, inclines himself towards God. If I am trying to hear what someone is saying, I turn towards them, or lean towards them so I can give them my undivided attention. The meaning of delight here has a deeper meaning than to merely be pleased with. God establishes the steps of the people that turn themselves towards God, and receive His Word and direction. When we incline ourselves to God, we are trying to live according to the way He intended for us to live from the beginning.

Putting all of this together, we have to seek after God to find out our purpose. Until He reveals our purpose, we have to seek after His Word, making ourselves available for God to lead us however He will. We live to do God’s will, to fulfill the purpose He has for us, but we have to understand that the steps to get us there are established by the Lord. The only way we can become who God ordained for us to be from the beginning is to incline ourselves towards His Way; and allow Him to lead us there.

May we all receive God’s leading and move accordingly.

God Bless!

Marshall

Nov 24, 2020 – Isaiah 62:12 – The Holy People

“And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the Lord: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, a city not forsaken”   Isaiah 62:12 KJV

Hi Everyone!

I have had the privilege of going from someone cast out, abandoned by family and friends, and definitely in wrong standing with God, to someone redeemed, cleansed, and restored. It is a real wilderness being away from the Lord and I drifted so far away from the path that I couldn’t recognize what I had become. I am still in awe at how God forgave me, how God knew I was going to fail miserably and still had His plan for my redemption in place before I was even born! When I think on where I have come from, the damage sustained, and how I was on a collision course with destruction, I would’ve thought it would’ve been impossible for me to be forgiven. With God, it was not only possible, but He did it, and I am a living witness to that. Today, we are going to look at Isaiah 62:12, for a word on redemption.

“And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the Lord: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, a city not forsaken.”

The first part I want us to look at is “And they shall call them”. What we do as believers and what happens to us is always being watched by others. People make declarations based on what they observe. When the Israelites made themselves a stench to God’s nostrils, He removed His presence from them, allowing them to be taken captive, their cities overtaken, and the people broken. When an outsider sees this and knows we serve the Most-High God, then the safest explanation would be that God has forsaken us, because the odds of all of this happening when we are in God’s good favor is slim. Now, we know about Job, and we also knowing about testing as well, so we know as believers that an outside view into our circumstances can be wrong. Always keep in mind that whatever we do and whatever happens to us as a result paints a picture of who God is towards His children. We want people to see our God correctly, right?

In this text, Israel is being redeemed by God, and it has changed their identity from “Forsaken” and their land called “Desolate”, to “holy”, “redeemed”, and “sought out”. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things become new.” When God changes us, we become knew and our identity changes. Who we were no longer matters, and God will also change people’s impressions of us as well.

“The holy people”

Look at the word “The”. When someone used uses the word “The” in front of a word that already describes someone or something, it is actually declaring that what is being described is the standard to follow. Israel isn’t just holy people. They are God’s stamp on holy people. The word “holy” means “something consecrated and set aside for sacred use only.” So, imagine going from casted out to someone who is consecrated and set aside for sacred use. A big change in our lives, right? Imagine when people see us because of God’s work in our lives and declare us the standard for holiness. Kinda humbling isn’t it?

“The redeemed of the Lord”

The word “redeem” means “to buy back from bondage”. Christ bought us back from the bondage of sin.  And did it in such a fashion that not only did people see we were redeemed, but saw that it was the Lord who redeemed us. People have to know that it was the Lord that bought us back, and they will know that by seeing our lives and hearing our testimonies. In Psalms 107:2, the Bible says, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy.” We can’t stay silent with such a great victory in our lives. Once again, we are declared “The redeemed”, meaning God has made us the standard for redemption.

“And thou shalt be called, Sought out, a city not forsaken.”

The word “Sought out” means “frequented”. That means people will continue to appear to behold the work of the Lord in our lives. They won’t fear destruction, they won’t come expecting to be overtaken, but they will come and come often to be a part of God’s redemption story. They will look at our city and see that God’s presence has returned and if God hasn’t forsaken us, they won’t either. When God redeems us, it not only changes our identities, but it changes people’s impressions of our lives, our homes, our communities, and our family. We want to be a place that is frequented by people because we have the opportunity to share our redemption story which can help someone else to seek God for the same story for their own lives.

Only our God can transform both us and the perception of us. May we always stay mindful that people are watching to see God’s work in our lives. Will they see God’s redemptive power or will they see his disciplinarian power at work. What picture are we painting about God through our actions?

God bless and Keep you All!

Marshall

Nov 25, 2020 – 2 Corinthians 1:4 – The Holy People

“Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”  2 Corinthians 1:4 KJV

Hi Everyone!

Believers are a powerful force, not in our individual abilities, but as a whole. One soldier can do some damage, but an army can conquer a whole country. Everything God blesses us with, we can then extend it to someone else in need, because God doesn’t bless us with just enough, He blesses us with more than enough! A weakness in any army is its vulnerability, and the enemy is prowling around looking for weak points in the kingdom. If God has blessed us with strength, He blessed us to encourage others with your strength. If God has blessed us with intelligence, He blessed us to help those who haven’t learned as well. God purposely allows some of us to go beyond, so we can pave the way for others to do the same. When a person is heartbroken, God has a person in the kingdom that has overcome heartbreak, and He will position the two together so the one that has overcome can teach the one who needs to overcome exactly how to. Today, we are taking a look at 2 Corinthians 1:4, for a view on comfort.

“Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

The word “comfort” means to “call near to help”. God draws us to Him, because in His presence we will have everything we need. We normally look at someone who comforts as someone who runs towards the person who needs comfort, but God calls us to Him. Just maybe God wants us to remove ourselves from the areas where we have been heartbroken, where we have lost peace, or where we have grieved, and turn our faces to Him. In Psalm 121:1, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from which cometh my help”. Not only do we have to look to God, but we always have to come near to Him when He calls. The verse says “Who comforteth us in ALL of our tribulation”. Not “some” of our tribulation. Not “most” of our tribulation. ALL of our tribulation. God doesn’t do a half-job at anything. He does it all. The word “tribulation” means “pressures or affliction”.  So, God calls us near in order to help us in ANY time of affliction or pressure.

“that we may be able to comfort them which are in trouble,”

God comforts us so we may be able to comfort others. God forgives us so we can forgive others. God gives us His grace when we fall short, so we can extend grace to others who fall short. We are to never forget what God has done for us, because we are to do the same thing for believers and nonbelievers alike. In the Great Commission, Christ said “teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you.” We have to extend what God gives us to others. In 1 Corinthians 12:26-27, the Bible says, “And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” So, we have to have the understanding that when a believer suffers, it should hurt us enough for us to spring in action. Why? Because not only are we a part of the same body, but we also have had God spring into action when we ourselves suffered.

“By the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God”

The word “comfort” here means “consolation”. The word that comes from consolation is “console”, means to “counsel to make someone feel less sad, hurt, and disappointed”. So, God calls us near to Him to console us, and when we are strengthened, we have to comfort others. We don’t comfort people with what we believe to be comfort. We are to comfort others with the same comfort we received from God. God hears our cries and our cares, and He gives us the perspective we need to have in order for us to turn our minds on Him instead of our circumstances. Our way of comfort should be listening, and then pointing a person to the Lord, either through the Word or through prayer. God doesn’t give us something we can’t do, and He delivers us so we can not only understand what deliverance feels like, but we can extend that to others. In Luke 22:31-32, Jesus says, “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” Christ told Peter to strengthen his brothers after he himself was converted. Somebody has to endure and overcome in order to strengthen our brothers and sisters, and sometimes, that somebody is us! We don’t have to use anything but what God gives us to help our brothers and sisters in need, and that should lighten the load in our minds about what we have to do.

In verse one, the Bible says “the God of all comfort”. ALL comfort! May we hear the Lord’s call when we are afflicted and cast our cares to Him, because He is truly the God of all comfort. May we also comfort others with the comfort we have received by God.

God Bless and keep you all!

Marshall

Nov 26, 2020 – John 15:16 – Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you

“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you ”  John 15:16 KJV

Hi Everyone!

God chose us. I want to repeat that because it is very important to grasp. God chose us. If we say that we were the ones that have chosen our loving God, then we are saying that we have the power within our choice to alter God’s plan for our lives. Our God has the hairs on our head numbered, and has our days counted on earth, then certainly He picked who were going to make the choice for Him. God chose us for His purpose, and as we bear His image in our lives, we will have access to the Kingdom of God that we wouldn’t have had otherwise. Today we are going to look at John 15:16, a look into this wonderful choice God has made!

“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you “

The word “chosen” means “selected”. We tend to wrongly believe that we chose Christ as our Lord and Savior, no different than the disciples may have thought they chose the Lord. Think about the word select. We are picking something particular out of a crowd of options based on what appeals to us. God picked us out of a crowd of people based on what appealed to Him, and that was His purpose. We had nothing to do with the choice God made, but He did ready us to accept the call when it was given. In John 6:44, the Bible says, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” We are drawn to the Lord, and then we “make the choice”, but the choice was something God had full control over. Another example of this is the calling of Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:5, which says, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” So did Jeremiah make the choice or was the choice already made for him? God selects us for His purpose before we are born.

“And ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain”

The Word “ordained” means “to place one in a position of privilege or ministry”. So God selected us, to place us in a position of ministry, so we can bear fruit. All believers are in ministry, whether we see it that way or not. Here’s why. In Matthew 28:19, the Bible says, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations(teach=make disciples), baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of Son, and of the Holy Ghost “. The “fruit” is won souls for Christ! So if we invite someone to church or to stream a pastor’s message, and they receive the Lord as their Savior as a result, then we have bore fruit. If we share a Word of truth online, post a faith-based poem, or tell someone in passing about Christ, we are in ministry. We may never see the fruits bore, but it is not our jobs to see the fruit. We are the planters or waterers, but God gets the increase. So God selects us to uses whatever He has given us to win souls for Christ. God doesn’t want us bearing fruit that dies off. The word “remain” means “stay or endure forever”. Look at the word “should”. That word implies that if we move the way He ordains for us to move, then our efforts will bear fruit. Should is a word that expresses a condition, where if we do this, that should come as a result.

“that whatsoever ye ask of the Father in my name, He may give to you”

The “whatsoever” is not a free for all, giving us license to ask God for anything that comes to our mind. We have to ask for things that are consistent with God’s will and the performing of His purpose. Solomon asked for wisdom to perform his purpose and God gave it to him. Elisha prayed and asked God to open his servant’s eyes so he could see that they weren’t alone. Christ prayed for Lazarus to be raised from the dead. Ananias prayed and laid hands on Saul for him to receive his sight. Are our hearts in line with ministry when we are asking for something of God? Have we delighted ourselves in the Lord, making ourselves pliable, able to be formed by him? The”whatsoever ” is in context with the verse, that God selected us to ministry, that we can bear fruit in doing it. Asking God for “whatsoever” should line up with what He is calling us to do, because that makes our prayer say, “God, equip me to perform your purpose.” Why wouldn’t He answer that prayer? “In my name.” Is the seal of faith to our prayer. In Hebrews 12:2, the Bible says, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of our faith, so why shouldn’t our prayers finish with His name?

God wants to give us whatsoever we ask for, when our minds and hearts are centered towards God and performing His purpose our lives. The question is, what are we asking for?

May God bless and keep you all!

Marshall

Nov 27 – 2 Timothy 2:15 – Study to show thyself approved unto God

“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15 KJV

Hi Everyone!

Studying the Scriptures is essential in any believer’s growth. Study takes a deeper look into Scripture, and allows us to receive a lot more than we would if we just read the Scripture. By studying, we will begin to see the uniformity of the Word of God which will give us a more-sure record of its truth. Studying produces more security in what we learn and that will help us gain the confidence we need to share what we learn with others. Not only is what we learn for our spiritual development, but it is for others’ growth as well. Today, we will take a look into 2 Timothy 2:15, one of my favorite verses.

“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

The word study means “to make an effort, to be earnest”. That separates the reader from the person that studies, even though they both have the intention to learn something from what they read. The attitude is different, and the person that studies wants to learn what they read inside and out. They study with intention to learn the information thoroughly.

“to show thyself approved unto God”

Everything begins with our personal relationship with God. When we study, we are studying for God’s approval, to connect with Him in a deeper way. Before we can attempt to share what we learn with anyone, it must first be approved by God. The word “approved” means “to be tried, and found genuine”. It is not wise if we study and we don’t ask God to give us the knowledge He desires us to have about what we are studying, and if we don’t check with God to make sure what we learned was correct. There is a great responsibility that comes with sharing the Word and having God’s approved. The Scripture says “thyself approved”, so we can’t rely solely upon someone else’s study, or someone else’s message. We have to break it down for ourselves.

“a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”

In Romans 10:11, the Bible says, “For the scripture saith, ‘Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed'”. We are workmen, and that means we have to know our work! 🙂  If we try to share a Word with someone that hasn’t been approved by God, a word that we don’t understand because we haven’t studied, we can easily be put to shame by a question. If we are put to shame, then our witness is hindered, and we could actually lead someone astray in the process. That would be tragic for not only the hearer but for the person that shared the word. In James 3:1, the Bible says, “My brethren be not many masters (instructors/teachers), knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.” When we share a word with someone, we are held responsible if we mislead someone, so we have to be sure to share the truth only as God gives us. If we go off script, not only will we be put to shame, but we can also lead someone astray.

What keeps us from being ashamed? “Rightly dividing the word of truth”!

The words “rightly dividing” means to “dissect correctly”. When you dissect something, you cut it open and study the parts inside, to gain a better understanding of how what you dissected works. So, we study the Scripture, cut into it, study its inner workings, all to receive the word of truth. The truth is what it is! It doesn’t need our help to be truth. Our jobs as believers is to study to uncover that truth so we can then share that truth with others. When there is a question, we’ll be able to go to Scripture to show them more truth, because every word is established by two or more witnesses. In John 8:32, the Bible says, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” The truth we know has made us free, and it will do the same for someone else, if they will hear the word of truth come out of our mouths. When we rightly divide the word of truth, we position ourselves to allow the Holy Spirit to use us to speak that truth. When this is done, we won’t be put to shame.

It all begins with how we approach the Word of God. Do we pour into Scripture, making an earnest effort at dissecting the Word of God, or do we glance over Scripture for something that may catch our eye? A person that studies the Word goes after it, and studies with the intention of receiving the truth. We must do the same.

May God uplift your hearts and ready your minds to receive His truth!

God bless!

Marshall

Nov 28 – Zechariah 10:6 – Restoration

“And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I bring them again to place them: for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the Lord their God, and will hear them.”  Zechariah 10:6 KJV

Hi Everyone!

Since the fall of man in Genesis, God has never stopped trying to bring us back to Him. He created man in His own image and in His own likeness so man could commune and fellowship with God. God’s punishment at times was severe, but His forgiveness far greater than anything we have deserved. God will never stop drawing us to Him, no matter how far we have gone and no matter what we have done, and He will go as far as to use the consequences of our sin to make us see our need for Him. Today, we are going to look at Zechariah 10:6, for a word on restoration.

“And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I bring them again to place them: for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the Lord their God, and will hear them.”

Notice the difference between Judah and Israel, how God is strengthening Judah, but saving Israel. We have to go back to Solomon’s time to find out why. Because of Solomon’s turning away from God, the punishment was that God would rend the kingdom away from him and give it to his servant. God did give one tribe to Solomon’s son for the sake of David. That tribe was Judah, God’s remnant. Well, the house of Israel consisted of 10 tribes, because God took ten tribes away, and the tribe of Benjamin floated between Judah and Israel. Both kingdoms had kings at times that did evil in the sight of the Lord, but Israel had a consistent history of turning away from God to serve idols, while Judah always turned back. It is utterly disappointing reading about king after king doing evil in the sight of the Lord. So God had to strengthen Judah because they were walking closer to God over their history. The word “strengthen” means “to make strong in order to prevail”. Judah had to be preserved because Judah was the line to Christ, so they needed strength to prevail over the sin that could wipe them out as a people. The house of Joseph was Israel, the ten tribes plus part of a wandering tribe of Benjamin, needed saving.

“and I will bring them again to place them.”

In Jeremiah 33:7, the Bible says. “And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.” God’s intention for His people was to lead them into the promised land, where they would be one people under God, led by Him. That intention has been the same since the beginning, in the garden, and it still is the same today. The Northern 10 tribes were captured by the Assyrians, and Judah was captured by the Babylonians. God set them free so they could return to the land He promised them. God placing them back in their land is for a reason, so they could them serve God with their entire hearts. There is purpose behind everything God does, including captivity.

“for I have mercy upon them”

The word “mercy” here means “a deep, kindly sympathy and sorrow felt for another who has been struck with affliction or misfortune, accompanied with a desire to relieve the suffering”. That is a great definition for mercy. This shows us that our captivity really grieves God and He truly is compassionate to us. God saw what the captivity was doing, heard the cries of His people and had a set time already planned to release them from their bondage. He extends the same mercy to us!

“and they shall be as though I had not cast them off:”

That means all of Israel is going to be restored back to the power, wealth, and influence they had before the captivity began! The word “restore” means to “bring back to a former or normal condition by means of rebuilding, repairing, etc”. They aren’t going to look like they were enslaved, so the work of restoration by God had to be extensive! I think about the prodigal son, who when he returned home, his father saw him from far off, ran to him, clothed him, put a ring on his finger, and sandals on his feet, killed a fatted calf and threw a party! That is OUR God and He has never stopped desire us to dwell with Him.

“for I am the Lord their God and I will hear them”

God said, “for I am the Lord their God”. “I am”, not “was”. Not past tense, but present tense. God was always our God! When God is Lord, that means He is in control in our lives and He orders our steps. In Jeremiah 29:11-12 says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.” God wants to hear us but sometimes, our sin can allow God to turn the volume down of our voice. Praise God that He has selective hearing and the volume goes right back up when we are trying to “come home”.

I know firsthand what bondage feels like, but praise God I know what freedom feels like in Him. May God restore your hearts and minds in Him!

God bless!

Marshall

Nov 29, 2020 – 2 Peter 1:3 – All things that pertain unto life and godliness

“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”  2 Peter 1:3 KJV

Hi Everyone!

The scariest thing in my walk with the Lord is not being prepared for the things God has for me. I imagine volunteering for a task and falling flat on my face because I didn’t know what I needed to know, or I didn’t have the fortitude to see it through. Anxiety usually comes, and I then begin to question myself, and also God, about whether or not He chose the right guy for this task. I am sure we have all had moments like this as believers, but how do we respond? Do we go back into the Word and clarify who we are, and that God prepares us in advance for what he calls us to be, or do we allow fear to prevent us from taking that step? If we understood God’s provision, we would have no reason to question ourselves or God about how well He has prepared us to perform His purpose in this land. Today we look at 2 Peter 1:3, for a view on preparation.

“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”

The words “divine power” means “godlike miraculous power”. The word power, dunamis, is where we get dynamite from. So this is the source of our strength and ability, meaning our power source is God himself. This is a good start, right? This means that we don’t have to operate according to our own power. In Zechariah 4:6, the Bible says, “Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit saith the Lord of hosts.” So if we are trying to move in any type of power but the Holy Spirit’s, we are destined for failure.

“Hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness,”

The power God has, He gives. Before Christ died, he said this in John 14:16, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever”. So Christ prayed for us to be given another Comforter (for us, A Comforter, the disciples had two, Christ and the Comforter!), so we can experience God’s presence at all time. Christ also said in John 14:26, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said to you.” So before Christ died, He was already equipping us to receive this power. 1 Peter 1:12 shows it has already been done. Look at “all things”. That word “all”, meaning everything, so we won’t be lacking anything. The word “life” means “In the sense of existence, life, in an absolute sense and without end”. This is more than just living. This goes beyond life to eternal life, as this life is without end. The word “godliness” means “holiness or piety”. Bringing them together, God’s miraculous power gives us everything we need to live a godly life, one without end.

“Through the knowledge of him”

The word here means, “discernment, or coming to the full knowledge of”. So God, by His miraculous power, gives us everything we need to live a godly life, but how does this power come? “Through the knowledge of him”. If we don’t know our God, if we don’t know our Savior, if we aren’t filled with the Holy Spirit, then how can we ever expect to activate His power? I tell people all the time that everything in our walk takes us right back to the Word of God, so if  I tear through the Scriptures, I don’t gain the knowledge I need, and if I am not praying for understanding to what I am studying, then I will operate on my head knowledge instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to teach me all things. In John 6:63, the Bible says, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” See? We are nothing without the Spirit, and if the words Christ speak are both spirit and life, then we can’t move in God’s miraculous power without the Word of God.

“That hath called us to glory and virtue”.

Remember in Romans 8:30, when the Bible said, “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” God predestinated us before He called us, so He positioned us to receive His call. He justified us by making us right before him, and making his choice right before man. So, he backed the one He called. Then he glorified the one he backed. The word “glory” means “honor” and “glorify” means “to bring honor to”. So God called us to a position of honor. The word virtue means “divine power or excellence”. So God gives us a position of honor and the ability to bear fruit in that position. We can never rise to a position of excellence unless we manage what we have extremely well.

We are thoroughly equipped to handle everything God has called us to do. May we move in the knowledge of God’s word and the confidence experienced by His power!

God Bless!

Marshall

Nov 30, 2020 – Philippians 2:7 – A servant, and was made in the likeness of men

“But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men”  Philippians 2:7 KJV

Hi Everyone!

Christ is our perfect example of how to live on earth and also how to serve God on earth as well. Service requires selflessness, and also requires us to strip ourselves of labels and titles that can make our service about us. Jesus had every right to toot his own horn but didn’t, and he even silenced demons that spoke of His Deity. Christ came to serve and to offer himself as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. We as believers are called to present ourselves as “living sacrifices” according to Romans 12:1. He gave us the example and gave us the ability to serve God and others. Today we are going to look at Philippians 2:7, and come to understand why, in life and in ministry, we must decrease and God has to increase.

“But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men”.

Christ is God robed in flesh, so that means He had all power while he lived here on earth. “But made himself of no reputation”, indicates that Christ had full power over His identity and role. To make himself of no reputation means to “empty himself out”. Christ set aside all the privileges He had in the kingdom of God, like a face to face relationship with God, sovereignty, and made himself subject to the Spirit’s direction. In John 10:18, Jesus says, “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” Christ freely emptied himself out and came to earth in service of God and us. He wasn’t forced by God. He is God and he made the choice to come down, knowing death on the cross would be the end result. When a person has the ability to do everything else but chooses to serve us, doesn’t that make what Christ did mean much more?

“Took upon him the form of a servant”

Once again, he freely took upon himself the form of a servant. No one made Christ do it, and no one put servitude upon him. When a person, who should be king, chooses to be a servant, it brings more attention to service. We had a human example of that with Moses, and in Hebrews 11:24-26, the Bible says, “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.” Moses was royalty and he gave that up to answer God’s call, and he was a deliverer, instituting Israel’s first passover. The word “form” means “nature”, also meaning, “bearing all the characteristics of”. So Christ emptied himself out of all the privileges He had spiritually, giving up direct, face to face access to God to be a slave voluntarily. Even Christ had power over the slavery and chose to be a slave. Slavery wasn’t forced upon Him, He took it upon Himself! That is like Him knocking on the door to the prison I am housed in right now, and screaming, “Let me in! I came to freely become a prisoner, taking the nature of a prisoner, so I can heal them and die to set them free!” That is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ right there! In Matthew 23:11, the Bible says, “But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant”.

“And was made in the likeness of men”

Remember in Genesis 1:26, when the Bible said, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl in the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth”  Christ allowed himself be birthed, but exercising God’s intention for mankind when He created Him that He would have dominion over everything in the earth. Christ not only came to serve, but He also came to show us how we should operate in the earth according to God’s intended plan for creation. God desires for mankind to step into their rightful place on earth, but never losing sight of the fact that even when we have dominion, we are to constantly empty that out to serve. Christ came to pay the ultimate sacrifice, a death of the cross to ensure that we can not only do the same things He did, but according to His own words in John 14:12, ” Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; also greater works than these he do; because I go unto my Father.” When Christ was made in the likeness of men, He showed us what that really meant, and the type of power we have to operate in.

Service means less us of us, more of God, and as we serve God and man, may we empty out all we are to serve our fellow brothers and sisters with a pure heart. Christ was the perfect example of service and self-denial. May we be the same!

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 1, 2020 – Hebrews 4:15 – Jesus Our High Priest

“For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15 KJV

Hi Everyone!

I remember not speaking to people in my family when I was afflicted. I felt they haven’t walked a mile in my shoes, so they couldn’t understand my struggle. Ironically, I have had a number of family members that have battled the same hurdles I have growing up, but they never shared their testimonies, so I didn’t trust that they would understand. How many of us have this same belief about God? How many of us feel like God is “too holy” to ever understand what life is like for us here on earth, thus hindering our prayer life and our abilities to communicate effectively with Him in the process? In 1 Peter 5:7, the Bible says, “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you”, so God is inviting us to share everything that concerns us, but we have to trust that God understands where we are coming from. God sent Jesus to the world, and He experienced life as we see it, so in Christ we have intercession, someone who can accurately translate ours cares to God. Today, we are going to look at Hebrews 4:15, and see that God truly understands exactly what is on our minds and hearts.

“For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

Our high priest is Christ. In Hebrews 3:1, the Bible says, “Wherefore holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.” The high priest was the only person that can pass through the three areas of the temple (outer court, Holy Place, and Holy of Holies) to make the atoning sacrifice. Christ is also the High Priest, because he passed through the 3 heavens (atmospheric, stellar heaven, and God’s abode) after making the perfect, atoning, sacrifice once and for all.

“Which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities;”

This means that we have a great High Priest in Jesus Christ that can sympathize and have compassion for our infirmities. The word “infirmities” here means “feebleness or frailty”. This part of the verse doesn’t suggest that Christ was feeble or frail, but he allowed himself to experience the feelings associated with feebleness and frailty, so He could understand how we feel when we are weak. Jesus walked on this earth to not only give His life for us all, but also to identify better with His church. If a person has been where we have been and triumphed, then they can show us how to make it through successfully. Christ triumphed on earth and felt what we feel. In Hebrews 2:18, the Bible says, “For in that He himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted.” The word succour means “to aid or relieve”. He went through it to help us with our walk.

“but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin”

The word tempted means “tested or scrutinized”. It says “in all points”, so that means that Christ touched areas of testing that we haven’t encountered. We have only gone through small pockets of testing, and it can feel unbearable at times, but Christ covered it all for us. He went further, because He encountered all points of testing, but didn’t sin. In 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. “Christ not only didn’t sin, but he KNEW NO sin.” Our high priest went through everything we could possibly encounter without knowing sin and without sinning. Great are the people that blaze the trail before us. Great is our God.

So when we pray, let us understand that we have a High Priest that has traveled from where we stand to the holiest places in heaven, and He did it to help us triumph over this world we live in and the sin that easily entangles us. When we open our mouths to cast all of our cares unto God let us understand that we are talking to someone who truly understands what a day is like in our shoes. May we all trust in the God that is all and has been through all we could ever encounter.

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 2, 2020 – Hebrews 4:16 – The we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 KJV

Hi Everyone!

In our look into Hebrews 4:15, we came to an understanding that Christ, our Great High Priest, came to earth, setting aside His Godly privilege in order to experience life from our lens before giving Himself as a perfect atoning sacrifice. Because He had endured all points of testing, and without sin, He has successfully triumphed over the life that seems to weigh us down at times. I am no different than anyone, and sometimes, my journey gets tremendously difficult, and the weight extremely heavy. Knowing Christ has been through this life, let’s me know that He truly understands what I feel and see in my own life. That should make me willing to bring all of my cares to Him. This requires faith, and sometimes, I fall short of this, because the weight can make me feel like there is No way Christ could understand what I am going through. Crazy, right? Today we are going to look at Hebrews 4:16, a course of action we should take as believers, knowing God understands everything we are going through and can truly relate and have compassion for us.

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

“Let Us Therefore”. Two things to look at here. The writer is not trying to separate himself from the body of believers. Using the word “us” suggests that the writer of Hebrews has to take his own advice as well. It is refreshing to have a pastor or a teacher who is transparent about their walk, and it adds a lot of credibility to what they teach. The word “therefore” is a connective word concluding a point previously made. So if verse 15 teaches us that we have a High Priest in Jesus Christ who can fully sympathize with everything we go through, and where Christ has touched all points of testing without sinning, then verse 16 will make perfect sense.

“Come boldly unto the throne of grace”

The word “come” means “to come to God, draw near to Him in prayer, sacrifice, worship, devotion of heart and life”. This expresses the attitude we should come to God with. And my eyes are welling up with tears as I ponder, do I come to God with this attitude? So we’re not coming to God like someone who casually walks up to their parents, but we are coming to Him deliberately to experience that closeness, to truly abide in Him. “Boldly” means “with confidence”. God wants us to come to Him with confidence, knowing we have access to God directly and trusting in our place in His kingdom, that we have a right to be there. If we don’t have faith in our place, then how can we have faith in our prayers?

“The throne of grace”. A throne is designed for royalty to sit, correct? Why does grace have a throne? In John 1:14, the Bible says, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” Christ is royalty. The “Prince of Peace”, “The Kings of Kings and Lord of Lords”, right? Whatever you are full of, you are, and Christ is definitely on the throne waiting for us to draw near to him. The word grace has been defined as “favor or good will”, but, let me add something else to it. Grace is “the bridge between where we are right now, and where God desires for us to be.” A grace period is designed for people to have extra time to meet their obligations while still sitting in “right standing”. Well, imagine going to our landlord needing more time to pay only to discover He paid the debt! Grace allows us to come to God broken, confused, scared, angry, and separated because of sin, and be received by God as if we have everything together. When we understand grace, we should have no more problems with running to the throne of grace. We don’t have to clean ourselves up to go there. Grace is unmerited favor.

“That we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need”

The word “mercy” means “divine compassion”. We draw near to the throne of grace with confidence that God will answer our request. We don’t go to the throne of God expecting to leave empty handed. We go so God can look upon us with divine compassion and move on our behalf. We are not seeking God so He can feel sorry for us, but we seek Him for what we need. We go to the throne of grace to find grace, right? In Matthew 7:9, “Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?” If we come to the throne of grace to obtain divine compassion, then we will “find grace to help in time of need.” Remember, grace is the bridge between where we are now and where God desires us to be. So if we need help in some area, like courage, and we come with confidence to the throne of grace, expecting to walk away with what we need, we will then receive the courage we were lacking before because God’s grace gave us what we lacked.

May we always know that God is waiting for us to come to Him. He truly understands and wants to help us! Let us come boldly!

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 3, 2020 – Isaiah 49:15 – Yet I will not forget thee

“Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet I will not forget thee.” Isaiah 49:15 KJV

Hi Everyone!

Sometimes, life can get cloudy and we can’t understand what is happening to us. We then look to God and wonder, is He paying attention to what is happening to us, will He send the help we need to make it through? Even David had the same feelings of God being too distant for his cries. All throughout the Psalms David painted a clear picture of what his walk looked like. In Psalm 22:1, the Bible says, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?” Even David felt the weight of not feeling God’s presence when he was afflicted. He counted himself as forsaken, even though he knew better. We know that God is here for us every step of the way, but sometimes we can feel so alone and out of alignment with God. Our friends and family may turn their backs at our lowest points. The Lord knows I have experienced this firsthand, but there has not been a moment where God wasn’t right there, whether I felt His presence or not. Today, we are going to confirm that truth by looking at Isaiah 49:15.

“Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet I will not forget thee.”

The word forget isn’t a moment of absentmindedness, where God smacks His head in disbelief that He overlooked something important. A rhetorical question is being asked. The word “forget” means “to be oblivious of from lack of attention”. How can our God be Omnipresent and Omniscient but have something happen right under His nose? I love how Isaiah compares God’s attention to us the same way a mother is to her suckling child. Now, I’m not a mother obviously, but I have seen enough mothers to see how attentive they are to their children, how they pay attention to every minute detail, even the ones others overlook. In the very next verse, Isaiah 49:16, the Bible says, “Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually for me”. For people with tattoos, have you ever forgotten the tattoos you have? Well our God etched our names on the palms of His hands. That means our God will not forget us.

“that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?”

In a previous devotional, I gave so perspective into “compassion”, saying something in the sense of “picturing a deep, kindly sympathy and sorrow felt for another who has been struck with affliction or misfortune, accompanied with a desire to relieve the suffering.” I want to add this to it. God shows compassion on us, not because we deserve it but because His love is so amazing for us that He willingly bestows it upon us. The word “son” is not just and offspring but a son is “the builder of the family name”. We as believers are sons, using our gifting and calling to build up the family name, which draws people closer to Christ. So if we are working for the Lord, then we are receiving our sustenance from the Lord and He is definitely watching over us because we are bringing glory to His name. Why would God be oblivious to us, knowing we are His children and we are building up His name?

“Yea, they may forget, yet I will not forget”

God clearly implies that the people we expect to remember us may not remember us, but He will never forget us. That is why we shouldn’t put our trust solely in man. In Jeremiah 17:5, the Bible says, “Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusted in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord”. That word trust means we instinctively run towards man first when we are tested, giving man more credence than God. Man isn’t God and man definitely doesn’t fully know or understand the plan of God, nor does man dwell within us, so when the time of testing comes, man tends to break off from us. In Isaiah 44:21, “Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.” Not only does God ensure that He won’t forget about us, but He tells us to remember! It is not that God forgets about us, but it is because we don’t remember His word when affliction comes. When a baby cries in their crib, they are essentially screaming, “Momma, where ARE you? I need you!” They feel their Momma is not there, but they can’t see that Momma heard their cries and is making her way to us. That’s how it is with God, and He wants us confident that He is right here with us and for us, no matter who turns their backs on us. God is saying, “I am not them! I am God!”

May we all find the encouragement of knowing our loving God is always here for us. It is our job to remember…

God Bless You All!

Marshall

Dec 4, 2020 – 2 Corinthians 8:12 – For if there be first a willing mind

“For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.” 2 Corinthians 8:12 KJV

Hi Everyone!

The body of Christ works effectively when we all work together to build up the Kingdom of God. God has created us with unique gifting and callings, and we all are blessed with these to be a blessing to someone else in need. In 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, the Bible says, “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.” We all have different gifts and abilities, but we have the same Spirit inside of us and the same God working our gifting together. Everyone has to do their part to build the Kingdom up, because we need each other. We want to be the stewards that are entrusted with talents that produce an increase before our Master comes back, instead of the one that buries our talent out of fear, selfishness, or resentment. Today we are looking at 2 Corinthians 8:12, about having the right attitude for service.

“For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.”

The word “willing” means “having a predisposition”. To have a willing mind, it means we already have our minds made up to do whatever we are going to do for the Kingdom before the situation presents itself. So, this isn’t an “on the fly, approach it as it comes” attitude, but it is one where we are prepared to give of ourselves at any point in time. This verse says, “For if there first be a willing mind”, so a willing mind comes first. In Acts 3, there is a story about a lame man being healed, and he was at the gate called Beautiful, asking for alms. Here comes Peter and John, and he asked them for alms. Peter tells him to look at them, and when he did, Peter said in verse 6, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” Peter didn’t have what the man wanted, but he had what he needed, and Peter told him essentially, “I will gladly give you what I have”. The man was looking for a handout but Peter healed him and gave him freedom in Christ. What did the man do with his blessing? He walked into the temple with Peter and John leaping and praising God. That is what our gifting is designed for, to not only bring joy to someone, but to bring Jesus Christ to them as well. Our gifts are supposed to usher a person to the Lord. A willing mind is necessary because if our attitudes aren’t already set to give, then when the opportunity comes, our attitudes can turn people away. Ever receive something from someone who you knew didn’t want to give it to you? Made you feel worse than you did before you received the gift, didn’t it? I know this firsthand.

“It is accepted”

The word “accepted” means “well received”. A willing mind makes the gift well received. In 2 Corinthians 9:7, the Bible says, “Every man according as he purposed in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” God loves someone who freely gives with an attitude that they are happy to give. I have no doubt that Peter desired so richly for the same man to walk, and was happy to use this wonderful occurrence to point the way to Christ. God is looking for His children to have the right attitude about giving, a heart that is filled with love, and eyes that search out people to be a blessing to.

“According to what a man hath and not according to what a man hath not”

God is never going to ask us to produce something that we don’t have. He is not going to ask us to preach a sermon He didn’t equip us to preach, and He is not going to ask us to give alms when we don’t have any money to give. God provides us with the means to give, so He will never expect us give what we don’t have or overextend ourselves. In Mark 6:38, Jesus speaks, “He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? Go and see. And when they knew, they say, “Five, and two fishes”. See? Christ asked them what they had. In John’s account of this miracle in Chapter 6, verse 9, it says, “There is lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?” A kid had his meal, and was willing to give it to Christ, to do what He wanted to with it. The child’s willing mind was well-received, and his generosity was blessed to feed five thousand. Christ didn’t ask the disciples to search for what they didn’t have, and in fact, He didn’t seem concerned about what they didn’t have at all. He was more concerned with what their search produced. God will bless what we have to be a blessing to others but we have to be willing

to give with a heart of love, generosity, and cheerfulness.

May we always have a willingness in our minds and hearts to give freely to those in need, according to what we have. May God make what we have abundant.

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 5, 2020 – Galatians 6:9 – Let us not be weary in well doing

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not ” Galatians 6:9 KJV

Hi Everybody!

Life can be hard at times. I experience it often, frequently confronted with having potential I want to realize in a place that tries to imprison potential. I think about what I am accomplishing in my life, and all of it is a blessing that has come directly from God. Then I have raw moments where I am confronted with my inadequacies, my inabilities, and with the restrictions I have been confined to. Sometimes, the pressure can be overwhelming, being in a medium security prison, listening to brothers talk of their upcoming releases, or hearing these same guys get mad at someone and make their release dates a weapon. It is hard to see the blessing in staying the course when you are emotionally afflicted by what you are unable to do or experience. As believers, this is a prime place the enemy wants us in because we become vulnerable to attack when we operate according to what we feel instead of what we know. It is our job to not allow weak moments to keep us from experiencing the fruit of our labors. A storm doesn’t mean the tree stops growing, correct? Today, we are going to take a look at Galatians 6:9, for a view on perseverance.

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not “

“And let us”. I love how Paul includes himself into this lesson. No one is exempt from experiencing the weight of life’s circumstances. Even Christ was afflicted in Luke 22:44, when the Bible says, “And being in an agony he prayed more earnest: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Christ, in this same chapter, asked God to “remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” We aren’t exempt from hard times and we are definitely going to look for a way out! Even Paul said of his thorn in his side in 2 Corinthians 12:8, “For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.” So Christ and Paul know how it feels to not want to move forward. So heed Paul when he says, “And let us” because it is spoken from someone who has encountered some or all degrees of what we are experiencing.

“Not be weary in well doing”.

The word “weary” means “to lose one’s courage and become slothful”. This means we get so tired that we stop trying. Too many times, doing the right thing can appear to be a thankless job, and sometimes we do not see the fruit as quickly as we would like to. That shouldn’t halt our progress, nor should it make us give up. In 1 Corinthians 15:58, the Bible says, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” This is our response to being overwhelmed by what life throws at us. We root ourselves in the truth, and we carry out the work the Lord requires of us. Nothing we do under God’s direction or provision will be in vain, no matter how it looks. Well doing” means “virtuous course of action or conduct”. So when we are overwhelmed, we put our hands to the plow and work harder at it, knowing it will bear fruit.

“For in due season”

There is an appointed time for our harvest, a time God ordains for it to occur “on its own”. That means that we can worker harder, go farther, and be smarter, but it will still happen according to that appointed time. “Due season” means “occuring in its own time determined by God”. In Ecclesiastes 3:1, the Bible says, ” To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” That could be frustrating, because we want to ask, “When God? When?”, but God’s timing is perfect and I have experienced this knowledge a lot of times in hindsight. 🙂 God is just looking for His people to trust His timing.

“We shall reap, if we faint not”

“Shall” is a term that expresses something that will definitely happen. God is telling us that we WILL reap the harvest from our labors, that our laboring isn’t in vain, and answered prayers will be produced in our lives. The word “if” expresses a condition that activates a promise. The word “faint” doesn’t necessarily mean “tired”, but it means, “to relax”. This really speaks to the person that grows tired and then takes their foot off of the gas. In James 5:8, the Bible says, ” Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” So we have to work as if the harvest is coming in any minute, having that kind of attitude. I will admit that being overwhelmed doesn’t make me want to keep my foot on the gas. It makes me want to slow under its difficulty, but the promise is coming and the thought of that promise being fulfilled gives me the courage to see this work through. What should we do when we get weary? In Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” When we are weary, we can find rest in Christ.

May we all find Christ to be an amazing resting place when afflicted.

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 6, 2020 – Isaiah 54:17 – No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper            

“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord” Isaiah 54:17 KJV

Hi Everyone!

Spiritual warfare is inevitable in a believer’s life. People are going to contend with the truth, they may ridicule us because of our faith, and sadly, in some countries, they could lose their lives for their faith. When opposition comes against us, it can be brutal and overwhelming, but God promises us victory over the enemy’s advances. Sometimes, reassurance by God’s word is all we need to power through whatever is coming our way. Today we are going to look at Isaiah 54:17, a view into both our protection in the end times (during and after the millennial kingdom), but what do we have access to right now?

“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord”

The word “formed” means “to mould into a form as a potter”. So the enemy is going to actually fashion weapons against us! When the enemy makes a weapon that attacks us, they seriously desire to cripple us, and the weapons they have at their disposal do work. Please be on your guard because these aren’t physical weapons the majority of the time. In 2 Corinthians 10:4, the Bible says, “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)” So if our weaponry is not carnal, it has to be spiritual. So the enemy will fashion weapons that will be used against us, like a bad circumstance, a death, poverty, or even incarceration. The intent of the enemy is to cause destruction that will separate us from our place and fellowship with God. This verse says that the enemy’s weaponry won’t succeed.

“And every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement thou shall condemn”

People are going to speak badly about us, some will spread rumors, cast judgements and try to convince others to not believe us. The word “judgement” here means “verdict”. When a person renders a verdict, they declare you guilty or innocent, wrong or right, saved or sinner. The beauty about this is it is only their opinion and not what God says. When Peter had the vision in Acts 10, a sheet came down from heaven. A voice told him, “Rise Peter; kill, and eat”. Peter said in verse 14, “Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” In verse 15, the Bible says, “And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.” When people’s voices rise up in judgement against us, their judgements will always be condemned. To “condemn” means “to make guilty” or “render useless, headed for destruction”. That is a view on what happens when we are victimized by the judgements of others.

“This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord”

The word “heritage” means “something inherited”. Inheritances come as the result of someone dying and leaving us something behind. In John 14, Christ promises that He would pray to the Father, and God will give us another Comforter. That Comforter is the Holy Spirit. In Romans 8:15-17, the Bible says, ” For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba father”. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” We inherited a place in the kingdom of God as sons. So our heritage lies in Christ, and His death gave us the right to have protection from the enemy both now and in the end times. As servants of the Lord, we have access to this, so let us not lose sight of that.

“And their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.”

This is basically saying, ‘If you need someone to vouch for My servants, then everything they are comes from Me.’ God stands by His people and He puts his stamp on us. In Isaiah 45:25, “In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.” When God declares us righteous, He justifies us, which means He backs His choice, making us right in public opinion as well. In 2 Corinthians 5:21, the Bible says, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” Because of Christ sacrifice, we have been made, and declared, the righteousness of God in Christ. We have our inheritance because of Christ, we are saved because of Christ. So our access and our protection comes with God’s backing.

When God says we will triumph over every weapon and rise above every tongue launched against us, His Word secures our victory. May we see the power in everything God has provided to achieve victory over the enemy.

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 7, 2020 Romans 10:17 – So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17 KJV

Hi Everyone!

What is the source of faith? Deep question isn’t it? Has anyone ever asked you that question because, we know the scripture in Hebrews 11:1 that says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”, and that defines faith, but where does our faith come from? Is belief the source of our faith, because we can’t have faith unless we believe, right? So many questions about faith but we tend to find ourselves confused when we have to examine where our faith comes from. Today we are going to look at Romans 10:17, a view into the source of our faith.

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

The word “faith” means “persuasion or credence of religious truth”. The word “hearing” means “reception by instruction or training”. So we’re instructed or trained in something, and that something becomes the thing that we are persuaded of that is credible and true. But what is that something?

“And hearing by the word of God”

So our “reception by instruction or training”, causing us to be “persuaded of its credence and truth” is the word of God! The Bible! The devotional is over then right? Not so fast! The word “word” means “utterance of teaching, precept, or doctrine”. So it is not just the Bible, but every utterance of teaching, precept, or doctrine” we receive from God. It is not exclusive to the Bible. In Matthew 4:4, the Jesus said, “But he answered and said, Man shall not live on bread alone, but by EVERY word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” The word “word” here carries the exact same meaning as “word” in Romans 10:17. Simply put, God didn’t stop talking to us when He wrote the Bible, and He still communicates with us today. God may put on our heart to go after a particular job, or to pursue a relationship with someone particular, or God may put on our hearts to share a word of truth, comfort, or confirmation. Christ said we live by EVERY word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Faith is essential to a believer’s survival!!! We even receive the Holt Spirit by faith, because in Galatians 3:2, the Bible asks, “This only would I learn of you, Receive ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”

In Galatians 3:6, the Bible says, “Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness”. There was no Bible then, no law, or anything so God spoke to His people what he desired of them. Abraham received a word from God in Genesis 12:1, saying, “Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:” God also gave Abraham promises for him carrying the word out in verses 2 and 3. In verse 4, the Bible says, “So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed our of Haran”. Abram received the word and carried the word out as given. He believed the word of God was true, and he carried it out, but had he not received the word from God, he would still be in Haran.

If faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God, then our faith comes by the word of God. So if we haven’t received a word from Scripture, by the Holy Spirit, or by a representative bearing His word, then our “faith” isn’t faith at all, because the Word of God is not involved. Christ became frustrated with the disciples in Mark 4, because he said, “Let us pass over unto the other side,” and along the way they panicked during a storm and questioned whether he cared whether they lived or died. If they believed the word, no matter what the storm looked like, they wouldn’t have panicked. They would’ve trusted the word given by Christ, “Let us pass over unto the other side”. The word alone said they were going to make it to the other side! If Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of our faith, and Jesus is the Word of God that became flesh, then our faith is attached to the Word. The Word is given, and we believe it to be truth, and carry out the Word, and that counts us as faithful. Doesn’t that sound like obedience? God tells us to do something, and we do it, believing in the word to be truth and fruitful. Sounds like faith and obedience can go hand in hand.

May we be bold and courageous to move as the Word directs us. Absent the Word there is no faith.

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 8, 2020 – 2 Corinthians 13:5 – Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV

Hi Everyone!

As a believer, I have always been a firm believer in personal accountability. This requires a brutal self-examination where I didn’t always like the results, and it frequently lead me right back to the drawing board to start anew. I am the first to say that I was a real mess, and there was a ton to clean up from my life of lawlessness. Knowing where I have been, coupled with my desire to never go back to that life or mind again, causes me to be more vigilant about the state of my faith at all times. It intensifies because God has blessed me to teach and counsel people along my way, so I have to always be sure to I represent the faith in the right manner. In Matthew 18:6, the Bible says, “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” Ouch! In James 3:1, the Bible says, My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.” I will say it again. Ouch!!! Whether I teach or not, this is really a clear view of the importance of our faith, because lives are really at stake. There is an immense responsibility that believers carry, both themselves and others, and that requires us to always be willing to hold ourselves accountable. Today we will look at 2 Corinthians 13:5, a word on accountability.

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

The word “examine” means “to test or scrutinize”. This can be to both make sure we are getting it right; or seeing where we may be getting it wrong. When we test something, it is similar to refinement, where we toss ourselves into the fire in order to reveal what manner of believer we are. We are to look within and take an honest look at our thoughts, beliefs, and actions to see if they are in line with the Word of God’s instruction on how we are supposed to think, believe, and act. The Word of God is what everything in our life is measured by and it is also the fire that refines us. In Romans 7:7, “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.” The Word is the standard by which we as believers live our lives. Even when I don’t have the Bible on hand, we have the Holy Spirit in our hearts. In John 14:17, the Bible says, “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him nor, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” So the Holy Spirit is the Word in our hearts that serves to keep us in line with what God expects.

To “prove” means “to establish by evidence”. So our actions, the tangible stuff, shows whether we be in the faith. In my opinion, because faith and obedience go hand in hand, when we examine ourselves to establish by evidence that we are “in the faith”, it means that we are obeying what the Word of God says we should be doing. In Matthew 7:16, the Bible says, “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles?” The Bible says for us to prove our own selves. That means, we check ourselves before someone else has the opportunity to, that we care enough about our walk with the Lord that we make sure that we are walking worthy of our faith.

“Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

This is saying, “Don’t you know that Jesus Christ is in you, unless you are reprobates?” The word “reprobates” mean “unapproved, rejected”. The word “know” is so key here because it shows that we made ourselves fused with what we know. What we know becomes who we are! In John 15:4, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” We have to know that Christ is in us, and to know ourselves means we are fully aware that Christ dwells in us. We have no identity without Christ and self-examination spiritually would be impossible without the Word and without Christ dwelling inside of us. Unbelievers are among the rejected, so this verse is screaming for us to claim our place as believers not just in word, but in deed and to not live our lives as if we are rejects and unapproved.

May we always examine ourselves and hold ourselves accountable to the faith we profess. We have to know ourselves inside and out.

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 9, 2020 – Galatians 1:12 – But by the revelation of Jesus Christ

“For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Galatians 1:12, KJV

Hi Everyone!

Where does our spiritual truth come from? Does it come from Pastor’s messages in church service or online given  Covid across the world? Does it come from word of mouth? I have been asked where I got my biblical knowledge from, judging by the fact that I haven’t been to a seminary, I don’t take Bible correspondence courses, and we haven’t had a Pastor come inside of prison since March. I tell them I study my Word daily and God reveals His truths to me. It’s really that simple, but this is the way it really should be for all of us as believers. Schools, courses, church services, and sermons are methods to receive the Word but the Holy Spirit reveals His truths to us in His own time and season. This requires us to empty ourselves out daily of what we think we know and become empty vessels willing to be taught of God the things He desires for us to learn. Today we are going to look at Galatians 1:12, a brief exploration into the revelation of Christ.

“For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

The word “receive” here means “to associate oneself with”. There is a difference between someone who accepts information given, and someone who associates themselves with the information given. When we associate ourselves with knowledge, we tend to believe the information given is true and it appeals to us in some degree. The word “man” here is spoken in reference to human nature, i.e. a human being, with the idea of human infirmity and imperfection, especially when spoken in contrast to God and divine things. So, Paul didn’t “associate himself with” head knowledge given by man based on their limited knowledge of God and divine things. In 2 Timothy 3:5, the Bible says, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” There are tons of practices and doctrines with a little bit of “God” in them but a lot of man’s knowledge in them. We tend to call it Philosophy, and many are led astray into thinking this is the path to God and Spirituality. The Scripture above says having a “form of godliness”. It is either Godly or not, right? But here is something to look at from 2 Timothy 3:5. The word “deny” means to “declare something untrue”. So, the very knowledge they associate themselves with, with just a little God sprinkled in, they take all the knowledge but declare its power (God) untrue? Why receive the knowledge at all? The Bible says for us to turn away from such a person.

“Neither was I taught it”

The word “taught” means “to teach or instruct”. Paul wasn’t taught like the other disciples were. He didn’t walk with Christ for three years, like the disciples who were receiving all of His teaching, and having the Holy Spirit allow them to remember everything they were taught like in John 14:26. He was taught directly by the Holy Spirit. Paul was a Pharisee, and he taught the law extensively. Just my opinion here, but if Paul had the background and knew the background, then wouldn’t it be a little easier for God to “flip a switch” and point to all of the truths of Christ, in the law and from the prophets? The disciples were Jews, but nothing suggested that they had anywhere near the Jewish knowledge and background that Paul had. Paul was among the leadership, so his level of teaching was extensive. Paul makes no reference to what he was taught here, counting what he was taught as a Jew ‘as nothing’ because what he was taught as a Jew didn’t lead him any closer to Christ. In Isaiah 50:4, the Bible says, “The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, the wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.” This confirms Paul’s words.

“but by the revelation of Jesus Christ”

The word “revelation” means, “disclosure, manifestation”. In Luke12:12, the Bible says, “For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.” Do we give the Holy Ghost the floor to teach us the way God intends for us to learn? That is part of the Holy Ghost’s purpose to teach us everything God intends for us to know. Paul had to abandon everything he thought he knew to take hold of Christ. In Philippians 3:8, the Bible says, “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ”. When Paul gained Christ, He counted everything he thought he knew as dung. In Ephesians 1:9, the Bible says, “Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:” so this shows that we have access to this same revelation as believers. In James, the Bible says if we lack wisdom, let us ask for wisdom. Paul was taught this way. Why can’t we?

May we all open our hearts and minds to the Holy Spirit’s teaching.

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 10, 2020 – 1 Timothy 4:14 – Neglect not the gift that is in thee

“Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.” 1 Timothy 4:14 KJV

Hi Everyone!

A seed has all the characteristics of the tree in it. There is nothing that has to be added to the seed because God ordained a tree to spring forth from it. The same thing works for God and His creation of us. He created us with everything we need already within us, including the gifts and calling He purposed for us. Before the world was created, who we are was already spoken into existence, but it is our jobs to accept who we are in Christ, and also the gifts He has skillfully planted within us. Too many believers do not have faith in the gifts God has given them, and when we don’t carry faith on what God has gifted us with, neglect and abuse is secondary. As believers, our gifts are some the tools that we have to bring knowledge to people about our God and also we bring glory to God by exercising our gifts. Today, we will look at 1 Timothy 4:14, Paul’s advice to Timothy about using his gifts.

“Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.”

The word “neglect” means “to be careless” with. When we receive a gift, we show our appreciation for the gift and the giver by taking good care of the gift we are given. It also means we use the gift as it is intended. If we needed a car and someone gifts us a car, and we enter it into a demolition derby, then the giver is going to feel disrespected because we have effectively neglected the gift. The same way if the car remains in the driveway collecting dirt. God is the same way with the gifts He bestowed upon us, desiring for us to use our gifts as He intended for us to use them. The word “gift” means “spiritual endowment, specifically gifts and abilities imparted to Christians and Christian teachers by the Holy Spirit.” When God saw fit to create us with the gifts and callings we have, that made us one of a kind, and if God created us with these spiritual endowments then He expects us to use them. The gifts aren’t outside of us. They are within us and are a part of our identity. To neglect our gifts would be to neglect ourselves.

“Which was given thee by prophecy”

This word “prophecy” goes deeper than “a prophet predicting the future while acting under divine influence”. It refers to the prophetic revelations or directions of the Holy Spirit by which people were designated as officers and teachers in the church. So God gave us the gifts we have and gave us a word of prophecy concerning our lives. We don’t realize that when God set an appointed time for us to receive our gift and execute our gift, it was a word of prophecy spoken into the world concerning us. In James 1:17, the Bible says, ” Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” We have to realize that our gifts come from spiritual places from a God that was very intentional about the gifts He has given us and the execution of those gifts. I doubted my gifting in my mind at first because I didn’t see the possibility of it, as I was only looking at it from my perspective. Now, it makes perfect sense and my gifting fits me like a glove. This funny thing about it is it always did.

“With the laying on of the hands by the presbytery”

The laying on of the hands were done to signify the affirmation, support, and identification with someone and his ministry. Laying on of the hands were used by Christ when He healed as well. Laying on of the hands were also used ultimately leading to a person being filled with the Holy Spirit. Touching signifies agreement, and this type of agreement is saying, “God we identify Timothy as being Your chosen vessel to teach and preach the Word of God wherever You send him. Fill him with Your spirit so he can carry out Your purpose for him.” In Acts 6:6-7, the Bible says, “And these were brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them. The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith”. It invokes the movement of the Holy Spirit before a person is sent away with the Spirit’s power. This should not be taken lightly because in 1 Timothy 5:22, the Bible says, “Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.” This means laying hands on someone without a thorough investigation and preparation period to be certain of a man’s spirit and qualifications. The presbytery is a council of elders over the church.

Timothy had a gift and Paul admonished him to handle his gift with care, because it is God given and backed by the church leadership. May we all see our gifts with the level of importance necessarily to serve God wholly with them.

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 11, 2020 – Galatians 5:1 – Christ hath made us free

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1 KJV

Hi Everybody!

When Christ died on the cross, He did much more than save us from the penalty of death for our sins. He also released us from the bondage of the Mosaic Law and its customs that kept a serious yoke on the necks of the people that believe, holding them to laws that they were incapable of keeping fully. Imagine a life where nothing you have ever done was good enough, and there was nothing and no one to reconcile that. The atoning sacrifices they made merely rolled the sins ahead another year, so that didn’t set them free either. I have been under spiritual bondage, trying to “do good”, and trying to be my own righteousness, and I am under physical bondage at the moment, where year after year, the good I’ve done hasn’t set me free. Our Lord and Savior came to set us free, but it is our job as believers to maintain our freedom by not going back to what enslaved us to begin with. Today, we are looking at Galatians 5:1, breaking down the beautiful aspect of freedom.

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

The words “stand fast” mean “to be stationary or to be rooted”. That means we are to secure our feet in the foundation of our faith in the Word of God. When we make roots, that means we make a home there or make ourselves at home there. God requires us to be rooted in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free. What is liberty here? The word “liberty” means “freedom from the yoke of the Mosaic Law.” A yoke is a tool for oxen to be bonded together so they can be controlled to move by the direction of the controller. When the Israelites were under the law, they were under bondage to keeping a law that was impossible for them to keep.  In Romans 7:7, the Bible says, “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.” The law had a purpose, to expose or make the people aware of the sin in their lives and also expose their need for salvation that the law can’t give. The Bible tells us to root ourselves in this freedom.

“Wherewith Christ hath made us free,”

The law was never designed to set us free. God designed this system along with its customs to serve God’s desired relationship with His children. In John 8:32, the Bible says, “And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” We have to know the purpose of the law and understand that it was never designed to give us freedom, but to emphasise our bondage, to help us learn that the truth can set us free. We need a Deliverer to set us free. The same way the Israelites had Moses, who was called to deliver the Israelites from their physical captivity, is the same way Christ was called to deliver us from our spiritual captivity. In John 8:36, the Bible says, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” So, Christ is the one person that can set us free. The word “free” means “freedom from the power of condemnation by the Mosaic Law”. In Romans 8:1, the Bible says, “There is now therefore no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” When we were in our sins, we were under bondage to sin, but when we became servants of Christ, the condemnation and bondage was lifted. He finishes that work on the cross, fulfilling the law, and freeing us from the bondage of the law. Christ set us free!

“And be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage”

The word “entangled” means to be “held by”. Imagine with me a cord that is tangled up into a ball. Good luck right? Now imagine we are the cord and we tangled our own selves into a ball, but AFTER someone had already taken the time to loose us from our bondage. They would think we had to be the craziest people on the planet, correct? These are like the people who are freed by Jesus Christ but then try to “earn their salvation” by trying to pick back up the law, which they should not do. In Romans 6:18, the Bible says, “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” We went from slaves, to servants, from servants to friends, from friends to children, and from children to heirs. In Romans 6:4, the Bible says, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life.”

So when we are freed, we have to understand that we are not under law anymore and the bondage of it, but are under freedom of salvation and grace. If we are new In Christ, then we have to walk as if we are new In Christ, and live new lives, and operate with a new mind. Galatians 5:1 tells us to not be entangled AGAIN with the yoke of bondage. Some people are in bondage and have no clue. Let me paint a picture of this type on bondage. We were drowning and Christ pulls us out of the water, AND instead of walking in His second chance, we jump back in the water, for more drowning!

May we choose freedom in Christ today!

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 12, 2020 – Ephesians 2:10 – For we are his workmanship

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 KJV

Hi Everyone!

Perspective shapes reality. What we fix our eyes upon tends to shape our reality, and so many of us have found ourselves in positions that our perspective has birthed for us. Forget how we view ourselves for a second and let us ask ourselves, how does God view us? He is our Creator and He not only created us, but He created us with purpose – for us to be exactly who He authored us to be. If we are children of God, that automatically makes us royalty, a part of the Kingdom of God, made uniquely and specifically for His purpose. It doesn’t mean we won’t have hard days or an “identity” crisis here and there. But, recognizing who we are brings us right back to the default settings of God’s creation and brings us back to who we really are, and how our loving God thinks of us. Today we are going to look at Ephesians 2:10, a perspective of God’s perspective of us.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

“His workmanship”. This means that we belong to the Lord. The word “workmanship” means “product that is made”. Let me expand this meaning. We are not only God’s product, but we are also the evidence of His skillful creation of us. A person’s workmanship speaks for the person who created it, so God created us to represent Him accurately. In Psalms 100:3, “Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and nor we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” God is our Creator and if we operate according to the intentions of our Creator, then we will embody Christ, and that will be evident to all. We will be God’s crowning achievement. If we don’t look at ourselves in this fashion, it will be exceptionally hard for us to ever become who God intends for us to be.

“Created in Christ Jesus unto good works”

The word “create” means “to fabricate or form in spiritual sense”. Let’s look at what being “created in Christ” produces. 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new “. Being created in Christ makes us new creatures in Christ. That means we are brought back to the intended design for us from the beginning, which positions us for good works. This isn’t saying that good works will save us or keep our salvation, but good works are evidence of the Holy Spirit having reign in our lives. Good works means “good deeds or works of virtue”, virtue meaning moral excellence. So, we are created in Christ Jesus to be new creatures and to function as new creatures in Christ. We have to walk in this and believe in what we have been gifted with! In Ephesians 4:24, “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” We have to put on the new man and leave the old man. Also, in Colossians 3:10, the Bible says, “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.” Renewed in knowledge. So, walking in the knowledge about who we are and whose we are is us putting on the new man. The knowledge we are renewed in is after the image of him that created us. “After” means “according to”. So, we were created in Christ according to our original specifications, because in the beginning, God said, Let us create man in our own image and in our own likeness, and then commanded that we have dominion. God is giving His people the chance to be who He created us to be.

“Which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

The word “ordained” here means “to fit up in advance”. Think about this. God not only created us, but He created us for the good works that He called for us to do, and He specifically designed us to be ready to perform these good works at the time He appointed for them to be done. So, anything God has called us to do, He has already given us the victory in. By putting on this new man daily, we will see that all seasons are really appointed times, and nothing is “by chance” when it comes to God’s creation. Do we remember that we are God’s crowning achievement when hard times come? Do we remember that God has already prepared us to live for Him, and He will provide everything we need for His purpose. In Romans 8:29, the Bible says, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” We are living out the finished plan of our loving God, and His design was for us to bear His image in this world.

What do we believe God thinks of us? Perspective creates the reality by which we live. If we don’t see ourselves as God’s creation, created in love and purpose, then maybe we have to adjust our perspective. May we all take a serious look into who we really are!

May God Bless You All!

Marshall

Dec 13, 2020 – Philippians 4:6 – let your request be made known unto God

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Philippians 4:6 KJV

Hi Everyone!

As believers we are sometimes faced with seasons of difficulty. Difficulty can cause every type of feeling conceivable to surface, some healthy and some dangerous to believers. Worry is something what causes a believer to look away from God and look to the circumstances around them. Worry is us trying to figure out the circumstances on our own, instead of entrusting the circumstances to God’s perfect plan. We tend to speak out our worries instead of bringing our worries before God. Worry signifies a lack of trust, and a lack of trust means a lack of faith in God’s word, His protection, and His provision. Today, we are going to look at Philippians 4:6, to see what we should do with our worry when it surfaces.

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

The word “nothing” means “not one thing”. “Being careful” is the same as “being anxious” and anxiety is a deep worry. So God is telling us to not worry about one thing. If God is telling us to not worry about one thing, then doesn’t that mean that He has ALL things covered for us? In Psalm 55:22, the Bible says, “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved”.  That word “sustain” means “to maintain, nourish, and provide for”. So if we give our burdens to the Lord, He will take good care of us. That means, there is no reason to worry, right? Do we trust God with our burdens? Do we trust what His word says? In 1 Peter 5:7, the Bible says, “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” Do we believe that the Lord cares about us and is concerned with our cares? God wants ALL of our cares, so that means we can’t hold anything back for ourselves.

“But in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving”

Every thing. God wants it all or it serves no real purpose. What person goes to the doctor for chronic migraines, but doesn’t disclose the swollen knees and broken hand they have too? We go to the doctor and tell doc everything that is wrong, so we don’t have to keep coming back. Do we believe God will handle it all? In Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” We have a God that will fix the whole issue, not part of it, but we have to come to Him in prayer with everything. Worry indicates a lack of trust in God’s power, wisdom, and authority, so prayer is us acknowledging God’s power to change this thing around for us. The word “supplication” means “to make known one’s particular need or desire”. Be specific. God said “every thing by prayer and supplication”, so we have to bring everything to Him. Prayer is our communication with God, and supplications are things we ask for in prayer. In 1 Timothy 5:5, the Bible says, “Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.” The widow was in a bleak situation, but she trusted in God and brought all of her concerns to Him day and night. Our God loves us so much! In Isaiah 41:10, the Bible says, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” God is ready to come through and deliver us. Thanksgiving is also required. People tend to say “thank you” to someone when that someone does something nice for them after they do it! So God is requiring us to bring our worries to Him and whatever else we have going on and do it with thanksgiving. Doesn’t that reveal faith that the prayers and supplications we offered up are already done?  So that means we thank God in advance.

“Let your requests be made known unto God”

The word “requests” means “supplications or prayers for particular benefits”. Once again, be specific. Don’t just ask God to help. Let us ask God for help with exactly what is causing the worry in the first place.” “Be made known” means “to reveal or declare”. In Matthew 7:7-8, in the Bible, Jesus says, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” We don’t pray to God and not expect Him to answer our prayers. He is telling us to come to Him because He truly hears us and desires to answer our prayers. A parent doesn’t feel good with their kids being panic-stricken about things they know they can handle. The first thing a parent will say is “Why didn’t you say anything? I can handle this for you.” That is a picture or our loving God, and His desires to make sure His children are okay at all times.

May we come to know our God as the answer to our every prayer uttered according to His word and will.

God Bless You All!

Marshall

Dec 14, 2020 – Ephesians 3:20 – Exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” Ephesians 3:20 KJV

Hi Everyone!

What can our God do? Do we box Him into our perception of His ability? Do we hinder His power from doing what He desires to do because of our unbelief? Are we the type of Church that believes that the effectual working of the Holy Spirit that occurred in Acts no longer happens now? God is the same God and His power is the same as it always has been, so when are we going to be a people of God that not only believes in His power, but moves faithfully in it? Today we are going to dive in Ephesians 3:20, confirmation into God’s ability and power.

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.”

The word “now” is a connecting word, and when a sentence begins with “now” it’s summing up a point previously made. In Ephesians 3:14-18, Paul prays for the Ephesians, that they would be strengthened with might by His Spirit, that Christ will dwell in their hearts by faith, that they will be rooted and grounded in love, that they may know the vastness and completeness of His love, which goes beyond anything we could know, and that we may be filled with the fullness of God. Great stuff to pray over, right? These verses form a type of condition that makes way for verse 20 to happen.

The words “exceeding abundantly” means “a superabundance, beyond measure”. First, we have to understand that our God can do things that we can never comprehend. In 1 Corinthians 2:9, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” We can’t begin to figure out how far God’s reach is, how can we measure His ability by anything we have seen or our ears have heard. Why do we then put God in some small box in our even smaller minds, and play ourselves out of a chance to really experience everything He desires to share of Himself with us?

So our God operates on a level that is immeasurable, but the verse goes even further, saying “above all that we ask or think.” God is so powerful, He can give us things that are beyond our scope of desire! When God asked Solomon what he wanted, Solomon asked for wisdom to perform well his position as king. What did God do? Gave him so much wisdom that he was the wisest man in the land. People came from all over the world to hear Solomon’s wisdom. Then God gave him riches, and so much that there would be no one like him in the world. So God gave him something he didn’t ask for and it was beyond anything he could’ve comprehended! In 2 Corinthians 9:8, the Bible says, “And God is able to make all grace abound towards you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things; may abound to every good work”. All grace. All sufficiency. All things. Why? So we may abound to EVERY good work. Our God is not part-time, nor is He halfway with us. When He moves, it is in the fullness of His power.

“According to the power that worketh in us”

The word “power” means “miraculous power or force”. The word “worketh” means “is active”. So let’s break that down. The word accordingly is the conduit for God’s power to move. The power that worketh in us. IN US! This is so important because we wonder why we don’t experience God’s power, but the whole time we need to be asking ourselves, are we cutting off the flow of God’s power and abilities by NOT allowing His power to work in us? A circuit breaker box can have a circuit breaker in there that can run a 100 amp appliance. If it is not tied into the source, it won’t run. What we have is ability with no power, potential. God is trying to get us past mere potential into the effectual working of His power, by allowing His power to work freely within us unrestricted. In Ephesians 3:7, the Bible says, “Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.” We are only able to perform our callings by God’s power working in us. Without His power, we are empty vessels. In Ephesians 1:19, the Bible says, “And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.” The key word is “believe”. If we don’t believe that His power works, that His power works in us, then we will never experience the fullness of His power nor will we experience everything God wants to do in our lives. It is like cutting off the light switch, and then wondering why we are in the dark?

May we trust is our loving God to allow Him to work His power in us. May we be strengthened with might by His Spirit, may Christ dwell in our hearts by faith, may we be rooted and grounded in love, may we experience the vastness and completeness of Christ’s love for us, and may we be filled with the fullness of God, so His power can cause us to experience things we have never experienced before!

God Bless and Keep you All!

Marshall

Dec 15, 2020 – 1 Thessalonians 3:12 – And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love

“And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:” 1 Thessalonians 3:12 KJV

Hi Everyone!

As believers, we are expected to grow in all aspects of our faith walks. Stagnancy is unfruitful for the kingdom or anything for that matter, because whatever doesn’t grow generally atrophies and dies. I studied French Immersion in school and got to a point where I could speak it rather fluently. When I stopped going to school, I stopped growing in my knowledge of French, and decades later, other than understanding a couple words and phrases here and there, the whole language is pretty much absent from my mind. If I told someone I used to speak French, or speak it currently, there would be no fruit to prove it. In our faith walks, we don’t want to be the type of believers where the Word stops growing in us, and the fruit isn’t visible, so our faith atrophies and dies. When we tell people we are Christians, what is their response? Understanding? Skepticism? Utter disbelief? If we don’t grow Spiritually, then our reach doesn’t grow either, which means less and less people come to know Christ through us. Today, we are going to briefly look at 1 Thessalonians 3:12 for a word on growth and increase.

“And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:”

The word “increase” means “to make, do, or be more; to super abound”. Let’s look at God’s command to man after creating man. In Genesis 1:28, the Bible says, “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” Being “fruitful and multiplying” means that God created man to be in a perpetual state of growth, and not just growth, but dominion as well. Before God gave them the command in Genesis 1:28, it says “And God blesses them”. So if God calls for increase, then He has already blessed us to do it! The question becomes at that point, “Will we?” instead of “Can we?” When Christ fed the 5,000 He blessed the provision before distributing it to the disciples. When God blesses something it will increase, but will we stop its growth?

What happens when the Lord blesses us to grow but we don’t bear fruit? In Matthew 21:19, the Bible says, “And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.” What is God going to find in us when He is hungry for fruit? Is He going to find leaves on our trees, which means there should be fruit on the trees as well, or is He going to be disappointed that we appear to bear fruit only to discover that nothing is there? In the parable of the talents in Matthew 25, starting at verse 14, the master gave talents to his servants with the full expectation that they would increase what he gave them. When he returned and he saw increase, he said in verse 21, “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Good and faithful servant. “Good” is a creation term, meaning someone or something is operating according to the Creator’s intended design. “Faithful” is no different than “obedient”, and it means that a person is operating perfectly according to the direction (Word) and/or example of the Master. Remember Romans 10:17, “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”? Faith is always execution of the Word.

In John 15:5, the Bible says, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” This is the key because the only way we can bear fruit, make increase, or abound is if we abide in Christ and allow Christ to abound in us. We can’t bear fruit without God’s blessing or His presence, so if we try to be “lone wolves”, operating in our own power, our own knowledge, our own love, and our own authority, then we won’t be able to do anything.

“In love one towards another, all towards all men, even as we do towards you”.

In John 13:34-35, the Bible says, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” Love is the evidence of God’s presence, because God is love, but it is also the evidence that we are the disciples of Christ, a disciple means a “learner or pupil”. It isn’t designed for believers to just love believers. It is designed for believers to love unbelievers, people that persecute us, people that hate us. We follow Christ’s example, so therefore we lead in love. “They will know we are Christians by our love,” right?

May love produce a harvest of increase, pleasing to our Father.

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 16, 2020 – 1 Corinthians 1:27 – God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise

“But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;” 1 Corinthians 1:27 KJV

Hi Everyone!

How are we qualified to serve the kingdom of God? I know personally, I can name at least 7 billion people more qualified than me, and given my past poor decisions, that should’ve shoved me all the way under the list of “prospects”. In the Word, it seems like God specializes in working with castaways. He called Moses after he committed murder and fled to a different land. Moses questioned his calling, even tried to thrust Aaron to the forefront because he felt Aaron was smarter and a better speaker. David was out tending to the sheep when Samuel came to anoint one of Jesse’s sons to be king. David’s own father didn’t consider him for such a powerful honor until he had no other choice and there were no sons left. Jeremiah told God he was a child and couldn’t speak for the Lord. Peter always had faith and impulse issues. Thomas always doubted. Paul persecuted the church. On the surface, we wouldn’t think that either one of these guys (including me!) would be chosen by God for His purpose to be fulfilled, but He not only chose us, but He stands behind His choice. Today we are going to look at 1 Corinthians 1:27, to understand a little bit more as to why God chooses the people He does for His purpose.

“But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;”

The word “chosen” means “selected”. God didn’t have to choose us and He definitely has options, so His choice should bring humility. The word “foolish” means “stupid or heedless”. The fool is the person who can be given wisdom, but will completely disregard it. In Proverbs 15:5, the Bible says, “A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.” Proverbs 18:2 says, “A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself”. Proverbs 17:25 says, “A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.” So in painting this small picture, we have an idea of the type of person God selects. In 1 Corinthians 1:21, “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” God classifies preaching as foolishness, yet it still saves those that believe! Does this mean God is speaking against the very thing He uses to spread the word throughout the world? Absolutely not. In 1 Corinthians 1:25, the Bible says, “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” God’s idea of foolishness and ours are on two different scales!

The word “confound” means “to disgrace, or put to shame”.  So God takes the stupid and heedless things (and people) and will use them to put the wise to shame. In Matthew 11:25, the Bible says, “At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.” Christ thanked God for revealing Himself to people who weren’t wise.

“and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty”

The word weak means “without strength”. In Romans 5:6, the Bible says,

“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” God ensured that our salvation was made available when we didn’t have strength to even try to earn it on our own. Even in Zechariah 4:6, the Bible says, “Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit saith the Lord of hosts.” Our power means absolutely nothing when it comes to the Spirit of God. God doesn’t look for strong people. He looks for people He can fill with His strength. In Proverbs 21:31, the Bible says, “A horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.” We can do our best to prepare in a battle, have the best materials, weaponry, and skill, but God determines whether or not we make it home. In Psalms 20:7, the Bible says, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.”

The mighty trust in their own strength. The weak are made mighty when they trust in God’s strength. In 1 Samuel 17:45, the Bible says, “Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.” David knew the name of the Lord was more powerful than Goliath’s size, experience and strength.

In 1 Corinthians 1:29, the Bible says, “That no flesh should glory in His presence.” God chose people that were going to rely on His wisdom and His strength, people that were going to give Him the glory for the victory. He has made the same choice today. May we find wisdom and strength in Him.

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 17, 2020 – Jeremiah 9:24 – I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness

“But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.” Jeremiah 9:24 KJV

Hi Everyone!

Who do we give glory to when we accomplish something amazing? Do we pat ourselves on the back? Do we give another person credit for the outcome? Do we credit variables working in our favor, attributing our success to fate? Or do we give the God the glory? I have been the foolish person who has given everyone and everything credit but God who made everything happen, and I have been completed humbled when God removed His favor just enough for things to fall apart without Him, causing me to realize that our God is the force that holds our success together. Today, I make sure, more than ever, to give God the glory for everything my path has encountered, for every accomplishment, for every success. Today, we are looking at Jeremiah 9:24, for where the glory truly needs to go.

“But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.”

The word “glorieth” means “to shine a light upon, to boast, or to celebrate”. The Bible says in Psalms 44:8, “In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.” In 1 Corinthians 1:31, the Bible says, “That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” In 2 Corinthians 10:17, the Bible says, “But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” Why should we glory in the Lord? Why should He get the credit for our successes and our accomplishments? In Colossians 1:16-17, the Bible says, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” That’s why. God created the world and everything in it, in both the spiritual realm and the earthly realm, and because of Him everything is set together (consists). That means nothing belongs to us, including our success because God set everything in motion that we experience today. Because He authored our lives, all boasting, all celebrating, and all light needs to shine back on the Lord.

“That he understandeth and knoweth me”

The word “understandeth” means “to be circumspect, to exercise wisdom, insight and comprehension”. That means we can comprehend God on all angles. In order to be able to do that, we have to seek our God out, to learn of Him on all levels, and make ourselves available to receive His truth. In James 1:5, the Bible says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” The word “knoweth” carries the same meaning, whether a married couple are engaging in sexual relations or someone is comprehending information. In Genesis 4:1, the Bible says, “And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord.” The word “know” expresses a union from two separate things, so as two people become one flesh, the same happens when we know information. We become “one” with who and what we know, and that allows us to share what we know with others with clarity. Knowing requires intimacy, and intimacy requires a level of depth that is pure and sincere. God wants us to understand and know Him like that.

“That I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgement, and righteousness, in the earth”.

We need to know that God is Lord. Once we understand God and know our Lord, then it becomes easier to grasp His capabilities. In John 3:16, the Bible says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Lovingkindness is going to always have an action behind it. God always has shown His love for us by what He has done. Let us really take a serious inventory over our lives and see clearly how deeply God loves us. This verse says He “exercises”, so that is something He keeps in practice. “Judgement” means “a verdict or legal decision rendered” but it also means “justice”. So God sets everything right and makes sure everything, good or evil, is repaid. “Righteousness” means “blameless, moral conduct”. There is no case someone can make against the Lord. He practices lovingkindness, judgement, and righteousness in the earth as an example for us to follow and exercise ourselves. In 2 Corinthians 2:14, the Bible says, “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.”

“For in these things I delight, saith the Lord.”

The word “delight” means “to incline oneself towards, or to bend”. This means God pays close attention to people who desire to know and understand Him. May we glory in the privilege of knowing our Lord God, and experiencing His beautiful attributes, because He is watching!

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 18, 2020 – Philippians 4:11 – Therewith to be content

“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Philippians 4:11 KJV

Hi Everyone!

How do we feel when we don’t have the things we feel we need? Do we panic and begin to question our God and His provision. At the height of our struggles, do we consider going drastic, taking matters in our own hands? Do we trust God as provider when we see more bills than assets? Our successes and our struggles are not by accident, but play vital roles in our development as believers. I have experienced harvests of plenty, and I have stared at empty fields, wondering where I went wrong, but one thing remained the same, our God was right there through it all. Everything has its season, and in Ecclesiastes 3:6, the Bible says, “A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away”. There is a time for everything under the sun, all ordered and ordained by God. Today we are going to look at Philippians 4:11, a small lesson on contentment.

“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”

The word “want” means “to fall short, or lack”. When Paul says, “Not that I speak in respect of want”, he means he doesn’t speak from a position of falling short or lacking. This means that he doesn’t “want” for anything. It is obvious that Paul has been through periods of what he perceived to be “lack” and is speaking from experience. Sometimes, telling people what we have gone through can encourage someone else who is going through the same thing. Christ came and overcame the world and the enemy in order to show us how to ourselves. In Revelations 2:17, the Bible says, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” There are definite rewards when we overcome something that has been holding us back, but we can’t keep it to ourselves. In Luke 22:32, the Christ told Peter, “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” WHEN thou art converted, not IF. Christ knew Peter would overcome, and gave him the command to “strengthen thy brethren”. We have to help people overcome the same way we have.

“For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am”

The word “learn” here doesn’t just mean we receive something that can be applied when recalled. “Learn” means “to understand from experience with the intention to do habitually.” So the idea is not to waste the things God teaches us. In Matthew 7:24, Jesus says, “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:” God didn’t create us to merely receive information, store it up, and not apply it to our lives. Paul is sharing with the church what he learned, the epiphany he received that led to this state of mind he now has and the course of action he now takes. “Whatsoever state I am”. That means he has gone through a lot, enough for him to be circumspect. Credibility comes when we ourselves have encountered the very things we teach, and in Hebrews 4:15, the Bible speaks of Christ by saying, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Experience makes for a credible testimony.

“Therewith to be content”

The word “content” means “self-sufficent or satisfied within self”. This does not mean that we don’t need God. In John 15:5, Jesus says, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” We have to remain attached to the vine, receiving our sustenance from God. Wait a minute! We are the branches of the vine, so as long as we abide in the vine, we will not only have everything we need, but we can still bear fruit. Our perceived lack may feel heavy, but as long as we abide in the vine, we won’t ever be without what we need. In Hebrews 13:5, the Bible says, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” We are not to desire what the next person has, but are to be satisfied with what God has provided. The promise of God never leaving nor forsaking us ensures that He will take very good care of us. In 1 Timothy 6:6, Paul writes to Timothy, “But godliness with contentment is great gain”. So if we abide in the vine and learn to be satisfied with what God has provided, whether a little or a lot, it will become great gain for us. Is it safe to say Paul just shared what he learned about contentment with Timothy? When we learn to be content, we will focus more on God and less on our circumstances.

May we always rest in the provision of God and find contentment in it!

God Bless You All!

Marshall

Dec 19, 2020 – Matthew 9:36 – He was moved with compassion

“But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” Matthew 9:36 KJV

Hi Everyone!

When we look at people in the world, what are our thoughts concerning them? Do we turn our noses up to them? Do their actions anger us, or make us uneasy? Do we cast judgements openly or secretly? How should our thoughts, are feelings be? I have been on “the wrong side of the tracks”, so I have encountered looks of distaste, looks of judgement, but few looks of compassion. It made it harder for me to desire change, believing I wouldn’t find people who genuinely cared for me when I did reach out for help. Our response to someone we encounter in the world can be the catalyst to either their salvation or continued decline, but few of us think that one interaction has that big of an implication or impact. It really does. What a person receives from us can also shape the way they view the Church, and also the way they view Christ. When we show people that we truly care about them, and care about the state of their faith, people will be more receptive to what we will have to say. If they see contempt of judgement in us, they will reject our testimony. Today we are looking at Matthew 9:36, the beauty of compassion.

“But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.”

The phrase “moved with compassion” means “to have the bowels yearn for, to have sympathy, pity”. Strangely, when I looked up the word “moved” by itself, it carried the same meaning as compassion. So Christ saw this crowd of people, and his bowel yearned for them. That means the deepest parts of him was saddened about their condition and also for their salvation. In Luke 19:41, the Bible says, “And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it.” Christ went to Jerusalem and got close enough to the “problem”, then “beheld” it. To “behold” means to “fix one’s eyes or attention upon”. This is important for us because how can we assess what the problem is and where we can help if we never get close enough? What if we went to the doctor with a stomach ache, but the doctor wouldn’t get close enough to see the problem nor gauge the treatment plan. Would we trust their diagnosis? Hopefully not. What if we were sharing the Word of God with the homeless but we wouldn’t get close enough to them because they were too dirty or smelly for our liking? How effective would our ministry be? Our example, Christ not only got close, but He touched our infirmities, taking them upon Himself. What is our excuse? Having compassion means that the deepest parts of us yearn for the salvation and restoration of others so much, that their condition is the thing that makes us draw near to them, not away from them.

“Because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.”

Christ engaged himself in ministry, teaching, preaching, and healing every sickness and disease. Think about this with me. You are by yourself, doing all of this, in a synagogue of all places, and you see a ton of people in need of physical and spiritual healing. You’re happy to do it, but eventually you may ask, “Where is everybody? Why isn’t anyone doing anything about this?”. People’s primary mode of transportation was walking, so people traveled from all over to where they HEARD Jesus was. No doubt, people fainted along the way, “fainted” meaning “became tired or weary”. What good were the synagogues if the people weren’t being healed spiritually and physically? In Ezekiel 34:5-6, “And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.” This is what happens to the flock without shepherds. The sheep are scattered and they become vulnerable to attack from the enemy. “Scattered abroad” means they are far from home. Some die, some are marred and damaged permanently, and they walk in fear. They seek safety in every high place, waiting on a shepherd to find them, but none come after them. A lot of these people are almost stripped of all hope and Christ is their last chance to be healed.

I am painting this type of picture because we have sheep out there without shepherds, who have traveled far and wide seeking a shepherd, but none have come after them. A shepherd is “one who generally cares for and provides for the welfare of the flock”. A shepherd also means “pastor”. In Luke 9:11, the Bible says, “And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he RECEIVED them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.” What type of reception does the world get when they encounter us? Compassion? Judgement? Love? Contempt?

What type of reception would you want to get if you traveled far and wide, and are weary to the Lord?

God Bless You!

Marshall

Dec 20, 2020 – Colossians 3:22 – obey in all things … in singleness of heart, fearing God

“Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God; Colossians 3:22 KJV

Hi Everyone!

Who are we when no one is watching? Is what we reflect behind closed doors consistent with what the world sees? What about with God? Is our faith, obedience, and conduct the same as it would be if He was standing right there watching us? I have to check myself on this one, realizing that I still have some work to do. God doesn’t want false submission and He definitely doesn’t want false representation either. In Psalms 51:17, the Bible says, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” God desires sincerity from His children, and he also desires sincerity out of our service to Him. Today, we are looking at Colossians 3:22, a view on honest service.

“Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God;

The word “servant” is used to describe someone who will willingly commit himself to serve a master he loves and respects. But it can also mean a person subjected to involuntary, permanent service as a slave. In Titus 2:9, the Bible says, “Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;” No matter the type of bondage, voluntary or involuntary, God requires the same attitude towards our service. It doesn’t matter if our masters are nice or brutal, God commands our obedience to them. In 1 Peter 2:18, the Bible says, “Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.” So the master’s treatment has nothing to do with my service, and it isn’t true obedience to pick and choose whose directives I follow based on how they treat me. Being in prison, I experience many different officers, some great, some horrible, but my submission is to their authority, and not to the person. In Romans 13:1 the Bible says, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained by God.” When we understand that their authority is ordained by God, we have to see them as people acting according to God’s command as well. If we don’t see it like this, obedience will be hard.

“Obey in all things your masters according to the flesh”

The word “obey” means “heed or conform to a command”. To conform is to allow ourselves to embody the command. In 1 Samuel 15:22, the Bible says, “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” Obedience IS the sacrifice, and obedience pleases God. The verse says we are to obey “in all things”. Pretty self-explanatory. That means we don’t try to find a way out, but a way through. The word “master” means “person supreme in authority”. So our job is to conform to the commands of the person(s) who is in supreme authority over us on earth.

” not with eye service, as men pleasers”

The phrase “eye service” means that we only work well when the master is watching. It looks good in church, but when we are in our communities, is our service the same? Do we obey our boss the same way we obey Pastor? In 1 Timothy 6:1, the Bible says, “Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.” When we count our masters worthy of honor, then we will represent them well when they aren’t around, because we will understand they are ordained by God, and obeying them is the same as obeying God. Think not? In Romans 13:2, the Bible says, “Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.” Our masters operate in the power of God so our obedience is therefore no different. “Men pleasers are people that aim to impress men without any regard for God. Our obedience has to have God in mind first, at all times.

“But in singleness of heart, fearing God”

The word “singleness” means “sincerity without self-seeking”. Our hearts are the center of our beings, so our desire to obey has to come from the deepest places in our being. We don’t obey looking for a reward, but we will be rewarded for our obedience. God sees it as if He stands right next to us. In Luke 19, it gives the story of a certain nobleman and his servants, and in verse 13, the Bible says, “And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.” The master gave his servants a command. In verse 14, the citizen spoke against him and his reign over them, saying they don’t want him reigning over them. Reading further along, most servants obeyed, despite the absence of the master and rebellion of one of their company, those who obeyed  reaped a harvest of authority!!!!

May we serve our masters with a sincere heart today!

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 21, 2020 – Jeremiah 15:19 – If thou return, then will I bring thee again

“Therefore thus saith the LORD, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them.” Jeremiah 15:19 KJV

Hi Everyone!

God is someone we can turn to with every problem we have. The beauty about our God is He is loving, and is receptive to everything we bring to Him. There is a real comfort knowing our God is listening, and we aren’t too small for Him to hear, or too insignificant for Him to respond to. I have seen the surprise on people’s faces when I tell them they can talk to God about literally anything. What happens when the representatives of God, the ministers of His word, have a full blown panic attack? How does God handle that? Today, we are going to look at Jeremiah 15:19, a message on redirection.

“Therefore thus saith the LORD, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them.”

“Therefore thus saith the Lord”. Is the word we receive from the Lord? This question is so vital, because a person can give great advice, but if it’s not from the Lord, it might as well be a pathway to destruction. In 1 Chronicles 17:2, the Bible says, “Then Nathan said unto David, Do all that is in thine heart; for God is with thee.” David wanted to built a house for God to dwell in. Nathan was a prophet, responsible for conveying God’s word to the people, He ordained for it to go. We would think his advice would be sound, right? In 1 Chronicles 17:3-4, the Bible says, “And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying, Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in:” Nathan thought that if it was in David’s heart, it must have come from God. Making sure the word we receive comes from the Lord is important, because we can be misled and do the kingdom of God a disservice by moving in a way God never directed. What happens when the man of God is in a state of panic, looking at the treatment he is receiving and the evil of the people, and taking the role of a victim? That means his faith is wavering, and He is not looking at God. His eyes are fixed on his circumstances and his feelings about his circumstances. Even after God assured Jeremiah in Jeremiah 15:11 by saying, “The LORD said, Verily it shall be well with thy remnant; verily I will cause the enemy to entreat thee well in the time of evil and in the time of affliction,” Jeremiah had more complaints. He couldn’t hear God’s word so how could he spread it?

“If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me”

The word “return” is the same as “repent”, meaning “to turn back”. God is telling Jeremiah in essence, “You have gone far enough away from me. Now, let’s get it back together. You are my voice, and my promises are the same. Focus on Me, and not on them. Jeremiah’s fear, and his pain causes him to take him mind off the Lord, and even when he inquired of the Lord, his heart wasn’t right before the Lord. In 2 Timothy 1:7, the Bible says, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Jeremiah’s heart wasn’t right before the Lord because God didn’t give him the spirit he walked in. If Jeremiah repented, God could restore him back to the promises and commands of Jeremiah 1:10, which said, “See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.” Because Jeremiah didn’t have the right heart or attitude before the Lord, he couldn’t operate in the authority God has given him. When we stand before the Lord, it signifies right standing, confidence, and readiness to carry the word given. Jeremiah had to repent and be brought back to his foundation in order to stand before Him.

“And if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth. Let them return unto thee; but return not unto them.”

This is a refinement term, where the dross is extracted from the metal, making the metal pure. Jeremiah had to go in the fire, and get all the impurities he has taken on burned from him. In Ezekiel 44:23, the Bible says, “And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.” There is always something teachable in refinement. Let sinners change their behavior but we must never compromise our good behavior in the Lord to reach them. Just because the world acts crazy, doesn’t mean we have to. In Zechariah 3:7, the Bible says, “Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.” Our focus should remain on the Lord and the Word He has given us, and the promise will come.

May we be able to stand before the Lord with great assurance that His will is perfect for our lives.

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 22, 2020 – Psalm 62:10 – set not your heart upon them

“Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.” Psalm 62:10 KJV

Hi Everyone!

When I was a kid, our poverty was so extreme, and our need was so great, that I was willing to do anything to make money. This is my testimony, I ran drugs for drug dealers, robbed people, sold drugs, stole, and broke quite a few laws to make money. When I made money, it became my god and it was the only thing that mattered. As long as I had a pocketful of money or a crime in mind to make more money, I was quite fine with my life. I saw what I was doing to be survival, so it justified the wrong I was doing. Fast forward to a life sentence and over 17 years later, and I am nothing like I used to be. No longer the criminal I used to be, I don’t pursue any illegal means to make money, and I may struggle here and there, but I have a heart and mind of peace and contentment. A few years ago, I had thousands of dollars on my prison account, but I made a terrible mistake. While I gave God the glory for having the provision I had, I began to trust in the riches God provided more than in God Himself. Idolatry is sin, and I didn’t know how deep I was falling until it all went away. In Proverbs 30:8, the Bible says, “Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me”. I didn’t realize how vain I had become, nor did I realize I was putting my trust in riches instead of God. My eyes are teary as I reflect on how I became no better than the criminal I used to be because instead of robbing people, I was robbing my God. Praise God I understand that now, because when the harvest comes back, I won’t ever lose my sight again. Today, I want to look at Psalms 62:10, a word on money.

“Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.”

The word “trust” means “to hie for refuge”, meaning we run towards it instinctively for refuge. The word “oppression” here surprised me because it actually means “unjust gain”. I now reflect back when I was so entrenched into the street life, racing after unjust gain, and it really IS oppression! I see brothers in here under the same oppression, salivating to return to freedom to chase after ill gotten riches again. In Isaiah 30:12-13,  the Bible says, “Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon: Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.” When we trust in riches, unjust gain, or our weird perversions concerning them, we are proving that we despise the Word of God. There are no gray areas, and I learned that if I trust God’s word, then there is no room for me to place my faith elsewhere. Our walls will come tumbling down and then the enemy has an open field to do as he wills when we place our trust in unjust gains or riches.

“And become not vain in robbery”

The word “vain” means “to be led astray”. The word “robbery” means “plunder taken away by force”. I will personally tell you that I have dealt with this first hand, led astray by unjust gains, by plunder taken by force. I remember days where we took pictures with our “bounty”, actually proud of what we “made”. It becomes a drug, and the rush is addicting, and the enemy enjoyed it when I was trapped in my filth. In Proverbs 11:28, the Bible says, “He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.” I experienced that fall and it hurt when I crashed and burned, but I am glad that I fell because I trust in the Lord with every fiber of my being now, and I truly realize where I went terribly wrong. I had to reprogram my thinking. In Proverbs 10:22, “The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow to it”. God offers true riches, true blessings, true wealth in His kingdom and there is nothing to be sorry about, no guilt, or no punishment behind what the Lord provides. All of the money in the world means nothing without God.

“If riches increase, set not your heart upon them.”

The word “riches” means “strength by financial influence”. Whether unjust gains or completely legitimate gains, we are not to place our trust in them. The word “set” implies that a person fixes themselves in position in their mind or heart, giving their undivided attention to it. Matthew 6:24, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” No gray areas. Either we love God or despise God. Either we love money or despise money. In Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” God desires people that will seek true riches in Him, that is uncorruptible, that can’t be taken or discounted.

May we seek a life of honesty, one where we trust in our God as the perfect Father and provider.

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 23, 2020 – 1 Thessalonians 1:5 – For our gospel came not unto you in word only

“For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.” 1 Thessalonians 1:5 KJV

Hi Everyone!

How does our ministry reach people? How does the word of life reap a harvest in the lives God entrusts to us? There has to be fruit that is borne from our interactions with people, and also a correct representation of God, who we operate in the name of. Our conduct among people is just as important as the Word of God we share, because if there is no evidence of the Spirit in our ministry, then it gives people no reason to believe our word as truth. In our society, we are bombarded by “ministers” teaching “feel good doctrine” that is laced with lies, and sadly, the Church as a whole is losing credibility. People are teaching with gimmicks instead of the Holy Ghost’s power and truth, and it is leading people astray in record numbers. We have to be a Church that trusts in the power of the Holy Spirit to reach the hearts and minds of people, understanding that the representatives are nothing without the Person we represent. Today, we are going to look at 1 Thessalonians 1:5, a word on effective ministry.

“For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.”

The word “gospel” means “good message”. This entails God’s plan for salvation, for doctrine, declaration, commands, and promises. The good message isn’t going to always feel good, as some churches incorrectly project. In Acts 2:37 “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” The word of God is not going to always feel good, and if the heart is pricked then that amounts to both pain and guilt. What did this pain and guilt do? It caused them to ask the apostles, “What shall we do?” The word should always give a person a desire to search inwardly and make necessary changes to their lives. In 2 Corinthians 7:10, the Bible says, “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” One of the major points of the gospel is to prick the heart, causing repentance to salvation. We can’t limit God’s reach by assuming we know how He pricks hearts. 1 Thessalonians 1:5 says that the gospel didn’t come to them “in word only”. Preaching and teaching are both valuable to the kingdom of God, but 1 Corinthians 4:20, the Bible says, “The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power”. The “kingdom of God” is what people see in our lives, not just in the words we utter. Talk cheapens the Word if our actions don’t line up with the Word, and also, if people don’t see the power of God at work in our lives.

“But also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance”

The word “power” means “miraculous force”. Power means nothing if it isn’t in use. Does electricity bear fruit without an appliance plugged in AND turned on? We won’t know if the appliance works until we plug it in correct? Ask any electrician who goes to make a repair what is the first thing they check, and 99% of the will say, “the power source”, whether it’s plugged in or powered up. In Mark 16:20, the Bible says, “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.”  No matter where we go, the Lord has to work with, in, and through us, because if that is not the case, then we will be nothing more than flashy appliances that look amazing but have no power source. In Acts 1:8, the Bible says, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” We receive this power and we move is this power, becoming living witnesses of this power at work. In Acts 10:38, the Bible says, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” When God gave us the Holy Spirit and power, we now have the power to perform the ministries that God gifted us with. “Assurance” means “entire confidence”. This assurance isn’t in our words or skill, but in God’s Holy Spirit dwelling and working in us.

“As ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake”.

Our actions will always produce a record that displays who we are in Christ and who we are in life. This is one of the ways the Word of God is accepted as truth or discredited as a lie in the lives of people we encounter. Paul expresses that they “know” what manner of men they were, so their actions had to embody their ministry. In Matthew 7:20, the Bible says, “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them”. If a person is of the faith or of the world, our fruit will bear record of it.

We have a responsibility to not only share the Word but move in the Holy Spirit’s power as well. May our goal be to bear good fruit!

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 24, 2020 – Jeremiah 24:5 – Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them

“Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good.” Jeremiah 24:5 KJV

Hi Everyone!

How can the most devastating set of circumstances be for our good? I have experienced a ton of hardships all all throughout my life, and while I was going through it, I couldn’t see how any of it was going to work for my good. Sometimes, I wasn’t sure I was going to make it through! Fortunately for me, God knew me before I was formed in Momma’s womb, and His plan for my life ensured that I would not only make it through, but that everything I went through would be for my good. In hindsight, I am in awe behind how God has every detail figured out. Nothing catches our God by surprise! God’s chosen people were about to endure some hardships, and He didn’t want them caught by surprise. Imagine our God saying, “You are about to be enslaved, but it will be for your good”. Huh? My response? “Don’t…let….them….take….me…God!” I have been locked up for over 17 years now, but over 16 years ago, I was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole. I had no clue how I was going to do a day of this sentence, but 16 years later, I can definitely confirm that God has worked this whole situation out for my good. Today, we are going to look at Jeremiah 24:5, a word of God’s perfect plan.

“Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good.”

God knew beforehand to separate the good figs from the bad figs. The good figs were the remnant of Judah, the exiles in Babylon, the ones that would have to be enslaved for 70 years. The bad figs were the ones that God was punishing, so they had to be left behind. In Jeremiah 29:18-19, the Bible says, “And I will persecute them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, and an astonishment, and an hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them:  Because they have not hearkened to my words, saith the LORD, which I sent unto them by my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; but ye would not hear, saith the Lord”. This is reserved for the bad figs, for the people left behind, and to me, a “little slavery” is manageable compared to this. We sometimes believe that our suffering is unbearable, but there is always someone doing way worse, who would gladly trade positions with us without batting an eye. The bad figs are being punished because they didn’t heed the word of the Lord that continuously went before them through many people God sent to them.

“So will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah”

To “acknowledge” means “to recognize with care”. God just doesn’t pay attention to us. Our God is the proud Father who checks on His children with the utmost love and affection. In Jeremiah 29:11, the Bible says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” God’s intention for His children is always to lead us into His purpose for our lives. Even when that leading can feel unpleasant, God has peace and not evil in mind. The people “carried away captive” were “exiles”, and an exile is someone who is banished from their own land while purposed to live in a specific location. For Judah, their exile was to the land of the Chaldeans, which was Babylon. Their “slavery” couldn’t really be seen as slavery, even though they were captives. They were treated like colonists, held leadership positions, and in Jeremiah 29:5-6, the Bible says, “Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished.” God exiled His children, and told them to make themselves at home there until  He called them back from their captivity. So Judah is going to continue to grow without interruption in the midst of captivity.

“Whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good.”

Think about this. God causes Judah to be exiled, and says it’s for their good. Jeremiah 29 gives context for what happens after Judah was exiled. The remaining people in Jerusalem would be punished, and in Jeremiah 29:17, the Bible says, “Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will send upon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.” The invaders were coming regardless, and they obviously meant evil for the people in Jerusalem. What if Judah wasn’t exiled and these invaders came? Judah would’ve been destroyed and so would the line to Christ! Exile versus death and scattering?

May we trust in our God who makes all things work for our good.

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 25 – Isaiah 9:6 – Christmas Devotional  – and the government shall be upon his shoulder

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 KJV

Christmas Devotional

Hi Everyone!

This is the season where we praise God, because our Savior came into the world to save us from our sins. Christ was born to restore us into our rightful places in the kingdom of God. God could’ve chosen a million different ways to send this miracle, but He chose a virgin named Mary and impregnated her with the Holy Spirit, so the baby she would bring to this world would be the perfect, atoning sacrifice for the world. We tend to focus on the gifts, the food, the family gatherings, but this is the season to focus our attention on The Gift, and that is Jesus Christ. When Santa Claus has more credence than Jesus, when beautifully wrapped gifts have outweighed the thankfulness of this miraculous birth, then we as a people are deeply flawed because we have effectively taken Jesus Christ out of His own birthday party! Today, we are going to briefly look at the prophecy of Isaiah 9:6, written over 650 years before Christ was born.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

This was no ordinary child. The word “son” means “a child that is the builder of the family name”. Christ came to establish the name of God in the earth. In Isaiah 7:14, the Bible says, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Immanuel means “God with us”. God used the virgin birth as a sign, and declared his name to be Immanuel, to confirm that God is truly with us. This prophecy also establishes the Deity of Christ, for those who may question whether Jesus Christ is God. In John 1:1, the Bible says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” In John 1:14, the Bible says, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” This is Christ, and it says that Christ was God, and became flesh and dwelt among us. Names give a person their identity, and the many names of Christ verifies His identity.

“And the government shall be upon His shoulder:”

If the government is upon His shoulders, it means that He is holding the government up, that He is the foundation for the government. In 1 Corinthians 3:11, the Bible says, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Christ is our foundation, and He is who our governments should be built upon. Look at the state of our world governments right now. They are becoming more and more godless because they have removed Christ and built on a different foundation altogether. In Ephesians 2:20-22, the Bible says, “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” Christ’s birth came to make us one building, one Church, where He is the foundation and the cornerstone, the most important stone in the building process. All government is supposed to govern according to the Word and it should reflect Christ. The word “government” means “empire”.

“And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace”

The phrase “shall be called” means “to declare or proclaim”. “Wonderful” here actually means “a miracle”!!!! The word “Counselor” means “a person who advises”. Didn’t Christ say in Luke 12:12, “For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say”? Counselors advocate for us as they teach us how to live and what we should say. “The Mighty God”. For any one who thinks Jesus Christ isn’t God, why would He be called The Mighty God unless He actually was? In Matthew 28:18, the Bible says, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” God is the only person who has “all power”. “The everlasting Father”. The word “everlasting” means “enduring in perpetuity”. It doesn’t end. “The Prince of Peace”. The word “Prince” means “immediate authority”. In Ephesians 2:14, the Bible says, “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;” Christ just doesn’t have peace, Christ is our peace!

Before Christ was born, He was given names, a purpose, and His birth established the kingdom of God on earth. May we all look at Christmas as more than just a holiday. Our salvation came to earth through the birth of Christ, and there would be no such thing as Christmas without Christ. May you and your family take great comfort in the power of Christ’s birth, and may we all find thankfulness in our hearts to be partakers of this divine nature we now possess.

Merry Christmas!

Marshall

Dec 26, 2020 – Matthew 16:24 – If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Matthew 16:24 KJV

Hi Everyone!

Do we really understand the requirement of being a follower of Christ, of being a part of the kingdom of God? Do we truly understand that Christ, as our perfect example, exercised the very commands He has given us, one of which is self-denial. Imagine with me Jesus Christ, who is God robed in flesh, forsaking His diety to come down and take the form of man, to be the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. It is bad enough that He had to step away from heaven to dwell among men, but He had to also die to save the same people who strung Him on the cross. We have the hardest time “sacrificing” up an hour a day to studying His word, taking a few seconds to encourage someone in need, or forgiving someone who wronged us, but leave it up to us, and we’d say we are definitely “living sacrifices”. Today we are going to look at Matthew 16:24, a word on self-denial, a key step in following Christ.

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

First, I want to make it clear that these are the words of Christ, spoken to HIS disciples. The word “disciples” means “learner or pupil”. Much deeper than someone who merely follows someone and tries to mimic what they do. We follow Christ to learn what He teaches us. There is a big difference between people that are along for the ride and people that truly desire to become new. A person who desires to become new makes themselves available to learn how.

“If any man will come after me”

“If” is a conditional word, and it doesn’t express certainty. Christ knows that there will be people that will make the choice to not follow Him.  In 2 Corinthians 4:3, the Bible says, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost”. To be lost implies a person has no idea where they are. Sadly, this state of mind, heart and spirit is one that is “by choice”, because they fail to believe the Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Christ doesn’t discriminate here, because He says, “if ANY MAN will come after me”. That means the invitation is extended to us all to follow after Him. When we come after someone, we desire to be in their position.

“Let him deny himself”

How many of us like to admit that we are wrong? To “deny” means “to disown, to declare untrue, to disregard all personal interests and enjoyments.” So the person that “denies himself” makes the declaration in word and deed that everything he was is wrong, and He allows God to burn down the “building” he erected on his own efforts to be rebuilt by Him. In Philippians 3:8, the Bible says, “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ”. Paul was the Pharisee of Pharisees, part of the religious leadership, taught under the strictest sect,  but He abandoned everything he was, to put on this new man he became in Christ. He called what he gained without Christ “dung”. Ouch! In Hebrews 11:24-25, the Bible says, “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;” Moses walked away from everything to follow after God. Self-denial is key because it means we have “emptied our cups out” in order for Christ to fill them with whatever He intends to be in us.

“And take up his cross, and follow me”

To “take up your cross” means “to undergo suffering, trial, punishment; to expose oneself to reproach or death”. This doesn’t sound pleasant does it? We as believers can have the wrong perception of our experience or walk in Christ, like everything is going to be great all of the time. In 2 Timothy 3:12, the Bible says, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution”. So we will have times where it does not good feel good to be a believer. In Matthew 10:38, Jesus says, “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” This is another part of self-denial, being willing to endure anything for the sake of Christ, who endured everything for the sake of us. The cross was so important because it was the place that Christ took the sins of mankind upon Himself, laid down His life, only to take it back up again. In our own way, as followers of Christ, we are to be led by His example. In Romans 6:6, the Bible says, “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” The cross is essential for our transformation because it allows us to have victory over sin! To “follow” means “to be a disciple of anyone as to faith and practice.”

Christ denied himself, endured suffering on the cross He bore, and followed after God. May we have the courage to do the same.

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 27, 2020 – Luke 4:18 – Jesus said: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me …

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,” Luke 4:18 KJV

Hi Everyone!

God has anointed all of us for a specific purpose, and to fulfill a specific calling. There is always a purpose behind our calling, and the anointing readies us to partake in it. I know when I received my calling, I was the most sensational “track star” I knew! I believed my calling was spot on, but I ran because I wanted to “live” a little before I accepted my call. I didn’t realize that the Gospel was meant for people just like me, and preached to people just like me, so who understands people like me better than people like me? 🙂 The Gospel has an intended purpose, people are meant to receive the Gospel, and things the Gospel has to do. If we are unwilling to share the Gospel, “the stones will cry out”, but why should it have to come to that? It is the least we can do, to share the Gospel with others, but it’s the last thing we are willing to do, knowing this is a matter of eternal life or eternal death. Today, we will look at Luke 4:18, the reason for the Gospel.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,”

The first thing we should look at is Christ saying, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me”. Because of this, He has the leading and the power to perform anything God has for Him to do. Too many times, we as believers are led by our own understanding of our purpose and calling instead of being led by the Holy Spirit and trusting in His plan. In Proverbs 3:5-6, the Bible says, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” We have to trust in God and God alone, and allow Him to direct our paths. There are many people in positions that the Lord didn’t call them to be in, and while they may still win souls, they are out of alignment Spiritually.

“Because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor”

The word “anointed” means “to consecrate to an office or religious service.” That means we don’t have to be “Pastor”, “Apostle”, or “Evangelist” to spread the Word of God. In 1 Corinthians 2:4-5, the Bible says, “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” Whether Apostle or member, we have the same obligation to share what the Spirit gives, when the Spirit gives it, because in Romans 12:6, the Bible says, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;”. Whatever measure of faith God has given us is the place we should speak from, and whatever gift He has given should be the position we speak from. The word “preach” means “to announce publicly.” The gospel is the “good news”, which is salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, and the reward of eternal life to all who believe on His name. The word “poor” means “beggars”. We aren’t talking about financially poor here, but beggars of the Gospel. In James 2:15-16, the Bible says, “If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?” If Christ was talking about financially poor, wouldn’t He have told us to “feed the poor”?

“He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted”

The word “heal” means “to cure of moral diseases: to heal or save from the consequences of sin”. The word “brokenhearted” means “complete crushing or shattering of the inner being”. A broken heart is a horrible spiritual position to be in, because if the heart is shattered, what can dwell in there? In Proverbs 18:14, the Bible says, “The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?” If the heart is shattered, then there is nothing there to sustain our infirmities.

“To preach deliverance to the captives”

The word “preach” here means “to herald as the town crier, to teach”. The word “deliverance” means “freedom, pardon from service or captivity”. The word “captives” means “a prisoner, or a prisoner of war.” In Ephesians 6:12, it clearly states our fight is spiritual, so our captivity has to be spiritual as well. Christ promises freedom!

“And recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised”

When Paul receives His sight again, it was as scales fell from his eyes. The enemy wants to keep us blind so we don’t see the kingdom of God and desire it for ourselves! The Gospel is the power to break chains of those who are crushed!

May we spread the Gospel and unlock the power of God in people’s lives. Salvation is on the line!

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 28, 2020 – Isaiah 50:4 – The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned

“The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.” Isaiah 50:4 KJV

Hi Everyone!

God truly equips us to speak on His behalf. I know that firsthand, because what, in my very finite knowledge, would ever qualify me to share the word of God? When Moses was given His call by God, he said in Exodus 4:10, “And Moses said unto the LORD, O my LORD, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.” Moses was looking at his own inability instead of the God that was enabling him to speak on His behalf. How many of us discount the power God has given us, or the assignment He has entrusted to us? In Luke 18:27, the Bible says, “And He said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” How can we know this and then question His selection when we are the ones chosen? Today, we are going to look at Isaiah 50:4, a word that establishes that God equips us for service.

“The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.”

The first thing I want us to look at is really the most important part of the whole verse. “The Lord God hath given me”. Our gifting and the means of performing of that gifting is all given by God. None of it comes from us. Even the people we share the Word with are “given” to us, because it is the Lord who puts it upon our hearts to speak to them in the first place. We are the vessels God uses to perform His purpose. So If God gives us the Word, the means to carry out the Word, and the people to speak to about the Word, then what are we actually bringing to the table? In John 15:5, the end of the verse says, “for without me ye can do nothing”. So the first thing we have to grasp is we are not operating in our own power, knowledge, or ability, but God’s. Should make grasping the assignment a tad easier. 🙂

“tongue of the learned”

The word “tongue” means “speech”. The word “learned” means “instructed, one taught, an expert”. Having a “tongue of the learned” is the gift of inspirational and instructive speech and an ear that listens like those being taught. After Moses tried to tell God that he wasn’t qualified, God’s response in Exodus 4:11 should have ended the conversation. The Bible says in Exodus 4:11-12, “And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.” God made our mouths, so therefore He controls what goes into our mouths and what comes out of our mouths. God told Moses that He makes man dumb or deaf. He then told Moses that He would be with his mouth, meaning He will empower Him to speak the words God commands. Moses still doesn’t trust, and basically asks God to chose someone else instead of him. Sounds familiar? 🙂 God went straight to Moses’ heart and told him He knows Aaron speaks well, but Moses was still His choice. God doesn’t call the qualified, but qualifies the called!

“That I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary”

To “know” means “to become one with”. That means the knowledge becomes a part of who we are, and we operate according to it. The phrase “speak a word in season” means simply, “to give the words to help”. In Isaiah 57:19, the Bible says, “I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him.” God gives us the ability and knowledge, and then points us to the people that need the word He has given. Calling peace to those far off will make them come near, and when they come near, they can be healed! So the word God gives us is to help people draw near to God so He can heal them. In Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”. God’s Word is designed to give rest to the weary, to the ones travelling the whole world on their own power, to the broken, the ones that have fallen away, the one that lived the street life and nearly destroyed himself in the process.

“he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned”

Morning by morning means it doesn’t end. God opens our eyes every morning to receive His Word, to allow His Word to reveal its truths to us, and allow us to receive His Word with clarity and understanding. In Psalms 143:8, the Bible says, “Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for on thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.” The morning is important because it is the first part of the day, so we want the Lord to awaken us every morning and open our minds to receive His teaching. God gives us His Word and the power to use the Word for His glory.

I praise God for giving me the tongue of the learned, so I can help someone exactly how someone helped me!

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 29, 2020 – 1 Timothy 1:5 – Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart

“Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:” 1 Timothy 1:5 KJV

Hi Everyone!

Our faith has fruit, the evidence of what our faith is made of. Our walks also have fruit, the evidence of what we are made of. The evidence is the external things we freely see, but what really lies beneath the surface? Does our service stem from the love that is in our heart? Are our hearts right towards the people we serve? In Matthew 7:11, the Bible says, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” So evil people can do nice things too, and sometimes, evil people do nicer things for people than believers. This shouldn’t be. We have to take an inventory of our heart’s contents, our attitudes about service, our dispositions towards people, and use love as the template to see if our hearts line up with the type of hearts that God requires us to have in service. Today, we will look at 1 Timothy 1:5, and understand why we have to have the right heart for service.

“Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:”

The word “end” means “the ultimate purpose”. The word “commandment” is defined as “a mandate”, where we get the word “mandatory”. It doesn’t suggest that God merely desires us to do it, but He orders us to do it. Anything that is mandated is of extreme importance, so we should follow God’s commands as if they were as important as eating,  drinking, and breathing. So the ultimate purpose of God’s mandate is charity out of a pure heart. The word “charity” is “agape” which is “Godly love, the love that He gives us, and the love we are to give each other.” In 1 John 4:7, the Bible says, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” It then says in 1 John 4:11-12, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.” So what God has extended to us, we must receive and then extend it to others. Love is the only way we can show people who God is, because it is the only way God is manifested in any encounter we have. A “pure heart” is both selfless and sincere, completely inhabited by God. In 1 John 4:13, “Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.” So by the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, we will have the pure heart of love God commands us to have. Christ said the greatest commandments were to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. When everything we are comes from the love God has planted within our hearts, then the fruit produced will greatly reflect that same love. In Romans 13:8, the Bible says, “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” If I owe someone, I must pay someone, and if love is the thing owed then I must pay it in perpetuity. We don’t have to worry about the law when we love because the law expresses fault and consequence for the fault. Christ fulfilled the law on the cross, and the law was fulfilled by love. In John 15:13, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Christ paid the ultimate cost and there is no greater love than sacrifice!

“And of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned”

The word “good” is a creation word, expressing God intentions from the beginning. The word “conscience” means “moral consciousness to distinguish right from wrong”. If a person has a good conscience, then they have obviously chosen right over wrong. If our hearts are pure with God’s love, then it will affect our decision making, and we will choose to do right by God and people. In Romans 12:9-10, the Bible says, “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;” Our love should survive any level of scrutiny, and no hypocrisy should be found. That means our love has to be shown, not spoken! “In honour preferring one another”, means we show appreciation for others by putting them first. Sacrifice. God created us with a conscience, and the more Spirit-led we are, the more convicted we become when we are out of alignment. Love is always the standard. “Faith unfeigned” is sincere faith, that is in word and deed. Faith is the exercise of God’s word in obedience to His commands. Love has to be the foundation to our faith as well, because it is much easier to obey people we love. In 1 Corinthians 13:13, the Bible says, “And now abideth faith, hope, charity (love), these three; but the greatest of these is charity (love).”

Without God we can do nothing, and without love, we are nothing.

May we serve others with a pure heart of love!

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 30, 2020 – 1 Corinthians 14:26 – Let all things be done unto edifying

“How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.” 1 Corinthians 14:26 KJV

Hi Everyone!

God loves orderly worship. When His children come together to use their gifting to edify the body of Christ, it becomes a sweet smelling fragrance to God’s nostrils. In Psalms 133:1, the Bible says, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” That means operating as one together, unified in the same goal and purpose, and that should be the edification of the body of Christ. Merely gathering together isn’t good enough, because gangs gather together too, and how much good do they actually do? In order for a body of people to operate in unity, that means everyone has to check their egos and motives at the door, lining them up with love and service. No matter what our gifting is, we should all have the same purpose in mind. Today, we are going to briefly look at 1 Corinthians 14:26, a word on orderly worship.

“How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.”

Paul begins this verse with a question, a call for accountability. Beginning a question with “How is it” means the person is about to scrutinize something that is going on, in order to try to make sense of what is happening. That is not a good thing. In this case, the church in Corinth had an issue of chaos within the body, where it seemed like everyone was getting up to speak, doing their own thing, and instead of the body being built up, there was disorder in the service. Imagine new converts experiencing this chaotic church service. No doubt it probably lasted forever, and ultimately ran people away from the faith. There are many gifted people in the church, but order is necessary. In Philippians 2:3, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” If we don’t put others first, then there is always going to be someone in the body that is going to seek their own glory, and that’s when Christ is removed from service.

The word “brethren” means “one who is connected with another in any kind of intimacy or fellowship”. The word screams unity, consideration, and selflessness. In Philippians 2:2, the Bible says, “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” We have to understand that we are brethren, so we should desire a church service where the body of Christ is built and people can see the Spirit at work.

“When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath a interpretation.”

“Every one of you”. Ouch! I can only imagine what that looked like, to have hundreds and even thousands of people all getting up with something to share. A “psalm” is “a song, chant, or a Psalm from the Old Testament”. ” “Doctrine” means, “things taught, instruction, precepts”. “A tongue” in the singular is not speaking towards the God-given gift of tongues, but to “the false gibberish of the counterfeit pagan ecstatic speech.” This definitely shows that people were self-led and not Spirit-led. In 1 Corinthians 14:4, the Bible says, “He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.” The church isn’t edified if man is seeking his own edification, or “a pat on the back”. The word “revelation” means “something that was unknown and concealed, especially the divine mysteries, purposes, doctrines etc.” The word “interpretation” means “translation”. Sadly, some of these “gifts” are of a man’s own power and ability, and some are Spirit-filled. Imagine when the gifts were contrary to each other! How could anyone decipher what spirit was at work amid so much confusion? Where was the leadership, the shepherds, that were ensuring that everything was done correctly and orderly? So the sheep were undoubtedly being led astray, and there was great vulnerability in the church.

“Let all things be done unto edifying”

All things. In order for all things to be done to build the kingdom of God, there has to be no self-seeking within the body. In 1 Corinthians 14:12, the Bible says, “Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.” Paul recognized that a believer’s excitement would cause them to desire spiritual gifts so they can contribute to the church, but Paul expresses that edifying the church should be the goal. Part of edifying the church is ensuring that the shepherds can lead the sheep. Without headship, there will be chaos, and if there is headship but still chaos, then there is no submission. In 1 Corinthians 14:33, the Bible says, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” So if there is chaos and disorder, then it is highly unlikely that the Holy Spirit is leading that church.

May the edifying of the church be our goal!

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 31, 2020 – Psalm 34:7 – The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them

“The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.” Psalm 34:7 KJV

Hi Everybody!

My loving Helpmeet Jessica and her son Cameron were involved in a car crash on December 27th while coming back from Church. Everyone involved only suffered minor injuries, all able to essentially walk away from a major crash with a few bumps and bruises. Cameron’s truck was totaled, and from what I was told, based on how the cars looked, there should have been grave injury to some, or all of them. Car crash – meet our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! When we are under the covering of the Most High God, we are protected, and that protection allowed them all to sustain minor injuries that probably confounded the first responders. God’s protection doesn’t mean that nothing will ever happen to a believer, but God’s protection definitely means that He will deliver us from all hurt, harm and danger, both seen and unseen. I thank the Lord for protecting Jessica, Cameron and the other people involved. The Word means even more when we experience it, and God’s protection is unmatched. Today, we will look at Psalm 34:7, a word on God’s protection.

“The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.”

The word “angel” means “messenger specifically of God, responsible for aiding, protecting, and fighting for those who trust in the Lord.” These messengers can be angels, but sometimes God manifests Himself in angelic form to carry out the message to His people. In the verse, the word “angel” is singular, so it suggests that it very well could be a manifestation of God himself, or one the pre-incarnate appearance of Christ. In Genesis 16:7, the Bible says, “And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.” Look at Hagar’s response in Genesis 16:13, that says, “And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?” She attributes this appearance to God Himself, and said that God saw her there. Whether an angel or God Himself, they appear with the same power and authority, because they bear the name and purpose of God. Knowing who and where our protection comes from is essential to our faith in the protection we have. Knowing it comes directly from God should put us at ease.

“encampeth around them that fear him”

The word “encampeth” means “to pitch a tent or incline towards”. Either one of these will absolutely work to keep us protected. If God’s presence pitches a tent for us, then that suggests that He will build a structure around us to keep us protected for outside danger. If God inclines towards us, then His presence is there to defend. Ever been scared as a kid and our parents or relatives saw this and started coming in our direction? The fear washes over because we aren’t alone, and we have confidence that we wouldn’t have had otherwise. In Daniel 6:22, Daniel reports to the King Darius after spending a night in the lion’s den: “My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.” You see this? Daniel said, “MY GOD sent HIS angel”. Ownership. God just isn’t God. He is OUR GOD! God will protect His children. Now, look in Daniel 6:16, that says, “Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.” King Darius was not a believer, but He completely had confidence that Daniel’s God would deliver him. Why? Because Daniel served God continually! There is a condition in Psalm 34:7, as it almost always is when a promise comes from God. The condition? “Them that fear him.” The word “fear” means “a deep, moral, reverence for God.” This isn’t just word play. Our lives have to bear witness that we fear the Lord, just like Daniel. Imagine a non-believer having an understanding and a belief in God’s deliverance more than a believer does. That shouldn’t be.

“And deliver them”

The word “deliver” means “to remove from danger or harm”. This doesn’t mean that nothing will ever happen to a believer who fears the Lord, but this Word says God will deliver them. In Psalm 34:19, the Bible says, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” Many! Don’t be fooled into thinking that because we love the Lord, we are exempt from trouble. This verse says that many afflictions will come, God is already ready to deliver us from every one of them! We have a ton of representatives in the Bible who have been delivered. Abraham, Lot, Moses, Joseph, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Daniel, David, Rahab, Peter, Paul, Silas, and the list goes on! The same provision there were under, we are under. The same promises they were under, we are under, and Jessica, Cameron, and the people in the other vehicle are delivered because of it!

God Bless!

Marshall

“Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:” Isaiah 46:10 KJV

Hi Everyone!

Our Amazing God doesn’t make mistakes. Everything that has happened in this world God knew about from the beginning. It is hard to fathom, but we are actually living out God’s very detailed plan for our lives. Some believe that our God is something similar to a spiritual janitor, who is an expert a cleaning up our messes, but I know for a fact that my messes were a part of the plan that God had for my life! We are going into a new year, and I want us to fully embrace the truth that our God is very precise and intentional, and His plan for the world is already done, completed from the beginning. When we begin to fully grasp God’s intentionality, verses like Romans 8:28, which says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”, will begin to make a world of sense in our lives. Today, we will explore Isaiah 46:10, to look at God’s intentionality.

“Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:”

The word “declaring” means “manifesting or giving a report of”. God didn’t just create the world. He created the plan for the world at creation as well. When God declares something, He establishes it as truth that can be backed up. The word “end” means “future or end times”, and the word “beginning” means “the specified point when time and space were started”.  So our God established the end days from the beginning? When did it happen?

In Genesis 2:1, the Bible says, “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.” All of creation was finished at this point, including the plans and purposes God has for the world and the people in the world. In Genesis 2:2, the Bible says, “And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.” Why would God “end” the work if everything wasn’t completed? Does our God “rest” knowing there is work to be done? ” In Genesis 2:3, “And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” Sacrifices were accepted when they were without spot, wrinkle or blemish, and God blessed the sacrifice. Why would God bless and sanctify a day commemorating the completion of creation if He wasn’t completely done with His work?

“and from the ancient times the things that are not yet done”

This work was done, the declaration was made, establishing the end from the beginning, before it was physically complete on earth! The phrase “are not yet done” means “incomplete”. So before anything showed up, it was already set in its order and time. In Ecclesiastes 3:1, the Bible says, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” If God didn’t create the end at the beginning, then how could there be a season for EVERY THING? The word “season” here means “appointed time”. Appointed times don’t happen by chance. They are designed in the beginning to happen at the exact moment God ordains. In Ephesians 1:4-5, the Bible says, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will”. So God chose us before the foundation of the world, set us apart and knew the precise place we’d be when He adopted us as Gentiles into the fold, which was in His will to do! God has to declare the end from the beginning to do this. He knew an adoption was going to take place!

“saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure”

The word “counsel” means more than “advice or advisement”. It means “plan or purpose”. The word “stand” means “rise up in victory to any test or scrutiny”. Let’s look at this passage in Isaiah in context. God ordained that Cyrus would free God’s people from the Babylonian captivity. In Isaiah 44:28, it says, “That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.” In Isaiah 45:1, the Bible says, “Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut.” Please know that this was a word of prophecy, spoken of Cyrus 150 years before his birth! This also means the captivity hadn’t happen yet! So God gave Cyrus a name, made him a king, ordained for Him to conquer Babylon, and set God’s people free 150 years before his birth! God had the provision in place before the need arose!

May this New Year solidify the understanding in our hearts that every minute detail of our lives is a part of His plan!

God Bless!

Marshall

January 2, 2021 – Psalm 91:1 – He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1 KJV

Hi Everybody!

This is a brand new year, a year where most of the world is under the shadow of Covid, under the oppression of sin, and fear is more prevalent than faith. Rebellion is at an all-time high, and there is a blatant disregard for the well being of others. We are hurting as a people and when we search for solutions we are bombarded with more problems. Amid so many problems, what is the common thread? The world is becoming more and more Godless, and lawlessness is at levels unfathomable. There are over 2 billion Christians, but only a small number of those have a viable, personal relationship with God. I used to be a “church goer”, a ritualistic, religious practice, where I felt good to be in the house of God, but had no victory in my life in the other 6 and a half days of the week. I didn’t have a strong relationship with God, and it really showed. In order for us as believers to have victory in this day and age, a close, personal relationship with God and the infilling of the Holy Spirit is mandatory. Today, we are going to look at Psalms 91:1 and draw closer to the secret place of God.

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”

The word “dwelleth” means “to settle or remain”. The phrase ” secret place” means “covering”. Okay, so to settle means that make ourselves a permanent residence in any set location. So we are to make ourselves at home under the covering of our God. This is an intimate place of divine protection. In Psalms 27:4-5, the Bible says, “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.” Our secret place is in the Spirit, in prayer, a place the enemy can’t inhabit. We have to have a desire as believers to fellowship with God in His secret place, to make ourselves a home under His covering, because it is the only place of true safety. In Psalms 15:1-2, the Bible says, “Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.” Dwelling in the secret place of the Most High has conditions as well, and we have to live the change God places in our hearts. We can’t be people who go to church but people can’t see the church in us. In Exodus 33:14, the Bible says, “And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.” Why is that? Simple. Because in Exodus 33:11, the Bible says, “And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.” The Lord spake face to face with Moses, showing an intimate relationship between them. How many of us speak face to face with the Lord? Prayer, open communication with God, studying God’s Word, and giving Him reign to lead us is how we make residence in the secret place.

“Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty”

The word “abide” means “to live, with the implication that it will be forever”. This isn’t some fleeting experience. God wants this to be a permanent experience for His children. In John 15:4, the Bible says, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” Us trying to bear fruit without the Lord is like being a 2×6 board trying to grow leaves. We aren’t attached to the root, so we are not receiving our sustenance from God, the Source of our provision. This verse is conditional, because we can’t abide under the shadow of the Almighty unless we dwell in the secret place of the Most High. The word “shadow” means “shade or defense”. Defense usually implies protection, which means that God backs us when we dwell with Him. In Psalms 17:8, the Bible says, “Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings”. If a person is the “apple of the eye” the person is special to person who beholds them. We are truly special to our God and we become even more special to God when we dwell under His shadow. In Jeremiah 17:7, the Bible says, “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.” We are blessed when we dwell in that secret place of the Most High and abide under His shadow. Blessed people can’t be cursed, blessed people are protected, and blessed people are cared for under God’s watchful eye.

Are we dwelling in the secret place or are we residing in fear? Are we engaging in prayer or are we afflicted by worry? Are we seeking God’s face or are we turning our face towards the cares of the world? May we recommit ourselves to fellowshipping with God in a way we haven’t before.

God’s Blessings in 2021!

Marshall

Jan 3, 2021 – Proverbs 22:3 – A prudent man foreseeth the evil

“A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.” Proverbs 22:3 KJV

Hi Everyone!

“There is a cliff ahead!” If we were driving down the street and saw a sign like this, our instincts would be to apply the brakes. We don’t know how far ahead the cliff is and finding out the hard way could be life or death. So if our first instincts are to apply the brakes, our second thought should be to turn around. What if we disregarded the sign and trusted in our own eyes to tell us where exactly this cliff was? What if we never slowed down, putting faith in our car’s ability to stop on a dime? What if we coasted just enough to see where the line is, telling ourselves that we can turn around at any time? Doesn’t this sound crazy? Well think about this. We do the exact same thing in our faith walks, ignoring all of the warning signs, toeing the edge until we fall off, all the while telling ourselves that we can “turn it around at any time”? We have crashed and burned many times, only to find ourselves right back at the edge, expecting a different outcome. This shouldn’t be. Today, we are going to look at Proverbs 22:3, a word on heeding the warning signs.

“A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.”

The word “prudent” means, “sensible or knowledgeable”. A prudent person is someone who exercises wisdom, and their actions are clearly ones that are made in wisdom. Prudence and wisdom go hand in hand because the only way a person will know that we are prudent or wise is if they will see it in action. In Matthew 12:33, the Bible says, “Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.” We have the ability to produce good or bad fruit, and it is usually the result of good or bad decisions. To “foresee” something, it means that we see the outcome before it happens. If I burn my hand on a stove, then I have an action, a consequence, and wisdom for the next occurrence I may have with a stove. If I burn myself the same way the next time, then I didn’t heed the warning. Sometimes, the warning will come from people, who have experienced being burned and are trying to warn us before we too feel the discomfort and pain behind it. The prudent person takes the warning, believes in the warning and the consequence and makes a decision to avoid doing anything that will produce those consequences. In Proverbs 14:16, the Bible says, “A wise man feareth, and departed from evil: but the fool rageth and is confident.” We don’t want to be the types of people who walk into traps when it could be avoided. A prudent man hides himself, making himself invisible to the influence or the influencers. This means he won’t be around to tempt further. In Proverbs 4:14-15, the Bible says, “Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.”  We are not supposed to be in the presence of evil or in its path.

“but the simple pass on and are punished”

The word “simple” means foolish. A foolish person is someone who has all of the tools to do right, knows it’s the right thing to do, but disregards it to go in the opposite direction. They are the person that sees the “There is a cliff ahead!” sign and keeps driving, thinking they can get close enough without falling over. “Pass on” means “cross over”. It kinda gives the indication that there is real intention behind doing the wrong thing. The word “punish” means “to inflict a penalty”. Obedience is mandatory! In 2 Thessalonians 1:8,9 the Bible says, “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.” We cannot disobey the warnings and commands God gives us through His word and through His people and expect there to not be a punishment of some sort. This doesn’t sound too pleasant, does it? In 1 Timothy 1:9, the Bible says, “Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers.” The law was designed for the foolish people who needed a standard in front of them to carry themselves in obedience.

May we be people who are led by the Lord to pay attention to the warning signs God has put in place to keep us on the right path, to foresee evil and hide ourselves.

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 4^,, 2021 – Ephesians 5:2 – And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us

“And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” Ephesians 5:2 KJV

Hi Everyone!

Love is the most beautiful gift we can give someone on this earth. It’s the most selfless quality, the most edifying attribute, and love has definitely saved a life or two. Christ said in Matthew 22:40 that “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets”. The two commandments were to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and the second is to love our neighbors as ourselves. Christ not only came to fulfill the law, but He came to simplify the law. Christ took over 600 laws and summed them up in two commands. Love is all encompassing, it’s pure, and it’s completely selfless. A person may forget kind gestures, but they will never forget our love. It is important as believers to lead with love, because love is the essence of our outreach and ministry. Today we are exploring Ephesians 5:2, our walk of love.

“And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”

The word “walk” means “to tread all around”. When a person treads all around, they cover the most amount of ground because they go everywhere. When God asks us to “walk” in anything, He expects us to embody His command wherever we go. It doesn’t matter if it is the park, or the prison yard, everywhere we tread, we are supposed to be available to follow God’s command. This command is for us to walk in love. Which kind of love? Agape (Godly)? Phileo (Brotherly)? Eros (Intimate/Relational)?

In this text, we are commanded to walk in Agape love, Godly love. This means “the love which God or Christ exercises towards the church, the love that is derived from God.” In John 14:23, Jesus said “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” I used to think that agape love was reserved for God to love us with, but when He loved us and made His abode with us, that same love became the example for us to use with others. Because God commanded us to walk in agape love, that means He has already given us this love to do so with. In John 13:35, Jesus said “By this shall ALL MEN know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another”. How can all men know if we don’t tread all around (walk) in love? How will they ever know if we don’t reach them? So by commanding us to “walk in love” God is telling us to not keep this to ourselves.

“As Christ also hath loved us”

Christ is our example. He came and loved the most unlovable people; the tax collector, the woman at the well, the woman caught in the act of adultery, Peter, Judas, the people who crucified Him, and the thief on the cross. Now if Christ reached out to the rejects and brought them into the fold, and reserved salvation for Gentiles, then He has shown us that He too trod all around in love. He didn’t discriminate and His heart even hurt for Jerusalem. In Matthew 23:37, Christ wept for Jerusalem, saying, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!”.  This love Christ exercised towards us was agapao, which means “to regard with love and strong affection”.  Christ showed us how to love and we as believers must follow His example with a willing heart. In 1 John 4:7, the Bible says, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God.” Love is the manifestation of God in a relationship or interaction, no matter the type of relationship or interaction it is. In verse 8, the Bible says, “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love”. If God is love and we love someone, then we just have given them God! Sometimes, we are the only representation of God people are going to see, so what are we showing others?

“and hath given himself for us an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savor.”

Love is self-sacrificial. In Ephesians 5:25, the Bible says, Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”

God is going to always give us a human reference to a spiritual truth. In Romans 12:1, the Bible says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Living sacrifice. When we love someone, we place ourselves last to the person we love. This is pleasing to the Lord! An “offering” is “a presentation”. That is why Romans 12:1 ties so perfectly with this part of the verse, because we’re reading about presentations and sacrifices both being acceptable or well-pleasing to the Lord.

May we approach love with a different lens and see it as the absolute least thing we can do to bring the greatest result for the Kingdom of God.

God Bless You All!

Marshall

Jan 5, 2020 – 2 Corinthians 3:3 – ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us

“Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.” 2 Corinthians 3:3 KJV

Hi Everyone!

God created us to embody His Word in this world. Remember John 1:14, where it said, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth”? Remember 1 John 4:17, where is says, “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world”? It is beyond our thoughts to really grasp that we have access to the same God in the same way Jesus did when He walked the earth, but it is true. Didn’t Christ tell the disciples that they would do “greater works than these” because Christ went to the Father? Because we sometimes fail to understand who we are in Christ, we can find ourselves accepting a standard of life than is far beneath the standard of life God has for us. We bear the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and we are commanded to live after the Spirit, so when people see us, they should see Christ. Today, we are going to look at 2 Corinthians 3:3, the living epistles of God.

“Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.”

The phrase “manifestly declared” means “to render apparent”. This means that our character, our actions, and our fruit bear witness that we are children of God. When something is rendered apparent, it suggests that the evidence speaks for itself, and it is obvious that we are Christians. In 2 Corinthians 4:10, the Bible says, “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.” What people see should reveal two things, this new man that we walk in, and the old man that we have walked away from. Every day affords us the opportunity to reveal who we are. An “epistle” is defined as “a written message”. In Isaiah 49:16, the Bible says, “Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.” Because we are engraved on the palms of our God’s hands, our actions should reflect that. We’re not a written message of our pastors and spiritual leaders, but we are the written message of Christ. The word “ministered” means “provided for, cared for, or administered to”. Paul expresses that there is a difference between who are identity should reflect, and the people who look after our spiritual development.

“written not by ink, but with the Spirit of the living God”

The word “written” means “engraved”. If something is engraved in ink, it can still be carved out and taken away, because the ink only goes so deep. If we are engraved with the Spirit of the living God, then there is a depth that can’t be measured, let alone reached. In Psalms 40:8, the Bible says, “I delight to do thy will, O my God: thy law is within my heart”. When the Spirit of the living God writes His law in our hearts, our intentions change, and it is no longer about us, but about what God desires from using Psalms 119:11, the Bible says, “Thy word have I hid in mind heart, that I might nor sin against you.” The Word becomes a standard of life to those who hide it in their heart. Our God is living, so this is continuously happening to people, God turning His people into living epistles! In 2 Corinthians 3:6, the Bible says, “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” The law produced the acknowledgement of death within but the Spirit of God produced life. In Romans 7:6-7, “But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.” We have the Spirit of God’s written message on our hearts now. It is time we walk like it.

“not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.”

In Exodus 24:12, the Bible says, “And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.” The law was written on tablets of stone, which wasn’t designed to last forever. The law was necessary to show mankind our need for a Savior. In Ezekiel 36:26-27, the Bible says, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” The word “fleshy” means “soft, yielding to an impression”. When Christ was crucified, He sent the Holy Spirit in His name, and engraved the Word in our hearts, changing us from the inside out!

May what comes out of us reflects what the Holy Spirit has engraved within us!

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 6, 2021 – 2 Corinthians 6:17 – Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” 2 Corinthians 6:17 KJV

Hi Everyone!

What separates us from the world? I mean, let’s really take a deep look at ourselves, the way we conduct ourselves, the way we talk, our reactions and responses, and our beliefs. Do we stick out like sore thumbs, where our difference from the world around us is evident, or do we appear to be no different than those around us? What are people’s reactions when they find out that we are believers? If they are shocked, then are we effectively representing the faith to those around us? It is easy to profess to be a believer, or anything for that matter, but upon further examination, will our professions hold up to scrutiny? I ask these questions because I believe that all believers should look deeply into their walk with the Lord and take a close look at what is there. In 1 Peter 2:9, the Bible says, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” Are we representing what God clearly says we are? Today, we are going to take a look at 2 Corinthians 6:17, the separation between the Church and the world.

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”

The word “among” means “in the midst”. That suggests that a person can be so woven into the sinful world around them that people can’t see the difference between the Christ in them and the world. Paul is writing for God’s people to “come out from in the midst of them”, which is no different than saying “make your true identities known”. In Joshua 7:13, the Bible says, “Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.” The process of sanctification is the consecration of something or someone, declaring it as holy, withdrawn from profane or ordinary use. There was something in the tribe of Israel that was accursed, and it was causing Israel to lose battles they should’ve won easily. Joshua, frustrated by the loss, went to God to find out why, because it made no sense, and God told him Israel sinned because there was something accursed in the camp. Separation is necessary to maintain holiness, and it is also necessary to expose unholiness. In Matthew 25:32-33, the Bible says, “And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.” Even in the end days, Christ will gather everyone together and then separate them “one from another”. Being “in the world” but not “of the world” is another separation. There has to be a difference between us and the world, because if not, who will ever believe that we are chosen, royal, peculiar, and set apart? Us coming out from among them is us establishing there is indeed a difference, that we live according to the standard of the Lord and not according to the world’s standard. It has become more taboo to stand up for the Word of God than it is to do the things God calls cursed. Why? Because there isn’t enough separation.

“Be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing;”

“Be ye separate” means “to set off or apart by bounds; to define”. It means to draw the line in the sand and establish what side we are on. This requires courage because a lot of times, we are not going to be in the majority. What happens when we are the only ones in the room who stand by the Lord? In Joshua 24:15, the Bible says, “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua fervently and loyally served the Lord and demanded that of Israel as well. How many of us are making that same demand in our households? How many are asking our children do they want to go to church, or TELLING them, “we are going to church”?  To “touch” is “to agree with, or identify with”. The word “unclean” means “impure”. It is speaking of those who don’t belong to the Christian family, and we are not to identify or come into agreement (connection) with them.

“And I will receive you,”

The Lord gives us a promise for obedience to this verse. The phrase “will receive” means “to take into one’s favor”. When we have the favor of the Most High God, there is no fear or worry. We know we are covered and secure in Him, and lined up to receive from His Kingdom.

May we draw the line in the sand and establish ourselves as children of God in a world becoming more Godless by the second!

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 7, 2020 – 2 Corinthians 7:1 – let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit

“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1 KJV

Hi Everyone!

I am a living witness to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life. I went from an aimless criminal and gang member with an unexplainable desire to self-destruct, and God has turned me into a beacon of light, showing the way to Christ. The changes I have made in my life can only be attributed to God granting me the privilege to be called His child, and His precious Holy Spirit cleansing me of all of the filth that was so enormous in my mind and heart. Do we ever think for a second that our salvation and the process of sanctification are promises made by God and fulfilled? When we think about fulfilled promises from God, we tend to think about some external tangible thing that may bring joy to our hearts, but the conditions God places upon His word are promises as well. God shows us that we don’t serve Him faithfully for nothing, that these promises equip us to experience our own promised land in Him. Today, we will look at 2 Corinthians 7:1, the promises that promote holiness.

“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

The word “promise” means “divine assurance of good”. Remember the word “good” goes all the way to Genesis 1:3, when God said, “Let there be light, and it was light”. In Genesis 1:4, the Bible says, “And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.” When God saw what He commanded come to pass, He declared it to be good. When we as children of God are living the lives God commanded, and created us to live, and doing the things He created us to do, He declares it as good. Good is always associated with God’s intended purpose from the beginning. God doesn’t make promises lightly. In Hebrews 6:13, the Bible says, “For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself”. Think about this for a second. God not only makes the promises, but He swears by Himself, putting His name and reputation on the line! This is why a lack of faith is so disappointing to God because not believing in His word is like calling God a liar. In Hebrews  6:18, the Bible says, “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:” Immutable means “unchangeable”, and if it is impossible for God to lie, then His promises are going to be fulfilled. The thing we don’t consider in our finite minds that these promises are ALREADY fulfilled, because God declared the end from the beginning. The word “beloved” is spoken of Christians as united with God or with each other in the bonds of holy love. It is saying “loved by God”

“Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit”

The word “cleanse” means “to purify”. If Paul is encouraging the Church to purify ourselves, then that means there is a great responsibility we have as believers to keep ourselves pure. In 1 Peter 1:14-16, the Bibles says, “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” The key word to this passage is “obedient”. Obedience is us receiving the Word, believing on it, and doing what it says. If a person is obedient, how does lawlessness have the opportunity to enter? The word “filthiness” means “immorality”, and that is religious defilement due to our attachments to idols, and the realm of sin that comes with it. In Corinth, there were pagan rituals, temple prostitutes, orgies, sacrifices, and other unholy deeds, and some of the believers were engrafted into the “world”. “Cleansing ourselves” is removing anything from our midst, mind, and activity that is not pleasing to God. The “flesh” is our human nature absent the spirit, and the “spirit” is our spiritual nature absent the flesh. In Galatians 5:17, the Bible says, “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” These two natures have nothing in common with each other, so either we are walking in the flesh or walking in the spirit. Our fruit will bear witness of what we are walking in.

“Perfecting holiness in the fear of God”

Perfecting. The “ing” suggests a continual process, and “perfecting” means “to perform a work to bring it into completion”. Holiness is “sanctity and virtue”, and it is a combination one setting oneself apart for God’s intended purpose and exhibiting moral excellence. People should see this process at work in our lives, and it should come from deep reverence and honor to God only.

May we receive the promises of our Lord with deep honor and reverence, as we aim for obedience.

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 8, 2021 – Jeremiah 35:15 – but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me

“I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me.” Jeremiah 35:15 KJV

Hi Everyone!

God never ceases to draw His people unto Himself. No matter where we are, what we have found ourselves in, or how dark and deep the prison is, God has prepared people to cross our paths so His Word can go forth. The sad thing is no matter how many representatives come in the name of the Lord, no matter how true the word is, there are going to be people that are going to ignore the warnings God patiently sends to us. I know for certain that I ignored the many warnings I was given, but I am so happy I finally listened. Looking back, I can see all of the people who tried to share the word from the Lord with me, and I can really come to understand God’s overwhelming love for me. Today, we are going to look at Jeremiah 35:15, God’s call for us to come home.

“I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me.”

God is serious about us returning back to Him. “All my servants and prophets”. God didn’t send one or two. He sent all of His representatives! That is so much love that God freely shows us, by never ceasing to send people our way. The word “servant” means “slave or minister”, and the word “prophet” means “inspired spokesman, someone God ordains to speak what the Lord requires them to say.” Neither office could serve their own purpose, but only the purpose God has for them. In Jeremiah 7:25, the Bible says, “Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them:”. God cares so much about the state of our salvation that He constantly sends people to check in on us, to keep us on the right track.

“Rising up early and sending them”

This statement means a continuous act. In Jeremiah 26:4-5, the Bible says, “And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you, To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened;” God had to keep sending His servants and prophets because the Israelites were not heeding the many warnings God was giving them. In Isaiah 65:2, the Bible says, “I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts”. God is trying to reach His people, trying to beckon us home, but He is finding us, a church that wants to go after our own way. God is sending His ministers daily so that there will be no excuse when His wrath comes.

“Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings”

The word “return” means “turn back, repent, or to be restored”. God doesn’t just want a FEW people to repent from his evil way, He wants EVERY man to repent of his evil way. The word “way” means “course of life”. This implies a direction a person chooses to take, not one that merely happens to them. To “amend” means “to make well or pleasing”. It is deeper than to just change or alter something about ourselves. We alter it in order to please God. In 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” There are rewards in store for those who return back to the Lord, one of the rewards from repentance is our rightful place in the kingdom of God. God desires to fellowship with His children but He won’t when we decide to go our own way.

“And go not after other gods to serve them,”

In Exodus 20:2-3 the Bible says, “I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” God is telling us to remember who He is, that He released us from the bondage of Egypt. We all have been in bondage to some form of sin, so everyone has experienced Egypt in that sense. Salvation means we have experienced freedom. To “serve” means “to offer up oneself in worship”. So we were freed from bondage, only to take up bondage again by serving other gods? Ouch! The word “gods” means anything we put above God.

“And ye shall dwell in the land which I have given you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me.”

The promised land, the land flowing with milk and honey. It also is the kingdom of God, that spiritual land God desires His children to dwell in. The ear is and instrument of obedience, so before we can dwell anywhere, we have to hear and heed the Lord!

May we hear the Word of the Lord and heed Its commands.

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 9, 2020 – 2 Corinthians 10:4 – For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;” 2 Corinthians 10:4 KJV

Hi Everyone!

Every believer experiences warfare in their faith walks. No one is exempt, and even though our warfare may have different variables, but the weaponry is the same. I have been in warfare where I have tried to fight flesh with flesh, using my own power to try to win a war, only to lose time after time. I called myself a fighter because of my lightning fast response to handle wars with the flesh only to realize that I hadn’t begun to fight yet. I realized in my walk that wars are fought and won in the spirit, not in the flesh, because our weaponry is spiritual, not fleshly. God designed it this way so we’d use Him in battle instead of ourselves, because the Bible says in Zechariah 4:6, “Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” The same rules apply now! Today, we are going to look at 2 Corinthians 10:4 for a word on warfare.

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.”

The word “weapons” means “tools, an implement, or utensils”. The word “warfare” means “military service or apostolic service”. So our faith walks and our ministry, mirror that of military service. In 2 Timothy 2:3-5, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” We are soldiers in the army of the Lord as the song says, a “good” soldier who performs our duties according to God’s intended design for His children. We are not supposed to war with our minds on the world. We have to war with our minds set on pleasing the Lord. A soldier is trained thoroughly, and our leader, through repetition, embeds the operations into their heads and hearts, so the instruction becomes the soldier’s new instincts. We are rewarded when we operate in obedience.

So the “tools of our apostolic service” are not carnal. The word “carnal” means “weak, frail, imperfect, and temporary”. Fighting wars with the flesh can have some short-lived gratification, but there are usually long-term consequences. If we can come to an understanding that fighting wars with carnality will never produce real victory, then we may be less likely to use it. Isn’t there a quote that says something to the nature of, “To the victor goes the spoils”? We will reap the type of victory based on the nature of the tools we use in battle. In 1 Corinthians 9:25, the Bible says, “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.” I remember a time I fought ever war from a carnal perspective. I built a reputation, fear, and power from the nature of the weaponry I used. Guess what? That crown faded as quickly as anything, and I was left to chase more crowns. Back in the days in Corinth, the winner of a race or battle received a wreath. Problem was, the wreath withered and died because it was never designed to be permanent. We as believers have to start racing for a crown that doesn’t wither, but we have to engage in spiritual warfare with spiritual weaponry.

“But mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;)”

The word “mighty” means “powerful or capable”. Our spiritual weapons are powerful, but only THROUGH God. We can’t take spiritual weaponry and then do what we want to do with it without God’s approval and provision. Remember, we are soldiers and we answer to our Commander, so He gives us the directives but the weaponry as well. In 2 Corinthians 6:7, “By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,”.  Truth, power, and righteousness, all given by God. In John 15:5, Jesus says, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” Have we, as believers put our complete faith on what God has given us to defeat Satan? In Ephesians 6:16-17, the Bible says, “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:” Faith protects our hearts, salvation protects our minds, and the Word of God is our weapon of offense. We should only be striking, striving, and warring, using the Word of God. Strong holds are fortified places meant to keep a person in bondage. Our spiritual weaponry pulls down the walls of strong holds, allowing what’s inside to go free.

Do we use the Word when Satan rears his very ugly head? Do we trust that the Word is powerful enough in itself to set us free? May we all seek victory in the Word of God!

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 10, 2021 – Daniel 4:9 – I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession

“And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;” Daniel 4:9 KJV

Hi Everybody!

God keeps His promises. He does exactly what His word says He will do, and there is not a time where He doesn’t fulfill His Word down to the letter. I frequently tell people that there are conditions to His promises that have to be met in order for His promises to activate, either for reward or punishment. In Deuteronomy 30:16, the Bible says, “In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.” Whether a blessing or a curse, whatever God promises, it will be so! When things don’t go our way, or we suffer punishment, are we, as believers, honest enough in our walks to acknowledge that our God keeps His covenant, especially to those who love Him and keep His commandments? Today, we are going to look at Daniel 9:4 and acknowledge that God is the keeper of His covenant to us.

“And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;”

The word “prayed” means “a person that gives a specific intercession for someone else”. In this verse, Daniel interceded for Israel, knowing that the time was coming to an end for the Israelites to be in captivity. He was calling God on His word. In John 17:17, Jesus says, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” In this very popular verse, it is really a part of a complete prayer of intercession, Christ praying on our behalf. Intercession has been present all throughout our faith’s history, and we now have intercession in the Holy Spirit. In Romans 8:27, “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Intercession should always be made according to the will of God, no matter who is making the intercession. God’s word said the captivity of the Israelites would be 70 years, and after the 70 years, they would be delivered, Daniel is interceding on behalf of Israel, that they will be released from captivity when God ordained for them to be released.

“And made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God”

The word “confession” here means “to revere or to worship, in an act of declaring what is awesome about our God”. It comes out in praise and in thankfulness, and the acknowledgement is us telling God who we know Him to be. In Psalms 145:3-6, the Bible says, “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works. And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness.” Not only are we to acknowledge God’s greatness, but we are to pass it down from generation to generation and teach people to praise and worship Him for all of His power and majesty. The word “dreadful” means “reverential and awe-inspiring”. Our God is the only God, deserving of all of our praise and all of the glory that is due His name. David was identified as a man after God’s own heart and Psalms chronicles his unceasing praise of God.

“keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him”

The word “keeping” means “to protect or to guard”. The word “covenant” means “an agreement or alliance between two people”. A covenant always has terms or conditions to it in order for it to remain valid. The word “mercy” means “compassion” and the word “love” means “to have affection for”. So our God will protect the agreement He made with us, because our God isn’t going to make an agreement where the terms of the agreement won’t come to pass. God will be compassionate toward His people who are affectionate towards Him. When a person is affectionate towards someone, they display their love outwardly, and it’s deeper and more full. God desires this kind of love from us but He won’t force us to love Him like that. We have to do it on our own!

“and to them that keep his commandments;”

The word “keep” here means ” protect, guard, attend to, or observe”. The word “commandments” means “decree, precept, or word”. We have to treasure the commandments of the Lord and make sure that we protect the word, and do what the word says. The best way we can keep God’s commandments is to do what they say. In 1 Samuel 15:22, the Bible says, “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” God wants a people who have a strong desire to obey His word.

God will always keep His promises. The question is, will we keep ours?

God Bless!

Marshall

January 11, 2021 – 2 Chronicles 7:14 – … then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV

Hi Everyone!

I remember when I was 16 years old, I was in the Juvenile Detention Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. We had church service and a church called Christian Faith Fellowship came to conduct the service. One of the pastors recited this verse and called two youth up to recite this verse by memory. I was one of the two. Then, I had no real understanding of this verse, but inside of myself, I knew this verse was life-changing. I was too broken then to appreciate the wealth behind this Scripture, but praise God that I do now. With God, all things are possible, including change, and this verse shows that there is always hope where God is concerned. I gave up on myself without ever realizing that what I committed to memory was a verse telling me that God has never given up on me. Today, we will look at 2 Chronicles 7:14, and see that our God is mighty to save, and more than willing to forgive. It is not too late!

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

“If my people” is a phrase that introduces a condition. That means, that the conditions have to be met before the promise comes. “My people”. Who are God’s people? Christians? In Psalm 24:1, the Bible says, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein”. So we are all God’s people, and we were created to be His people, whether we accept that as truth or not. In Psalm 100:3, the Bible says, “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” To know the Lord God is to know that He created us, and we are His people, and He is our God. In Romans 9:25, the Bible says, “As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.”  Whatever God calls people, that’s what we are, but we have to accept our place in faith. That is where our free will comes from, but God’s intention was to give us free will so we’d choose him. The word “called” means “to address, announce or proclaim”.  The phrase ” called by my name” means “Upon whom my name is called”. God desires for us to bear His name, and represent Him by being His people.

“Shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face”

The phrase “shall humble themselves” means “to bend the knee in subjection”. This means we understand that God is Lord over us and we give Him His due honor and respect. In James 4:10, the Bible says, ” Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.” In the sight of the Lord. Guess what? The Lord is always watching so we should always be humble. In 1 Peter 5:5-6, the Bible says, “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” God honors our humility and responds. Humility should always precede prayer, because we are seeking God, who holds all the power and direction, and we should never come into prayer like “spoiled rich kids”. When we pray, we are coming into the presence of our Lord, where we hope to remain as we live our lives.

“and turn from their wicked ways”

This speaks of repentance, the act of turning back from sin to turn to God.  Repentance is extreme important. In Luke 13:3, the Bible says, “I tell you, Nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish”. Life or death is on the line when it comes to repentance. We can not expect to partake in the divine nature while still holding on to lawlessness. In Galatians 5:17, the Bible says, “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” We have to totally turn our backs on the sin we carried for so long, because we can’t serve both flesh and Spirit.

“Then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land “

Think about this for a second. Our repentance reaches heaven and the Lord will hear it! In 1 Peter 3:12, the Bible says, “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” So if God hears from heaven, then that means the process of repentance changed our appearance from sinful to righteous, and God inclines His ear to our prayers. In 1 John 1:9, the Bible says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” When He cleanses us, He heals our “land” as well, the place our feet tread.

May we all hear the call of the Lord, repent, and receive forgiveness for our sins today!

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 12, 2021 – Matthew 26:41 – Watch and pray

“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41 KJV

Hi Everyone!

I have been in many situations where I wanted to change, I wanted to do the right thing, and I promised myself, my family, and even my church that I was going to get my life together. When it came to actually changing, I came to find out that changing was a little bit harder than I gave it credit for, and I found myself crashing and burning. I desired to change deeply but I kept losing my battle time and time again. Many believers have found themselves in positions like this, and some still find certain aspects of their flesh hard to overcome. The statement “easier said than done” makes a lot more sense to someone who has struggled with being freed from bondage, because throughout the process, one has to constantly address and overcome the bondage that tries to overcome them. It requires continuous work and attentiveness, and that constant push is something a lot of people aren’t prepared for. Today, we are going to look at Matthew 26:41 for a word on a believer’s diligent war against the flesh.

“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

The word “watch” means “to keep alert, awake, or to be vigilant”. Consider our watching to be similar to someone in a watchtower. The person in the tower is able to see all the way around, from an angle that allows them to look from above. We will be able to see things that come our way before it comes. In Matthew 24:43, the Bible says, “But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.” When we watch, we will be more prepared for the attacks of the enemy, and we won’t allow him to invade our lives, our minds, and our hearts to take away everything we have of value. In John 10:10, the Bible says, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” When we understand what the enemy is coming to do, it should make us stand guard even more.

We can’t watch alone though. The verse says “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation”. Our prayer life is key to our victory over the flesh. Our prayers are powerful in the kingdom, and there are wars fought concerning our prayers. In Daniel 10:12-13, the Bible says, “Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.” Daniel saw a vision that terrified him. He prayed, fasted, and didn’t anoint himself for three weeks, until the answer came, and when it did, Daniel found out why it took time to receive an answer. In James 5:16, the end of the verse says, “… the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Our prayers have power, so when we see the enemy mounting an attack, our line of defense is prayer first! “Temptation” means “the things that entice us to sin that we may not be strong enough to resist on our own spiritual strength”. God wants us to succeed over temptation, and doesn’t want us to fall victim to it.

“The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak”

In Romans 7:18, the Bible says, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” We have to be aware that there is nothing good in our flesh that can help us to overcome temptation. We can have a desire to overcome temptation, but if we try to resist in our flesh, we will lose! In Romans 7:21, “I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.” This awareness should send us to the feet of the Father, for strength, for wisdom, or guidance on how to master our temptation. In Romans 8:13, the Bible says, “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” Only by the Spirit of God can we resist the temptation that tries to make residence within us. In John 6:63, the Bible says, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” Our flesh does nothing but set us back and keep us from victory. We can’t enjoy a life in the Spirit, when the flesh has reign in our lives. If we are led by the Spirit, we won’t fulfil the lust of the flesh, but we have to remain in the Spirit to not fall prey to temptation.

May we all exercise the knowledge and strength God has given to triumph over temptation.

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 13, 2021 – Psalm 91:2 – He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust

“I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” Psalm 91:2 KJV

Hi Everyone!

Is God really our refuge? Let’s take an inventory of whether or not God is truly our refuge. Simple question. When a storm comes, where do we turn for answers? Refuge isn’t just a habitation, but it is a place people turn to for safety and protection from whatever storms come their way. When we are lost in a world of sin, our refuge becomes some the most harmful things conceivable, far worse than what we were running from in the first place. But here’s the thing. Even as believers, we can take refuge in the wrong people and places! I will be the first to admit that God was not my first option for refuge in a lot of situations I found myself in. But He let me get stuck in them so much that now the first name I want to call is God’s! Until God becomes our refuge, our first optionand our only source for protection and rest we will constantly find ourselves absent of the peace we desire. Today we are going to look at Psalms 91:2, for a look on God’s refuge.

“I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”

The word “say” here isn’t just lip service. It is intended for actions to follow His word! The verse says, “I will say of the Lord”. The word “will” is a term of certainty. How many people hear us speak of our Lord? In Mark 11:23, Jesus says, “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.” What we say activates our faith, and what we receive of the Lord sometimes is the result of what comes out of our mouths. In Proverbs 18:21, the Bible says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Whoa! Death and Life? The tongue has power? In Matthew 12:34, Jesus says, “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks?” What is inside of our hearts will come out by the words we speak, and the words we speak are evidence of where our refuge is. We can say “Lord, Lord” all we want, but until our actions show we seek the Lord for refuge, we will be all talk, and no power.

“He is my refuge and my fortress”

He is. Our God still IS! He is not the God of our past, the God of Acts that no longer works the works He did then. In Hebrews 13:8, the Bible says, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever”. I remember feeling disconnected to God, like He was my Auntie’s God, but He wasn’t my God. Remember, death and life are in the power of the tongue! When is God going to be OUR God, OUR refuge, OUR fortress? If God is someone else’s refuge and fortress, then we don’t have access to the provision, but if God is OUR refuge and fortress, then we have access to His safety, protection and provision. In Proverbs 18:10, the Bible says, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” Whoa! So the NAME of the Lord IS a strong tower? Not was. IS! When we begin to understand that we can place complete trust in the NAME of the Lord and be safe, then when will we place complete trust in the Lord? The word “refuge” means “shelter from harm”. The word “fortress” means “net or castle”. God needs to be our refuge and our fortress for Him to reign in our lives.

“My God; in him will I trust”

The word ‘”trust” here means, “hie for refuge”. The word “hie” means “to run towards by instinct”. That means that the first thing we do when a storm comes, or a battle surfaces, or even when we just want to fellowship with God. In Matthew 6:33, Jesus says “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Seek the kingdom of God first. The first person we seek is the person we place the greatest value in, the person we expect to get the job done. Do we really trust in OUR God? If so, our instincts should lead us to God first for refuge, and we then should seek Him fully expecting Him to give us the refuge we desire. In Hebrews 4:16, the Bible says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Boldly! Bold people seek with the intention of not leaving until they receive what they seek. That is trusting our Lord too. Our actions have to follow our professions to trust in the Lord. God is not seeking lip service from His children, but He is seeking a people that would put Him first in all things.

May we claim God to be our perfect refuge and fortress, and may our instincts reflect the trust we place in the Lord.

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 14, Psalm 91:3 – Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler

“Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.” Psalm 91:3 KJV

Hi Everyone!

As believers, we will come upon some hard moments. It is inevitable, but one thing we can do is rest assured that when these times come, that not only will God be right there, but He will deliver us with either grace or removal. God won’t remove everything from our path, nor will He remove us from everything that comes our way, because sometimes God equips us with his grace to endure. That is deliverance as well, because knowing we can endure something removes the agony of the ordeal itself. In 2 Corinthians 12:8-10, the Bible says, “For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” See, the recognition of God’s grace in the midst of struggle became deliverance, because there was a changing of the mind, and that change allowed Paul to receive God’s strength with pleasure. God’s deliverance should always produce joy, because freedom should make anyone happy. Today, we are going to look at Psalm 91:3, a word on deliverance.

“Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.”

“Surely he shall”. This phrase is filled with certainty about what God will do. When we are afflicted, do we, as believers, have an unwavering trust in the Lord to deliver us, or our minds, out of a bad situation? Our instincts should be to run to the Lord for refuge, but are our instincts to trust in the Lord to deliver us? In Hebrews 11:6, the Bible says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” We have to believe that God IS, meaning “God exists”, and He rewards us that diligently seek Him. When a person is diligent, they are determined to seek the fruit of their search, and they carry the resiliency to not stop until they find it. When we are afflicted, are we diligently seeking God the same way we are seeking to be delivered. The word “deliver” means “to snatch away”, and it is the power of one force overcoming the power of another. When a person snatches someone away, then that usually implies an undeniable intention to free someone from the grasp of bondage. God is that person who has snatched us away from bondage and placed us into healing, snatched us away from death and placed us into eternal life, snatched us away from strongholds placing us on fertile ground full of seed. In Jeremiah 39:17-18, the Bible says, “But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the LORD: and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid. For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD.” God doesn’t debate about delivering His children. When God decides to do it, He sets it into motion and it happens. Nothing can stand against the deliverance of our Lord, and the reason is because “thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the Lord”. If we don’t trust in the Lord for deliverance, then we shouldn’t expect it.

The word “snare” is “a spring loaded net” or “a bird trap”. A snare is laid out in advance designed to catch a bird in a hungry and vulnerable moment, when they don’t expect a trap. That is how the enemy works, by baiting a trap and getting us to follow after the bait until we are “ensnared” by the trap. Yep, the enemy lays out bait, and the bait is very attractive. In Proverbs 27:7, the Bible says, “The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.” The enemy relies on our hunger because he knows hunger produces vulnerability. The enemy came to tempt Jesus after He fasted for 40 days and tried to use His hunger against Him. As badly as we want to blame everything on Satan, we have to hold ourselves accountable. In James 1:14, the Bible says, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” So our own lusts draw us away, and cause us to become enticed into sin. Our own failure to trust God for deliverance is the reason why we find ourselves still ensnared. We are looking for everyone else to free us but God. The verse says, “Surely he shall deliver thee”, so when are we going to start believing?

“and from the noisome pestilence”

The word “noisome” means “rushing upon to ruin, destructive”. When something is noisome, it is not designed to leave anything standing. The word “pestilence” means “plague”. God’s deliverance is from sin, from destruction, and from the traps of the enemy, all threatening to ruin us.

May we trust in the Lord’s deliverance.

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 15, 2021 – Psalm 91:4 – He shall cover thee

“He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” Psalm 91:4 KJV

Hi Everyone!

We all need God’s covering in our lives. There is no greater protection we have other than God’s, but a lot of times, we will slide out from under His protection, and try to go at it alone. Do we fully grasp that there is a war waiting for us, that the enemy is hard at work trying to pluck us from the hand of God? He doesn’t sleep, and he always is plotting to influence us into our demise. He won’t play fair either, so we have to secure ourselves in the presence of God, to make sure that we won’t fall prey to the enemy’s attacks. Our loving God thoroughly protects His children, and when we fully rely on this truth, He will be the one we turn to for safety at all times. Today, we are going to look at Psalm 91:4 and develop a picture of how our God protects us.

“He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.”

“He shall” is a definite phrase letting us know that it is going to happen. God gives us His Word first, then His action following our faith in the Word gives us the assurance that God makes good on His Word at all times. When a person has proven themselves to be trustworthy, it becomes way easier to trust in them. In Psalm 124:6, the Bible says, “Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.” A Word of faith is a Word where there is a belief based on both Word and action. When God’s protection is experienced, this verse makes a world of sense. The word “cover” means “to entwine, fence in, defend, and protect”. That means there is some real intention behind protecting and hiding us from the enemy. Look at how a fence is designed. There is tons of reinforcement involved, aimed at keeping things in and things out, and it has stakes that are dug deep into the ground to keep the fence standing securely. That’s what God does for us. Do we trust our God for this level of protection? With being fenced in, there is a security that will produce rest. In Psalm 20:7, the Bible says, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.” The Lord’s name alone is real protection, so imagine what His presence does! In Deuteronomy 32:11-12, the Bible says, “As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.” This is a perfect picture of the Lord covering us with His feathers. When we are covered by God’s feathers, we are not visible to the enemy, because we are so camouflaged by the presence of our Lord. The enemy sees our Lord and flees because he doesn’t stand a chance!

“And under his wings shalt thou trust”

The word “trust” means “flee to for protection”, but it also means “to confide in”. Think about 1 Peter 5:7, which says, ” Casting all your care upon him; for He careth for you”. When we confide in the Lord, we bring Him our petitions and entrust our lives and direction to His care. When we try to trust in our own power, the minute we begin to say “I can handle this on my own”, we make the decision to step out from under God’s covering, making us vulnerable to attack. A baby bird has everything they need right in the nest, so we have to embrace the truth that we have everything we need with God. If we are believers but don’t confide in God, nor flee to Him for protection, then we have effectively crippled God’s impact in our lives. In Proverbs 3:5, the Bible says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding”. Trust is pivotal to any relationship, and it is no different with our relationship with God. If we don’t trust in God, then we will deny Him access to certain parts of our lives. That’s why the Bible says, “Casting ALL your care” and “Trust in the Lord with ALL thine heart”, because God wants it ALL. Protection is only effective when we trust our Protector, when we stay close to our Protector, where we make ourselves available to be protected.

“His truth shall be thy shield and buckler”

The word “truth” means “faithfulness”. So it is HIS faithfulness that will protect us, because God always makes good on His Word. In Ephesians 6:16, the Bible says, “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” The shield is what soldiers use to protect themselves against the attacks of the wicked, but we have to have faith to clothe ourselves with the shield. If we don’t trust God at His word, and trust Him to protect us, then we are without protection and the enemy will have a field day with us! God doesn’t want us to rely on our faithfulness, but He desires us to rely on HIS faithfulness. If we protect ourselves with His word and His faithfulness, then nothing can stand against it.

Will we trust God enough to remain in the secret place, secure under His feathers, where the enemy can’t get to us?

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 16, 2021 – Psalm 91:5 – Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day

“Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;”

Psalms 91:5

Hi Everyone!

No one is exempt from fear. Being afraid is a normal human emotion, and being afraid is the minds warning system to seek protection. Fight, flight, or freeze are the decisions that we make when we are afraid, and our response can be as natural are the fear that tries to overtake us. When we become more Christ centered, more spiritually driven, then we allow God to change our response to fear. Those who once froze in fear learn how to fight, those who ran learned how fight, and those who fight have learned how to fight with the right weaponry. When God changes our response to fear, it now becomes an enemy we have to fight and overcome, but when we realize that we are under God’s protection, there is nothing to fear. There is nothing to fear because we are in the presence of God, which is why when angels appeared to people, one of the first things they say is “fear not”. When we remain in the presence of God, a war can be raging around us, but there is nothing to be afraid of. The presence of our Lord keeps us safe. Today, we are going to look at Psalms 91:5, fearlessness in war.

“Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;”

The word “afraid” means “frightened”. We are sheep, in need of our Shepherd to keep us fed and safe, but a wolf’s job is to rush at the flock, to incite fear, causing sheep to scatter and flee. A vulnerable sheep is one who is separated from the flock, from the protection of the Shepherd, and is the one that is most subject to attack. In 1 Peter 5:8, the Bible says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” Lions scatter flocks too, and the enemy is traveling, looking for easy targets. The word “terror” means “alarm or dread” and the word “night” has a deeper meaning I want us to consider. The word “night” means “adversity, signifying the gloom or despair that sometimes overtakes the heart from the lack of God’s presence”. So the word of God says that we won’t be frightened by the dread of gloom from being absent from God’s presence! In Micah 3:6, they had a real reason to be afraid, because it says, “Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them.” Darkness signifies the absence of God’s presence, the lack of His word, and there would be no warnings, and therefore, no protection from the enemy. In 2 Peter 1:19, the Bible says, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.” The Word of God is a light in a dark place, so we can see clearly the path we have to take, and see the enemy when he tries to advance.

“Nor the arrow that flieth by day”

Just because we walk in Light, living by the Word, and abiding in the presence of God, it does not mean the enemy won’t hurl some arrows in our direction. It doesn’t mean that the arrows won’t get close! In Ephesians 6:16, the Bible says, “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Wait a minute, so the enemy will try to attack someone who has on the full armor of God? With nor just arrows, but FIERY darts! In Psalm 64:1-4, the Bible says, “Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy. Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity: Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words: That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.” Our enemy is not going to make his agenda known, and desires to catch us by surprise. David asked God to preserve his life “from FEAR of the enemy”, not from the enemy. He understood that fear had to be put in check, and David was a valiant warrior, but is unafraid to express to God that he is afraid. So being a warrior isn’t about being fearless. It’s about addressing our fears, giving them over to God and allowing Him to replace our fear with courage. The enemy isn’t afraid to attack us, and he won’t be. God has given us a secret place to dwell in, where there is nothing to fear, where we can get the strength and the courage we need to get victory over the enemy. Only by remaining in the presence of our Lord will we have the protection to be unafraid.

May we all develop the courage in the Lord to stand rooted in Him even when we are afraid. We will find that there is no reason to be afraid!

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 17, 2021 – Psalm 91:6 – Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction

“Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.”

Hi Everyone!

Being under the covering and protection of our Lord affords us a security that we wouldn’t have otherwise. There is real safety in the presence of the Lord, but sadly, knowing this isn’t enough for us, and sometimes, we find ourselves straying further away from the secret place of God. We talked about what the secret place is, how it protects us, how our God hides us in His feathers so we not as visible to predators, and how there is nothing to fear by the absence of God’s presence because we haven’t removed ourselves from His care. As believers, we can’t become blind to what is going on around us, because what is happening in the world is the evidence that we definitely need more and more of God’s presence in this world. Covid isn’t going away, and as vaccines roll out, we have record number of positive cases, and whole countries on lockdown, again. We are amid “silent killers” that don’t have a face, and sometimes, don’t bear any symptoms. Day and night we are taking losses, but no one really wants to admit that just maybe, a world becoming more and more Godless may just be contributing to it. Today, we are going to look at Psalm 91:6 and see some more things that the Most High God protects us from by our remaining in His secret place.

“Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.”

The word “pestilence” means “a destroying plague”. Yesterday’s verse 5 and today’s verse 6 are connected, because the Bible is telling believers what we don’t have to fear. Let us not be naive and think that bad things aren’t happening, and won’t happen in our world. God is trying to show us that by us remaining in the secret place, putting our trust in the Lord’s presence, we will be safe from all of the stuff. If God is telling us that we shall not be afraid, then He obviously has shown us that we are secure in Him. The word “walketh” means “travels or spreads”. Pestilence won’t stay stationary and it will keep spreading until it reaches immunity, similar to a broken chain. In Exodus 12:29, the Bible says, “And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.” The plague of death spread until every firstborn who was not covered under God’s protection in Egypt died. Look at this. There were limitations God placed upon the plague, and boundaries for how far it spreads. God gave Israel instructions to spread the blood across their door posts. In Exodus 12:13, the Bible says, “And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.” There was nothing for Israel to be afraid of because they obeyed the Word of the Lord and the blood was a testimony of their obedience. So while Egypt was screaming in agony over all the death, Israel was completely safe in the secret place. “Darkness” here is physical darkness, also metaphorical, means it comes without being seen. In Exodus 12:12, the Bible says, “For I will pass through the land of Egypt this NIGHT and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.” God wasn’t playing with this plague. God even afflicted false gods!!

“Nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday”

The word “destruction” means “to be cut off from salvation; to experience ruin”. The word “wasteth” means “to devastate”. God has us covered from this too, and it is all because we remain in His presence, under His feathers, receiving His protection. In Job 5:22, the Bible says, “At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.” So not only will we be safe when plagues and destruction come, but we will be able to laugh? That means we will be so far removed from what’s going on that we will have joy in our hearts still, and it will be as if nothing is happening at all. In Lamentations 3:22-24 the Bible says, “It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.” Our Lord loves us and He desires for us all to receive His covering and protection. His mercy, or divine compassion, is never ending, so He is always trying to protect His children.

Do we trust in the Lord enough to stay put and place ourselves under His protection, His direction, and His leading? We have nothing to fear when we remain in his presence.

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 18, 2020 – Psalm 91:7 – but it shall not come nigh thee

“A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.”

Hi Everyone!

Being under God’s protection will allow us to avoid experiencing terrible things that will happen to people around us. Look at how Covid has ripped through our world, how one person dies from it, and the next person goes unscathed. Society likes to place their own standard on who deserves bad things happen to them, without realizing that there has to be a loss of humanity in order for someone to make a statement like that. I have had a close family member despise the favor God was showing me at a time when my sister was dying, and another close family member despise me for God blessing me with a prison job that paid 19 cents an hour because they were struggling financially. People despise me for being at peace in prison with 2 life sentences without parole, because they can’t seem to find peace when they can walk out of here whenever they choose. It doesn’t mean I don’t go through things, because I do every day, but I won’t suffer as the world suffers because I try my best to remain under the feathers of my Lord Jesus Christ, abiding in the secret place with my God. From “the nest” I will see the terror by night, the arrow by day, the pestilence that spreads in darkness, and the destruction that happens in broad daylight, but I won’t be the victim. Today, we will look at Psalm 91:7, and come to thank the Lord that we can see suffering, but we ourselves are protected from it.

“A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.”

The word “fall” has a ton of meanings, but let me share a few with you that are contextual to the Scripture. Fall means, “to be cast down, to die, to fall away, to perish, to rot away, to slay, to throw down”. Ouch! I don’t care what meaning we take in, it doesn’t mean it is good news for us if we are the victims of this. God assured us in His Word that He would deliver us from the snare of the fowler, from the noisome pestilence, and He assured us that under His protection, we have a trust that none of these terrors would happen to us. In Genesis 7:23, the Bible says, “And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.” Noah and his family were in the ark with all the animals God ordained to be there, and while they were safe and protected from the rain, the whole world died! Why Noah out of everyone? Why was Noah’s family spared and the world was put to death? In Genesis 6:8-9, the Bible says, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.” Noah was in the secret place of the Most High God and he remained in the presence of God. In Genesis 6:22, the Bible says, “Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.” So Noah obeyed God, doing ALL God commanded him to do, and he was saved when a whole world drowned.

If I saw a thousand people fall at my side, that in itself would invoke terror. Imagine being in a stadium and a thousand people keel over and die right in front of us. Ouch, right? Then it says “ten thousand at thy right hand”. The right hand normally symbolizes strength, and it also symbolizes the people closest to us! Ouch again, right? Noah probably lost a bunch of people he loved and called friends. Our salvation separates us from the people who are perishing, and sadly, we will be taken, while some of those we love the absolute most will be left behind to experience eternal damnation. We are safely in the secret place while those we care for are wandering as sheep without a Shepherd. In Genesis 18:19-21, the Bible says, “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.” God was planning to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, but He remembered Abraham who rested in the secret place of the Most High God, in the presence of our Lord. Abraham tried to intercede for Sodom, for Lot’s sake, because He knew Lot rested in the secret place of the Most-High God as well, and so received favor to rescue Lot and his family. Imagine this. Abraham begged God to not destroy the city if He could find 10 righteous people there! 10 righteous people out of a whole city? Sadly, Lot’s wife looked back when she was told not to; and she turned into a pillar of salt! Abraham’s family was saved while thousands fell all around them.

When we dwell in the presence of our Lord, resting in the secret place, we will be spectators to this, not the victims. May God give us the fortitude to choose His protection over punishment!

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 19, 2020 – Psalm 91:8 – Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked

“Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.”

Hi Everyone!

In the last couple of months, I have seen more instances of civil disobedience, more instances of hatred, and more instances of lawlessness. Sadly, a lot of these people partaking in these overt acts of protest are professed Christians. This world has become less Godly and therefore, less loving, and wickedness abounds in our society. Amid a major pandemic that is taking more lives than anything we have seen in history, people aren’t making the connection with what is happening in the world of sin to what is happening with Covid. Does this mean that only bad people are suffering and dying? Absolutely not! The question we have to ask is are we dwelling in the secret place of the Most High, abiding under the shadow of the Almighty? The Bible promises safeguards against stuff like this and the Bible is absolute truth, so if the Word is true and can not lie, then we may have to take a spiritual inventory of our faith walks to make sure we are located securely in the presence of God. According to Psalm 91, we may not be exempt from catching Covid, but it shouldn’t destroy us. Being in this presence won’t exempt us from seeing what happens and will happen to people who are not under this covering. Today, we are going to look at Psalm 91:8, being an observer to the lack of covering on a person’s life. The grass definitely isn’t greener.

“Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.”

The word “wicked” means “morally wrong, enemies of God, people that refuse to learn righteousness”. Wickedness has a reward, even though the wicked seem sometimes to go untouched. The word “reward” means “retribution, punishment”. So the reward of the wicked is to allow the snare of the fowler to keep them confined, be victimized by the noisome pestilence, allow the terror by night to reach their doorstep, the arrow by day to impale them, and allow destruction from the pestilence to overcome them. Ouch right! I know we as believers can relax and say, “Well, I am a Christian, I’m safe”, but that is not completely true. In 2 Samuel 24, David took a census of all of the fighting men of Judah and Israel. Joab tried to convince David not to do it, but he was undeterred. It took 9 months and 20 days to complete the count, and when it was done, David was convicted by his wrong, and confessed his wrong to the Lord. It took him 9 months to realized he sinned! His seer, Gad, called by the Lord, had to deliver a word to David. In 2 Samuel 24:12-13, the Bible says, “Go and say unto David, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee. So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days’ pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.” The Lord gave David a choice on what his punishment would be, and one of punishments was three days of pestilence in the land. David chose the three days, probably thinking “It won’t be that bad”. In 2 Samuel 24:15, “So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.” 70,000 men died due to David’s sin! God made David watch his kingdom suffer by his hand. Ouch! The secret place doesn’t exempt a person from the consequences of sin and wickedness, and if David is identified as a man after God’s own heart and this happened to him, then we should really repent of the sin that pulls us in bad directions.

Now, let’s look at a different observation point. In Genesis 19:27, the Bible says, “And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the LORD: 19:28 And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.” Obedience kept Abraham in the secret place, where he observed the punishment of the people that are morally wrong, the enemies of God, and the people who refused to learn righteousness. Disobedience caused David to lose 70,000 men in one day. In James 4:4, the Bible says, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” Adultery is a married person committing infidelity with another person outside of their marriage. As believers, we are the bride of Christ and if we are a friend of the world, we have made the world the bridegroom, and not Christ.

Abiding in the secret place of the Most High has its safeguards, and sadly, we are going to see suffering in the world while we go virtually untouched. This should make us desire to see more people saved and secure in the secret place.

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 20, 2021 – Psalm 91:9 – Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation

“Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;”

Hi Everyone!

Abiding in the Lord is mandatory in any successful believer’s lives. We have to be in the presence of the Lord and allow His presence to dwell within us. Without this, we are vulnerable, easy targets for the enemy to sneak in and attack. Sometimes, the attack is physically felt, but sometimes, it is emotionally and mentally felt, which is a lot harder to overcome a lot of the time than physical. When we look at Psalm 91, it is easy to look at the plagues and pestilences, the terrors and the arrows, and believe that this is what Psalm 91 is about. We look at this world and how crazy it has gotten, and we tend to wonder is this all the world is about now; division, war, disease, dissensions, and hatred? Sadly, people fail to see this world as the place God created so that we could fellowship with Him, and also the place where He ordained us to have dominion. How does so much powerlessness exists in a world that we are supposed to exercise dominion in? The answer is simple. We are failing to dwell in the presence of the Lord continuously, to receive His Lordship and direction, to fellowship with the Lord under His terms. Today, we are going to press on through Psalm 91, now on verse 9, and gain further understanding about dwelling in the presence of God.

“Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;”

We have to look at this Psalm as the Word of God, but we have to also look at it as encouragement from one believer to the next. The Psalmist here has obviously experienced some of this stuff listed, either as a spectator or as a victim. The phrase “hast made” means “to determine, to set in place, to convey”. These are all definitions that express intentionality. So there is no lip service here. We are to set in our minds that we belong in the secret place of the Most High, that the Lord has us protected under His feathers, and we have to invite the Lord to come dwell in us. God is not going to kick the door to our heart in and force us to let Him in. In Revelations 3:20, the Bible says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” The biggest word in the verse is “if”. There are conditions to every promise the Bible has, so do we ever stop to think that our victory in Jesus Christ depends on us too? God knocks on our doors and invites us to come dwell in the secret place of Most High God with Him. The choice is ours. Have we determined that the Lord is our refuge? Have we determined that our salvation is our refuge from condemnation? Have we determined that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, the only Way to the Father? Who have we determined the Lord to be in our lives?

“which is my refuge, the most High, thy habitation”

The word “refuge” means “shelter from harm”. The psalmist expresses ownership by saying “My refuge”. Is the Lord A shelter or is He OUR shelter? In Psalm 71:3, the Bible says, “Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.” Is the Lord just our refuge, or is He our STRONG refuge? If we don’t think the Lord’s refuge can protect and sustain us, then we will find ourselves venturing out to seek refuge elsewhere. We have to believe that what God provides is exactly what we need to keep us safe. This verse says the psalmist “continually resorts” to the Lord, meaning we can’t be ‘one and done’ in our faith. We have to continuously turn to the Lord for shelter and allow His word to dwell richly in us. In Psalm 31:2-3, the Bible says, “Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.” A house of defense. A strong rock. A fortress. David communed with the Lord continually about everything, and he had no problem with calling out to God, asking for His deliverance. He even told God to deliver him “speedily”. Relationship gives us access to the provision of the person we are in a relationship with, and David seems to have had an “all-access pass” to God. We do too!!! The word “habitation” means “abode”. We have to make ourselves at home with the Lord and reach after Him with everything we have in us. God has always been our dwelling place, and in Psalm 90:1 the Bible says, “Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.” God has been providing the same secret place since the beginning, and it is still available to us. God has never stopped trying to fellowship with His people! The question is, will we dwell in the house of Lord, or seek shelter elsewhere?

May we come to know our Lord Jesus Christ as our habitation, as our refuge, and as our God.

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 21, 2021 – Psalm 9:10 – There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling

“There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling”

Hi Everyone!

I love repetition in the Bible, because if something is said more than once, it is extremely important to God. It is also God reassuring us when we become unsteady in our mind and unsure about where we have planted our feet. All throughout Psalm 91, God is reassuring His children of the safety that we will have if they remain in His presence. God is really using His word to convince us, so that is telling us that He is truly concerned about our well-being. In 2 Peter 3:9, the Bible says, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” Not only is our God a great promise keeper, but He is very patient as well, giving us time to make the choice to dwell in the secret place of the Most High. He won’t bully us into this choice. True love isn’t forced upon someone. It just is, and it is our jobs to receive the Word and remain under His protection. Today, we are going to look into Psalms 91:10, and hopefully find ourselves more secure in the presence of God.

“There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling”

Please note that verses 9 and 10 are attached, completing one point. Verse 9 was the foundation for verse 10, which is the building. It is confirming what Psalms 91 has been teaching so far, that there is complete safety in the presence of God. The word “evil” in verse 10 means “bad, in a moral or ethical sense, also meaning pain and misery, leading to ultimate disaster”. The word “befall” means “approach with anguish in tow”. In Proverbs 12:21, the Bible says, “There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.” God doesn’t not design for pain, misery, and ultimate disaster to be the final, perpetual verdict for His children. It doesn’t mean we won’t experience hard times, or have some pain, but in 2 Corinthians 4:17, the Bible says, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;” So when we are afflicted, the word says it won’t last long and it has a way to bring glory to God. People read this passage and think that nothing bad will happen to them. It means that we won’t be destroyed by what happens to us. In Genesis 50, when Joseph’s brothers thought he was going to get even, Joseph said in verse 19 and 20, “And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” God’s intent behind what happens to us determines whether it is evil or good. Evil leads to our destruction, but “good” is in line with the purpose God has for our lives. Even Job understood his affliction in Job 23:10, when he said, “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Sometimes, “bad things” happen to believers who are in the secret place, but only so God can get the glory from our victory in Him, so God can show people what deliverance looks like in a believer’s life, so God can get the glory, which can draw more people into the secret place.

“Neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling”

The word “plague” means “a blow, infliction, usually given to people who are disobedient to God.” There is always a condition or a reason something happens. When we are in the secret place, we are obedient, our minds are trained on the Lord and we are being fed and cared for by our God. David was a man after God’s own heart and he had bad things happen to him as a result of his disobedience. In Psalms 27:4, the Bible says, “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.” This should be our aim, and as long as it remains that way, our stories will remain a testimony of God’s protection. Even when things happen to us, it won’t last. We won’t be the face of suffering, and while the world wastes away, we will grow stronger, more faithful and more resolved to reside in the Lord’s presence. To obey is better than sacrifice correct?

May we all reach after obedience of God’s word and rest in the dwelling place of His truth. The secret place of God is our best line of defense against the enemy.

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 22, 2021 – Psalm 91:11 – For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways

“For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.”

Hi Everyone!

A good banking practice is to protect our investments. Time is also an investment tool, and another good banking practice is ensuring we get a return on our investments. God is even more than a good banker, but He definitely protects His investments, and He ensures a return on His investments as well. When Jesus ascended to the Father, He told the disciples that He would always be there for them, and the same rules apply for us. Today’s study is a continuation to verses 9 and 10, but this time, God is giving us a picture of how we are going to be protected, so no evil befalls us, and no plague come nigh our dwelling. Sometimes, God gives us the Word and we just have to trust in it happening; but other times He gives us a window into what He is doing, and how He will bring it to pass. Today, we will be looking in Psalm 91:11, how God protects His children.

“For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.”

When a Scripture begins with the word “for”, it is continuing or establishing a point previously made. Our God backs His word up and I am so thankful that God reveals Himself to us. In Matthew 13:11, the Bible says of Jesus, “He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.” The people that are blessed to dwell in the secret place of the Most High God, have access to the mysteries of God, to the revelations that come by the Holy Spirit, and to an understanding of His Word without seminary training. The phrase “shall give” means “to give an order or command to direct someone”. So our loving God gives his angels orders to direct us in the way we should go. In Proverbs 16:9, the Bible says, “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.” The Lord’s direction will always triumph over what we think our way may be. It doesn’t matter if we are in power or a pauper, we as believers are under the direction of God. In Proverbs 21:1, the Bible says, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.” God is even in charge of our hearts. The word “angels” means “messengers of God responsible for aiding, protecting, and fighting for those who trusted in the Lord”. Who trusted in the Lord, who made the Lord their dwelling. So God gives the angels directions to guard over us, and of course they obey. So when God tells us we are covered in His protection, He sends His angels to make sure His word comes to pass. Key words here are “His angels”. The angels job is to carry out the word of the Lord.

“For He shall give his angels charge over thee”.

The word “charge” means “command”. So God gives His messengers orders to take command over us, to ensure His word remains true. In Isaiah 55:11, the Bible says, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” God’s word will do the very thing He orders it to do. His angels are responsible for our lives so if something happens to us outside of God’s will, then that means the angels didn’t follow their orders. That won’t happen. In Psalms 34:7, doesn’t the Bible say, “The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them”? God has us covered!

“To keep thee in all thy ways”

The word “keep” means “to hedge about, to guard”. The word “ways” means “course of life”. So our course of life, by dwelling in the secret place of the Most High God, should be to always serve God in all we do. His angels are there to ensure that we remain in the pathway of God. In Isaiah 29:16, the Bible says, “Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?” Imagine us controlling our ways as we flipping our lives upside down. God framed us in His purpose, and His angels will make sure we don’t find ourselves outside the direction of God. There had to be legions or angels commanded by God to watch over me, all to get me to this point, where I can fearlessly share the Word of God, and use my life as a testimony and a crime deterrent. Imagine the angels that had to yank me back on track, or clear people out of my midst, or deflect the bullets that could’ve been fatal when I was gunned down in 2001! I often wonder why I was protected when I was clearly doing a bunch of wrong, but there was a word of prophecy given to me on my 17th birthday that I would ultimately preach the Word of God. That word has to happen, so God had His angels protecting His investment, ME, ensuring I fulfilled my purpose. They are still protecting me!

May we understand how deep God’s love for us is, that angels are ordered to guard us!

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 23, 2021 – Psalm 91:12 – They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone

“They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.”

Hi Everyone!

Being under the covering of God gives us confidence and assurances that the world doesn’t have. We have seen that being under God’s protection will cause us to be the spectators to a lot of people suffering destruction while we won’t be harmed or consumed. This level of protection should produce a gratefulness and maintain a believer’s desire to remain in the presence of God, but sadly, sometimes, this confidence can turn into arrogance. Arrogance will cause a person to purposely step into harm’s way, which is not wise. If I know a neighborhood is extremely dangerous, and I am not led by the Lord to go there, why would I risk my life and potentially the lives of the people I’m with to go some place that can do me and them immense harm? There is a fine line between confidence and stupidity, and God doesn’t want us to use His covering as a means to display reckless behavior. Today, we are going to look at Psalm 91:12, for another role the angels of the Lord have.

“They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.”

The phrase “shall bear thee up” means “lift or carry”. A famous representation of this would be the “Footprints in the Sand”, where the man asked God, why, when times got rough, he looked down and only saw one set of footprints. God told him that during those rough times, He carried him. Of course, I am paraphrasing here, but the truth remains the same. In Isaiah 40:11, the Bible says, “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” God will carry us through everything that comes our way, and even through some things we mess up, but it doesn’t mean we constantly place God in situations to carry us away from the sin and destruction we place upon ourselves. Satan used Psalms 91:11-12 when he tempted Jesus to throw himself off of the pinnacle of the temple in Matthew 4:6. Christ response was Scripture too, which says in Matthew 4:7, “Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” Christ quoted a part of Deuteronomy 6:16, to combat the test of the enemy. Do we as believers continue to test the parameters of God’s protection? Do we ask God for traveling mercies when we drive, and then not wear a seat belt? Do we pray for the same traveling mercies, put on our own seat belt, and then drink and drive, or text and drive? Do we ask God to keep us safe and then we abuse prescription medication, or meander through dangerous neighborhoods with no reason whatever to be there? How far do we use God’s protection as a license to make our own rules? In Romans 6:15, the Bible says, “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.” Now we’re talking about sin. Why? Because Christ said “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God”, and if we put our amazing God to test by putting ourselves in compromising positions trusting His angels to lift us up, then we are disobeying God’s word. Isn’t than sin? People count on “grace” the same way they count on the angels to lift them up in their hands. In Romans 6:1, the Bible says, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” We should never take God’s protection or His provision lightly, nor should we ever abuse or mismanage it either.

“Let thou dash thy foot against a stone”

The word “dash” means “to strike or smite, causing one to stumble”. The angels of the Lord lift us up and carry us in their hands, so we don’t catch a blow that causes us to stumble. Look at a picture of how the wicked live. In Proverbs 4:19, the Bible says, “The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.” God doesn’t want His children to be blind wanderers stumbling at everything that comes into our path. Let’s look at another picture. In Isaiah 28:7, the Bible says, “But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.” This is the type of thing God is trying to prevent His children from experiencing. Even the supposed “shepherds” were out of line because they were too busy being full of strong drink instead of being full of the presence of the Most High God. Things will transpire in a believer’s life, causing us to be carried away from something harmful, but where can we be carried away to when the danger is ourselves?

May we come to a level of appreciation for the God we serve, who doesn’t have a desire to see any of us stumble in our sins. May we show our appreciation by never putting our God to the test.

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 24, 2021 – Psalm 91:13 – Thou shalt tread … shalt thou trample under feet.

“Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.”

Hi Everyone!

God promises us victories over predatory forces designed to defeat and destroy us. God always proves His Word to be true, and if He says that we are covered, then we are safe from what would mean peril for someone not under God’s covering. It doesn’t mean we won’t feel some heat, or experience some hardships, but God’s presence in our lives ensures that we will be able to thrive in any environment we may find ourselves in. As I mentioned before, this doesn’t give us a license to do whatever we want, and it definitely doesn’t mean we place ourselves in compromising situations to put God to the test, or to show people that we are covered. Years ago, I sadly watched a video clip of a church who set a bunch of poisonous snakes loose on the stage area, and people tread upon these poisonous snakes at the behest of their pastor who assured them they wouldn’t be bitten if they trusted in the Lord for deliverance. More than one person was bitten and seriously injured as a result. Someone, in their warped thinking, might say that those people who were bitten didn’t have faith, but why put God to the test, especially when His word tells us not to put the Lord our God to the test? How can a church that openly practices disobedience, expect themselves covered? Today, we are looking at Psalm 91:13, to experience the difference between deliverance from unexpected harm, and putting God to the test, expecting His deliverance.

“Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.”

The word “tread” means to walk. Now look at this closely. The verse says, “thou shalt tread UPON”. I doesn’t say, “put the lion or the snake in your path, then walk amongst them”. In Acts 28:3, the Bible says, “And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.” Here, Paul was being hospitable towards a barbarous people, helping to gather firewood. He wasn’t looking for trouble, nor was He looking to prove to anyone how powerful his faith and his God is. He was doing the right thing and might have been bitten in the process. God doesn’t promise that we won’t get bitten sometimes. In Acts 28, the barbarous people thought the worst of Paul because he got bitten, and called him a murderer, the victim of deserved vengeance. In Acts 28:5, the Bible says, “And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.” So Paul triumphed over the beast, nor the other way around, and experienced no ill effects from the snake. The barbarous people changed their tune when they didn’t see him destroyed or die from the snake, and called him “a god”. What we overcome gives us a testimony about Our Amazing God, and gives people who don’t know God a report of God’s power. Paul didn’t go looking for trouble. There will always be an opportunity for God to show His power through us, so there is no real reason for us to force the issue. In Genesis 3:15, God said to the serpent, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” This means there is going to be a constant struggle between Satan and mankind, so we will have enough tests that will come our way. God promises victory for us, but if the enemy can bruise the heel, then he can affect our walks.

In Daniel 6, the presidents, governors, princes, counsellors, and captains came together and conspired against Daniel. They asked King Darius to issue a royal decree (one that cannot be broken) stating that anyone who petitions any God or man except Darius for 30 days shall be cast into the den of lions. Darius signed the decree, without considering Daniel, who unapologetically prays to God three times a day. Darius only realized, after, that his administration tricked him into signing the decree to target Daniel. In Daniel 6:16, the Bible says, “Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.” Darius knew Daniel’s God was a deliverer, but he still had to cast Daniel into the lion’s den. The next day, when Darius came to check in on Daniel, Daniel says in verse 22 of Chapter 6, “My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.” Daniel gave God the glory for this victory, BUT he wasn’t looking for trouble either. He was just praising the Lord as he was supposed to when rouble came. God delivered Daniel.

Things in life happen that are out of our control, and may we take comfort in knowing that there is always victory in Him. Predatory forces have nothing against our God!

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 25, 2021 – Psalm 91:14 – Because he hath set his love upon me

“Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.”

Hi Everyone!

Do we set our love upon the Lord? The Bible said in John 14:23, “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” To “keep” means “to observe or put into practice”. The Word doesn’t begin to mean anything in believer’s lives until we put the Word to practice. It is only then that we will experience the depths of God’s faithfulness, because we will hear the Word of God and experience it come to pass. Christ said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh to the Father, but by me.” Why then, do people try to find another way, another truth to soothe their itching ears, and another life besides the abundant life Christ promised? Have we ever equated our obedience to Christ as expressing our love for Him, or have we grown content with just being affectionate? Today, we will look at Psalm 91:14, obedience being the pathway to love and deliverance.

“Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.”

The phrase “hath set his love” means “to join to”. In Genesis 2:24, the Bible says, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” Why am I talking about marriage here? The word “cleave” means “to join” as well, and this joining forms a union between two people, making them one. In Isaiah 54:5, “For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.” We are definitely the bride, and Christ is the Bridegroom, and that marriage of salvation makes us one. In Revelation 21:2, the Bible says, “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Marriage is a very powerful institution, and that is why the Bible says in Mark 10:9, “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Once God put it together he wanted it to remain that way. This is the type of relationship God desires to have with His children, one that is forever and unbreakable. We have to be believers joined to our Father, setting our love upon Him by putting His word into practice.

“Therefore will I deliver him”

This is conditional on us joining ourselves to the Lord, observing His Word, having a desire to always fellowship with our Lord. One of the strongest aspects of any relationship is communication, and God desires a people that will talk to Him and open our hearts so He can talk to us. The word “deliver” means “carry away safely”. In Psalm 145:18-20, the Bible says, “The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them. The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.” The Lord hears us when we call and is always near when we call upon Him in truth. That means according to His Word, so we can’t break from that secret place and remove ourselves from the presence of the Lord and expect Him to hear us. He wants to hear us and see us drawing closer to Him. He’ll hear our cry and save us from anything that threatens to ruin us. We have to join ourselves to the Lord in order to expect His deliverance in times of trouble.

“I will set him on high, because he hath known my name”

The phrase “set him on high” means “to place in a location that is inaccessible”. God will relocate us in a place where the enemy can’t reach us, where his offensives can’t hurt us, and where we are safe from destruction. In Psalm 59:1, the Bible says, “Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.” Even David experienced enemies mounting up against him, but God kept him safe, causing him to triumph instead. God will place us somewhere where the only person that can reach us is Him, and that is in the secret place of the Most-High God, under the shadow of the Almighty. This is why it is so vital for us to dwell in the presence of the Lord, because we have a real security we wouldn’t have otherwise. The word “known” also is a marriage term, much deeper than retaining knowledge, but actually joining ourselves so we become one in it. In Psalm 9:10, the Bible says, “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.” We have to join ourselves to the Word of God, and place our trust in Him. The word “name” means “authority or position”. We have to know our God and also know what He is able to do with His power, in order for us to trust Him. The answer to everything of our God is will be found in His Word.

May we set out love upon God and find our deliverance in the process.

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 26, 2021 – Psalm 91:15 – He shall call upon me, and I will answer him

“He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.”

Hi Everyone!

When we find ourselves in pressing situations, we can count on our God to see us through them. All through Psalm 91, God makes the same promise in different forms, but the message remains the same; dwell in the presence of God, and be reassured that He will protect us from destruction and ruin. That is just by dwelling in the presence of God, because He won’t let us be consumed by the attacks of the enemy. What happens when we cry out to Him? Does He hear us? When we are afraid, does He give us peace? How does God respond when we call out to Him? Remember, this study we’re doing in Psalm 91 is about dwelling in the secret place of the Most-High God, about being in the presence of our Lord and King, the promises in this Psalm are designed for people who abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Today, we are going to look at Psalm 91:15, our call to God and His response.

“He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.”

The phrase “shall call” means “to accost, to address by name, to summon”. All of these are good definitions for this because it really paints a clear picture of what we are supposed to be doing when we call out to God. The word “accost” means in the Webster’s New World College Dictionary “to approach and speak to; greet first, before being greeted especially in an intrusive way”. This means we don’t wait on God to talk to us. We approach Him. Where? In that secret place! In Hebrews 4:16, the Bible says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Boldly!! Bold people approach God knowing we have every right to be there in His presence. Bold people approach God, trusting they are going to get the answers they seek. Bold people trust God at His word! We have to address our God by name too. The name of the Lord is of extreme importance, and addressing Him by name is vital to our being heard. Think not? What if your name was “Marshall” but someone was walking behind you screaming “Peter”!!! You would ignore them because they can’t be calling you if they are calling out the wrong name. In Acts 4:12, the Bible says, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” That name is Jesus! The word “summon” means “to call upon to do something, to call upon to appear”. In Romans 10:13, the Bible says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” We have to call upon our Lord with purpose and with expectation that He will respond. The word “answer” means “to pay attention in order to respond”. That’s what our God does when we accost Him, address Him by name, and summon Him. He answers.

“I will be with him in trouble”

The word “trouble” means “tightness or adversity”. Ever been on a tight spot? Ever faced some adversity? God promises to be with us in trouble, but do we believe in that? In Psalms 50:15, the Bible says, “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” God wants to deliver us because it brings glory to His name. How does it bring glory? Because we share our testimony with other people, how God came in a tight spot and rescued us from destruction. What does sharing our testimonies do? In Mark 5:20, the Bible says, “And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.” When we share our testimonies, men marvel and they may just seek out Christ for themselves. We don’t have to be preachers or have extensive knowledge of the Bible to be effective for the kingdom. This demon possessed man went from spiritual bondage to a huge spokesman for Christ. All he had was his testimony.

“I will deliver him, and honour him”.

The word “deliver” here means “to strengthen, to fortify, to equip for war”. God is not going to always remove us from adversity, but sometimes, He will equip us to overcome it. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, the Bible says, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” Paul asked God three times to remove the thorn in his side, but God gave him grace and His strength, and he in return gave God the glory. The word “honour” means “to make heavy”. This means that God will make us credible and powerful. If our words carry weight, then that means we can be trusted to deliver on what we promise. If God can make us heavy, then that means that He is the heaviest! Remember, we are to use what God gives us to bring glory upon Him, so WHEN he delivers us, we are to broadcast God’s goodness to everyone.

May we call out to God, so He can equip us to overcome and spread our testimony of deliverance.

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 27, 2021 – Psalm 91:16 – With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

“With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.”

Hi Everyone!

I am even further convinced that, in the presence of our Lord, we have amazing protections from the destruction that is prevalent all around us. Literally, thousands and tens of thousands are suffering destruction while we are the saddened spectators of it. I am not just talking about Covid, but I am talking about drug overdoses, murder, and drunken driving accidents causing death. Our world is crumbling under Godlessness, under Godless leadership, under the lack of faith in schools, under the weight of broken homes. I have gone through fire after fire; from my parents’ abandonment, to abuse, to bullying, to homelessness as a teen, making a slew of horrible decisions in the process. I know what it feels like to be so separated from the love of God that death becomes a very welcomed guest, and I also know how it feels to experience the presence of God so richly that I fell in love with God all over again, and nothing else mattered. I have come to realize that while God is a protector, a deliverer, a healer, a Savior, and a liberator to all who remain in His presence, none of that really matters without experiencing His love, His presence, His affection towards His children. God makes an abode that makes us feel safe, loved and a part of a family. Today, we will look at the last verse of Psalm 91:16, a long life of salvation.

“With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.”

The phrase “long life” is something God gives to His children, especially those who walk in obedience to Him and remain in His presence. In Proverbs 3:1-2, the Bible says, “My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.” By keeping God’s commandments in our hearts, and allowing God’s law to remain in our minds, He will ADD length of days, long life, and peace to us. In Psalm 1:2, the Bible says, “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” Day and night. That means we continue to commune with the Word of God so what will come out of us will be His Word. The word “trust” means “hie for refuge”, and the word “hie” is an instinct reaction causing us to run to someone or something for safety. So we study our Word daily, meditate on it day and night, so we build the instinct to run to God first for safety. Remembering God’s law and planting His commands in our heart is a daily action that also keeps us in the presence of God. In Deuteronomy 30:15-16 the Bible says, “See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.” God is a gentleman, and He gives us the choice to choose life and good by walking in His ways, and putting his commandments into practice. Long life is an assurance a believer has that does these things, that follows the Word of the Lord.

Think wickedness won’t shorten a person’s life span? In Ecclesiastes 7:17, the Bible says, “Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?” God doesn’t say this if it can’t be a possibility for someone who walks in wickedness. In Exodus 20:12, the Bible says, “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” It is implied by God that long life isn’t promised to those who don’t honour their father and mother. In Joshua 24:20, the Bible says, “Ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.” There is no safety to those who forsake the Lord, but the Lord will consume those who serve strange gods. In John 5:24, Jesus says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” Only through hearing the word of God, believing on God, who sent Christ to die for our sins, and accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior can we pass from death to life. We still have a choice to make everyday, to dwell in the presence of the Lord, to abide in Him and allow Him to make his abode in us. We have to make the choice to remain in the secret place of the Most High God, resting safety under the feathers of our loving God. That ensures our deliverance, our protection and our provision.

“And shew him my salvation”

The word “salvation” here means “deliverance or protection”. God’s salvation, not our own, not our friend’s, our family’s, or our spouse’s. His salvation gives us the testimony that we can share with the world around us, and our testimonies bring glory to God. May the “secret place” be, to each one of you, the place of great comfort, and love!

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 28, 2021 – Genesis 1:26 – Loving YOU Part 1 – And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness

Hi Everyone!

Do we really love ourselves? When we look in the mirror, what do we see? Do we check for flaws, or do we check for beauty? When we look within, what do we see? Is the pain from a broken home still visible? Does the stench from horrifying relationships tarnish our self-worth? How is our self-esteem? High, low, undetectable? Before we can begin to love ourselves, we have to begin the process of knowing ourselves. When we know who we are, we don’t become subject to the lies of the enemy, designed to keep us blind to who we really are. In 2 Corinthians 4:4, the Bible says, “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” The enemy, Satan, doesn’t want us to know who we are, so when we have a false self image, the enemy will present things (and people) to keep our minds in that state of blindness, so we will be conditioned to accept what the enemy says over what God says about us. When we accept who God says we are, it allows us to see God’s Word as truth, which will then allow us to know Christ as our Savior, and in that lies our ability to receive salvation to our souls. Today, we are tackling Genesis 1:26, who God says we are.

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”

“And God said” is a phrase that, by itself, carries power! Creation came to because of what God said. In Genesis 1:3, the Bible says, “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.” Whatever God declares it to be, that’s what it is, and whenever God orders something to come into existence, His word does it. The word “image” means “shadow or resemblance”. When a person walks “in someone’s shadow”, they are imitating or performing the same acts as the person who cast the shadow. When that happens, they resemble each other, and one can see the connection. When people see us, do they see a people walking in the shadow of God, bearing His image? The word “likeness” means “similitude”. When God created us, He designed us to not only look like Him, but act like Him as well! In Luke 8:16, Jesus says, “No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.” When we know ourselves, we should then allow our “light” to shine, which is God dwelling in us. We are to position ourselves where we can be seen, not to elevate our egos but to magnify God, who is revealed in us. When we are afraid to show who we truly are, we are saying we are ashamed of who God created and declared us to be. In Genesis 2:25, the Bible says, “And man and wife were both naked and were not ashamed.” Never, and I repeat, never be ashamed to be who God has created you to be. There is only one you!!!

Who we are began at creation, with the Word of God expressing what man was to become. God didn’t create us to look like something else. He gave us His image and His likeness, and the ability to walk in who we are, because He wanted people to see us and see God. In 1 John 4:12, “No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.” God is saying, “Don’t worry about seeing me physically. Worry about who I am being perfected in you.” God is love, so if we ever desire to manifest God’s presence, then love is definitely a sure way to go. Before we can do any of this, we have to do the most simple thing anyone could do, accept that God created us in His image and in His likeness. Before we can begin to love ourselves, we have to understand and accept where we came from. A tree began with a seed, but what keeps a tree alive is its root, which is actually inside of the seed itself. Everything the tree needs for life is already inside of the seed, so when God created us, He created us with our identity, our purpose, our strengths and our weaknesses. In Ephesians 1:4, the Bible says, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:” There was no mistake behind our births. We were selected!

The word “dominion” means “to reign or to subjugate”. Before we can walk in dominion, we have to accept that we bear God’s image and likeness, so because He reigns, we reign as well. Imagine a prince or princess that won’t accept their crown. Doesn’t seem too logical does it? Well, we do this same thing when we don’t accept what God says about us, because He created us to bear His image and His likeness, and He also gave us dominion as well. The key to loving ourselves is uncovering Who we came from and what is His intention for us, and we will begin that work here!

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 29, 2021 – Proverbs 1:7 – Loving You Part 2 – The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge

Hi Everyone!

What do we really know about our God? That is a very important question, because what we know about our God determines the type of life we live here on earth. Before we can begin to love ourselves, we have to know ourselves, and before we can begin to know ourselves, we have to know our God. If a bought a brand new appliance, I would pull out the instruction manual, and read what the manufacturer has to say about its product. The person that knows the product the best is the person that made it, and the manual ensures that, if followed correctly, the user will have the optimal experience from the product. Our faith walks are no different. God created us and He provides an instructional manual for how we should live, move, and have our being. That manual is the Bible. If we follow it correctly, we will experience the promises the manual contains. We have to have a deep respect for any manual in order to know how to operate the product effectively, and it is no different in the faith. Today, we continue our journey into “Loving You” by looking at Proverbs 1:7, the fear of the Lord.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

The word “fear” here means “moral reverence that makes a person receptive to wisdom and knowledge”. We are to have this deep, profound respect for our Creator, which will cause us to listen to Him when He speaks. In John 1:1-3, the Bible says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” So we have to first understand that if we want to know God, He can first be found in His Word. The Bible is an instructional manual for us to not only know who we are, where we came from and how we are supposed to live, but it also tells us about the Manufacturer as well! So if the Word is God then the Word will allow us to get to know our “mysterious” God well. If we don’t reverence our Creator God, then we are subject to mismanage His Word, causing us to make up our own rules in the process. We will never be able to operate according to God’s design for us by trying to operate outside of the manual’s instructions. This “fear” is not about being afraid. God doesn’t want us to be afraid of Him, because when we become afraid, we hide from His presence and God did not create us to dwell apart from Him. In 1 John 4:18, the Bible says, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” Look at this as a parent. Would we want our children afraid to come to us? Quite the opposite, right? We want them to come to us, so we can help them with whatever they need, and we’d actually feel hurt if our children sought answers elsewhere for something we know we can easily provide. God is the same way, and part of that moral reverence known as “fear” is knowing it is best to dwell in the presence of our Lord and Creator God.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge”

The word “beginning” means “the first fruit, the best, or the principal part”. The first part is the most important! In Matthew 6:33, Jesus says, “But seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” The best part of knowledge is having this deep moral reverence for the Lord, which is the foundation to everything we know. When we seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness we don’t have to worry about ‘not having,’ because God’s will apply to us. In Psalm 111:10, the Bible says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.” Fearing the Lord is the beginning of everything we desire to have as children of God. We exercise good understanding when we follow the Word of God.

“But fools despise wisdom and instruction”

The word “fools” means “people who act silly or perverse”. The word “despise” means “disrespect”. I don’t have to go to the Word to make this illustration, and I am sure a lot of men can vouch for this with me because we are KNOWN for doing this. We buy something we have to put together, but the instruction manual is usually the LAST thing we grab. We will tear everything apart, have tools everywhere and we’ll start putting it together, only to have to stop because we got it wrong. Normally, someone will tell us to look at the instruction manual, but we’ll fight it until we have no choice but to tuck in our tails and read the instructions. 🙂 God wants us to be a people who read the instructions first, and then we will understand that everything has its place and time.

May the Word of God be our first source of knowledge, and may the fear of the Lord bring us closer to Him through His word. We can’t know ourselves until we know Him.

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 30, 2021 – Luke 10:27 – Loving You Part 3 – Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart

Hi Everyone!

Loving God is the key to loving ourselves. Everything God desires for us to do has love as a main ingredient. When we understand the necessity in knowing ourselves, in understanding we come from God, and in understanding that before we can begin to love ourselves, we will see that we have to first love God. We can only give someone what we have, and absent the love for God, we aren’t equipped to extend anything more than fleeting affection towards the ones we profess we love. Sadly, we also do it to ourselves as well, and we tend to not love ourselves by mistreating ourselves like we aren’t created by God in His own image and in His own likeness. By knowing our God, we will begin to understand who He is and what He has done for us, and our superficial affection then turns into love because we allow God to inhabit us and place His love in our hearts.  God isn’t about rules like everyone tends to think. God is about love, because if a person loves, then there is no need for rules. Today, we are studying Luke 10:27, another piece into loving ourselves.

“And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.”

The word “love” here is in reference to superiors, and includes the notion of duty, respect, honor, and service with fidelity. God wants a love from us that is faithful and undivided. This love is shown by people who have a desire to follow the Lord. God doesn’t take our love lightly. In James 2:5, the Bible says, “Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?” Don’t think that we have to be prettied up to love our God. Don’t think we have to have it all together either. He desires a people rich in faith, people that hear the Word of God, believe in it, and do what it says. God promises us His kingdom if we love Him, and He has chosen us to experience Him.

The word “Lord” means “supreme authority”. So we are not loving a second rate God. We are loving the Person who has created everything, including us, and whose plan is being performed down to the letter. Is God Lord over our lives? Quick test. Whose direction do we live under? In Psalm 37:23, the Bible says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” A “good” man, mankind that is living according to the purpose God has for our lives. When God is Lord, we will take pleasure in His direction because we know it is best for us.

“With all of thy heart”

ALL! God doesn’t want our scraps, nor does He want our love last when all our other options have failed. He desires His children to love Him because He is. As parents, what type of love do we want from our children? Love that’s out of fear of consequence? Love that is only because the gifts come? Love because life is great and we don’t have a care in the world? If we want real love from our kids, unconditional love, then doesn’t our God, our Lord, and our Creator want the same thing? The “heart” is “the center of the desires, feelings, affections, passions, and impulses.” In Proverbs 4:23, the Bible says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” The heart is extremely important, because it is the entry point to every good and bad thought, idea, and feeling. God wants us to “keep” or “guard” our hearts with all diligence. That means we are responsible for what we allow in and what comes out.

“And with all thy soul”

Once again, “ALL”. The soul is the seat of our identity. Our souls are who we are. God wants us to love Him with who we are. In the first part of 1 Chronicles 22:19, the Bible says, “Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God;”. To “set” means to “fix in position”. When someone is fixed in position, they are not designed to move. God wants His children to seek after Him and love Him, having no desire to move.

“With All thy strength”

Yet again, “ALL”! The word “strength” here means “moral and mental might”. Love isn’t physical, but it does require strength. It makes it a lot easier when we understand that our God is Love, that our God is strength, and if we are His creation, then we have access to love God the way His designs. In Psalm 73:26, the Bible says, “My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.” Our God loves us so much that we don’t need our own strength to love Him. He gives us His strength so we can love Him even when it is not easy on us.

“With All thy mind, and thy neighbor as thyself”

The “mind” means “thoughts, intellect, understanding”. So God desires us to love Him from everything we know and understand about Him. God wants us to take all the love we give Him and then love His creation with the same love we would love ourselves with. May we come to love God and people with everything He is!

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 31, 2021 – Romans 8:16 – Loving You Part 4 – we are the children of God

Hi Everyone!

Loving ourselves is a very important thing, and the vast majority of people who don’t love themselves have no real appreciation of who they are, and where they come from. When we look within, do we really understand that we are children of God? If not, then what blocks our understanding or our belief. Since the beginning of creation, Satan has been trying to get us to doubt who we are, doubt who we belong to, and deny the power that we possess. He doesn’t have to strip us of our power if we can be convinced to freely give it away. In 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, the Bible says, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” The person that has been convinced to receive the lies about their identity has been made lost and blind, so we can’t find our way to God and so we can’t see the things He desires for us to see. Today, we take some of that back, and we look at Romans 8:16, accepting our place as children of God.

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”

“The Spirit itself” is a phrase that lets us know that the Holy Spirit is present and it making the determination as to who we are. Remember in John 14:26, Jesus says, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” The Holy Spirit is the constant reminder of the Word of God, everything we have been taught and everything we need to learn as well. God is always telling His children who He is and who we are, because He knows there is an enemy out there trying to give a different report. In Isaiah 53:1, the Bible says, “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?”. We have to believe the report given by God concerning us, and we have to understand that as children, God is more than willing to reveal Himself to us.

The phrase “beareth witness” means “to give testimony, to affirm, to validate information and attest to its truth”. So the Holy Spirit gives a report on our identity, and His witness is truth. In Hebrews 6:18, the Bible says, “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:” God can’t lie, and we have a strong hope in His word to do exactly what He sets out for it to do. In Exodus 20:16, the Bible says, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.” So God expects us to speak truthfully about each other and give accurate reports on our neighbor. He does the same thing. So when the Holy Spirit bears witness about something, you can take His report to the bank.

“The Spirit beareth witness with our spirit”

“WITH” our spirit, not TO our spirit. In Matthew 18:16, the Bible says, “But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.” God is establishing the truth in His witness through us, through our witness that we ARE the sons of God. God doesn’t need our help to establish who we are, but He desires us to accept and claim who we are. In 1 John 5:9-10, the Bible says, “If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.” Yeah, it is really this serious. If we don’t believe God’s witness about our identity, then we have effectively called God a liar. How can we believe the report of the “creation”, but not the report of the Creator? I was called “evil incarnate” and “incorrigible” by the judge who sentenced me to 2 consecutive life sentences without parole. Do I believe His report, or do I believe God’s report and the truth He planted within me? The judge who sentenced me over 16 years ago would have to provide a different report on me today, praise be to God, because I am a child of God, a man of standard, a man of faith, and I am in the business of seeing lives saved. I accept what God says about me, because His Spirit gave a report with my spirit that I am a child of God.

Did I always feel this way? Absolutely not! Do I always feel this way? Absolutely not! It doesn’t matter what I feel or don’t feel, because the truth doesn’t care about feelings. It just IS! We have to accept who God says we are, because we are His creation, and He knows us the absolute best. When we hold on to who God says we are, then no other report matters.

God Bless!

Marshall

Feb 1, 2021 – Romans 8:17 – Loving You Part 5 – And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ

Hi Everyone!

Who God says we are is who we are. When His Spirit bears witness with our spirit, it is our job to come into agreement with the Word of God by faith. If God declares us His children, then it is our job to carry ourselves as such; and come against any thought or idea that is contrary to that truth. Feelings of inferiority can seep in, causing us to question who we are and our access to the kingdom of God as His children. One of the biggest problems in our society is that people are taking on identities that aren’t accurate. I know this firsthand. Those living the street life, committing crimes, partaking in the gang culture, developing a reputation that is completely contrary to who God says they are. God created us unique and gave us our own purposes. He did this to form a body of His children where there is nothing lacking, where His people can touch all points of the world to win souls for Christ. Today, we are looking at Romans 8:17, it’s about more parts of our identity where the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit. The more we know about ourselves, the more we can love about ourselves.

“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

The word “children” here are those who God loves and cherishes as a Father, the devout worshippers of God, the righteous and saints. This expresses a deep spiritual connection established through our relationship with Him. God also establishes us as “heirs”, which means “a partaker of the blessings which God bestows upon His children, implying admission to the kingdom of heaven and its privileges as the result of our salvation by the death of Christ.” When Christ was talking to Paul about His purpose in Acts 26:18, He said, “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” Open their eyes. When we accept an identity for ourselves outside of what and who God claimed us to be, we have accepted blindness as normalcy, darkness as the climate we live by, and Satan as the authority in our lives. In Christ, we can see who and what we are, receive forgiveness for our sins, and an inheritance. Heirs receive an inheritance, and that inheritance gives us the ability to access the kingdom of God right on this earth, and when we die, we have eternal life waiting for us, where we will live with our loving God together. In Galatians 4:6-7, the Bible says, “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” No believer in Christ can say in truth that they are powerless. We have the Holy Spirit inside of us, part of our inheritance, and we are established as children of God.

I don’t care what your parents used to call you, what your spouse used to say, what kids at school used to call you. We are children of God and as believers, we have the power of Christ dwelling in us. We are “joint-heirs” with Christ, which means “fellow participant”. In John 14:12, Jesus says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” Belief is necessary, because if we don’t know that we are children and heirs of God, then we won’t believe His word. Christ said that we will do what He has done because we believe on Him. He went further to say, “Greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father”. How can we have this truth in our hearts and then allow ourselves to believe that our prayers won’t be answered, or miracles won’t happen, or man’s report carries more weight than what God says? If we deny our identity, we deny our access. It is no different than being enrolled in a school that we won’t go in, because we feel unworthy of being there. Our name is on the roster, our test scores got us in, but we stand outside calling ourselves stupid. What if we accept the words “failure”, “murderer”, “adulterer”, and “evil” into our presence and accept that as truth? What if “Paul” accepted “persecutor” as his identity. We wouldn’t have 2/3 of the New Testament!

“If so be that we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified together”.

The phrase “suffer with” means, “to experience pain jointly or to sympathize with”. In 2 Timothy 2:12-13, the Bible says, “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” Let us not be confused, we are created to be one with our God, whether we accept that or not, whether we suffer a little or not, or a lot. He created us to bear His light!

May we come to accept our rightful place as children, and heirs, of God.

God Bless!

Marshall

Feb 2, 2021 – Romans 8:29 – Loving You Part 6 – conformed to the image of his Son

Hi Everyone!

Part of understanding our God is understanding that before we were created, God already had the plan for our lives figured out. He knew us at creation, even before we were born. Every second of our lives moves according to God’s plan, and we are skillfully crafted to perform that plan. Part of knowing ourselves is to know that God didn’t just toss some spare parts together to create us, that He was very detailed in His design of us as individuals. Knowing ourselves is coming to understand the personal purpose God has for our lives, but loving ourselves is the happy acceptance for God’s creation and purpose for our lives. When we love ourselves, we will stick as closely to God’s unique design of us as humanly possible. Today, we will take a look at Romans 8:29, God’s foreknowledge of us, which will hopefully give us more to understand about ourselves and therefore, more to love.

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

The word “foreknow” is used of persons and means “to approve of beforehand”. Please read this over again. God not only created us, but He APPROVED of us before we were created. In Genesis 1:31, the Bible says,  “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” God declared every thing He created and declared it VERY GOOD. What did God do next? In Genesis 2:1-3, the Bible says, “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” God rested, blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because there wouldn’t be anything else added to it. Think about this. Everything God created us to be is already there within us, but we find ourselves trying to build a better identity outside of God’s design because we haven’t accepted who God has created us to be. God told us by approving of us that we are good enough, smart enough, and strong enough. It’s our job to believe that.

“He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son”

The word “predestinate” means “to limit in advance, to predetermine”. This means that God set our boundaries, our potential on order for us to remain in His purpose for our lives. To predestinate something means to set the course for someone to be in places they were created to be in at the precise time they were set to be. In Ephesians 1:5, the Bible says, “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.” God even had to precise time set for our salvation, and every event leading up to it. The word “conformed” means “formed together with, fashioned like unto”. God, once again knew the precise time that we would before “fashioned like unto” the image of His Son. Imagine a statue that looks exactly like the person it’s reflecting. God has fashioned us to look like Christ at the precise time and place He designed for it to happen. In Philippians 3:21, the Bible says, “Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” The word “image” means “reflection, representation, or similitude”. God designed us to look like Christ, act like Christ, and project Christ in all we do. God already had this time and place figured out! So when I was face deep in the street life, God already knew before I was born that I would not only go through all of this, but I would live my life for Him, spreading the Word of God to any willing to listen. I didn’t see it, but God did. I thought I was too far gone, that I did too much wrong, but God approved of me before I was born. Looking back, I see clearly that everything in my past was absolutely necessary to who I am today. How can I ever help pull people out of fires I’ve never been in myself?

“That he might be the firstborn among many brethren”

In 2 Timothy 2:21, the Bible says, “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” God’s desire is for us to choose Him to be our God all while knowing that some won’t. If we remove ourselves from what we think is valuable, and accept and appreciate what God deems valuable, we will become the “firstborn”. The firstborn is always the chief one, the beneficiary of the inheritance of God. The firstborn are set apart, and so are we as believers! God didn’t create us to be like everyone else. He created us to look like Christ. God loves us that much that He approved every detail of our identities. When will we?

God Bless!

Marshall

Feb 3, 2021 – Romans 8:30 – Loving You Part 7 – whom he called, them he also justified

Hi Everyone!

God orders our steps, and those steps lead us to where He called us to be. Having the security of God’s word in our hearts should make us secure in who we are as well. The word is “should”, because not all of us will come to a sincere acceptance and admiration for who God created us to be, and those will live their lives in paralyzing doubt and disbelief. If we don’t know who God is, then we can’t begin to embrace who we are, because our identities are given by Him. If we can’t embrace who we are, then we won’t accept our purpose, because our identity is woven into our purpose. If we won’t accept our purpose then God won’t be glorified in our lives. People who truly love themselves are being who God created them to be and doing what God has called them to do. In this society, people are chasing wealth and fame more than fulfilling God’s purpose in their lives, and while this world is touting the most millionaires and billionaires ever, the world is becoming less loving, irreparably broken. Today, we forge on into loving ourselves, looking at Romans 8:30, what predestination produces in us who believe.

“Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

As we already discussed, the word “predestinate” means “limit in advance, to predetermine”. God has our purpose fixed, the place our purpose will occur, and the time it will manifest. In Romans 9:21, the Bible says, “Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?” Let us not think that what is happening to us is catching God by surprise. He even figured our rebellion into His plan for us, causing the worst moments of our lives to ultimately work for good. In Romans 8:28, doesn’t the Bible say, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”? ALL things work TOGETHER! God set limits so we’d remain in the framework of His purpose, so He only let us go so far, do so much, make so much money, and have certain people in our midst for periods of time. We thought it was “fate” but it was the creative precision of God that caused these things to come to pass at the precise time.

“Them also he called”

The word “call” means “to summon in order to appoint for a position of divine purpose”. In order for God to call us, He has to know where we are and will be, and even better, He called us before we were born! In Acts 2:39, the Bible says, “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.” There is a promise in store for those who the Lord calls, and it is not exclusive to Jews. God had us figured into the equation the whole time, knowing full well that the Gentiles would be engrafted into the body of God. In John 10:16, Jesus says, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” Please don’t believe the lie that we aren’t included in the promises of God due to past sins, religious affiliations, or because we don’t feel worthy. How we feel and what we think doesn’t negate the work God has already done, nor the plan He has had from the beginning. Too many believers are in churches feeling unworthy because they haven’t embraced what God has already approve of us. He called the people He established beforehand.

“And whom he called, them he also justified”

The word “justified” means “rendered righteous or just”. It is bestowed upon mankind by God through salvation by Christ Jesus, absolving us from the consequences of sin and giving the privilege to enjoy divine favor. In Romans 5:1, the Bible says, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”. God laid the groundwork for us to partake and succeed in this divine nature, but it is still our job to accept and embrace our place in the kingdom of God by faith. Justifying us is making us approved by Him to do what we are called to, no different than God putting His stamp on us. There is no reason to feel unworthy or unqualified because He has thoroughly equipped us.

“and whom he justified, them he also glorified”

The word “glorified” means “bestow honour and adoration upon”. This is God placing a spotlight on us, so He can reveal that we belong to Him. In John 17:22, Jesus says, “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:” Christ glorified us so the world could see that we are one with God, so we can then show the world who our God is, and give Him the glory for who we are and what we do!

May we come to understand that we are in the perfect place, at the perfect time for God’s purpose to be fulfilled!

God Bless!

Marshall

Feb 4, 2021 – Romans 9:17 – Loving You Part 8 – I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee

Hi Everyone!

Our lives have purpose, and the main purpose for our lives is to bring glory to God. When we are glorified by God as in Romans 8:30, we then give glory back to God by showing people in our testimonies why God gets all of the credit. In the tenth chapter of Luke, when Christ sent the seventy out to preach the Word of God, they came back excited that the devils were subject to them through Jesus’ name. Christ adjusted their perspective. He gave them both power and protection in Luke 10:19, but in verse 20, Christ said, “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” Christ wants us to focus more on where we stand spiritually with God than focus on the power He’s given us to activate the kingdom of God on earth. Today, we will look at another aspect of loving ourselves in Romans 9:17: why God gives us the power and abilities we have.

“For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.”

Think about this with me. God created Pharoah from the beginning, knowing full well he was not going to convert and be saved, but equipped him with a powerful purpose nevertheless. God even knew Pharoah would harden his heart and not let the Israelites go. In Exodus 3:19-20, the Bible says, “And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand. And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.” God created Pharoah to harden his heart until all of the plagues came to him, the last being the death of all the firstborn, causing the Passover to be implemented. Then he let them go. The phrase “raised thee up” means “cause to rise or exist”. God’s purpose isn’t just for believers, like some would assume. Everyone was created with a purpose, so if those who aren’t believers have some purpose of importance, then we, being the children of God, definitely have a purpose of importance. In Habakkuk 1:6, the Bible says, “For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not their’s.” God ordains people that aren’t saved to rise in power, but the Chaldeans had a purpose too, and that was to take Judah captive, preserving the line to Christ so they wouldn’t be destroyed. God also rose up King Cyrus of Persia to overthrow the Babylonians to ultimately free God’s people from captivity.

“That I might show my power in thee”

The word “power” here means “miraculous force”. It’s not about strength or might, but it’s about God fulfilling His purpose in the people He has chosen. In Romans 9:22-23, the Bible says, “What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory”. God can show His power though His wrath or through His blessings, but God has purpose even in both. Wrath was always used as a tool for redirection and repentance, which turns people back to God so He can receive the glory that is due His name. At the same time, God shows His power in people by blessing us with what we need to perform His purpose. In Ephesians 3:7, the Bible says, “Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.” God’s power is revealed as we reach after His purpose, as we share the word of God, as we activate the promises of Scripture, and as our faith bears fruit. In Ephesians 3:20, the Bible says, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us”. We are able to do beyond anything our finite minds can conjure up when we allow God’s power to reign in our lives. He gets the glory when His power is revealed in us, because our mouths will speak the victory and our lives will bear witness!

“That my name might be declared throughout all the earth”

The phrase “might be declared” means “to herald publicly”. When someone heralds something publicly, they become the “town crier” in a sense, having a boldness to speak a word of truth to those whether they listen or not. God’s deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt and triumph over Egypt was spread all over the world. In the second chapter of Joshua, the word of God’s deliverance spread to Jericho, ahead of their arrival. It confirmed to Rahab that Israel would conquer Jericho.

God gives us the power to operate according to His purpose, so His power can be revealed in our lives, so His name can spread throughout the world. May we be willing vessels that God can use for His purpose.

God Bless!

Marshall

Feb 5, 2021 – Luke 15:7 – Loving You Part 9 – joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth

Luke 15:7 – Loving You Part 9

Hi Everyone!

We are so precious to God! Every part of our lives matter to Him and His love for us is in every detail of our attributes and character. Imagine the God we serve creating billions of people, all with their own specific characteristics, their own purposes, and their own identity. There has to be an extraordinary love and care that God has to have for His children, and His love for us is freely shown by the death and resurrection of Christ. In John 3:16, the Bible says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” God sent His Son as a perfect atoning sacrifice for our sins, and gave us access to everlasting life if we believe in Him. God gave His son, knowing full well there would be tons of people that would reject His gift, but He did it anyway, to save the ones who are lost. Today, we will look at Luke 15:7, yet another reason for us to learn how to love ourselves.

“I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”

I personally have been that “one” that was lost. I know what it feels like to be separated from the Lord. It humbled me to fully grasp this verse, especially after reading Luke 15:4, which says, “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?” Do we fully understand that God went searching for us, found us WHERE WE WERE and offered us repentance as if we were always living righteously. In verse 5, God put us on His shoulders and rejoiced. So while the world around us is flinging dirt on us every time we do something wrong, God is searching us out in order for us to rest on His shoulders. The word “joy” means “delight, rejoicing, or gladness”. God celebrates when He finds us and speaks to His closest people about His child that was lost and now is found. Our salvation is a huge deal for God, and when we can clearly understand that God not only celebrated our repentance, but He got the heavenly host involved in the celebration as well, it should really show us how deeply God loves us.

The word “heaven” is the abode of God, Christ and the angels, the spiritual realm of God. Believe it or not, this is where everything began. In John 6:63, Jesus says, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” When God spoke and called for creation to come, it was in the spiritual realm, and its manifestation was in the earth. That is why in the Lord’s prayer, Matthew 6:10, Jesus says, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Everything begins in heaven. So when we come into repentance, the celebration begins in heaven and manifests itself in the earth, with our lives bearing the evidence of our repentance.

The word “repentance” means “think differently, implying Godly sorrow for unbelief and sin which causes the person to turn from this and turn to God and the gospel of Christ.” Repentance is more than just being sorry. Plenty of people are “sorry”, but still don’t change. Repentance always causes a change of direction. In 2 Corinthians 7:10, the Bible says, “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” True repentance means we keep our minds, hearts, and direction moving towards God, and our back remain towards the sin and unbelief we used to walk in. There is rejoicing in heaven, kicked off by our loving God, who came running after us when we were lost, all because we turned towards the Lord our God.

“More than over ninety nine just persons, which need no repentance”

The word “just” means “morally upright, righteous, holy”. The person who is lost carries the greater importance to God, not because they are better than the ones who are already in the fold, but because their lives are in the greatest amount of jeopardy. In 2 Peter 3:9, the Bible says, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” God doesn’t want any of us to perish, and the 99 have security in eternal life with God. God doesn’t have to run after them, because they are already home. That also means that there was already a celebration over their repentance too, because we ALL have to come to repentance!

God loves His children, even the ones who are lost, the ones who have backslidden, the ones who have been “outside” of the fold. God is searching for us, hoping to find repentance, so He can place us on His shoulders and bring us home where we belong. There is a celebration in heaven waiting on our repentance. That’s how much our God loves us!

God Bless!

Marshall

Feb 6, 2021 – Ephesians 1:18 – Loving You Part 10 – The eyes of your understanding being enlightened

Hi Everyone!

God wants His children to understand who we are, whose we are, and where we are going. He doesn’t want us blind, unable to see our way, because that will make it very easy to fall. When we can’t see clearly who we are, then we are vulnerable to suggestion, and that is when we can allow the wrong people or influence to give us our identity and direction. In Psalm 119:105, the Bible says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path”.  Is the Word of God our source of direction, the source by which we understand who we are? Do we heed what the Holy Spirit reveals to us about what we need to do and where we need to go? To go any other place besides the Word and the body of Christ to find our identity and direction is as seeking darkness out to find light. God has everything we need, but do we trust what He reveals to us? Today, we are going to look into Ephesians 1:18, understanding our identity and purpose in Christ.

“The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,”

The word “understanding” means “broken down thoughts spiritually deciphered”. We receive information, and to understand the information correctly, we break the information in pieces, allowing God to put those pieces together, to make it a complete thought. This isn’t done without God! In 2 Corinthians 4:6, the Bible says, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” We have to acknowledge that the understanding we have is given to us, and not something we have because of our intelligence. The word “enlightened” means “to impart spiritual and moral light, to shine light upon”. When God “turns the light on”, we will be able to see what He has revealed clearly, thus giving us everything we need to share what we see correctly. In 1 Corinthians 2:10, the Bible says, “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” The Holy Spirit is the greatest teacher we will ever need and as believers.

“That ye may know what is the hope of his calling”

The word “know” is a term of relational intimacy, used to speak of two separate parts become one. When we know something, we have come together with it in agreement and made what we know a part of us. The word “hope” means “expectation or anticipation”. So this isn’t a “wishful thinking” kind of hope, but it is a “I am going to look for it because I know it’s coming” kind of hope. In Psalm 121:1, the Bible says, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.” The person that hopes is looking for what they hope for to come to pass. Because of our faith in Christ Jesus and because we are the children of God, we have a real reason to hope, a real reason to expect God to reveal himself to us. In Ephesian 2:12, the Bible says, “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:” That was our picture without God as our Father, but now we are children of God with access to His word and promises. The word “calling” means “a divine invitation by which Christians are introduced into the privileges of the gospel”. God gives His calling with the intentions of it being possessed permanently. In Romans 11:29, the Bible says, “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance”. God wants us to be secure in Him, that He is going to give us the understanding we need through His revelation what His invitation to the kingdom of God all entails. How can we stand by a word we don’t understand? How can we have faith in a word we don’t understand? So God secures our knowledge in order for us to have security in His word!

“and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints”

The word “riches” means “wealth, fullness, abundance, or valuable bestowment” God just doesn’t give us something. He gives us more than what we need! In Psalm 23:5, the Bible says, “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” Running over means excess beyond capacity! The word “glory” here means “perfection, excellence”, and that is what is revealed when God shines His light. In Acts 26:18, the Bible says, “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” An inheritance comes when someone dies. Christ died so we could be thoroughly equipped with the understanding we need about who we are, whose we are, and where we are going!

How can we love what we don’t understand?

God Bless!

Marshall

Feb 7, 2021 – 1 Corinthians 6:20 – Loving You Part 11 – For ye are bought with a price

Hi Everyone!

Do we really understand that God’s love redeemed us from the penalty of eternal death, a promise fulfilled in all who have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior by faith? Do we even understand that we are loved that deeply, and every second of our lives matter to God? In Matthew 10:30, Jesus says, “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” A God that numbers the hairs on our head definitely cares about the state of our faith, the state of our lives, about the joy that wells up in our hearts. God cares about our tears as well, and the filthier we are, He loves us even more. Imagine being a slave and someone steps in and says they will die a torturous death to free us from our bondage. Let me paint another picture. Our heart has failed and someone says they will give their heart so we can live, knowing the transplant would kill Him. That’s what Christ did for us! Today, we are going to explore 1 Corinthians 6:20, the depths of God’s love for us.

“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

The “bought” means “to redeem, to acquire for one’s self by a ransom or price paid”. This pertains to those whom Christ has redeemed by His blood for the bondage of sin and death. Just think about this. God thought we were valuable enough to Him for Him to pay a price for our salvation. That price was His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Why do we take this so lightly? Look at your child if you have one. Imagine conceiving this child so he can grow up and get tortured and strung up on a cross, nails driven into his hand and feet, so he could save the lives of people who you know don’t deserve it. That is what our God did for us. In Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Our sins had a wage, one that we are unable to pay. In Biblical days, when a person owed and couldn’t pay, thy became the slaves of the people they owed. God sent Christ to be the perfect, atoning sacrifice for all who believe on Him, His shed blood being the payment for the outstanding debt owed. In Ephesians 1:7, the Bible says, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” In Christ we have this redemption, this price paid that released us from the prison of sin and death, and we are free indeed, because John 8:36 Jesus says, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” This type of love can’t be fully comprehended, but it doesn’t make it any less real.

“Therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s”

The word “glorify” means “to render honor, to give praise to, to magnify”. This should be our response to being redeemed, to glorify God, to give Him honor for what He has done for us. In Luke 17, Christ was met by ten lepers. They asked Christ to have mercy on them (v.13). It then says that when Christ saw them, he said “Go shew yourself unto the priests.” They obeyed, and as they started to go to see the priests, they were cleansed (v.14). In Luke 17:15-16, the Bible says, “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.”. The Samaritan knew whose Word cleansed Him, whose mercy healed him, and he remembered what Christ did for Him, and fell down on his face at His feet! To “worship” means “to depress, to bring oneself low in the presence of God”, and this is what he did! He worshipped, giving God the glory for his healing. In Luke 17:18, Jesus said, “There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.” The person furthest from the kingdom, a mixed breed, a person despised by Jews was the one that did what we as believers are supposed to do. Have we as believers gotten so comfortable with God that we have neglected to give Him the glory for what He has done in our lives?

In Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” We offer our bodies in service to the Lord, a living sacrifice pleasing to God because He redeemed us from the penalty of death we deserved. Above that, we offer our bodies because He loves us and we love Him and have a desire to please Him. In Colossians 3:23-24, the Bible says, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” We serve God with our whole hearts because we have been set free of bondage. We use our freedom to serve our loving God.

In Psalm 24:1, the Bible says, “The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” We are the redeemed of the Lord’s. Let us say so!

God Bless!

Marshall

Feb 8, 2021 – Psalm 127:1 – Loving You Part 12 – Except the LORD build the house … except the LORD keep the city

Hi Everyone!

Because God is the Author and Finisher of our faith, He sets the things in motion for us to fulfill his purpose. A lot of times, we try to author our own stories and go off script, only to find that our ventures don’t bear fruit. A venture without God may lead to some level of accomplishment but without God ordering our steps, it doesn’t lead to our purpose. God is not concerned with accomplishments, awards, or the superficial desires we feel we need to feel whole. God is concerned with us operating and living to fulfill His good purpose on this earth. People mistake wealth with a person being blessed, but a blessed person is the one who desires to live the life God intended. In Proverbs 20:21, the Bible says, “An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.” The word “hastily” means “by greed”. This world races after riches, after fame, after a bunch of things that drive them further away from the presence of God, all while God created us to draw closer to Him. Today, we are looking at Psalm 127:1, as we come to understand that only God can provide the type of prosperity we are created to have.

“Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.”

In Ecclesiastes 3:14, the Bible says, “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.” God doesn’t build temporary structures in his children. God builds something in us that will be forever. Our problem comes in when we don’t like the design of the home and don’t feel that it is suitable for our taste, so we start cutting away and adding to it until it becomes something we love the sight of. We don’t realize that, as with any home that is built, there is an Inspector that makes sure it is constructed according to specifications. If the home doesn’t meet specification then it has to be brought into compliance or it has to come down. Well it is the same way with our lives, and our ministry. God, our Heavenly Inspector is going to make sure our homes as built according to specifications, and the only way it will survive the test is if the home is built by Him according to His specifications. In 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, the Bible, “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” God may give us the tools and the abilities, but the plan is His, and He will check the work! In 1 Corinthians 3:13, the Bible says, “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.” A person who labours in vain is a person that builds something that won’t survive the test, a person who tries to go their own way without God, and tries to author their own story.

“Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh in vain”

There is no protection without God. In Proverbs 21:31, the Bible says, “The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.” We have to understand that our best efforts of protecting ourselves mean nothing if the Lord doesn’t keep us. The word “keep” means “guard, observe, or watch over”. David knew this well, and in Psalm 3:6-7, the Bible says, “I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.” David knew that if didn’t matter how many people mounted up against him. David was a valiant warrior, known all through the land for killing Goliath, giving Israel a victory over the Philistines, but in Psalms 3:7, David calls God for help and acknowledges that God smote all of his enemies. David always gave God the glory and didn’t try to fight without God. David inquired of God before he went into battle, to make sure it was what God wanted. In 1 Chronicles 14:10, the Bible says, “And David enquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? and wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto him, Go up; for I will deliver them into thine hand.” Until we will be a people that relies on God for protection, God will continue to allow our efforts to protect ourselves to be in vain.

In Matthew 23:12, Jesus says, “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” Part of loving ourselves is loving the plan God has for us, the building He is building within and the edifice that the world sees. May we become a people that allow God reign to build us into people of His purpose.

God Bless!

Marshall

Feb 9, 2021 – Ephesians 4:24 – Loving You Part 13 – put on the new man

Hi Everyone!

Do we understand that we are new people in Christ? Our salvation has essentially buried the old person, the old nature, and has replaced it with a new person and new nature. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, the Bible says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Do we really believe that? For a long time after recommitting my life to the Lord, I still felt unworthy, and still saw life from the lens of someone who lived outside of the kingdom of God. I still felt filthy. It wasn’t until I really came to accept what the Word of God said about me; that I am reborn, that I am a child of God, that I not only am a part of the kingdom of God, but I have access to God’s promises through His Word, that the image staring at me in the mirror changed. Once I accepted my identity in Christ, I no longer accepted anyone holding me to who I used to be, nor do I stand there and allow mud to be flung on me. God wants us to embrace our identities in Him and take our place as the children and the redeemed of God. Today, we will look at Ephesians 4:24, as we learn to love ourselves, learning how to put on the new man.

“And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

The word “new” speaks of Christians who are reborn, renewed, and transformed from children of darkness to children of light by the Spirit of God, thus making us a new creation. We want a second chance at a first impression? God offers that to us freely by His Spirit when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. In Revelations 21:5, the Bible says, “And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.” Understand something with me. Our God sits on a throne as King. Whatever the King says goes, right? Why? Because Kings have authority to declare things. In Luke 7:1-10, Jesus healed the centurion’s servant, but in verse 7 and 8, we get a moving picture to how authority works. In Luke 7:7-8, the Bible says, “Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.” A word spoken becomes a word acted upon, and what the person in authority says, comes to pass. So when we accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior and God declared us to be new creations in Christ, then that’s what we are!

We are to “put on” the new man. Doesn’t that sound like we are wearing our new man like clothes? In Ephesians 6:11, the Bible says, “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Then, in 1 Thessalonians 5:8, the Bible says, “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.” Yet again, In Colossians 3:14, the Bible says, “And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” We have the privilege to put on love. In Galatians 3:27, the Bible says, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” We also have the privilege to put on Christ! The phrase “put on” means “to invest with clothing”. So our salvation doesn’t make this automatic, and this is something God gives us the opportunity to do, to produce fruits of salvation, fruits of the Spirit are at work. Whatever we put on, people see clearly and they will remember us by what we put on. This is a command by our loving God, but it is also a choice, and sad to say, many people, myself included, have made the bad choice to put on our old man even after we’ve been born again. A lot of us have made the choice to not accept this new man and have made the choice to dwell in a state of diminished self-worth. In Peter 1:3, the Bible says, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”. We have everything we need to live a Godly life and all the information in His Word to accept who we are in Him. The choice is ours.

“Which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness”

The word “create” means “to fabricate and form in a spiritual sense, to renew”. God created man to live in righteousness, with his heart right with God through faith. He didn’t create us with the intention to use our free will to put on anything inconsistent with our identity in Christ. In Romans 13:14, the Bible says, “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” When we put on Christ, we will walk in righteousness and truth, and look at ourselves according to how God sees us. Who we truly are can be found in the Word of God. May we all come to know ourselves as we know our God!

God Bless!

Marshall

Feb 10, 2021 – Ephesians 5:27 – Loving You Part 14 – That he might present it to himself a glorious church

Hi Everyone!

God adores His children! We may not always feel that way, and sometimes, we feel unlovable. That is not what God feels towards us, and He actually created us so He can proudly show us off. Don’t think so? In Job 1:8, the Bible says, “And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?” God is looking to display who we are, to proudly boast in His creation, especially to Satan! God creates us with every ability to fulfill His purpose, and when we have victory in things we face, our God is cheering us on! Remember, God is our Father, and Fathers celebrate the accomplishments of their children. God’s desire is to look upon His children with pride, and that shows how much He loves us, because we have a Father that wants the absolute best for us. When we have a Creator that thinks that highly about His children, then why don’t we feel like we are worth that much to Him? Today, we are going to explore Ephesians 5:27, another aspect of loving ourselves, understanding what our Father thinks of us.

“That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

The word “present” means “exhibit”. We God exhibits us, He puts us on display for everyone to see from all angles. Think about a clothing store with me. What does the store staff put on display in the front windows? Their best clothes, their best ensembles. Why? Because it attracts people to stop, take notice, and come inside to see what else the store has to offer! In Titus 2:7-8, the Bible says, “In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.” God wants us to show a pattern of good work, meaning that is what people by far see of us. In Titus 2:14, the Bible says, “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” God had Christ die for us, to not only redeem us from the penalty of sin and death, but to make us a special and beyond usual people. Guess what? God didn’t create us to be ordinary people. God doesn’t put ordinary on display. Remember, what’s on display represents who displayed it! So God placed His Spirit inside of us, and gave us the ability to live extraordinary lives in Him, so He can show the world who we are in Him! The word “glorious” means “adorned in pure and splendid raiment as a bride”. The word “church” means “Christian community of people on earth, saints of the Living God’. God desires to display a community of Christians adorned in pure and splendid raiment as a bride, to show the world the love and pride He has for His children and creation. In Colossians 1:22, the Bible says, “In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight”. What a sacrifice to show us off with pride, huh? That’s our God!

“Not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing”

The word “spot” means “stain”. In the Old Testament, a sacrifice was offered, but the sacrifice had to be without spot. In Numbers 28:3, “And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the LORD; two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, for a continual burnt offering.” Imperfections to the sacrifice were not acceptable to God, because a sacrifice without spot, blemish, or wrinkle was considered by God to the absolute best. God wants our best! In Exodus 12:5, when God ordered His children to sacrifice the lamb for the passover, He said to Moses, “Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goat”. That type of sacrifice God desires. In Deuteronomy 15:21, “And if there be any blemish therein, as if it be lame, or blind, or have any ill blemish, thou shalt not sacrifice it unto the LORD thy God.”

“But that it should be holy and without blemish”

Christ is the perfect, atoning sacrifice for us, who died to make us acceptable in God. In Ephesians 1:4, the Bible says, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love”. This was God’s original design for us as His children. In Ephesians 2:6, the Bible says, “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus”. God didn’t design for His children to be in the shadows unseen. God desired for us to bear His image in the earth, so men may see us and glorify God!

May we live our lives worthy of God presenting us to Himself a glorious church, one without spot or wrinkle.

God Bless!

Marshall

Feb 11, 2010 – 1 Corinthians 13:4 – Loving You Part 15 – Charity suffereth long

Hi Everyone!

We’ve been going through this series, “Loving You”, getting ourselves on a path to knowing and loving ourselves on the deepest levels possible. We have to know where we come from and the intended design of our God and Creator, so we can begin to understand ourselves better. We pour through the evidence of God’s love for us, how detailed He is in every aspect of His plan for our lives. God’s love for us is abounding and deep, and He makes provision for our salvation and restoration while we are still face deep in our sins. The love of God, if translated correctly, will become the reason we can fully love ourselves. If our Creator loves us with every fiber of His being, then there is really no excuse as to why we can’t love ourselves. As with anything, we have to receive our identity, our purpose, and God’s love with faith, and then walk in our identity, live to fulfill our purpose, and love ourselves deeply the same way God does. Before we can begin to understand love, let us ask ourselves, what is love? Today we will look at 1 Corinthians 13:4 and start breaking down to attributes of love.

“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,”

The word “charity” is love, but it is agape love, “the love which God or Christ exercises towards us. The love is derived from God”. This is the purest form of love because it comes directly from God and it doesn’t have the filters that we sadly place on it. When we pick and choose who we give love to and on what level, we have diluted agape love. Whenever we place stipulations on a person in order for them to receive our love, then we have diluted agape love. In Romans 12:9, the Bible says, “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.” The word “dissimulation” means “insincere, deceptive”. This verse gives the message “hate the sin, but love the sinner”. The phrase “suffereth long” means “patient, slow to anger, forbearing”. In Romans 5:8, the Bible says, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” So if God sent Christ to be a sacrifice for our sins while we were still sinners, then God’s love is truly patient. If we are created in the image and likeness of God, then we must be people willing to love people while we still have dirt on ourselves. In 1 Peter 4:8, the Bible says, “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”

“And is kind; charity envieth not;”

Charity is love remember? Love IS! It exists, it has an identity and it has characteristics that prove it’s existence. Patience is an attribute, one that requires both grace and understanding for what our brothers and sisters are going through. How can we understand if we don’t try to see what they go through? Love isn’t about feelings. It is shown! The word “kind” means ” to show oneself useful, to act benevolently “. How do we as believers show ourselves useful? In service! In Luke 22:27, the Bible says, “For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.” Christ is telling the disciples that serving others is the most important thing, no matter what our position in the church may be. Helping others in need with a pure heart is another way of us showing love to others. In Romans 12:13, the Bible says, “Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.” We have to use what we have to be a blessing to others. The word “envieth” means “to have warmth of feeling against”. This means we don’t covet our neighbor’s house, nor do we despise people for what they have. Love should make us rejoice when someone has something we don’t have. I frequently cheer brothers on when they go home, or get their cases overturned, and sometimes, I cry with them in joy. Love is always going to want to see someone else’s joy complete. In Romans 12:15, the Bible says, “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” Love means we have each other’s back, not stab each other in the back, right?

“Charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.”

The phrase “vaunteth not itself” means “to brag or boast, to be high- minded or haughty”. In Psalms 34:2, the Bible says, “My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.” If we boast in anything, it should be in the Lord, for what He has done, and for who He is. In Romans 12:3, part of the verse tells us “not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly”. Love isn’t about putting ourselves on display, but it is about serving others with our whole hearts.

May Love be our goal!

God Bless!

Marshall

Feb 12, 2021 – 1 Corinthians 13:5 – Loving You Part 16 – (Charity) Doth not behave itself unseemly

Hi Everyone!

Love is the greatest thing we can give someone else, and it is also the greatest gift we can give ourselves. Before we can fully appreciate loving anyone, including ourselves, we have to embrace the qualities love possesses. Our actions bear witness to whether we are operating in love, and these verses we will study in 1 Corinthians 13 will become the standard by which we measure love. God doesn’t want His children to have relationships absent love, ministries absent love, gifts of the Spirit absent love. Love should be the reason we do all of these things! 1 John 4:12, the Bible says, “No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.” When we love one another, we show people who our God is, and it is how God is manifested in any relationship. Love is the evidence that God is present in a relationship! Today, we will love at 1 Corinthians 13:5, for more qualities of love.

“(Charity) Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;”

The phrase “behave itself unseemly” means “conduct unbecoming to one’s identity in Christ”. A believer who behaves himself unseemly is someone who no one can tell is a believer by their actions. It is a person we see more “world” in than “Word”. In 1 Corinthians 15:33, the Bible says, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” Our conversations can display whether we are speaking in love, because in Matthew 12:35, Jesus says, “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.” What is displayed in our actions is usually the evidence of what is inside of us. In Romans 12:10, doesn’t the Bible say, “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another”? If this is how we are supposed to act, then there can’t be room for us to act and speak like the world. If we are created in the image and likeness of God, then our goal should be to act like Him.

“seeketh not her own”

Love isn’t selfish! In Romans 12:1, the Bible says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Our God is not a selfish God, nor should His children be, and that is why we should present our bodies a living sacrifice unto God, making ourselves available to serve God and people with their entire heart. In 2 Corinthians 9:7, the Bible says, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” God doesn’t want His children to love and give because we HAVE to, but because we WANT to! In John 15:13, Jesus says, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” This is the attitude our God want us to have because He has freely shown us this kind of love as an example for us. Want to know where? In John 3:16, Jesus says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” God sent Christ to the world to die on the cross for our sins, and Christ freely offered Himself in love. In Philippians 2:4, the Bible says, “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” The Church grew because of this attitude! In Acts 4:32-33, the Bible says, “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.” When we love each other, there are no weak links, no one is impoverished, and everyone experiences the power of God, because no one keeps that to themselves either.

“Not easily provoked, thinketh no evil”

The word “provoke” means “to stir, to exasperate, to anger”. In Ephesians 4:26-27, the Bible says, “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.” Anger gives the enemy a way inside of us to influence us to walk in anger instead of in love. If we are not easily stirred, exasperated, or angered, then that means we have extended both tolerance and grace to someone else out of the love that is in our hearts. The word “thinketh” means “to take an inventory in order to judge”. “Thinketh no evil” means “we keep no record of people’s wrongs”. In Matthew 6:14, the Bible says, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:” Forgiveness is also the evidence of love, which is pleasing to our God.

May love abound in our hearts towards each other.

God Bless!

Marshall

Feb 13, 2021 – 1 Corinthians 13:6 – Loving You Part 17 – rejoiceth in the truth

Hi Everyone!

The beauty about God’s word is that it plainly tells us who we are, and who we are not. It tells us what things are and what they are not, and I love that the Bible clearly defines the difference. Flesh and Spirit, good and evil, light and darkness. Either we’re of one or we’re of the other, and our actions will bear witness of what side of this we are on. There are no grey areas when it comes to love. Either it is or it isn’t. God gives us a standard by which we measure our offering of love to to establish whether it is or isn’t. If we are in line with the Word of God, cool, but if we fall short of love, then we have a clear road map on how we can get back on track. God wants us to succeed at living a holy life, which is why He conveys His commands in a clear and understandable fashion. It will also show us how far we are from the mark, which will give us the understanding that we constantly need God’s presence within us to measure up. Today, we will look 1 Corinthians 13:6, more aspects of love.

“Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth”

The word “rejoiceth” means “to be cheerful, to be merry with”. The word actually has a positive connotation but here it is applied negatively to godlessness. The word “iniquity” means “injustice, moral wrongfulness; wickedness or unrighteousness seen more in the neglect of the true God and His laws and an adherence to the world or to idolatry”. So these people celebrate godlessness in others, support their wrongdoing, or completely condone their actions! In Psalm 10:3-4, the Bible says, “For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth. The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.” The man’s actions are already abhorrent to the Lord, but imagine believers standing behind him cheering him on, celebrating His sicknesses, approving of his wrongdoing. We are no better than him. In Proverbs 1:10, the Bible says, “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.” God doesn’t want us even yielding to the enticements of sinners! In 2 Thessalonians 2:12, the Bible says, “That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” If we love someone, why would we want them to experience the same penalty we ourselves have been delivered from? If we love someone, why would we celebrate the deeds that would lead to their condemnation? In Romans 1:32, the Bible says, “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” Our love should want us to see people at their best, not cheer them on as them ruin their lives. That is not love.

“But rejoiceth in the truth”

The word “rejoiceth” here actually means “to sympathize with gladness”. The word “truth” implies “conduct conformed to the truth, integrity, virtue, a life conformed to the precepts of the gospel, someone who lives uprightly. 2 John 1:4, the Bible says, “I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.” It should be a joy to us to see someone living their lives according to the Word. We know how great that feels to walk with the Lord and experience His presence, and the love in our hearts for people causes us to share in that experience with them. In John 8:32, Jesus says, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” So when we see believers walking in truth, it is our job as believers who love them to celebrate that with them, to fully support them as they walk after the love, and to build a community of love around them. We should celebrate with them as if they were just released from prison, because they were! In 3 John 1:3-4, the Bible says, “For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” How many of us celebrate others that are living for Christ? In John 1:17, the Bible says, “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” Jesus says in John 17:17, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” When a person walks according to the truth, they are living in the promises of God, assured and strong. If we love our brothers and sisters, then we should have a desire within the deepest parts of our hearts to see people walking in truth like we are. When we don’t share the word of truth with people, we jeopardize their chances of experiencing this. A little something to think about.

May our love produce the best possible outcomes for the people we love.

God Bless!

Marshall

Feb 14, 2021 – 1 Corinthians 13:7 – Loving You Part 18 – believeth all things

Hi Everyone!

Love is unconditional. That means that our love doesn’t depend on anyone else but us. God gives us His love and then commands that we share it. He doesn’t give us stipulations, or express to us that a person has to “clean themselves up” first before they can receive love. In John 13:34, Jesus says, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” God gives us the example, and we are to then give people the same love we have received. It is not easy because, let’s be honest, some people make it so hard for us to love them, and will go as far as to push our love away. Even worse, there are people right now being martyred for sharing their faith and love with others, knowing the risk involved. Loving people who love you back is easy. Loving people when everything is going well is easy too. What happens when times get hard? When disagreements erupt? When we have been wronged by someone we love? Do we show the same type of love when the other person doesn’t make it convenient? Today we are pressing through 1 Corinthians 13:7, a word on unconditional love.

“Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”

The word “beareth” means “to roof over, to cover over, to endure patiently”. It says that if we love people then we are to cover them no matter what. “All things” means ALL things. Of course, we like to place our own standards on this, and tell ourselves that we will cover people until a certain point, but is that how God loved us? In Romans 15:1, the Bible says, “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” Our covering shelters them as they build the resolve necessary to love a little better, and by covering them, they experience an example of what real love is. In Galatians 6:1, the Bible says, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” Sadly, a lot of believers receive this amazing, reckless love from our God and then forget where we come from, forgetting that we too were once without salvation and with a whole bunch of fault. God didn’t save us so we could forget, but He saved us so we can remember and show others the Way, the Truth, and the Life, through our words and our deeds. In Proverbs 10:12, the Bible says, “Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.” A covering is a safe place to hide from bad weather, or an enemy’s attack. What if people were trying to find a safe place in us, but only were met with hatred and judgement?

“Believeth all things, hopeth all things”

The word “believeth” means “to have faith or confidence in”. My Granny, Ruth McKinney, never stopped believing in me, no matter how bad I got. She was always happy to see me, and no matter what I did, she always received me as if I did nothing wrong. She didn’t condone anything I did in the slightest but she always loved me. She passed on my 18th birthday in 1999, but she embodies 1 Peter 4:8, which says, “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” I learned how to love by the Word of God and the examples His children have set in my life. God created me, and never stopped having faith in who I was to become. My Granny never stopped having faith in who I was to become, and I won’t stop having faith in the people I love. I understand now, when Christ saw the multitudes and had compassion on them, because I remember when I was in the multitudes needing compassion, needing covering, needing a Savior. The word “hopeth” means “to expect”. In Galatians 6:10, the Bible says, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” Guess what? We always have the opportunity to do good to all men. There is a saying I used to hear a lot growing up. “We’ll leave the light on for you”. It is also a slogan for a motel chain if my memory serves me correctly. The saying signifies that there will always be someone there waiting on you when you come. How many people would find themselves at the altar if they can be received with love when they make their way “Home”?

“Endureth all things”

The word “endureth” means “to await, to bear up under, to be patient under”. In 1 John 3:18, the Bible says, “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” We are to be patient with our fellow brothers and sisters, as they grow into the faith and as they become who God has called them to be. Our love is not to change, not matter how long it may take others to get themselves together.

May our love be unconditional, abounding in truth, and may our love teach others how to love as God commanded.

God Bless!

Marshall

Feb 15, 2021 – 1 John 4:10 – Loving You Part 19 – Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us

Hi Everyone!

The love we have in our hearts comes from our Heavenly Father. The standard for love comes from God, and His love for His children gave us the greatest example of love for us to experience. Our salvation is the result of God’s undying love for us and His relentless to bring His children back to Him. Our greatest levels of love could never equate to God’s love for us, and His salvation was despite everything we have done that would disqualify us from this precious gift. We have the hardest time forgiving people for the smallest infractions done to us, unable to get past the hurt in order to forgive them, but our God loved us and forgave us for a lifestyle of offense done to Him. The standard of love set in 1 Corinthians 13, shows that it is extremely difficult to love someone perfectly. We are going to fall short! Today, we are going to look at the extent of God’s love for us in 1 John 4:10, and understand more about the qualities of love in the process.

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

The word “love” here is the love God extends to us, giving us the capability to love others. In 1 John 4:8, the Bible says, “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” God is love, and if His Spirit dwells in us, His love dwells in us. If we are created in His own image and in His likeness, then He has given us access to embody the same characteristics He has, and that means we are supposed to “be” love as well. God’s love overpowered our own for Him, and our love for Him wasn’t factored in when He gave his Son to die for our sins. In Romans 5:8, the Bible says, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Let us think about this. Almost 2,000 years ago, Christ died on the cross for our sins present day, giving salvation to all who believes on His name. That means He died before we were born, and the sacrifice was made before we formed the thoughts to live in sin. We place stipulations on who we love and under what circumstances, but imagine us already having love, forgiveness, and restoration ready for a person BEFORE they do anything wrong to us! Our God wants us to see His children, AND even ourselves, the way He sees us. Why is it so hard for us to look at others, and ourselves the way God sees us? In Romans 5:18, the Bible says, “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” The nature from sin, our old man, is overrun by judgement and condemnation, so it is hard to fathom accepting God’s love. We have become a people conditioned to see fault and offense. Salvation is a free gift to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, but it is up to us to believe God’s report on who we are. Love covers a multitude of sins, and in the presence of real love, there can be no offense.

“And sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins”

In John 3:16, the Bible says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Simple condition for such a powerful gift, right? The word “sent” means “set apart and sent forth”. This is where we get the word “apostle” from. Whenever God sends someone, it is to fulfill His purpose. In Titus 3:4-5, the Bible says, “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” We are the recipients of salvation because of God’s love and kindness. God thinks the world of His children, only to see us, believers, not love our brothers and sisters, or not love ourselves the way He does. The word “propitiation” means “atonement, that which appeases anger and brings reconciliation with someone who has reason to be angry with us.” Please pay attention to this part of the verse. It says, “And sent His Son to be THE PROPITIATION for our sins.” It didn’t say “a propitiation”. Why? Because in Christ, we would only need one! In Romans 5:10-11, the Bible says, “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”

We as believers have to stop walking around like we are unlovable, like we are horrible people, like we are condemned. Someone WILLINGLY died to save our lives, all because He loved us and thought we were worth saving. May that kind of love make it easier for us to walk in love, extending that same love to ourselves and others.

God Bless!

Marshall

Feb 16, 2021 – 2 Thessalonians 3:6 – Loving You Part 20 – withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly

Hi Everyone!

What type of company do we keep? This is a very important question, because we tend to associate with those who we have things in common with. Have we really taken a moral inventory of the people we surround ourselves with? Every person has a voice and that voice can be highly influential to those around them, and on the same note, a person’s actions can be just as influential on those around them. Do we surround ourselves with people who love God? With people who love themselves? Do we have the appreciation for the fact that a person’s character can rub off on us, whether good or bad, causing us to either act more like our character or act outside of our character? Part of loving ourselves is making sure that we are in an environment that invites love, spiritual accountability, people who really desire to see us become everything God ordains. Today, we are going to look at 2 Thessalonians 3:6, keeping the right company.

“Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.”

The word “command” means “to transmit a message”. The person who transmits a message has a hope that the message will be received and acted upon. “Brethren” are the brothers and sisters of the faith, so this message is to believers within the Church at Thessalonica. Whenever something is commanded, it is of extreme importance and it will greatly benefit the person that follows the command. In James 1:22, the Bible says, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” God wants a people that follow His commands. In 1 John 5:3, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” We are able to follow God’s commands without them bearing down on us too hard. The word “name” here implies authority, showing whose authority this word is given under. It is not about the person delivering the message but about the person’s authority to activate the word when followed. It is given in the name of Jesus Christ and according to Philippians 2:9, the Bible says, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:” If a word comes in the name of Jesus Christ, then there is no higher authority. This means pay close attention!

“That ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly”

The phrase “withdraw yourselves” means to “avoid”. This means to physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually remove ourselves. We have to become people who are very intentional about people who we share our spaces with. In 2 Corinthians 6:14, the Bible says, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” Understandable, but remember, Paul is talking about a “brother”, a believer! In Romans 16:17, the Bible says, “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.” Whether the person is a believer or not, if their words and conduct are contrary to the Word of God, then we are to avoid them all the same. In 1 Corinthians 15:33, the Bible says, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” A person’s evil words and deeds can corrupt us, and it can definitely rob us of the loving relationships we want to experience with God and others. The phrase “walketh disorderly” means “to practice moral irregularity”. Disorder implies a person that is lawless, and we are to avoid “every” brother who walks this way.

“And not after the tradition which he received of us”

The apostles spread the word of God, teaching people how they are to act as believers. The word “tradition” means “transmission or precept”, which is a word or command given that should be followed. In 1 Peter 2:21, the Bible says, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:” Peter followed Christ, and then spread that Word everywhere He went, in both word and deed. Christ is the example, so the Word that came from Him should be the Word that we embody and then extend to others. In 2 Thessalonians 2:15, the Bible says, “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.” If a person is not acting in the way the Word teaches, nor heeding the admonishment of the shepherds, then he or she is not a person we should share company with. If a person is not walking according to the Word of God, then they can’t be walking according to the love of God, and that is a contagion we can do without.

Loving ourselves means we choose our company wisely.

God Bless!

Marshall

Feb 17, 2021 – 2 Corinthians 10:5 – Loving You Part 21 – Casting down … every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God

Hi Everyone!

As we establish our identities and our purposes in Christ, the enemy will come to stir doubt and confusion within us. If the enemy could cause us to question who we are and what God has called us to do, then we can become stagnant, and then vulnerable to attack. The enemy doesn’t want us to love ourselves, because that would mean that we understand we are children of the Most High God, and we have proudly accepted who He has created us to be with open arms. We then plant ourselves in the foundation of Christ, so when the enemy tries to knock us off balance with his lies, we will remain rooted and strong. Part of loving ourselves is continuing to allow God to build us into the people He ordained for us to be, and keeping the enemy away from God’s design. As believers, we thirst for truth, and have to be willing to come against anything that jeopardizes what God is building. The questions is: do we love ourselves enough to speak the words of life as to who we truly are? Today, we will look into 2 Corinthians 10:5, the trial between truth and the enemy’s lies.

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

The phrase “casting down” means “to demolish, to make low”. The word “imaginations” means “reasonings, devices, and counsels against God”. The enemy is going to come to bring a testimony about both God and us. He is going to come to bait traps, and find vulnerable believers unsure about who they are in God and where they are going. In 1 Peter 5:8, the Bible says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour”. The word “vigilant” means “to keep watch, to guard”. The enemy is looking for a point of access so he can attack. In James 4:7, the Bible says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Only by submission to God can we resist the enemy. So when we “cast down imaginations”, it implies intentional actions on our part to demolish the enemy’s lies with the Truth, which is the Word of God.

“And every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God”

The phrase “high thing” means “barrier”. The word “exalteth” means “rises up”. The word “knowledge” means “true doctrine”. So the enemy is coming to devise a strategy that will form a barrier, keeping a believer from the true doctrine of God. The enemy would love to block our access to the truth, to rob us of the fellowship with God, in where we have our identity. In John 8:44, Jesus is speaking, “Ye 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.” Christ clearly defines the enemy, and He says that there is no truth in him. The question then is, why does the enemy’s testimony about us carry more weight than God’s? In Psalm 119:160, the Bible says, “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.” We come against the lies of the enemy with the Word of God, so that requires us to plant the Word of God in our minds and hearts. In Psalm 1:2, the Bible says, “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” The Word of God builds a standard within us that gives us weaponry against the enemy. Remember, the enemy is coming against the knowledge of God, the source of our love, identity, and purpose.

“And bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ”

The word captivity expresses bondage, making something submissive and bringing something under subjection. In Matthew 18:18, Jesus says, “Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” God has given us the authority and ability to come against anything that defies the Word of God; and He has given us the weaponry to do it. Where negative the word “thought” means “negative plan or device”.  Spiritual bondage begins with one negative thought coming against God’s truth that, if we don’t destroy it, it can spread darkness into our lives. Christ’s obedience to God is the standard that we shoot for, and we are to obey the Word of God just as Christ did. In Luke 11:35, Jesus says, “Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.” We have to be on guard for every reasoning and every thought that comes our way, examining it according to the Word of God, to ensure that the enemy doesn’t get a foot in to plant a lie.

May we search the Scriptures to find our identity in Christ and the power He has given us over the enemy.

God Bless!

Marshall

Feb 18, 2021 – Ephesians 1:13 – Loving You Part 22 – the gospel of your salvation

Hi Everyone!

God gives us a clear understanding of who we are in His Word, and from the beginning, God has been pouring His love unto us, His children. He has cleared our paths when things came to destroy us, He has us when predators lurked, and He even punished us when we strayed too far from His design for us. It all was done so we can become everything He created us to be, and so that we as believers could have direct fellowship with our God. All of the work God has done to express His undying love for us, and we still choose to go our own way, choose not to believe in His Word, and still choose not to accept our identity in Him by faith. God, like any parent, desires for His children to trust Him, to receive His Word of truth concerning us, and believe that we are children of God. One thing that makes a relationship great is trust, and trust makes a relationship stronger. When we begin to trust what the Word says about us, we will begin to understand that there is a lot to love there. Today, we are going to look at Ephesians 1:13, a message on trusting the Word of truth.

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.”

“In Whom” refers to Jesus Christ. In Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” We have to trust in Jesus Christ, because that is where our faith as believers begins. The word “trusted” means “to hope in advance”. In Romans 10:17, the Bible says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” The Word comes before faith, so the Word also comes before salvation. So we hear the Word of God we believe in the Word of God, and we then do what the Word of God says. Trust doesn’t come with mere belief. If someone told us to sit down in a chair, that it will hold us up, we can believe the word but still not sit down. It is only when we sit down, that we activate the Word of God by trust. Trust is the physical manifestation of belief, because by our actions we become vulnerable to what we are trusting. Is the Bible “the word of truth” in our lives? The word “truth” means “true doctrine of God”. Faith without the Word of God isn’t faith. The steps of faith are clearly defined because God wants His children to have true faith based on His Word alone, having something concrete to hold on to. In John 1:12, the Bible says, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name”. There is real power to those who believe in His name, who receive Him as Lord and Savior, and who have faith in the Word of God. The word “gospel” means “God’s plan of salvation, its doctrines, declarations, precepts, and promises”. The word “salvation” means “deliverance from sin and its spiritual consequences and admission to eternal life with blessedness in the kingdom of Christ”. In Ephesians 4:21, the Bible says, “If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus”. If we are going any place to hear and be taught the Word of truth for the answer to our salvation other than Jesus Christ, then we have to be prepared to experience lies and not live in victory.

“in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise”

The word “believed” means “to entrust, have faith in”. The word “sealed” means “to stamp for security and preservation”. Our faith secures our salvation and our position in the kingdom. The seal attached expresses authority, only revokable by the Person who sealed it in the first place. In 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, the Bible says, “Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” We are not only sealed, but God confirms us, so if we are not secure in God’s seal, then how are we ever going to walk in authority, accepting our rightful place as children of God? In John 6:27, Jesus says, “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.” We should not aim to feed our bodies more than we feed our spirits with the Word of God, because the Word of God inside of our hearts has no ending. The word “promise” means “an announcement, especially a divine assurance of good”. We aren’t standing on a limb blindly for the Lord. He gives us His Word, and when we believe in the Word and place our trust in It, He responds with  salvation, a seal, and a divine assurance of good.

May we all understand how secure we are in Christ as believers!

God Bless!

Marshall

Feb 19, 2021 – 2 Timothy 1:7 – Loving You Part 23 – of power, and of love, and of a sound mind

Hi Everyone!

There are a ton of things God has bestowed upon us. Scriptures says in 2 Peter 1:3 that God’s divine power has given us everything we need to live a Godly life, so we as believers are equipped for everything that comes our way. We have access to the knowledge we need to understand the Word of God, because the Scriptures say in John 14:26 that the Holy Ghost, sent in Christ’s name shall teach us all things. Christ also gave us his peace, not a peace the world gives. The Bible gives us a clear picture of what God has given to us as His children, but as with anything else, we have to believe that what God has given us belongs to us! Another part of loving ourselves is knowing what our loving God has equipped us with, and what He didn’t equip us with. Sometimes, holding on to something God didn’t ordain for us to hold on to can make the difference between the freedom to accept and love ourselves, and the freedom to remain in bondage. Today, we will look at 2 Timothy 1:7, the characteristics of the Spirit God has given us.

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

The phrase “hath not given” means “did not bestow”. When something is bestowed upon someone, it usually should be seen as a gift in direct reflection of the person who is bestowing the gift. God is very clear on what He gives and also what He does give. The word “fear” means “timidity or cowardice caused by weak, selfish behavior”. In Romans 8:15, the Bible says, “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” Fear is a prison, and people that walk in fear, walk in bondage to the thing they fear. God wants to make it clear that He didn’t give us fear. Even when His angels appeared to the shepherds abiding in the fields in Luke 2, in verse 10, the Bible says, “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” Being in the presence of God, the heavenly hosts, or our purpose should not produce cowardice, because in Ephesians 2:10, the Bible says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” God has already ordained us to walk in the good works He has planned for us. Fear wars against power, fear wars against purpose, and if God did NOT give us the spirit of fear, then let us ask ourselves, who did? There are many believers too afraid to make a move towards the purpose God has for them, because they haven’t even gotten past the fear of who God has called them to be. Imagine a church filled with people who haven’t embraced who they truly are, and you will see a church that hasn’t begun to walk in power!

“But of power”

The word “power” means “miraculous force or might”. This isn’t speaking of physical power, which means absolutely nothing when it comes to God. God is not concerned with us working our own power, but He is looking for a people that will use His power. In Luke 24:49, Jesus says “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” Our problem is typically with our impatience. We don’t want to tarry until we receive the promised power, but we don’t want to grow weary with waiting and so we try to move on our own power before God’s appointed time. In Acts 1:8, the Bible says, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” God’s power gives us the ability to become witnesses, both in word and deed, being people who can fully display God’s working power in our lives.

“And of love, and of a sound mind”

The word “love” here is agape love, the love God gives us to walk in. It is the purest form of love we have. In Galatians 5:13-14, the Bible says, “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” God gives us freedom, and we are to use that freedom to love other people as ourselves.

Wait a minute,

to love people, we have to receive God’s love, then love ourselves? How else can we love someone as ourselves if we don’t love ourselves?

The phrase “sound mind” means “discipline and self-control”. This is a person who is focused on God, trained on His Word, prepared to walk in truth. In Colossians 3:2, the Bible says, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” If we are focused on God, then we aren’t focused on fear, because in Christ is everything we need!

May we be unafraid to be who we are!

God Bless!

Marshall

Feb 20, 2021 – John 15:4 – Loving You Part 24 – Abide in me, and I in you

“Hi Everyone!

Communion. The word automatically shifts a believer towards the ceremony where the bread is broken, symbolizing Christ’s body broken for us, and the wine is drunk, symbolizing the blood Christ shed for us, activating the new testament. Communion is in remembrance of Him, to identify with what He has done for us. It is a ceremony not to be taken lightly, because in 1 Corinthians 11:29, the Bible says, “For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.” There are penalties for the person who partakes in communion unworthily. Let us look beyond the ceremony, to grasp the meaning of communion, which means “partnership, social intercourse”. Intercourse implies a joining, partnership implies a joining, and both are designed for two separate people becoming one. Communion with God is absolutely necessary as a believer, a dire necessity, because absent from Christ there is no life. Today, we will look at John 15:4, a word on communion.

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.”

The word “abide” means “remaining, dwelling, enduring in perpetuity, forever”. It means that we aren’t “fair weather fans”, hanging around to get some favorable result or to get out of some slump, but it means we are joining ourselves to the Lord forever. In 1 John 2:19, the Bible says, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.” There will be people that start in the faith, that won’t continue, and it will be revealed who those people are. In Matthew 12:33, Jesus says, “Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.” Time and circumstance will reveal whether we are abiding in Christ or not, and it won’t only reveal it to us, but others will see it as well. Have we ever stopped to think that our faith could make or break other people’s decisions to abide in Christ? In 2 Corinthians 13:5-6, the Bible says, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.” Our faith is between us and Christ, being the Author and Finisher of our faith, but we are clearly visible to the world around us, and our fruits will reveal who we are. Before we can be subjected to scrutiny, we are to check ourselves and by holding ourselves personally accountable to ensure that we abide in the Lord.

“As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me”

The end of John 15:5, the Bible says, “for without me, ye can do nothing”. Any fruit that we bear is only the result of Christ giving us the ability. There should be no conceit in the kingdom of God because we are only using what we are given by Christ. In John 15:16, Jesus says, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” Christ chose and ordained us to go and bring forth fruit, fruit that remains. So if Christ chose us to bring forth fruit, then doesn’t that mean we were also chosen to abide in Christ? We can’t bear fruit unless we abide in the vine. It is like a branch that gets broken off, with no connection to the life-giving sustenance that not only keeps it alive, but allows it bear fruit. How is our connection to God? Intact? Broken? Severed? Let us examine ourselves. In Colossians 1:22-23, the Bible says, “In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;” Christ did His part, dying on the cross, and sending the Holy Spirit to teach us all things. It is our job as believers to continue this relationship, by drawing closer to the Lord, by searching His Word diligently, by fellowshipping with God in prayer, and making ourselves available to be taught and led by the Holy Spirit. We are responsible for our relationship with the Lord, and in order for us to bear fruit that remains, we have to remain one with Christ.

Before we can enjoy this process of loving ourselves, we have to abide in the Lord, and have communion with Him. He is love!

God Bless!

Marshall

Feb 21, 2010 – 1 Corinthians 3:16- Loving You Part 25 – the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Hi Everyone!

God wants us to know Him. Since the beginning God has desired to fellowship with His children, for us to abide in Him while He abides in us. God doesn’t want us blind to His word or His purpose in us, so He has always sent representatives to His people to keep them filled with a fresh Word. First, He talked to man directly, then He sent prophets, then Christ, the disciples, the apostles, the Holy Spirit, and the Bible, to ensure that mankind always had access to the Word of God. God sends us His Spirit so we will always have the truth in our hearts. The enemy wants to hinder us from experiencing His truth, and having an amazing relationship with our heavenly Father. When we begin to accept the truth in our hearts about who we are and how highly God thinks of us, then just maybe, the way we look at ourselves will begin to change. Maybe then, we will start place more value into who we are in Christ instead of the worldly attachments we frequently use to pacify our broken spirits. Today, we will look at 1 Corinthians 3:16, and come to understand another aspect of ourselves according to God.

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

The word “know” is a term that expresses a relationship between two things. It can express a sexual bond between a man and woman preferably a husband and wife. In Genesis 4:1, the Bible says, “And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.” When we “know” something, we are forming a union to the information we are receiving, making it a part of us. Paul writes “ye are”, which is present tense, which should let us know the Word of God is alive in us and the promises apply to us now. The word “temple” means “a dwelling, metaphorically, of persons, Christians, in whom God or His Spirit is said to dwell or act.” Have we really grasped the fact that we are a dwelling place for our God? We house the Spirit that moves within us, allowing us to walk in power. Banks have vaults that are virtually impenetrable without the key and codes, and that is because of the wealth they hold inside. We are vaults for the Spirit of God! In 1 Corinthians 6:19, the Bible says, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” If a vault is secure, able to keep the enemy out, then why do we find ourselves opening the door and allowing the enemy to have residence where God clearly belongs? “God” here is defined as “The Supreme Diety”. If someone is supreme, then there is no other authority above them. In 2 Corinthians 6:16, the Bible says, “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” The temple of the “living God”! God is alive and at work in us, but it is our job to let Him have reign of our temple. He wants to commune with us, and join us unto Himself. He desires our bodies to represent Him and our relationship with Him.

“And that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”

The word “Spirit” means “breath, spoken of as imparting new spiritual life to those who believe in the gospel, and then dwelling in Christians.” The word “dwelleth” means “to occupy a house, to cohabit”. What does this “Breath”, the Spirit of God, do? In Genesis 2:7, the Bible says, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” The “Breath” of our God, His Spirit, gives life. In John 6:63, Jesus says, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” The word “quickeneth” means “to give eternal life, to make alive forever in the bliss and privileges of the Redeemer’s Kingdom.” So we not only live, but we have eternal life! Our lives are sealed forever in Him because of the Spirit living inside of us. In Acts 17:28, the Bible says, “For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.” The Spirit inside of us allows us to be ourselves in Christ unrestricted by anything, and the enemy doesn’t have power over the Spirit of God that rests in us. We sadly have the ability to let the enemy in to ruin this beautiful temple God has erected in us.

God made us temples that house His essence, that house everything He is. God must really think highly of us to allow us to be a dwelling for His Spirit. When will we become people that begin to embrace the value God places in us, not in conceit, but in awareness that we are built for more than bondage? We are built to not only house the Holy Spirit, but for the Holy Spirit to have its perfect work in us!

God Bless!

Marshall

Feb 22, 2021 – 1 Corinthians 6:11 – Loving You Part 26 – And such were some of you: but …

Hi Everyone!

Guilt is like drug abuse. We take on more than what is prescribed, it alters our character and mood, it can become highly addictive, it can kill us, and it keeps us from appreciating who we are and are created to be. How many believers are still flinging their own mud back upon themselves because they won’t accept that God has washed them clean from their sins. How many people are still living in willful penance, allowing others to incarcerate them for sins we have been forgiven for? How many of those believers are us? How can we ever rise to this level of loving ourselves when we won’t accept what our Creator God says about us? What good was Christ’s death on the cross if we won’t allow His blood to wash us clean, and accept clean as the new normal. We are new people, declared new by God, and we have access to a brand new life in Him. Today, we will look at 1 Corinthians 6:11, the fruits of being washed clean.

“And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”

Look at the word “were”. Past tense, right? The letter was to the church at Corinth, so Paul was writing to believers? So sadly, there were people in the church that still practiced the same unrighteousness they did before they were saved. Look at our churches now. There is a lot of unholiness taking place in believers, and there are even TV shows that display the church in no different light than organized crime! In Ephesians 2:8, the Bible says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God”. Have we really accepted this as truth, and if so, are we living our lives like people who were saved from our sins? The word ” washed” means “to bathe fully, to have remitted, to be freed of the consequences of sin.” Do we believe that we have been bathed fully of our filth, having our sins remitted by God through Christ? If so, then why won’t we have faith in God’s salvation and leave the guilt behind us?

“But ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus”

The word “sanctified” means “to purify or consecrate, to make holy, to render clean”. How can we still be who we used to be if we were not only forgiven for our sins, but washed cleaned and purified for holy use? In 1 Corinthians 1:2, the Bible says, “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:” We are called to be saints, we are sanctified in Christ Jesus, and despite how we may feel, that is exactly who we are! Our self-awareness has to sometimes catch up to our salvation, which is understandable, but there has to come a point in life where we have to proudly step into our identity in Christ and come against any thought that tries to “dirty us back up”. The word “justified” means “to render righteous and free, to absolve from the consequences of sin and admit to the enjoyment of the divine favor, to clear from any charge or imputation. In John 8:10-11, the Bible says, “When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” This woman was caught in the very act of adultery and the penalty was death by stoning according to the law. Her accusers proudly brought her before Christ, to get His insight into the punishment. Christ ended their accusations with one statement. Christ made her to see that there was no one to condemn her, and then told her He wouldn’t either, but He told her to go (move forward) and sin no more. If our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ doesn’t condemn us when we have fallen short, then why do we? Paul only used “were” once in the verse. He used “are” to express that we “ARE sanctified” and we “ARE justified”. Present tense. It is not dependent upon what we feel but upon what the Word of God says.

“In the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God”

The word “name” means “the authority by which the message comes.” Want to know how great is Christ’s name and authority. In Philippians 2:9-10, the Bible says, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.” If we are washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, then what man, including ourselves, can change that report?

May we accept, with our whole hearts, the salvation, sanctification, and justification given by Christ, leaving guilt behind us forever? There is no place for guilt amid believers.

God Bless!

Marshall

Feb 23, 2021 – 1 Peter 2:9 – Loving You Part 27 – But ye are a chosen generation

Hi Everyone!

In this society we live in, there seems to be a standard for everything, most falling short of the marks our peers and influencers set for us. Most people spend their lives hearing they aren’t good enough, smart enough, young enough, old enough, thin enough, saved enough. Yeah, sadly, the Church has been soiled with these standards as well, and people are walking around Church trying to look the part, not to please God, but to measure up to the standards of those around them. How can we ever grow into a people who receive who we are in Christ, who will come into a deep and pure love for ourselves, when we are constantly being positioned for inferiority? This is not how God wants us to be. The best accountability is the truth, and God wants us to come to the full truth about who He is and also who we are. Today, we will look at 1 Peter 2:9, our identity through the lens of God.

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light”

“Ye are”. Once again, this is present tense, to express that this is not only at work right now, but it remains a continuous process of being. The phrase “chosen generation” means “selected offspring”. Selection implies a person chooses the best, or the favorite from the bunch. In Deuteronomy 10:15, the Bible says, “Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day.” The Lord loved us so much that He chose the line all the way to Christ, then went further and chose the Gentiles that He would bring into the fold as well. Remember, this is written to the Church. In John 10:16, the Bible says, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” Please believe that we were handpicked by God to be a part of the kingdom, and there was no mistake in God’s choice.

“A royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people”

The phrase “royal priesthood”, means “Kingly fraternity of priest”. No pressure there, right? In Exodus 19:6, the Bible says, “And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.” Priests convey the Word of God to people, the are representatives of Christ, and they are holy, consecrated people. In Revelation 5:10, the Bible says, “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” Imagine us not accepting who we were selected to be because we can’t accept the truth about who we really are. The phrase “holy nation” means “a consecrated tribe of people”. In John 17:16-17, the Bible says, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” The Word tells us who we are, that we aren’t of the world, neither shall we receive what the world says as truth.  We are so important to the Lord! In 1 Corinthians 3:17, the Bible says, “If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” God is serious about how we live and what we allow inside of us. His Word of truth is what He desires to inhabit us, and He wants us to be a people who is built and established by Christ. The phrase “a peculiar people” means “an acquired possession of people for preservation.” In Ephesians 1:14, the Bible says, “Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” We have immense value to God, so much that He purchased us and will set the date for Christ to come back for His bride, the Church. In 1 Corinthians 6:20, the Bible says, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” If we were bought with a price, then that alone should tell us how much we are really worth a lot to God.

“That ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light”

The phrase “shew forth” means “to publish, to declare abroad”. The word is spread essentially. The word “praises” actually means “virtues”, which means “moral excellence”. The word “darkness” means “absence of spiritual light and truth”. The word “light” means “true knowledge of God and spiritual things”. God has selected us to be His Kingly children; an acquired possession consecrates by God, so we can tell the Word how salvation in Christ brought us into the truth knowledge of God and spiritual things. God selects us to be people willing to share our testimony about who God is in our lives!

May we walk as a people of God, ready to step into the place He has prepared for us as His children.

God Bless!

Marshall

Feb 24, 2021 – 1 Thessalonians 2:13 – Loving You Part 28 – the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe

Hi Everyone!

When we hear the Word of God, what is our response? Do we receive the Word of God with an open heart? Skepticism? Are we sure that the Word applies to us? When we hear our pastors, ministers, and teachers share the Word of God do we see the messenger and then discount the message? We as believers can hinder our own spiritual progress because we are so stubborn, that we won’t accept the Word of God unless it either comes from someone we can relate to or comes directly from God’s mouth Himself. In Romans 10:21, the Bible says, “But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.” God is tirelessly pouring His Word upon us, constantly sending His elect to speak a word of truth, and constantly revealing our identity to us, but do we believe God’s Word concerning us? Today, we will look at 1 Thessalonians 2:13, a word on the effectual working of God’s Word in those who believe.

“For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”

The phrase “without ceasing” means “to go uninterrupted”. When we serve the Most High God, there should always be thankfulness behind it. It is really a privilege for us to share a Word that comes from the Lord, and just as must of a privilege to receive a Word that comes from the Lord. Do we really see how great of a position we are actually in as believers? In Luke 11:27-28, the Bible says, “And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.” The woman tried to give the womb Jesus came from credit for the Word of truth that came from Christ, but Christ told her the person that was blessed was the person who heard the word, and kept it. Christ wasn’t exempt, and He heard the Word of God and kept it just like we are supposed to, but He accepted the entire Word as truth, even the Word spoken of himself. Paul and his ministry team are in continual thankfulness to see the Word go out and be kept. People are being blessed by the Word. What is there NOT to be grateful for?

“Because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us”

The word “received” means “to associate oneself with, to learn, to identify oneself with”. If a person receives the Word of God from us, then it has to be delivered in such a way where it resonates with them, and makes enough impact to begin that work. In my opinion, the Church of Thessalonica received more than just the Word. They received a living application of the Word, they received love, and they received a great example. In Hebrews 4:2, the Bible says, “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” Two different crowds can receive the same Word, but it can impact them completely different. Preaching the Word and receiving the Word are two different things. In Matthew 28:20, Jesus says, “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” We don’t just share the Word. We share how the Word can be lived.

“Ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God”

The word “men” is in accordance with human views, to illustrate by human example or institutions. This means we bring “head knowledge” into a spiritual assignment, in an attempt to operate according to our own understanding. In 1 Peter 4:11, the Bible says, “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” When we share the Word, it should come from God, taught and led by the Holy Spirit. The phrase “word of God” speaks of the Bible, but also of divine revelations, declarations and oracles of God. We have to receive the Word that comes from God’s delegates like it comes directly put of God’s mouth, especially when the Word is accurate.

“Which effectually worketh also in you that believe”

The phrase “effectually worketh” means “to be active, to be efficient.” The Word of God will move and come to life in those who believe, “believe” meaning “to place faith in, to entrust”. The Word has to work IN us, meaning we place it there by faith, in order to be effectual. May we associate ourselves with the Word spoken of us as believers, and may we begin to live out that truth in our lives.

God Bless!

Marshall

Feb 25, 2021 – 1 Thessalonians 5:8 – Loving You Part 29 – But let us, who are of the day, be sober

Hi Everyone!

As believers, we have to arm ourselves for spiritual warfare daily. The enemy is busy everyday, aiming to keep people as far away from the faith as possible, and in 1 Peter 5:8, the Bible says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” There is a real threat out there, and that threat is also aimed at stripping both our identity and our security in Christ. Part our loving ourselves is seeing the value in what God created in us, and doing our part to protect it. If the enemy can keep distorting the knowledge of God that we have, then we will question who we are and what we are called to do. If we don’t know ourselves, how can we love ourselves? It’s odd how we aim to protect jewelry and money with our lives while our identity and relationship with God remains vulnerable to attack. What if we guarded our faith as strongly as we guard our possessions? Today, we are going to look at 1 Thessalonians 5:8, a word on guarding what truly matters to God.

“But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.”

The phrase “of the day” is speaking about believers. In 1 Thessalonians 5:5, the Bible says, “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.” Being of the day means that we can clearly see what’s going on around us, and we can clearly see who we are. In John 11:9, the Bible says, “Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.” The last part of this verse, “he seeth the light of this world”, is highly important. Here’s why. In John 1:9 the Bible says, “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” The “true Light” is Christ! In John 1:4, the Bible says, “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” We have life through the Light as well. In John 1:12, the Bible says, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name”. We have to receive the Light in our lives in order to receive the power to become sons of God. Being “of the day” is vital to every believer, because it pertains to the people who have faithfully accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior; and abide in Him. This means that we embrace what the Word of God says about us as truth, and we aim to live out the Word in our lives. If the Word says we are children of God, then we believe that and start living like children of God. To be “sober” means that we “keep watch, or be on guard”. God has given us power to be the children of God, but He also gave us to choice to choose to walk in darkness or in light, to be children of darkness or children of the day. Would we ever drive a car with our eyes closed? That is exactly what we are doing when we accept a lie into our identity and relationship of God.

“Putting on the breastplate of faith and love”

A “breastplate” is what a soldier wears in combat. It protects the vital organs of a soldier’s body from attack, especially the heart. In Proverbs 4:23, the Bible says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” God wants us to protect our hearts with everything we have in us. Life flows from our hearts.  In Ephesians 2:8, the Bible says, “For by grace are ye saved through FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God”. There is no salvation without faith. In Matthew 22:37-40, “ Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt LOVE the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt LOVE thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Love ensures we follow the law without worrying about the law. There is no righteousness without faith and love, because both are required!

“And for a helmet, the hope of salvation”

A helmet guards the head or the mind. In Romans 12:2, the Bible says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your MIND, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Our minds allow us to establish, by evidence, the will of God in our lives. Protecting our minds ensures the enemies can’t attack our minds with lies, causing us to lose sight of who we are and what we are called to do. May we become a people of God who choose Light over darkness, and truth over lies. Our identities are secure in Christ if we have the boldness to accept who we are and what we are called to do. Secure people love themselves, remember that.

God Bless!

Marshall

Feb 26, 2021 – Philippians 1:6 – Loving You Part 30 – he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it

Hi Everyone!

We have made it through this series, “Loving You”, and in the process, we have uncovered God’s intended design for His children. We learned about the intentionality of God to create us for His purpose, and we have learned that before we were born, there was a purpose, a name, and a character already ordained for us. We learned that we are unique, and the love of God formed us into His image and likeness. We discovered that we have authority in being children of God and we have access to the Spiritual realm by the Holy Spirit taking residence in us. We were created in love, and no matter what our purpose is, we are called to love others as well. The intent of this series was to bring us into a knowledge of who we are, why we were created, and how deeply God loves us, so we can begin to look within and begin to love ourselves. When we love ourselves, we will place value in who God created us to be, and we’ll protect His purpose in our lives by fulfilling what we are called to do. Love brings security, and when we are secure, the enemy has the hardest time penetrating our lives. A life lived in love is a victorious one, because we will always live to serve others, knowing it is pleasing to our God. To close out this series, we will look at Philippians 1:6, confident that God finishes what He starts in us.

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

The phrase “being confident” means “one who is persuaded, assenting to evidence or authority”. God wants His children confident, in who He is as our God, who we are as His children, and in what He has appointed us to do. In Romans 8:28, the Bible says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”. God wants children that KNOW, through forming a union with the Word of God and living it out in faith. This confidence allows us to remain rooted in Christ even when we look like we are going in the opposite direction. In Jeremiah 29:11, the Bible says, ” For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” God wants us to be confident in His faithfulness, because He has our ending figured out already. In Ecclesiastes 3:14, the Bible says, “I KNOW that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.” God doesn’t do anything in us that man can change, unless we let him.  So when our parents said that we weren’t going to be anything, when our spouses said there wasn’t anything special about us, and when society brands us failures, they are only uttering lies of the enemy, because that is not what God said about us.

“That he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

In Galatians 3:2-3 the Bible says, “This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” We received our salvation, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and the power to operate as children of God in all faith. We entrusted our confidence to the Lord, believing His Word to be true, and we set out to do what the Word says.  If we turned around and abandoned something proven to work in order to work out our own purpose, according to what we feel that we must do, then we have restricted God’s power to operate in our lives. In Proverbs 3:6, the Bible says, “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” We have to remain connected to the Lord in everything we do, in order for the work of the Lord to continue. In Galatians 4:1-2, the Bible says, “Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.” There is a process involved in forming us into children that are in the image of God, and the process is continuous! We never stop growing, we never stop maturing in the faith, and God is never done with us. The word “good” goes back to creation, when God created something by His word and it was so. When He saw what He created manifest itself, He saw it was “good”. Good implies the fulfillment of God’s purpose from creation. The word “perform” means “bring to an end or complete”. “Until the day of Jesus Christ” is pertaining to the second coming of Christ. So what we do today in Christ will continue until He comes back! God created us to make an impact, to affect history, giving testimony of God’s love for us!

God began a great work of love in us, and we must look in the mirror and see God’s love looking back at us. May we begin to see ourselves the way God sees us!

God Bless!

Marshall

Feb 27, 2021 – Acts 2:38 – Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus

Hi Everyone!

What does repentance mean for a believer? Is it just being sorry for the bad things we’ve done? Is it asking for forgiveness? What about baptism? Churches practice baptism, but do we really understand what baptism truly embodies before we ourselves are baptized? There are people that go to church weekly, but have no clue what either repentance or baptism represents. I admit that this truth took some time to develop for me, and it wasn’t until I was an adult, more relationship conscious with God instead of religious, before God revealed the truth to me. Even though, on the surface, the teaching of repentance and baptism can seem to be elementary, the full understanding which leads to a transformed life requires maturity. Today we are going to look at another popular verse, Acts 2:38, and dive into the foundation of sanctification.

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

What causes us to repent? In 2 Corinthians 7:10, the Bible says, “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” The word “repent” means “to change the mind, implying a turning from pious sorrow, unbelief, and sin and turning to God and the gospel of Christ.” When we repent, we a literally changing direction, turning our backs to the unrighteousness and turning our face to the righteousness of God, walking towards Him. In Matthew 16:24, the Bible says, “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” We leave our old life, our old mind, our old nature behind us, declaring it all to be untrue, and we come after Christ with an empty vessel to be filled by Him. Repentance is extremely important because we are positioning ourselves to be made new. Our problem tends to be that we want to still hold on to parts of our past, refusing to let go of who we were to receive our new identity in Christ. Our faith requires total surrender and that can’t be done without total repentance.

The word “baptized” means “to make whelmed, i.e. fully wet, to dip, to immerse”. The sprinkling of water on the head is not baptism, because baptism requires full immersion. In Romans 6:4, the Bible says, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Baptism signifies the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, so when we are baptized, we go into the water, our immersion signifying death and burial, and when come out of the water, we are resurrected as new in Christ. We identify with Christ through this ceremony, and immersion is a very important part  of it. Please don’t mistake this as a condition for salvation. In Romans 10:9-10 the Bible says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Repentance leads to salvation, and baptism allows us to identify with Christ.

“In the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins”

The word “name” implies the authority by which the commandment is under. Because baptism is us identifying with Christ’s death, burial and resurrection, then it should be a surprise that we are commanded to be baptized in Christ’s name. This is important! The word “remission” means “pardon or forgiveness of sins”. In Hebrews 9:22, the Bible says, “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” Because of this verse, we understand that Christ’s shed blood remitted the sins of those who have made Christ Lord and Savior by faith. A better way of translating “for the remission” would be “BECAUSE of the remission of sin”. This ceremony identifies us with Christ, His salvation giving forgiveness of sin.

“and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost”

The word “shall” means it will happen. Repentance turns us away from sin, and baptism identifies us with Christ, making us one with Him, making us a vessel ready to receive the Holy Ghost”. The word “gift” means “gratuity” and we know gratuity is paying something beyond what is asked, like a tip. In Johh 14:16, the Bible says, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever”. God always wants to commune with His children, and now He has the chance, and it will be forever.

May we as believers come to understand these foundational components of our faith and exactly what  they mean for our relationship with God. 

God Bless!

Marshall

Feb 28, 2021 – Ezekiel 33:7 – I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel

Hi Everyone!

Are we our brother’s keeper? How many of us rise to this challenge with an open heart and zero apprehension? In the world we live in, it is not hard to say, “Not my problem”, and keep moving through life, tend to our own business and our own issues. This world is becoming more and more Godless, and a word of truth is becoming less and less popular. People seem to be more desirous to be lied to, to be pacified with diluted forms of the truth, and the odds of people watching their fellow man fly off a cliff is high. You would think believers would be exempt from such heartlessness, but sadly, sometimes we are the main culprits! When Christ ascended to the Father, He left us a commission in Matthew 28:19-20, which says, Jesus speaking:

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Nowhere in this Scripture does it say to stand silent and watch our brothers destroy their lives. Today we are going to look at Ezekiel 33:7, being watchmen for the Lord.

“So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.”

The phrase “have set” means “to appoint”. It means God saw fit for us to have this position, that He qualified us to perform what He appointed us to do. There is no excuse! In Jeremiah 1:7, the Bible says, “But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.” If we are babes in Christ, we aren’t exempt, because we are all equipped to speak the word of life God commands us to. In Jeremiah 1:9, the Bible says, “Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.” God has done all of the work, including giving us the words to speak. All we have to do is be willing to open our mouths. In Romans 8:30, the Bible says, “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” A lot of believers stand silent out of fear of their capabilities, but we shouldn’t fear anything because God has us covered and we should be prepared to speak a word on His behalf.

A “watchman” is “someone that peers into the distance.” Think of a kingdom with guard towers, or someone guarding a lighthouse. They have a vantage point to be able to see everything from all angles, and be able to see the enemy coming from a distance. This job is extremely important because the safety of the kingdom is at stake, and his job is to blow the trumpet, or sound the alarm, so that people know the wrath of God, or enemy, was approaching. In Ezekiel 33:3-4, the Bible says, “If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.” We are only held responsible for what we fail to say, for the warnings we failed to give. In Matthew 10:14, Jesus says, “And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.” We are responsible for casting the seed, not the increase! Expect people to reject our message, but that still doesn’t exempt us from spreading it! The phrase “unto the house of Israel” is no different than saying, “the children of God”, the “body of believers” or “the Church”. Now, some will say that this Scripture will exempt us from sharing the same warnings with nonbelievers, but Christ also told us in the commission to “make disciples of ALL nations”. Christ also stated in John 10:16, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” We have to remember the time when we were lost, where we had a watchman appointed that warned us of the sword coming to devour us, and be willing to be that same thing for someone else. It really pleases our God when we serve as a watchman with love in our hearts for our fellow man.

“Therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.”

God gives us the ability to “hear” or “discern” His message, but it is our job then to “warn”, or “enlighten” them with the word God gives us. In 2 Timothy 4:2, the Bible says, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” May we uncover the boldness God has given us to use the word He has given us to warn the people He has created of the sword that is coming. Let us not forget our salvation as we aim to serve others.

God Bless!

Marshall

Mar 1, 2021 – Ezekiel 34:16 – I will seek that which was lost

Hi Everyone!

Since the fall of man, God has been searching us out, with every desire to bring us back to Him. We are His sheep and as our Shepherd, He wants to take really good care of us. He doesn’t intend for His children to remain in the pits of despair, under bad circumstances, or in spiritual or physical infirmity. It angers God when He has entrusted shepherds to care for His children, to make sure they have everything they need, also making sure they aren’t led astray and consumed in the process, but can’t find a shepherd among us. We are our brother’s keepers, and we are supposed to be going after sheep being led astray, protecting sheep from attack, and making sure that they are provided for. That’s not just God’s job. It is our job as well. There are people in ministry that are more concerned with feeding themselves than the flock. This shouldn’t be! If we won’t do what we are entrusted by God to do, then what is really our purpose here on earth? Today, we will look at Ezekiel 34:16, a template for what we should be doing on earth.

“I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.”

The word “seek” means “search out or strive after”. So our God not only searches for us, and fights for us as well. “Striving after” is another form of “fighting for”. In Genesis 3:8-9, the Bible says, “And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?” Adam and Eve hid themselves, knowing they had sinned, sin immediately striking fear when confronted with the presence of God. Did it stop God from seeking Adam out? Absolutely not! Why then, are we so quick to turn our backs on someone who sins against us, or sins period for that matter? Why don’t we go search them out? Why don’t we fight for them? The word “lost” means “to lose oneself, to wander away”. In Luke 19:10, Jesus says, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Christ came to seek AND save the lost. Why aren’t we looking at the lost like they need to be sought out, like they need salvation? Have we’ve gotten too “saved” to help our fellow man out when they need us the most?

“And bring again which was driven away”

The phrase “bring again” means to “return or restore”. The phrase “driven away” means “pushed off or away”. So these beautiful sheep were pushed away from the Church, by either an intentional act, or by conduct that led the sheep astray. In Matthew 18:6, Jesus says, “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” It is a very serious offense to lead a sheep astray. We should be leading people TO the Lord, not away from Him. Even when sheep are led astray due to bad shepherding, God searches us out to return us back to Him!

“And will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick”

The phrase “bind up” means “to wrap up firmly so healing will occur”. The “broken” are the spiritually and physically broken, people who have been discouraged away from the faith, hurt immensely behind bad shepherding. In Isaiah 61:1, the Bible says, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound”. This is how we are supposed to approach the sheep we shepherd. We are supposed to help heal the brokenhearted. How many of us walk past someone we know God is pushing us to counsel, or acknowledge? Are we binding up what is broken by standing silent while someone around us is suffering? The word “strengthen” here means “to fasten upon to cure or heal”. If Christ said that we will do greater works than these, then why isn’t there healing in the flock?

“But I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgement”

The word “destroy” means “pluck down, bring to nought, to desolate”. The word “fat” means “greasy, greedy, rich”. The word “strong” means “mighty in a bad sense, violent”. So not only is there bad shepherding, but the sheep are being robbed and dominated by people who are supposed to keep them in the presence of the Lord. In James 3:1, the Bible says, “My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.” Simply put, respect our appointment, love and take care of the sheep and there won’t be any room for judgement.

May we follow this example and begin to shepherd more effectively.

God Bless!

Marshall

Mar 2, 2021 – Romans 8:27 – And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth

Hi Everyone!

We have an amazing God! He just didn’t create us and put His purpose inside of us but every detail of our lives matter to our God. Our thoughts and feelings matter to Him as well, and as our God checks on our well being, He also makes sure that what we experience on the inside is known to Him as well. God knows who belongs to Him, who puts Him first, and He knows what consumes our thoughts on a daily basis. Ouch, right? God also knows our hearts, and even when our minds and actions haven’t always lined up with His will, He knows how badly we want to please Him. There is no fooling God, so all of the people who are praising God from an empty heart void of salvation are doing it in vain. God knows His children better than anyone knows us, and He even cleans up our thoughts to line up with His will. Today, we are going to take a look at Romans 8:27, God’s ability to intercede from the deepest place within us.

“And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

The words “searcheth” means “to investigate”. This isn’t our God merely looking for some lost keys, but this is our God peeling back layer after layer to get to the bottom of every thought, feeling, and experience within us. In Psalms 139:1-3, the Bible says, “O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.” God investigates every part of us, all parts of our character, every direction we want to take, and even understands thoughts that we haven’t made yet! The “heart” is “the seat, of the desires, feelings, affections, passions, impulses, our innermost being”. In 1 Thessalonians 2:4, the Bible says, “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.” God entrusts his “Good Message” to us and allows us to speak on His behalf. If we are only speaking the Word of the God, then we won’t be concerned with being approved by men, but our God.

“Knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit”

The word “knoweth” means “to join to, to become one with”. The word “mind” means “inclination or purpose”. God knows exactly who and what He created us to be, and He also knows how our thoughts and feelings can play a role in the purpose He has for us. Imagine our spirits being gardens and God identifies the fruit and the weeds in our gardens. In Jeremiah 29:11, the famed Bible verse says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” How does He know this? Because God is our Creator and His Spirit dwells in us! So God investigates our hearts with His intention of them being one with the Spirit that is inside of us. God investigates, knowing what is supposed to be there.

“Because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God”

The phrase “making intercession” means “to confer with on another’s behalf”. An intercessor is an advocate who speaks on their client’s behalf. In Hebrews 7:25, the Bible says, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”  Salvation hedges upon intercession, because if there was no intercession then there would be no forgiveness. One of the greatest examples of intercession happened in Luke 23:34, where the Bible says, “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.” Christ spoke on His persecutors’ behalf, making an excuse for their behavior. Christ knew God wouldn’t take what was happening to Him lightly, so in the midst of His suffering, He covered the people who persecuted, beat, tortured and ultimately killed our Lord and Savior. In Matthew 5:44-45, Jesus says, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Christ requires intercession out of us as well, and He gave these directives before He was crucified, allowing His actions to be an example of what He previously commanded us to do. The word “saints” are “people purified and sanctified by the influence of the Spirit”. The word “will” means “a determination rendered”. In Colossians 1:17, the Bible says, “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” Nothing is in place without the will of God. Intercession keeps pushing us towards God’s will, even when we fall short.

May we become people who God can search and find His Spirit alive and at work in our lives.

God Bless!

Marshall

Mar 3, 2021 – 1 Timothy 4:12 – Let no man despise thy youth

“Hi Everyone!

Ministry is not an easy task, though it becomes easier with experience. There is a ton of scrutiny awaiting someone in ministry, and sadly, it sometimes comes from those in Church right along with us. Here in the prison, I am confined in, everything I say and do is under a microscope, and there are people waiting for me to slip up, or for something bad to happen so they can say “Aha!” There are people outside of prison who discount God’s calling over my life because of my confinement, and there are people close to me who despise God’s favor in my life. Despite all of the “noise” around me, I remain undeterred, and will continue to spread the Word of God as long as I am led by the Spirit to do so. Timothy was a young leader in the church, which wasn’t too common, and he was frequently discounted because of His youth. When we put limitations on the Holy Spirit’s power to effectively work in anyone based on our own limited expectations, then we are telling God who He SHOULD work through. Today, we will look at 1 Timothy 4:12, a word on focusing on the things that truly matter.

“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”

Like I said above, Timothy was a young leader, and he constantly had his abilities undermined by older, more seasoned believers. The word “despise” means “to think against, to look down upon”. The word ” youth” means “newness”. Paul is instructing Timothy to not let anyone look down on him for not fitting into the age requirement. In Acts 10:34-35, the Bible says, “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” Peter had to get past his mentality that the Holy Spirit’s power is only for the Jews, so God sent him a vision ahead of Cornelius’ arrival, allowing him to come into this revelation. Even pastors can hold stereotypes and prejudices against other people which can stifle the moving of the Holy Spirit. Paul had to send word ahead to the Church at Corinth about Timothy, to make sure He would be received the same way they would receive Paul. In 1 Corinthians 16:10-11, the Bible says, “Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do. Let no man therefore despise him: but conduct him forth in peace, that he may come unto me: for I look for him with the brethren.” Paul knew people in the Church had preconceived notions on what their pastorate should look like. The Church should be the last place with stereotypes, but sadly, that isn’t the case.

“But be thou an example of the believers”

The word “example” means “a die, a model for, a resemblance”. The word “believers” means “firm in faith in Jesus Christ, Christians, the Church”. In Titus 2:7-8, the Bible says, “In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.” Whether we see it this way or not, we represent the Church, and the Church represents Christ. It doesn’t matter if we are pastors, choir member, deacons, trustees, or we are attendees. We represent Christ, and when people see us, they are supposed to see the evidence that the Spirit of God is at work in our lives.

“In word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity”

Paul is telling Timothy to focus his attention on representing Christ and the office he holds, because that will silence the critics. “In word” pertains to the things that come out of our mouths, making sure our words reflect the Word of God and the Spirit dwelling in our hearts. In Colossians 4:6, the Bible says, “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” Because of the Spirit that dwells within us, our words have a power that they never have had before. Our words have to be words of Spirit and Life, just like Christ. “Conversation” means “behavior”. “Love” is agape, the love that comes directly from God that we love others with. “In spirit” means “the empowerment imparted by the Holy Spirit, giving one supernatural qualifications”. “In faith” implies doing what they Word of God says, and the fruit it bears. “In purity” means “Godly cleanliness, free from defilement”. In 1 Corinthians 15:58, the Bible says, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” We should remain firm in the faith, embodying the Word of God, and allow that to be our focus.

Stereotypes are inevitable, but a sound record of faith in ministry tears any walls down. May we usher in the Spirit through our walks.

God Bless!

Marshall

Mar 4, 2021 – Genesis 11:6 – nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do

“Hi Everyone!

The power of agreement is something that is vital to the success of the Church. It is also vital in marriages, in relationships, in family, and in business. When everyone is on one accord, it seems like one big force sweeping through, making an incredible impact. As parents, doesn’t it feel good to give our children instructions and watch them work together to get the job done? Sadly, this agreement can be made for positive or for negative purposes, and the fruit of whatever sort of agreement it is will be evident to all. Do we understand that creation came by agreement? God spoke, the heavenly realm produced whatever God asked for, and that agreement is what we see when we look into the mirror, when we take a walk in the woods, or when we stare at the stars. Agreement is essential to produce the will of God in our lives, but what are we agreeing to? Today we are going to look at Genesis 11:6, and embrace God’s message of agreement for His children.

“And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.”

A little back story. The people on earth spoke one language, and after they settled in the land of Shinar, they came up with the fascinating idea to build a city and tower that would reach the heavens, so they would appear to be powerful in the eyes of people outside the city. God gave them strict instructions to go and replenish the earth after the flood, not to remain in one place and not try to get to God through their own efforts. They came into agreement to disobey God’s word, and even in disobedience, God acknowledged that their agreement would have power. The word “people” means “a nation or tribe who shares a common language, a common location, and a common purpose and goal.” In Genesis 9:19, the Bible says, “These are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread.” Please understand that the people were already spread out, so they left the place they were to dwell in Shinar together. In Acts 17:26, the Bible says, “And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation”. God had appointed places for His people to live, and His design for everyone to scatter so His presence could spread over the whole earth.

“and this they begin to do”

God let them begin to build the city and tower. Look at Genesis 11:5, where it says, “And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the CHILDREN of MEN builded.” It didn’t say, “children of God”, did it? These were people that not only disobeyed God but people that were trying to build a city, tower, and people without God. Sometimes, God will allow us to make the wrong choices, and for a season, quietly watched us futilely build in vain. The word “do” here means “to accomplish or complete, conveying a notion of performing an activity with a distinct purpose, a moral obligation, or a goal in view.” In agreement, there is a common goal that brings people together, and usually no one stops until the goal is met. In 2 Corinthians 6:16, the Bible says, “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Agreement can go both ways, but we can only be in agreement with either the Spirit or the flesh. Either we are going to be people that come together in agreement with God’s word, allowing Him to build us into a city and a tower or we will be a people who come into agreement, but in disobedience and try to build our own legacy.

“And now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do”

The phrase “will be restrained” means “clipped off, obstructed”. God is saying out of His own mouth that when His children, whether they claim their place or not, come into agreement, nothing on earth will cut them off from getting where they agree to be. In Ecclesiastes 4:9, the Bible says, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.” The Bible also says in Ecclesiastes 4:12, “And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” There is real strength in agreement, and in agreement lies the ability to withstand resistance from anything working against it. In Matthew 18:19, Jesus says, “Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.” Instead of us building a city and tower, using our own power, trying to reach after our own godliness without God, may we aspire to come into agreement with God’s word so the Word of God can spread, and so His power can effectively work in us. There is no better agreement.

God Bless!

Marshall

Mar 5, 2021 – Genesis 12:1 – Get thee … unto a land that I will shew thee

Hi Everyone!

When I was younger, I felt like “giving my whole life up for Christ” was too much to bear, and I fled from my call like Jonah. There was so much I wanted to do, and all the “Church stuff” would put a major damper in my plans. Even then, I understood that our walk with the Lord is a personal sacrifice, and to serve the Lord faithfully, there would be some stuff I would have to leave behind me. I just wasn’t ready to be “sold out for Christ”. Those kids were laughed out of the neighborhood, and being a victim of bullying already, it would’ve intensified the mistreatment from my peers. In my adulthood, I realize that the sacrifice is actually very reasonable compared to the sacrifice Christ made for me, and God really only asks for us to be who He created us to be, nothing less. Sure, there later were hard decisions I had to make but I made them with relatively ease, understanding that a hard decision made for the Lord is really the least of my worries! Today, we are going to look at Genesis 12:1, being a living sacrifice.

“Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:”

The word “country” means “land of dwelling”. God, out of the blue, came to Abram and told Him to leave the only place he had known to be home. This is God asking him to take a vacation. God told him to move! Pretty scary thought, huh? In Romans 12:1, the Bible says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” The first thing we have to understand is everything on this earth, including us, belongs to God. When we make ourselves living sacrifices, we heed the word without question, understanding that God will always sustain those who follow His word. Being a living sacrifice means that what we desire for ourselves doesn’t carry any weight to what God has for us.

The word “kindred” means “nativity, birthplace, lineage”. So not only does God want Abram to leave the only home he’s ever had and known, but He also wants him to leave his family behind as well. That means he won’t see his brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, cousins, parents and grandparents anymore. This move means that this will be the last time he would probably see his family alive! In Matthew 10:37, Jesus says, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” God wants to come first above everything and everyone we place value in, but there are rewards for our faithfulness to God. In Mark 10:29-30, the Bible says, “And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.” No man makes a sacrifice for the Lord and doesn’t get rewarded, and it says a hundredfold. Abram left his family behind and had descendants more than the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore.

“And from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee”

The phrase “father’s house” implies the protections and provisions afforded to the son by right of him being the son. It also implies the inheritance as well. So God wanted Abram to give up his financial security and longevity as well, along with having to family to protect him against attack. In Matthew 19:21-22, the Bible says, “Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.” The sacrifices God requires us to make are things that won’t be easy to let go, and they will be things that we truly value. I firmly believe by experience, that God requires sacrifice in order for us to experience Him and therefore CHANGE our values. In Hebrews 11:8, the Bible says, “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.” Blind trust isn’t “blind” when we are led by the Word of God. In Hebrews 11:10, the Bible says, “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God”. We are not sacrificing anything to trust God, but to gain a land built by our God for us.

God wants to show us our promised land, the fruit of our sacrifice, the dwelling place of His purpose in our lives. That “Church stuff” I ran from actually became the best thing that has ever happened. I ran for nothing! May we be a people who move in trust and obedience when God calls us.

God Bless!

Marshall

Mar 6, 2021 – 1 Timothy 6:12 – Fight the good fight of faith

Hi Everyone!

There is a constant struggle within our faith. God is leading us towards His good purpose, but the enemy is unleashing offensives to withstand the work of the Lord. Anyone who says that this isn’t a fight has no understanding of what is going on in their faith walk, and if there is no struggle at any point, then one has to ask themselves, “Am I going after what the Lord commands for me to go after?” With any fight, there is something to be gained, and in our faith walks, what is to be gained is eternal life in heaven and abundant life on earth. What is on the line is our experiencing God’s will be done on earth as it is done in heaven. The enemy doesn’t want any of this to happen, because as long as we are losing the battle or as long as our faith is stagnant, he can continue to hinder our chances of bearing fruit. Today, we will look at 1 Timothy 6:12, fighting the good fight of faith.

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”

The word “fight” means “to labor and toil for the cause of Christ”. For the ones that think it is okay to put our feet up and do nothing after salvation, this definition debunks that myth. In 1 Corinthians 9:25-26, the Bible says, “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air”. The world is fighting for a crown too, but there are fighting for one that will dry up and wither away. When a person won a sporting event back in those days, they trained extensively to be prepared to fight for the crown. The crown was usually branches with leaves made into a crown. The crown had nothing to keep the leaves alive so it withered away. In 2 Timothy 2:5, the Bible says, “And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” If we are to be people who fight for a crown that won’t wither and fade away, then we have to fight according to the Word of God. The word “good” means “profitable”. In 2 Timothy 3:16, the Bible says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”. The second word “fight” means something different. It means “unwearied zeal in promoting the spread of the gospel”. So our fight is not with the enemy as much as it is with spreading the gospel, with us using our gifting to bring glory to God, and with us using our testimonies to point the way to Christ.

“Lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called”

The phrase “lay hold on” means “to seize in order to obtain or possess”. The phrase “eternal life” means “the everlasting life of bliss and glory in the kingdom of God which awaits the true disciples of Christ after the resurrection” in Philippians 3:12, the Bible says, “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” Eternal life is already promised to all who believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and have accepted Him as Lord and Savior, but until it happens, we still have to race after Christ and our purpose in Him while we still live on this earth. The phrase “art also called” means “invited to salvation and repentance in Christ Jesus”. In 2 Thessalonians 1:11, the Bible says, “Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power.” Do we really see us being called by the Lord as an honor, as a great privilege that not many partake in? What would God think of us and how we are using our calling? Are we walking in His power? Are we fulfilling His good purpose?

“And has professed a good profession before many witnesses”

The phrase “professed a good profession” means “to give testimony about the gospel that God ordained to be given”. It is only “good” if God ordained it from the beginning. The word “witnesses” means “people who can testify to the truth of what he has seen, heard, or know”. In Acts 4:19-20, the Bible says, “But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” There will be opposition, people that will try to forbid us from spreading the gospel, but we have to have the mentality where we can’t help but to testify. In Matthew 10:32, Jesus says, “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.”

May we come to understand that the good fight of faith is spreading the Word of God, confessing Christ everywhere we go!

God Bless!

Marshall

Mar 7, 2021 – Ezekiel 40:4 – set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee … declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel

Hi Everyone!

God has ordained us to be witnesses for Him. We tend to put a lot more pressure on the task than what is actually required, and a lot of times, we will hinder our own success in the process. In Proverbs 3:5, the Bible says, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” This means we shouldn’t try to put our own spin on what God is doing, what He is teaching and what He required of us to do. God only requires us to testify to what we know, what we see, what we hear, and what we experience from Him. He allows us to have different experiences so our testimonies can be different, but still point to the same awesome God. It is designed so there is not a need or an area the Church can’t reach. Today, we are going to look at Ezekiel 40:4, the ingredients of our witness.

“And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel.

The word “son” means “builder of the family name”. The word “man” means “embodiment of mankind”. This is usually used to speak towards someone who is the representative of God, speaking on His behalf. The word “behold” means “fix one’s attention upon”. This requires intention on our part. Colossians 3:1-2, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Our minds as believers need to be fixed on the Word of God, giving Him our undivided attention, because not only are we representing the kingdom of God, but we are also representing how mankind should operate on earth. The word “hear” means “to discern, to hear intelligently, to listen with the purpose of understanding”. The word “ears” should be seen as “instruments of obedience”. In Philippians 4:9, the Bible says, “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” Merely hearing the Word of God is no different than hearing a car horn, it does nothing for us as believers. We have to put what we hear into use! In James 1:22-24, the Bible says, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.” Our identities are established when we put the Word of God into use, because we hear with the intention of following. If we don’t put into practice the Word we hear, then we will forget the Word and forget about who we are in the process.

The phrase “set thine heart” means to “root or establish the depths of one’s being into”. In 2 Thessalonians 3:3,5, the Bible says, “But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.” It is God that establishes us and sets us into the foundation of Christ, but we have to make ourselves available to Him in order for this to happen. This part of the verse says, “set thine heart upon ALL that I will shew thee.” We have to receive the full message from the Lord, and we can’t cut out the part we don’t want to hear. In John 16:13, the Bible says, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” God is going to provide the entire truth to us, and show us what we need to see. In 2 Timothy 4:3, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears”. If we don’t receive the full truth, the blame rests upon us and our desire to hear what we want to hear.

“For to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel.”

God intentionally brought us before Him so we can experience His presence and hear His Word. After we receive His Word, He commands us to “declare all” that we see to the body of Christ. The word “declare” means “to make known, announce publicly, to herald like a town crier”. In Acts 20:27-28, the Bible says, “For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” We have to be completely attentive to the Word of God and ALL He shows us so we can be effective witnesses for the kingdom.

May we use ALL of what God provides in our witness!

God Bless!

Marshall

March 8, 2021 – Luke 22:31 – that he may sift you as wheat

Hi Everyone!

The enemy is Satan, and Satan is incredibly busy with trying to kill, steal, and destroy. He doesn’t care for the things of the Spirit and in fact, he desires to strip a believer from ever receiving anything that comes from the Holy Spirit. He doesn’t want us being led and guided in truth, nor does he desire for us to fulfill our purpose on this earth, doing what we were created to do. Satan wants to break apart the home, tear apart families, and cause people to walk this earth as lesser forms of themselves. He presents the pleasures of sin to be the most rewarding experience and convinces people to deny Christ to reach after heaven on earth. Satan doesn’t want us knowing who we really are and if we don’t see him coming, then he will certainly stalk and hunt us like prey. God knows this and He prepares us in His word to stand guard, and even warns us when the enemy is on the prowl. Today, we will look at Luke 22:31, the sifting of the enemy

“And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:”

The first thing I want us to look at is Who is saying this. The Lord is speaking to Simon Peter. So whatever our Lord is saying, we can bank on it as truth. In Hebrews 6:18, the Bible says, “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us”. That is why it is so disappointing to God when we don’t trust in His word because it is the same thing as calling God a liar. The enemy loves it when we “bring God down” to his level by calling Him a liar through our unbelief, because He knows there won’t be victory to the person who doesn’t place His faith in God.

The second thing I want us to look at is the fact that Christ calls Simon’s name twice. Christ also called Simon by his old name, not the new name he was given. God knows our hearts and what spirit we are under! Whenever God has ever mentioned someone’s name twice, it is of supreme importance, and it used to say, “Please pay attention to this because this is vital!” In Genesis 22:10-12, the Bible says, “And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, ABRAHAM, ABRAHAM: and he said, Here am I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.” A life was on the line and the lineage to Christ was in jeopardy, so God called Abraham to establish that He was calling him and He needed him to stop and listen. In Exodus 3:4-5, the Bible says, “And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, MOSES, MOSES. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” Once again, supreme importance because Moses was called to deliver the Israelites from Egypt. Lives were on the line, and the lineage to Christ had to be preserved.

The word “Satan” means “the devil, or the accuser”. The phrase “hath desired” means “demand permission, to claim back for oneself”. So the accuser, Satan, has demanded permission from God to torment Peter. Where does this sound familiar? In Job 1:10-12, the Bible says, “Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.” Satan had to get permission from God to strike Job because he had a hedge of protection over his life, and God gave him permission! If God gives Satan permission to torment us, then God has already prepared us to experience the victory in Him. In Job 1:20, the Bible says, “Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped”. When Job was afflicted, he mourned, but he worshipped God despite his affliction, despite his torment. Satan can demand permission to torment and afflict us, but he has no control over our praise and worship. It is when the enemy is busy, that we have to draw closer to God. In Isaiah 59:19, the Bible says, “So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.” The standard is the Word of God, and Satan can never overpower the Word of God!

Resist the devil and he will flee! May we use the Word of God to come against the sifting of the enemy!

God Bless!

Marshall

Mar 9, 2021 – 2 Timothy 1:9 – Who hath saved us … which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began

“Hi Everyone!

I have heard countless guys in prison tell me, “I ain’t ready to get back in the church stuff. I have to do some changing first.” There are so many people that feel like they have to be good enough for salvation, to be holy enough for God to call them. That is the furthest thing from the truth! Last time I checked, I didn’t read anything in the story about the Prodigal Son about him cleaning himself up before he returned home, neither did Paul have to clean himself up before Christ appeared on the road to Damascus. A lot of times, we display a profound disrespect for God by not wanting to be soiled in His presence, but at the same time, display a lack of understanding that God is the only Person who can clean us up. His calling is not about us being good enough or clean enough, but because He chose us specifically to fulfill His purpose. Today, we are going to look at 2 Timothy 1:9, God’s unfathomable calling.

“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began”

The word “saved” means “delivered from eternal death, sin, punishment, and misery consequent to sin”. In Romans 6:23, the Bible says, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Our sins deserve the penalty of death, eternal separation from our loving God, but, God decided to bestowed a gift upon His wayward children by giving us Jesus Christ to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins to all who believe on His name. In Romans 10:9-10, the Bible says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” God gave us the easiest part of the deal when it comes to salvation, and nowhere in this verse does it say we have to be “holier than thou”. The word “called” means “to bid or invite.” In Romans 11:29, the Bible says, “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” God doesn’t make mistakes. When He calls us, there is a great design and plan at work, and this plan was already in motion since creation. The phrase “holy calling” means “sacred invitation”. In 1 Thessalonians 4:7, the Bible says, “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.” In Hebrews 3:1, the Bible says, “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus”. God has called us into holiness and we are to use our holiness to study and emulate Christ, to become more like Him. This is a process, and we don’t come in as the finished product, but we come in as people ready to be transformed by the presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. In Hebrews 4:16, the Bible says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” People don’t go to the throne of grace if they don’t need grace, mercy and help in time of need. We come empty and we leave full, correct?

“Not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began”

The word “works” means “deeds or acts of the law, meaning works requiring or conformable to the Mosiac moral law and required by this law”. In Romans 4:6-7, the Bible says, “Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.” Faith already did the job of our works. Now this doesn’t give us the license to live in sin because we have faith, but it gives us the understanding that there was nothing in our works meet for salvation. The word “purpose” means “God’s intention beforehand”. In Ephesians 1:4, the Bible says, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love”. When we really begin to understand that we were already God’s choice from the beginning, then maybe we’ll stop feeling like there is some “achievement bar” we have to meet first before we can come to God. It doesn’t mean that we should be conceited. In Romans 11:20, the Bible says, “Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear”. We have to have a deep, moral reverence for what God has offered us as believers. None of us were deserving of the gift of salvation we were given, so none of us are in any position to act as if we earned this privilege that God bestowed upon us before the world began.

May we come to appreciate our salvation and our calling even more, knowing there was a place reserved for us!

God Bless!

Marshall

Mar 10, 2021 – 2 Timothy 2:21 – prepared unto every good work

Hi Everyone!

As believers, we are in constant need of refinement. God not only wants us to be vessels of honor, but He desires for us to remain that way, always ready and able to fulfill God’s purpose. There are things God removes from us through refinement, but there are also things that we have to remove ourselves from. God gives us the discernment of what that is, but leaves that up to us, entrusting us to make sound spiritual decisions in order for us to grow the way God intends. We belong to God and we are created for His use, but how many of us are still trying to set our own rules for how we are to live, move, and have our being? The truth is, our ways have to be God’s ways, and our thoughts have to be God’s thoughts, if we are to live the abundant life God has prepared for us to live. That can only be done in Him. Today, we are going to look at 2 Timothy 2:21, the purge meet for the Master’s use.

“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”

The word “purge” means “cleanse thoroughly”. It implies something unhealthy being removed from our person and our presence. In Isaiah 52:11, the Bible says, “Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.” It even implies us removing ourselves from something that isn’t healthy. 1 Corinthians 15:33, the Bible says, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” What types of conversations do we voluntarily have daily that are not consistent with who we are in Christ? Here is a question we can ask ourselves to test the nature of our conversations. Would we have this same discussion if God was standing right there listening? The sad thing is, God IS right there listening! In 2 Corinthians 6:17, the Bible says, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” God requires us to stick out, nor blend in a crowd where no one knows who we are. We may be the only people making the right decision, or saying the right things, or doing what God requires. When we remove ourselves from all spiritually unhealthy things and people, we make ourselves available to give God our undivided attention.

“He shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use”

The word “vessel” has an amazing implication, one I have never seen before. It gives the imagery of “a wife contributing to the usefulness of her husband”. In John 3:29, the Bible says, “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.” The Church is the bride, and Christ is the bridegroom, and this is a real marriage. When we are vessels of “honour”, we are “esteemed and valuable”, but only because of who makes us and who fills us. Do we really value what God has created in us?  That may be one of the deciding factors in how we live and what we attach ourselves to, because if we don’t see ourselves as vessels of honour in Christ, we will allow ourselves to be mishandled and filled with the wrong stuff. The word “sanctified” means “to consecrate, devote, set apart to a spiritual and holy use”. In Ephesians 5:25-26, the Bible says, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word”. The Word is what cleanses and sanctifies us, all of which is a direct result of the love Christ has for the Church. Once we are loved, sanctified and cleansed, we can be “meet for the Master’s use”. The phrase “meet for” means “easily used for Christian service”.  In 1 Corinthians 2:4-5, the Bible says, “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Our sanctification should leave no question as to where our words, conduct, wisdom and power comes from. Everything we are should point the way to Christ.

“and prepared unto every good work”

The word “prepared” means “made ready”. The word “good” implies God’s intended purpose fulfilled from the beginning. The word “work” means “deed or act, an undertaking”. In 2 Timothy 3:17, the Bible says, “That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” God wants His children prepared for the work He has for us. It will require a purge of anything that can and will hinder the flow of God. May we present ourselves willing for God to cleanse us thorough in Him, so we can fulfill His intended purpose for us.

If there first be a willing spirit……

God Bless!

Marshall 

Mar 11, 2021 – 2 Timothy 4:2 – Preach the word

Hi Everyone!

The world as we know it is changing at such a rapid rate, that it has transformed into a world we have never known it to be. In my 39 years of life, I have witnessed the value in the home change, the value of life diminish, and the lack of faith in people’s lives. Our society has become more and more Godless by the second, and television clearly depicts how far we have gotten from the Word of God leading our homes. When a child knows a Kardashian before an apostle, a fashion trend before a Bible verse, when a little girl can put on make-up before they can recite the Lord’s prayer, then it is the proof that we are failing miserably as a society. What happened? How have we gotten so far away from what God intended for us as a people? The answer is sadly simple. God no longer reigns in our households, in our communities, and sadly, in our churches as well. Today, we will look at 2 Timothy 4:2, and come to the understanding that it is time for us to hit the reset button, and reinsert the Word wherever we can.

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

This verse was written less than two thousand years ago, and it makes perfect sense today. The word “preach” means “to herald the divine truth publicly”. Think of a town crier, giving a message for all to hear whether they receive it or not. In 1 Corinthians 3:6-7, the Bible says, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” Our job is to spread the Word of God to plant the Word in the soil of people’s hearts. Sometimes, we will be the people who water the planted seed by confirming a Word previously given, but God is going to produce the increase. In 1 Corinthians 2:12, the Bible says, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” We receive the Spirit of God, which gives us access to know the things that are freely given to us of God. We are not supposed to keep what we know to ourselves. The Word of God must be spread! The second part of the great commission in Matthew 28:20 says, “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” We have to be teaching what we have been taught. The word “preach” scares people off, but everyone is responsible for the spread of the Word.

The phrase “be instant” means “be at hand, be present, or be ready”. This means that whenever God puts in on our hearts, we are always ready to share the Word. In Galatians 6:10, the Bible says, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” As we have the opportunity. In Titus 2:1, the Bible says, “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine”. So we aren’t ready to speak a word that isn’t of God, but a Word that displays God’s truth, doctrine solely based on the Word of God. “In season, out of season” implies when it may be convenient for them or when it may not be. There are going to be people who wholly reject our message and sadly, that is the reality to spreading the Word. In Matthew 10:7, the Bible says, “And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” In Matthew 10:14, the Bible says, “And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.” Spreading the Word of God in season or out of season doesn’t mean we can ever control who receives our testimony. We just have to be ready and non-discriminant with whom we share the Word!

“Reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine”

The word “reprove” means “to admonish”. The word “rebuke” means “to tax upon”. To “exhort” means “to aid, comfort, or encourage”. All of these are to be done according to the Word of God. In 2 Timothy 3:16, the Bible says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”. The Word of God is what does the work to transform lives. We just have to speak when God commands, whether they want to hear it or not. I “rejected” a lot of the Word when I was in my mess apart from the fellowship of God, but oddly enough, those seeds eventually grew, and now God is getting the glory from the Word people shared with me both in and out of season. “Longsuffering”, or patience, is necessary because we have to understand that this is a process, and it takes time for seeds to grow! The word “doctrine” means “instruction, teaching.”

May we become a people willing to share and spread the Word of God both in season and out of season, remembering that someone did the same for us!

God Bless!

Marshall

Mar 12, 2021 – 2 Timothy 4:3 – For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine

Hi Everyone!

We are living in times where, slowly but surely, the true Word of God is starting to matter less and less. Instead of people searching the Scripture for truth, attending church for truth, they are going from verse to verse, from church to church, trying to find a message that appeals to what they desire. Some churches today erroneously pour out “blanket blessings” upon congregations of 10,000 people, promising houses and cars, money and security, and sadly, some people go to churches to experience the emotional relief of a prayer believed to be answered, only to be disappointed later. “Name it, claim it” churches have vastly overshadowed true doctrine, and some people want to attend church to feel better instead of attending church to learn the living Word of God. Today, we are going to look at 2 Timothy 4:3, a word on sound doctrine being the foundation of any church.

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears”

The time “WILL” come. Not “might” but “will come”. In 2 Thessalonians 2:3, the Bible says, “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.” It WILL come because there has to be a falling away before Satan is revealed. The phrase “will not endure” means “will not admit, will not receive”. In 2 Timothy 3:5, the Bible says, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

Our churches are turning into places that have a form of godliness and that is because the gospel is not being received in its entirety, but in parts that please the hearers. To “deny” means “to declare untrue”, so people who don’t receive the world in its purest form, have essentially stripped the power from the Word of God. In the last days, many people will become more intolerant of the confrontational, demanding preaching of God’s word. They won’t look for rebuke, nor will they look for correction. In Proverbs 27:17, the Bible says, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” If we won’t receive iron sharpening then how can we be friends of God? In John 15:14-15, the Bible says, “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” Why would we want to separate ourselves from this kind of love and from this kind of relationship?

The phrase “sound doctrine” means “the true, pure, healthy, and uncorrupted divine teaching of God”. In 2 Timothy 1:13, the Bible says, “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.” Sound doctrine leads us towards the Lord, and keeps us in His presence. In 2 Timothy 2:6-7, the Bible says, “The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.” Before we can spread the Word of God, we have to partake in the Word for ourselves, and allow the Holy Spirit to cause us to understand the truth. In John 16:13, Jesus says, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” We have to continue to receive sound doctrine into our hearts and minds, so we can live the type of lives God intends for us to live. The Word is not going to always be pleasant. In John 6:63-64, Jesus says, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.” If we receive sound doctrine according to the Spirit’s leading and teaching, it produces life. Man’s words and wisdom of this world have no Spirit or life.

“But after their own lust shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears”

In James 1:14, the Bible says, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” We can’t blame Satan for the way the Church is today. Every man is drawn away of his OWN lust and enticed, so man is running around, trying to find the doctrine that appeals to their itching ears, whether right or wrong. This shouldn’t be! In 1 Timothy 1:4, the Bible says, “Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.” A false word causes confusion and confusion keeps people apart from the presence of God. Sadly, people are racing after false doctrine in record amounts!

May we find life and truth in the pure Word of God only!

God Bless!

Marshall

Mar 13, 2021 – Hebrews 11:1 – The Fearlessness of Faith – Part 1 – faith is the substance of things hoped for

Hi Everyone!

What is faith? Is it belief in a desired outcome? Is it what produces an unwavering stance about a person, place, or thing? What are the building blocks of faith? Why is it so necessary in the lives of believers? Over the next two weeks, we are going to dive into faith and establish its identity and purpose that God intended for it. We will understand the difference between faith and belief, and we will understand that, absent the Word of God, there is no faith. Faith produces salvation, faith produces fruits meet for repentance, and faith produces the abundant life Christ came to this world for us to have. The truly successful people in this world may not have an abundance of wealth, but they are rock solid in their faith, and their faith became their wealth. Our faith is as good as currency in the kingdom of God, and if applied correctly, will invite God’s good purpose to come into our lives. Today, we will look at Hebrews 11:1, faith defined.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

The word “faith” means “a firm persuasion, reliance, assurance, a belief in the truth of someone or something.” When we have faith, we are exercising confidence in what we believe. In Hebrews 10:35, the Bible says, “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.” Faith is not something God forces us to have, and He gives us the choice on whether to keep our confidence or cast it away. There is a reward for those who remain firm in their faith, and God doesn’t leave us hanging when we are faithful in Him. In Romans 10:17, the Bible says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” The word “hearing” means “instruction or teaching”. So our faith comes by “instruction”, and “instruction” by the Word of God. Think about this with me. If, when we are instructed in the Word of God, faith comes, then that means that our faith is fused into the Word of God. There can be no faith without the Word of God or a Word from God! Hence the difference between faith and mere belief. I can believe it will rain in five minutes, while it is sunny out with no clouds in the sky, and claim I have faith, but what would my faith be attached to? Faith must have substance!

The word “substance” means “foundation, guarantee, of proof”. Let’s look at construction for a second. When we build a house, we find a location, dig into the earth deep in order to lay our foundation. The foundation is the most important thing in a house and requires the most care. If anything is messed up in the foundation it will show up eventually on the surface, and may even cause the house to be destroyed! In 1 Corinthians 3:11, the Bible says, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” If no other foundation can be laid but Christ Jesus, then the foundation, or substance of our faith is Christ Jesus. It would make sense that faith comes by instruction and instruction by the Word of God, because the foundation of our faith is the Word of God. In John 1:1, the Bible says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” In John 1:14, the Bible says, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” So, this confirms that Christ is the Word of God, the only foundation we can lay, so therefore He is the substance of our faith. The phrase “of things hoped for means “things entrusted in, things expected”. In Jeremiah 17:7, the Bible says, “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.” When our hope is in the Lord, we will find out, that we don’t need a lot of what we thought we did before!

“The evidence of things not seen”

The word “evidence” means “proof”. In 2 Corinthians 4:18, the Bible says, “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” If we can physically see it, faith serves no purpose, because faith is about seizing what is unseen. Faith is entrusting ourselves to the Word of God that the promises, if applied correctly, will materialize into reality. In Genesis 12:1, the Bible says, “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee”. In Genesis 12:4, it says, “So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.” Abram didn’t physically see the land, but God’s Word was all the proof he needed when he left everything to go after God’s Word. Abram believed the land existed because God said it!

May we come to understand faith to be the foundation which causes the execution of God’s word!

God Bless!

Marshall

Mar 14, 2012 – Hebrews 11:3 – The Fearlessness of Faith – Part 2 – Through faith we understand

Hi Everyone!

We have a beginning, and our beginning came from the Word of God. Creation came to be because of the utterances of God, speaking things into existence. Before He spoke, the earth was without form and void, darkness covered the face of the earth, and there was water everywhere. God turned that into the world we live on right now, and the intricacies of His creation leave no doubt as to His existence. People who don’t believe search for a “cop out” explanation by saying they believe there is “something out there” but they don’t believe it to be God. With creation comes authority, and if a person can’t believe in God as Creator, then how can they have faith that all things will work together for their good? To place faith in the Creator is to place faith in the plan the Creator has for the world. Today, we are to look at Hebrews 11:3, understanding God’s creation through faith.

“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”

The word “understand” means “exercise the mind, to comprehend”. When we understand something, we have processed it in our minds, put it to test, and have developed a concrete stance about it. The “we” in this are believers, because there will be many that won’t believe, so they won’t understand. In Colossians 1:16, the Bible says, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him”. When we place our faith, our assurance, our confidence in this Word, then we know that everything we are, and everything the universe is came from God. If we wanted to know about Amazon inside and out, from start to finish, then the person to seek out would be Jeff Bezos, correct? Seeking our understanding from the Creator about our origins, purpose, and future will ensure that everything we receive will be accurate. It is easy to trust in the Word when we are receiving it directly from the source!

The word “worlds” means “the universe as an object of creation and existence”. The word “framed” means “to complete thoroughly, to set in order”. Please pay attention to the word “framed”. It is past tense. So the universe was completed thoroughly from the past!!! In Genesis 2:1-2 the Bible says, “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.” So on the seventh day, God rested because His job as Creator was done. Sometimes, we as believers fail to really embrace that a Word from God is all we need, and that word was already spoken on our behalf. In Psalms 33:6-7, the Bible says, “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.” Think of the word framed again. Frames house pictures, paintings, and they serve as borders for whatever is inside. Everything operates within the boundaries God sets! His word set the boundaries, and the reason why so many people fall short of reaching after their purpose in the Lord is because people are trying to operate outside of the boundaries God sets. In Romans 12:6, the Bible says, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith”. Even our gifts are under the boundaries God sets for us individually. Whether it is the universe or the gifts in his people, we are all the framed word of God.

“so things which are seen were not made of things which do appear”

The phrase “were not made” is speaking about works of creation, so this phrase means “were not created by God”. God’s Word produced creation from nothing that previously existed. In Genesis 1:3-4, the Bible says, “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.” When God called for light, it appeared, and it says that God SAW the light. Remember, it was dark before God called for light, so the light could have come from anything already in existence. In John 1:5, the Bible says, “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” This proves that God created “something out of nothing”, because darkness couldn’t understand what light was while the world was in darkness! God’s word in creation gives us a firm foundation to stand on, and a full understanding of how true His word truly is.

Our faith must start at the beginning with creation. If we don’t embrace and place our total confidence in God as Creator, then our “faith” is truly blind.

God Bless!

Marshall

Mar 15, 2021 – Hebrews 11:8 – The Fearlessness of Faith – Part 3 – By faith Abraham … obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went

Hi Everyone!

“To obey is better than sacrifice”. We have heard this quote from 1 Samuel 15:22, but do we really understand how important obedience is to faith. God doesn’t mind our offerings, our sacrifice, our praise, but none of that means anything without obedience. Obedience and faith go hand in hand, because there is no such thing as faith without obedience, or obedience without faith. Faith requires us to believe the word we are given by God, which will cause us to obey it and carry the Word out. Sometimes, the word we are given won’t seem to make any logical sense, but God doesn’t abide in the realm of our logic or our expectations. God has a plan for our lives, and our obedience makes His plan a lot easier to carry out. Surely, the Person that devised the plan knows better than the people that are living out His plan. Today, we will look at Hebrews 11:8, the parallels of faith and obedience.

“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.”

“By faith”. Faith has to be the cause of our movements, and our movements in faith always produce the intended purposes of God. In Romans 4:20-21, the Bible says, “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.” Faith is much bigger than us, and in my opinion, we have the easiest job in believing and obeying the Word of God. Unbelief hinders our faith and facilitates disobedience. If we don’t believe in the directions we are given, nor reverence the Person who is giving the directions, then the odds of us not carrying out the directions are very high! If we don’t follow the directions then we don’t get to the place God intends, which is a loss for everyone. In John 11:9, the Bible says, “Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.” Abraham didn’t stagger at the promise, because he saw the light of this world, which is the Word of God. He seized it!

“When he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for inheritance”

The word “call” means “to bid, to invite to come forth”. In 2 Timothy 1:9, the Bible says, “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began”. This just isn’t any calling. When God calls a person, they are called according to His purpose and grace. This call will sometimes cause us to separate ourselves from everything we have trusted in before, and AFTER we obey the word of the Lord, then we will receive our inheritance. The word “receive” means “to take hold of”. This implies that, while it is available to us, we still have to grasp it for ourselves. The word “inheritance” means “possession from heirship”. In Ephesians 1:13-14, the Bible says, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” When we are called, we have to trust God’s word to be true, and act upon what it says. We can’t receive the inheritance by lip service, telling God we believe in His Word but won’t move from our position. Faith will require vulnerability to His design for us to take hold of God, who is certain about His plans for us.

“Obeyed; and he went out, not knowing wither he went”

The word “obey” means “to heed or conform to a command or authority”. This command or authority comes from God, and when Abram received the word from God, He answered the call by obedience. Our attitude towards the command God gives is not of real concern to God. In Matthew 21:28-31, the Bible says, “But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.” God knows that sometimes we will rebel for a season, but if we obey the Word of God, we will be doing His will. Obedience activates faith! Abram, had no clue where he was going, but his trust in God was the only thing that mattered, and because he was obedient, he was identified as one of the champions of faith.

May God’s word cause our own obedience to activate our faith.

God Bless!

Marshall

Mar 16, 2021 – Titus 1:9 – The Fearlessness of Faith – Part 4 – Holding fast the faithful word

Hi Everyone!

Just as faith goes hand in hand with obedience, our faith is attached to the Word of God. It is the foundation by which we build our house, and it is the power source of our walk with the Lord. Show me a faithful person and I will show you someone who lives by the Word of God. In Matthew 4:4, the Bible says, “But he (Jesus) answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Do we live by the Word of God? Are we willing to sacrifice our success, our independence, our plans and our future for what the Word of God commands for us to do? How important is the Word of God in our lives? It has to be the driving force behind our decisions, it has to be the motivation behind our purpose, and it should be the direction our testimony points to. Today, we are going to look at Titus 1:9: effective communication by faith in the Word of God.

“Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.”

The phrase “holding fast” means “to cleave to, to adhere to, to be faithfully attached to”. The image I immediately get is marriage, because in Genesis 2:24, the Bible says, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” This was the first time the word “cleave” was used, and it described the person that came from under the security he had to cleave to his wife, joining himself to her, the two becoming one flesh. Well, this is the same relationship God wants us to have with the Word of God, a marriage, where we come out from under the security of the world we once knew to cleave to the Word of God, the two becoming one flesh. In John 1:1, the Bible says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Then in John 1:14, the Bible says, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” So Christ is the Word of God. We are the Church. Christ is the Bridegroom, and we are the bride. In Ephesians 5:23, the Bible says, “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.” Ephesians 5:25-26 says, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word”. This union with us and the Bible should be seen the same way as a marriage, and it is just as important! In Ephesians 5:22, the Bible says, “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.” Submission! We as the Church have to submit completely to the Word of God the same way we submit to Christ! They are one and the same! This is why the Bible is urging us to “cleave to” the faithful word. Do we ever stop to really embrace the fact that the Word of God is faithful to us as believers! A faithful husband attends to the needs, wants and desires of his wife, the same way Christ does for the Church. When we see our relationship to Christ and the Word of God as a marriage, it may vastly change our attitudes about it all.

“As he hath be taught”

The word “taught” means “instructed”. There is a huge difference between sharing something about the Word of God and teaching the Word of God. Teaching implies showing a person the Word and then showing them how to ultimately apply the Word of God to life. In Colossians 1:28, the Bible says, “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:” The purpose of teaching is to thoroughly equip the person being taught everything they need to know so they can be completely able to cleave to Christ for themselves. In Galatians 6:6, the Bible says, “Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.” The student fellowships with the teacher, so both teacher and student are assured that the instruction is received accurately. Instruction is vital to the faith!

“That he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers”

Cleaving to the instruction in the faithful Word of God makes us equipped to use the Word of God effectively. The phrase “sound doctrine” means “uncorrupted instruction”. In Acts 20:28, the Bible says, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” The true Word of God should be our only defense, our means to feed the Church. We cleave to the Word of God fully, and then take what we are taught to encourage and admonish other people in the truth, so they can receive the Word of God just as we have.

God Bless!

Marshall

Mar 17, 2021 – Hebrews 11:6 – The Fearlessness of Faith – Part 5 – But without faith it is impossible to please him

Hi Everyone!

Does God really exist to us? Are the same miracles Christ performed available to us today? Are our churches flooded with faith, or are they overpowered by religion, by rituals, and by people too afraid to experience the power of the Holy Spirit at work? We must be a Church, a body of believers, who are living according to the Word of God, activating the truth and the promises possessed in the Word. Do we present ourselves before the Lord ready to be used by our God according to His design, or are we still trying to chart our own spiritual course according to our own desires? We should desire to live lives pleasing to God, lives that bear evidence of His power, and with a testimony that establishes that our God’s hand is still powerful and present? Sadly, some people have no real experience with God, just a head knowledge of God no different than many a world leader. Today, we will look at Hebrews 11:6, having a faith that is pleasing to our God.

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

The word “faith” is “a firm assurance, reliance, a belief in the truth of something or someone”. We can’t please God without faith. In Romans 10:17, the Bible says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Our faith is attached to the Word of God, so if we are without faith, then we are calling our God a liar and discounting the truth in His word. In Romans 8:8, the Bible says, “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” If we are in the flesh, the Word of God is not in use, it is not being relied upon. We can’t use the world’s tools trying to please God. In Romans 8:5, the Bible says, “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.”. The main reason a lot of our churches aren’t moving in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit is because they have become, or always were, churches without the true teaching of the Word of God, so they are essentially churches without faith. Our churches must mind the things of the Spirit because the Bible says in John 4:24, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” So faith requires a spiritual experience that can only begin with the Word of God being taught, believed and applied as the Word instructs. This type of experience pleases God.

“For he that cometh to God must believe that He is”

The word “cometh” means “to draw near unto Him in prayer, sacrifice, worship, devotion of heart and life”. This requires a full commitment. In Hebrews 4:16, the Bible says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Boldly! The people who come boldly unto God believe that they have every right to be in His presence. In Job 1:6-7, “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.” Now explain to me how Satan presented himself before the Lord without reservation, but we are the children of God and we won’t present ourselves before the Lord? We as believers must come before God, to experience His presence, to empty our cups before Him, to make ourselves low and decrease so the power of the Holy Spirit can increase. We have to draw near to God with purpose. “He is” is the same as saying “He exists”. We must believe that our God is real and very much alive! Would we go to the house of a person whom we don’t believe in to live there? That would be pointless, correct? Well, sadly it is the same scenario if we are professing to be believers while our hearts don’t believe that God is present, or that He hears us, or that He answers our prayers.

“and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him”

The word “rewarder” means “a person who repays any good deed”. In Isaiah 40:10, the Bible says, “Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.” We have to believe that our God is powerful enough to do the things we ask of Him. In Genesis 18:14, the Bible says, “Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” Sometimes, our reading the examples of faith will give us a clearer record of just how powerful and capable our God is. Can you imagine a 100 year old and a 90 year old getting pregnant? Talk about reversing the clock! To “diligently seek” means “to search out and investigate, in order to worship.

Do we really believe that our God is alive, ready to reward the faithful who search him out? Are we the faithful?

God Bless!

Marshall

Mar 18, 2021 – Hebrews 11:11 – The Fearlessness of Faith – Part 6 – because she judged him faithful who had promised

Hi Everyone!

When God’s involved, it’s NEVER too late for His word to activate and bear fruit in our lives. So many people looked at me in this midst of my sin, and thought I was past saving, that I was past healing, that I had gone too far in the wrong direction to make it back. I am here to testify that God showed me that His power is capable of cleaning up anyone* in any state they find themselves in, but our faith is definitely a requirement. Electricity is powerful and has the capability of turning the lights on without any problem, but if the switch is never flipped, the lights won’t come on. We have to receive the Word of God as truth, allow the seed to be conceived within us so we will birth faith, which manifests the power of God in our lives. Today, we will look at Hebrews 11:11, the birth of miraculous power through faith.

“Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.”

The word “strength” means “miraculous power, force, or might”. The phrase “received” means “to take hold of, to seize for oneself”. The phrase “conceive seed” means “to cast in a fertilized egg”. Now let’s put this together. Sara believed in the Word of God, even though the thought made her laugh, and she seized the certainty of the Word of God. When she seized the Word given, it activated the miraculous power that allowed her to bring a fertilized egg to term. In Genesis 17:19, the Bible says, “And God said (to Abraham), Sarah thy wife, shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.”  The provision for the promise is already accounted for! God knew they were going to have a child, that the child was going to be a son, that his name was going to be Issac, and God already had a covenant prepared to be established with him. Isaac’s name means “laughter”, because God knew they would laugh with incredulity, but not out of impossibility. Even when it sounded ridiculous, they still believed! In John 1:12, the Bible says, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name”. When we receive the Word of God in our hearts, God turns that into power to establish our identities in Him. In Luke 8:11, Jesus says, “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.” Take the baby in the womb out of the equation and put the Word of God in its place. It operates in the same manner; we are filled with the Word of God through faith, the Word turns into miraculous power and that power brings the seed fully to term, according to God’s will. The impossible can be done because of the Word that has produced power in our lives

“And was delivered of a child when she was past age”

The phrase “was delivered of a child” means “to produce or bring forth life from the womb”. In Luke 1:36-37, the Bible says, “And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible.” WITH God! See, our problem is we try to conceive seed without God, trying to understand Scripture without the Holy Spirit’s teaching, and we try to do the impossible without God’s miraculous power. I was barren, chasing after my own path and my own outcome, but when I allowed God to come into my heart and fill me with His Spirit, the impossible happened. Do I pat myself on the back for this transformation? Absolutely not! I seized the Word of God and allowed it to have residence, and God transformed me into everything He already had prepared for me since the beginning. Some people said it was too late, or I messed up too bad, but with God, all things are possible! The phrase “past age” means “beyond the appointed time for man”. In Isaiah 55:8, the Bible says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.” God’s timing cannot be explained by man.

“Because she judged him faithful who had promised”

The word “judged” means “to deem or consider”. The word “faithful” means “trustworthy”. The word “promise” means “to assure of truth, to assert something respecting oneself, to swear by”. In Hebrews 6:13, the Bible says, “For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself”. God is putting His character, identity, and name behind what He promises, because He is never going to fall short of His Word. In Romans 4:21, the Bible says, “And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.” Do we consider God trustworthy in fulfilling His promises? The Word of God gives birth to miracles to those who receive the Word of God in faith, trusting in God to do exactly what His Word says.

It is never too late for God!

God Bless!

Marshall

Mar 19, 2021 – Hebrews 12:2 – The Fearlessness of Faith – Part 7 – Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith

Hi Everyone!

In order to really understand our faith and how our faith works in the life we live now, we have to watch examples from people who have succeeded in the faith. Hebrews 11 gives us numerous examples of titans in the faith, like Abraham and Sarah, Isaac, Rahab, Joseph, Moses, and David to name a few. God always provides us examples, to not only show that walking in faith can be done, but God also shows us HOW we can walk in faith. There is no greater example of faith than Jesus Christ, the Person by which all of our faith as believers comes. Without Christ, there is no salvation, no Holy Spirit sent to teach us all things, and no Church built either. Christ was present with God in the beginning and He is still alive and seated at the right hand of the Father. There is no greater example of faith than Christ and today, we will look at Hebrews 12:2, to behold he Author and Finisher of our faith.

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God”.

The phrase “looking unto” means “to consider attentively”. So God desires for His children to understand faith by studying the example of Christ. In John 3:31, the Bible says, “He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.” Our example should be Spiritual, from heaven, and our example must have authority. In John 1:3, the Bible says, “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” We must also consider attentively that all things were made by God, and so everything necessary for our faith is already created by God. In John 1:32, the Bible says, “And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.” Our Great Example of faith has the Holy Spirit upon Him. Christ isn’t just some man that walked the earth. We must really embrace Him as “God robed in flesh” to understand how he is the Author and Finisher of our faith. The word “author” means “one who makes a beginning, the source”. The word “finisher” means “completer, perfecter, one who accomplishes a goal and wins a prize”. In Revelations 1:8, the Bible says, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” This is why we as believers must look at Christ as the source of our faith because everything began and ended with Him.

“Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame”

The word “joy” means “bliss, enjoyment, delight”. In John 8:29, Jesus says, “And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.” Christ knew when He had to go to the cross that God was with Him and His sacrifice would be pleasing to His Father. That brought God joy, and brought Him joy. In Hebrews 2:9-10, the Bible says, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” Not only would Christ be crowned with glory and honour, but we would have access to glory because of His sacrifice. That also brought joy to Christ. To “endure the cross” means “to patient under, to bear under the dying on the cross as atonement for our sins.” It brought Christ joy to please God by dying on the cross. Does it ever bring us joy when we are obedient to the Word God gives us? The phrase “despising the shame” means “thinking against disgrace”. That means Christ didn’t consider the disgrace of taking the world’s sin upon Himself, but chose to swat it away, choosing to please God instead.

“and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God”

The phrased “set down” means “established as”. The “right hand” is reserved for the highest seat, the place of the highest honor. When I person is at the right hand, they are also viewed as having the strength of the person they are standing next to. In Hebrews 1:3, the Bible says, “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high”. When Christ took His seat, His work was finished, and our lives now bear the testimony of His sacrifice. Christ is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the perfect example of the faith we walk in. He received the Word of God, believed it to be true, and carried it out despite the suffering that would result. Our shining example of faith!

God Bless!

Marshall

Mar 20, 2021 – Romans 5:1 – The Fearlessness of Faith – Part 8 – we have peace with God

Hi Everyone!

Our world is stripped of peace. War, rumors of wars, violence, acts of terrorism foreign and domestic, and contention abounds in our society. It shouldn’t surprise believers because Christ warned us in Matthew 24:6, “And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” This in inevitable, and sadly we see this Scripture manifested in our daily news reports. The absence of peace goes hand and hand with the godlessness that has flooded our world, but it also comes from a lack of faith in the body of believers. Faith is security, and with security, we have peace, correct? If our alarm system is armed, and the doors and windows are locked, our sleep will be sounder because unless the alarm goes off, there is nothing to fear, so no reason to lose our peace. If only our faith was that secure! Today, we will look at Romans 5:1, real peace given by faith in Jesus Christ.

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

The word “justified” means “to render or declare righteous, to absolve from the consequences of sin and admit to the enjoyment of the divine favor”. In Isaiah 32:17, the Bible says, “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.” There is always a course of action behind the declarations of our God, some tangible benefit or punishment behind His Word, depending on which side of the coin we are on. Righteousness isn’t just a quality. It is an action that produces a result, and that result is stillness and security! Justification doesn’t produce anxiety, but peace. In John 16:33, Jesus says, “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.” The Word of God is supposed to usher in peace into our lives, because its truth gives us a firm foundation for our feet. Christ overcame the world, so we have access to the same victory in Him. In 1 John 5:4, the Bible says, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” Do we understand that our faith gives us the power to overcome the world, because it is by faith that we are saved and thus born of God? The word “faith” here means “unwavering confidence in Christ’s death as the ground of justification before God, saving faith”. This just isn’t mere belief. This is the foundation of our salvation, or our security in our salvation, our place in Christ is established forever. In Romans 3:28, the Bible says, “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” People are still under the mistaken impression that they have to follow the law to be justified by God, and there is absolutely no peace when a person is walking while trying not to step on cracks. Christ died, giving us access to salvation and eternal life, so the Word of God can transform our lives. We were never designed to be our own righteousness!

“We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”

The word “peace” means “tranquility, arising from reconciliation with God and a sense of divine favor”. In John 14:27, Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” There is peace the world gives and real peace that Christ gives. It comes from our standing with God through faith in Christ Jesus, and the security of being a member in the kingdom of God. The world tries to offer peace in its possessions; money, sex, drugs, material possessions, power, but every one of them have a very fleeting satisfaction, requiring us to continue to go after them. God doesn’t want us to equate peace with feeling good, because feelings have no security and can change as swiftly as the wind does. In Colossians 1:20, the Bible says, “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” When we as believers understand that it is faith in the blood of Christ that gives us access to reconciliation with God, we will develop more peace in where we stand spiritually. In Romans 4:5 the Bible says, “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” When we are secure in our faith, which should be in the Word of God, we have a foundation to build our faith on. That foundation is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. It is only by faith in Jesus Christ that can we be made righteous. If we have faith, then we KNOW this as truth!

May peace come through faith, and may we be secure in the Word of truth!

God Bless!

Marshall

Mar 21, 2021 – Romans 4:20 – The Fearlessness of Faith – Part 9 – but was strong in faith, giving glory to God

Hi Everyone!

Sometimes, it is extremely hard to stay strong in faith. Things happen, producing events that rip the heart in pieces, but as believers, we have to look beyond what is happening to the promise that God has for us in His Word. Just because we are knocked on our butts doesn’t means the Word is any less true than it has always been, and just because some of our ordeals seem unpleasant, doesn’t mean that it isn’t included in the promise God has for us. The Israelites traveled though the wilderness on their way to the promised land, but who would’ve known that the wilderness produced an unbreakable strength that would allow them to seize AND protect the promise? What God has for us, and the road we take to get us there, at times won’t make a bit of sense, and may seem like we are actually going in the opposite direction. It is when things don’t make sense that we must cleave even harder to the Lord, and commit ourselves even more to the promise. Today, we are going to look at Romans 4:20, pressing through to the promise.

“He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;”

The word “staggered” means “to be in strife with oneself, to doubt, hesitate, or waver”. The person Paul is speaking about is Abraham, who is the father of many nations. A profound lineage to Christ came from someone whose wife was barren at first! Despite what it appeared to be, despite what capabilities he felt he didn’t possess, he didn’t waver, doubt, or hesitate. Abraham was put to test multiple times, being told by God to leave his father’s home and land to go to a land he would show him. He was told he would have a son in his old age, and his descendants would number the stars in the sky. He was told to sacrifice his son, the same promise he was given! Neither time did he doubt the Word of the Lord, nor hesitate when God gave him a command. He carried the word out as given. In James 1:3-4 the Bible says, “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” We have to see our faith all the way through in order for the promise to manifest itself in our lives. If we doubt, waver, hesitate, or wrestle with ourselves, we will hinder and frustrate the process of faith, and what faith will transform us into. God doesn’t will for us to lack anything when our faith is complete. We have to see the completed process even as we find ourselves in the wilderness, or under testing, because it will change our view of what we deem to be sufferings. Abraham didn’t waver at the promise. He believed in the promise and went after it in faith.

The word “promise” means “a pledge of divine assurance of good”. The promise was the birth of a son. The promise made both Abraham and Sarah laugh, but they both believed. In Hebrews 10:23, the Bible says, “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)” We must fully embrace God’s faithfulness first before we can place our faith in Him. If we don’t see God as faithful, then how can we ever trust His Word? We must speak our faith out loud and then hold our position, trusting the promise to come. If God said it, it must come to pass, all we must do is remain rooted in His foundation. In 2 Peter 1:4, the Bible says, “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” The promises of God allow us to partake in the divine nature, this newness we have as believers in Christ, so absent the promise, there is no access to the divine nature where we can experience the Holy Spirit of God.

The word “unbelief” means “faithlessness, disbelief”. This really implies a refusal to believe. Ouch! Abraham didn’t look at his age, nor did he see what hasn’t happen previously as the evidence of what it to come. God said it, so Abraham considered it done and made room for it. In Mark 9:23, the Bible says, “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” It is really that simple, but this is the hardest thing for us to do as believers because either we are not relying on the Word of God for our belief, or we are asking for stuff outside of His will.

“But was strong in faith, giving glory to God”

The word “strong” means “empowered”. Matthew 9:8 says, “But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.” The strength of our faith should produce an outcome that gives God the glory. It should bear evidence, causing others to give God the glory. Our faithfulness should bring glory to God and shine a light on His faithfulness.

Our faith may open the door for someone else to place their faith in Christ.

God Bless!

Marshall

Mar 22, 2021 – Romans 4:21 – The Fearlessness of Faith – Part 10 – And being fully persuaded

Hi Everyone!

Faith requires us to surrender our strength, our knowledge, and our vulnerability to God. That isn’t always easy to do, because a lot of times, it will require us to let go and trust that God has a firm hold of everything we have prayed for. What type of confidence do we place in God, especially in periods of uncertainty or difficulty? Does His Word reign at the times we are completely confused, not knowing where we should go? The only sure path at times like these is the Word, and it is only through God that the road we must take will be clear. Many falter because logic and mental reasoning will always distort the faith that is required for God’s will to be done. We have to abandon all paths but the path the Word of God lays out for us. It is not about relying on our faith, but relying on God’s faithfulness, that He will fulfill the Word given. Today, we are going to look at Romans 4:21, persuasion in the promises of God.

“And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.”

The phrase “fully persuaded” means “completely assured, to know entirely”. This means we can’t keep anything back from our faith, nor prepare for contingencies. There is no such thing as a back up plan when it comes to faith. In James 1:5-6, the Bible says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” When we ask God for anything according to His will, we can’t ask and then question whether or not our prayers and petition will be answered. We are supposed to ask in full assurance that God hears us and is already responding to our requests. The person that wavers is flipped upside side down and tossed around like a ragdoll. In James 2:5, the Bible says, “Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?” We don’t have to have any monetary wealth as long as we are rich in faith. We are members of the kingdom of God by faith in Christ Jesus, and that makes us heirs to all the promises of God directed towards us. It is our job to be completely assured that the Word of God is true and applicable to us right now.

The word “promise” means “to announce oneself, to offer for a responsibility or service”. Consider it like this. When God promises something to us, He announces Himself, by saying “Here I AM”. Then God goes a step further by saying “I AM at your service”. Do we really appreciate this, God being at our service by fulfilling His word? In Acts 2:39, the Bible says, “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.” God has extended His promise to all He has called, to His children, and God fulfills His promises. In 2 Corinthians 1:20, the Bible says, “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” God doesn’t say no to His promises, but He says, “So be it”. There isn’t a situation outside of our disbelief where God’s promises won’t come to pass. We have to be believers that ask the Lord in expectancy of Him giving us what we prayed for according to His will. This should not be seen as a “free for all”, where we ask God for anything that comes to mind, anything we want whether it is according to God’s will or not. In James 4:3, the Bible says, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” Faith is not a selfish quality, and our requests should always please God and position us to fulfill His purpose in our lives. That is why Matthew 6:33 is so important, because Jesus says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” If we seek the kingdom of God first, and God’s righteousness, then what we ask will conform to His will and He will honor it.

“He was also able to perform”

The word “perform” means “to make or do”. We have to believe, in faith, that the Lord God is able to DO the things we ask of Him. Would we ask someone who couldn’t drive to drive us cross country? Absolutely not? In Matthew 9:28-29, the Bible says, “And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.” Our faith activates the promises of God, and our faith only goes as far as what we are completely assured about when it comes to our God.

The faith of a mustard seed can move a mountain and cast it in the sea. How great is our faith in God’s faithfulness? How completely assured are we that God is ready to bring His word to pass in our lives?

God Bless!

Marshall

Mar 23, 2021 –Hebrews 11:33 – The Fearlessness of Faith – Part 11 – And being fully persuaded

Hi Everyone!

Our faith carries power. Our faith carries authority. When we start to understand that our faith manifests the spiritual realm here on earth, then we will understand why the enemy tries so hard to attack our faith. Satan doesn’t want us operating in our God given authority, nor does He desire for us to know who we are in Christ Jesus. If the enemy can distort our vision, then he can all but assure that we conquer absolutely nothing. In Romans 8:37, the Bible says, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” We are not just conquerors. We are more than conquerors! The Bible teaches us that faith is more than just belief, but it is operating in the assurance that the Word of God is not only alive but extremely effective to fulfill God’s purpose. Today, we will look at Hebrews 11:33, just some of the things our faith allows us to have.

“Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.”

Let’s look at another perspective of what “faith” is. Faith is the means of appropriating what God in Christ has for man, resulting in the transformation of man’s character and way of life. Faith is as good as currency in the kingdom of God and it also is the conduit for God’s will to be done. In 2 Corinthians 5:7, the Bible says, “(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)” We entrust our vision to the Lord, that He knows exactly where we must go. In 1 Samuel 23:2, the Bible says, “Therefore David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.” David was identified as a man after God’s own heart, and it is because he always enquired of the Lord for the direction, and he waited for the Lord to tell him what he must do. In Proverbs 3:5-6, the Bible says, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Faith begins with the Word of God, and when we are able to trust in His faithfulness and direction, there won’t be a need for us to lean on our own understanding. 

The word “subdued” means “contended against and overcame”. The word “kingdom” means “dominion, people on territory under kingly rule”. Sometimes, we think subduing kingdoms is something incredibly hard because we try to measure ourselves up to the numbers a kingdom may have. In Judges 7:7, the Bible says, “And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.” God purposely dwindled Gideon’s army down from 32,000 to 300, so there would be no question who gave them the victory, and God alone would be glorified through them. Gideon and the army just had to seize the Word of God spoken to them, and carry it out as given. They did, and they defeated a powerful foe in the process. In Joshua 6:20-21, the Bible says, “So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.” The power of faith, not the might of man, caused that wall to come flat down.

The phrase “wrought righteousness” means “to perform acts of justice, impartiality, or equity”. Faith also allows us to be stewards of the Word of God and all He entrusts us to. In 1 Kings 3:5, the God says, “In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.” God essentially gave Solomon a “blank check”, but all he had to do was ask. In 1 Kings 3:9-10, the Bible says, “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing.” Solomon wanted to do the job the Lord entrusted to him well, more than anything else in the world, and God not only gave him that, but gave him immeasurable wealth.

“Obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions”

A “promise” is “a pledge of a divine assurance of good”. In 1 Kings 8:56, the Bible says, “Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.” God doesn’t fail and there is not a time where God doesn’t keep His promises towards us. The first part of Daniel 6:22, the Bible says, “My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me … “. When we receive the victory by faith, let us proclaim the power of our God, who causes us to prevail!

God Bless!

Marshall

Mar 24, 2021 – Hebrews 11:17 – The Fearlessness of Faith – Part 12 – he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son

Hi Everyone!

In faith, there is trial. Please don’t think that we, as believers, can walk a lifetime of faith without a trial. In relationship, in friendships, in jobs, in businesses, there is always going to come a point where our faith is tested. Sometimes, the enemy will subject our faith to scrutiny, and at other times God will allow us to be tested to sharpen our iron. Sadly, we live in a society where so many seem to want everything to work perfectly, and if it doesn’t and that thing is tested, there is a falling away. Our faith never matures because, testing which actually matures our faith  is never desired or appreciated. God is not only right alongside us when things are spectacular, but He is also right with us when we experience the fire. We are never alone when tested, and the engrafted Word in our hearts ensures that we always have great shoulders to rest upon. Today we will look at Hebrews 11:17, faith under test.

“By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son”

The word “tried” means “tested with adversity in order to examine one’s faith and confidence”. Abraham is the “test subject”, and God’s request was brutal! Imagine life and death to be involved in a trial! In Genesis 22:1-2, the Bible says, “And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.” We are always called before we are tested, so when we are tested, it is not by accident. Nothing happens without God’s approval. Usually, the sacrifice is going to be something we love, something near and dear to our heart.  Matthew 19:21-22, the Bible says, “Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.” The rich man followed the commandments no problem, but Christ knew his heart, and his obedience to the law meant nothing, because he was unwilling to sacrifice his wealth to give his heart completely to the Lord, serving Him. His financial wealth was more important to him than the heavenly wealth promised to him by Christ Himself.

The phrase “offered up” means “to carry unto the Lord in order to give or sacrifice”. When Hannah gave Samuel, her only child, to the Lord, it was in answer to a prayer she prayed to God. In 1 Samuel 1:11, the Bible says, “And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.” Imagine when the time came for her to keep her word, the sadness that had to come over her. She was faithful to her word and obedient to the test, and her womb opened, giving her 5 more children! Five is synonymous Biblically with grace, so God’s grace is abundant towards those who persevere under test. In James 1:12, the Bible says, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” The end of a trial has a reward, and that reward is the crown of life. We must endure trial though.

The phrase “that had received” means “to take hold of in faith AND confidence”. See, faith just isn’t confidence or trust, but it is moving in the confidence and trust we have. Faith produces evidence! In James 2:18, the Bible says, “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” When Abraham was told to leave his father’s house to go to a land God would show him, Abraham got up, got his family together and left. When Abraham was told to sacrifice Isaac, he rose up the next morning to carry the Lord’s word out. In Genesis 22:8, where Isaac asked where the sacrifice was, the Bible says, “And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.” There is no question Abraham believed this, but it didn’t keep him from obeying the word of the Lord. Abraham believed the promise, so he knew God was going to fulfill His word, so offered his only begotten son. The phrase “only begotten son” means “sole or unique son”. Isaac was unique because he was the child of a promise, and Abraham was willing to sacrifice the promise to obey God.

What are we willing to sacrifice in faith?

God Bless!

Marshall

Mar 25, 2021 – Philemon 1:6 – The Fearlessness of Faith – Part 13 – every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus

Hi Everyone!

When people see our faith, what do they see? Do they see power at work, the miraculous force of God changing circumstances in our lives for His good purpose? Do they see the favor and protection of God? Do people witness our prayers being answered and do they have a front row seat to the victory we have in Jesus Christ? How is our faith communicated to mankind? These are bold questions that require us to look within, and come to a fresh understanding of where exactly we are in our faith. God doesn’t require us to be “closet believers” who never experience the power of the Lord working because our inactivity puts out our fire, greatly hindering our effectiveness. As believers, it is our jobs to bear fruit, a fruit that remains, but if we aren’t moving in faith, then it would be extremely hard to bear fruit. Today, we are going to look at Philemon 1:6, the communication of our faith.

“That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.”

The word “communication” has a deeper meaning than I appreciated. It means “partnership, communion, intercourse”. It refers to a mutual sharing of all life, which believers do because of their common life in Christ and mutual partnership or ” belonging to each other in faith”. In Romans 15:2, the Bible says, “Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.” The body of Christ builds when we put ourselves in a position to serve the body of Christ. Selflessness is crucial for church building, and in Acts 4:32-33, the Bible says, “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.” When the Church is in one accord, no one is thinking of themselves, but how to remain in one accord with the body of Christ? The Holy Spirit moves when we are in one accord because not only does this signify communion, but it also expresses agreement. Why does the enemy love to separate families, churches, pastors, servants, and believers? He knows that where there is no partnership, the power is limited, because there is nobody present in the body to compensate for the weaknesses that we have. With power comes grace, and with the grace of God, all things are possible. In Hebrews 10:24-25, the Bible says, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” This is why we are supposed to come together, to build each other up in love and faith, to encourage and teach each other, for us all to grow together in faith.

“May become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing that is in you in Christ Jesus”

The purpose of unifying of the body of Christ to share the faith together is so our faith may become effectual. The word “effectual” means “active, or operative”. We have to have a faith that is in motion, that is alive and active. In Ephesians 4:16, the Bible says, “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” Every part of the body of Christ is important to the effectual working of the entire body of Christ. This is why the enemy is having a field day in the Church right now, because he is practicing a great war time strategy of “divide and conquer”. Sadly, more believers are more concerned with denominations than they are with working together in Word and in truth to ensure that faith translates into power. Faith requires agreement, and faith definitely requires intercession. A king without a kingdom won’t be a king for long.

The word “acknowledging” means “recognizing”. How powerful can the Church be if it never recognizes the Holy Spirit that empowers us to do incredible things for the kingdom of God? In Philippians 1:11, the Bible says, “Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.” It is by Jesus Christ that we are filled with everything that makes us fruitful in righteousness. The phrase “good thing” means “useful or profitable to fulfill God’s intention”. In 1 Timothy 4:8, the Bible says, “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” Are we communing with the Word of God, receiving of the Lord, so we can share what we receive with others in order to build the body of Christ? How is our faith evident?

God Bless!

Marshall

Mar 26, 2021 – Ephesians 2:8 – The Fearlessness of Faith – Part 14 – For by grace are ye saved through faith

Hi Everyone!

Faith goes hand in hand with salvation. There is no salvation without faith, and therefore no access to the kingdom of God either. People have followed the misconception that we have to follow the law to usher in salvation, instead of receiving His Word as truth and the way to salvation. I ask myself: why do so many people fall short of this free gift, why do so many people refuse to partake in this amazing life in Christ? The only answer that helps me understand is their lack of faith due to their lack of knowledge of the Word. In Hosea 4:6, the Bible says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” If God’s children are destroyed for lack of knowledge, then by knowledge of the Word of God lies the path to salvation. The path must still be received in faith in order for salvation to come to the believer. Today, we will look at Ephesians 2:8, faith’s implication for salvation.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God”

The word “grace” means “the unmerited favor God shows in saving us from sin, admitting us into the divine kingdom”. In Romans 3:24, the Bible says, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus”. We are rendered innocent and made righteous by the grace of God. When something is expressed to be “by grace”, then grace is the vehicle that produces our salvation. Grace produces the atoning sacrifice. In Romans 5:8, the Bible says, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”. This gift was already supplied before we would ultimately receive it, and it was while we were out there, still living in sin completely apart from God, God already had the sacrifice prepared for us before the world began.  In Romans 5:10, the Bible says, “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” The grace of God is designed to bring reconciliation between God and His children, to make everything right between us. God’s idea is for us to not focus so much on the death of Christ, but the life of Christ because in His life we have access to abound in the kingdom of God by the Holy Spirit.

I want to paint a picture of grace and hopefully it will express its importance. I am standing at the edge of a cliff. Below is a canyon 500 feet deep. There is no way possible to cross this canyon to make it to the other side, which is me trying to earn my salvation through my efforts. Grace is a bridge that God erected through faith in Jesus Christ, allowing us to cross over and be saved through faith, despite us falling drastically short.

The word “saved” implies salvation from eternal death, sin and the punishment and misery consequent to sin. In Romans 4:7-8, the Bible says, “Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” We went from being cursed to blessed because of the grace of God producing a perfect sacrifice from sin through Jesus Christ. In Galatians 3:13, the Bible says, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree”. Grace allowed a perfect Christ to place the sins of the whole world upon Himself, becoming the curse we should’ve been. Then His death was a death of the cursed, causing Him to pay the penalty meant for us. In Galatians 3:22, the Bible says, “But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.” Salvation is a promise, and that promise is available to all who believe in Jesus Christ and receive Him as Lord and Savior. God did all of the work. All we have to do is receive the gift His love and grace has made available to us.

“It is a gift of God”

A gift is given, and when God gives a gift, it was already prepared for the people who will receive it. In Matthew 16:17, the Bible says, “And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” No man is capable of giving us the gift of salvation, neither is any man capable of giving us a spiritual gift either. In John 6:44, the Bible says, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” God draws His children to receive salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. We don’t even control what drew us to the Lord!

The Word of God gives the path to salvation, but it is our job to receive the Word in faith.

God Bless!

Marshall

Mar 27, 2021 – John 8:12 – The Fearlessness of Faith – Part 15 – I am the light of the world

Hi Everyone!

A huge part of our faith is what and Who we follow. Do we follow after truth? Is the Word of God the lamp unto our feet and the light unto our path? Despite how it looks, do we cleave to the Word of God over our fears, our apprehensions, and our ambitions? What made Abram so powerful in faith? He took God’s word for it when He told him to leave His father’s house, even though he had no clue where he was going. When we follow after the Lord, we have to trust that His way is THE way, His truth is THE truth, and His life is THE life. If we are trying to partake in anything of these things absent the Word of God having reign in our lives, we will always come out short of what we need, because we haven’t placed our confidence in the Lord. The Lord is the Light of the world, lighting the path for all who believe on His name. Today, we will look at John 8:12, another component of faith, walking in the light of the Lord.

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

Christ uses the words “I am”. Normally we overlook those words because they are frequently used for a person to identify themselves. What makes this different is who Christ is. In John 1:1, where it says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Couple this verse with John 1:14, which says, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” These two verses establish the deity of Christ, so in Exodus 3:13, when Moses asked for the name of God, verse 14 says, “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” So when Christ uses the words “I am”, it is much deeper than just mere identification. He is establishing His deity, and therefore His truth and power in His word. The word “light” means “the true knowledge of God and spiritual things, Christian piety”. Christ IS what we are living our lives to be! The “world” implies the people, the order in place, the universe as a whole. The world needs light to live the way God intends for us to live. Don’t think so? In Genesis 1:3-4, the Bible says, “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.” The first thing God created was light, and the first thing He did was divide light from darkness. The firsts are the most important to God. God never intended for light and darkness to dwell together, just as God never intended for us to exercise faith outside of the Word of God. How can we have faith and not believe in the Word of God, which is the light of the world? How can we exercise faith when the Word of God isn’t the lamp unto our feet and the light unto our path?

“He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, But shall have the light of life”

“He that followeth” is an all inclusive invitation, but there will be a ton of people who won’t take the invitation God has given. The word “followeth” means “to be or become a disciple of anyone as to faith and practice, to practice their teaching.” The word “followeth” also implies a total surrender, giving ourselves completely to Christ, and the direction He is for our lives. In John 10:26-27, John says, “But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me”. We can’t follow Christ when we can’t hear His “voice”, and His voice is the Word of God and the teachings and leadings of the Holy Spirit. When we follow the Lord, he “knows” us, implies a marital intimacy of His abiding in us and we abiding in Him. How can we call ourselves believers in Christ and then not follow His Word and not allow His word to have reign in our lives? The word “darkness” implies moral darkness, separation from God due to sin and faithlessness. Not believing in the Word of God is faithlessness, and faithlessness is darkness. In 2 Corinthians 4:6, the Bible says, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” God has given us an opportunity to know Jesus Christ by allowing His Word to shine a light in the inner most parts of us. With light comes knowledge of the Word, and with that knowledge comes faith, which then transforms us into vessels of God’s good purpose. “Shall have”. The result of following Christ, abiding in the Word of God. The word “life” here implies a life of bliss and glory in the kingdom of God which awaits to true disciples of Christ both now and after the resurrection. What a beautiful reward for us who follow the Word of the Lord in faith!

God Bless!

Marshall

Mar 28, 2021 – John 7:38 – The Fearlessness of Faith – Part 16 – out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water

Hi Everyone!

What is the source of our belief? Is it the pastors we listen to, the family and friends we speak with? Does it stem from the burning desires we have? Where do we turn to for the truth? Belief is essential to the faith, but just as faith has a foundation in the Word of God, belief should also be based on Scripture. How we, as believers, pattern our lives should be based on the Word of God, but we live in a society where tons of people are racing after their own glory, after their own path, trying to construct their own purpose. In a lot of churches, God is being reduced to a banker and the kingdom of God a vault, and the “prosperity doctrine” has taken over sound Biblical truth and doctrine. The “name it, claim it” doctrine being taught has imploded the faith with nonsense, and the Holy Spirit is becoming less and less active in our lives. We must get back to the truth, so we must begin at the foundation. Today, we are going to look at John 7:38, true belief according to Scripture.

“He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

The word “believeth” means “to entrust one’s spiritual well being to Christ.” When we entrust something to Christ, we completely surrender it to His will, His direction, and His Word, accepting that as the only way. In John 14:6, the Bible says, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Christ is the ONLY way to the Father! As believers, the foundation of our faith is Christ, but that foundation can only be built by the Word of God. If faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, then we must also entrust our lives to the Word of God. In Romans 10:14, the Bible says, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” Then, in the first part of verse 15, it says, “And how shall they preach, except they be sent?” So, the preacher is sent for us to hear the Word of God, which causes us to believe on the Word, especially what the Word says about Christ, and that will open the door for us to call upon Christ for salvation. After salvation, the preacher is still sent, we still hear the Word, believe on it, and we now learn how to activate the Word in our lives as maturing believers. If we never hear the Word correctly, then we won’t believe the Word of God correctly, and if the Word of God is not believed correctly, then we won’t surrender ourselves to It correctly. In John 17:17, Jesus says, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” The Word of God causes the sanctification because the Word of God is truth. Why then, are so many churches preaching doctrine that scratches itching ears rather than preaching the Word of truth which leads to salvation, maturation, and sanctification?

“As the scripture hath said”

This is the condition in this verse. Remember, the word “believeth” means “to entrust one’s spiritual well being to Christ”, not merely to attest to the truth of something. In James 2:19, the Bible says, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” Mere belief means nothing and doesn’t even separate us from devils! The key condition is us entrusting our spiritual well being ACCORDING to the Word of God. In John 6:63-64, Jesus says, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.” Our beliefs, not backed by the Word of God, profits us nothing, and that is why we have churches that have thousands of members, but there is more bondage than freedom in the congregations. 

“Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water”

The word “belly” means “heart”, the deepest part of our being. The word “rivers” means “current, running water”. This implies a continuous flow. In Acts 2:17, the Bible says, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” The “living water” is the Holy Spirit, promised by Christ, and when the Holy Spirit flows from the deepest parts of God’s children, the Church moves in power and miracles happen. The Holy Spirit is poured upon us and we become vessels of the Master’s purpose.

If we don’t entrust our spiritual well being to Christ, according to Scripture alone, we will not be able to experience the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the outpouring of His power. May we become believers who are completely sold out on Christ!

God Bless!

Marshall

Mar 29, 2021 – Psalm 37:5 – The Fearlessness of Faith – Part 17 – Commit thy way unto the LORD

Hi Everyone!

Faith requires commitment. There has to be an unwavering belief, and an undistracted focus on God and the things of God. Society may teach that we can do whatever we desire under the sun and still have unrestricted access to the kingdom of God, but that is the furthest thing from the truth. How can we operate outside of the will of God and then pray and petition our Loving God, expecting Him to answer our prayers in faith? That is like bringing volleyball rules into a basketball game, expecting the game to conform to the rules we place upon it. Before we can access the kingdom, we have to commit to the King, surrendering all we are and desire to Him. Too many are left emptyhanded, carnally minded and driven by flesh, all while professing to be of the faith. There is no faith without commitment to the Word of God, and the purpose God intends for us. When we give God what He desires, then He gives us the access to the kingdom we desire. Today, we are going to look at the Psalm 37:5, committing our way to the Lord.

“Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”

The word “commit” means “to roll onto, to entrust”. Imagine with me a baby who walks up to us, slaps our leg, and the minute we look down, two small arms go in the air, desiring to be picked up. The baby trusts that we can pick them up and carry them, but the baby also trusts the direction we will take them. Something inside of them just knows they are in safe hands. That is how our God desires us to roll onto Him. In Proverbs 16:3, the Bible says, “Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.” This is no different than us seeking the Lord for direction as to what He desires for us to do with a desire to perform the things He is asking us to do. Commitment sets our mind about accomplishing the things of the Lord, so the Lord comes first in our thoughts. That is why Matthew 6:33 is so powerful when Jesus says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Commitment requires God to be our first thought, our first resort, the first person we speak with. We understand that God has the direction we need to take to fulfill His good purpose, and we position ourselves to follow His direction. The word “way” means “course of life”.  In Psalm 37:23, the Bible says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” A person fully committed to becoming who God has created them to be (good), inclines themselves toward the Word of the Lord. There is no real commitment without the Word of God reigning in our lives. This isn’t just entrusting only the good stuff either, like so many do. Commitment requires us to entrust our baggage to God as well! In Psalm 55:22, the Bible says, “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” Allowing God to cleanse us from our baggage destroys the hindrances that keep us from fulfilling God’s good purpose for us.

“Trust also in Him”

The word “trust” means “to hie for refuge”. The word “hie” implies we instinctively run towards safety. God desires to be our first choice, to be so deeply embedded into our instincts where we inquire of the Lord before we go anywhere else. In Psalm 62:8, the Bible says, “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.” At ALL times, when times are great and when we are terrified. At times where we feel the Holy Spirit’s presence and at other times where we feel disconnected. Our trusting the Lord isn’t about the circumstances, but it about us training our eyes and our minds upon the Lord, always seeking His Word and truth in our lives. In Proverbs 3:5, the Bible says, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”

ALL of our heart.

God doesn’t want part of us. He desires all of us. Commitment in faith requires undivided trust, and total surrender to Him. This means our thoughts and plans no longer matter because we have placed ourselves under the direction of our Lord!

“And he shall bring it to pass”

God is faithful to those who aren’t faithful to Him, so just imagine how faithful our God is to those who are faithful to Him! In Isaiah 55:11, the Bible says, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” We have to always rely on the Word of God, because the Word is what begins our faith, and it is the solid foundation we entrust ourselves to. God’s Word and plan goes out and nothing can stop them from happening. Isn’t God worth our total commitment, isn’t He deserving of our faith, especially when it is impossible for Him to lie and fail?

God Bless!

Marshall

Mar 30, 2021 – Psalm 37:7 – The Fearlessness of Faith – Part 18 – Rest in the LORD

Hi Everyone!

Part of being in and of the faith, is coming to an understanding that what God has for us is for us. It is all too easy to look around as we are waiting on our promise, and to wonder why the world seems to walk around with all of their desires fulfilled while we wait without. This is a great trap, and many fall-away because they train their eyes on their desires instead of training their minds on the Lord. The famous quote of “A watched pot never boils” applies here; but think about it. Watching the pot isn’t going to make it boil any faster than the designed time for it to boil, so watching the world isn’t going to bring our own faith to pass. When we ask something of God according to His Word and will, it is already done in heaven, so God wants us to have rest in knowing that the promise is already done. A faithful person is a person who rests upon the Word and promises of our God. Today, we will look at Psalm 37:7, resting while we wait on the Lord.

“Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.”

The word “rest” means “to be still, to be silent”. This is extremely important because when we are still and silent before the Lord, that positions us to set our minds on the Lord and commune with Him. In Hebrews 3:14, the Bible says, “For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end”. We have to see our faith all the way through, and that requires us to rest in the Lord, even when things aren’t seeming to go as we hope or plan. If we rest in the Lord in the beginning, and then get antsy and try to embark on our own path, then we are not at rest and we are not operating in faith. In 1 Corinthians 15:58, the Bible says, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” If our mind, heart, and bodies are abounding in the work of the Lord, then we are focused on the ministry of the Lord, instead of the blessing by the Lord. To be unmovable, means the enemy, doubt, fear, or anxiety doesn’t have reign, causing us to be pulled from our position in the Lord. In Isaiah 30:15, “For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.” It takes more strength for a person to stand secure in faith than it does for a person to build an empire on his own power. Even when our bodies aren’t moving, our mouths still need to be still as well, because in anxiety, we can begin to speak things that can and will disrupt our faith.

“And wait patiently for him”

The phrase “wait patiently” means “to yearn for longingly”. It expresses that we have this burning desire for the things we ask for in faith, but it doesn’t trump our desire to experience the presence of the Lord. In Psalms 46:10, the Bible says, “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” Sometimes, God is going to require us to be still, stand silent, and just entrust our paths to His very capable hands. If we aren’t at rest, then that means, we aren’t at peace, and if we aren’t at peace, then that means the Holy Spirit is not the dominant, presiding presence in our lives. In Lamentations 3:25-26, the Bible says, “The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.” It is GOOD, meaning fulfilling to God’s purpose from the beginning. God says something is “good” when He speaks something, and it becomes exactly what He says for it to be. When God sees His children are faithful, trusting, and yearning for Him longingly, but still abounding in the work of the Lord, we are the picture of the children He created us to be.

“Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.”

The phrase “Fret not thyself” means “become angry or vexed in jealousy”. In Exodus 20:17, the Bible says, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.” It is important that we don’t pay attention to what other people have because that is like telling God, “You have not blessed me, and you don’t seem to know how!” Brutal, huh? When we look elsewhere, we can’t appreciate what God has done and is doing in our lives, and it robs us, and God, of the opportunity for Him to have reign.

Waiting on our desires is unsettling and can produce nervousness and fear, but the Word of God provides promises that allow us to have rest in Him. May we seize this blessed rest.

God Bless!

Marshall 

Mar 31, 2021 – Mark 11:23 – The Fearlessness of Faith – Part 19

Hi Everyone!

What we speak from our lips is very critical to our faith. We profess to believe in the promises of God, but then “stinking thinking” flows from our lips, soiling the very promises we are entitled to. I came to understand that I have had to allow God to reprogram my mind, to not dive into an area of pessimism and doubt because I have been conditioned by a hard life to “expect the worst”. In Proverbs 18:21, the Bible says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” It is a tragedy for a believer to speak words of death, because by our own words, we shut the door on our God. Our words hold power, and until we become bold in our faith to speak our faith into the atmosphere, we will continue to have dreams deferred. Today, we will look at Mark 11:23, a fearless tongue removing mountains.

“For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.”

These are the very words Christ spoke. In Hebrews 6:18, the Bible says, “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us”. If it is impossible for God to lie, as Scripture as clearly stated, then we know for a fact that anything spoken directly by Christ is untainted truth. The word “verily” means “surely, truly, something said that is trustworthy”. So we have Christ, the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and TRUTH, saying the word “verily”. Christ really wants us to trust in this Scripture, to receive its message and power. The word “say” means “to lay forth speech”. That in itself means nothing without context. I quote this a lot but in John 6:63, Jesus says, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” Christ is telling us that His words carry the power of spirit and life in them, so His word is not to be taken lightly! Remember, God SPOKE creation into existence, and it was exactly how He spoke it! Before we can get into the verse itself, Christ is laying the foundation for His Word, securing the truth and the power behind His words.

The word “whosoever” implies that this promise is available to ALL who are saved by faith in His name. So Christ says, “Verily, I SAY (lay forth speech of spirit, life, power, and truth) unto you (believers), that whosoever shall SAY (lay forth speech of spirit, life, power, and truth) unto this mountain”. Can we see what just happened here? Christ let us know that the power of His Word has been transferred to us, so that our words carry the same power His did! The word “mountain” implies “something that rises up against us, blocking our path”. Remember, Christ words are spirit and life, so we can physically remove spiritual opposition. “The weapons of our warfare are NOT carnal.” Remember? We have to speak the Word of God to our mountains.

“Be ye removed and cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart”

The word “remove” means “to lift up and away”, but a good visual would be “to uproot”. The reason our mountains don’t move because we haven’t gotten to the root! The word “cast” means “to be thrown”. The “sea” has always, since the beginning, been a picture of judgement. In 2 Corinthians 10:5, the Bible says, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ”. This shows that we are to rebuke the thing that rises up against the Word of God, whatever it is. This can’t be done with doubt, because we have to believe in the power of God behind our Word, and “doubt” means “to be in strife with oneself, hesitate or waver”. Any words spoken with doubt in the heart are words without the power to bring faith to pass.

“but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith”

The word “believe” means “to be firmly persuaded”. Firm means we are rooted in a position, unmovable from it. If we believe our spoken words will happen, that God will bring our words to pass, it will be so. God spoke creation into existence and now He expects us to speak His word into existence as well. In Matthew 12:37, Jesus says, “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” God has given us the ability to operate in the same authority He, Christ, the disciples, apostles, and His Church did. Do we believe in the power of our words, to manifest the spiritual realm unto earth?

What is the nature of our words? Faith? Spirit? Power? Life? What have our words brought to pass?

God Bless!

Marshall

INCLUDING APRIL 1ST and 2ND TO COMPLETE THE 21 DAY SERIES THE FAITHFULLNESS OF FAITH:

April 1, 2021 – Mark 11:24 – The Fearlessness of Faith – Part 20 – believe that ye receive them

Hi Everyone!

When we pray out our desires before the Lord, what happens next? Do we speak against the very thing we prayed for, doubting the likelihood of it happening? Does fear creep in because we have taken a bold step, and now uncertainty is robbing us of the joy of casting our desires before the Lord? Do we consider it done the minute we prayed it? What happens after we pray plays a role into whether our prayers are answered, and it is not God’s fault when our desires don’t come to pass because our faith wavers. We have to be bold enough to bring our petitions before the Lord, and then be bold enough to stand upon God’s faithfulness after we pray. Faith doesn’t work too well if there is no belief that God will answer our prayers. This is us once again calling God a liar if we pray, but don’t believe in our prayer getting answered. Today, we will look at Mark 11:24, receiving our desires by faith.

“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”

The word “therefore” connects two or more points. “Therefore” is meant to usher in a course of action to validate the truth of Mark 11:23. The truth in verse 23 is connected to the point made in Mark 11:22, which says, “And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.” Faith is the foundation of these three verses, but faith has to be applied correctly in order to be effective. In Matthew 17:19-20, the Bible says, “Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” God knows our hearts, those praying and operating in faith and those who aren’t. When we don’t get what we asked for, there are two reasons: unbelief and asking for something that is outside of God’s will for our lives. In Psalm 37:4, the Bible says, “Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” When we allow ourselves to be formed by God into the people He created us to be, what we desire is going to be in line with what He desires, and we will be able to receive the things of God we ask for. See, faith is attached to the Word of God, so until we become a people who have faith according to the Word of God, our faith will continue to be fruitless.

The word “desire” means simply “to ask”. In Matthew 7:8, Jesus says, “For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” God desires for His children to receive what we ask for but we have to ask according to His word. In John 15:7, Jesus says, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” This is where we as believers tend to fall short in our faith. We don’t abide in God, and God’s word doesn’t abide in us. How can we expect anything from God when we are disconnected from Him? Sin separates us, unbelief separates us, a carnal mind separates us, but it is NOT God’s design for us to be disconnected from Him. The word “pray” means “to supplicate or worship”. This is the act of acknowledging that we are incapable and our God is fully capable, where we cast our cares upon the Lord, where we decrease and allow Him to increase, bringing what we pray from to pass. The act of prayer is us positioning ourselves to have the right mind, heart, and attitude towards God and in towards what we pray for. The verse says, “WHEN ye pray”. There is no “IFS” when it comes to prayer. Prayer is just as essential of the process to applying faith as belief. In James 5:16, the Bible says, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” A praying believer will see things done a lot faster than a wisher or thinker.

“Believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”

Let’s forget about believing in the “stuff” we ask God for. Before we get to the “stuff” GOD must be believed in first! Mark 10:27, “And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” We tend to believe in people a lot faster than we do God, and we find ourselves disappointed when the people we believe in can’t fulfill our joy. We must place our confidence in God, and entrust our lives to His will. We must ask of our God in expectancy that, what we pray for, as long as it lines up with Scripture and God’s will for our lives personally, will be so! We can’t ask and NOT place an expectation upon God to answer. Our God can not lie!

May our prayers of faith translate into promises fulfilled.

God Bless!

Marshall

Apr 2, 2021 – Acts 26:18 – The Fearlessness of Faith – Part 21 – that they may receive forgiveness of sins

Hi Everyone!

Our faith is supposed to DO something! Our faith has power, and that power has the full capability to cause miracles to happen. It’s a beautiful thing for the world to know we are Christians by our love, but it is an explosive thing when the world can identify us by our faith! Our churches are supposed to be places of freedom, where the sick are healed, the blind are made to see, the irreparably broken are full restored by the power of God. Faith is designed to bring an atmosphere completely under the authority and power of God, but it all begins with the Word of God. The Bible shows us who we are, whose we are, the purpose God has for His children, what we are capable of and what the Word of God does in this world we live in. It is our job to entrust our confidence to the Word of God and perform the things God commands us to. Today, we are going to look at Acts 26:18, faith activated!

“To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”

The phrase “open their eyes” refers to spiritual sight. When we walked without salvation, we were spiritually blind, unable to see our God and the direction He has ordained for His children. In Isaiah 35:5, the Bible says, “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.” Even before we knew we needed it, God provided us the opportunity to see. What caused our blindness in the first place? In 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, the Bible says, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” The “god of this world” is Satan, and he has no desire for us to see the Lord! In Matthew 11:4-6, the Bible says, “Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.” Christ sent word back to John the Baptist about the power of God at work in the lives of God’s people. John the Baptist heard about the works of Christ from prison! The fruits of our faith are supposed to spread into the darkest places, but if we don’t exercise our faith, how can the people hear?

“And to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God”

The word “turn” implies a conversion, turning the believer to the service and worship of the true God. “Darkness” pertains to “moral darkness, the absence of spiritual light and truth, the presence of sinfulness and calamity”. “Light” means “the true knowledge of God and spiritual things, Christian piety”. The “power” spoken of here is “the dominion, authority, or rule over a person or thing”. In Ephesians 5:8, the Bible says, “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light”. We have to understand what we have been delivered from, and what power we now have access to because of our deliverance. In John 12:35-36, the Bible says, “Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.” We have to walk in our light, in the true knowledge of God and spiritual things, because the enemy desires to place us back into darkness. Walking in the light allows us to ability to exercise our faith in the Word of God, and in that faith comes power! What type of parent doesn’t want their children to walk in the fullness of their power and abilities? God is no different!

“That they may receive the forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me”.

Our faith in Christ alone gives us salvation, and salvation gives of the forgiveness of sins. Salvation gives us an identity as children of God, and with this identity comes power! In Colossians 1:10 the Bible says, “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God”. God turns us from the power of Satan to the power of God, that, by faith in Christ, we can bear fruit in every good work, and also know our God even more! What separates the faithful believers from the “church goers” lies in our ability to put the Word of God into use, and when the Word of God is in use in us, the world around us is transformed!

“According to your faith be it unto you.” Christ’s words. What will our faith produce?

God Bless!

Marshall

Hi Everyone!

When we pray out our desires before the Lord, what happens next? Do we speak against the very thing we prayed for, doubting the likelihood of it happening? Does fear creep in because we have taken a bold step, and now uncertainty is robbing us of the joy of casting our desires before the Lord? Do we consider it done the minute we prayed it? What happens after we pray plays a role into whether our prayers are answered, and it is not God’s fault when our desires don’t come to pass because our faith wavers. We have to be bold enough to bring our petitions before the Lord, and then be bold enough to stand upon God’s faithfulness after we pray. Faith doesn’t work too well if there is no belief that God will answer our prayers. This is us once again calling God a liar if we pray, but don’t believe in our prayer getting answered. Today, we will look at Mark 11:24, receiving our desires by faith.

“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”

The word “therefore” connects two or more points. “Therefore” is meant to usher in a course of action to validate the truth of Mark 11:23. The truth in verse 23 is connected to the point made in Mark 11:22, which says, “And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.” Faith is the foundation of these three verses, but faith has to be applied correctly in order to be effective. In Matthew 17:19-20, the Bible says, “Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” God knows our hearts, those praying and operating in faith and those who aren’t. When we don’t get what we asked for, there are two reasons: unbelief and asking for something that is outside of God’s will for our lives. In Psalm 37:4, the Bible says, “Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” When we allow ourselves to be formed by God into the people He created us to be, what we desire is going to be in line with what He desires, and we will be able to receive the things of God we ask for. See, faith is attached to the Word of God, so until we become a people who have faith according to the Word of God, our faith will continue to be fruitless.

The word “desire” means simply “to ask”. In Matthew 7:8, Jesus says, “For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” God desires for His children to receive what we ask for but we have to ask according to His word. In John 15:7, Jesus says, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” This is where we as believers tend to fall short in our faith. We don’t abide in God, and God’s word doesn’t abide in us. How can we expect anything from God when we are disconnected from Him? Sin separates us, unbelief separates us, a carnal mind separates us, but it is NOT God’s design for us to be disconnected from Him. The word “pray” means “to supplicate or worship”. This is the act of acknowledging that we are incapable and our God is fully capable, where we cast our cares upon the Lord, where we decrease and allow Him to increase, bringing what we pray from to pass. The act of prayer is us positioning ourselves to have the right mind, heart, and attitude towards God and in towards what we pray for. The verse says, “WHEN ye pray”. There is no “IFS” when it comes to prayer. Prayer is just as essential of the process to applying faith as belief. In James 5:16, the Bible says, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” A praying believer will see things done a lot faster than a wisher or thinker.

“Believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”

Let’s forget about believing in the “stuff” we ask God for. Before we get to the “stuff” GOD must be believed in first! Mark 10:27, “And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” We tend to believe in people a lot faster than we do God, and we find ourselves disappointed when the people we believe in can’t fulfill our joy. We must place our confidence in God, and entrust our lives to His will. We must ask of our God in expectancy that what we pray for, as long as it lines up with Scripture and God’s will for our lives personally, will be so! We can’t ask and NOT place an expectation upon God to answer. Our God can not lie!

May our prayers of faith translate into promises fulfilled.

God Bless!

Marshall

Apr 2, 2021 – Acts 26:18 – The Fearlessness of Faith – Part 21 – that they may receive forgiveness of sins

Hi Everyone!

Our faith is supposed to DO something! Our faith has power, and that power has the full capability to cause miracles to happen. It’s a beautiful thing for the world to know we are Christians by our love, but it is an explosive thing when the world can identify us by our faith! Our churches are supposed to be places of freedom, where the sick are healed, the blind are made to see, the irreparably broken are full restored by the power of God. Faith is designed to bring an atmosphere completely under the authority and power of God, but it all begins with the Word of God. The Bible shows us who we are, whose we are, the purpose God has for His children, what we are capable of and what the Word of God does in this world we live in. It is our job to entrust our confidence to the Word of God and perform the things God commands us to. Today, we are going to look at Acts 26:18, faith activated!

“To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”

The phrase “open their eyes” refers to spiritual sight. When we walked without salvation, we were spiritually blind, unable to see our God and the direction He has ordained for His children. In Isaiah 35:5, the Bible says, “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.” Even before we knew we needed it, God provided us the opportunity to see. What caused our blindness in the first place? In 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, the Bible says, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” The “god of this world” is Satan, and he has no desire for us to see the Lord! In Matthew 11:4-6, the Bible says, “Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.” Christ sent word back to John the Baptist about the power of God at work in the lives of God’s people. John the Baptist heard about the works of Christ from prison! The fruits of our faith are supposed to spread into the darkest places, but if we don’t exercise our faith, how can the people hear?

“And to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God”

The word “turn” implies a conversion, turning the believer to the service and worship of the true God. “Darkness” pertains to “moral darkness, the absence of spiritual light and truth, the presence of sinfulness and calamity”. “Light” means “the true knowledge of God and spiritual things, Christian piety”. The “power” spoken of here is “the dominion, authority, or rule over a person or thing”. In Ephesians 5:8, the Bible says, “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light”. We have to understand what we have been delivered from, and what power we now have access to because of our deliverance. In John 12:35-36, the Bible says, “Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.” We have to walk in our light, in the true knowledge of God and spiritual things, because the enemy desires to place us back into darkness. Walking in the light allows us to ability to exercise our faith in the Word of God, and in that faith comes power! What type of parent doesn’t want their children to walk in the fullness of their power and abilities? God is no different!

“That they may receive the forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me”.

Our faith in Christ alone gives us salvation, and salvation gives of the forgiveness of sins. Salvation gives us an identity as children of God, and with this identity comes power! In Colossians 1:10 the Bible says, “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God”. God turns us from the power of Satan to the power of God, that, by faith in Christ, we can bear fruit in every good work, and also know our God even more! What separates the faithful believers from the “church goers” lies in our ability to put the Word of God into use, and when the Word of God is in use in us, the world around us is transformed!

“According to your faith be it unto you.” Christ’s words. What will our faith produce?

God Bless!

Marshall

Apr 3, 2021 – Daniel 10:12 – thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words

Hi Everyone!

Sometimes, there is a wait when it comes to our prayers, and that wait can be very agonizing! It is a natural reaction to feel uncertain as we wait, and that uncertainty can produce fear, if left unchecked. At those times we are uncertain is where we should cleave even more to the Word of God.  Instead of “waiting anxiously” on the answer to manifest itself, we should continue to press forward, attending to the things God has for us today. Never allow our minds to shift from uncertainty, to fear, to doubt, all because we feel the answer to our prayer isn’t coming fast enough. God is very precise with His plan, and very diligent in answering our prayers at the perfect time. Trusting in the Lord when it grows “quiet” is vital to our faith, because there is movement by God when we pray. We have to humble ourselves before the Lord until the answer comes, because the right mind, heart, and spirit ushers in the presence of the Lord. Today, we will look at Daniel 10:12, a prayer offered and a prayer answered.

“Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.”

The word “fear” means “to be afraid, to be frightened”. There is nothing for a believer to fear in this presence of the Lord, or in the presence of His angels, especially if we are living for the Lord. I love how God gives us this amazing assurance in the midst of His presence. In 2 Timothy 1:7, the Bible says, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Fright doesn’t come from the Lord, and it is not a spirit He gives. God doesn’t want us to be afraid of Him. He desires for us to reverence Him with deep, moral respect, done out of love and a willing heart. In Isaiah 41:10, the Bible says, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” This is what the presence of our Lord does in the life of a believer, and with such great promises, there is no reason to be frightened. A vision was revealed to Daniel, which made him afraid for what would happen to Israel. In Daniel 9:22-23, and the Bible says, “And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.” God wants to give us skill and understanding, so we know how to operate according to His will. He answers our prayers because He loves us and desires us to know His will. With a report like this, there shouldn’t be anything to fear.

“For from the first day that thou first set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God”

The first day! We tend to think that, because the answer doesn’t come right away, that God somehow doesn’t hear us. In John 9:31, the Bible says, “Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.” When we “set our hearts to understand”, this implies we empty our cup before the Lord so He can fill it with what we need to understand. “Worshipping” God means we “depress ourselves, make ourselves low before Him”. The act of worship is giving God the green light to come dwell within us and over our lives. The word “set” suggests we fix our positions, our minds, and our hearts. In Colossians 3:2, the Bible says, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” If our attention is on Christ, then we make ourselves available to receive His will. This is an intentional act on our part, and it positions us exactly where we need to be spiritually, to “understand”, or “separate thoroughly and rightly”. The word “chasten” means “to browbeat, look down upon, or depress”. In 2 Corinthians 13:5, the Bible says, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” We have to scrutinize ourselves before the Lord, to clear our anything that need not be there.

“Thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words”

The word “heard” means “to listen intelligently, or discern the meaning of”. In Acts 10:3-4, the Bible says, “He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.” When we pray to our God and humble ourselves before the Lord, He responds!!! It is not an “if” when it comes to God responding, but a “when”!

Are we positioned to hear from the Lord?

God Bless!

Marshall

Apr 4, 2021 – Hebrews 4:12 – For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword

Hi Everyone!

The Bible is more than just a book. It is much more than a bunch of old men telling us about God. Do we really understand that the Word of God is alive and powerful, transforming lives, saving souls, setting standards in our hearts that mature us in this process of sanctification. The road to God began with the Word, the road that leads us to repentance begins with the Word, and the road to salvation lies in the Word. There is not a problem the Word of God can’t solve, a question the Word of God can’t lead us to the answer of. The ability to live an abundant life of favor and peace lies within the Word of God. The Word of God knows us inside and outside, and if we surrender, the Word of God can lead us safely into our purpose. Today, we are going to look at Hebrews 4:12, the very capable Word of God.

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

The word “quick” means “living, alive, active”. In 1 Peter 1:23, the Bible says, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” We are born again by the Word of God, a seed that cannot die or be brought to shame, something that will endure forever. In 1 Peter 1:25, the Bible says, “But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” The first thing we must understand is the Word of God is living, which means it still works just as strongly as it did before. We tend to only pay attention when something applies to us, so if we don’t think the Word of God applies to us, then we will never be able to activate its power! The word “powerful” means “effectual, operative”. Do we as believers really have faith that Scripture works? In Isaiah 55:11, the Bible says, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” When God spoke, creation came to be accordingly to what God spoke, exactly how He ordained for it to be. If we don’t believe the Word of God works, then we won’t use it. In Mark 12:24, the Bible says, “And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?” We have to know the Scriptures to know the power of God, and we also have to know the Word of God to know what power we have as well. In Luke 10:19, Jesus says, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” If we don’t ever come to know our power, then how can we effectively operate according to God’s will, also understanding the power we have over the enemy?

“Sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow.”

The word “sharper” means “more keen”. Being keen requires depth of perspective, the ability to look beyond normal vision. Eagles have keen vision, allowing them to see prey from long distances. In 1 Corinthians 2:10, the Bible says, “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” God desires to reveal His will to us, so He looks deep within us, understanding when the right time will come for us to experience more revelation from Him. The word “piercing” means “to reach through, to penetrate”. The phrase “dividing asunder” means “to separate into parts”. In 2 Timothy 2:15, the Bible says, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” By studying the Word of God, it reaches through our soul and spirit, identifies the difference between the two, and separates them, so the Word of God can affect them both. When the spirit, soul, and body are in agreement according to the Word of God, we become living testimonies of God’s power resting in mankind.

“And is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart”

The word “discerner” means “able to decided correctly, or be skilled in judgement”. In 1 Corinthians 14:25, the Bible says, “And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.” The Word of God is designed to pull what’s inside of us to the outside of us, but the Word doesn’t reveal all of the good and hide the evil. The Word of God is there to establish truth, to weigh up our deliberations and mentalities against It. The Word of God knows all things about us, including things we haven’t discovered yet!

Is the Word of God this powerful in our lives? It should be!

God Bless!

Marshall

Apr 5, 2021 – Acts 28:27 – For the heart of this people is waxed gross

Hi Everyone!

I watch the news now with great sadness, having a real picture as to what society as a whole is encountering on a daily basis. News reports of back to back mass shootings, reckless parties with huge crowds while we are trying to get a pandemic under control, constant warfare in the Middle East, and an overall Godlessness is present for every viewer to see. ABC World News does an “American Strong” segment at the end of its shows, to change the tone of our countenances, to give us something positive to walk away with. Sadly, the reality of a Godless society reappears with even more vigor and the positive takeaway is soon forgotten. This world is sick and broken without Christ as head, and until this world turns their hearts to the Lord for salvation and healing, we will continue to be saddened by the depressing news reports we see. Today, we are going to look at Acts 28:27, a world in need of conversion and healing.

“For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.”

The world “heart” means “the center of our innermost being, the seat of the desires, feelings, affections, passions, and impulses”. The heart is extremely important for any believer. In Proverbs 4:23, the Bible says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” We have to guard our hearts because this place can become a playground for the enemy if we allow him access. In Romans 1:24, the Bible says, “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves.” God will continue to lead us to Him, but eventually He will see that our hearts are centered on our desires and not Him and He will say, “You want to live that way? Go for it.” The phrase “waxed gross” means to “render callous”. Callousness isn’t an instantaneous process. It starts small and becomes something that can’t be managed. In James 3:5, it says, “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!” In Romans 1:26-27, the Bible says, “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.” This world is filled with violence, homosexuality, godlessness, atheism, because the small sparks that started these behaviors blazed into wildfires for the whole world to see. Sin is sin, and in God’s sight, me taking a life and a person’s homosexuality is at even keel, with us both needing healing and salvation by Christ, but God isn’t going to force us to open our ears and eyes. That is our job!

“And their ears dull of hearing, and their eyes have closed”

People as a whole a hard headed! God knew it way before we were born. In Exodus 33:3, it says, “Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way.” In Romans 10:21, the Bible says, “But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.” All day long? God is very persistent, and that is why 2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” The call is there, but do people want to see and hear it?

“Lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.”

The word “hear” means “to give audience to, to pay attention”. The word “understand” means “to comprehend”. The phrase “should be converted” means “return to good, return to God, repent”. The word “heal” means “to cure, to make whole”. In 1 Peter 2:10, it says, “Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” When our hearts became callous, preventing us from receiving the Word of God, we had no identity, and therefore we weren’t a people. When we opened our eyes, ears and heart to the Word of God, we became THE people of God, obtaining mercy where mercy wasn’t available. The Word of God received begins the process of conversion and healing, and in it, lies the ability for God’s power to work through us. The gift of salvation is available to us all, and it doesn’t matter what we’ve done and where we’ve been. If God changed me, then there is no doubt He can change you as well!

God Bless!

Marshall

Apr 6, 2021 – Hosea 4:6 – because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee

Hi Everyone!

Our world suffers, and it is heartbreaking to see how many people are lost without any sense of direction. As I sit in prison, I watch so many lost brothers, without a clue as to how to begin to rebuild their lives. So many are disconnected from God, and rebellion is secondary. I have come to discover that what we don’t know contributes to our misfortune, and what we choose not to know leads us into a blindness that can be destructive. God wants His children to know Him and know His will for our lives, all of which can be found in the word of God. We when reject the Word of God, we are essentially accepting destruction as an inevitable reality. What we don’t consider is that the generations under us suffer as well, because they enter a world unequipped to live abundantly in it. Today, we will look at Hosea 4:6, the necessity of true knowledge in the world.

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.”

The word “destroyed” means “to be cut off, to fail or perish due to silence”. In Proverbs 1:7, the Bible says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” The first problem in our world is the world doesn’t fear God, meaning having that deep reverence for the Lord our God. If we don’t fear God, then we aren’t going to care to know Him and what pleases him. Knowledge is so important to a believer’s life, but we’re not talking about book knowledge or world knowledge. We’re talking about the knowledge of the Word of God, the knowledge only God can give. In Proverbs 1:2-4, the Bible says, “To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.” Knowledge has a huge purpose; to understand God’s word and will for our lives, so we can know what is right for the world we live in, and to teach what we know in the Lord to people who don’t know. Our society has become more Godless because parents aren’t seeking knowledge of and from God, so they have nothing to teach their children but carnality and idolatry. The generations only teach what they know and God becomes nothing to people because they’ve never been taught otherwise. In Isaiah 5:13, the Bible says, “Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.” Bondage is second nature to someone who doesn’t know the Lord, and the sad thing about it is they don’t KNOW they are in bondage! The word “knowledge” means “discernment or sight into how to please God”.  This knowledge is us coming into a full and interactive relationship with our God, learning what He requires from us for ourselves.

“because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee”

The word “rejected” means “to despise, to refuse”. In 2 Peter 3:3-4, the Bible says, “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” There will not only be people that flat out reject the knowledge of God, but they will mock God at the same time, testing His patience and restraint. Just because the world rejects the knowledge of God, doesn’t mean God has lost power. In Matthew 21:42-43, the Bible says, “Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.” God isn’t going to force anyone to accept Him as King, nor is He going to force anyone to be His children. He has opened His loving arms to whoever seeks salvation, and those will be the ones God accepts. People rejected Christ and still do, but He is still the most important Person to our faith!

“That thou shall be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children “

The word “forgotten” means “to mislay from lack of attention or memory”. In Psalm 1:2, the Bible says, “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” When are we going to be a people who don’t let the Word of God fall by the wayside? According to Revelation 1:6 and Revelation 20:6, we are destined to be priests of the Lord. Yeah, US! It is time for us to begin studying the Word of God, meditating on the Word so we are not of the ones cut off for our lack of knowledge.

God Bless!

Marshall

Apr 7, 2021 – Hosea 6:6 – For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice

Hi Everyone!

Do we have the right heart for worship? Are our attitudes consistent with our love for God and for others, and do people clearly experience our love when they experience our service? If our hearts aren’t right, and our attitudes don’t reflect the love that God has placed in our hearts, then no matter how we try to mask it, it will eventually show and destroy our witness in the process. Our service works to effectively point people to the God we serve when it is done with an attitude of love and graciousness, but if the heart isn’t right, it can serve to turn people away from the faith. If we ever listen to the reasons people have for not attending church or experiencing salvation, their experience with other believers would near the top of the list. That shouldn’t be! Christ can to fulfill the law,  simplifying it in the process, making it more mentally attainable for us. We must do the same! Today, we are going to look at Hosea 6:6, having the proper attitude for service.

“For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”

The word “desired” means “to incline or bend towards, to take pleasure in”. The word “mercy” means “lovingkindness and faithfulness to others”. Mercy also implies us foregoing inflicting judgement upon someone who has offended us. In Ephesians 2:4-6, the Bible says, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus”. God sets the example for mercy being shown to us, by loving us when we were unlovable and paving the way for our salvation even though we didn’t deserve it. In Matthew 18:25-27, Jesus says, “But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.” Mercy requires compassion, and compassion requires love. God cleared our debts when we asked for mercy, knowing we were unable to pay. We must do the same with others.

“Sacrifice” implies the slaughtering of an animals as an offering to the Lord. God isn’t saying that He doesn’t honor our sacrifices, because the Bible says in Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Our sacrifice has to be pleasing to the Lord, but all the sacrifice in the world means nothing without a heart of mercy, love, and compassion. In 1 Corinthians 13:3, the Bible says, “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.” The act of faith and worship means nothing without the right attitude and heart. It doesn’t profit the kingdom of God at all. In 2 Corinthians 9:7, the Bible says, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” When we are cheerful givers, God sees us as the reflection of Him, doing exactly what He would do, and it makes God proud.

“And knowledge of God more than burnt offerings”

The word “knowledge” here implies knowing God as a result of experience, relationship, or encounter with God and His Word. Knowing also implies intimacy, two separate parts becoming one. It is just as important for us to know God as it is for Him to know us. In John 10:14, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.” Good shepherding paves the way for people know God and them to be known by God. Our service opens a door and presents God in both Word and by the fruit of our hearts, so our testimony will reflect who God is accurately. In Ephesians 3:19, the Bible says, “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” Knowing the love of Christ gives us a clear roadmap on how to love at this level as well. In 2 Peter 3:18, the Bible says, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” This is something we have to grow into. Relationships are built over time by constant communication, and in a relationship, especially one with God, we will begin to become more like Him. 

God desires that we know Him through relationship, and exercise what we know in this world. Love, mercy, and compassion should flow from us, and in service, these should be the lasting impressions people are left with.

What does God see in our hearts as we serve others?

God Bless!

Marshall

Apr 8, 2021 – Hebrews 5:12 – ye have need that one teach you again

Hi Everybody!

Growth should be mandatory in the Church in my opinion, but the rate of our growth God leaves up to us. God is not going to force us to seek His face, to embrace His teachings, submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit, or grow as believers. God positions us to experience all of these things, and He doesn’t deny a believer who seeks Him with their entire heart. We are not supposed to be the same believers, having the same faith, knowing the same amount of Scripture and experiencing the same level of God’s presence five years from now as we do today. Sadly, that isn’t the case, and there are churches with members who have been there for 20 years but don’t know the true meaning of baptism, what the atoning sacrifice does, what salvation is versus sanctification, and what faith is. Today, we will look at Hebrews 5:12, the expectation of growth in the faith.

“For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.”

The word “time” perceives time quantitatively as a period measured by the succession of objects and events, denoting the passing of moments. So this means a series of events transpiring in a space of time which should invoke growth as an end result. The word “ought” means “to be under obligation”. The word “teachers” means “instructors”. Don’t think we as new believers aren’t supposed to grow into instructors of the Word of God! In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus said “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” So, when Christ declared that “all power” was given to Him, His first instruction to us was to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of Jesus Christ, THEN teach them to practice what we ourselves were taught. Christ even promised that He would always be there with us. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, the Bible says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” The Word of God is meant for a believer to be taught by it and then be able to use it to teach others, being positioned to perform God’s purposes for us. In Hebrews 10:24-25, the Bible says, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” How can we provoke each other unto love and good works without instructing them in some way? How can we exhort someone absent instructing them in the Word?

“Ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God.”

So instead of being teachers by now, we haven’t learned the first things a believer should’ve learned. This is a very unfruitful walk in the Lord, something we all must avoid. The phrase “first principles” speaks of elementary instructions, the first things in a row we have to learn. In Hebrews 6:1-2, the Bible says, ” Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.” These are the levels of our instruction that we should have learned well enough to advance into the deeper things of God. If we have advanced from this level, then we should be able to teach these things. Imagine with me an electrician, who, five years into his apprenticeship, still only knows how to wire up an electrical outlet, and nothing else. It would be a shame to the profession! Well, the same rules apply in the faith.

“And are become such as have need of milk and not of strong meat”

The word “milk” means “the first elements of Christian instructions.” To still have “need” for milk suggests stagnancy in the faith, where nothing is being learned. How can this be? In 1 Corinthians 2:14, the Bible says, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” If a person is still “carnal” in their nature and thinking, then they won’t be able to grow spiritually to receive the things God has for them that will cause them to grow. A person can be saved and still be carnally minded. “Strong meat” is solid doctrine that builds upon the foundation of Christ.

Are we good stewards of God’s word? How has our knowledge and faith grown since we first believed?

God Bless!

Marshall

Apr 9, 2021 – Hebrews 6:10 – For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love

Hi Everyone!

Nothing we do for the Lord and on the Lord’s behalf is in vain. God not only sees everything we do for the building of His kingdom, but He is there to dote on His children affectionately. Remember, in Job 1:8, when it said, “And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?” God is making an open display of Job’s stance of faith and attitude towards God’s word to Satan, even allowing Satan to test him! The enemy rails accusations while God supplies praise for His children living and operating according to His will. Sometimes, ministry can feel like a “thankless job” that goes unacknowledged, but God sees our work for Him and He is so proud of us for living our lives for Him. Today, we are going to look at Hebrews 6:10, a word on having a ministry worth acknowledging.

“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”

The word “unrighteous” means “unjust”. The word “forget” means “to lose out of mind, to neglect”. Let’s put this together. God declares it would be unfair to not see, not remember, or fail to acknowledge our work for Him. In Isaiah 49:15-16, the Bible says, “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.” Let us first understand that God sees everything we do, good or bad, edifying or destructive, and He is not the type of Father that neglects His children. The word “work” means “works of faith”. In Proverbs 14:31, the Bible says, “He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.” God not only sees what we do, but He distinguishes our work and takes a stance for or against it! In Matthew 24:45-47, Jesus says, “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.” We have to understand that we didn’t place ourselves in this position of ministry and service. God placed us in these positions, and in these offices, and gave us everything we need to perform what He ordained us to. We are faithful when we do what God commands us to do. God is going to “peek in” and see what we are doing with what He has entrusted to us. He wants to see love there in our work, because without love the work serves no divine purpose. “Love” here is “agapē”, spoken especially of goodwill towards others, the love of our neighbor, brotherly affection, which the Lord both commands and inspires. God gives us the love and we give that same love to others.

“which ye have shewed toward His name”

In Colossians 3:17, the Bible says, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” When we minister to the needs of saints and unbelievers as well, we represent the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is authority in the name, but it also means this is the example we are to follow. In 1 Corinthians 10:33, the Bible says, “Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.” In ministry, we are the last person to be considered. We desire our service to bring people into a knowledge of God and salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, also partaking in a person’s spiritual maturity as well. So we serve God first, serve people next, and then we think of ourselves. The beauty about it is we won’t ever have to think of ourselves because God will do that for us. In Matthew 10:42, Jesus says, “And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.” Because this is true, just think of the reward for doing things in the Name of Jesus!

“In that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister”

The word “ministered” means “to be an attendant, to wait upon, to serve as a deacon”. In 2 Corinthians 3:6, the Bible says, “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” Able ministers! God has made us able to serve the people He has ordained us to serve. In this verse it speaks of the “saints”, which are “those who are purified and sanctified by the influences of the Holy Spirit, those who profess His name.”

We are to use what God has given us to edify the body of Christ, which is His Church. God won’t ever forget our service!

God Bless!

Marshall

Apr 10, 2021 – Hebrews 3:5 – And Moses verily was faithful in all his house

Hi Everyone!

What will be spoken of our ministry after we leave this world? Our faithful service to the Most High God will always bear a record and that record will serve as a testimony of God’s presence, favor, and movement in our lives. People as a whole desire to leave something of impact to the world, a legacy to speak for our time here on earth, our means to essentially “live forever”. We should desire to help make this world a better place, but are we trying to be the focal point of the testimony or is Christ the focal point? Believe it or not, what’s behind our service will surface and that will bear testimony as well. It is not designed for a believer to seek His own glory, to seek the praise of men, to leave behind a testimony that doesn’t point the way to Christ. Today, we are going to look at Hebrews 3:5, a legacy of Christ left behind

“And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after”

The word “verily” means “truly, most assuredly”. The word “faithful” here means “trustworthy”. This suggests that a person’s body of work is consistent with obeying the Word of the Lord. In Hebrews 3:2, the Bible says, “Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.” Our faithfulness should be towards the Person who appointed us, and that is God. In this society, we are seeing more and more people being faithful to people who are enemies to the cross! This shouldn’t be. In Luke 19:12-13, the Bible says speaking of Jesus, “He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.” No one in their right mind will entrust something of extraordinary value to someone who isn’t capable of being trustworthy, and God is no different. If He appointed us to serve Him, then He has already equipped us to perform whatever is required. Then in verses 16-17 Jesus, “Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been FAITHFUL in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.” The nobleman’s instructions were simple, and he found his servant faithful who multiplied what He was given. He called him a “good servant”, “good” pertaining to something (or someone) operating according to the intended purpose from the beginning. Because the servant was faithful in “very little” he was given authority over ten cities. What we do with a little will tell the story on what we will do with a lot.

The word “servant” means “attendant”. It is interesting that the Greek word for servant is “therapōn”. Doesn’t it appear that the word therapist derives from this? In Joshua 24:15, “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” We have to not only be people who serve the Lord, but our house as well. What good is our ministry if the only people affected by the hand of God is us? In Exodus 14:31, the Bible says, “And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.” This verse shows that we as servants of God are just as vessels that the Lord chooses to use to facilitate His Word and His will through.  He doesn’t need our help at all, but He desires for us, as children of God, to usher in His presence through our service. In 1 Corinthians 7:22-23, the Bible says, “For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.” Being servants of the Lord produces freedom that we cannot experience any other way, because there is no ceiling to what we can do for the kingdom of God!

“For a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after”

The word “testimony” means “something evidential, a witness”. One of the most available things we have in our ministry is our testimony. In Mark 5:19-20, the Bible says, “Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.” Christ freed the demon possessed man, and the people asked Christ to leave their coasts. The man wanted to go with Christ, but Christ told him to go home and spread the word. He spread the word to ten cities!!

We are still talking about his testimony today! May our faithful service provide a great testimony for others to know the Lord!

God Bless!

Marshall

Apr 11. 2021 – Hebrews 10:25 – but exhorting one another

Hi Everyone!

We are created to be a part of a body, that body being the Church. Together, we are at our greatest strength, because the strong can account for the weak, and all are covered. When a lion hunts they attempt to scatter the herd, catching one who has drifted away from the group, or couldn’t keep up. Apart from the group, the lone animal doesn’t stand a chance, and is quickly devoured. When a weak link is surrounded by strength, they begin to pick up the characteristics of the strong, and little by little they become stronger. The strength rubs off! Well, the same rules apply with believers, where, when we come together, the power of God rubs off, the anointing of God rubs off, the knowledge of the Word of God rubs off, making us all stronger believers. The Church exploded in Acts because they came together with one accord and the Spirit moved through the Church with power. Today, we are going to look at Hebrews 10:25, the power experienced when believers come together.

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

The word “forsaking” means “to leave behind, to desert”. Sadly, there are tons of believers who don’t feel going to church services is necessary to the faith. While going to church isn’t a requirement for salvation, it is truly something God desires from His children. In Genesis 2:18, the Bible says, “And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” From the beginning, it was never God’s intention for man to be alone, so God created a helpmeet for him. What does marriage have to do with us going to church? In 1 Corinthians 15:45, the Bible says, “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.” Christ is the last Adam! In 1 Corinthians 15:47, “The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.” Now, Christ came to fulfill the law, not to destroy the law, so His presence didn’t change the rules from creation! If Christ is the “last Adam”, then God HAD to look at Christ the same way He did Adam, believing it is not good for Him to be alone, so He created a helpmeet for Him too! Who is the helpmeet of Christ?

WE ARE

In John 3:29, the Bible says, “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.”

It brought John the Baptist joy knowing that Christ and His Church would form an unbreakable marriage. Even though He wouldn’t be physically there when the Day of Pentecost took place and when the Church began, he saw it and it made him glad. It should make us even more glad to be a part of the marriage, to be one with Christ!

The phrase “assembling of ourselves together” means “to gather together for a Church meeting or service”. In Psalm 133:1, the Bible says, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” God finds the gathering together of believers to be good, which signifies God’s intended purpose from the beginning fulfilled, and pleasant, which just makes our God feel good! Imagine how proud we would be as parents looking at our children working together in unity to accomplish something we’ve asked them to. Wouldn’t that be an awesome sight? That is what God feels when He sees His children gathering together as one. In Romans 12:4-5, the Bible says, “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” The reason people don’t see the importance of gathering together for service is because they haven’t accepted that we are members of one another. There is no unity because the Word of God is not being accepted as truth. The truth is, we should want to run to a gathering of believers, to reconnect with the body!

“As the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching”

The word “exhorting” means “to call upon someone to encourage, comfort, admonish, or strengthen”. In Proverbs 27:17, the Bible says, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” The coming together is vital to the growth of the body of Christ! In Hebrews 3:12-13, the Bible says, “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” When unbelief sprouts in the church, it causes division and people to be led astray. We have a lot of “lone wolves”, believing that assembling together is pointless, and that is a major lie! In Ecclesiastes 4:12, “And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

Unity in the body helps us all prevail against the lies of the enemy, and disunity is one of the lies keeping believers out of the Church, and from experiencing the full power of the Holy Spirit in our lives together. Let’s break Satan’s power over the body by coming together!

God Bless!

Marshall

Apr 12, 2021 – Hebrews 12:1 – let us run with patience the race that is set before us

Hi Everyone!

As believers, God provides us with suitable examples of the faith people have, who have overcome great odds and faced impossible situations, yet stood on the promises of God’s word and prevailed. In life we are constantly surrounded by examples, ones that lead us toward the will of God and examples that lead us away. In our own lives, do we live lives that become an example that leads people towards God or away? The beauty about God is He creates an excuse free environment, equipping us with everything we need to run the race that God ordained us to run, but it is still our job to run the race. When we look at the company we keep, what manner of people are they? When we look at our role models, what qualities do they embody? Today, we will look at Hebrews 12:1, the witnesses of faith that make our race easier to run.

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us”

The word “seeing” suggests that “we take notice or give attention to”. In 1 Peter 5:8, the Bible says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour”. We have to pay attention to everything around us because there is an enemy around hoping to catch us by surprise. In 1 Peter 2:21-22, the Bible says, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth”. Not only should we take notice of the enemy that is lurking all about, but we should also take notice of Christ, how He lived under the same type of circumstances but He still overcame the world. The phrase “compassed about” means “to lie all around, to enclose, to encircle”. We are NEVER alone when we do the will of God, and we never will be the only ones going through hardship. In 1 Corinthians 10:13, the Bible says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” Common to man! So there is always someone facing what we are, which means enough examples are present of people who are mastering the faith in their daily lives.

The word “witnesses” means “people who testify to the truth of what they see, hear, and know”. In Acts 23:11, the Bible says, “And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.” Our walks with the Lord will always bear witness to who we are and who God is everywhere we go. The phrase “let us lay aside every weight” means “let’s cast away all burdens and hindrances “. In Colossians 3:8-9 the Bible says, “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;” We have people around us that have cast away the deeds of the old man and so must we! They show us it can be done. The word “sin” here means “defection from the gospel”. Ouch!!  The word “besets” means “thwarts”, suggesting we are easily tricked and beaten by this weight and sin in our lives, and it causes us to stumble. In 1 Corinthians 9:27, the Bible says, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” We have to keep ourselves from falling by leaning on and living out the Word of God. In it we have the chance to become witnesses as well.

“And let us run with patience the race that is set before us”

The word “run” means “to move hastily”. The word “patience” means “endurance, constant under suffering in faith and duty.” The word “race” means “a course of life full of toil and conflict”. None of this suggests that we will have an easy ride as believers, but God will allow us to be constant in Him no matter what comes our way. In 1 Corinthians 9:24, the Bible says, “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.” We are to run our race in the Lord to receive the prize, and that prize is the approval of our God for running a great race in faith. The phrase “set before us” suggests that God gave us the race to run. In Acts 9:15, The Bible says, “But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel”. If God chooses us to run our race, then He has already ensured us the victory!

May we always pay attention to the witnesses before us, who showed us that we can win the race we run if we remain in Christ.

God Bless!

Marshall

Apr 13, 2021 – Hosea 13:14 – I will redeem them from death

Hi Everyone!

We were bought, purchased by the blood of Christ, redeeming us from the penalty of death. It was a death we deserved, because our sin and our sin nature would’ve meant permanent separation from our God. Praise be to God, who loved us so deeply that He provided a sacrifice that would bring His children back into His presence. Hosea was given a “horrible” task of marrying a harlot, witnessing her leave him no matter how hard he loved her, and then having to go and get her, despite all she has done, and restore her back as his wife. God did this to illustrate what Israel was doing to Him, what we are doing to Him by going astray, but He still receives us back unto Himself, offering salvation and restoration to all who have faith in Jesus Christ. Today, we will look at Hosea 13:14, a ransom paid and redemption given by Christ’s shed blood for us.

“I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.”

The word “ransom” means “to redeem, to release, to deliver “. The Israelites needed deliverance from turning their backs on God, and serving other gods, living a lifestyle that greatly displeased our God. The ransom is the price tag, and we were unable to pay it. In Psalm 49:6-8, the Bible says, “They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)” Please understand with me that we were in an impossible situation, deliberately turning our backs on a loving God, and nothing we have gained on our journey could ever pay for the certainty to death that was sure to come. In Psalm 49:15, the Bible says, “But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.” Only God could provide the means to pay such an outstanding debt, so He sent Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, to redeem us from the grave. The word “power” means, “hand or strength”.  The word “grave” means “hell, the world of the dead, the pit”. We are dealing with a spiritual state, not a physical one. In Isaiah 25:8, the Bible says, “He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.” God wants to take death away. He wants to take away the grief from our hearts, and take the stench from our sin off us, so that we can experience all things new in Him.

The word “redeem” means to “buy back from spiritual death and bondage”. Kinda makes us think about the phrase “selling our souls to the devil”, doesn’t it? In Ezekiel 37:13-14, the Bible says, “And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.” See, God doesn’t want to just rescue us from death! He desires to give us life, to live with His Spirit within us, restoring us back to how He intended us from creation. In Genesis 2:7, the Bible says, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” God is breathing His breath, but instead of just air, it’s His Holy Spirit, into us, making us completely alive in Him. In John 20:22, the Bible says, “And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost”. Do we really embrace the fact that we are born again when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, and we are new creations requiring “breath” to live? In John 10:10, the Bible says, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” Christ’s death had a purpose, just as our redemption does, and it is to give us abundant life in Christ, a life that is full of the breath of God, which is the Holy Spirit”.

“O death, I will be thy plagues; O graves, I will by thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes”.

The word “plagues” means “pestilence, threat of destroying”. The word “destruction” means “extermination”. The word “repentance” means “sorrow, compassion”. Instead of inflicting wrath upon us, God turned His wrath upon death and the grave! In Hebrews 2:14, it says, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil”. Christ’s death not only destroyed the power of death, but the person in power as well!

When God destroys death, it will be forever. God is the only Person that can stop death from being destroyed. In Isaiah 55:6, the Bible says, “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near”, so this shows that there will be a time when repentance will no longer be available. The premise of repentance being “hid” means that there will be no more access. In Matthew 25:10-12, the Bible says, “And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.” Christ will have a time where repentance will run out, and there will be people left out of the wedding banquet. In Revelation 20:14, the Bible says, “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” This aspect of repentance still follows the same meaning, “the changing of the mind and direction”. So God is saying the idea of Him changing His mind on destroying death and the grave will never happen because death and hell will be destroyed.

O death, where is thy sting! We are redeemed!

God Bless!

Marshall

Apr 14, 2021 – Psalm 139:23 – know my heart

Hi Everyone!

How intimate do we want to be with our God? How much of Him do we want Him to know about us? How much are we willing to share, or are we just content with God yanking it out of our minds? A relationship is built and strengthened by the information entrusted to each other. You want to see a strong couple? It is one where they know each other’s secrets, and there is nothing hidden between them. This disclosure doesn’t come by one trying to pry the information out of the other, but it comes when a person desires to pour out their innermost thoughts, feelings, and longings. God wants the type of relationship with us as His children where we are willing to come to Him with everything concerning us, including the things that bring us shame to speak of. In this phase of my life right now, I am asking God to invade my heart and mind and pull anything that is hindering my relationship with Him to the surface, so we can cast it in the fire. I want our God to search me and see a vessel prepared for His habitation, because I want to be everything He has called me to be. Most of all, I want to lay myself bare before the Lord, so He sees me as I am, not as I want Him to see me. Today we are going to look at Psalm 139:23, allowing God the privilege of searching His children.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts”

The word “search” means “to penetrate, to examine intimately”. This is a bold request, because it requires God to see exactly what is there, whether we like what it is or not. If we invite a friend to our home, we will tidy up as much as humanly possible to make a good visual presentation, but in this case, we are inviting a friend over to see our home as is. Ouch! In Job 31:4-6, the Bible says, “Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps? If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; Let me be weighed in an even balance that God may know mine integrity.” See, God knows what is there already, but He is not going to force us to reveal ourselves to Him. This type of intimate examination is designed for people who desire God to “weed their gardens”, to identity things in there that don’t fit the picture God has for us. It is almost as if we are asking God, “Please, get in our business and show us our faults so we can remove them from our path.” In 1 Corinthians 2:10-11, the Bible says, “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” We want God to examine us intimately to weed out what’s not supposed to be there, but also so God can see His Spirit at work within us. God wants to search us and see our desire for His presence.

“And know my heart”

The word “know” is a term of intimacy, becoming “one flesh” with what we know. In this case, we are to desire that God becomes one with our hearts. The word “heart” is “the inner person, the seat of our emotions”. In Psalm 26:2-3, the Bible says, “Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.” This examination is also to assure ourselves to God that our hearts are the way He desires. We want to have hearts that please the Lord, and we want our God to know us as deeply as possible. In John 10:14, the Bible says, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.” God knows us but there is something beautiful when we His children open our hearts to God, and desire Him to know us. In Revelation 3:20, the Bible says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” The door is to our hearts, and God will never force Himself inside. If we open the door, He will come and become one with us.

“Try me, and know my thoughts”

The word “try” means “to test or investigate”. In Proverbs 17:3, the Bible says, “The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.” Refinement burns off the impurities that taint our value and hinder our growth. Not only do we want God to intimately examine us, and become one with us, but we also want God take anything that’s not of Him and burn it away. The word “thoughts” means “anxieties, disquieting ideations”. In Psalm 55:22, the Bible says, “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” When we allow God access to that unsightly stuff inside of us, we are giving to Someone who is beyond capable of replacing it with something spiritually healthy, something that will allow us to grow beyond our wildest imagination.

What will God see if He intimately examines us? What things within us need a one way trip to the fire?

God Bless!

Marshall

Apr 15, 2021 – James 1:4 – but let patience have her perfect work

Hi Everyone!

A process is defined as “continued development involving many changes”. Those changes can be pleasant and some can be unpleasant, but the process has a design to make the person going through it stronger. Our faith walk is one huge process, where we face different variables, different tests, and it is all designed to make us stronger believers, wiser believers, more complete believers. The key is seeing the process all the way through, which is extremely hard to do. How many of us have given up right before our breakthrough would’ve come for us? How many of us have wanted the reward without the process it takes to obtain it? God wants His children to trust in Him to see us through everything we face without choosing a way out when it gets rough. Patience is definitely a virtue, and it is not a quality for the weak. He wants us to rely on His strength and His direction when we are uncertain, and know that we will be rewarded for our endurance. Today, we will look at James 1:4, the completion of patience.

“But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

The word “patience” means “endurance, perseverance, and constancy under suffering in faith and duty”. We are to “LET patience”, which means we have to surrender our desires to control everything that comes our way. This requires trust, and God wants us to trust Him in the face of all circumstance. In Isaiah 26:3-4, the Bible says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength”. We need peace to remain still in the faith of a test of patience. A storm was raging and Christ was asleep on a pillow, but the disciples were panic-stricken, and fearful of death. If they would’ve trusted the word Christ gave them in Mark 4:35, which says, “And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side”, they would have allowed fear to have reign over their faith. I love the word “constancy” in the definition of patience because a person who is constant in the Lord is someone who cleaves to the Word of God no matter how it looks. In Jeremiah 17:7-8, the Bible says, “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.” A tree planted means that we are there to stay, and a tree planted by the waters means we don’t have to rely on rain or any outside elements because where we are planted will naturally sustain us. God wants believers rooted and planted in Him, people who only see Him in the face of challenge and not the challenge.

The phrase “perfect work” means “a completed process”. This means we have to see it all the way through! There are no short cuts in the kingdom of God. In Philippians 1:6, the Bible says, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” We have to place our confidence in the Lord that He will finish the work He began in us. We make the mistake in actually thinking we are the ones working the process, but we aren’t. God is working the process in us! We just have to continue seeking Him, seeking to plant His Word in our hearts, and be prepared to learn what we need to glean from the process. That is why we have to LET patience complete the process, or mature completely, because it is our God at work within us!

“The ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing”

There are rewards for letting patience have its perfect work. The word “entire” means “whole in a spiritual and moral sense”. In Colossians 1:10-11, the Bible says, “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness”. God wants us to endure the tests to our patience because He desires for us to bear fruitful in all we do, to know Him and His word more, and receive strength to face any level of opposition we may face. “Wanting nothing”, means “lacking nothing”. In 2 Timothy 3:17, the Bible says, “That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” God desires for His children to have everything we need to live for Him. In Luke 22:35, the Bible says, “And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.” There is no place the Lord will send us, no thing the Lord will allow us to go through, where we would lack what we needed to overcome. It’s our job to see the whole process through!

God Bless!

Marshall

Apr 16. 2021 – Matthew 11:25 – thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent

Hi Everyone!

Are we grateful to receive the Word of God and the revelations God ordains for us to receive? Do we really see it as a privilege to learn the things God desires for us to know, and do we honor that privilege by taking the opportunities God supplies to receive the Word of Truth? Do we understand that God didn’t reserve His Word for the smart and wise, but for a people with whom He would have to “start from scratch”? There may be more visually qualified people, but God doesn’t care for the qualified. He qualifies those He reveals Himself to, and that way, all roads, all signs point back to God. God leaves no doubt that He is the one that is doing the teaching, because man is going to be confounded by what we share! Today, we will look at Matthew 11:25, a babe’s reception to the revealed Word of God.

“At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.”

The word “thank” has interesting meanings. It means “to agree fully, to acknowledge, to praise”. Christ is assenting with God that His decision is a good one. In Matthew 18:19, Christ says, “Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.” Whenever there is agreement, the thing agreed upon is activated. In John 14:16 Christ says, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” Christ prayed for us to receive the Comforter, but what will the Comforter do? In John 14:26, Christ says, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” The Comforter will teach us and remind us of the Word of God we have received. Now let’s back up. Christ “thanked” God, or “agreed fully” with God, or acknowledged and praised God, all of which counted the decision of God DONE! When we thank God, we are coming into agreement with His will, and we are counting His will as done, whether we see it or not. “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth”. This statement of praise is also worship, because Christ, who could assume all power in heaven and earth, submitted that power to God. As believers, Christ is Savior to a lot of people, but is Christ Lord? In Philippians 2:9, the Bible says, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name”.  God exalted Christ because He humbled Himself by choice! As believers, we have to position ourselves in worship to receive from the Lord, just as Christ did.

“Because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent”

The word “hid” means “to keep secret, to conceal”. In 1 Corinthians 1:19, the Bible says, “For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” Imagine God trying to fill our vessels, only to discover that our head knowledge has completely filled that vessel! There are too many scholars without a relationship with God, without God being Lord, and God will put a total end to their wisdom and understanding. The word “wise” means “skilled in learning, intelligent, enlightened in things human and divine”. The word “prudent” means “mentally put together”. Well guess what? In 1 Corinthians 1:27, the Bible says, “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty”. God never designed the “smart” to receive the things of God because the smart will always pat themselves on the back for what they know. God chooses to reveal His wisdom to people society will feel don’t deserve to know, because in 1 Corinthians 1:29, the Bible says, “That no flesh should glory in his presence.” God dispenses what He wills to people who will give Him the glory. If the glory doesn’t come back, God will shut off the flow!

“And hast revealed them unto babes”

The phrase “hast revealed” means “to take the cover off, to disclose, spoken of things communicated, made known by His Spirit of influences.” The word “babes” mean “simpleminded, immature Christians”. In 1 Corinthians 2:14, the Bible says, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” God wants His children to spiritually discern the Word of God, the word God reveals to us, and live according to that word!

It brought Christ pleasure to see the “babes” receive the Word of God. May we have the same gratefulness.

God Bless!

Marshall

April 17, 2021 – Exodus 6:6 – I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians

Hi Everyone!

I still remember the bondage I was under behind my sin like it was yesterday. I was running a race where I never got ahead, I only set myself back so many times that man could do nothing to help me. I remember the many cold shoulders, people’s turned backs, and I felt alone in a way I never have been before. I still experience the consequences of that bondage I was under, but praise God I am no longer enslaved by the sin that held me hostage. I have been set free by the blood of Jesus Christ, redeemed by His precious blood, and praise God that I have been given these special opportunities to experience freedom that the world could never give. I needed deliverance, and God stepped in, I needed healing and God stepped in, and I needed a Lord and Savior and God provided that as well. Today, we are going to look at Exodus 6:6, setting the captives free.

“Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:”

God is telling Moses to convey a Word from Him to Israel to get ready for freedom. There is always a word or promise that comes BEFORE the action. “I am the Lord” establishes the authority by which the Word comes. In John 5:43, Christ says, “I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.” Are we receiving the name of the latest self-help author as the authority on freedom, or are we receiving the name of the Lord Jesus Christ as the authority on freedom? Christ said it himself that people who come in their own name will be received before Christ. In Isaiah 61:1, the Bible says, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound”. The testimony of our Lord is sure, and the Lord was anointed to proclaim liberty to the captives, and open the prison to those who are bound. Wouldn’t it be wise for us to be sure that the authority we receive as truth is actually capable of setting us free? This is what Christ came to do, and in Luke 4:21, after quoting Isaiah 61:1-2, the Bible says, “And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” The Word of God us enough for us to place our confidence in it, but will we believe when the Word is given.

“And I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage,”

The Israelites cried out to the Lord in the midst of their bondage and God heard them. In Exodus 3:7-8 the Bible says, “And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.” Before Israel knew their cries were being heard, God was already establishing their deliverance! God doesn’t just hear us, He responds, and when God responds, nothing man will ever do can stop the Word of the Lord from happening. In Psalm 81:6, the Bible says, “I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.” God either removes the burden from us, removes us from the burden, or give us the grace to endure the burden. The word “rid” means “to snatch away” and the word “bondage” means “slave labor”. God’s intention is to snatch us away from slavery, slavery to sin and slavery to works of the Law, neither which could ever save us from sin and sin’s consequences.

“And I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgements.”

The word “redeem” means “to buy back from spiritual death, bondage, and exile”. A “stretched out arm” activates power! From Exodus 3:20, when God said He would stretch out His hand and smite Egypt, to Mark 3:5, when Christ told the man with the withered hand to stretch forth his hand and He restored it whole. When the hand or arm of God stretches out, something powerful happens. The word “judgements” means “inflictions or plagues”. In 1 Chronicles 17:21, the Bible says, “And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be his own people, to make thee a name of greatness and terribleness, by driving out nations from before thy people whom thou hast redeemed out of Egypt?”

There is going to be a testimony given on God’s deliverance, one that will separate us from the world! Will it point to Christ awesome power to make us free indeed?

God Bless!

Marshall

Apr 18, 2021 – James 5:16 – the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much

Hi Everyone!

We need our believing brothers and sisters in Christ in our personal faith journey. No person can make it alone, and that is why God created a helpmeet for Adam. Our faith community is made stronger when we come together, and are transparent with our weaknesses, with our faults, with our fears, and with our sins. What is supposed to happen next is our brothers and sisters are supposed to cover us in prayer, and those prayers will then heal our afflicted brother or sister in Christ. Sadly, a lot of times, confessions are exposed in juicy gossip, no one is prayed for, no one gets healed and the Church loses trust with the very people we and the Church are created to serve. The enemy makes his habitation near our weakness, hoping to pick us apart. However with a covering of Christ’s presence and in prayer, the weak will receive protection and the path to heal in a healthy environment. Today, we will look at another popular Scripture, James 5:16, effectual fervent prayer.

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

The word “confess” means “to acknowledge or concede”. Whatever we confess, we are bringing it out to the open. In Acts 19:16-18, the Bible says, “And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.” Sometimes, “the fear of God” can be put into us, causing us to reflect upon our own actions, which can lead to confession and repentance. In Romans 10:10, the Bible says, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Confession comes from the heart, and we typically confess faults to people we believe can actually do something about them. The word “faults” means “transgressions from lapses in judgement or sheer carelessness”. In Galatians 6:1-2, the Bible says, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” There is always supposed to be a response if a brother or sister is overtaken by a fault, and God desires a Church who will come together and cover them in prayer and restore them, the same way we would want them to restore us if we were the ones overtaken. He wants the Church to be ready to help everyone who desires to get the weight of sin off them.

“That ye may be healed”

The word “healed” means “cured, made whole”. God doesn’t want us partially made whole. He wants us completely cured! In Matthew 9:12, Christ says, “But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.” God wants what He ordains to be done the right way, so it doesn’t have to be done twice. In John 4:15, the Bible says, “The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.” The woman at the well wanted a permanent solution to her problem, but it required confession. Christ asked her to call her husband, and in John 4:17, the Bible says, “The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband”. Once Christ got this out in the open, He completed her confession, then began to work the Word into her exposed spirit. In John 4:28, the Bible says, “The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men”. She asked to have her thirst quenched and after her interaction with Christ, she left her water pot behind!

“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much”

The phrase “effectual fervent” means “active, operative, producing an effect”. The word “prayer” here means “petitions to God on another’s behalf, making known one’s particular need.” In Genesis 20:17, the Bible says, “So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.” Our prayers are supposed to do something powerful! The word “availeth” means “have strength, power, and ability”. In Psalm 34:18-19, the Bible says, “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” Do we understand that when a person has transgressions it hinders their ability to have their prayers answered by God? This is why confession, prayer, and healing are so important, because it unblocks and clears a path to the Lord.

May we, as a Church, keep our access to the Lord unobstructed.

God Bless!

Marshall

Apr 19, 2021 – 1 Peter 1:7 – the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold

Hi Everyone!

Our faith is subject to frequent testing. I know this personally, because recently, the enemy has been hitting me from angles I didn’t see coming. It left me hurt, unable to explain what was going on. As God’s grace became sufficient, and His strength was made perfect in my weakness, I understood that God has already given me the victory before He allowed me to experience the test. I have a choice in the face of testing: I could focus my attention on what is happening and make a residence in struggle, or I can set my affections in things above, allowing the Holy Spirit’s inhabitation within me to give me the peace to hold my position. God won’t make that choice for us, but He gives us what we need to stand firmly in faith no matter what is going on. Today, we are going to look at 1 Peter 1:7, the trial of faith.

“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ”

The word “trial” means “proof of trustworthiness”. The word “faith” means “fidelity, firm persuasion, assurance, established credence”. I love the term “fidelity” when it comes to faith, because it correlates to relationships, especially marriage. It gives us the understanding that no matter what happens, we are faithful to the Word of God and to our relationship with God. In James 1:2-3, the Bible says, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” The testing of our faith should be received with joy? Seriously? On the surface, it seems like James may had a little too much communion wine, but it makes perfect sense. Here’s why! In 2 Corinthians 2:14, the Bible says, “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.” ALWAYS causes us to triumph in Christ!!!! I am reading a book “Victory in Spiritual Warfare” by Tony Evans, and he speaks on how some believers are fighting FOR victory instead of fighting FROM victory. If God ALWAYS causes us to triumph in Christ, then the victory is ours as long as we remain rooted in Him. This is why we can receive the promise of Philippians 4:13, which says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me,” because in Christ’s strength lies the ability to conquer our mountains. In 1 Peter 4:12-13, the Bible says, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” It is no strange occurrence when our faith is tested, and it gives us the opportunity to share in Christ’s sufferings, so we can also share in the victory.

“Being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it might be tried with fire”

Do we really see the trial of our faith as being of immense value? The word “precious” means “valuable, costly, esteemed, and beloved”. The word “perisheth” means “to destroy fully”. Isn’t it odd how we can place more faith and value in something that can be completely destroyed than we do of our faith? In 2 Corinthians 4:18, the Bible says, “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” The things of faith are eternal, but the things we see are temporary. God wants us to always be spiritually minded and eternally driven. The word “tried” here means “to examine, to put to proof”. In Hebrews 12:29, the Bible says, “For our God is a consuming fire.” Who better else to examine our faith, to establish our faith by evidence but God? Refinement by fire burns off anything that has made us impure in our faith, causing us to be vessels of the highest value. In Job 23:10, the Bible says, “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” God knows the way we take, meaning that He has positioned us to experience victory!

“Might be found into praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ”

The phrase “might be found” means “to perceive or learn by experience that a person or thing does a particular thing.” This is building a record for ourselves of our faithfulness. This is why God questioned Satan in Job 1:8, which says, “And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?” This is the perspective we want the Lord Jesus Christ to have of us when He beholds us in the last days, but why can’t this begin now?

May the testing of our faith produce a record for ourselves that brings glory, honor and praise to our awesome God.

God Bless!

Marshall

Apr 20, 2021 – 1 Peter 2:25 – for ye were as sheep going astray

Hi Everyone!

All sheep go astray in some way. We have all stepped outside of the will of God and have had to get back on course. I learned a level of compassion I never had for people, because God allowed me to find this beautiful path of faith again after all I have done. I know people can be restored because I was. I know people can change, because I did and am still changing. God is not done with me, and He is not done with mankind as well. He desires for His people to return to Him to serve Him as Lord and King. God understands a sheep’s nature and knows that at times we will go astray, but praise be to God for being so loving to continue to search for us, and to look for our return. Our world is in disarray because people started going astray and remained astray, and had children and led them astray as well. Our society must return to the Lord God and be a people led by our loving God. Today, we will look at 1 Peter 2:25, a word on returning to the Lord.

“For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”

The word “sheep” means “something that walks forward”. Weird definition for an animal correct? Sheep are animals that are led, so if the sheep are walking forward, they are moving how the shepherd leads. In Hebrews 12:2, the Bible says, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Christ is who we must look forward to, who is our beginning and our end, who knows the way we should take. In Hebrews 1:14, the Bible says, “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” So the sheep walks forward, the shepherds are sent forth, so this means there shouldn’t be sheep without shepherds, because ministers are sent to lead the sheep forward to Christ. In John 10:11, Christ says, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” Christ is our example for what a shepherd should be, but we tend to fall drastically below this standard. This shouldn’t be, because if we are willing to be living sacrifices, then how can we lead the sheep forward? In Ezekiel 34:5-6, the Bible says, “And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.” Sheep are scattered, led astray because there aren’t enough shepherds, and some of the shepherding amounts to no shepherding at all.

The word “astray” means “to roam from safety, truth, or virtue”. In Matthew 18:12-13, Christ says, “How think ye? if a man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.” You want to know what is happening when sheep go astray now in a lot of churches? No one comes after them! They are left in the wilderness to be consumed because no shepherd is willing to inconvenience themselves for someone who is led astray. Is this the example Christ left us? What happens when a sheep, who was astray, walks into a church, clothes dirty, hair matted on their head, a foul stench coming from their body? Is there rejoicing by the sheep being found, or judgement? Just because a sheep goes astray, doesn’t mean that they have to remain that way.

“But now are returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”

The word “return” means “to revert, or to convert”. It expresses a change in direction. In Luke 22:31-32 “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” Christ knew Peter was going to go astray and turn his back on Christ. Christ covered him in prayer so his going astray wouldn’t destroy his faith. “WHEN thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren”. Christ knew he would come back and told him to use his testimony to strengthen his brothers. The word “Shepherd” means “pastor, speaks of Christ, the Great Shepherd who watches over and provides for the welfare of the church.” The word “Bishop” means “a watchman or overseer of the church, speaking of Christ”. In Hebrews 13:20, the Bible says, “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant”.

If God brought Jesus Christ back from the dead, then He will definitely bring us back from our sin! Let us return to the Lord today.

God Bless!

Marshall

Apr 21, 2021 – 1 Peter 3:11 – let him eschew evil, and do good

Hi Everyone!

God entrusts our state of minds, hearts, and faith into our hands, allowing us to make decisions daily that will reveal what is within us. As believers, we have to make choices, to serve the Lord or to fulfill the flesh, to walk in faith or move according to how we feel. Likewise, to think of truth, honesty, purity, what is lovely, things that are just, things that are of good report, or to think of our worries and live in anxiety. God gives us His Word so we can walk securely within the power He has given, achieving the victory by living our lives in Him. In the Word of God is the provisions and the instructions for us to live Godly lives. When I was neck deep in my sin, worrying about trying to change was frustrating enough for me to quit before I began. There is no peace when we try to do it on our own, but when we seize the Word of God in our spirit, heart, and mind, I discovered that if we center our focus on the Word of God, then we don’t have to focus on walking without stepping on a crack. Today, we are going to look at 1 Peter 3:11, a Godly mind’s victory over evil.

“Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.”

The word “eschew” means “to deviate, to avoid, to go out of the way”. This implies a conscious choice to stay out of the way. In Psalm 1:1 the Bible says, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” We don’t want to be anywhere where there is a presence of evil, or anything that will separate us from our fellowship with God. The Bible says in Psalm 33:10-11, “The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.” Ungodly counsel will not hold up to the truth or purposes of God and has a very short expiration date. In Proverbs 4:14-15, the Bible says, “Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.” We aren’t supposed to stand in the way of sinners, because how then can we be distinguished from them?  I remember when I was shot in 2001. At the time I had 2 jobs and wasn’t in the streets as much. But because I didn’t “come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord”, I looked no different than the people they were targeting and I was shot in their place. In Psalm 26:3-4, the Bible says, “For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth. I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.” When we walk in truth, experiencing the Lord’s lovingkindness, we don’t have time to entertain divisive people. The word “evil” means “depraved or injurious minds, attitudes, and actions, wickedness”. In Galatians 5:17, the Bible says, “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” The presence of evil in our lives ensures that we don’t do the things God desires of us, and that keeps us out of fellowship spiritually.

“And do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.”

The word “good” is always designed to reflect something or someone that is in alignment with God’s intention from the beginning. “Doing good” implies a person who is obedient to God, doing the things He commands us to do. In Romans 13:3, the Bible says, “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same”. When we do the things God intends for us to do, we don’t have to worry about negative consequences, nor do we have to worry about not having the Lord’s peace. The word “seek” suggest we search for peace. This is an intentional act on our part to obtain the peace of God. In Philippians 4:6-7, the Bible says, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” We can’t do nothing and expect peace to just show up. We have to cast out our anxiety, dive into prayer with thanksgiving, and the peace of God will guard our minds and hearts. The word “ensue” means “to pursue”. In Romans 14:19, the Bible says, “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.” Our pursuit of Godly peace will positively affect those around us as well. “Peace” means “tranquility, arising from reconciliation with God and a sense of divine favor.” Sounds like a pretty great reason to have peace, right?

Within us lies the choice to choose good or evil, anxiety or peace, victory or defeat. Which will you choose today?

God Bless!

Marshall

Apr 22, 2021 – 1 Peter 4:2 – but to the will of God

Hi Everyone!

Salvation was not a free pass to the sin all we want, despite having the assurance of eternal life by faith in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. A lot of believers have this nonchalance about sin, this disregard for the sacrifice Christ made to redeem us from the penalty of death. Instead of taking this clean slate, and seeking to become all God has created us to be, we do the same things we have been delivered from, the same things that caused our separation from God in the first place. We also have the audacity to believe that we can live any way we choose and still live in victory. No believer should have this mentality, because it would be a continual disappointment to our loving Savior Jesus Christ to mismanage this precious gift he has bestowed upon us by His death. He suffered and died so we can live abundantly, so our lives should reflect the gratefulness of being saved and restored. Today, we are going to look at 1 Peter 4:2, using our salvation to live in the will of God.

“That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.”

The phrase “no longer” suggests that an end has been placed upon something. When we receive salvation in Jesus Christ, we have to make a choice of what nature we will answer to, the new or old. In Joshua 24:15, the Bible says, “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” We still have to make the choice to serve the Lord after salvation, and every day thereafter, and that choice should be in accordance with who we are. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, the Bible says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”  We have to establish in our spirits that we are new people in Christ, therefore subject to do new things. The old man and nature is passed away, but sadly we have the choice to revive the nature in our lives. The word “live” means “to spend one’s existence”. We are supposed to live according to our nature, according to the authority we are under, and in Romans 14:8, the Bible says, “For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.” We belong to the Lord, so our lives should be lived for Him. The phrase “rest of his time” means “remaining opportunity in a season or life”. Do we view life as an opportunity, or is it something we take for granted? In James 4:14, the Bible says, “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” If our lives fly by before we know it, then shouldn’t we be a little more diligent with how we spend it?

“In the flesh to the lust of men”

The word “flesh” pertains to a mortal body. That means while we are still alive here on earth, we +shouldn’t live our lives to please our flesh, but God. The word “lusts” means longings or desires that are forbidden by God. In 1 Peter 1:14, the Bible says, “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance”. If we are obedient to God, then we will be disobedient to the former lusts we once walked in. Whatever nature we are obedient to, we will be disobedient to the other. There is no gray area to this. In Romans 8:5, the Bible says, “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.” Whatever our hearts go after is the thing we will give our attention and time to. In Romans 6:12, the Bible says, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.” Whatever we go after, we are in service to, and it will have reign as long as we allow it. God doesn’t want us as believers to spend the rest of our lives chasing after a nature from which we have been saved.

“But to the will of God”

The word “will” means “purpose, intention, desire or preference”. In Galatians 2:20, the Bible says, “I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” With such a beautiful picture of what Christ did for us, it should make us desire to do what God desires us to do. In James 1:18, the Bible says, “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” God wants to make us “a kind of firstfruits” meaning “His set apart selection, fully devoted to Him, the representation of His identity and power on earth.”

We should live the rest of our new lives desirous to do God’s will.

God Bless!

Marshall

Apr 23, 2021 – Psalm 34:18 – The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart

Hi Everyone!

God doesn’t always feel near to us when we are heartbroken. The key word is “feel”, and just because God doesn’t feel near to us, doesn’t mean he has forsaken us. Truth be told, God is right there for us and with us at all times, ready to step in and help us, but do we really believe that? If we have a splitting headache and we have the medication that will cure the headache, but don’t believe it will work, then we probably won’t take it, right? Well, the same rules apply with God. If we believe that His presence won’t work to cure our brokenness, then we won’t call upon Him in our distress, or even in our sin, to receive the deliverance we need. We can’t blame God when we won’t call upon Him, correct? God is always here and He desires to deliver His children into the abundant life He created us to experience. Today, we will look at Psalm 34:18, the nearness of God to deliver the broken spirit.

“The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”

The word “nigh” means “near, at hand”, as if to say God is at our service. This verse didn’t say the pastor is near, or our parents are near, neither did it say our friends are near, but God himself is near! That is important! In Psalm 145:18, the Bible says, “The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.” Unto ALL, meaning everyone has access to this, but few use the access they were given. It also says, “to all that call upon him in truth”, meaning according to God’s design or God’s word. In John 4:24, Christ says, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” Worship, meaning “to depress oneself, to bring oneself low, to prostrate oneself before the Lord”, must be in truth, and that must be in accordance with the Word of God. When we are of a “broken heart”, it means that the seat of our inner nature is crushed into pieces. We may look fine on the outside but it’s a 10 car pile up happening on the inside. In Proverbs 18:14, the Bible says, “The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?” We can handle the “outside stuff”, like illness or injury, but God never designed us to handle the “inside stuff”, like stress, heart break, anger, or sorrow, without Him. In 1 Peter 5:7, the Bible says, “Casting all your care upon HIM; for he careth for you.” ALL of our care! We don’t give God a chance to heal our broken hearts, because we won’t give it ALL to Him! We have to humble ourselves, bring ourselves low, tell ourselves that we can’t handle this alone, that our God is mightier than the circumstances we face. In 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, the Bible says, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed”. What we go through has an expiration date when we turn it over to the Lord, because He is near to all who are broken hearted that call upon Him in truth.

“And saveth such as be of a contrite spirit”

The word “save” means “to free, to deliver from tribulation, to bring to a place of safety”. In Psalm 51:17, the Bible says, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Wait a minute, so is this saying that our broken hearts and our hearts of contrition are sacrifices? Does it read that God wants us to turn loose these things before Him, so He can do what He wills with them? In Matthew 16:24, the Bible says, “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” So by coming after Christ, we are purging ourselves of everything we have in order to seize everything God has for us. The sacrifice +comes in where we cast our will into the fire, exchanging it for the will of God. There are no broken hearts in the kingdom of God, only broken strongholds. In Hebrews 5:7, the Bible says, “Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared”. We are not crying out to someone who can’t fix what is broken or save what is lost. We are crying out to God Almighty, for whom nothing is impossible! The word “contrite” means “crushed into powder”. That suggest there is no trace of what it was when it was whole! That means a complete restoration of our spirit! In Psalm 109:26-28, the Bible says, “Help me, O LORD my God: O save me according to thy mercy: That they may know that this is thy hand; that thou, LORD, hast done it.” When we are saved, we want to convey a testimony that points directly to God’s power to heal and deliver.

Let us come before the Lord in our brokenness and contrition, allowing Him to transform us into living testimonies for Him!

God Bless!

Marshall

Apr 24, 2021 – Exodus 14:13 – fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD 

Hi Everyone!

When the enemy is pressing upon us, trying to destroy us, we can become unsettled, afraid, and panic stricken. I have been in binds where I had no clue how I would make it through, but at the perfect time, God stepped right in and delivered me. It takes a lot of trust to stand still and allow God to fight these battles for us, and with most people having “fight or flight” instincts, it is hard to abandon our “go to” methods to take God at His word. God requires faith, children that will place their full confidence in the written and spoken Word of God, because faith in God with provide permanent victory. God does not desire us to keep fighting the same enemy, the same battle, and the same nature over and over, but that is what will happen if we continue to operate on our own power. Today, we will look at Exodus 14:13, beholding the salvation of the Lord.

“And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.”

I want to make it clear that Moses is operating according to God’s leading. In Exodus 13:18, the Bible says, “But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.” The first thing we must understand about God here is if He leads us anywhere, His presence and His authority will be right there every step of the way. The second thing I want to make clear is Moses was operating according to the Word of the Lord God. In Exodus 14:4, the Bible says, “And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD. And they did so.” God prepares Moses and Israel for the attack that is sure to come. Never think for a second that when the enemy attacks us, God hasn’t already had a word prepared for us to walk in! God doesn’t get the glory if we succumb to the attack of the enemy, so it is not God’s intention for us to lose!

The word “fear” means “to be frightened, to be afraid”. God doesn’t want us to be afraid, especially when His word has already assured us of the victory! In 2 Chronicles 20:15, the Bible says, “And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” Do we really understand that there is nothing to fear when led by God’s word, because God will fight the battle for us! God’s presence should invite deep, moral reverence, not terror, because in 1 John 4:18, the Bible says, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” Think about this. If we are in Christ, then that means we are in God, and if we are in God then we are in love! Love should never produce a reason to be afraid, because if we are living in love, then there is no penalty, no condemnation, no death. We should want to experience the presence of the Lord, experiencing His hand move powerfully in our lives.

The phrase “stand still” means “to put in its place, to station”. This means our feet are locked in position and we don’t move. In Isaiah 41:10, the Bible says, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” There is no reason for us to move when God is at work, because He will give us strength, and he will hold us up in His righteousness. How will He do any of this when we won’t stay still? In Psalm 46:10, the Bible says, “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” If we let God fight our battles, the world will see that our God delivers, but if we try to fight our own battles, people will associate our faith with “trying and failing.”

“see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day, for the Egyptians whom you have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more forever.”

The word “salvation” means “deliverance, help, victory”. It did say “the salvation of Moses”. In Jonah 2:9, the Bible says, “But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.” Salvation belongs to the Lord! The name of Jesus in both Hebrew and Greek means “The Lord Saves”, and deliverance is His identity. In Psalm 50:15, the Bible says, “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” When the Lord delivers us, He will be glorified! This deliverance in this verse is immediate, and swift, and the Israelites will see God’s power in a way they will never see! The word “shew” means “make complete, accomplish”. In Philippians 1:6, the Bible says, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ”. God will always bring His Word to completion! In Ecclesiastes 3:14, the Bible says, “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.” When God moves, nothing on earth can stop His hand. Being assured of this allows us to remain still in the face of the heaviest circumstances, and find ourselves victorious while our enemy finds himself defeated forever.

May we trust in the Lord and have the courage to stand still when the enemy is mounting an attack. Victory is ours!

God Bless!

Marshall

Apr 25, 2021 – Jeremiah 17:10 – I the LORD search the heart

Hi Everyone!

God knows our hearts. We pray and He not only hears our prayers, but He also hears the stuff we are too afraid or too ashamed to ask for. It is refreshing to know that, even though our God knows us inside and out, He still expects us to come to Him, speak to Him, and entrust the contents of our minds and hearts to Him. It should make it easier for us to pray and speak to God, but a lot of us still have trouble. In speaking with God, we tend to ask for things we desire, but our God not only knows what we need, but He knows what to provide that we don’t think we need as well, things we may feel that we don’t qualify for. Imagine this amazing God who knows our hearts well enough to know what to give us, in order for us to fulfill His purpose, and glorify Him with what we have. Today, we are going to look at Jeremiah 17:10, God, the searcher of our hearts.

“I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”

The word “search” means “to penetrate, to examine intimately”. When God searches us, He doesn’t deal with the surface. He desires to know us from the inside out. In Psalm 139:1, the Bible says, “O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.” God knows His children on a level no one does. It doesn’t say “My pastor searches my heart”. This level of searching can only be done by the Lord. In 1 Samuel 16:7, the Bible says, “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” Mankind has their own standard to discern what manner of man a person is, but the characteristics we tend to look at will fool us because there is always something we will miss. The word “heart” is the “center of a person’s innermost being, the seat of thoughts, emotions, feelings, etc”. In Ephesians 6:6, the Bible says, “Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart”. God knows what type of service we are giving, and from what place it comes. In 2 Corinthians 9:7, the Bible says, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” When our hearts are right, aiming to please the Lord in our lives and service, it makes God more than willing to position us for success in Him.

“I try the reins”

The word “try” means “to test or prove”. In 1 Samuel 17:39, the Bible says, “And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.” David couldn’t wear the sword and armor because he has never tried them on before, and the lack of experience with it would’ve proven fatal. The word “reins” means “mind or interior self”. We know the word “reins” from our knowledge of how an animal is rode, especially a horse. The reins pulled a certain way gives the horse direction, much like if our mind is pulled a certain way, our bodies follows. In Romans 12:2, the Bible says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” When we pour ourselves into the Word of God, both written and spoken, it renews our minds, and allow God to test our innermost being, our innermost thoughts, to ensure we are able for be directed by God. In Proverbs 3:6, the Bible says, “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” The Lord wants to look within us and see people ready to be led by Him, people with empty vessels who seek to be filled with His Word, people who desire to live to please Him.

“even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings”

The word “ways” means “course of life”. This is important to the believer who desires anything of the Lord to consider. In Jeremiah 32:19, the Bible says, “Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings”. God knows when we are ready to receive of Him, because He knows the deepest parts of us. God sees everything!! The word “fruit” means “reward”, and it suggests the end result of our work. In Matthew 12:33, Christ says, “Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.” There is no fooling God. He knows who we are, what we desire and what we will do with what He gives. God will only dispense what we can handle, what we can use to bring glory to Him, and nothing less.

May the Lord search our hearts to find laborers ready for the harvest.

God Bless!

Marshall

Apr 26, 2021 – 1 Peter 5:2 – feed the flock of God

Hi Everyone!

It is important to make sure the Church is taken care of. We who have grown spiritually should be helping those who aren’t at the same level as we are, so they can grow spiritually, and become more intimate with our awesome God. We have to have a selfless mind, and a heart of love and compassion, looking beyond where they may be to what God can truly do in their lives. Sometimes, we have to be an ear to hear, a ride to church, a Bible verse at the most opportune time, or someone to sit and pray with. Wherever we are needed, we should be willing to step in because when we needed someone, God always made sure someone was right there. I know personally, there has been a believer there for me that has ushered me into this next chapter of my life. Sadly, I also experienced “kindness” that came at an awful price for me. Today, I want us to look at 1 Peter 5:2, effective shepherding in Christ Jesus.

“Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind”

The word “feed” means “to care or provide for, to supervise, to tend to”. This responsibility is for the pastors and teachers of the church. Before anyone breathes a “sigh of relief”, thinking this doesn’t pertain to us, in Matthew 28:19-20 Christ says, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Seems like this is directed to all of us, but just in case we think not, in Hebrews 5:12, the Bible says, “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.” We were never designed to remain “just students”, “just church goers”, or “just believers”. We are supposed to grow in our knowledge of the Word of God to be able to teach someone else what God has revealed to us. The word “flock” means “believers of Christ, the Church”. In Acts 20:28, the Bible says, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” God wants us to take our positions seriously, because not only have we received salvation, but our teaching can pave the way for someone to experience Christ, and receive salvation as well. “Which is among you”. Sometimes, the mission field required a plane trip to a place where the Word isn’t being preached and God has selected His representatives to do that, but for most of us, our mission field is right in front of us, at school, at work, in our neighborhoods, or in our own families!

“Taking the oversight thereof”

The word “oversight” means “to give attention to, to examine the affairs of”. In 1 Timothy 3:4-5, the Bible says, “One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)” Our homes are the first place our shepherding begins, and that extends to the neighborhood, the Church, the community, the job. In Jeremiah 23:3-4, the Bible says, “And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.” Shepherding contributes to the growth and fruitfulness of the Church. Shepherding helps strengthen the body because the flock is always fed!

Not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind”

The word “constraint” suggests that a person is doing something because they are compelled by force. Ever been helped by someone who really didn’t want to help, or by someone who was forced to help? Makes one not want the help at all. In 2 Corinthians 8:12, the Bible says, “For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.” God desires a willing mind, not a ton of qualifications. A willing mind is expected. The phrase “filthy lucre” suggests an evil purpose, usually greed. In Ezekiel 34:8, the Bible says, “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock.” When our teachers and pastors are more concerned with their own gain than the gain of the Church, the flock will always suffer.

May we feed the flock of God, considering the edification of the Church as we serve!

God Bless!

Marshall

Apr 27, 2021 – 2 Peter 3:9 – that all should come to repentance

Hi Everyone!

I can reflect upon my past life and see God’s patience at work. When I was in the street life, I can recall Sister Linda, Mrs. Herzer, Mrs. Denton, and many others constantly pouring loving upon me, showing me that God still loved me, and wanted me home with Him. I had a ton of people giving me a word that I can now certify came from the Lord, and God sent a host of people throughout my life to help me make it through everything that came my way. God was preserving me because He knew I would get to this point of repentance where I fell upon the Cornerstone broken, and He would transform my life to serve Him. When I think about God’s overwhelming love for me despite my many decisions made to disgrace the cross, I can only think about God’s patience towards us. Today, we will look at 2 Peter 3:9, God’s unfailing desire for His children to come to repentance.

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

The word “slack” means “to cause a delay, late, tardy”. The Lord is never late, and that becomes evident by Isaiah 55:11, which says, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” God knows the time and place His promise will manifest itself, whether it seems to be a long wait or not. Ecclesiastes 3:1, the Bible says, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven”. When we understand that the world moves on God’s time, we will no longer classify God’s movements according to when we feel He should move. The word “promise” means “announcement of a divine assurance of good, one of eternal life”. In Hebrews 10:36-37, “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” God is patient concerning His promises, but we have to be just as patient with Him to receive His promises. I hear so many believers say, “I wish Christ would come for His Church now”, but what about the people, some of the relatives even, that will miss out on salvation if God answered the prayers to come right now? In 2 Corinthians 1:20, the Bible says, “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” When God makes a promise, it will be so.

“As some men count slackness”

The word “slackness” means “tardiness, being late”. Most of us are quick to put our timetable on God, but do we really understand some of what happens when a word is delivered to us? In Daniel 10:12:13, the Bible says, “Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.” There is a resistance that is mounted by the enemy to keep the Word from reaching us, so imagine what is happening that is trying to withstand salvation?

“But is longsuffering to us-ward”

The word “longsuffering” means “long-minded, slow to anger”.  In Isaiah 30:18, the Bible says, “And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.” It is God’s grace and love towards us that causes Him to forego judgement in order for us to receive salvation. In Ephesians 2:8, the Bible says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God”. Grace makes room for mercy and salvation!

“Not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance”.

Pay attention to the words “any” and “all”. God doesn’t want anyone to “perish” or “be destroyed fully”, but He wants everyone to come to “repentance”, or “a reversal of decision, reformation.” This implies Godly sorrow for unbelief and sin, and a turning from them unto God and the gospel of Christ. In John 3:16, the Bible says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Whosoever! Another definite term. We have a God that is so patient with such a stubborn and sinful people, a people He loves so deeply that He already allowed Christ to die and the rewards are STILL available to us right now. God doesn’t want to punish us. He wants to receive us as His own!

May we view the patience and love of God as the reason to repent and experience this divine nature God has in store for all who are redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ.

God Bless!

Marshall

Apr 28, 2021 – Exodus 19:5 – if ye will obey my voice

Hi Everyone!

Do we really understand how special we are to God? Can we comprehend the love God has for us, how He has never stopped trying to bring us back into right fellowship with Him? Since the beginning of creation, God designed His children to reside with Him, and through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we now have the Holy Spirit sent to reside IN us. Despite who we may have been, despite the wrong we have done, despite the bad decisions we have made, this gift is available to all, because it is God’s desire for His children to be saved and become whole in Him. Even though God makes this gift available to all, there are conditions to His promises, but the conditions come as characteristics of worship, things that give God free reign to operated mightily in our lives without our interference. If we are willing to humble ourselves before our God and be obedient to the Word of God, we will become something we never imagined we could be in Him. Today we will look at Exodus 19:5, because peculiar treasures to God.

“Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine”

The word “obey” means “to hear intelligently with the intention to heed”. Imagine a soldier hearing their leader’s instructions, ready to carry out the command. That is how we must be when we hear the Lord’s voice. In Deuteronomy 11:26-28, the Bible says, “Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.” Blessing and cursing comes from our obedience, or lack thereof. In Deuteronomy 30:16, the Bible says, “In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.” Obedience should always come in love for God and from our desire to please Him. A lot of times, we hear the word “obey” and automatically shift our minds towards the potential consequences that will come if we don’t obey. In Ezekiel 36:27, the Bible says, “And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” If we entrust our hearts and minds to the Lord, He will give us what we need to obey His voice! “Indeed” indicates a person committed fully to obeying God’s voice. All or nothing!

“And keep my covenant”

The word “keep” means “to maintain and observe something for the purpose of sustainability”. The word “covenant” means “an alliance, compact, or agreement between two or more persons. A covenant is made when a Word of promise is given that the parties agree to, and flesh is cut in two, allowing the parties of the covenant to pass through. In Exodus 2:24-25, the Bible says, “And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.” God doesn’t forget His covenant with us, and will move on behalf to make sure the covenant is kept. If we obey God’s voice and keep His commands, and God keeps His promises, no matter what happens along the way. Hebrews 8:6, the Bible says, “But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.” We are a part of an even better covenant than the ones made in the Old Testament!

“Then shall ye be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine”

The phrase “peculiar treasure” means “a wealthy, unique treasure”. This expresses something highly valuable that is kept under guard. In Deuteronomy 4:20, the Bible says, “But the LORD hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day.” If we came out of the fire, then that means we are pure and of the highest value! Only in Christ can we be at our highest value! In Titus 2:14, the Bible says, “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Doesn’t this picture give us a reason to WANT to obey the voice of the Lord? In Psalm 24:1, the Bible says, “The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” We are the Lord’s and His desire is to make us a people set apart, special in nature, divinely purposed in Him.

May we obey out of love for our Lord, and may we place great value in who God has transformed us to be.

God Bless!

Marshall

Apr 29, 2021 – Exodus 19:6 – ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation

Hi Everyone!

God distinguishes His children, giving us roles that automatically separates us from the world we live in. We are members of the kingdom of God, and because of who we are, we have access to God, and ability to fellowship with Him from anywhere we are. The world is longing to belong, but sadly, they serve a leader who is leading them right into the lake of fire if salvation doesn’t come first. God already views us as a unique possession of wealth, AND He also views us as royalty, people that will administer His Word and His love to His people, while representing the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in the world. We have a position of importance that doesn’t make us better than anyone else, but it does mean that our futures are secure in Him. That is something to give thanks about! Today, we will look at Exodus 19:6, a kingdom of priests and kings unto God.

“And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.

These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.”

The phrase “shall be” implies a condition fulfilled that will produce a further action. In Exodus 19:5, the Bible lays out the condition by saying, “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine”. The “And” to begin today’s verse expresses a continuation to a previous verse. The word “kingdom” means “a form of dominion, of royal power”. God is the ruler of our kingdom, and His kingdom is governed by love and truth. In Deuteronomy 33:3, the Bible says, “Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words.” This is such a gentle perspective of how the kingdom of God appears; the saints under His care humbling themselves in worship, ready to receive the Word of God. In 1 Peter 2:9, the Bible says, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light”. We were chosen to carry the roles we have in the kingdom! Do we understand that, from the Old Testament with the Law and to the New Testament with grace, our roles in God’s eyes haven’t changed? He saw us as kings and priests then, and he still sees us as such now! 

The word “priests” means “one officiating, performing the function of mediators between God and His people”. Imagine with me that all believers will be viewed as a kingdom of priests by God. No pressure, right? In Hebrews 5:13-14, the Bible says, “For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” As believers, we may start with milk, but we are supposed to grow into believers who can not only handle meat, but can teach milk or meat to anyone as well. We are not supposed to go backwards because as a kingdom of priests, we are the representatives of the God we serve. I am starting to understand why it bothered Christ so much to see the disciples’ lack of faith, because the most simple thing for a priest to do is believe the Word given from God. How can we teach what we don’t believe?

The word “holy” means “inherently morally sacred”. The word “nation” means a group, tribe, or flock of people. In Leviticus 19:2, the Bible says, “Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.” As a kingdom of priests, we are to be a reflection of the God we serve, and His attributes must be visible in us. In 1 Corinthians 3:16, the Bible says, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” Not only are we kingly priests, and a holy nation, but we are also temples of the living God! God chose us to be set apart, to not blend in, to have our lives completely built by Him, through Him and in Him.

“These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel”

The word “words” means “sayings or speech by royal decree”. In 2 Corinthians 4:13, the Bible says, “We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak”. We receive the Word of God by faith, and that very word God gives us is what we speak to His people. In Acts 4:19-20, the Bible says, “But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” Being kingdom priests should give us a great desire to be witnesses for Christ!

May we accept our rightful place as priests in the kingdom of God, and may our speech produce the power of God’s Word to all who may hear!

God Bless!

Marshall

Apr 30, 2021 – Matthew 18:3 – except ye be converted …

Hi Everyone!

Humility is essential in our faith. God gives us the ability to do some pretty awesome things in Him, but He also gives us the same ability to humble ourselves and receive of the Lord what He desires for us to have. As believers, especially as adult believers, we sometimes have a struggle submitting our will to God in exchange for His will. We don’t appreciate the message we send God when we want to hang on to our own will, telling Him, “God, I know you’re God, but my way is better “. No one is going to want to acknowledge that this is the message that we are conveying to God, but it is the truth. God wants to begin in us with a new foundation, and He wants His children born again so we can learn how we are supposed to live, love, serve, and think according to God’s intention. Today, we will look at Matthew 18:3, receiving kingdom principles as little children.

“And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

The word “verily” means “truly, or surely”. It is said so the hearer will bank on the trustworthiness of the statement. In Numbers 23:19, the Bible says, “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” The word of the Lord is true, and will most certainly manifest itself exactly how God says it. Who is saying “Verily”? Jesus Christ, God robed in flesh! The word “except” also means “unless”, which is a word of condition. In John 3:3, the Bible says, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Please don’t be careless enough to assume that there are no conditions when it comes to our salvation, our healing, our restoration, or our sanctification. There is always something we must do on our end in order for the provision to be dispensed by God. The word “converted” means “to turn back, twist around”. This word suggests a change of mind which causes a change of direction. That change of direction should cause a new course of action. In Matthew 3:1-2, the Bible says, “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” There has to be repentance in order for a person to enter the kingdom of heaven. In Isaiah 55:7, the Bible says, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Conversion and repentance require us to completely abandon our way and our thoughts, accepting Jesus Christ as the Way.

“And become as little children”

The word “children” means “immature Christians”. In Matthew 16:24-25, Christ says, “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” We have to declare everything we are to be untrue, in order to receive the Word of Truth, which will provide salvation to all who have faith in Jesus Christ. In Colossians 2:6-7, the Bible says, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:  Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” When we receive Christ, we are starting back from scratch, as a seed that grows roots in Christ, and grows in Christ, becoming strengthened in faith. The immature Christian, doesn’t remain an immature Christian because they grow in Christ and not on their own knowledge or accord. In Matthew 19:14, the Bible says, “But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Christ desires for the path of an immature Christian or even a nonbeliever to be clear to Him, and no one should deny someone access to the Word of God. In Mark 9:42, Christ says, “And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.” There is no help for the one who turns a person away from the faith.

“Ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven”

In Matthew 5:3, Christ says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The poor in spirit are the ones who presents themselves as little children, as helpless sheep needing a Savior and a Shepherd in Christ Jesus. In Matthew 7:21, Christ says, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” The will of God is for us to turn to Him and be born again!

Who’s way has reign in our lives, God’s or ours?

God Bless!

Marshall

May 1, 2021 – 1 John 4:1 – many false prophets are gone out into the world

Hi Everyone!

There are a lot of false gospels being preached in the world, and tons of people are being led astray behind it. We are living in a world where it is okay to sprinkle the world into our churches, where “exceptions” are made for abominable behaviors, and less and less of the pastorate are speaking against it. There is a fear present in our churches to boldly speak against things that we know are Biblically wrong, and our churches are more concerned about offending people than offending God. At the same time, we aren’t trying the accuracy of the Word we receive from teachers and preachers, automatically assuming that their titles make them infallible. That shouldn’t be either. We as believers must go to Scripture to make sure we are receiving the true Word of God, and there is nothing wrong with verifying the accuracy of the things we hear and are taught. Today, we will look at 1 John 4:1, an examination of the source of our teaching: of God or of enemy.

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”

The word “beloved” is spoken of Christians as united with God or with each other in bonds of holy love. This term pours love upon the hearer. In 1 John 4:11, the Bible says, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” We as believers must give our brothers and sister the same love we ourselves have been given by God. The word “believe” means “to be firmly persuaded, to entrust”. So we are not to be firmly persuaded, or entrust ourselves to every spirit we hear. In Jeremiah 29:8-9, the Bible says, “For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed. For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD.” Isn’t this a scary thought, that someone can come, sounding like they are of God, maybe even holding a prominent position, but STILL give a word that is not of God and shouldn’t be believed?

The word “spirits” means “a person or teacher who acts or professes to act under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit”. Believe that there a going to be people who give a false word, all the while saying they received it directly from the Holy Spirit. In 2 Corinthians 13:5, the Bible says, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” If we have to examine our own selves, to make certain we are of the faith, then we most certainly have to examine the pastorate we listen to! In 2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew THYSELF approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” The teachers and preachers have a responsibility to convey the true Word of God, but we have just as great of a responsibility to rightly divide the word of truth. The Word of God is the standard by which truth is measured, and the Holy Spirit in us discerns the things that may fall between the lines. God has equipped us to process the spoken and written Word of God, but are we diligent enough to study for ourselves?

“But try the spirits whether they are of God”

The word “try” means “test, prove, or examine”. In 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 the Bible says, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.” ALL THINGS! So every word received has to be examined before we are firmly persuaded as to its truth. If we discover something we have heard isn’t of God, then we are to do away with it. In Revelation 2:2, the Bible says, “I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars”. God sees our works, our examinations, our desire to receive the things that are of God exclusively. Our diligence to uncover fraud in our churches can prevent others from being led astray.

“Because many false prophets are gone out into the world”

Christ said this day would come. The phrase “false prophets” means “pretended preachers”. In Matthew 24:4-5, the Bible says, “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” Christ told us to pay attention, to make sure that we aren’t the ones deceived. In Acts 20:29-30, the Bible says, “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” The enemy is planting his people in our churches to lead the flock astray and render our churches fruitless.

May we examine the word we receive according to the Word of God?

God Bless!

Marshall

May 2, 2021 – Galatians 2:4 – to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus

Hi Everyone!

The enemy is crafty, using sneaky methods to break the Church down. We have false teachers who spread half-truths, which are full lies, who bring in doctrine that isn’t Scripture, causing the flock to become misinformed, and subject to be led astray. This behavior doesn’t please God in the slightest, having people operating in the offices of the Church turning people away from the gospel of Jesus Christ. We also have to be aware of people in the flock, inserted to stir up dissension and cause confusion with the gospel, so the Church can pick up the law again, instead of continuing the grace we have received by salvation. The sad thing is the people within the flock stirring up the confusion probably are thinking they are doing the right thing, as Saul did when he was persecuting the Church. The truth must be taught to keep the falsehood from our Church. Today, we will look at Galatians 2:4, the wolves in sheep’s clothing.

“And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage”

The phrase “false brethren” means “pretended associates”. These could be people sitting right next to us in service, appearing to be of the flock, but are there under false pretenses. In Matthew 7:15-16 the Bible says, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?” These people can “look the part” and that is the scary part about it, because they won’t be so obvious. Christ knew what we would face as believers, which is why He said in Matthew 10:16, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Christ knows who we will be around but He also wants us to pay close attention to who is who. The phrase “unawares brought in” means “smuggled in”! This expresses an intention for these false believers to be planted into the Church. The enemy doesn’t want the Church to grow in truth and in power, so any way he can fight against a growing Church, he will. In Acts 15:1-2, the Bible says, “And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.” These false teachers are taught incorrectly elsewhere, then planted in the Church, teaching doctrine that undermines the truth of the gospel. Paul and Barnabas came against the lies, and had “no small dissension and disputation with them.” Do we stand silent in the face of a lie, unwilling to go to war in the name of truth?

“Who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus”

The phrase “came in privily” means “to come in alongside stealthily”. These people do not want to be discovered! In Jude 1:4, the Bible says, “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Spies smuggled in study the people around them to find out what they know and don’t know, and to plant seeds of doubt within their vulnerability. The word “liberty” means “freedom from the yoke of the Mosaic Law”. The law could never set us free. In Romans 8:2-4, the Bible says, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” This is the liberty the false brethren are trying to steer us away from. Liberty is only in Christ Jesus!

“That they might bring us into bondage”

The phrase “bring us into bondage” means “to utterly enslave from the inside”. In Galatians 5:1, the Bible says, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Standing fast means we develop roots, becoming unmovable. The enemy is trying to uproot the truth from the Church, and is trying to nullify what the cross has done for us. In Matthew 11:30, Christ says, “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Christ’s death wasn’t designed to place the yoke of bondage upon us, but instead it placed the yoke of grace, faith, love, and the Holy Spirit upon us and in us.

May we be diligent to study the truth so we can root out the false teachers and brethren in the Church.

God Bless!

Marshall

May 3, 2021 – Philippians 2:2 – fulfil ye my joy

Hi Everyone!

God desires to see a Church unified in love, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and He wants us to walk in victory together. The beauty of the Church forming in Acts was there weren’t factions, denominations, or anything causing a separation in the body and if there were, they were addressed immediately. Everyone had all things in common, and no one lacked anything because everyone considered each other. The Church grew as a whole, and nothing could stand against the power of the Holy Spirit at work. The apostles were beaten, jailed, spoken ill against, and even killed, but nothing stopped the Church from growing everywhere it was planted. Sadly, there are people who believe that the Church as in Acts no longer exists, but the problem isn’t the Church. The problem is the truth is fleeting in our Church, and faith and love are becoming forgotten concepts. Today, we will look at Philippians 2:2, a Church that fulfills God’s joy.

“Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”

The word “fulfil” means, “to complete, to make perfect, accomplished to an end”. The word “joy” means “cheerfulness, or calm delight”. In 1 John 4:11-12, the Bible says, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.” God’s love is the first thing that must be present in the Church, because the love we show each other manifests the presence of God. This love is perfected IN US! In 1 John 4:13, it says, “Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.” The love we receive from God that we love others with is perfected in us, evidencing the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives. The Church is suffering because God’s love has been replaced with our type of love, which is full of conditions and rules. In Romans 12:9-10, the Bible says, “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another”. We are robbing ourselves of the experience of God’s power moving mightily in the Church because we won’t love others the way God loves us! Christ came and summed up the law in two commandments: Love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, and love our neighbor as ourselves. Love fulfills God’s joy, love makes God’s joy complete, because in 1 Corinthians 13:8, the Bible says, “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.” Love doesn’t fail, and if the Bible says in 1 John 4:8, “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love,” then that means that God doesn’t fail either!!!! So if the Church is not growing, it is not God, it is our lack of love and faith!

“That ye be likeminded, having the same love”

The word “likeminded” means “having the same sentiments, interests, affections, or thoughts”. To be likeminded, we have to develop an understanding for each other. In Romans 15:1-2, the Bible says, “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.” In order to edify the Church, God has to be the first priority, what He desires, what He says, and what He expects from His Church. In 1 Corinthians 1:10, the Bible says, “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” The Church is fractured because we aren’t perfectly joined together, and we don’t have the same love because the same truth isn’t being taught. The Word of God isn’t the sole standard in the Church, and that’s the reason we are so divided. Man’s doctrine and traditions have replaced God’s Scripture!

“Being of one accord, of one mind”

The phrase “of one accord” means “co-spirited, joined together in peace and harmony.” It spurs believers to unity and love. In Mark 12:29, Christ says, “And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord”. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one, or one accord, the example of how we should be. In John 17:11, Christ prayed to God, asking Him, “And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.” Christ prayed for us to be one, like He and God are one. Unity in love pleases our God because we are then positioned for the Holy Spirit’s indwelling and power to cause lasting change and power in the Church.

Is our lack of Godly love hindering God’s power and movement in the Church?

God Bless!

Marshall

May 4, 2021 – Exodus 25:8 – that I may dwell among them

Hi Everyone!

I can’t say it enough. Since the beginning of creation, God has desired to reside with His children. He even did it one better, when He offered us the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, so the Spirit of God could reside in us. We have such a precious gift in the Holy Spirit, which gives us not only the presence of God, but the power of God as well. There is a real security, knowing we are the beneficiaries of such an amazing inheritance. The thing that baffles me to this day is how little God actually asks of us compared to what He does for us. God tells us, “Just build me a place to reside and reign, and heaven will come to earth”. The Church suffers behind the lack of God’s residency in our sanctuaries. His presence has been replaced with religion, denominationalism, selective hearing of the Word of God, allowances made for abominable behaviors, and people still under bondage to the law. This isn’t the Church God desires for His people, nor will it ever be. Today, we will look at Exodus 25:8, a sanctuary fit for God’s presence.

“And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.”

The phrase “make me” means “construct for an intended purpose, to perform a function or activity with a distinct purpose, moral obligation, or goal in view.” In order to accomplish this, God must qualify the people for service. In Exodus 36:1, the Bible says, “Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded.” The Lord calls for something to be done, and He equips the people with wisdom and understanding in “ALL manner of work”. In 2 Peter 1:3, the Bible says, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue”. A huge part of living a Godly life is hearing the command of the Lord and having faith that, what He commands, we will be able to perform. If God commands us to make Him a sanctuary, then He has already given us everything we need to do it.  We know this by knowing Him!

The word “sanctuary” means “a holy or sacred place, consecrated and set apart by God”. The sanctuary isn’t the place we declare holy. It is the place God declares holy! In Exodus 3:4-5, the Bible says, “And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” A sanctuary is wherever God calls us to hear His Word! Another example of this is in Joshua 5:14-15, which says, “And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my Lord unto his servant? And the captain of the LORD’s host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.” The sanctuary of the Lord has always been bigger than a building, and God never designed it to reduce His presence to just a structure.

“That I may dwell among them”

The word “dwell” means “to reside, to inhabit, to permanently stay”. In Psalm 23:6, the Bible says, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” How can David dwell in “the house” of the Lord forever when up to this point in his life, the presence of God dwelled among the tents and tabernacle? The “house of the Lord” has to be more than just the structure. John 14:17 says, “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” God gave us the privilege of His presence dwelling among us before His presence dwelled IN us. In Jeremiah 31:33, the Bible says, “But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.” The sanctuary was always designed for communion with God, no matter where it was, whether in tents or buildings, whether by burning bushes or near Jericho. God wants to be our God and wants us to be His people. In 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, the Bible says, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” We are the temple of God, a habitation for the Holy Spirit to dwell and have reign. God’s power can be made manifest through us because He dwells in us!

Will we make God a sanctuary, so He can dwell in us?

God Bless!

Marshall

May 5, 2021 – Deuteronomy 4:2 – keep the commandments of the LORD your God

Hi Everyone!

The Word of God is complete in itself. It doesn’t need our help or our alterations for it to be as powerful as it is. In fact, our frequent “twisting of the Word of God” actually does it a major disservice, because we can’t experience the full effect of the Word with only part of the truth at work. When we operate outside the will of God, there can be no real expectation of our prayers being answered, breakthroughs being made, nor can ‘God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven’. There should be no such thing as “chew the meat and spit out the bones” when it comes to the Word, but sadly, more and more teachers and preachers are taking “the good parts” out of Scripture and ignoring the rest, leaving our knowledge incomplete and the Word we receive of no effect. Today, we will look at Deuteronomy 4:2, experiencing the complete Word of God as is.

“Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.”

The word “add” doesn’t just mean to add. It also means “to augment”. It is saying the Word of God is not good enough. The first time someone added something to the Word of God sin came into the world through man. In Genesis 2:16-17, the Bible says, “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” These are clearly given directions with no ambiguity to them, so there is nothing to misinterpret. Well, let’s look at Eve’s response to Satan Genesis 3:2-3, which says, “And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, NEITHER SHALL YE TOUCH IT, lest ye die.” You see what just happened? Eve was either given this addition to the Word of God by Adam, or she came up with it on her own, but either way she lied, because God didn’t tell Adam to not touch the tree of knowledge of good and evil. When we add to the Word, we are either projecting a message that the Word of God isn’t perfect, or were are lying on our Father. Here’s what baffles me about Adam. In Genesis 3:6, the Bible says, “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband WITH HER; and he did eat.” He had to be standing right there and didn’t intervene, especially when the Word of God was being diluted with a lie.

The word “word” here means “speech or matter conveying divine communication”. Do we realize that when God places something upon our hearts, that He is speaking directly to us? The word “command” means “to direct, give charge, to order people in various situations”. In Joshua 1:7-8, the Bible says, “Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” It takes faith to follow the Word of God, but it also takes strength and courage as well. It is not easy to go against the current of this world, especially with the enemy aiming to pull us into the flow of the world, but God promises to make our way (course of life) prosperous and we’ll have “good” success, the type of success God intends for His children to have.

Neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you”

The word “diminish” means “to withhold, lessen, shave out, or remove”. In Proverbs 30:5-6, the Bible says, “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” EVERY word of God is pure. Do we really believe that? We destroy our own credibility when we add or take away from the Word, but as a representative of the kingdom of God, we bring dishonour to God. In 2 Timothy 3:16, the Bible says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”. ALL scripture. So this means we can’t be people that cleave to “the good parts” and discard everything else. We strip the Word’s ability to be profitable in our lives when we don’t receive the full Word of God.

May we ingest the full Word of God into our spirits, no additions or subtractions.

God Bless!

Marshall

May 6, 2021 – Ephesians 4:14 – we henceforth be no more children

Hi Everyone!

Children are easily misled. They are programmed with a trust in them that will allow them to walk into danger without the least bit of awareness. A child’s lack of knowledge requires them to rely on teachers, leaders, pastors in order for them to understand the life they are commanded to live. Children should be protected, and the surest protection we have is the Word of God. God takes it personally when a little one is offended or led astray, and the person who has led them astray will suffer a great condemnation. I am sure right now that you are aware that we aren’t talking solely about children, but also about new believers. God desires His children to mature into firm believers in the Word of God, unable to be misled by false doctrine or lies. The enemy is banking on our vulnerability while our God is trying to strengthen us in the knowledge of His Word. Today, we will look at Ephesians 4:14, a child planted in the Word of God.

“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive”

The word “children” means “babes, unlearned, unenlightened, immature Christians, simpleminded”. The word of God commands that we “be no more children”, which means God expects us to grow. We should not be ten years in the faith without the same knowledge and experience in the Word of God. In 1 Corinthians 13:11 the Bible says, “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”  A child who becomes grownup is one who is humbled before the Word of God, allowing the Holy Spirit to teach and guide them into all truth. This is a choice that God gives us to make. In 1 Corinthians 14:20, the Bible says, “Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.” When we understand the Word of God, we can apply it as mature believers, and the likelihood of us being led astray is slim. What should we do if we want to understand the Word of God the way God intends? In James 1:5-6, the Bible says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” God desires for us to know Him, to be wise in the Lord, because He is willing to give us all the wisdom we need, as long as we ask in faith. We have to ask God, believing that we will receive the wisdom we are asking for.

“Tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine”

The reason we are tossed to and fro is because we lack trust in what we have received of the Lord to allow it to grow roots. Imagine pulling a seed from the soil because we are fearful that it won’t grow. That is what we do when we don’t receive the Word of God in faith. In Matthew 13:20-21, Christ says, “But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.” The Word of God can feel good to receive, but without a root, a hard time can remove the Word from us causing us to go astray. The phrase “wind of doctrine” means “perverse instruction taught by men, unstable opinion”. In Ephesians 5:6, the Bible says, “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.” The ones who lead the children astray have God’s wrath coming. I definitely don’t want to be a part of that!

“By the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive”

The word “sleight” implies “operating by fraud”. The phrase “cunning craftiness” means “trickery”. This suggest that false doctrine will be given in a deceptive manner. In Romans 16:18, the Bible says, “For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” The enemy knows how to make it sound good! In 1 Peter 1:8, the Bible says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour”. Don’t just be on guard from the devil, but also be on guard for the teachers and preachers that sprinkle in a little lie in with the truth. Rightly divide the Word of truth as mature believers do, and weigh every Word given in Scripture, testing its accuracy. Only after proving its truth, receive it into your spirit.

May we mature into believers of sound Biblical truth, led by the Holy Spirit, rooted in Him, unable to be led astray.

God Bless!

Marshall

May 7, 2021 – John 12:24 – it bringeth forth much fruit

Hi Everyone!

I have encountered a lot of believers who desire the promises of God without the sacrifices it takes to receive those promises. I have been one of those believers, wanting breakthroughs to come in my life while I was unwilling to speak the words God desired for me to speak to His people. I experience a very unfruitful walk with the Lord then, where I was growing in my knowledge of Scripture, but nothing else around me was growing. When I came to myself and realized that a life lived for the Lord is one of selflessness and sacrifice, all in order for God to be glorified and the body of Christ be edified. Bearing fruit requires us to put our agenda to an absolute end and take hold of God’s purpose in our lives. A sacrifice made will reap an amazing harvest, far more than we could ever do on our own. Today, we are going to look at John 12:24, a seed planted and a harvest reaped.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.”

The word “verily” means “surely or truly”. When something is said twice in the Bible, it is of significance. The word “except” means “unless”, so Christ is telling us that this condition has to happen to activate the promise. In Matthew 13:23, Christ says, “But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” A seed multiplies when it is buried, because it rises again and bears fruit. Sounds familiar? The word “fall” suggest a person falls from a higher place to a lower place. In Philippians 2:6-8, the Bible says, “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Christ came from the highest place possible, stripped himself of His Deity to take the form of a servant, all to take on the death we so richly deserved for our sins. In 1 Corinthians 15:36, the Bible says, “Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die”. The word “die” means to “perish and come under condemnation”. There was no getting out of it, because there would be no eternal life for us without Christ’s death.

In Matthew 16:21, the Bible says, “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.” Jesus is trying to prepare the disciples for His death, but Peter decides to rebuke Jesus! In Matthew 16:22, it says, “Then Peter TOOK him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.” I imagine Peter taking Jesus by His shoulders, maybe giving Him a shake or two! Christ responds in verse 23, and His response is swift. It says, “But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” Peter was trying to come in between Christ and the will of God. Christ saw it as Peter was working for Satan by his rebuke. Christ stands by the Word of God, and so must we. The word “abideth” means “remaining in a particular state or condition”. Just as God doesn’t desire for man to be alone, He doesn’t desire for His Word to be alone either. We must share the Word and allow it it grow and bear fruit. In Luke 8:11, Christ says, “Now the parable is this: The seed IS the Word of God.” In John 1:1:, the Bible says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Jesus IS the Word of God! Both must be planted in order to bear fruit. In James 1:21, the Bible says, “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” If the Word of God isn’t buried, we can’t have Godly sorrow that worketh repentance, and without salvation by faith in Christ Jesus, the seed will remain alone and unfruitful.

“But if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit”

The phrase “bringeth forth” means “to yield or reap”. In John 12:32, Christ says, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” ALL MEN. Christ death means the Church should explode with people, because His death bears fruit for the entire kingdom of God. Are we as believers willing to be sacrifices so others can live abundantly? In 1 Corinthians 6:20, the Bible says, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” We glorify God by allowing His seed to bear fruit in us!

May we come to understand the importance of a seed, that it can lead to salvation!

God Bless!

Marshall

May 8, 2021 – Zechariah 4:6 – not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit

Hi Everyone!

When we were in the world, living the lives we desired to live outside of the Lord’s reign, we had to do everything ourselves, operating in our own power. We hear in society too often of “self-made success stories”, and there are tons of people who try to lace up their boot straps, and make their own destiny. We live in a world that feels that they don’t need God to be successful at life, being taught that burning desire, mere belief, and a monetary donation will produce what 50 years of working, saving, and investing would do. Our world is plummeting quickly because we have become people who feel that our own strength, our own power, and our own intelligence is sufficient. The enemy is enjoying this, because there is no real victory if the Holy Spirit isn’t leading. Today, we will look at Zechariah 4:6, victory through the Holy Spirit.

“Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.”

God answers our prayers and petitions. Sometimes the answer may take a long time, and other times, it may come right away like in this text. In Psalm 65:5, the Bible says, “By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea”. A lot of people try to operate in their own power because they believe that God is not answering their prayers fast enough for them. It doesn’t matter how far away we are, God hears us. In John 11:41-42, “Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.” Christ testified that God always hears Him, so He had the confidence to petition God for help. What did Christ do first? He took away the stone! Metaphorically, we can have a stone in front of our promise, preventing us from receiving it. That stone is unbelief, whether being from our feeling unqualified, or our doubting the power of our God to give us what we ask for according to His will.

The temple is being rebuilt in this passage, and there was some resistance by members in the government. In Ezra 5:2-3 the Bible says, “Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them. At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?” When we are performing the Word of the Lord, expect resistance, and definitely expect people to question our right to perform a Word coming from the Lord. Zerubbabel led the charge to rebuilt the temple of the Lord, permitted by King Cyrus’ decree, which couldn’t be broken. In Daniel 6:15, the Bible says, “Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.” God allowed the right government to conquer Babylon, whose decrees are irrevocable, then God instituted King Cyrus to decree that the children of God could rebuild their temple and walls. God already ensured Zerubbabel’s success, by using the Medes and Persians’ governments to fulfill His good purposes.

The word “might” means “military strength or numerical influence”. Armies and numbers mean nothing to our God, who doesn’t need any of it to fulfil his purpose. In Proverbs 21:30-31, the Bible says, “There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD. The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.” War strategies don’t measure up to the Lord, and nothing used in battle stands a chance. A government tried to mount up against Zerubbabel, but a royal decree authorized by the King Cyrus, who was ordained by God to fulfil His purpose, did what an army couldn’t. The word “power” means “wealthy in ability, to be firm in substance”. In Hosea 1:7, the Bible says, “But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.” We don’t have to war against flesh and blood when Holy Spirit is at work. In Acts 6:10, the Bible says, “And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.” No force in heaven or on earth can resist the power of the Holy Spirit, the Force by which God operates in heaven and earth.

The question is, will we trust the Spirit of the Lord and roll away the stone of unbelief, or will we continue to exercise our own strength?

God Bless!

Marshall

May 9, 2021 – John 14:6 – I am the way, the truth, and the life

Hi Everyone!

I sadly hear a lot of people tell me there are many paths to God. They are people who say they don’t believe in organized religion, but they believe “there is something out there”. As the Church is suffering from the lack of truth being taught within the body, these new philosophies are coming in to replace the Word of God and Jesus Christ as the way to God. Every other day, it seems like a new thing is being taught as the path to enlightenment, the path to success, the path to wealth, but what about the path to God? Many people see the faith as a sect with too many rules that are impossible to keep. They haven’t come into the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the overwhelming love God has for His children. They complicate the faith out of their lack of knowledge, and subject themselves to condemnation because they won’t believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation and eternal life. Today, we will look at John 14:6, Jesus Christ, the only way to God.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

These are the words of Jesus Christ himself, spoken to Thomas, one of His disciples. The significance to this is Jesus Christ speaking to the disciple known to us as “Doubting Thomas”. In John 20:24-25, the Bible says, “But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the LORD. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.” He changed his tune when Christ appeared, telling him to touch and examine His wounds, and in John 20:28, it says, “And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.” Thomas not only believed now, but he always professed Jesus Christ as both Lord and God! In John 20:29, it says, “Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” Christ called out Thomas’ lack of faith, and expressed that the ones who believe without seeing will be blessed. In 2 Corinthians 5:7, the Bible says, “(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)”. God wants a Church walking by faith, believing the Word of the Lord as truth.

The word ” way” means “a mode or means to obtain something, the author or medium of access to God”. Jesus Christ identifies Himself as the ONLY means for us to come to God. It didn’t say anything about the information in our latest self-help book, it said nothing about meditation, treating people well or doing good works. In Hebrews 9:14-15, the Bible says, “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your ‘conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament’, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.” Christ death and His shed blood redeemed us from the curse of the law, making us partakers of the divine eternal inheritance thought faith on His name. His death pulled us from dead works into the grace we now stand. Only Christ can give us this.

The word “truth” implies that He, Jesus Christ is the incarnate truth and the teacher of divine truth. A person can only give you what they have. In John 1:14, the Bible says, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and TRUTH.” Christ is full of truth, and in John 1:17, the Bible says, “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” Jesus is the conduit by which truth is experienced on this earth. In John 16:13, Christ says, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” Even when Christ goes to the Father and the Holy Spirit comes, His truth will remain to guide us into all truth, which is our path to God.

“And the life: no man cometh to the Father but by me”

The word “life” means “that life and bliss and glory in the kingdom of God that awaits the TRUE disciples of Christ after resurrection.” Eternal life, where we dwell with God forever! In John 10:9, the Bible says, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” Salvation only comes through Christ, and in Acts 4:12, that is why it says, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Jesus Christ is that name!

The world thinks there are many paths to God. May we teach them Jesus Christ, the ONLY way to God.

God Bless!

Marshall

May 10, 2021 – John 16:33 – be of good cheer; I have overcome the world

Hi Everyone!

We live in a world that is becoming void of peace. I just saw on the news a Jewish festival in Israel end in a stampede, with 44 people dead so far, and over 100 people injured. There are at least 36 people whose conditions are deemed critical, but unknown. How does something that is supposed to produce joy, peace, fun, and community turn deadly, with children among the fallen, at a religious festival of all places? We live in a world where people are relying on outside circumstances to provide peace, only to find themselves in peril. We live in a world that takes comfort in all the harmful amenities the world provides and mistakes it as peace, and we have people collecting “healing” rocks, doing yoga, working out, and making tons of money, all believing these are pathways to peace. Peace only comes by Jesus Christ, the answers found in the Word of God. Today we will look at John 16:33, peace by Christ overcoming the world.

“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.”

The word “spoken” means “to teach or preach”. Christ preached the Word of God for a person to experience peace with God through Him. In Isaiah 9:6, the Bible says, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Christ is preaching His identity to His disciples, with hopes that they receive peace. In Proverbs 18:21, the Bible says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” So the Word of God spoken by Jesus Christ gives us life, and in that life is peace. In Romans 8:6, the Bible says, “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Are we receiving into our spirits what is being spoken to us? Is it the Word of God, or a word from the world? Christ said, “These things I have spoken unto you,” so we must understand that the Word of God is how we obtain peace. All other teaching and preaching must align with the Word of God to activate the promises in Scripture.

“That in me ye might have peace”

The word “peace” means “tranquillity arising from reconciliation with God and a divine sense of favor”. Christ said “IN ME”. In John 15:4, the Bible says, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” Our problem is we look for peace outside of Christ, we look for provision outside of Christ, and our efforts are in vain because we cannot bear fruit of ourselves. Having material stuff is not the same as bearing fruit. We must abide in Christ to receive the peace has can only give. In John 14:27, Christ says, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Our hearts won’t be troubled if we are abiding in Christ, and there won’t be any fear either. In Christ lies everything we need! Read this part of John 16:33 again. It says “might have peace”. Christ’s peace is guaranteed if we abide in Him, but that choice is ours to make. God is not going to force us to abide in Him any more than He will force us to seize His peace.

“In the world ye shall have tribulation”

The word “tribulation” means “evils by which one is pressed, affliction, distress, calamity”. In John 15:19-20, the Bible says, “If 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. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.” Just because we abide in Christ, doesn’t mean we won’t face tribulation. This is a common misconception. In 2 Corinthians 4:8,9, the Bible says, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed”. Things will happen, but what happens to us won’t be our ultimate state.

“But be of good cheer; I have overcome the world”

The word “overcome” means “to subdue or conquer”. In Romans 8:37, the Bible says, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Christ overcoming the world gave us the ability to be more than conquerors in Him. In 1 John 4:4, the Bible says, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” We have extraordinary power in us through the Holy Spirit’s indwelling, giving us power over the world.

Christ overcame the world, so we can overcome the world in Him!

God Bless!              

Marshall

May 11, 2021 – Zechariah 8:12 – I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things

Hi Everyone!

Seeds are meant to grow. Vines are meant to bear fruit. The ground is meant to give increase. This was the design of our Creator from the beginning of creation, and this intention still is the same today. We have hindered fruit that we bore through unbelief, through sin, and through stagnancy, all of which displeases our God. When we prevent God’s increase from manifesting in our lives, we are shutting off our own means to grow, and whatever doesn’t grow tends to atrophy and die. We don’t want to be a people whose faith is so withered away that we are essentially a soldier without armor or without a sword. God wants us covered in the depths of His provision, to have evidence of God’s presence and movement in our lives, so our lives can bring glory to Him.  Today, we are going to look at Zechariah 8:12, bearing fruit for the kingdom of God.

“For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.”

The word “seed” implies more than just seeds that produce plants. It also means “descendants, offspring, or posterity”. In Genesis 1:11, the Bible says, “And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.” The first mention of the word “seed” had an intention for the seed. The seed was initially created by the Word of God, and when the tree bears fruit, it will bear seed “in itself”. This means that the only thing we must do after God creates it, is taking care of the seed, by planting and watering it. In 1 Corinthians 3:6, the Bible says, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.” Everyone has their role with the seed, but God’s role is to create the seed and give the increase. In 1 Corinthians 3:8, the Bible says, “Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.” The word “prosperous” means “of peace and blessings”. True prosperity lies in the Lord and only in Him. In Proverbs 20:21, the Bible says, “An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.” If the seeds we plant aren’t blessed, then they won’t bear good fruit. We sometimes try to force our own increase, going after fast money without God’s blessing, and we may end up with a few extra dollars, but no peace. This is why there are millionaires and even billionaires who have more problems than poor people because their wealth is gained without God’s peace and blessing. In Hosea 2:23, the Bible says, “And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.” He planted us into the earth in Him so we can bear fruit and be His peace.

“The vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew”.

In John 15:16, Christ says, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” God has selected the “fruit for His garden”, meaning the people for His kingdom. He has created us to be sustained completely by Him. In Jeremiah 17:7-8, the Bible says, “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.” Being sustained completely by God requires us to trust in the Lord with everything we are. The word “increase” means “to produce a crop or wealth”. There is no real harvest if our trust isn’t in the Lord and we fulfill the command we were given to be “fruitful and multiply”. How can we be fruitful when we won’t be planted in the Lord?

“And I cause the remnant to possess all these things”.

The phrase “cause…to possess” means “to take property permanently, to inherit”. The word “remnant” means “the remainder left”. In Matthew 25:23, the Bible says, “His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Sadly, everyone won’t be allowed to experience salvation and eternal life and entrust their lives to the Holy Spirit’s leading because of their own choice to reject Christ as Savior. The one who remains, the remnant, will experience the fruits of their labors in the Lord.

May we live our lives to be fruitful, multiply, and increase in the Lord.

God Bless!

Marshall

May 12, 2021 – Exodus 33:14 – My presence shall go with thee

Hi Everyone!

In the presence of God, we are completely filled and sustained. I remember living a life absent of God’s presence, and there was no peace, no real comfort and I had no protection whatsoever. I thought a gun could protect me, I thought my friends could cure the loneliness, and I thought making money in the streets would bring me the happiness I so desperately needed. My thinking knocked me further out of fellowship with God, completely broke my relationship with my family, caused me to be shot and turn into an insomniac. It has cost me so far nearly 20 total years of incarceration. So much for what I thought! As a believer, I need to be in God’s presence even more, because there is no rest outside of the presence of God. The enemy loves to rob us of rest, because without rest, there is no peace, and without peace, we are distant from the presence of God. God desires to reside with and in His children. Today, we will look at Exodus 33:14, resting in the presence of God.

“And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.”

A little back story. God gave Moses the marching orders for Israel to process towards the promised land. God assured Moses by saying in Exodus 33:2-3, “And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way.” God was so annoyed by Israel’s sin and idolatry that He felt He would destroy them if He hung around. To Moses or Israel this wasn’t good enough, and they mourned. God told them to strip themselves of their ornaments, which is a form of humbling themselves before God. Then the cloudy pillar descended, resulting in the presence of God at the door of the tabernacle. In Exodus 33:10, the Bible says, “And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door.” God wanted His presence to go with Israel but He needed them to humble themselves in worship first. If we ever wonder why God’s presence doesn’t seem to be with us, we should examine whether or not we have humbled ourselves in worship, and if we have cast our will to the side and if we have denied ourselves? In Matthew 16:24, the Bible says, “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Do we cultivate the environment for God’s presence to come? We have to keep our space ready to welcome the Holy Spirit.

The word “presence” means “a turned face”. So if God’s presence is going with us, His face is turned to us. In Numbers 6:25-26, the Bible says, “The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.” When God’s face shines upon us, His grace, His countenance, and His peace will be upon us. Moses knew how important God’s presence was because He experienced it often, and knew there was no place He wanted to go without God’s presence. Israel experienced God’s presence dramatically in Exodus 13:21-22, which says, “And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.” The cloud provided shade from the brutal sun and the fire provided light. In Psalm 119:105, the Bible says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” God’s word goes before us in the same way, to light our path and show us where we should go.

“And I will give thee rest”

The word “rest” implies a settling down or causing one to lie down. In Psalm 23:2, the Bible says, “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.” God gives us a settlement in Him, establishes comfort in us, and puts us at ease. In Matthew 11:28, Christ says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” God wants us to come to Him first in order to receive His rest. Before Israel could continue to receive God’s presence they had to humble themselves, and make themselves available for God’s presence to lead. In Joshua 22:4, the Bible says, “And now the LORD your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as he promised them: therefore now return ye, and get you unto your tents, and unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side Jordan.” God keeps His promises, and if He says that His presence shall go with us, it will, and if He says that He will give us rest, it is ours!

Praise God for our always desiring His presence and rest to be upon us. May we make ourselves tabernacles worthy of His presence.

God Bless!

Marshall

May 13, 2021 – Proverbs 3:5 – trust in the LORD with all thine heart

Hi Everyone!

A believer HAS to trust in the Lord. We live in a world where the path that may be the most comfortable is the path that leads right to destruction. When we come to the Lord, we strip ourselves of everything we thought we knew, everything we think we are, and where we think we are going, exchanging it for what God knows, who God says we are, and where God says we are going. Our lives are no longer ours, but we belong to God. In order for us to submit to God, there has to be a real trust there, because we essentially render ourselves vulnerable, becoming defenseless sheep. We have to entrust our safety, our health, our success, and our future to the Lord. It can’t be a part time experience. We have to entrust our lives totally to God, knowing He will do a much better job at directing our lives than we can. Today, we will look at Proverbs 3:5, a word on our undefiled trust in God.

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”

The word “trust” means “to hie for refuge”. The word “hie” implies an instinctive reaction to run towards safety. So, if we trust in the Lord, we run toward Him for safety, perspective, direction, and anything else we need first, above anything and anybody. God is our first option, not our last. In Psalm 91:2, the Bible says, “I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” The person that trusts in the Lord KNOWS that He is always available, and won’t fail us. In Romans 10:11-12, the Bible says, “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.” God doesn’t care about our background, our ethnicity or anything else. Whoever puts their trust in Him won’t be ashamed, and He is going to respond better than we can ever imagine. In Psalm 37:5, the Bible says, “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” God is not looking for “lip-service believers”, for people that profess they trust in the Lord, their actions are completely inconsistent with trust. In Matthew 15:8, Christ says, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” God knows the difference between the people who truly trust in Him and the ones that don’t, so if we think we are fooling Him, we’re not. We don’t just have to trust the Lord, but we have to trust in the Lord with ALL of our heart. God told Abram to leave his father’s house, family, and land to go to some land God would show him. In Genesis 12:4, the Bible says, “So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.” He left “as the Lord had spoken unto him”. God’s way, not ours!

“And lean not unto thine own understanding.”

The word “lean” means “to rely on oneself, to support one’s own self, to trust in oneself”. In Jeremiah 17:5, the Bible says, “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” If we rely on ourselves, then our heart has departed from the Lord. That person is cursed not blessed. Do we realize that trusting in the Lord keeps us in fellowship with the Lord, keeps us under His protection and covering, and keeps us in the will of God? I used to suffer from busyness, trying to accomplish a bunch of stuff, pulling 20-21 hour days, thinking I was doing what God wanted me to do! I was leaning on my own understanding, because the whole time I was moving, the Holy Spirit kept sending me a word from Psalm 46:10 through a few people, “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” I finally listened and peace has been restored in my life that I had no clue was gone! I thought because I was doing “good” things, working toward a “good” goal, that I was in alignment with God, but I wasn’t. The word “understanding” means “discernment”. God gave us the ability to understand, comprehend, and discern but our discernment is not infallible. We must ask God for guidance at all times to make sure that we are aligned with His will. In Jeremiah 9:23-24, the Bible says, “Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:  But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.” Knowing the Lord and the direction He has for our lives is the most important thing in our lives, far above what we think we may know.

May we recommit our lives to trusting in the Lord completely, with our entire heart!

God Bless!

Marshall

May 14, 2021 – Proverbs 3:6 – in all thy ways acknowledge him

Hi Everyone!

How important is God when it comes to the direction we take in our lives? Do we inquire of God before we make decisions, or are we like most believers, making decision after decision without inquiring of God, leaving the outcome to chance? David was known as a man after God’s own heart, known for inquiring of the Lord for not only direction, but even the outcome of his movement as well. The couple of times David went on his own, he took Bathsheba from Uriah, then had Uriah killed when he thought he could cover up their sin. Secondly, he then took an unauthorized census of all of the fighting men in Israel. Both times, severe loss came as a result. What are we willing to continue to lose as a result of our unwillingness to live our lives the way God intends us to? In God’s word, we have all the answers we need, yet we will bypass these answers to go our own way. Today, we will look at Proverbs 3:6, a life directed by God.

“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

The word “ways” means “course of life”. This implies that we trust God with our final outcome and everything that leads up to it. In Isaiah 55:7-8, the Bible says, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.” Our ways have to align with God’s. That is the most vital step, and it will save us a world of hurt and trouble if we will take the time to seek God’s perspective on our direction. In James 1:5, the Bible says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” Are we asking God for wisdom concerning our course of life? There is a condition to James 1:5, and it is found in James 1:6-7, which says, “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.” Do we ask God for His wisdom, totally placing our confidence in hearing back from Him? Most of us grow impatient, and in our impatience tell ourselves, “Well, I guess God wants me to figure it out on my own”. Some even don’t wait that long! The word “acknowledge” means “to know someone relationally and experientially, to make or cause to know”. In 1 Chronicles 28:9, the Bible says, “And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.” To know God is to abide in Him, where His Word and His direction are engrafted into our identity. A complete heart and a willing mind, bringing more power to the Scripture in 2 Corinthians 8:12, which says, “For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.” Everything God expects of us we are able to do, but we must have a willing mind.

“And He shall direct that paths”

The phrase “shall direct” means “cause to be straight, right, or prosperous”. In Jeremiah 10:12, the Bible says, “He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.” One of the early things we have to grasp is common sense. This world we are living in now was here before we were born! But seriously, God’s power, His spoken Word created and established everything in this world. Who better to trust with the intention for the creation than the Creator? In Jeremiah 10:23, the Bible says, “O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” We don’t know how to effectively direct our steps without God. In Psalm 37:23, the Bible says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” When we allow God free reign to order our steps, we are inclining ourselves to God’s direction. In Proverbs 16:7, the Bible says, “When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.” When God’s direction is kept, His enemies will remain at peace with us! In Isaiah 45:13, the Bible says, “I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts.” When God directs our paths, we will experience His righteousness, we will have power as children of God to build, to help set people free, and it is all because we have a heart of service.

By acknowledging God in all of ways, we commune with our God, receiving His direction, which allows His power to move through us. If there first be a willing mind …

God Bless!

Marshall

May 15, 2021 – Malachi 3:1 – behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts

Hi Everyone!

Since creation began, God has paved the way for His purpose to be fulfilled. Sometimes, He uses people as His representative, other times He uses acts of nature to redirect us. He also sends His Spirit, causing prosper in whatever He sends it to do. There has always been a sign of the Lord’s arrival as a reference, a warning, or a message for us to be prepared for the purposes of God. There will come a time when the world will be without excuse, and will be unable to say to God, “I didn’t know”, or “I never heard about You”, because God has been sending His messengers and continues to do so. I can look back and see a delegation of messengers giving me a word to return to the Lord, God’s persistence to see me repent and receive salvation. Today, we are going to look at Malachi 3:1, a view into one of the most famous messengers of the Bible.

“Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.”

The word “messenger” means “one sent on the business of diplomacy of another”. In this case, the messenger is sent by God. Who is this messenger spoken of? John the Baptist. In Malachi 4:5-6, the Bible says, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” Why would I reference Elijah is I have clearly said the John the Baptist is the messenger spoken of in Malachi 3:1? In Luke 1:17, another messenger, Gabriel the angel, came with a word of prophecy from God for Zacharias concerning His not yet born son, John the Baptist, saying, “And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias [Elijah], to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” You see how Scripture continues to confirm Itself as true? In Romans 10:15, the Bible says, “And how shall they preach, except they be SENT? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” Messengers present and confirm the Word of God, an important task that God takes great pleasure in.

“And he shall prepare the way before me”

The word “prepare” means “to turn to face, to ready one to experience”. The word “way” means “path or course of life”. So John the Baptist’s role was to ready people to experience the path to the Lord. In Mark 1:3-4, the Bible says, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.” John the Baptist not only made our path to the Lord straight, but He also worked to make the Lord’s path to us straight as well. He preached the Word of God, He did baptism for the remission of sins, baptism being a picture of identifying with Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. A messenger is designed to make the message clear and easier for person who will come after.

“And the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in”

The word “seek” means “to search out or strive after in worship”. This means we search out knowing we need God for the answers. In Amos 5:4, the Bible says, “For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live”. Christ, according to John 10:10, came “that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly,” so when we search out the Lord in worship, abundant life also becomes available to us. The word “temple” means “palace or dwelling place of God”. In Habakkuk 2:20, the Bible says, “But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.” If we are seeking the Lord, we have to be silent, allowing Him free reign to reveal Himself to us. Suddenness doesn’t mean He will appear right away, but we won’t see Him coming when He does! In Habakkuk 2:3, the Bible says, “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” Even if the Lord seems to be taking forever, He moves in perfect time. The “messenger of the covenant” is Christ because Christ is the one who will come into “HIS Temple”. In Hebrews 9:15, Christ is identified as “the mediator of the new testament”. The “mediator” is “the interceder, the go-between, and the medium of communication between the parties of the covenant”. We should take pleasure in the fact that the way has been paved for us to be partakers of the new covenant, that we have a loving Lord and Savior willing to die to ensure a place is prepared for us.

The messenger has come, and God will continue to send His messengers for a lost and wayward people, to return us to the type of fellowship God desired to have with us since the beginning. Are we messengers as well, preparing the way for the Lord?

God Bless!

Marshall

May 16, 2021 – 1 John 3:24 – he that keepeth his commandments

Hi Everyone!

A lot of people refuse to come to the faith because they have the wrong perception of God and what He actually desires from His children. People tend to think Christianity is a series of rules designed to confine their individuality and suck all the fun out if their lives. Sadly, there are people in Church who have this belief, that God is some brutal tyrant, who forces people to be compliant and fulfil His purpose. The idea of a loving God becomes the furthest thing from their minds because they associate God with rules and punishment. He is not seen as the merciful, patient, loving, and willing God desiring to keep the door open for all to come to repentance. Because we have the wrong perception of God, we have the wrong perception of the faith, and people aren’t walking in victory because by our own perception, we have chosen bondage. Today, we will look at 1 John 3:24, and explore the labor of love in keeping the Lord’s commandments.

“And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him.

And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

The word “keepeth” means “to observe, to obey, to hold fast to”. The word “commandments” has a very interesting definition, one that will help us understand something more about the God we serve. It means “an authoritative prescription”! We know a “prescription” has something to do with medicine, directions suggested for a person to follow in order to treat or cure a condition. We know the doctor won’t force us to take the medicine, even knowing it is great for our healing, but he desires for us to take it, knowing it will make us better. Our God is the same way, prescribing His commands so we can live a better life in Him. God will not force us to follow His commandments. Let’s look at two of His commandments and judge for ourselves. In Mark 12:29-31, the Bible says, “And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” So this brutal tyrant, who the world has pegged as a God who is too hard on His children, says the greatest commandments are for us to love Him with everything we are and to love our neighbor as our own bodies? Who seems unreasonable here, God or us? In Matthew 22:40, Christ says, “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” So if we keep these two commandments, then we keep the rest of the law? The word “dwelleth” means “to abide, stay, reside in”. In 1 John 4:8-9, the Bible says, “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” God manifested His identity, love, by sending Christ to both live and die so we could live through Him. So God’s love isn’t in word only, but in action.

“And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which he has given us.”

God doesn’t want us to just believe. He wants us to KNOW our position in Him. The word “know” is a relational word forming a union between the information and the person receiving the information. The two becomes one as in marriage and the information become fused into the person’s identity. In 2 Corinthians 3:2, the Bible says, “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men”. God desires for us to BE Scripture, not just have head knowledge of it. Don’t think so? The word “abideth” means “to remain united with God, one with Him in heart, mind, and will”. To become one with God means to become one with His Word. In John 1:14, the Bible says, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” Christ is the Word of God, and the Word was made flesh, sweeping among us. In 1 John 4:17, the Bible says, “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because AS HE IS, SO ARE WE in this world.” We can only be living epistles if the Word becomes flesh. It is deeper than just learning about the Word. It is about us becoming one with the Word, living the Word of God out in our lives. The “Spirit” is the Holy Spirit. In 1 Corinthians 2:12, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” Freely given. God doesn’t withhold anything from His children that will help us fulfill His desire for us. He gives us His Word, and He gives us His Spirit to understand how to live His Word out.

May we grow to see God as reasonable, loving, and may we see the faith as attainable.

God Bless!

Marshall

May 17, 2021 – Acts 2:46 – and they, continuing daily with one accord

Hi Everyone!

Unity in the Church is absolutely vital to the faith. When the Church formed in Acts, two things were present: the Holy Spirit, and the Church was moving as one. One of the reasons why the Church today lacks the power it did in Acts is because we have broken fellowship through denominationalism, selfishness, and there are churches that don’t believe in the Holy Spirit’s power or movement. The enemy enjoys seeing us separate ourselves from each other, and separate ourselves from Scripture. Without unity, there is no agreement, and where there is no agreement, the Holy Spirit won’t be in the midst. Is the Church gathered together in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, or does the denomination matter more? When will we become a Church that gets back to the Bible, and the unity of the Church? When will we forsake religion? Today, we are going to look at Acts 2:46, what unifying the bride of Christ produces.

“And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.”

The word “continuing” means “to be earnest towards one another, to persevere together”. This is a daily activity where we are fellowshipping with the body of Christ in some manner. In Acts 1:14, the Bible says, “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.” After Christ told them to not depart from Jerusalem, the ones who complied came together in prayer and supplication, waiting to receive the promised power of the Holy Ghost. The journey to receive the power of the Holy Ghost began with the Word given, then obedience by the believers, then they spent their time in prayer before Peter stood up and preached the Word of God. In Acts 2:1-2, the Bible says, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.” The Spirit of God moves when we are with one accord. In Psalm 133:1, the Bible says, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” It is God’s intention for us to fellowship together in unity, because in unity, we can move in God’s power. In Philippians 2:2, the Bible says, “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” It brings God joy when the Church is of one accord, because His Spirit can move without hindrance, and the Church can be built up together. The word “temple” here refers to the courts of the temple. In Psalms 100:4, the Bible says, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” Our attitudes will vastly affect the Spirit’s impact in the Church. Do we go to attend a service with joy in our hearts, or is it a chore? If we begrudgingly serve God, then what are the odds of us unifying with the body to usher in the Holy Ghost?

“And breaking bread from house to house”

The phrase “breaking bread” should be seen as a love feast. On the surface, we are looking at food, which is vital for any person. The breaking of bread was a great display of hospitality, generosity and selflessness. In Luke 9:16, the Bible says, “Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.” This was a huge feast, the result of Christ blessing the offering of two fish and five loaves, and breaking them. When the bread is blessed by the Lord and then broken, it will multiply. In Proverbs 22:9, the Bible says, “He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.” When the Church has the eye, mind, and heart to serve others, our supply will always be blessed. In John 6:48, Christ says, “I am that bread of life.” Not only are we supposed to break bread physically, but spiritually as well. We break spiritual bread by sharing the Word of God with others!! The Church grew because the Word of God was shared house to house!

“Did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart”

The word “gladness” means “with rejoicing”. The phrase “singleness in heart” means “with a sincere heart”. In Acts 16:34, the Bible says, “And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.” When our attitudes shift to rejoicing, when the Church breaks bread with love and sincerity, the presence of the Lord remains. In Romans 12:13, the Bible says, “Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.” When we break bread with sincerity and genuine love for our brethren, then others will receive the bread with the same heart.

May we continue the work from Acts, sharing the Word of God with gladness, unifying the Church through the Holy Spirit.

God Bless!

Marshall

May 18, 2021 – Matthew 7:21 – not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord

Hi Everyone!

Looking the part isn’t enough when it comes to the faith. God doesn’t want children who appear to be of the faith, but whose actions are inconsistent with what the Word of God commands. There is a lot of hypocrisy in the Church, and the sad thing about it is, not much has changed since the Christ called the Pharisees and scribes hypocrites. As children of God, we are expected to bear the attributes of our Father, to operate under His authority, and do the will of our Father. There are a lot of people who the world thinks are saved, but who won’t enter the kingdom of God. Outward appearance doesn’t amount to inward salvation, but our society seems to be shifting to accepting religion as salvation, good works as faith, and head knowledge as the teachings of the Holy Spirit. Today, we are going to look at Matthew 7:21, a word on entering the kingdom of God.

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”

The word “saith” means “to call forth, to bid to come”. In Romans 10:13-14, the Bible says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” To the person thinking from the surface, wouldn’t these two verses sound like a contradiction, saying “not every one that saith unto me Lord, Lord” and “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord”? In Matthew 15:8-9, Christ clarifies the difference by saying, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” This is religion versus relationship with God, people who say all the right things, but God has no place in their heart. Those are the religious types who are more concerned with appearances than Godliness. In Matthew 23:27, Christ says, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.” To man, the religious look like everything is spotless, but to God He clearly sees the filthiness in man. In Matthew 7:20, Christ says, “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” The fruit will bear witness to what type of tree we are, and we know a person can only keep up a façade for so long! The heart in man is what God looks for, and despite our greatest efforts to conceal the contents of our hearts, God knows and sees our hearts clearly. In Proverbs 1:28-29, the Bible says, “Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD”. God knows our hearts and will not respond to us if we don’t have deep, moral, reverential respect for our Lord and what He desires to teach us.

“But he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”

The phrase “doeth the will” means “to fulfill the purpose”. In order for us to fulfill God’s purpose, we have to know what God’s purpose is for us. God’s will for us is found in the Word of God and by what the Holy Spirit reveals. In Acts 17:11, the Bible says, “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” We have to search the Scriptures daily, receiving the Word of God with a ready mind. In Luke 6:46-48, Christ says, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.” We build on a rock, a solid foundation, so we aren’t shaken or destroyed when storms (the enemy) come to beat upon the house. This result comes because of obedience, because we have made the choice to follow the word of the Lord with a sincere heart. In John 9:31, the Bible says, “Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.” To worship God means we prostrate ourselves before the Lord, and turn over our will to God. When we prepare our hearts and minds to receive instruction from the Lord, the Lord will hear us and make Himself known. In 1 Corinthians 4:20, the Bible says, “For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.”

Do we want to be people known for our words and appearance, or do we want to be children of God led by the Holy Spirit? Entering kingdom of heaven is at stake!

God Bless!

Marshall

May 19, 2021 – Ephesians 6:10 – Warfare in the Spirit Part 1 – be strong in the Lord

Hi Everyone!

As believers, we no longer have to move in our own strength and in our own power. With the mighty presence of the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of us, we now have the ability to walk in dominion as Christ did when He walked the earth. The enemy knows what type of power we have access to, and what that power is able to do to transform lives, such as turning more people to the Lord. And he wants to take that away from us. Because nobody can take away anything God has given, Satan’s only method is to cause warfare to transpire in our spirits, hoping we will relinquish our position in the kingdom. If that happens, he can torment us at will. Spiritual warfare is present in every believer’s life, but too many believers are trying to fight off the enemy with the wrong weaponry, and in the wrong realm. This can be tragic to both a believer’s life and the world we have around us. Today, we will look at Ephesians 6:10, and begin a study into the Warfare in the Spirit.

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”

The word “brethren” means “one who is connected with another in any kind of intimacy or fellowship, having the same “Father”, being followers of Christ, and being of the same nature”. Context is important to Scripture. In Ephesians 1:1, the Bible says, “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus”. From this verse we learn who is the writer, Paul, and who he is writing to, the saints which at at Ephesus. “Saints” are spoken of those who are purified and sanctified by the influences of the Spirit”. So saints and brethren are believers. So how does this pertain to us now? In 2 Timothy 3:16, the Bible says, “ALL SCRIPTURE is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”. All Scripture is valuable to bring us into fellowship with God. In Romans 12:4-5, the Bible teaches, “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:  So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” As brethren, we are one, one with Christ and one with one another. This unity is powerful in the faith, and in Ecclesiastes 4:12, the Bible says, “And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Our unity in Christ strengthens us, making it harder for the enemy to break us. In John 15:5, Christ says, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” We need each other, but without Christ we don’t have a leg to stand on.

“Be strong in the Lord”

The word “strong” means “empowered”. This means power is given to us by the Lord! In order for the Lord to give us power, He has to have power correct? In Matthew 28:18, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Jesus Christ has ALL POWER, so it is absolutely nothing for Christ to give us some of His power, right? The word “strong” here is a variation of the word “dunamis” which means “miraculous force”. It’s word, “dunamoo”, means “to enable or strengthen.” We must understand that our strength doesn’t come from our ability, our wisdom, or our power. In Philippians 4:13, the Bible says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Our ability as brethren and as believers is directly linked to Christ’s strength. In Zechariah 4:6, the Bible says, “Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” The Spirit of the Lord fills us with the strength we need to overcome the enemy. Being strong in the Lord is walking in the strength He supplies!

“And in the power of His might”

The word “power” here means “vigor or strength”. The word “might” means “forcefulness, or spiritual ability”. Spiritual ability, not physical or mental ability. We can’t wrestle our way to victory over the enemy, nor can we think our way out of an attack. Trust me, I have failed miserable at this! In Ephesians 1:19, the Bible says, “And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power”. The power is meant for us, but the condition is that we believe. We will not use a weapon we don’t feel is effective against the enemy, which is why our own lack of faith is where we lose our battles. In 2 Timothy 1:7, the Bible says, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” What God has equipped us with is sufficient for victory.

When we begin to move in the strength and power the Lord has given us, we will experience more victory in warfare.

God Bless!

Marshall

May 20, 2021 – Ephesians 6:11 – Warfare in the Spirit Part 2 – Put on the whole armour of God

Hi Everyone!

The enemy is busy, looking for ones that can be swayed to entertain his influence. The enemy doesn’t have power over believers because Christ destroyed his power on the cross, but the enemy will operate freely within the power we give him. Imagine someone following behind us looking for any sign of weakness, poking, prodding, trying to find a place of vulnerability within us. That is exactly what that enemy does, and sadly, most of us at some point break down and allow the enemy room to sow tares among the wheat. This is warfare in the spirit, and a soldier is at their absolute best when they put on their armor. Armor protects us against attack by absorbing the blows that would consume us utterly without armor. Armor is only effective when we put it on and wear it correctly. If the enemy is able to penetrate any part of our lives, it is only because our armor wasn’t on or used properly. Today, we will look at Ephesians 6:11, the whole armor of God.

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

The phrase “put on” implies we dress or robe ourselves. This is an intentional act on our part. In Colossians 3:10, the Bible says, “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him”. Now I want us to look at 2 Corinthians 5:17, which says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he IS a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” If we ARE new creatures in Christ, then why do we have to PUT ON the new man? God makes salvation available to us, but it is our job to accept His gift. God makes our identity available to us, but it is our job to accept who we are in Christ. There can be a difference between who we are and what we put on. In Ephesians 4:22-24, the Bible says, “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” We as believers have to reject our old man and accept this new man understanding that in Christ we are made righteous and holy. We must put on the “whole armor of God”. So that means that, in order to accept God’s armor, we have to put off whatever defense mechanisms we used to use to protect ourselves. In order for armor to work, it must be worn in its entirety, thus the “whole” armor. Some armor is no good from God’s perspective. In Romans 13:14, the Bible says, “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” This is great armor, but if we ‘make provision for the flesh’, we will take Christs armor off, thus taking Christ off! In 1 Samuel 17:47, the Bible says, “And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hands.” David, being obedient to Saul, tried to put on Saul’s armor, but couldn’t move properly because he has never fought with armor before. David knew the only armor he needed was the Lord! Man’s armor cannot win the battles the Lord can!

“That ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil”

The phrase “stand against” means “to endure, persist, continue, or withstand”. Putting on the whole armor of God gives us the protection we need to withstand attack. In James 4:7, the Bible says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” We can’t resist the devil without submitting to God first. When we submit to God we are putting on the Lord Jesus Christ, accepting His way over our own. In 2 Corinthians 6:6-7, the Bible says, “By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left”. Battles over the enemy are won because we are robing ourselves in Jesus Christ, leaving no room or provision for the flesh. In Romans 8:8, the Bible says, “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” We can’t please God if we are in the flesh, because flesh wars against Spirit, and Spirit against flesh.

The word “wiles” means “trickery, to trace out with method and skill, to deal artfully, to lie in wait.” In Genesis 3:1, the Bible says, “Now the serpent was more subtile than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” The word “devil” means “false accuser, or slanderer”. God said the serpent was more subtle than ANY beast of the field, so trickery is what he does best. The full armor of God gives us the knowledge and power of God in its entirety to withstand the deception of the devil. What good is it if we don’t use it?

God Bless!

Marshall

May 21, 2021 – Ephesians 6:12 – Warfare in the Spirit Part 3 – for we wrestle not against flesh and blood

Hi Everyone!

In warfare, it is easy to see people as the enemy. They are tangible, able to be approached, and if necessary, avenge ourselves against. We go through life victimized by people, we develop hatred in our hearts for them, we’re unwilling to forgive, and the people that hurt us are to blame. People fight to right wrongs, people shoot each other to even scores, and it seems like our whole world is at war in some fashion. The enemy is enjoying this because as long as we continue to make war with each other, we will never come to understand where the wars are really waged. There is a spiritual realm at war with believers, aiming to wrestle victory from the saints, and it is headed by Satan. When believers begin to understand that there aren’t bad people, just bad spirits in people, we will begin to pray for their deliverance instead of hope for their downfall. Today, we will look at Ephesians 6:12, wrestling against the spiritual forces.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

This word “wrestle” means “to struggle hand to hand with an opponent, to struggle with attempting to handle, maneuver or manipulate something”. The key word in this is struggle. In 1 Corinthians 9:25, the Bible says, “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.” Our struggles should always be for crowns that can’t rust or fade; but also for crowns that please our God and bring us into closer fellowship with Him. The phrase “flesh and blood” implies the physical and moral weaknesses and frailties of humankind. In 1 Corinthians 15:50, the Bible says, “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.” If flesh and blood can’t inherit the kingdom of God, then surely flesh and blood won’t prevail in a spiritual war. Let’s look at our Lord Jesus Christ. In Ephesians 1:21-22, “Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church”. Christ had to put off the corruptible flesh in order to seize the incorruptible spirit, and he has authority over all spiritual things. Christ never wrestled against flesh and blood because He knew the war was in the spirit. We must know the same as being believers. In John 6:63, Christ says, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” The flesh can get us nowhere, and has no value compared to the spirit.

“But against principalities, against powers”

The word “principalities” means “the princes and chiefs among demons”. The word “powers” means “demonic dominion”. This changes everything because society thinks people are the enemy, not the realm that is working within the people. In Ephesians 2:2, the Bible says, “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience”. We used to “go with the flow” when we moved according to the world, living in disobedience, completely detached from the will of God. We waged our wars in the flesh because that was the nature we answered to. When we “wrestle against” principalities and powers now as believers, we stand in opposition to the demons and demonic dominion that tries to utterly enslave us again.

‘Against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places “

The word “rulers” refers to Satan and his angels.  The word “darkness” pertains to people in a state of moral wickedness, under the influence of Satan. We don’t come against the people under Satan’s influence, but we come against Satan and his angels. In Matthew 16:22-23, the Bible says, “Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” Here, we have a perfect example of Christ warring against Satan, not Peter, because Peter’s rebuke of Christ came by the influence of Satan. The person that tries to keep us away from God’s calling is under Satanic influence, and in that case, Satan must be resisted. “Wickedness” means “moral malice, an evil disposition”. In Colossians 1:13, the Bible says, “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son”. Because we are in the kingdom of Jesus Christ, we now have the power to fight against the enemy from heavenly places. If our warfare is against Satanic influences in heavenly places, then there is no reason why we should be warring with people on earth. In Luke 23:33-34 when Christ was on the cross, the Bible says, “And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.” Do we really consider that when we are wronged, that the people hurting us aren’t fully aware of what they are actually doing, that they are actually under Satan’s influence? This is why Christ says in Matthew 5:44, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you”. It is our job as believers to take the high road when in warfare, which requires us to exercise the things of the Spirit, not the things of the flesh.

May we understand the power the Spirit has over the flesh and keep the right perspective on where our battlefield really is.

God Bless!

Marshall

May 22, 2021 – Ephesians 6:13- Warfare in the Spirit Part 4 – take unto you the whole armour of God

Hi Everyone!

The enemy can be withstood. Sometimes, we can give the enemy more power than he deserves and far more power over us than he actually has. No one wants to accept that we give Satan power through unbelief, through sin, and through our own desire to do things our own way. We can’t be people that block God out and then expect to become successful in warfare. The whole armor of God is exactly what we need to overcome the enemy, but if we go into warfare with one piece of our armor missing, then there lies our vulnerability and the enemy’s point of entry. Christ was at all points tempted but didn’t sin, able to withstand the trickery of the enemy by the Word of God. The enemy only has the power we turn over to him to operate in our lives. Unlike those in the world who don’t have salvation or the promises of God, we can stand victoriously against the enemy. Today, we will look at Ephesians 6:13, withstanding the enemy.

“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

The phrase “take unto you” means “receive unto yourselves”. This implies that God makes this armor available, but it is our job to receive it. God is not going to force us to use the armor He provides. In Romans 13:12, the Bible says, “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” The time is now to receive the armor of God, because the enemy is constantly trying to engage us in warfare. In Luke 22:31-32, the Bible says, “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” Even Christ implied to Peter that he would have to resist the enemy. That is what I love the most about God, that He doesn’t force us to love Him, or use His gifts, but He equips us anyway just in case we are willing. In Colossians 3:12, the Bible says, “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering”. We are the elect of God so we are able to receive amazing qualities unto ourselves that will make warfare a lot easier to master. In Hebrews 2:8, the Bible says, “Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.” When we put on the whole armor of God, the enemy is subject to us, so the only way the enemy can get the victory is if we never take up the Lord’s armor.

“That ye may be able to withstand in the evil day”

The phrase “that ye may be able to” is a conduit for a condition fulfilled. Taking up the whole armor of God makes us able to withstand, but without the whole armor of God, we won’t be able to do anything but fail. Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”. The ability to do all things lies in the provision of the Lord. The word “withstand” means “stand against, to oppose”. In Ephesians 4:26-27, “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.” Our emotions are something the enemy uses to render us vulnerable, which causes us to not take up the armor of God. We can’t succeed against an enemy when we are giving him place to reign. The phrase “evil day” means “a period of time where people are morally wicked, corrupt, and the world is full of sorrow and affliction”. Kinda sounds like right now doesn’t it? We have a Covid pandemic, tons of mass shootings, a culture oversexed and violent, and we currently have Israel and Gaza firing off rockets at each other. In John 12:35, the Bible says, “Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.” Imagine going to war in darkness. That is exactly what happens when we don’t take up the whole armor of God. We are unable to oppose the enemy because we can’t see the enemy or where he is attacking from.

“And having done all, to stand”

The phrase “done all” means “to work fully, to accomplish, to fulfill”. The word “stand” means “to hold one’s position firm”. When we take up the whole armor of God, stand against the enemy, and obey the Word of the Lord, we have done all God has asked us to do. In 2 Chronicles 20:17, the Bible says, “Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.” When we follow the Word of God and take up His armor, the Lord will fight our battles and we will stand, seeing God’s deliverance. That is something worth standing for!

God Bless!

Marshall

May 23, 2021 – Ephesians 6:14 – Warfare in the Spirit Part 5 – stand therefore

Hi Everyone!

A believer’s armor protects us from the blows of the enemy. Each piece of armor has a purpose, covering a part of the body that the enemy can penetrate. The armor of God fulfills this same purpose but the armor is spiritual, its qualities aimed at eliminating vulnerability in us. We have to always remember that wearing the WHOLE armor of God is vital to our spiritual health, that no piece by itself is sufficient protection. In warfare, we have to be vigilant in making sure we are covered because the whole point of warfare is to conquer and win! We will discover the importance of truth and righteousness to a believer’s life, how the enemy loves to twist the truth and get mankind to circumvent the righteousness of God. Remember, the enemy’s goal is to get us to abandon our spiritual armor! Today, we are going to look at Ephesians 6:14, living in truth and righteousness.

“Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;”

The word “stand” means “to hold one’s position against and enemy”. So we aren’t just “standing” there casually, but we are standing there ready for battle. In Matthew 26:41, Christ says, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” A believer has to be aware of the enemy and be on guard. The word “loins” means “procreative power”. Interesting meaning isn’t it? The loins is where life comes from. The phrase “girt about” implies being fastened around a believer like a belt. So not only does this give us protection, but being fastened around like a belt speaks of permanence. The word “truth” implies a love for the truth, in words, conduct, and sincerity. In John 16:13, Christ says, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” When we gird ourselves about with truth, we are putting ourselves in position to receive the Word of God from the Holy Spirit, and move according to His leading. Our jobs as believers are to be conduits for the truth to be spread. In John 1:17, the Bible says, “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” When we gird ourselves about with truth, we are putting on Jesus Christ! In John 1:14, we understand why grace and truth came by Jesus Christ where the Bible says, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” The word “full” means “abounding”. Christ came to the world full of grace and truth and He kept truth in the world when the Holy Spirit was sent. God told us to be fruitful and multiply, and that happens through procreation. In spiritual warfare, the truth has to be fruitful and multiply the same way. The enemy is a liar and the father of lies, operating through deception, so this is why we need the truth. The enemy can’t hold up against the truth!

“And having on the breastplate of righteousness”

“Having on”. The breastplate is only effective if it is worn! The breastplate is a corselet that protects our vital organs from attack, especially our heart. In Proverbs 4:23, the Bible says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” We have to guard our hearts against attack. Here’s how. In Psalms 119:11, the Bible says, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” The Word of God protects our heart against the attacks and deceptions of the enemy. The word “righteousness” implies “justification, Godliness, a heart that is right with God”. In Isaiah 54:17, the Bible says, “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.” This is the truth, that no weapon formed against us shall prosper or succeed. We have to understand that our righteousness is not ours, but God’s! In Philippians 3:9, the Bible says, “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith”. We are made the righteousness of God by our faith in Jesus Christ, so we are putting on the Word of God, receiving it as truth, shielding ourselves in God’s protection. In Isaiah 11:4, the Bible says, “But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.” The righteousness of God invokes power, and that power is found from the Word of God.

May the armor of truth and righteousness be the evidence of the Word of God’s power over Satan.

God Bless!

Marshall

May 24, 2021 – Ephesians 6:15 – Warfare in the Spirit Part 6 – the gospel of peace

Hi Everyone!

Spreading the gospel of the Lord is essential to the faith. It is not about how much spiritual knowledge we can receive from the Holy Spirit, but how much of what the Holy Spirit teaches us that we share with others. When Christ ascended to the Father, He told the disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, and through discipleship, more people can have access to the Lord. The feet are what moves the body, and if the feet are injured, nothing moves, the message doesn’t go forth and the body doesn’t grow. Whatever doesn’t grow tends to atrophy and die, so it is essential for us to keep our feet protected, so the Word can be delivered. The beauty about breaking down the Word of God is that we tend to learn and retain more Scripture and revelation if we share what we learn with others. What we know about the Word produces security, and security produces peace. Today, we will look at Ephesians 6:15, the beauty gospel of peace.

“And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace”.

The armor being described is typical of a Roman soldier’s armor. The shoes the soldier wears have a special design, an early design of a cleated boot that grips the ground during combat. Having feet firmly planted is essential in battle because the enemy tries to move us from our position. In 1 Corinthians 15:58, the Bible says, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” God desires his children to be unshakeable in their faith, unable to be negatively influenced by the lies of the enemy. If we are stable in our foundation, it makes it way easier to help others gain the same ground spiritually. In Hebrews 3:14, the Bible says, “For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end”. To partake in this divine nature, we must be able to stand firm, and endure to the end. A lot of people fall away because times get hard and they lose their confidence in the very ground God has given them to stand on. In Proverbs 24:10, the Bible says, “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.” Why is that? It is because we have abandoned the strength of the Lord to take up our own strength, which caused us to remove the shoes the Lord has provided for us to hold our position. No cleats means no traction, and without traction, the enemy can easily knock us back. The word “shod” means “to bind around one’s feet”. This is once again and intentional act, securing ourselves in the Lord, so if we are mistakenly thinking that we can operated effectively without putting the armor on, we are fooling ourselves. In Colossians 2:6-7, the Bible says, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” Receiving Jesus Christ, or putting Him on, allows us to grow roots and build our foundation in Him.

The word “gospel” means “good message” and it refers to people preaching and teaching the gospel, or laboring in the gospel. These are people that are carrying the Word of God out, that are living it out in their lives. In James 1:22-24, the Bible says, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.” Our identity is in the Word of God, but it manifests itself when we live the Word of God out, when we do what the Word of God says. Obedience is mandatory. Imagine forgetting who we are because we aren’t living out the Word of God. How can our foundation be firm in the gospel if we don’t know who we are? In Romans 10:15-16, the Bible says, “And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias [Elijah] saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?” When the gospel is being spread, good news is being spread. Good news tends to produce peace, if the good news is believed. Not every one will receive our message, but spread the gospel anyway. The word “peace” pertains to welfare, prosperity, and every kind of good that produces Godly bliss. In Colossians 3:15, the Bible says, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”  When peace is allowed to have reign, that means the gospel is being lived out and spread, and that makes us one with God and one with the Church.

Are our feet planted firmly in the Word of God so we can experience and share the gospel of peace?

God Bless!

Marshall

May 25, 2021 – Ephesians 6:16 – Warfare in the Spirit Part 7 – taking the shield of faith

Hi Everyone!

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”. This is a very well known and quoted verse, but faith is so much more. It is also the foundation under our feet, the refuge we need from storms, and the protection we need from the enemy’s attacks. If the enemy can attack our faith, then our foundation in Christ can be shaken, and that opens us up for lies to come in. We have to intentionally protect ourselves with our faith, showing the enemy that we will not be deceived. When our faith is under attack, it can come up close or from a distance, but the protections we have by our faith will cover us in all situations. It is our job to put the shield of faith on, because armor is only good if we use it. When we operate in faith, God steps in and covers us from anything the enemy tries. Today we are going look at Ephesians 6:16, taking the shield of faith.

“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”

The word “above all” expresses the importance of faith. Faith is highly essential to the life we live, and the enemy knows it. In Romans 10:17, the Bible says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Our faith comes from the Word of God. The hearing is the conduit by which we receive the Word. The first aspect about faith we have to consider is the Word of God. So far, we have looked at truth, righteousness, and peace in the armor of God, all of which are found directly in the Word of God. In order to have true faith, it has to come from the Word of God. The word “taking” means “receive unto oneself”. In 1 John 5:4-5, the Bible says, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” Born of God, born again, the recipient of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. That is who we are as believers, and that identity is engrafted into our foundation in the Lord. The enemy is known for attacking our identities in Christ, causing us to question the validity of our place in the kingdom of God. The word “shield” refers to a large shield, by some estimates 2.5 x 4.5 ft., able to cover the entire body. This shield is one of “faith” which means “a firm persuasion, a deep reliance on Christ, an unshakable confidence in the Word of God’s truth. In Psalm 33:20, the Bible says, “Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.” If we don’t believe this, then we won’t take up the shield of faith, because we won’t believe that faith is enough to cover us from the enemy’s attack. With a shield this big, we have to intentionally place ourselves behind it, also holding it in place. We can’t be lackadaisical with our faith.

The enemy is real and the attack can be destructive.

In Psalm 91:4, the Bible says, “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” His truth is our shield. The Word of Truth!

“Wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked”

The word “quench” means “to extinguish”. So the shield of faith is lined with oil-treated leather to extinguish the fiery darts, which are flaming arrows. Did you notice that this verse said “ALL the fiery darts”? That means the enemy’s attacks will hold no weight against the shield of faith. The enemy just doesn’t want to consume us, he wants to destroy everything around us as well. The enemy has even put the Word of God to test before hasn’t he? In Matt 4:1, the Bible says, “Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.” So if Jesus Christ, when tempted of the devil, took up the shield of faith to extinguish the enemy’s flaming arrows, then we must do the same. Satan used Christ’s hunger against Him, and in Luke 4:3-4, the Bible says, “And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” Satan questioned Jesus Christ’s power and then questioned His authority. Christ responded with the Word of God, telling Satan that bread for food means nothing compared to the Word of God. In Psalm 7:10, the Bible says, “My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.” Do we trust God’s shield in times of trouble, when we feel affliction, or when the enemy tries to tempt us to sin? The word “wicked” means “Satan, or the evil one”. In 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22, the Bible says, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.” We must identify the evil that exists around us and stay away!

Will we make the choice to take up the shield of faith, to extinguish every attack from the evil one!

God Bless!

Marshall

May 26, 2021 – Ephesians 6:17 – Warfare in the Spirit Part 8 – the helmet of salvation

Hi Everyone!

Our standing with the Lord has real power. Do we as believers really understand that our salvation makes us a part of a kingdom where the Holy Spirit works to produce the will of God in all of our lives? The enemy tries to alter our perception about our standing with the Lord, so we don’t accept the power we have and then walk in that same power. The enemy also tries to make the Word of God a lie in our minds and hearts so we don’t receive its truth and experience victory. Our salvation and the Word of God are a part of God’s armor indeed, but the beauty about the Word of God is that it is a weapon designed to mount an offensive against the enemy. Until this point we have been protected by God’s armor, but now, we have the ability to fight back! Today, we will look at Ephesians 6:17, the power of our salvation and the Word of God in our walks of faith.

“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”

The word “take” means “receive unto oneself”. There are many who aren’t walking in victory because they won’t receive the gifts God has graciously bestowed upon them. The word “helmet” means “an encirclement of the head”. The word “salvation” means “deliverance by a defender”. In Isaiah 59:1, the Bible says, “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear.” How many people have we heard say, “I have done too much wrong. I am beyond saving”? Where does that thought come from? The mind! In Romans 12:2, the Bible says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your MIND, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” The helmet covers the head, and the head is where the thoughts are processed. The enemy loves toying with our minds, because if he can convince us that we aren’t saved enough, or works will produce our salvation, then we will go through life chasing our tails never experiencing the abundant life God promised us. Blows to the head can be fatal, so it expresses the importance of protecting our salvation. In Hebrews 2:3-4, the Bible says, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?” We can’t be believers who neglect our salvation and take it for granted, nor can we attribute our salvation to any other than Jesus Christ, because in Acts 4:12, the Bible says, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” The enemy would love to get our minds wondering about our salvation, causing us to take our helmet off and not walk in the victory of our salvation. Remember, this letter to Ephesus was written to believers, so our taking our helmets off won’t cause us to lose our salvation, but it will cause us to doubt and destroy our assurance of salvation.

“And the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”

The word “sword” means “knife of war”.  The word “Spirit” refers to the Spirit of God, and usually brings empowerment, and the impartation of spiritual knowledge, aid, consolation, sanctification, and intercession. The word “word” here is the spoken word of God, used in teaching, precepts, and doctrine. In Hebrews 4:12, the Bible says, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” If we don’t believe in the Word of God’s power, then the enemy will exploit this weakness. Imagine soldiers with swords, and they don’t believe in their power. They don’t stand a chance in warfare, because their life will be about defense and never about victory. In Romans 15:4, the Bible says, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” So one of the Word of God’s jobs is to give a believer hope in God. A believer will not win a battle where we don’t have hope! In Romans 5:5, the Bible says, “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” We have sure confidence in victory over the enemy if our hope is in the Word of God. In Romans 13:4, the Bible says, “For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.” Kingdom people have authority, and we are not to bear the sword in vain.

God gives us the armor and weaponry for victory, but what good is a sword we never swing it?

God Bless!

Marshall

May 27, 2021 – Ephesians 6:18 – Warfare in the Spirit Part 9 – praying always

Hi Everyone!

Prayer changes things. Prayer is our way of communicating our wants, needs, desires, fears, and flaws to God in order to receive His ear, His answer, and His intervention. We actually get to speak to and with God! We’ve been talking about taking up the whole armor of God, but prayer is embedded in not only a believer’s armor, but also in every facet of our lives. There is an importance to prayer that a lot of us don’t fully appreciate, and it is easy for us to slide into a lackluster, ritualistic prayer life which adds no strength or power to our lives. Prayer has been responsible for healing, for people coming to repentance, for people being raised from the dead, and for victory over the enemy. With such a powerful, proven record, it most certainly has to be acknowledged with the armor of God. Today, we will look at Ephesians 6:18, the powerful impact prayer has in a believer’s life.

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints”

The word “praying” means “petitions made to God”. The word “always” means “every occasion or every set and appointed time”. Prayer is supposed to be a regular part of all of our lives, and we are to be in constant communication with God. In Luke 18:1, the Bible says, “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint”. Christ took time out of His ministry to point out through a parable why prayer is necessary. Parables are earthy stories told to reveal Spiritual truths. In Luke in this particular parable, a widow was looking for justice from her adversary. She was persistent! In Luke 18:4-5, Christ, speaking of the adversary, says “And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.” The answer didn’t come right away, but the widow’s relentlessness is what got her the answer, as evidenced by her “continual coming”. Do we have any clue how many prayers of ours didn’t get answers because we stopped being persistent, and stopped asking? In Luke 18:7-8, Christ says, “And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” God will definitely answer our persistent prayers, but we have to have faith that He will answer.

“With all prayer and supplication in the Spirit”

With ALL prayer and supplication. God wants it all! In 1 Peter 5:7, the Bible says, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” God is an all or nothing kind of God, so we have to be all or nothing kinds of believers. The word “supplication” means “an expression of need or desire concerning ourselves or others”. In Colossians 4:2-3, the Bible says, “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds”. We are not to just pray for ourselves, but also for the Word of God to spread to others through every available channel. This is to be done with thanksgiving, signifying a faith that the prayer will be answered. “In the Spirit” refers to our coming into full submission to God’s will, conceding our desires to what God desires. This can be done by praying according to the Word of God, or by praying in tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance. In John 6:63, the Bible says, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are SPIRIT, and they are life.”

“Watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints”

The word “watching” means “to stay awake, to keep guard”. “Perseverance” means “persistency”. The word “saints” means “believers purified and sanctified by the influences of the Holy Spirit.” In Matthew 26:40-41, it says, “And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Intercession is absolutely necessary in the Church, and we have to persistently look for the answers to our prayers. God wants his children to pray with expectancy. In James 5:16, the Bible says, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” The purpose of prayer is for answers to our prayers, both for ourselves and others. Our prayers can have great results.

Prayer is fellowship with God in a place the enemy can’t inhabit. The greatest prayers offer the greatest resistance!

God Bless!

Marshall

May 28, 2021 – Proverbs 21:31 – Warfare in the Spirit Part 10 – safety is of the LORD 

Hi Everyone!

A believer’s job in warfare is to put on the whole armor of God. We are to robe ourselves in truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation and the Word of God in order for us to withstand the deception of the enemy. Armor is essential to a believer, but there are also things that are useful in battle as well. No matter what we include with our armor, we have to understand that it is God that is supplying the victory. We have to realize that we are empowered by God with everything we need for the victory, but we must not attribute the armor, the horses or the armies before we acknowledge that it is only because God provided it that the victory was won. We must not become believers that savor the blessing before we savor the One who blesses us, because we are incapable of fighting the enemy and his forces without everything that God provides. Today, we will look at Proverbs 21:31, safety in warfare.

“The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.”

The word “prepared” means “set up, established, to be fixed and steadfast against an enemy”. Horses put the soldier at a major advantage, they are harder to reach being higher up, and enabling blows to be struck with speed and efficiency. So a horse was very much a luxury in war and some horses were equipped with armor as well! In Psalm 20:6-8, the Bible says, “Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.” There are people in the Church who don’t depend on God for the victory. It is the saving strength of God that gives us the victory. How many believers believe that the NAME of the Lord trumps all kinds of weaponry? The people who trust in horses and chariots, will suffer defeat while the believers in the Lord will remain standing. In Psalm 33:17, the Bible says, “An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.” People give weaponry and materials of war too much credit, and they are left disappointed and even destroyed by letting them replace God’s power to save. In Isaiah 31:1, the Bible says, “Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!” As believers, we have to seek the Lord and what He provides for victory. Seeking the provision of the world, or the numbers in an army, or the strength and experience of the soldiers, will take our eyes off God and rob us of deliverance. The phrase “day of battle” means “in the occasion of warfare.” This verse doesn’t mean we don’t prepare ourselves for war, but there is a difference between preparation, and trusting in the Lord alone for the result.

“But safety is of the Lord”

The word “safety” means “deliverance or victory, not by human means”. In 1 Samuel 17:47, the Bible says, “And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hands.” David knew that the weaponry didn’t matter, the height of the enemy, nor the experience. When the battle is the Lord’s victory is ours. In 1 Samuel 17:45, the Bible says, “Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.” David knew the victory was in the name of the Lord, but he also knew that the enemy wasn’t defying him, but he was defying God himself. We have to be mindful of what the enemy is actually attacking, in order to prepare oneself for battle. We tend to make people the enemy, instead of the hurt that has caused unforgiveness, the unforgiveness that comes from our not walking in truth, righteousness, faith, and the gospel of peace. The enemy loves it when we have no clue where the attack comes from, because we will resist everyone but him! In 1 Corinthians 15:55-57, the Bible says, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” God has given us victory from sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ, not through horses, armies, or experience. In Jeremiah 3:23 the Bible says, “Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel.” It doesn’t matter what we have for battle or where we are, because if the Lord isn’t giving us the victory, we will lose!

God Bless!

Marshall

May 29, 2021 – Proverbs 21:30 – Warfare in the Spirit Part 11 – there is no … against the LORD

Hi Everyone!

Since the beginning of creation, the enemy has tried to mount a serious offensive against the purposes of God. Satan does not want to see God’s will be done, he doesn’t want to see lives transformed by repentance and true salvation, and he definitely doesn’t want believers discovering the authority God has freely given to all who believe. If the enemy can get us to question our salvation or underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit within us, then we will walk this earth as lesser version of our true selves, much to the disappointment of our God. Many kingdoms have tried to war against the kingdom of God, many voices have been spoken against our Lord and Savior, but none of them have been able to hold up to the Word of God. Any counsel that doesn’t lead us into the presence of the Lord God, or cause us to race towards the purposes of God in our lives is counsel that should not be given any credence. But sadly, even many in the Church are listening to the wrong voice. Today, we are going to look at

Proverbs 21:30, another aspect of warfare, counsel against the Lord.

“There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.”

The word “wisdom” implies “skillfulness, experience, shrewdness, and wit”. In Proverbs 1:7, the Bible says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” The beginning to wisdom is to fear and revere God, so the first thing we have to look at when receiving counsel is whether or not the person has reverence for the God we serve. In Proverbs 1:3, the Bible says, “To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity”. We have to incline our ears to wisdom and instruction, positioning ourselves to hear the Word of the Lord, and we also have to make sure we are receiving counsel by people who are doing the same. Why would we trust the wisdom of people who aren’t seeking the wisdom of God? Strangely, the wisdom we receive from God concerning us may come from an unbeliever. Don’t think so? In Numbers 23:11-12, the Bible says, “And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether. And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD hath put in my mouth?” Balak sent for Balaam, hiring him to curse Israel. Balaam’s word had to have power, but in Numbers 22:12-13, the bible says, “And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed. And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you.” Even though Balaam practiced magic and divination, and was considered a false prophet, said to have led Israel into apostasy. When God spoke to Him, telling him not to curse Israel and not to go with the men Balak sent, Balaam reverenced God and listened, for the most part. The enemy calls us cursed, but God deems us blessed, and because man’s wisdom could not hold up to God’s wisdom, Balaam blessed Israel three times instead of cursing them!

“Nor understanding, nor counsel against the Lord”

The word “understanding” means “insight, discretion, or intelligence”. In Jeremiah 9:24, the Bible says, “But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.” We have to receive understanding that guides us into the knowledge of God, understanding that makes us more sound believers, better people in Christ, and more committed. In Psalm 119:104, the Bible says, “Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.” A person can only give what they have, and if they aren’t receptive to the Word of the Lord, then how can they convey the Word of the Lord to others? The word “counsel” means “advice, idea, or plot”. The word “against” means “to stand in opposition to”. In Acts 5:38-39, the Bible says, “And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.” Do we really realize that when we go against the counsel and Word of God that we are actually fighting against God? Men’s counsel will come to nothing, but God’s counsel will stand forever. In Hebrews 6:17, the Bible says, “Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath”. Immutability means unchangeable, so our God’s counsel can’t be changed or shaken.

May we find security in the wisdom, understanding and counsel of God, knowing that nothing can stand against God.

God Bless!

Marshall

May 30, 2021 – 2 Timothy 2:4 – Warfare in the Spirit Part 12 – please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier

Hi Everyone!

In warfare, focus is absolutely mandatory. We have to set our minds on the purposes of God, what He commands for us to do, and on the life He ordains for us to live as His children. Focus is a term of vision, and to be focused implies that we train our eyes and mind upon a set position, goal, or plan. Where we focus our attention will ultimately determine our victory in warfare or our defeat, because if we take our focus off of the Lord and off the Word of God, then we will lose sight of the bigger picture. A hunting lion attacks a crowd, hoping to get someone to break from the group, leaving them vulnerable and unprotected. Satan is no different, and He looks for someone who focuses on the world and not the Word, thus breaking from the Church. Our focus should be on the Lord, how we as His children are supposed to please Him. Today, we will 2 Timothy 2:4, setting our minds on Christ.

“No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”

The word “warreth” means “to serve in military, or to execute the apostolate”. The word “entangleth” means “to entwine, or involve oneself in”. Both of these actions are intention and involve a commitment. In 2 Corinthians 10:3, the Bible says, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh”. Our commitment needs to be to keeping our warfare in the Spirit, as good soldiers of God. In Romans 12:2, the Bible says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” In order for us to be spiritually minded and driven, there has to be a renewing process that continues in our minds, weeding out the flesh that so stealthy tries to enter into our space. In 2 Corinthians 10:5, the Bible says, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ”. What we allow to remain in our minds will take root, grow, and bear fruit, so every thought or idea that threatens to distort our focus on the Lord needs to be opposed. There is real vigilance required as a soldier in the army of the Lord, because there is an enemy present that is always looking for a point of vulnerability. In 2 Peter 2:20, the Bible says, “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.” God gives us a way of escape from living and warring in the flesh, but it is our job to take it and not entangle ourselves in it again. The only way we can be overcome in spiritual warfare is if we entangle ourselves in the flesh again, and the consequences will not be favorable to us.

The word “life” represents the present life we are living and our livelihood. In John 17:14, Christ says, “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” When we make the commitment to accept Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior through faith in His name, we become a people of the Word, and not of the world. In 1 John 4:4, the Bible says, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” When we focus on our Lord and we focus on our position in the kingdom of God, we understand that the only way we can be overcome by the enemy is if we allow him to reign over our thoughts, speech, and actions. In James 1:14, the Bible says, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his OWN lust, and enticed.” This verse is for anyone that will utter the lie, “The devil made me do it.” If we lose focus, we can only blame ourselves, because we have the word of God, so we know where to focus our attention.

“That he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier”

The word “please” means “to be agreeable to, to be acceptable to”. The word “chosen” means “to enlist in an army or gather as a warrior”. In John 8:28-29, the Bible says, “Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.” When we receive the Word of God with a willing mind and heart, speaking only the things we were taught by God, living the way God’s word declared for us to live, God will make His home in us, giving us the power we need over the enemy.

“When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.” Proverbs 16:7

God Bless!

Marshall

May 31, 2021 – Romans 6:12 – Warfare in the Spirit Part 13 – let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body

Hi Everyone!

Sin is one of the main reasons we lose our battles in spiritual warfare. We are tantalized by a sinful nature that we have been delivered from, and indulge, leaving us in need of forgiveness. How can we, as believers, created in the image and likeness of God, ever have victory in warfare when we can’t get past the sin that entangles us? This is the place the enemy wants us to remain in, because if sin is our war, then sanctification and spiritual maturity are way off. This is not to say that sanctified or spiritually mature people don’t sin, because that would be a lie, but it is to say that sin doesn’t have authority in a sanctified and spiritually mature person’s life. Whatever has reign, whether flesh or Spirit, will be what is evident in our response to the enemy’s influences. If sin has reign, the disobedience to God will be present, but if the Spirit has reign, victory will be present in the face of warfare. Today, we will look at Romans 6:12, ending sin’s reign in our bodies.

“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.”

The word “sin” implies a proneness to sin or a propensity to sin. This is deeper that just doing something wrong in God’s eyes. This suggests a pattern of sinful conduct which can be construed as a lifestyle. Paul is writing to believers in Rome, so this is addressed to people in the Church! In 2 Corinthians 5:17, the Bible says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Receiving salvation in Jesus Christ makes us new creatures, and as new creatures, we now answer to a new nature. What is this new nature? In Romans 8:29, the Bible says, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” We as believers are now conformed into the image of Jesus Christ, then we represent Christ in our homes, our families, our communities and in our churches. In 2 Corinthians 5:21, the Bible says, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” When it says that Christ “knew no sin”, it means that He never became one with sin, agreeing with it in order to partake in it. To know sin means to form a union with it. Christ did not sin, so He didn’t form a union with sin. If we are conformed into His image, then we have to same ability to not form a union with sin, but sadly, all of us make decisions that are contrary to what God commands for us. Some people sadly believe that because we are under grace, that gives us a license to do as we wish, knowing “we are going to heaven anyway”. In Romans 6:1-2, the Bible says, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Let us not be among those deceived into believing that we can live lawlessly as believers. Christ lived to obey and please God and we must do the same.

The word “reign” means “to be king, to have dominion, to prevail against”. In Psalm 19:13, the Bible says, “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.” As believers, do we pray to God, asking Him to empower us to fight against the sin that tries to have dominion over us? If the desire to sin is too strong, do we ask God for help? The phrase “mortal bodies” refers to part of us that are subject to death. The brain and its thinking processes are a part of the body and thus tempt our souls with its sinful lusts. In Ephesians 1:20-21, the Bible says, “Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come”. We are of a kingdom that has power over all sin, but if we don’t allow Christ to have reign in our lives, then we won’t have power to triumph over sin.

“That ye should obey it in the lusts thereof”

The word “obey” means “to heed or conform to a command or authority, to hear under as a subordinate”. The word “lusts” means “a longing for what is forbidden”. In Romans 6:17, the Bible says, “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.” We were a people that heeded the longings for what was forbidden, but now, we a people who heed the word of the Lord, walking in obedience that leads into righteousness. We were a people set for death, but now are a people destined for eternal life.

Let us ask ourselves what has reign in our mortal bodies, flesh or Spirit?

God Bless!

Marshall

Jun 1, 2021 – 2 Timothy 4:5 – Warfare in the Spirit Part 14 – watch thou in all things

Hi Everyone!

Believers are to expect warfare at some point in their lives. God never promised that we would avoid hardship, persecution, judgements, betrayals, or anything else when it comes to the faith, but He did promise to never leave or nor forsake us. Having the assurance that the Holy Spirit dwells right within us, ready to teach us what we need to learn and what we need to do makes the thought of going through warfare or hardship manageable. Within us lies the power of God, but the only way we can access it is through faith. If we aren’t experiencing victory, or peace until victory comes, then we are not fully using the knowledge and the power that God has freely given us. Remember this is warfare and we are soldiers in the army of the Lord! Our jobs are to not only endure hardship but be able ministers in the midst of hardship as well. The goal is always introducing more souls to Christ, no matter what we struggle with. Today, we are going to look at 2 Timothy 4:5, ministry in the face of warfare.

“But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”

The word “watch” means “to keep guarded”. We are to always be on guard in our faith walk. In 1 Thessalonians 5:5-6, the Bible says, “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” A good soldier always remembers who they are and what they are fighting for. If we lose sight of what we are fighting for, the enemy can plant the wrong cause in our lives. In 1 Timothy 6:12, the Bible says, “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” Sometimes, we can be misdirected into fighting the wrong battles, and that will amount to wasted time and hinder fruit from being borne. In Acts 20:30-31, the Bible says, “Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” There is always someone whose goal is to spread lies and division within the Church, but even in the Word of God, there is a warning system in place. God doesn’t just tell us to “watch”, but He tells us what to watch out for!

“endure afflictions”

This phrase means “to undergo hardship or trouble with patience”. In Romans 12:12, the Bible says, “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer”. Please don’t miss the fact that we have to rejoice in hope. If we don’t have hope to rejoice in, then we will think that our hardship won’t end. Without hope it will be extremely hard for a soldier to be assured in what they are fighting for. In 2 Timothy 1:11-12, the Bible says, “Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” See, Paul knew that sufferings came with the responsibility of spreading the Word of God, and he wasn’t deterred. The goal was more important than the hardship of the process.

“Do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of the ministry”

The word “evangelist” means “preacher of the gospel”. An evangelist doesn’t have to be located in any particular place, but they travel as missionary to preach the gospel and establish churches. The word “ministry” implies Godly service, ministering in divine things, as teachers, preachers, and apostles.” In Matthew 28:19, Christ says, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost”. If we know or see lost people, then we have a responsibility to share the gospel with them, not just the pastorate. The phrase “make full proof” mean “to confirm, accomplish entirely, or to fulfill”. In Colossians 1:25, the Bible says, “Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God”. God empowers us to be preachers and teachers of His Word, to fulfill Matthew 28:19-20. In warfare, the work of the Lord is still required to be done, no matter the affliction, hardship, or stress. In 2 Corinthians 1:4, the Bible says, “Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” God will always comforts His children when we are under hardship. That comfort allows us to comfort others; and allows us to remain strong under warfare.

May the strength of warfare make us able ministers of God’s Word.

God Bless!

Marshall

Jun 2, 2021 – Proverbs 16:7 – Warfare in the Spirit Part 15 – when a man’s ways please the LORD

Hi Everyone!

In warfare, the right perspective is vital. The type of mentality we have while going into battle will greatly affect the outcome of the battle itself. My late beloved Auntie Dianne used to always tell me that if I do the right thing, then I don’t have to worry about the consequences. If we focus our attention on pleasing the Lord, and fulfilling His purpose for our lives, then it takes the sting out of the warfare the enemy tries to inflict upon us. The Lord doesn’t promise us that we are going to be well loved and accepted as believers. In fact, the Word of God says that some of our enemies will be in our own homes. What do we focus our attention on, the enemies that present themselves as an obstruction to our faith, or do we concentrate all our efforts on pleasing the Lord and allowing Him to deal with our enemies Himself? Today, we are going to look at Proverbs 16:7, pleasing the Lord in the face of warfare.

“When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him”

The word “ways” means “course of life, mode of action, or journey”. In John 14:5-6, the Bible says, “Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” The first thing we have to embrace totally is that Christ is the only way to God. There is no pleasing God without Christ being our Lord and Savior. In 1 John 4:17, the Bible says, “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.” Our love is perfected in Him, giving us the ability to represent Christ in our lives. So it is not only vital for believers to receive Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior, but it is also crucial for us to live like He did. In John 8:29, Christ says, “And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.” Christ always pleased the Father, and the Father remained with Him. When we please the Lord, God remains with us. How can the enemy prevail with our God right with us? The word “please” means “to be acceptable, to be approved, to produce delight”. In John 14:23, the Bible says, “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” Obedience is mandatory to pleasing the Lord, obeying both the written and spoken word of God. God rewards our obedience by making His presence with us, affording us the best protection in any level of warfare we encounter. In Romans 8:8, the Bible says, “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” God wants a people who remain in the Spirit, right where He is. If we continue to lose our battles, then we have to ask ourselves, are we obeying the Lord, are we following Christ’s example, and are we allowing God entrance in us to dwell with us and in us? Sometimes, we have to check ourselves to make sure that we are giving ourselves every opportunity to succeed in warfare.

“He maketh even him enemies to be at peace with him”

The word “enemies” means adversaries. These are people that come against us. In Matthew 5:44, Christ says, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you”. When an enemy presents themselves, do we operate from a position of love, compassion, grace, and prayer? When Christ was on the cross staring out at people that opposed Him, He asked God to forgive them because ‘they know not what they do’. He prayed for the same people that strung Him up on the cross. How many enemies or adversaries have mounted up against us that we have prayed for, that we have blessed, that we have forgiven? Remember, the verse in Proverbs 16:7 says, “When a man’s ways please the Lord …” Well, if the Word of God tell us to forgive, to bless, and to pray for our adversaries, and we don’t do it, then how will they ever be at peace with us? The word “peace” implies safety, being uninjured in the mind and body. Jacob was terrified by his brother Esau, because he tricked him out of his birthright and then stole his blessing. Esau wanted to kill him, so Jacob fled. In Genesis 33:3-4, the Bible says, “And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.” Jacob humbled himself before Esau, and Esau gave him and hug and kiss, weeping at the sight of his brother. God turned an adversary into a brother because Jacob’s ways pleased the Lord!

May we come to know that warfare produces the surest path to peace if our ways please the Lord!

God Bless!

Marshall

JUN 3, 2021 – Romans 8:28 – Warfare in the Spirit Part 16 – all things work together for good to them that love God

Hi Everyone!

There has to be a purpose behind the storms we face and the warfare we find ourselves under. We tend to ask God why He causes things to happen the way they do, sometimes causing a great discomfort to us in the process. Even as I type, I am wondering how I accidentally erased this devotional on my tablet without sending it, causing me to do a brand new one in its place! God has an intention for our warfare, for our storms, and for our struggles and that intention is for us to triumph! God didn’t create us to have dominion, to be fruitful and multiply, only to have something in creation be able to triumph over us. God’s word not only gives us the instructions we need to live on this earth, but it also gives us the assurance we need in the face of our battles. How does one maintain their joy while under the heaviest of hardship? By cleaving to the Word of God, and by living out the promises in the Word. Today, we are going to look at Romans 8:28, finding the good in the face of warfare.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

The word “know” here means to “to perceive, to be acquainted with, to have a relationship with”. Knowing takes two separate things, Scripture, and a willing spirit, and makes us one. It’s the same dynamic that exists in marriage. When we know, we live according to what we know, essentially becoming what we know. In James 1:2-4, the Bible says, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; KNOWING THIS, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” What we know isn’t blind knowledge that doesn’t come from God, but it is the assurances given by His Word that makes us confident in all situations. If we don’t know or haven’t received the Word of God, then how will we ever count anything joy, and how we will ever see that our warfare produces patience? “ALL things.” That means good, bad, and nasty. In Ephesians 1:11, the Bible says, “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will”. When Christ was crucified, we were given an inheritance and had a purpose where ALL things worked together to fulfill God’s intentions. In warfare, we have to have assurance that our Lord is leading us into a place where we will obtain victory, no matter how rough things may be or how badly things look. That assurance is only through the Word of God, both written and spoken into our hearts.

The phrase “work together” means “to cooperate”. So the circumstance has to cooperate with our God’s direction. In Colossians 1:16, the Bible says, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him”. If we understand that everything was created by God and for God, then we know better than to give circumstance power over our God! In Romans 5:3-5, the Bible says, “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” When all things cooperate according to the will of God, and the love of God has spread all through our hearts, then warfare produces a patience that allows us to gain life experience, and life experience gives us the opportunity to see God’s hand give the victory in all situations. It becomes easier to hope in the Lord.

“For good to them who love God”

The word “good” means “beneficial, useful, profitable”. The word good also implies God’s intention being fulfilled. In Genesis 1:4, the Bible says, “And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.” God called for light and it appeared and God declared it good. The word “good” is God’s declaration that it is exactly how He called for it to be! “Who love God” implies a condition, so if we don’t love the Lord, then there should be no expectation of all things working together for our good. The word “love” refers to superiors, including the idea of duty, to love and serve with fidelity”. In Exodus 20:3, the Bible says, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Fidelity implies faithfulness, that God is our first and most important love, that God comes first. If God isn’t Lord and first in our life, then, the promise doesn’t apply to us. In 2 Corinthians 2:14, the Bible says, “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.” When God is loved and is first, He will always cause us to have victory in Christ and reveal the power of His knowledge every place we go. So God’s word is available to us in all situations, so in the Word, we always have assurance.

“To them who are called according to his purpose”

The word “called” means “appointed, invited into the kingdom promises and privileges.” The word “purpose” means “eternal intention of God.” In Romans 11:29, the Bible says, “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” When God calls someone, He doesn’t revoke it. We sadly don’t accept His calling, which is another reason why all things don’t work together, because we aren’t working together with God! In 2 Thessalonians 1:11, the Bible says, “Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power”. God has to count us worthy to call us, and He calls us so that we can fulfill His will for our lives. He calls us in full expectancy that we will use His Word and His power in all things. “His purpose”. Even though we are the ones going through the warfare, it is NOT about us! God doesn’t make all things work together to fulfill our desires, nor does He do it to make our name great. He does it so that His will may be done. In Genesis 50:19-21, the Bible says, “And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?  But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones.” Man’s purposes will never triumph over God’s purposes. Joseph didn’t realize why he was sold into slavery, then falsely accused of rape and imprisoned, until his brothers came to Egypt to buy grain. Then, the dream he had as a child about his brothers bowing before him was fulfilled and he understood “why”. He had to endure the warfare in order to understand the purpose fully! In Ephesians 3:11-12, the Bible says, “According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.” Warfare endured gives us a look into God’s purpose, which then should give us the confidence to cleave to His Word and the promises in them by faith. Warfare is designed to make us stronger believers, wiser followers of God, able to not only endure warfare, but show others how to endure it as well.

May we come to understand that the purpose of warfare is to triumph in Christ Jesus!

God Bless!

Marshall

JUN 4, 2021 – Acts 20:24 – to testify the gospel of the grace of God

Hi Everyone!

A believer’s life is one of sacrifice, committing ourselves to the growth and needs of believers and unbelievers alike. Not only are we to sacrifice our own way, our own thoughts, and our identities, but we offer ourselves up daily, putting others above ourselves. There is no such thing as a selfish Christian. This beautiful walk of faith is one where our primary goal is fulfilling all God has required of us and more, to be able to be that “good and faithful servant” when God calls us home to be with Him. Do we understand that we have been entrusted to the body of Christ to make a real difference with all God has given us? Do we understand that our outreach expresses the depth of the gospel that is within us? Today, we will look at Acts 20:24, living our lives to finish our course.

“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”

The phrase “none of these things move me” implies that nothing makes Paul apprehensive or afraid. In suggests that Paul’s mind is made up to serve the Lord, no matter the cost or consequence. In Acts 21:13, the Bible says, “Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” People didn’t want Paul to fulfill his calling, and wept for him, knowing imprisonment and persecution awaited him, but Paul told them he was ready to live and die for the name of Jesus Christ. Look at the dedication of the apostles with what was asked of them, and then reflect on our dedication with what is asked for us. Most of us have it way too easy, but we won’t sacrifice the little we are required to. The phrase “count I my life dear ” implies that Paul doesn’t consider his life to be of value or precious to him compared to the ministry. In Philippians 3:7-8, the Bible says, “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.” Our perspective about value has to change as believers if we are to ever be good stewards of the faith, and the things we are leaving behind by this sacrifice have to be esteemed as bodily waste!

“So that I might finish my course with joy”

The word “finish” means “to complete, fulfill, or accomplish”. In Philippians 1:6, the Bible says, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ”. God finishes what He starts and as children of God, created in His own image and likeness, we must do the same. The word “course” means “race or career”. We know Paul’s “career” to be the ministry. In 1 Corinthians 9:24, the Bible says, “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.” We run a race to not only finish, but we run to obtain the prize! The prize is the goal, and the race isn’t done until the prize is obtained. “With joy”. In 2 Corinthians 9:7, the Bible says, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” Our attitudes have to be right about service, and if it is not done with cheerfulness, then the whole purpose is defeated. Our attitudes about service are just as important as the service itself.

And the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God”.

We receive the “ministry”, which means “service in Divine things”, OF the Lord Jesus Christ. In 1 Corinthians 2:2, the Bible says, “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” If we don’t know the foundation of our ministry, Jesus Christ, how can we follow His example of ministry, or become able ministers ourselves? The word “testify” means “to declare fully or teach earnestly”. The word “gospel” refers to the good message of salvation by faith in Christ Jesus, and its doctrines and precepts. In Acts 14:3, the Bible says, “Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.” A sound testimony of Christ can open the door for a display of the Holy Spirit’s power working in us, operating according to the grace of God. The word “grace” means “unmerited favor saving us from sin”. This is the grace that God only gives by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. What are we willing to sacrifice so others can receive the same grace of God that we have? How much of the good message of Christ are we willing to share with those who need it? Do we feel that it is our responsibility?

God Bless!

Marshall

Jun 5, 2021 – Isaiah 11:2 – and the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him

Hi Everyone!

The Holy Spirit is a believer’s power source, tying us directly to the will of God. It is by the Holy Spirit that what God decrees comes to be, and it is by the same Holy Spirit, that we learn the deep things of God. There would be no devotionals written by me without the Holy Spirit’s teaching and leading, and I will definitely admit that I would not be able to understand Scripture the way I do now without the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit that rested on Christ, is the same Spirit He prayed to the Father for us to receive. The Holy Spirit gives us a sure road map on how to live on this earth in a manner God intends for us to live. The best way to receive the complete benefit of the Holy Spirit’s movement in our lives is to let Him lead! Today, we will look at Isaiah 11:2, the bountiful gifts of the Holy Spirit.

“And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD”

The word “spirit” means “breath” and the “spirit of the Lord” speaks of the Holy Spirit. In Genesis 2:7, the Bible says, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” The meanings of breath here in Genesis and in Isaiah 11:2 are parallel, and the Holy Spirit brings us to life, finishing the work of creation and formation of God in our lives. In John 6:63, Christ says, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” We are incapable of accomplishing God’s will for our lives by moving in our own power. The Holy Spirit empowers us to accomplish all that God ordains. The word “rest” means “to settle down or dwell”. When the Holy Spirit rests upon us and dwells within us, we have real power, and real authority to see the promises of the God in the spiritual realm come to earth. In Isaiah 61:1, the Bible says, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound”. When the Holy Spirit was upon the Lord, lives were changed completely, bonds were broken, true freedom became normal among believers, and people without a voice possessed the power of God. This was prophecy for what was to come, and it was only the tip of the iceberg compared to what Christ is able to do by the Holy Spirit’s power. In Matthew 3:16-17, the Bible says, “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” It pleases the Lord God for His Spirit to rest upon us, and He pours His Spirit upon those He loves.

“The spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might”

The word “wisdom” means “skill, experience, or wit”. This comes as this ability to exercise what we know. In James 1:5, the Bible says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” When we ask God for wisdom, the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to receive the wisdom God has for us. God appeared to King Solomon, telling him to ask for whatever he wanted and God would give it to Him. In 2 Chronicles 1:10, the Bible says, “Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?” We know that God answered his request, because in 2 Chronicles 9:22-23, the Bible says, “And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart.” The word “understanding” means “discernment and comprehension”. In Proverbs 1:5-6, the Bible says, “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.” We receive the Word by the Holy Spirit, we understand it by the Holy Spirit, and we are able to display this understanding through the wisdom the Holy Spirit gives. When we apply what the Holy Spirit gives, we will do incredible things for the kingdom for God. The word “counsel” means “advice”. In Isaiah 46:10, the Bible says, “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure”. The counsel of the Lord God cannot be put to shame, and whatever the counsel of the Lord is will be the best route for us to take. Why? Because God knew our ending at our creation, so He knows where every step we take will lead – in advance! The word “might” means “strength, ability, or power”. There is a might man has, and a might the Spirit gives. There is no power greater than the Holy Spirit’s power!

“The spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord”

The word “knowledge” means “insight or notion”. When we trust in the Lord God, He imparts His knowledge upon us through the Holy Spirit. In Daniel 1:17, the Bible says, “As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.” We know that Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego served in positions of power in Babylon due to the knowledge God imparted to them. One example; God revealed Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and the interpretation. The wise men in the land weren’t able to do either! The word “fear” means “moral reverence”. It implies the deepest level of respect a person has that paves the way for their compliance. In Philippians 2:6-8, the Bible says, “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Christ didn’t have to make himself of ‘no reputation’, but He did so out of moral reverence for the Lord God, making himself obedient to His will. He didn’t have to be a servant, but chose to serve out of moral reverence for God The Father. In Proverbs 1:7, the Bible says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” The Holy Spirit also gives us the ability to have this moral reverence for God, so we can move according to His will, just as Christ did.

In John 14:12, Christ says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” This shows that we have access to the same Holy Spirit and the promises as Christ did. May we surrender ourselves completely to the Holy Spirit’s power and leading, becoming everything God has ordained for us.

God Bless!

Marshall

 Jun 6, 2021 – Romans 6:13 – but yield yourselves unto God

Hi Everyone!

As believers we have a new life in Christ, making us reborn, becoming new creations by faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. This new position gives us access to the kingdom of God, to the provisions and promises God has for His children, and it aligns us to live the life God intends for us to live. With all of these amazing gifts God has bestowed upon us, He still equips us with the choice to serve Him or to serve sin. God doesn’t force us to choose Him, nor will He force us to adhere to this new nature we have in Christ. It is our job to not entertain the enticements of the old nature, to give in to the impulses that aim to lead us into sin. In the midst of temptation, we have to stand in our faith and be resolved to answer to our new nature and the power it has over sin, but sadly, many of us don’t. Today, we will look at Romans 6:13, not yielding ourselves to unrighteousness.

“Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”

The word “yield” means “to exhibit, to present, or to give assistance”. This is an act of intentionality on our parts, making ourselves willing participants to sin. Remember, Paul is writing to the Church, so this is addressed to believers. In Romans 7:5, the Bible says, “For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.” Simply put, we have believers in Church who act no different than the unbelievers! The word “members” means “limb or part of the body”. In Matthew 18:9, “And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.” Pretty extreme, huh? Christ chose this extreme to really highlight our need to eradicate sin from our lives by any means necessary. In 1 Corinthians 9:26-27, the Bible says, “I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” Not only should we NOT yield our members to unrighteousness, but we subject our bodies to accountability according to the Word of God. The word “unrighteousness” means “moral wrongfulness”. The Word of God gives us the certainty we need so that we know what it is we need to do, and what to stay away from. In 2 Corinthians 10:6, the Bible says, “And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” Sin is disobedience to God, where our decisions, mostly intentional, violate the commands of God. We have to be subject to obedience first before we can understand how to revenge all disobedience. Anything we do contrary the written or spoken word of God is sin. In James 2:10, the Bible says, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”  Sin is sin and it causes separation from God. This is why we shouldn’t present ourselves to practice sin in any way because of this separation from God it causes, causing us to walk in darkness again.

“As those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God”

The words “alive” and “dead” speak of spiritual states, where those who are “alive” have received salvation by faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, entitling them to eternal life with God. Those “dead” have no salvation because they have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. In 1 Peter 2:24, the Bible says, “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” Because Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, we have the privilege of being able to live a life that is pleasing to God, as long as Christ has been accepted into our hearts as Lord and Savior. In Romans 6:22, the Bible says, “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” We have the ability to bear fruit for the kingdom of God now because of our salvation, and that freedom we now have has removed the restrictions to being servants to God. In 1 Peter 4:2, the Bible says, “That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.” We have a choice of how we live the rest of our lives as believers. We can be fruitless Christians, operating no differently from the world, using our bodies and minds to please the flesh, or we can live according to the will of God, bearing fruit that will remain, presenting ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable unto God. Which will you choose?

God Bless!

Marshall

Jun 7, 2021 – Romans 8:14 – led by the Spirit of God

Hi Everyone!

Being children of God is an amazing privilege for us. By accepting Christ Jesus as both Lord and Savior, we have been adopted into the kingdom of God, having the same privileges as Christ! We have access to the same power, the same peace, and we have eternal life when our lives here on earth are over. To receive such a precious gift, one that we most certainly don’t deserve, is really a testament to God’s unfailing love for us, how He never gives up on us being His children. Sadly, there are many that refuse to receive the gift, and a lot that initially accept the gift only to later refuse God’s leading. If God is not leading us, then we aren’t following Christ’s example, because He followed wherever God led Him. If God isn’t allowed to lead, then we have made no home for Him to dwell in us, so we can’t have the full experience of being children of God if His power is not at work in us. Today, we are going to look at Romans 8:14, following the lead of our God.

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”

The phrase “for as many” gives us the impression that not everyone is going to accept the Lord’s leading. In Luke 6:46, Christ says, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” Obedience is essential if God is to be Lord over our lives. Obedience shouldn’t be under duress because God hasn’t taken us hostage, nor is He going to force Himself upon us. If we are disobedient, not following the written or spoken word of God, then God isn’t Lord in our lives. In Psalm 37:23 the Bible says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” We have to take pleasure in the Lord’s leading, knowing that He knows what is best for us and being assured that His Headship will provide everything we need to live the lives He intends us to live. I used to think serving God faithfully will take away all the fun from my life, and I would have to do a bunch of things I didn’t want to do. I couldn’t have been more wrong! In Psalm 119:133, the Bible says, “Order my steps IN THY WORD: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.” If we aren’t opening up the Word of God, to discover His will for our lives and also His amazing love for us, our perception of God is going to be flawed, and we will most likely rebel against His plan. We have to be people who want God’s word planted into our hearts so we will live according to the Word and not according to our own strength. The word “led” means “to incite, to induce, or to guide”.  The Spirit of God, more known as “The Holy Spirit” leads us in the way God ordains. In John 16:13, Christ says, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” The Holy Spirit is the Conveyor of God’s Word and His good purpose. If we won’t give the Holy Spirit room to operate, then God’s purpose will never be fulfilled in us.

“They are the sons of God”

The word “sons” refers to the pious worshippers of God, the righteous of God, the saints who God loves and cherishes as a Father. In John 1:12-13, the Bible says, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” We have to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, receiving Him into our lives in order to get the power to become the children of God. Our positions with the Lord require and carry power, which means this is not to be taken lightly. In Luke 12:48, Christ says, “But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” Being children of God is not only an amazing experience, but it carries huge responsibility and accountability. God provides us with every possible way to be effective as children of God, but we have to use what He so richly provides by His Holy Spirit. In Galatians 4:6-7, the Bible says, “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” The Spirit of the Lord in our hearts changes us from servants, who do the work because we HAVE TO, into children and heirs, who do the work because we desire to please our loving God. In Galatians 3:26, the Bible says, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” Faith in Christ Jesus begins the change in our identities. There is no other way!

May we come to experience the full benefit of being children of the Most-High God, being led by the Holy Spirit into our purpose.

God Bless!

Marshall

Jun 8, 2021 – Romans 10:3 – being ignorant of God’s righteousness

Hi Everyone!

The life of a believer is one where we must be driven by the Word of God. Our salvation made God’s righteousness present in our lives, as Christ’s work on the cross fully satisfied our debt of sin. Our problem comes in when we, as bride of Christ, begin to set our own rules and try to establish our own righteousness. God gave us power to have dominion, but He never intend the power He gave to give us dominion over His Word, over His righteousness, over His purpose. We must be willing to surrender all to the Lord, presenting ourselves as empty vessels desiring to be filled by the Lord. As new believers, we should have abandoned what we thought we knew, exchanging it for what the Holy Spirit desires to teach. Sadly, the Church is filled with people who don’t know the Word or even worse, swat away what they do know. Today, we will look at Romans 10:3, submitting ourselves to the righteousness of God.

“For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”

The word “ignorant” means “unknowing, unacquainted, or to ignore”. This can be by choice, or because they aren’t taught, but both are unacceptable in the Church. In Matthew 28:19-20, the Bible says, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” This is the Great Commission, Christ’s parting words to His disciples, a very short message that should ensure that no one is left not knowing the Word of God or how they should live as believers. We bear immense responsibility in the maturity of the believers. In Hebrews 5:1-3, the Bible says, “For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.” Because we as believers have been in sin, receiving salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, it should bolster compassion within the body to not desire to see someone apart from the gospel of Jesus Christ. We must always remember where we come from, and also keep the memory of our salvation close in our minds. In Romans 3:22-23, the Bible says, “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”. God’s righteousness produces forgiveness of sins and salvation from the penalty of death by faith in Jesus Christ. How can we receive such a powerful gift while people remain ignorant around us?

“and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted unto the righteousness of God”

The word “establish” means “to confirm as truth”. The word “righteousness” implies justification, the making of one to be right, holy, or innocent. In 1 Peter 2:18, the Bible says, “Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.” We cannot be subject to authority on earth and make up our own rules, so why should it be any different with God? We should submit even more! In Mark 7:8-9, Christ says, “For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” In order for us to follow man’s tradition and man’s so called righteousness, wh have to lay aside what God commands. This means we, sometimes blatantly, ignore the Word of God to follow tradition, most of which have no Biblical foundation whatsoever. This shouldn’t be. In Mark 7:13, Christ says, “Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.” We nullify the Word of God’s power because we try to establish our own righteousness. The word “submitted” means “to render oneself subordinate, to cause one to obey”. In Philippians 3:9, the Bible says, “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith”. When we are in Christ, the Word of God shows us we have been made righteous of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Any other way will not obtain the righteousness of God.

When we ignore the traditions of man and submit to the righteousness of God by faith in Jesus Christ, we will bear the testimony that will bring the truth of Christ to all who are willing to hear.

God Bless!

Marshall

Jun 9, 2021 – Romans 12:6 – gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us

Hi Everyone!

God has thoroughly blessed us with gifts, and as a body, our gifts are in different areas, affecting different people. God has created us to be unique in our identity, and created our gifts to fit us perfectly. There is no one on the earth that can do what God has created each one of us to specifically do, and that makes our gifts special. The problem the Church has is when we believers take on roles in the Church that God didn’t ordain for us to take. We have choir directors who were called to be deacons, pastors who were called to feed the homeless, Sunday School teachers who were called to the finance committee. Some people are serving the Church in their roles, but God is calling them to bring the Church into the community. We have an obligation to utilize the gifts God has given us, according to the ability He has given us. Today, we are going to look at Romans 12:6, operating under the grace of God.

“Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith”

The word “gifts” means “endowments, having a miraculous faculty”, referring to the abilities imparted to believers and particularly to teachers by the Holy Spirit. In Romans 11:29, the Bible says, “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” God bestows His gifts upon us and they remain there, whether we use them or not. God doesn’t give us gifts for them to remain dormant. In Luke 19:13, the Bible says, “He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.” When Christ ascended to the Father, He promised to send the Holy Spirit to dwell in us forever. We also have the power within us to operate in our gifts, and are expected to do this until Christ comes back for His bride. The word “differing” means “varying”, which implies that we are not going to all have the same gifts. This is by design! If everyone is pastors, then who is going to feed,the homeless, and if every one is choir directors, then who is going to work with youth? In 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, the Bible, “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.” God has to be intertwined in all of our gifts, no matter what they are, and the Holy Spirit has to work through our gifts. In 1 Corinthians 12:7, the Bible says, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.” The gifts of God are to make us profitable for the kingdom of God.

The word “grace” means “divine favor, unmerited, which causes one to experience joy and gratification.” The word grace implies God making up the difference for what we lack. In 1 Peter 4:10-11, the Bible says, “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” We receive the gifts from God, when we speak, we speak the words God has given, and in ability God gives it. This means we don’t try to preach, teach, or serve like anyone else, but in the power strength, and ability that God gives us individually. Grace is the not only the accepting of a person who falls short, but it is the bridge God has constructed between where we are and where He desires for us to be. In Luke 12:12, the Bible says, “For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.” God gives us the the gifts and the ability to carry the gifts out. It is all given to us by grace.

“Whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith.”

The word “prophecy” means “prediction” referring to the foretelling of future events, revelations, or directions of the Holy Spirit by believers in teachers in the Church. The word “proportion” means “distribution of Word”. The word “faith” implies firm reliance and persuasion in what God have given, based on the Word and will of God. This means we are only sharing what God gives us to share, not what we think or feel. In Jeremiah 1:7, the Bible says, “But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.” Prophets as the messengers of God, saying the things God desires for His children to know. We operate in proportion of our faith when we only say what the Holy Spirit leads us to say.

May we use the gift God has given, how He intends for us to use them, accepting His calling as able ministers in His kingdom.

God Bless!

Marshall

Jun 10, 2021 – Romans 8:33 – it is God that justifieth

Hi Everyone!

In the course of my faith walk, I have experienced numerous people flinging dirt upon my shoulders, regurgitating my past bad acts, poor decisions, and my conviction which has had me in prison for nearly 18 years. These railing accusations have come from family, people I thought were friends, prison staff, and other prisoners. It has not been an easy road navigating through all of the people who have spoken ill of the changes I’ve made, the things I’ve accomplished, and the person I am now. It is beyond discouraging when you try your hardest to be the person God has called you to be, only to be met with reports of who you once were. I realized years ago that man has a report they can give, but the only report that holds any real weight is the report God gives about us. As believers, we can suffer some real torture by ingesting the wrong report. Today, we are going to look at Romans 8:33, identity of God’s elect.

“Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.”

The phrase “lay … to the charge” means “to call into question, to accuse, to arraign, to bring to account”. In criminal proceedings, an arraignment is a process where a person’s crimes are laid out and the defendant has the option to plead guilty or not guilty. In Matthew 27:13-14, the Bible says, “Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.” Jesus Christ had a bunch of accusers speaking against Him laying false charges against Him. When it came time for Him to defend Himself, He said nothing. In Matthew 27:22-23, the Bible says, “Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.” Pilate seems to defend Christ here, even asking them what did Christ do wrong deserving of crucifixion. Instead of laying out charges, they screamed more for Christ to be put to death. See, Christ did nothing wrong and the only accusation written on the cross was in Matthew 27:37, “And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” The accusation was the truth, and our Lord and Savior was accused of being who He was, the King of the Jews. In our lives we have done things worthy of accusation. I was a Barabbas, a murderer set free at the expense of Christ’s death, and people’s accusations of me WERE correct in a lot of ways. It all changed the minute I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and committed my life to serving Him …

The word “elect” means “selected, chosen, favorite”, “spoken of those chosen of God for salvation, or as members of the Kingdom of Heaven, therefore enjoying His favor, leading holy lives in communion with Him.” The key word in this part is “GOD’S elect”. It is a way different set of circumstances when it is God making the choice. In Ephesians 1:4-5, the Bible says, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will”. We must understand that we were selected by God before the world began for the position in Christ that we now stand in. God chose us “to be holy and WITHOUT BLAME”, meaning an accusation by anyone won’t stand up. In John 8:10-11, the Bible says, “When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee?  She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” A crowd of people brought this woman before the Lord, accusing her of adultery in the very act. They wanted to stone her according to the Law, but first asked Christ for His perspective. In John 8:7, the Bible says, “So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” Christ called their own sin into question, making them realize that they too have done things worthy of punishment, but have been forgiven.

“It is God that justifieth.”

The word “justifieth” means “to render innocent or just, to absolve from sin”. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, the Bible says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” When Christ died on the cross for our sins, and we have accepted Him as Lord and Savior, we were given a new identity in Him. Old things passed away, meaning our past sins!

May we never again allow the baseless charges of our past sins be held against us. We are the chosen of God, made innocent by Him! Whom the Son sets free is free indeed!

God Bless!

Marshall

Jun 11, 2021 – Romans 14:19 – things wherewith one may edify another

Hi Everyone!

As believers, it is our job to build each other up in the Lord, cultivating an atmosphere for the Church to operate at its absolute best. An environment of peace is one of assurance, one of collaboration, one where it is safe to build freely without fear of destruction. In edification, we have to pursue a peaceable means to encourage and empower our brothers and sisters, and we have to pursue lives of peace, because wherever there is peace, the Holy Spirit is present. Sadly, there can be more drama and gossip in the Church than there is outside of the Church, and that is why the Church isn’t being healed, why we aren’t unified, and why the power in the Church has greatly diminished since the Church formed in Acts. Today, we will look at Romans 14:19, the edifying of the body by experiencing an atmosphere of peace.

“Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.”

The phrase “follow after” means “to pursue”. If we are in pursuit, then we are intentionally going towards our intended goal. Pursuing the things that make for peace is clearly defined by our actions, and there is no doubt whatever where we stand. In Psalm 34:13-14, the Bible says, “Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.” One of the biggest problems in the Church are the things that come out of our mouths. Gossip abounds in the Church, and people seem to be more likely to cut someone down, rail accusations, or render judgements on someone than speak a word of encouragement that can begin the road of restoration. Words are spoken based on thoughts, so if our thoughts are of evil and not peace, then there is no way we can sincerely pursue anything that makes for peace. In James 3:9-10, the Bible says, “Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.” It is sadly possible to sound holy one minute and then curse men the next. That effectively destroys our witness, because one thing people will certainly remember, especially from believers is how they were treated. There are tons of people who won’t step foot in a Church because of the way they were treated by believers and that is so heartbreaking to think that they came to us expecting a type of Christ, but got the enemy instead.

The word “peace” means “harmony in a civil sense, the opposite of war and dissension”. In 1 Chronicles 28:2-3, the Bible says, “Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building: But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood”. David desired to build a house for the Lord, but the Lord declared him to be a man of war. We can not build anything unto the Lord when we are driven by war and not peace. Peace facilitates the edification of a believer in Christ Jesus. In 1 Kings 5:4-5, Solomon says, “But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent. And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name.” We can only build in places where there is peace. We must first pursue to flood our atmosphere with peace, then work at building.

“And things wherewith one may edify another.”

The word “edify” means “to build or building up in faith and advancement in divine life”. By edifying on another we are clearing the way so we all can grow together in the Lord. A stagnant Church means there is no edification among the believers. In 1 Corinthians 14:12, the Bible says, “Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.” Spiritual gifts mean nothing if we don’t have a heart to edify the Church. Edification means we will put ourselves last for the sake of others. In 1 Corinthians 10:24, the Bible says , “Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.” A thriving Church is where everyone seeks to build people up into who God has called them to be. There can be no selfishness in the edification process because edification is always about the other person. In John 13:15, Christ says, “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” Christ gave us the example, and now it is our turn to be this example in another’s life.

May our lives be lived to build up the Church, serving others over ourselves.

God Bless!

Marshall

Jun 12, 2021 – Isaiah 25:4 – thou hast been a strength

Hi Everyone!

Do we praise God enough? This question should cause us to look within, and examine ourselves, whether or not we praise the Lord for all He is and has done for us. Do we praise God at all? In our lives, we have been ingrates, asking God for more and more, all while never praising Him for what He has already done. Every now and then, we need to really reflect on what God has protected us from, what He has given us, how He has saved us, and how He has made us new creations in Christ. Maybe these reflections will make us more grateful believers who give God the praise in all things in our lives. Our praise keeps the enemy away! Today, we will look at Isaiah 25:4, remembering the deliverance of God through praise.

“For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.”

The word “strength” means “defense or a fortress”. Isaiah is talking about God’s strength. In Isaiah 26:4, the Bible says, “Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength”. Do we trust in the Lord’s strength enough to bring our issues to Him, having full confidence that He will deliver us from whatever mounts up against us? The word “poor” means “weak or thin”. In Romans 5:6, the Bible says, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” God responded to our poverty by giving us Christ as our Lord and Savior, but also as our sacrifice, achieving salvation for us that we couldn’t do on our own. How many of us praise God for His salvation poured out upon us, knowing full well we didn’t deserve it, or do we just accept the gift and move on? In Matthew 5:3, Christ says in the Beatitudes, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Christ deems the poor to be blessed. Why? Because we will inherit the kingdom of God because of our deliverance! How many of us feel blessed, or even receive this truth that we are blessed even at our lowest points?

“A strength to the needy in his distress”

The word “needy” means “destitute, to be in want”.  This could be spiritual or physical. The word distress means ” a tight place, trouble, or affliction”. In 2 Corinthians 4:16-17, the Bible says, “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory”. No matter what is going on outside of us, no matter what may wither away, we are being renewed daily. Our view of our afflictions should be to understand that afflictions are temporary and once delivered will bring glory to God. In Psalm 34:19, the Bible says, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them ALL.” God doesn’t pick and choose which afflictions He will deliver us from. If we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, we will be delivered from all of them! Have we ever praised the Lord for getting us through a period of affliction, or have we been too relieved that it was over to give God the praise He deserves?

“A refuge from the storm”

The word “refuge” refers to a safe place given by God, where we can find rest no matter what is going on in our lives. The word “storm” means “a gush of water, a flood, or a tempest”. This type of storm is overwhelming, making it hard for us to plant our feet on solid ground. In Psalm 107:28-30, the Bible says, “Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.” God doesn’t have to take us out of the storms in life, because He will either calm the storm and give us peace, or give us peace in the midst of the storm. When we are delivered we are glad, but do we give God the praise?

“A shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.”

The word “shadow” means “shade or covering”. The word “heat” means “drought or desolation”. The word “blast” means “violent wind”, and the word “terrible” means “ruthless”. In Isaiah 59:19, the Bible says, “So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.” The enemy will try to cause a drought or beat against our strength until we crumble, but the Lord will come in and triumph over the enemy. God continues to deliver us, continues to protect us, continues to bless us, but do we continue to give Him the praise?

May we learn to praise God in our circumstances and in our deliverance. Our God is awesome!

God Bless!

Marshall

Jun 13, 2021 – Romans 16:17 – avoid them

Hi Everyone!

Unity is essential in the Church. God is pleased when we come together, using our gifts, our abilities, and what we are being taught by the Holy Spirit to inspire, strengthen and encourage the Church. Where there is unity, there is no selfishness, no division, no things present that break the bonds God has established. As badly as we would like a Church that is completely absent of anyone or anything that aims to disrupt the unity God has provided us, we know that this is not the case. Unity begins with each person’s commitment to God and our faithful reception of the Word of God by faith, because by both, we would see that God desires for His children to live and worship together as one body. The enemy hates unity, because unity produces agreement, and agreement ushers in God’s answered prayers, giving the Church even more power by faith. What do we do when people are in our congregation, purposely trying to disrupt what God is trying to establish in us? Today, we will look at Romans 16:17, avoiding those who cause division in the Church.

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.”

The word “beseech” means “to call near or invite with the purpose of encouragement”. It is the same as saying, “Please pay attention to this because it is very important!” Paul is writing to the Church in Rome, and his letter is based on reports, observations, and experiences within the Church. The word “brethren” refers to believers, the saints of God, the redeemed of the Lord by faith in Jesus Christ. So it is clear Paul is speaking to believers. In 1 Peter 5:8, the Bible says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour”. The enemy is always looking for weaknesses in any God-ordained institution, so we have to be on our guard at all times. The word “mark” means “to take note of, to identify, ” to keep an eye out for”.  In Philippians 3:17, the Bible says, “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.” We are not only to take note of the people who are causing divisions, but also of the people that set great examples of the faith. These are our references of how we are to live, move, and think, and how we are not to. We believers should always be aware of what is going on around us. Ignorance is not bliss when it comes to the Kingdom of God.

The word “divisions” mean “disunions or dissensions”. Christ warned us of this in Matthew 13:24-25, which says, “Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But WHILE MEN SLEPT, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.” The key is the men slept! A person who sleeps is unaware of what is happening right under their own nose, and the same parallels for the Church. Too many of us are spiritually asleep and unaware that Satan has planted enemies in the Church, whose aim is to sow discord with the believers. In Luke 11:17, the Bible says, “But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.” Satan wants to destroy the Church, so he causes disunion and dissension, so we are unable to unify and usher in the power if God through agreement. In Psalm 133:1, the Bible says, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” God intended from the beginning for us to dwell together in unity. The phrase “offenses contrary to” means “scandals or activities opposed to”. An example of this is found in Acts 15:1, which says, “And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.” We know as believers that this is a lie, because in Romans 10:9, the Bible says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” If someone doesn’t know this, these teachers could lead them astray! The word “doctrine” means “instruction”. In 2 Timothy 3:16, the Bible says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for DOCTRINE, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”. The Bible is our guide, our truth, the standard by which we weigh everything said or done. Our examples must embody the Word of God in their lives, so the truth is taught in word and deed. The enemy can’t stir division where all believers are on watch, and the Holy Spirit is given free reign to teach the Word of God.

The word “avoid” means “to deviate from”. This suggests that we change directions the minute we encounter them. In Proverbs 4:14-16, the Bible says, “Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. For THEY SLEEP NOT, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.” Our enemies are relentless, tirelessly trying to sow disunion in the Church, causing the Church to become stagnant and die. If we become a Church that constantly has to address who and what we are not, then we will never be able to establish who we are!

Pay attention to those who stir dissension and stay from their path! Unity is the goal!

God Bless!

Marshall

Jun 14, 2021 – Matthew 5:16 – and glorify your Father which is in heaven

Hi Everyone!

We as believers are light bearers. God has so graciously placed His Light in us, giving us the charge to go and spread His Light unto all nations. We have an obligation to not only reveal the Light to those who are walking in darkness, but the world must be able to see God’s light in us. Why would anyone want to obtain the Light we encourage them to have if they can’t easily see that Light in us? This walk of faith is more than just lip-service, words spoken to ramp up a crowd of people only to lose them because our livelihoods are inconsistent with the words we speak. Letting our Light shine is a body of work, living a life that pleases our God, so when people take note, they see clearly the God in us. Too many people go to Church but the Church is not in them, and many are pushed away from the faith due to poor representatives. That must change! Today, we will look at Matthew 5:16, letting the Light of God shine in this dark world.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

The word “light” means “luminousness”, speaking of moral and spiritual light and knowledge which enlightens the mind, soul or conscious, including the idea of moral goodness, purity and holiness”. In Genesis 1:3-4, the Bible says, “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.” God created light and immediately separated it from darkness. The two were never designed to dwell together. In 2 Corinthians 6:14, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” God created light to stand alone to shine according to His command, so we must also pursue fellowship and unity with those who possess the same light as we do. In Isaiah 60:1, the Bible says, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.” The light in us spurs us to action, to stand ready to move according to God’s command, accomplishing all things for His glory. God wants us to use what He has given us to bring glory to Him, because nothing outside of what God has given is necessary for us to shine. This is why it is important for us as believers to be the people God called us to be, because in our own unique identities God has provided His light. The word “shine” means “to radiate brilliancy”. In Proverbs 4:18, the Bible says, “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” When we are living lives that please the Lord, His light shines upon not only us but our path as well, leaving no doubt that we are the favored of the Lord.

“That they may see your good works”

The word “see” means “to behold, to have or gain knowledge of”. In Philippians 2:15, the Bible says, “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world”. Our lives and our work are designed to stand apart from the world. Allowing God’s light to shine in us leaves little room for scrutiny, even though people will try to pierce it anyway. In Matthew 7:20, Christ says, “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” The word “works” mean “deeds or labors”. These are words of action, and our actions will definitely reveal what kind of people we are. If we allow our light to shine, then more people will see that we are of the Father, because our fruit will resemble our God. “Good works” speaks of the deeds we do in obedience to God, the things God intended for us to do from the beginning. In John 6:28-29, the Bible says, “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” All of our work begins with the Word of God, placing our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and receiving the Holy Spirit, which will teach us all truth. Our works must always come from the Word of God! We don’t work to be seen, but our good work in the Lord makes us visible!

“And glorify your Father which is in heaven”

The word “glorify” means “to bring honor to, to esteem highly, to magnify”. In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, the Bible says, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” God created us, created light, and places His light in us so we should let this light shine everywhere we go, all so we can then tell someone else about the God that causes us to shine! It is our job to tell others where the Light comes from.

May our lights shine before all men giving us the opportunity to glorify God!

God Bless!

Marshall

Jun 15, 2021 – 1 Corinthians 2:14 – the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God

Hi Everyone!

God created His children to live according to a different frequency to those who are in the world. Not only are our actions and deeds supposed to glorify God, but the way we think, receive information, and process things must be according to the will of God. When we think of frequency, we tend to think of radios, where it is necessary to be tuned in to the right frequency to hear the programming available. The same principle applies in our faith walk, because we have to be tuned into the right frequency to listen to the Word of God. Those unable to tune into God’s frequency are the ones who hear words but are unable to produce meaning from them, so the message is never received, and is often deemed as foolishness. The Holy Spirit is the frequency by which we are able to understand the Word of God. Today, we will look at 1 Corinthians 2:14, discerning the Word of God.

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

The phrase “natural man” refers to a body governed by the soul or the fallen instinct of man. A natural man is carnal in nature, allowing their thoughts, feelings and desires to drive them wherever they think, and ultimately wherever they want to go. In Matthew 16:23, the Bible says, “But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” Christ rebuked Peter, one of His disciples, for operating according to the natural man and not according to the things of God. Please don’t think because we are saved, that we are incapable of being carnal in nature. In Romans 8:7-8, the Bible says, “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” The two natures are available to us, but we have to choose the things of the Spirit, because the natural man is incapable of pleasing God. In Romans 7:22-23, the Bible says, “For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” There is a war between the natural mind and the spiritual mind, and this greatly affects believers. Remember, the letters of Paul were written to the Church, to explain why the natural man can’t understand the things of God, but also to explain why some believers can’t understand. They are both operating from the same natural man! The word “receiveth” means “to accept or take hold of”. Whatever we receive shapes the reality that governs our lives. In Romans 8:15, the Bible says, “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” There are two things we can choose to receive here, but the Word of God tells us which one we SHOULD receive! The natural man is going to respond with their emotions which will lead them into bondage. The spiritual man is going to place themselves under the leading and teaching of the Holy Spirit.

“For they are foolishness to him”

The word “foolishness” means “silliness, or absurdity”. In 1 Corinthians 1:18, the Bible says, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” Two perspectives here, one deems preaching of the cross to be nonsense, and one other deems it to be the power of God. In 2 Corinthians 4:4, the Bible says, “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” The natural man is blinded by Satan so they won’t be able to receive the gospel of Christ. How can we know our way if we can’t see?

“Neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned”

The word “know” is a relationship term expressing the joining together of two things as one. We become one with what we know. The word “spiritually” means “divine, assisted by the Holy Spirit”. The word “discerned” means “examined, investigated, or scrutinized”. In John 14:17, Christ says, “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” The natural man can’t examine the things of the Spirit, because the Spirit doesn’t have residence in their lives. When a believer becomes carnally minded, it means we are no longer accepting God’s frequency, but rather catching the frequencies of the world.

God desires for us become a Church that is spiritually minded, receiving the things of the God with a clear signal. May we tune ourselves in to the Spirit of God, listening for every word from Him.

God Bless!

Marshall

Jun 16, 2021 – 1 Corinthians 3:6 – God gave the increase

Hi Everyone!

We all have our roles to play in the kingdom, all are important and necessary for the building up of the Church. God delegates the roles we play and it is our job to operate within the parameters God sets. Some of us will introduce someone to the Word of God, and others will confirm the Word of God already introduced, but both are vital in allowing someone to receive the truth of God in their hearts. I remember a time when I was teaching someone the Word of God and it became highly frustrating because no matter how clearly I thought I presented the Word, the dots didn’t connect for them in certain studies. A brother showed me this verse, which is the topic verse for this study, and immediately I realized that I was trying to do all three, plant, water, and get the increase! Sometimes, we will never see the increase from the seeds we plant or water, but it doesn’t mean the increase won’t happen. We just have to focus on the role we have to play. Today, we will look at 1 Corinthians 3:6, a seed producing increase.

“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.”

The word “planted” means “to instill doctrine”. This is usually the person making the introduction to the faith. No person plants without hoping for increase, but increase isn’t the focus. The focus of the planter is to teach the Word of God. In 1 Corinthians 4:15, the Bible says, “For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.” There are many teachers of the Word of God, but not as many planters. Paul uses the “father” reference to express the type of care the planter has for the people who are introduced to the seed. In Mark 4:26-27, the Bible says, “And he [Christ] said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.” The planter should have rest after the seed is planted, because the seed will grow outside of our control. Ever wanted someone to receive the Word of God so badly that it wrecked your countenance and confidence when the increase didn’t happen in your time? That is an indicator that we haven’t rested after we planted, and is there is no rest, then there is no peace, and without peace, God is not the dominating force within us. In Matthew 10:14, the Bible says, “And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.” We are only responsible for sharing the Word of God in any capacity we serve, because we cannot control what they receive or hear.

“Apollo watered”

The word “watered” means “to imbibe or to furnish drink”. In Acts 18:24-25, the Bible says, “And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.” So Apollos knew Scripture very well, and taught what he knew well, but there was an aspect of the faith he still hadn’t receiveded. Someone planted good seed in Apollos. In Acts 18:26, the Bible says, “And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.” Aquila and Priscilla watered the seed Apollos had in him by connecting some dots in the knowledge he already possessed. Apollos became even more knowledgeable because of the planting and watering of the Word of God. In John 4:14, Christ says, “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” The waterer positions the hearer further to receive the benefit of God, His Holy Spirit, that will continue to teach and guide us unto all truth!

“But God gave the increase”

The word “gave” means “to bestow upon another”. The word ” increase” means “growth”. In 1 Corinthians 1:30, the Bible says, “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption”. When God gives the increase, there becomes concrete evidence of it in our lives. No man can get increase unless God gives it. In Ephesians 3:7, “Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.” God’s power, so therefore, God’s increase! In Psalm 127:1, the Bible says, “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” We must leave the increase to God, allowing Him to produce the result of our labor in Him!

May we plant and water in hope, but leave the increase to our most capable God!

God Bless!

Marshall

From June 17th to July 3rd Marshall is taking a vacation, so we are replaying:

PSALM 91: – 16 Daily Devotions: The first was posted on January 2, 2021. CLICK LINK: Psalm 91 eBook

https://www.redthreadpoets.com/ebooks/

PSALM 91: – 16 Daily Devotions: The first was posted on January 2, 2021. CLICK LINK: Psalm 91 eBook

https://www.redthreadpoets.com/ebooks/

Jul 4, 2021 – Proverbs 10:3 – the LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish

Hi Everyone!

I have truly learned over the last 13 years just how much my needs matter to God. Looking back over my entire life, I can see how God stepped in at the nick of time with the provision I needed to carry me through a rough patch in my life. Sometimes, in the midst of struggle, we may find ourselves questioning if God truly hears our cries, or if He is going to provide the answer to our prayers. If our struggles send us into a tailspin, then the reason is because we trusted in our circumstances over trusting in the Word of God, and we haven’t accepted His promises as reality for our lives. If we accept the Word of God as truth and reality over our circumstances, then we will find ourselves praising God for the victory that is sure to come. God never leaves His children hanging, and today, we will look at Proverbs 10:3 to confirm this truth.

“The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.”

The phrase “suffer … to famish” means “allow to go hungry, or allow to starve”. In Psalm 34:9-10, the Bible says, “O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.” We must understand that there are conditions all through the Bible to unlock the promises of God in our lives, and if we don’t fulfill our end, then how can we ever expect God to keep His end. We have to “agree” to the terms and conditions of the promises by action, not just by oath. In Psalm 37:3-4, the Bible says, “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” We have to align our hearts, minds, and bodies to the will of God in order to be in the right position to receive His provision. The Word of God holds so many promises that should give us comfort in struggle, and if we will trust in the Lord, we will definitely have everything we need. In Philippians 4:19, the Bible says, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Our God is beyond mere capability, because our God not only is capable of satisfying our hunger in all areas, but He WILL do it according to His Word. The question is, do we believe that His promises apply to us? In Matthew 13:58, the Bible says, “And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.”  Our belief can and will determine what mighty works God will do in our lives. We can’t blame God for what we fail to believe. If we are famished, then we must ask ourselves, are we aligned with the Word of God?

The word “soul” refers to the vitality of a person. The word “righteous” means “just, those who are in conformity to the Word of God, and to the standards God sets”. The famed verse in Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Look at the word “But”. This is a word connected to a previous thought. In Matthew 6:31, Christ says, “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?” The phrase “take no thought” means “don’t worry”! If we are seeking the kingdom of God first and His righteousness, not our own, then there is no need to worry because what we need, God will provide! In Psalm 37:25, the Bible says, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” Sometimes, we have to look back and see the goodness of our God to truly understand that our needs matter just as much to God now as they did before. The question is, do we believe this?

“But he casteth away the substance of the wicked”

The word “substance” means “desire or cravings”. The word “wicked” implies the morally wrong, the enemies of God and His people. In Proverbs 1:26-28, the Bible says, “I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me.” God sounds pretty brutal here, laughing at calamity, mocking a person’s fear. There is always a reason why. In Proverbs 1:29-30, it says, “For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.” The wicked doesn’t care for the things of God or the Word of God, so it is comical to God for a person to try to access the promises of God without receiving the Word of God as truth and the standard for their lives.

If we hunger and thirst for the Lord, we’ll never hunger or thirst again. God will never allow His children to starve!

God Bless!

Marshall

Jul 5, 2021 – Isaiah 31:1 – they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD

Hi Everyone!

When we are in trouble where is the first place we turn for help? If we are honest with ourselves, most of us will say, “Depends on the type of trouble.” As believers, we are given the Word of God, which has many Scriptures leading us directly to the help we need. We no longer have to figure things out on our own, nor do we have to turn to the world to receive the help we are looking for. I remember I fell on hard times a couple years ago, and someone very close to me offered me something illegal to make some money to get me over the hump. I politely refused his offer, telling him, “I’m not that person anymore.” As a child of God, I don’t have to rely on Egypt for my safety or my provision because my God takes very good care of me. Sadly, there are many believers turning to the world to receive the things God is more than willing to provide. Today, we will look at Isaiah 31:1, relying on the provision of God.

“Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!”

The word “woe” implies a warning for someone to pay attention, because their actions aren’t pleasing to the Lord. The phrase “go down to” suggests that a person is turning towards Egypt, instead of turning to the Lord. In Jeremiah 17:5, the Bible says, “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” In order for us to turn to Egypt for help, we must trust what they have to offer, and if that be the case, then this shows that we haven’t trusted in the Lord for the help we need. Jeremiah says the man that trust in man is cursed. The word “help” means “aid”. Because we are believers, our perspective has to change about where to find our help. In Psalm 121:1-2, the Bible says, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.” It is completely absurd to bypass our God’s help who created everything in the world, to go after the help of the creation! Egypt represents the world, full of its ill-gotten gains, mankind operating on their own power, strength and money, completely separate from how God desires for things to be done. We have been delivered from Egypt, turning to God as our Father, Lord and provider, and it would be an insult to God for us to turn back. Sadly, many of us fall prey to this, me being one of them.

“And stay in horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen because, they are very strong”

The word “stay” means “to support oneself upon, to rely on, to rest upon, to lean on”. It is a deliberate act to position ourselves to depend on the support of the world instead of in God. In Psalm 20:7-8, the Bible says, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.” The people who depend on Egypt will ultimately suffer defeat, but those who trust in the Lord will be left standing. In Psalm 33:17, “An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.” Vanity implies the absence of God, as if to say, “I don’t need you God. I have this horse”, or ” I don’t need you God. I have this money.” No matter how strong the resource may appear to be, it is incapable of giving up the help that God will give. In Isaiah 37:20, the Bible says, “Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD, even thou only.” King Hezekiah received threats from the King of Assyria, and feared defeat. He could’ve asked Egypt for help, but he sought the Lord! We must rely on the Lord for our help. There is no other way to have real victory!

“But they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord”

The word “seek” means “to inquire of”. It also means “to worship”. It is an intentional act on our part to show God that He is our first and only option, that we only desire His help. In 1 Samuel 30:8, the Bible says, “And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.” David and his men were off fighting and came back to find their home burned down and the women taken. David was a mighty warrior of many victories, but he abandoned his experience and inquired of the Lord before he went to pursue the Amalekites. God’s direction and help was more important to David than his abilities. Because David looked to God and sought Him out, he was given the victory over His enemies.

One of the greatest acts of worship is entrusting our health, safety, provision, and direction to God. Who is our first choice, God or Egypt?

God Bless!

Marshall

Jul 6, 2021 – Isaiah 32:17 – the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever

Hi Everyone!

Our work should always bear fruit. There should be evidence as to our faith, and also evidence as to the work we are doing both inside and outside of the Church. The evidence should really point to God being at work, and should manifest His power and characteristics. If someone is surprised to hear that we are believers, then we must ask ourselves, “Are we doing enough to present God through our interactions with people and through our deeds?” Even if a person doesn’t know about Christ well enough to understand this question yet, there still should be a difference in who we are and what we do. “Working righteousness” isn’t about what we are able to do on our own apart from God, but it is about letting God’s righteousness work through us. God will never allow His work in us to be fruitless, and the evidence can and will produce a harvest fit for an abundant life. Today, we are going to look at Isaiah 32:17, the fruit from God’s righteousness in our lives. 

“And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.”

The word “work” means “product”, usually implying an end result. The word “righteousness” means “justice and moral virtue”. In Psalm 72:7, the Bible says, “In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.” Righteousness will always produce evidence of blessing in a believer’s life, and when we flourish, it suggests that we have a harvest that far exceeds our need. In James 3:17-18, the Bible says, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” God’s righteousness works from the inside first and manifests itself on the outside, but peace comes when we make peace. The goal of God’s righteousness working in us is so we can bear our Father’s attributes, and when people experience us, they can experience a little bit of the Father as well. In Philippians 1:11, the Bible says, “Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.” Our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ allows us to experience the righteousness of God, and bear fruit for His kingdom. It is all done so God will get the glory. If our motives are selfish, then we can’t fully experience the righteousness of God. Christ is the gateway to the fruit of God’s righteousness.

The word “peace” refers to good health, safety, and prosperity. Please don’t mistake prosperity as merely financial, because it is much more than that. In Psalm 1:2-3, the Bible says, “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” When we pursue the Word of God vigorously, and incline ourselves to God’s righteousness, whatever we DO shall prosper. It means we will find success in our relationships, in our ministry, in our homes, on our jobs, and as recipients of God’s righteousness. In Matthew 10:13 Christ says, “And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.” God will visit our “homes” as well! He will take what He sees in us into account and if we are worthy then He will let His peace come upon it.

“And the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever”

The word “effect” means “service, or administration”. The word “quietness” means “security and tranquility”. So not only will the end result of God’s righteousness working in us will be peace for others but as we are working God’s righteousness we will have peace as well. In Psalm 85:8, the Bible says, “I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.” God gives us a peace and security in Him that should keep us moving forward to things He has for us, not backwards to things we experienced before. The word “assurance” means “confidence and the feeling of trust”. God’s righteousness working in us will also give us more reason to trust in God, because the fruits are the evidence that His purpose works! “Forever” means “without end”. In Ecclesiastes 3:14, the Bible says, “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.” Our God isn’t a part-time God, happy if we allow His righteousness to work in us for a short season. God designs us to use what He gives us as long as we live, and desires for us to experience peace, security, and confidence as a result.

May we become empty vessels for God’s righteousness, producing fruit for the Kingdom of God.

God Bless!

Marshall

Jul 7, 2021 – Romans 2:21 – teachest thou not thyself?

Hi Everyone!

Do we practice what we preach? There are many times in my life as a believer where this question would feel like a punch to the gut, because in my heart, I knew my actions sometimes were inconsistent with the things I told others. If we look at it correctly, any time we sin, we are actually being counterproductive to the gospel, especially when someone else sees us. We bear immense responsibility when sharing the Word of God, because there are people who look to us to embody what they believe the faith does. If we are careless with this responsibility, then we can unwittingly cause someone to go astray, doing a huge disservice for the kingdom of God. Whether a person is a preacher or just a member, the same rules apply. Both are commanded to share the Word, and both are commanded to do what the Word says. Today, we will look at Romans 2:21, living out the gospel we preach.

“Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?”

The word “teachest” means “instructs, tutors, to put in mind”. A teacher takes a person, puts this new information in their mind, teaching them also how to apply the knowledge as well. There has to be a trust between the teacher and person being instructed and herein lies the importance of teaching itself. Teaching builds trust, but teaching the truth keeps the trust. If I teach the Word of God, but live in direct opposition to the Word of God, then I make my teaching a lie! In Matthew 23:15, Christ says, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.” Hypocrisy leads people astray, and causes them to be led further away from God. It was happening before Christ walked the earth, it was happening when He walked the earth, and it is definitely happening now. Christ spoke against the Pharisees and Scribes, because they represented the teachers and preachers of the Word. In 2 Corinthians 11:13, the Bible says, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.” There are already people teaching false doctrine, leading people astray. Satan has people planted in the Church to do this. Believers should not be getting some of this same treatment from our own. In Jeremiah 50:6, “My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.” There is so much responsibility we have when sharing the Word of God. Making sure we are living out the Word of God is one of the best ways to secure our testimony, and keep trust with the people we teach. In Jeremiah 23:4, the Bible says, “And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.” Those who keep the Word they teach give the people taught security, it eliminates their fear, and it also ushers in the provision of God in all areas of their lives. We have to hold ourselves MORE accountable when teaching the Word of God because we could rob someone of the abundant life promised by Christ.

The word “preachest” means “to herald or proclaim divine truth”. In James 3:1, the Bible says, “My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.” The responsibility we have in effectively preaching the Word of God is huge, and it carries consequences if we cause someone to fall. In Mark 9:42, Christ says, “And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.” Ouch! The office of a preacher is that important, and the consequences that severe, because whether we see it this way or not, we are seriously jeopardizing someone’s eternity when we don’t practice what we preach. In 1 Timothy 4:6, the Bible says, “If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.” We have to remember that if we are in a position to teach or preach the Word of God, it is because someone taught and preached the Word of God to us. We live out a good example of the faith when we see others doing the same. In 1 Peter 5:3, the Bible says, “Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” Preaching and teaching is not about controlling the people being taught, but it is about teaching and preaching the truth of God by the Bible and living the life we live as believers.

Sometimes, we are the only “Bible” someone will encounter in their lives. What will they see?

God Bless!

Marshall

Jul 8, 2021 – Isaiah 55:3 – I will make an everlasting covenant with you

Hi Everyone!

Our God is an awesome God, full of love, abounding in favor, having an undying desire for His children to fellowship with Him in Spirit and in truth. How is our attitude when we study and hear the Word of God. Are we intentional hearers, awaiting a Word from the Lord with a readiness to obey? Do we hear the Word with nonchalance, allowing this precious food to go through one ear and out of the other? How SHOULD our attitude be? God’s Word has power, and in this power lie promises and agreements that if followed exactly, are irrevocable. When we fulfill our end of a promise, God’s faithfulness completes it, setting in motion things that no man can change. If we don’t hear the Word of God with the intention of becoming one with its truth, then we won’t come to an understanding that these promises are intended for us! Today, we will look at Isaiah 55:3, life through the everlasting covenant of God.

“Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.”

The word “incline” means “to offer, outstretch, cause to yield”. The word “ear” refers to an ear as “an instrument of obedience”. It is an intentional act on our part to receive the Word of God with a receptive mind, heart, and spirit. In Proverbs 4:20-22, the Bible says, “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.” Not only are we to hear with intention to obey, but we are to store the Word of God in our hearts at all times. In Proverbs 3:3-4, the Bible says, “Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.” Our spiritual, and sometimes even our physical health is at stake. Do we understand that the state of our good spiritual health begins with the Word of God, and being people who stretch our ears towards the Lord positions us for the type of success God intends for us to have?

The phrase “come unto me” implies a drawing near to God, to receive His Word as not only a child of God but also as a soldier in God’s army. ” In 2 Timothy 2:4, the Bible says, “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” Because God has chosen us, it is vital that our lives should be lived to please God. In James 4:8, the Bible says, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” When we come to the Lord with every intention to please Him, we are going to present ourselves to be cleansed and purified by our Lord, so that we will have one mind ready to serve Him! The phrase “shall live” means “being made alive, healed, able to flourish, and safe”. In Romans 6:11, the Bible says, “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” We are alive through Jesus Christ, which gives us access to the kingdom of God.

“And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David”.

The word “everlasting” means “time out of mind, enduring for an eternity”. The word “covenant” means a compact between two parties. Even when we were separate from God due to our sin, God still is ready pour out His mercy unto us to establish a covenant without end. In Isaiah 54:8, the Bible says, “In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.” Redemption is in God’s covenant, peace is in God’s covenant, provision is in God’s covenant, and eternal life is in God’s covenant. There are so many amazing promises we have access to because of the covenant God made with us. In Hebrews 13:20-21, the Bible says, “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” God’s covenant gives us the ability and power to please Him by the life we live. The topic where Scripture uses David as a reference to the power behind a covenant with God, shows us an example of what he will do for us. In 2 Samuel 7:16, God says, “And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.” David always inquired of the Lord, ready to hear and obey the Word from the Lord, and God made an everlasting covenant that paved the way to Christ. We must be people willing to do the same!

God Bless!

Marshall

Jul 9, 2021 – Isaiah 55:6 – seek ye the LORD while he may be found

Hi Everyone!

I loved my church growing up. It was an atmosphere of love, and I was met with tons of hugs and kisses as I made my way through the sanctuary. Given the turmoil my young life had experienced then, this was always a place of safety, a place where I could be myself and it was welcome. As I got older, problems at home altered my perspective, and while I still saw church as a place of love, I began to attend less and less. In hindsight, I was merely a “church goer”, seeking and enjoying the fellowship of people rather than the intimacy with my God, so when hard times came, I quickly fell away. I never sought the Lord! Seeking the Lord is vital to every believer’s relationship with God, because we position ourselves to receive a Word from Him, and in His presence we have both power and provision to live as children of God. Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, and we don’t want to leave this earth without salvation. Today, we will look at Isaiah 55:6, realizing today is the day to seek the Lord’s face.

“Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near”

The word “seek” means “to follow after, to worship”. Following after the Lord has some conditions, but they are all doable. In Psalm 32:5-6, the Bible says, “I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.” Following after the Lord requires us to confess our sin and acknowledge our need for forgiveness and salvation. We are to do this now, not putting it off until a later time. A later time may be too late! In Matthew 16:24-25, the Bible says, “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” Following after Christ also requires us to abandon our way, our thoughts, our ambitions, declaring them all to be lies compared to the will of God and His intentions for us as His children. We exchange the life we once knew for the life God has for us, seeing His way as the only way. Seeking the Lord is worship, an action that shows we entrust our knowledge and our direction to God. We bring ourselves low so God can lift us up.

The word “found” implies God coming forth and appearing. People are living their lives like God will always remain available to us while we choose to live in sin, absent from redemption. In John 7:34, Christ says, “Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come.” Do we really want our God to be nowhere we look for Him? Do we really want to be left behind, because we took the invitation of God for granted? In Matthew 25:11-13, Christ says, “Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” There was a time in 2001 when I was shot and my life could’ve been taken before I came to true repentance. I would’ve been like the 5 foolish virgins, having no oil to keep my lamp burning, and I would’ve missed the call to the wedding feast. It is a scary thought to beat on a door, hoping God opens and He doesn’t, because it is too late.

“Call ye upon him while he is near”

The word “call” means “to summon, to bid to come, to address by name”. This means we are not silent! In Mark 10:47, the Bible says, “And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.” Blind Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was coming and screamed for Jesus. People actually tried to shut him up! In Mark 10:48, the Bible says, “And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.” How relentless are we to call upon the name of the Lord? Bartimaeus met Jesus when he was blind, but in Mark 10:51-52, the Bible says, “And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.” When we come into the presence of the Lord, He changes things in us! Blind Bartimaeus didn’t bypass the opportunity to cry out to the Lord when He was near, and neither should we! In Matthew 7:7, Christ says, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” When we seek the Lord, our search will always bear fruit, so what are we waiting for? Today is the day!

God Bless!

Marshall

Jul 10, 2021 – Isaiah 55:7 – for he will abundantly pardon

Hi Everyone!

It’s time to leave it all behind. There are so many things the world takes hold of that keeps them out of the fellowship and presence of our Lord. Oddly enough, the same thing exists with believers as well, where we embrace things that stunt our growth and relationship with God. One of the biggest things that keep us from growing is our failure to abandon our will, way, and thoughts for the will of God. In those respects, many are no different than the world in trying to be the masters of their own lives. God wants a people that are relentless in their desire to serve and commune with Him, a people ready to repent and be pardoned. A pardon is the best possible scenario that can happen for a prisoner, but it is absolutely nothing compared to the pardon God gives His children. His pardon ensures we will live with Him forever! Today, we will look at Isaiah 55:7, a mighty return unto the Lord.

“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”

The word “wicked” means “morally wrong, transgressors, ungodly”. Please don’t mistake this as people exclusively in the world. Isaiah is giving a word to Israel, God’s chosen people. The word “forsake” means “to relinquish or abandon”. If the word of God is admonishing us to forsake our way, then that could only mean that we think we know better. In Isaiah 1:16, the Bible says, “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil”. Do we really understand that when we sin, we are doing it right in the presence of God? God clearly sees our wrongdoing, yet some of us think our indiscretions go unnoticed.  In Proverbs 5:21, the Bible says, “For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.” God sees everything, and also considers the path we choose to take. In Proverbs 15:3, the Bible says, “The eyes of the LORD are in EVERY place, beholding the evil and the good.” So those secret sins we all are guilty of are on full display before the Lord, so let us all do a better job at being children who please our Father openly and behind closed doors.

An “unrighteous man” is a person who of inquiry, completely absorbed in sinful conduct. In order for a believer to be an unrighteous man, they would have to make a break from this new nature we have in Christ to continue in the nature of the world, causing them to see no difference. The word “thoughts” means “intentions and purposes”. In Zechariah 8:17, the Bible says, “And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.” Our God knows us inside and out, and He is calling for His children to abandon not only the sinful nature, but also the sinful thoughts and imaginations that well up in our hearts. In 2 Corinthians 10:5, the Bible says, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ”. God not only wants us to abandon those evil ways and thoughts, but He also desires for us to wage war against that nature!

“And let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him”

The word “return” means “to turn back, to repent”. The word “mercy” means “compassion to not render what may be due”. In Matthew 9:13, the Bible says, “But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” What an amazing God to be so merciful unto us that, despite our iniquities, despite our poor choices, despite our failures, He still calls us to repentance! In Acts 2:38, the Bible says, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” God also allows repentance to pave the way for baptism in Jesus’ name, which will position us to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Turning back to the Lord restores our benefits in more than one way!

“And He will abundantly pardon”

The word “pardon” means “forgive”. The word didn’t just say “pardon”, but “abundantly pardon”! In Luke 15:21-22, Christ says, speaking of the prodigal son: “And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet”. Totally restoration, as if he never sinned against his father in the first place. God gives us this and more, giving us the joy of our salvation and both of the gifts of abundant and eternal life.

It is time to leave it all behind and return to the Lord. He has the best kind of pardon, unconditional!

God Bless!

Marshall

July 11, 2021 – Galatians 5:13 – ye have been called unto liberty

Hi Everyone!

Being in both maximum security and medium security prisons over the last 17 years, I have heard different brothers’ perspectives on what they would do with their freedom once released. Some spoke of working jobs, going back to school, reuniting with their children, and finding a Church home, while others spoke of selling more drugs, robbing more people, and getting into more shootouts. It is a sad thought to lose our freedom only to position ourselves once again to put our freedom in jeopardy. In the faith, salvation is freedom, and some people use their spiritual freedom to once again satisfy the flesh, placing themselves back under bondage to sin. This isn’t the type of freedom the Lord intended for His children. God desires us to use our freedom in Christ Jesus to do as He has done, and that is serve others in love. Today, we will look at Galatians 5:13, using our liberty in Christ Jesus in a manner that pleases God.

“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.”

The word “brethren” is metaphorically one who is connected to another in intimacy and fellowship. In this case, brethren are believers unified together in Christ. This is a message from Paul to Christians. In Romans 8:16-17, the Bible says, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” Our salvation immediately places us into a family of people, unified in Christ, sharing in both the blessings and the sufferings. As children of God we also receive access to the Holy Spirit, which was sent to dwell within us, teaching us how we are to operate in the full power of God here on earth as Christ did. In John 14:12, Christ says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” Our freedom as believers gives us a new identity and new power, so that makes God’s family powerful as well!

The word “called” means “invited into repentance and salvation”. In John 12:32, Christ says, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” Christ signified what type of death He would die, but He also ensured that none would be left out of His invitation to salvation. In Revelation 3:20, Christ says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if ANY man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” ANY MAN! Our God calls us all but how many accept the call? The word “liberty” means “freedom, especially from the yoke of the Mosaic Law”. In John 8:36 the Bible says, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” Salvation gives us a freedom that can’t be taken away, sealed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. In Romans 8:2, the Bible says, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” Christ’s death fulfilled the law, giving us freedom from the bondage or sin and death. Freedom in Christ gives us a second chance at life!

“Only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh”

What do we do with this liberty, now that we are partakers of it? Serve the flesh? The word “flesh” implies “sinfulness, proneness to sin, the carnal nature, sinful appetites and desires whether physical or moral”. When we were set free it was because of the grace of God, clearing our sin debt. In Romans 6:1-2, the Bible says, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Our liberty shouldn’t give us more opportunity to sin more. It should give us more opportunity to enjoy our freedom, enjoy our salvation, and enjoy the privilege of experiencing the Holy Spirit. We have a new life, and with a fresh start, why not maximize every moment to live a life pleasing to our Lord?

“But by love serve one another”

The word “love” here is that Godly love, love in its purest form. The word “serve” implies our providing voluntary serve to one another. In Galatians 6:2, the Bible says, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” God desires us to use our freedom to love and support each other, which strengthens the Church. In 1 John 3:17, the Bible says, “But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” When we use our freedom as THE opportunity to love and lift up others from their bondage, a “love feast” is being put on display, not out of obligation, but out of voluntary service to others out of love!

How are we using our precious freedom in Christ? To engage further in sin, or to introduce others to God by our love?

God Bless!

Marshall

Jul 12, 2021 – Galatians 6:1 – if a man be overtaken in a fault

Hi Everyone!

As believers, we have the ability to walk in the spirit, to live our lives for the Lord, but occasionally, we have fallen short. People mistakenly perceive the Church to be a place with perfect people, but the Church is really a place where the imperfect people are being perfected by the power of the Holy Spirit. What if we see a person heading towards self-destruction, what are we supposed to do? Warn them or stand silent, letting them learn the hard way? When a believer falls short in our midst, what are they met with? Compassion? Mercy? Love? Judgement? Disdain? Anger? We should never forget who we once were, because that memory should allow us to exercise the mercy and compassion necessary to help our brothers and sisters get back on track. No one is to be left behind in the faith. Today, we will look at Galatians 6:1, restoring our fellow man with love and meekness.

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”

The word “brethren” lets us know that Paul is speaking towards the Church, and this word is directed towards believers. The word “man” doesn’t mean “male” in this sense, but rather means “a human being”. The word “overtaken” means “to anticipate, to lay out in advance”, so the phrase “overtaken in a fault” implies that we see a person drawing closer to transgression out of ignorance or carelessness. Imagine seeing someone heading towards a cliff and they don’t know the cliff is there. It is our jobs to warn them that destruction is imminent. For those who think that it is not our business, look at Ezekiel 3:17-18, which says, “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him NOT warning, NOR speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.” We have a responsibility to warn people about their impending doom, whether we feel like it is our business or not, because a person’s life and eternity is at stake! In Ezekiel 3:21, the Bible says, “Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.” We have to remember that someone once cared enough about our life and future to warn us of our need for a Savior, so why wouldn’t we return the favor when given the opportunity? God has allowed us to go through our experiences to show others how to do things better, how to see a better way!

“Ye which are spiritual, restore such as one in the spirit of meekness”

The word “spiritual” speaks of people under the influence of the Holy Spirit. In Romans 8:14, the Bible says, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” When we allow the Holy Spirit to lead we are operating in our rightful place as children of God. The word “restore” means “to set right or repair what is broken”. Do we understand that there is something broken inside of people that causes them to walk in sin? In Jude 1:22-23, the Bible says, “And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” We have to have compassion for others, seeing them in the fire and reaching for them to help pull them out of the fire. If we say, “Not my problem”, then how can the love of God dwell in us? In 1 John 3:17, the Bible says, “But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” This “need” isn’t exclusively material or financial, because there are wealthy people who are spiritually impoverished! Shutting up our bowels of compassion is watching people approach destruction and saying nothing, watching people suffer and not offering encouragement in the Lord. The phrase “in the spirit of meekness” means “with a disposition of gentleness”. We can’t be overbearing when restoring our brothers and sisters. They must always experience our love!

“Considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted”

In straight talk, we have to make sure we don’t drown while trying to pull someone out of the water, which means, we shouldn’t ever engage in sin to help someone overcome sin. In 1 Corinthians 9:22, the Bible says, “To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” This means we try to understand where they are so we can show them the way, not become as they are!

May we exercise the boldness to talk our fellow brothers and sisters away from the cliff, giving them the ability to see love and faith in action!

God Bless!

Marshall

Jul 13, 2021 – James 4:8 – draw nigh to God

Hi Everyone!

How intimate is our relationship with God? Is it dry, superficial, something forged out of ritual or to keep appearances or is it powerful, meaningful, and life changing? Do we go to church services just to look the part rather than go to fellowship with other believers as we worship the Lord together? The amount of God’s presence in our lives strongly depends on how deeply we have sought His presence, and there are tons of believers who have an empty relationship with God because they have kept God at a safe distance. I have discovered in my faith walk that there is a difference between religion and having a relationship with God. Relationships are built through intimacy, trust, communication, commitment, and vulnerability, but sadly, so many in church have barely scratched this surface with God. What stands in the way of us having an amazing relationship with God? Sin? Too much mixture of flesh and spirit? Brokenness? Today, we will look at James 4:8, a word on drawing near to God.

“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

The phrase “draw nigh to God” means “to approach, come near, to worship God with a pious heart”. All of these meanings require intention on our part, and a drive to see this happen. A lot of believers wait on God to come near without taking a step in His direction, expecting to receive the fullest of His presence and provision. That is not how it works. In 2 Chronicles 15:2, the Bible says, “And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.” Our disposition towards the Lord determines the extent of His presence in our lives. Our God is a gentleman, and won’t plow His way into our lives, nor force us to come near to Him. He leaves that choice to us. In Zechariah 1:3, the Bible says, “Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.” Zechariah makes it crystal clear that it is the Lord talking to us. God extends the invitation, but who takes it? In Matthew 14:28-29, the Bible says, “And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.” When Christ calls for us, we will have the ability to do incredible things under His instruction! We will have the ability to walk in power and in the purpose of God.

“Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded”

The word “cleanse” mean “to free from filth, to purify in a moral sense”. This is once again an intentional act on our parts to be pleasing in God’s sight. In 1 John 1:9, the Bible says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”. We have to acknowledge the sin in our lives, confess our sins to God and ask God for His forgiveness and His cleansing. In Isaiah 1:16, the Bible says, “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil”. We have to remove the sin and the things from our lives that will keep God’s presence far from us. We are incapable of cleansing ourselves without God, because it is Him alone who does the cleansing. In Psalm 51:7, the Bible says, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” We have to present ourselves to the Lord to be cleansed, trusting in God to do for us what we can’t do for ourselves. We have to come near to Him to receive it!

The word “purify” means “to reform, to sanctify”. The word “heart” refers to the seat of one’s desires, feelings, affections, passions, and impulses. In 1 Peter 1:22, the Bible says, “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently”. Coming to God, cleansing and purification begins in the heart, the deepest part within us and springs forth. It comes by the truth, which is the Word of God, and is displayed through the love we show God and our brothers and sisters. The word “double minded” means “inconstant, wavering”. In James 1:8, the Bible says, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” God wants His children to come near to Him, purified by Him, reformed by the Word of God, with our minds focused SOLELY on communion with Him. In Luke 9:62, the Bible says, “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” An undivided mind is something God can work with!

May we come near to God with our eyes, mind, and heart stayed on Him! The time is now!

God Bless!

Marshall

Jul 14, 2021– Ephesians 3:8 – the unsearchable riches of Christ

Hi Everyone!

It is truly a gift to receive a word from the Lord, to experience His revelations which pour out His truth. In order for us to be able to understand the Word of God, the Holy Spirit must be at work in us, teaching us both the mysteries and the simplicities of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is by the grace of God that we are able to understand the Word, and it is by the same grace of God that we are able to teach and preach the Word to others. Nothing we could ever do in our own power or know in our own mind could ever teach us the Word of God the way He intends for us to know it. The person who receives, teaches, and preaches the Word of God should become more and more humble in what they know, because it is only by God’s grace that we can grow in knowledge and in truth. We all should ask ourselves, “Who am I that you would choose me to reveal your Word to and through?” Today, we will look at Ephesians 3:8, the humility of the servant of God.

“Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ”

The word “saints” refers to the morally pure, purified and sanctified by the influences of the Holy Spirit. The “saints” are Christians, saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul, one of the top pastors in the world, responsible for spreading the Word of God farther than anyone, is saying he is less than the least!! In James 4:6, the Bible says, “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” The reason why Paul grew in stature is because God’s grace was upon him, and also because Paul never let it go to his head! In 1 Peter 5:6, the Bible says, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time”. In “due time”, meaning in the time that God appoints! God’s grace determines our growth, not us! Paul didn’t try to operate in His own power after conversion, and God’s grace also kept his meteoric rise in the faith in check, by allowing things to happen that caused him to see how he needed God at every junction of the ministry. In 2 Corinthians 12:7, the Bible says, “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.” God allowed this thorn in his flesh to remain, but to offer His grace and His strength as the remedy! Paul continued to realize through the ministry just how awesome God’s grace was to the least of the least. In 1 Corinthians 15:9, the Bible says, “For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” Paul remembered who he used to be, and understood that he was unworthy of the position God has placed him in. Have we gotten so arrogant in our progress that we have failed to see that God has given us something we don’t deserve?

“Is this grace given”

The word “grace” means “divine favor manifested in the benefits bestowed in and through Christ and His gospel, allowing a believer to receive the gift of the apostolic office.” Simply put, God takes people like us who were greatly unqualified, completely sinful, and cleans us up, placing us in a position to share the Word of God given by the Holy Spirit. Grace is a bridge between where we are and where we need to be to do what God ordains. In Galatians 1:12, the Bible says, “For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Paul realized that everything he had for ministry came by the grace of God and by the revelation of Jesus Christ. This grace is something we couldn’t earn, but is something that is given, even gifted to us!

“That I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ”

The word “preach” means “to proclaim or announce the good news of Jesus Christ”. The phrase “unsearchable riches” means “untraceable abundance”. In 1 Timothy 2:7, the Bible says, “Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.” Even though Paul desperately wanted to preach to the Jews, he was ordained to preach the gospel in faith and in truth to the Gentiles. God’s grace is also dispensed in obedience to His command. Paul realized that, only by the grace of God, was he ordained to preach the Word of God, but he also realized that it also was by the grace of God that he was saved! In Galatians 6:3, the Bible says, “For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.”

We are gifted something truly amazing by the grace of God, and we have the ability to receive and share the Word of God with others. May this revelation humble us, causing us to give thanks to God for His gifts.

God Bless!

Marshall

Jul 15, 2021 – Ephesians 4:29 – minister grace unto the hearers

Hi Everyone!

What comes out of our mouths is extremely important, especially as believers. I used to say pretty hateful things to people in anger, and some of my words hurt people for a long time after the words were uttered. Long removed from hateful speech, I still recognize that the words I speak can drastically affect someone’s life for good or for evil. Being an outspoken Christian in prison, my words are constantly under the microscope, with some people laying in wait, hoping I say something that would tarnish my image as a believer. They are really teaching me a valuable lesson about the power words have. As believers, we have to make sure that the words we speak build others up, encourage them in the Lord, and empower them to go after the goals they have set. People should walk away from a believer better than they were before they met! Today, we will look at Ephesians 4:29, the power of an edifying word.

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”

The word “corrupt” means “morally bad, rotten, or worthless”. The word “communication” refers to speech, conversation, or utterances. In Colossians 3:8, the Bible says, “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.” This word is written towards the Church, so there were obvious problems with the types of speech that came out of believers’ mouths. By telling believers to “put off ” filthy communication, it means that this type of speech was in use. In Matthew 12:33-35, Christ says, “Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.” People make determinations of our identities based on the things that come forth out of our mouths. Christ also expresses that what comes out of our mouths paints a bigger picture of what is inside of us. If I tell my brothers and sisters that I love them and then curse them the next minute, which one will they believe? In James 3:9-10, the Bible says, “Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.” As believers, like it or not, we represent our God in everything we do and everything we say, just as children reflect the image of their Father. When we talk with disgusting speech, we are sending the message that our God talks the same way! As Paul said, “these things ought not so be.”

“But that which is good to the use of edifying”

The words “good” here means “profitable or valuable”. Good is a word that expresses God’s approval that His word is being followed according to His intention. The word “edifying” means “building up in faith and in the advancement of divine life”. Our speech should encourage people to become believers or become better believers. In Colossians 3:14, the Bible says, “And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” It all begins with love, and love begins with God because God is love. In Romans 15:2, the Bible says, “Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.” Our love extends to our neighbors, building them up in the faith. In Proverbs 27:17, the Bible says, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” Our communication should build up the countenances of others around us, even if a little friction comes as a result. Edification isn’t always easy, especially when it doesn’t depend solely upon us. Lasting edification can only occur when the foundation in Christ is planted first. How can we ever allow horrible communication to ruin such a life changing event?

“That it may minister grace unto the hearers”

The word “minister” means “to deliver up, to bestow or to present”. The word “grace” means “joy, pleasure, or graciousness”. In Proverbs 27:9, the Bible says, “Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.” We want to have communication that is true and pleasing to the ears as well. In Proverbs 15:23, the Bible says, “A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!” Don’t we want to be people whose words incite joy within people as the words also point to Jesus Christ? Wouldn’t it be beneficial for everyone if our speech matched our identity in Christ?

May the words we speak reflect the awesome God we serve, encouraging others in His power!

God Bless!

Marshall

Jul 16, 2021 – Ephesians 5:11 – have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness

Hi Everyone!

What do people see in us when we are in a crowd of people? Do we blend in? Do we stand out? Are people surprised when we profess that we are believers? There must be a difference between how we are and how the world is, how we act and how the world acts, and how we respond versus how the world responds. Sadly, many believers partake in the same activities as the world does, blurring a line that is supposed to keep us separate from the world. When Christians live according to a “When in Rome, do as the Romans do” motto, we set ourselves up to disappoint our God and destroy any semblance of our witness. When I began to walk in my salvation, it wasn’t easy to stop being worldly, or answer to the impulses of the flesh, but as time progressed, I began to let things go that jeopardized my walk with the Lord. Every day, we have to make the same choice as believers, to choose the Word over the world, taking a bold stance against the world. Today, we will look at Ephesians 5:11, breaking fellowship with the world.

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”

The phrase “have fellowship” means “to share company with, to be a partaker of, or co-participate in”. In 1 John 2:15, the Bible says, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” We tend to fellowship with the things and people we love, and when we love someone or something, we tend to form a union with that. In 1 Corinthians 10:21, the Bible says, “Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.” There are no gray areas when comes to the “Word versus the world”, neither is there any gray areas between sin and holiness. There is a clear divide so it can be made manifest exactly what side of the coin we fall on. In 2 Corinthians 6:14-15, the Bible says, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?” Some people are under the mistaken belief that we can be believers and still keep ALL of our old friends and alliances. Sometimes, we are going to have to let people go because they don’t line up with what God designs for our lives. In 2 Corinthians 6:17, the Bible says, “Wherefore come out from among THEM, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean THING; and I will receive you.” God doesn’t want mixture in His Church, so He is calling for us to separate ourselves from people and things that displease our God.

The phrase “unfruitful works” means “barren deeds”. The word “darkness” implies a moral darkness, absence of light and truth, including the idea of sinfulness and consequent calamity. In Romans 6:21, the Bible says, “What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.” Nothing grows in darkness, and we can’t expect to cleave to sin and a sinful nature and expect to bear fruit for the kingdom of God. There are tons of believers cleaving to their old man without any appreciation that they have been delivered from sin and the hold it had on our lives, then wondering why there is no victory present. In Romans 13:12, the Bible says, “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” This verse tells us to “cast off”, so this naturally implies a choice that we must make daily. It doesn’t say that the choice will be easy, but the choice is absolutely necessary. In 2 Peter 1:5-8, the Bible says , “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” God created us to be fruitful and to multiply, and in faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, kindness and love, there is absolutely no room for us to work the works of darkness, or attach ourselves to those who do.

“But rather reprove them”

The word “reprove” implies bringing something to the light to convict it of sinfulness. In John 3:20, Christ says, “For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” The light reveals what manner of thing it is, flesh or spirit, and the Word of God is what we weigh everything against. We must exercise the courage to call sin what it is, and stay away!

May our fellowship be consistent with our identities as children of God.

God Bless!

Marshall

Jul 17, 2021 – Mark 11:25­ – that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses

Hi Everyone!

Forgiveness is a powerful gift. In forgiveness lies freedom, the power to release baggage and dead weight from our shoulders. God gave us the best example of forgiveness when He gave His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross so we could have eternal life through faith in Him. God gave us something we could never replace in order for us to attain something we didn’t deserve.  How many of us read our Bibles daily, pray daily, and attend Church services weekly all while holding grudges, hatred and unforgiveness towards others? The thing God so graciously did for us is the very thing we so easily refuse to do for others. Is our pride more important than Jesus Christ? Is our anger more painful than the nails driven into His hands and feet? How could we receive such a gift and refuse to share this gift with others? Today, we are going to look at Mark 11:25, the path to true forgiveness.

“And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

The word “praying” means “to supplicate to worship”. Praying is always done towards God, bringing our petitions before Him earnestly and boldly. Think not? In Luke 11, when the disciples asked Christ to teach them how to pray, as John taught his disciples how to pray, Christ replied in verse 2, “And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, OUR FATHER, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.” We have to first make sure we are praying to God. In Hebrews 4:16, the Bible says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” As believers we have to come to God in assurance that He not only hears our prayers, but will provide the answers we seek from Him. Christ said in Matthew 11:27-28, “All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” We have been given access to pray to God and in prayer lies rest for our souls. We come to God afflicted and we leave our prayers at peace. In Philippians 4:6-7, the Bible says, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” When we pray, we receive an unexplainable, immeasurable peace that comes from a place that we can’t fully fathom. Prayer cleans and clears our atmosphere of anything that isn’t of God, replacing it with the things of God.

The word “forgive” means “to LET GO from obligation to oneself, to remit a debt or offense”. The reason we as believers can’t forgive is because we hold on to the offense, hanging it over the offender’s head just like they hung charges against Christ over the cross. In 1 Peter 5:7, the Bible says, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” We cast the offense before the Lord, entrusting our hurts into His very capable hands, and we leave it there. How do we prepare ourselves so much to enter prayer, receiving freely of His Spirit, but refuse to entrust the offense to Him. How can we say we trust God to change our lives when we won’t trust Him to change our hearts? Our refusal to forgive is also our refusal to trust God with our pain, so how can the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous avail much, when we are withholding this from God? “Against any”, means that if we have to forgive everyone! In Matthew 18:21-22, the Bible says, “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”  70 times 7 is 490, so Christ is telling us that we will lose count before we lose forgiveness!

The word “trespasses” means “deviations (from holiness), errors, side-slips, faults out of ignorance or carelessness”. In Colossians 3:12-13, the Bible says, “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” We have to always remember our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who hung on the cross after being beaten beyond recognition, our Great Example of the faith. “Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do”. Remember that part in Luke 23:34? If our Savior could let go of His pain in order to offer us forgiveness for our sins, then what is our excuse?

Will our lives remain clouded by offense, or will our lives thrive through love and forgiveness?

God Bless!

Marshall

Jul 18, 2021 – Jeremiah 15:19 – thou shalt be as my mouth

Hi Everyone!

When in ministry, the proper focus is absolutely necessary. God’s direction is the only direction, and His Word is the standard by which we weigh everything. There is no compromise when it comes to the flesh, and it our job as believers to steer clear of any semblance of the flesh. The world has to change its standards to conform to the will of God, not the Church conforming its standards to appease the sensibilities of the world. We think this should be a no-brainer, but the Church is becoming more worldly as the truth is being practiced less and less. Our leadership is preaching messages that are inconsistent with the Word of God, and some of our pastorate look no different than the world they are commissioned to help lead to Christ. Today, we will look at Jeremiah 15:19, returning unto the Lord, leaving the world in our rearview.

“Therefore thus saith the LORD, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them.”

These are the Lord God’s words. The word “return” means ” to turn back to be restored or re-established.” In Matthew 3:1-2, “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” John the Baptist preached for the world to repent, but this includes the pastorate as well! When Jesus’ ministry began what was His opening message? In Matthew 4:17, the Bible says, “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Jesus preached the exact same message! There should be consistency in the message that is being preached, and as long as the ministry preaches the Bible as the Holy Spirit leads and teaches, the messages will all share the same foundation, no matter the depth of revelation. When people were pricked at the heart and asked Peter what shall they do, the first thing Peter told them to do in Acts 2:38 is “Repent”. Repentance turns us away from the world, and turns our attention to God, being ready to receive and carry out the things He ordains. Repentance assures us that we can “stand” before the Lord, which means “to dwell among or abide in”. in John 15:5, Christ says, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” Standing before our God allows us to receive power to bear fruit for the kingdom of God.

“And if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth”

Standing before for the Lord is going to cause some separation. The word “precious” means “valuable to God”. The word “vile” means “morally loose, worthless, or prodigal”. In Malachi 3:3-4 the Bible says, “And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.” God is the fire that separates the impurities from us that keep us out of the perfect will of God. Not only will we be able to present our offering to the Lord, but it also pleased the Lord this way. Jeremiah had to go through this fire in order to maintain his position as the prophet of the Lord, speaking the very words that God uttered to Him. The phrase “be as my mouth” means ‘to become an instrument of speech for God.” In Jeremiah 1:9, the Bible says, “Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.” Jeremiah was chosen by God to speak His words, and here he was in Chapter 15, speaking words of self-pity and impatience, words that didn’t come from God. God had to return Jeremiah back to “default settings”! God’s words are enough for us to perform His purpose in our lives.

“Let them return unto thee, but return not thou unto them.”

Simply put, this means we don’t become the world while trying to help change the world. As believers, we don’t compromise our values to please the world or anyone in it. In James 4:4, the Bible says, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” For those who thought adultery was exclusively tied to sexual extramarital affairs, we would be incorrect. Infidelity can be spiritual as well! Sin is adultery against God, a turning away from God to serve other gods. It is time we as the Church leave that all behind us to serve our God faithfully, becoming His mouth in a world in desperate need of God. The time is now to return to the Lord!

God Bless!

Marshall

Jul 19, 2021 – Philippians 2:15 – that ye may be blameless and harmless

Hi Everyone!

God shined His light so richly upon us, so we can point the way to Christ. Light stands out, attracts the attention of passerbys, and it clears darkness away, giving us the ability to see. The world we live in is overcome by darkness, by the impulses of sin acted upon, by the infestation of lawlessness, and by the godlessness that is bleeding through our society. We are definitely in need of light to transform this world, but we are in greater need of believers to step up and take their rightful places as the light of the world. Christ said nearly 2,000 years ago that the harvest is great, but the laborers few. This shouldn’t be. Our salvation should make us desire to see others saved, and be willing to do more than wish it to be so. It’s time for us to embody the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives, in our homes, in our communities, and in our interactions. Today, we are going to look at Philippians 2:15, being a light in a world of darkness.

“That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world”

The word “blameless” means “having nothing that defiles, unpolluted, unsoiled, or pure”. The word “harmless” means “without deceit, innocent”. Ephesians 1:4, the Bible says, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.” God chose us to be holy and without blame in love. If love is in our hearts and comes out into our lives, then people will experience the power of God in our lives. Imagine our God creating us to step into our roles as believers, only to see us walk in fear and reluctance to perform what God has already empowered us to do. For anyone who thinks that they aren’t equipped to be who God ordains us to be or live according to the Word of God, 2 Peter 1:3 says, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue”. There is no excuse why we can’t live a Godly life. God has given us the power to do it! In Luke 1:6, the Bible says, “And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.” When we “walk in” something, it means this becomes a lifestyle, something that becomes as common and regular in our lives as eating, working, sleeping. In Galatians 5:16, the Bible says, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Our focus as believers should be on walking according to the Spirit and living according to the Word of God. If I focus my efforts on walking in the Spirit, I am allowing the Spirit to make the necessary changes in my life, changes that make me blameless and harmless.

“The sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of crooked and perverse nation,”

The phrase “sons of God” refers to children of God, those who God loves and cherishes as a Father, the devout worshippers of God, the righteous, saints, Christians. These are people who have an established relationship with our God. In John 1:12-13, the Bible says, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” We have to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior in order to receive the power to become children of God. In Matthew 5:44-45, Christ says, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Being children of God isn’t just a title we can profess without our actions fulfilling our profession. We have to live it out, and our actions will make us stand out in a morally corrupt world.

“Among whom ye shine as lights in the world”

The word “shine” means “to give spiritual light and truth”. The word “lights” means “moral and spiritual light and knowledge which enlightens the mind, soul and conscience.” In Matthew 5:16, Christ says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” The light that God shines on, in, and through us should cause great Godly conduct in us, which will bring God glory in everything we do. So God shines His light so we can put a spotlight on Him, allowing people to experience our God and see their own need for salvation and relationship.

God gave us the gift of becoming the children of God. Would we really rob someone else of that same opportunity because they don’t hear the Spirit in our mouths or in our lives?

God Bless!

Marshall

Jul 20, 2021 – Proverbs 11:28 – he that trusteth in his riches shall fall, but …

Hi Everyone!

This world seems to be ruled by money. We tend to throw money at our problems, relationships and even marriages are governed by money, and children are being raised by money. The “haves and the have-nots”, diminishing a person’s worth based on their earnings. We have richer countries unwilling to help poorer countries, because there is nothing to be gained by it. We as a society have lost our understanding that money is merely a tool and not a gauge of someone’s worth, and more and more people are desperately trying to get rich quickly, hoping to keep up with a fast-paced world. Our loving God, the Creator of the whole world, is being replaced with something man invented as a tool for trade. This world is broken structurally because God isn’t the foundation, and it is time for us to gain wealth in the things of God, in knowing our Lord, in communing with Him daily. Today, we will look at Proverbs 11:28, breaking fellowship with money and re-establishing fellowship with the Lord.

“He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.”

The word “trusteth” means “to hie for refuge, to place feelings of safety and security into something or someone”. The word “hie” means “to instinctively run towards in danger or fear”. In Psalm 49:6-7, the Bible says, “They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him.” People trust in money because of the power they believe it can give them, but that perception of power is extremely deceptive, and most come to find out that money is incapable of providing the things that truly count in a believer’s live. In Matthew 6:24, Christ says, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” The world has made money and material things just some of the gods that are worshipped by so many, and money is exalted more than righteousness, more than love, and more than God Himself. I am pretty certain God was very clear in Exodus 20:2-3 when He said, “I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” When a person instinctively runs towards money, when a person relies on money first, and when a person seeks money first, then money has essentially become ‘God’ in their lives.

The word “riches” means “wealth”. There is a major difference between being rich and being blessed. In Proverbs 28:20, the Bible says, “A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.” The person of faith, the one who trusts in the Lord solely, the one who seeks the kingdom of God instinctively is the person that will abound with blessings, not the person who is desperate for riches. Eventually the person’s tireless pursuit of money will lead to sin. The word “fall” means “to be overthrown, to be cast down”. The person that chases after riches is headed for destruction. In Proverbs 28:22, the Bible says, “He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.” The sad thing is, the wealth chasers don’t realize that they are headed off a cliff! In 1 Timothy 6:10, the Bible says, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” The people who place their trust and their love in money have “erred in the faith”. We are to seek the kingdom of God, not the kingdom’s treasure! Wealthy chasers are selfish, only after their own personal gain. We can’t please the Lord when we are too focused on pleasing ourselves.

“But the righteous shall flourish as a branch”

The word “righteous” means “just, due to conformity to God’s will and standards”. In Psalm 1:2-3, the Bible says, “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” The people who place their full trust in the Lord are the people who will continue to be fruitful, and what they DO shall prosper. The word “flourish” means “to break forth as a bud”. Not only will we grow, but we will produce seeds for future growth. In Proverbs 11:30, the Bible says, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” What those made righteous by God will produce is sustenance for other people to feed from. Our prosperity should always be to advance the kingdom of God.

May our trust be in God alone, and may we seek real treasure in a relationship with Him.

God Bless!

Marshall

Jul 21, 2021 – The Beatitudes Part 1 of 10 parts – Matthew 5:3 – blessed are the poor in spirit

Hi Everyone!

Self-sufficiency is not a requirement in the kingdom of heaven. This world is driven peoples insatiable desire to “make their own destiny”, to become “self-made successes”, and to author their own story. There are tons of best-selling self help books that teach these principles, but all it is doing is teaching people to push God out of His rightful position as Lord over all. This world is driven by selfish people with no desire for God’s authority to have reign, and while our world increases in wealth, it is decreasing in the faith. God is looking for people who desire to be led by Him, people dependent upon the Lord for everything they need to live the life He intends us to live, and people who understand that they are completely nothing without Him. God is looking for a people willing to relinquish their will for His will, and believe His will to be the only way. Today we will begin a study into the Beatitudes, in Matthew 5:3, becoming the poor in spirit to inherit the kingdom.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

The word “blessed” means “happy, fortunate, favored regardless of circumstance”. These are the words of Christ, and if He determines someone to be blessed, then that’s exactly what they are. In Isaiah 55:11, the Bible says, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” God created the world with His word and the world became exactly what He spoke it to be. There is no denying God’s word. In Numbers 22:12, the Bible says, “And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.” When God declares us blessed, no one can speak against it. In this world, people correlate blessings with finances and what finances can do, but blessings are regardless of what you have, but rather WHO you have. In Philippians 4:11-13, the Bible says, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Christ’s strength gives us the ability to be content in all situations, and in it, we understand that God’s blessing has nothing to do with our financial circumstances. In Ephesians 1:3, the Bible says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ”. The person who is declared blessed is blessed with ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS. When we are looking for our blessings to come from the world, we have completely missed the mark.

The word “poor” means “helpless, a beggar, people of low estate”. The phrase “poor in spirit” refers to those who have a deep humility, understanding that we are spiritually bankrupt without God. These are the people who understand that we are completely hopeless and lost without the Lord God’s presence and leading in our lives. A beggar is hungry, willing to ask for what they don’t have from God, recognizing He is the only person who can provide it. In Psalm 51:17, the Bible says, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” The poor in spirit come before the Lord broken, understanding that only God can heal us and transform our lives. God will not despise the person who is humble before Him. In Luke 18:13-14, Christ says, “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” Unless we are poor in spirit to understand that we don’t deserve to be in the presence of the Lord, and that we don’t deserve to even look towards heaven, we miss that God’s love and mercy justifies us, making us acceptable. It is only by Him!

“for theirs in the kingdom of heaven”

The word “kingdom” means “realm of dominion where we have access to privileges and rewards as being children of God.” Heaven is the abode of God and His glory”. In 1 Corinthians 15:50, the Bible says, “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.” When we cry out for our Father in our spiritual poverty, seeking His salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, He responds with His Spirit, empowering us to experience the kingdom of heaven right now!

Do we recognize our desperate need for God, or do we still think we can do it alone?

God Bless!

Marshall

Jul 22, 2021 – The Beatitudes Part 2 – Matthew 5:4 – blessed are they that mourn

Hi Everyone!

When we reflect on our former selves before salvation, what thoughts come to mind? I still cringe when I think about how far I was from God, how horribly I disappointed Him, and how lost I was. I really couldn’t see how bad I really was then because my mind and heart was so warped by sin. It was only as God held a mirror up, showing me who I allowed myself to become that I saw my need for true repentance and restoration. That moment in my life made me fall to my knees, and I cried out to God, asking Him to change my heart. Oddly enough, it was during the time I was mourning a death in my family, the murder of my older cousin. At the same time I was in mourning over Angelo’s passing, I was in mourning over my sin, how it was destroying my life and relationship with God. Today, we will dive deeper into The Beatitudes, looking at Matthew 5:4, our mourning turned into comfort.

“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”

The word “blessed” means “happy, fortunate, favored by God regardless of circumstances”. In Deuteronomy 28:1-2, “And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:  And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.” The verses didn’t say just “hearken”, but it says, “hearken diligently”. Our ears are to be tools of obedience, so when we hear, we are hearing for the purpose of carrying the Word out. In James 1:21-22, the Bible says, “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” When we receive the Word of God, we not only take it in, but we associate ourselves with the Word of God. In order to do so, we must lay anything aside that will interrupt our fellowship with God and our association with the Word of God. When we hear the Word and don’t carry the Word out, we think that we are safe like any other religious churchgoer, but our life doesn’t change, because we don’t see the mirror God is holding up to us. In James 1:23-24, the Bible says, “For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.” Our identities are engrafted into the Word of God and if we are not doers of the Word, then we will easily forget who we are! Deception is inevitable when a person doesn’t know who they are!

The word “mourn” means “to grieve, to be sad or sorrowful, to beat the breast as an outward sign of inward grief.” This grief is because of our sin that causes disappointment to God and separation from His presence. In Isaiah 61:1-2, the Bible says, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn.” Sin causes separation, broken hearts, captivity, and creates prisons for people enslaved by sin. In Luke 15:21, Christ says speaking of the prodigal son, “And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.” When we mourn over our sin, we understand that we have been sinning against God, under His eye, and we don’t deserve the title of being His children. In 2 Corinthians 7:10, the Bible says, “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” This mourning produces our desire to race after God’s forgiveness.

“For they should be comforted”

The word “comforted” means “to invite to help, encourage, to aid”. In Revelation 21:4, the Bible says, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” God responds to our mourning by wiping our tears, and removing the consequences of our sin from our presence, allowing that old nature to pass away. In 2 Corinthians 1:4, the Bible says, “Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” We are to take the comfort we have received, and show others how to be comforted in repentance and salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

When we mourn over our sins, God responds with the help we need to overcome.

God Bless!

Marshall

Jul 23, 2021 – The Beatitudes Part 3 – Matthew 5:5 – blessed are the meek

Hi Everyone!

I used to think there was something wrong with gentleness. In some of the neighborhood I’ve lived in, a gentle person was taken advantage of, was the target of bullies, and always seemed to be on the bottom rung of the ladder. In my neighborhood, it was expected that we would be tough, that rebellion was second nature, and fights were inevitable in keep “respect” between its members. Looking back, that was one of the biggest lies we received into our minds, and the enemy has had a field day on urban communities everywhere. Meekness isn’t the sign of weakness I once thought it was, but it is a symbol of great strength. As believers, our conduct has the ability to point the way to Christ, and our conduct bears testimony of what spirit is at work within us. Meekness is allowing the Holy Spirit to have reign over our attitudes so that we resemble Christ in our lives. Today, we will look at Matthew 5:5, an inheritance through meekness.

“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”

The word “blessed” means, “happy, fortunate, or favored regardless of circumstance”. People incorrectly tie blessing to circumstance, like everything has to be going great in order for us to be blessed. If life is going bad, how can a person be blessed? In Proverbs 20:21, the Bible says, “An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.” A person’s financial portfolio isn’t what makes them blessed. In Jeremiah 17:7, the Bible says, “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.” A person who is blessed is one who places their full hope and trust in the Lord, being confidence of the Lord’s presence being with and in us everywhere we go, and under all circumstances. It is important that we see blessings correctly. Is giving a drug addict a million dollars cash a blessing? More like a curse, right? In Proverbs 30:8-9, the Bible says, “Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.” What the world deems to be blessings can actually be things that threaten to break the fellowship between God and us. We, as believers, have to come to an understanding of what blessings truly are, or we will become ensnared in the world’s perception of blessings and curses.

The word “meek” means “mild, gentle, or humble, the result of a strong man’s choice to control his reactions in submission to God. It is a balance born in strength of character, stemming from confident trust in God, not from weakness or fear”. This debunks everything the streets have ever taught me about toughness, aggression, and how to handle conflict. In Proverbs 16:32, the Bible says, “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” A meek person is one that isn’t easily angered, someone who can remain rooted in Christ no matter what comes their way, and no matter who comes their way. Not fighting is better than winning a fight. In Proverbs 25:28, the Bible says, “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.” A person who is easily angered is the most vulnerable to attack, but the meek remain under the protection of a loving God, operating within the space He gives us. In Psalm 25:9-10, the Bible says, “The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.” The meek present themselves as willing to be taught and guided by God in everything we need to live a Godly life.

The word “inherit” means “to obtain, acquire or possess”. In Psalm 95:6-7, “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice”. The meek humble themselves before God, receiving a place in the kingdom as children of God. In Galatians 5:22-23, the Bible says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” The fruit of the Spirit is the evidence of the Holy Spirit’s presence within us. The meek display the evidence of the indwelling Holy Spirit at work within us. In Galatians 4;7, the Bible says, “Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” Our inheritance as the meek is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, giving us the power to become the children of God, operating in the earth as Christ did.

Sounds like the meek are exceedingly strong, doesn’t it?

God Bless!

Marshall

Jul 24, 2021 – The Beatitudes Part 4 – Matthew 5:6 – they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness

Hi Everyone!

What do we hunger for? What are the deepest yearnings in our heart? As believers, what are we supposed to hunger and thirst for? Did anyone just feel the gut shot I did with that last question? Truth be told, unbelievers aren’t the only ones that hunger and thirst after the wrong things, but we must take a real assessment of our desire to make sure that they are in line with what God desires. Our loving God desires us to hunger after His righteousness, to live a life pleasing to our God. Our loving God wants to see His children appreciate our salvation by bringing glory to His name through the things we say, the way we treat others, and through the Word of God that flows from our hearts towards others. The person who hungers and thirsts after righteousness is the one who constantly stays at the feet of our Father, looking to be led and guided by the Holy Spirit in all aspects of their life. Today, we will look at Matthew 5:6, and insatiable appetite for righteousness.

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”

The word “blessed” means “happy, fortunate, favored regardless of circumstance”. In Proverbs 10:22, the Bible says, “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.” Do we really understand that true wealth has nothing to do with money, but it is the power and the presence of the living Word of God working within us, giving us the power to be the children of God? What good is a royal that doesn’t have or operate in their authority? They would be no different than anyone else in the world, correct? In 1 Peter 2:9, the Bible says, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light”. God chose us, He made us priests and kings in a world ravaged by sin, and He called us to walk in His light. We are blessed by the Lord, so we are supposed to be different, think differently, and live differently from the world around us.

The word ‘hunger” means “to famish or to crave”. Hungry people desire food, but do we feed? We have the Word of God available to us in almost any form possible, but how often do we study? The amount of study ultimately paints a picture of our level of hunger. Do we make adjustments to our schedule to accommodate our study time? How hungry are we? In Proverbs 10:3, the Bible says, “The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.” The soul of the righteous doesn’t famish because they are filled with the Word of God. In Mark 8:7-8, the Bible says, “And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them. So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.” When God’s blessing is upon something, it multiplies, and people are filled as a result. Christ is the bread of life, the real food that satisfies our hunger. Here’s why? In John 6:51, Christ says, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” What type of bread do we hunger for, something that fills for a moment, or something that fills for an eternity? The Word of God fills for an eternity.

The word “righteousness” means “justification, having our hearts right towards God, piety towards God, or Godliness”. In Romans 10:10, the Bible says, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Our hunger for righteousness has to come from the deepest places in us because in Matthew 6:20-21, Christ says, “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” When the Holy Spirit fills our hearts, we receive true treasure from heaven, and God’s Word is the righteousness that we must hunger and thirst after. The word “filled” means “supply food in abundance”. God gives us more than enough of His Word to feast on! What are we supposed to do with the excess? Share it! In Ephesians 3:19-20, the Bible says, “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” The fullness of God fills us by the Holy Spirit, allowing us to do the unfathomable, accomplish the impossible, all because of the power working in us!

Kinda brings new meaning to ‘Give us this day our daily bread’, doesn’t it?

God Bless!

Marshall

Jul 25, 2021 – The Beatitudes Part 5 – Matthew 5:7 – blessed are the merciful

Hi Everyone!

I know what it feels like to be in need of mercy, and I also have the experience of being blessed by the mercy of someone else. The salvation we walk in is the result of God’s mercy upon us. Ever experience the favor of someone when we had no right to experience it? Ever received love from someone when we ourselves felt most unlovable, or given kindness at the precise moment we needed it? There are tons of ways we can experience mercy in our lives, but we are never to forget these moments when it comes time to be merciful. God pours His mercy upon us so we will develop the desire to do the same for someone else. The mercy we show someone else can ultimately lead to their salvation, painting a clear picture of the gospel through our actions. The mercy we refuse to show others will also become the mercy we are not shown in our time of need. Today, we will look at Matthew 5:7, the merciful obtaining mercy.

“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”

The word “blessed” means “happy, fortunate, favored regardless of circumstance”. In Romans 4:6-8, “Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” We have received the righteousness of God without having to earn it. We have received salvation when we did nothing to deserve it. We have received the forgiveness of sins, having the gift of salvation made available to us while we were still in our sins. In Proverbs 8:33-35, the Bible says, “Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.” Hearing the Word of God, with the desire to obey it, and those who seek the Lord’s face daily are the ones who are considered blessed, because we seek to remain in the presence of our loving God. In Psalm 34:8, the Bible says, “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” The blessed are the ones who experience the Lord and place their trust in Him. Money and materialistic things do not amount to the blessings of our God. The blessings of our God are rooted in love!

The word “merciful” means  “compassionate in thought and in action”. Acts of mercy are displayed in our treatment of others, and God is definitely watching our hearts and our movements to make sure that our intentions are pure. In Psalm 41:1, the Bible says, “Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.” The word “consider” means “to ACT with insight or wisdom”. Praying for the poor is cool, but what good are our prayers if the poor never receive our mercy when it is time to act? We can’t be lip-service Christians, who talk the part but refuse to live the part out. The “poor” aren’t necessarily impoverished financially, but spiritually as well. Do we expose people’s poverty or do we cover it in love? In Matthew 18:32-33, speaking of a certain king, Christ says, “Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?” Do we so easily forget that we were once people needing compassion, needing the mercy of God and others? Were we received in love or were we turned away empty-handed?

In prison, there is a “pecking order”, and a lot of times, it is usually by the crime one has been convicted of. The murderers are held to a higher esteem, while the people who commit crimes against children are deemed the lowest form of life around here. How can any believer in Christ adhere to a pecking order that is so strongly against the love and mercy we are called to walk in? In Hosea 6:6, the Bible says, “For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” What good are our offerings and sacrifices when we are not showing people the mercy God has commanded us to? In Hebrews 6:10, the Bible says, “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” When God sees us be merciful unto others, He will be merciful to us. I make it a practice to lovingly interact with anyone society deems undesirable. In Lamentations 3:22, the Bible says, “It is of the LORD’s mercies that WE are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.”. We all stand a huge chance of being consumed, no matter what our backgrounds are. His unfailing love and mercy are the reasons we have access to eternal life.

Would we be so unmerciful to rob someone else of the mercy they need?

God Bless!  

Marshall

Jul 26, 2021 – The Beatitudes Part 6 – Matthew 5:8 – blessed are the pure in heart

Hi Everyone!

Being washed clean by the blood of Jesus Christ changes all parts of our lives. Not only are we redeemed from the penalty of death, able to experience new, abundant, and eternal life in Jesus Christ, but we also have direct and unlimited access to God in prayer, receiving His promised Holy Spirit to dwell in us forever. Having our hearts cleansed is a very important experience, but keeping our hearts cleansed is just as important, because it keeps our access to God intact. We want to be people who can remain in the presence of God, and experience a relationship with Him that will grow and have power. We are unable to have that fellowship if we remain defiled by the flesh after salvation, allowing sin to have reign over our members. Today, we will look at Matthew 5:8, a pure heart experiencing the presence of our Lord.

“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”

The word “blessed” means “happy, fortunate, favored regardless of circumstance”. In Psalm 24:3-5, the Bible says, “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” Do we as believers see that being able to be in the presence of our Lord makes us blessed? The thing that makes us blessed costs us absolutely nothing, while it costs Christ His life. Is fellowshipping with our God a gift, or do we take this for granted, allowing this invitation to go through one ear and out of the next? In Psalm 67:1-2, “God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah. That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.” Being in the presence of God will cause us to know His way, which will allow us to walk the way He ordains for us to walk. We will understand that it is truly a privilege to dwell in the presence of the Lord and hopefully, that will cause us to live in greater appreciation. In Psalm 72:19, the Bible says, “And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.” God desires to fill the world with His glory, but we have to desire to reside in His presence, allowing Him to work in us for His glory. The person who is blessed is the person who is able to dwell in the presence of our Lord.

The “pure” means “clean, in a moral sense, sincere, upright, void of evil”. In Psalm 15:1-2, the Bible says, “Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.” We can’t abide in the presence of the Lord and do whatever we want to do. There is a difference between coming to the Lord and dwelling in His presence. In Hebrews 12:14-15, the Bible says, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled”. Our attitude towards God isn’t the only thing that has to be upright, but also our attitude towards our brothers and sisters as well. In Galatians 5:14, the Bible says, “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” We must have hearts of love in order to dwell in the presence of the Lord. The world “heart” refers to the seat of the desires, feelings, affections, and passions. So our love and sincerity must come from the deepest part of us. In Joshua 24:14, the Bible says, “Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.” God knows the difference between the true believers and those merely “playing church”.

The word “see” means “to gaze at with wide open eyes at something remarkable, to be in awe of”. In 1 John 3;2-3, the Bible says, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. “When we come into the presence of our Lord with a pure heart, the Lord shows Himself to us, giving us the opportunity to reflect His image. We will have the ability to be like Him, and see God perfectly! This is why our loving God desires communion with us, so we can become children who bear our Father’s image!

Let us present ourselves clean and undefiled before the Lord, able to experience His awesome presence.

God Bless!

Marshall

Jun 27, 2021 – The Beatitudes Part 7 – Matthew 5:9 – blessed are the peacemakers

Hi Everyone!

The world is stripped of its peace. A 30 minute news show will depict a worldwide pandemic surging yet again, threatening the Olympics in Tokyo, a shooting outside of a baseball stadium, cyber attacks on United States’ computer systems, a cold case murder trial beginning, and one of many wildfires raging in the western part of the United States. Where are the peacemakers, the people willing to mediate between parties at odds, the people willing to represent peace in their lives? In a world that is becoming more and more Godless by the second, it is no surprise why this world is becoming void of peace. There is no peace without the Prince of Peace, there is no peace without the God of peace, and there definitely won’t be peace without peacemakers, people who are willing to display and teach God’s love to all they come across. Most say, ‘Not my problem’, but I beg to differ. Today, we will look at Matthew 5:9, the blessed peacemakers of God.

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”

The word “blessed” means “happy, fortunate, favored regardless of circumstance.” Our amount of finances or material wealth does not make us blessed, because there are people in poverty who are more blessed than billionaires. In Genesis 39:2-4, the Bible says, “And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.” Joseph was sold in slavery by his own brothers, but he is depicted to be prosperous and he was made overseer over Potiphar’s house. What made a slave “blessed”? God was with him, and God’s presence with Joseph made Potiphar’s house blessed as well, because the presence of God allowed him to find grace! In Proverbs 10:6, the Bible says, “Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.” When we do right by the things God places in front of us, we will be blessed. Violence is the absence of peace. God took Joseph and transformed his circumstance into blessing. When we start placing value in our relationship with God, valuing His presence to dwell within us, when our desire is to know His word and His will better than we know ourselves, then our perception of His blessings will change.

The word “peacemakers” means “peaceable, an ambassador for peace, a mediator”. In Matthew 5:44-45, Christ says, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” The road to peace begins with the inhabitation of the Holy Spirit inside of us, and it extends through our interactions with others. Who is the hardest person to have peace with? The person who has hurt or offended us! If we can love people who hurt us, pray for those who despitefully use us, and do good to those who hate us, then being peacemakers in others’ lives should be easy! In Romans 12:18, the Bible says, “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” The verse sounds like God is giving us a cop out, but actually, He is giving us no way out. If Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me,” then it all “lieth” in us as believers!  In Hebrews 12 :14, the Bible says, “Follow peace with ALL men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” Yes, even the ones we feel we can do without! When people see our example in Christ, it will become contagious.

The word “children” refers to those who God loves and cherishes as a Father, the pious worshippers of God, the saints.” In Galatians 3:26, the Bible says, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” Our faith in Jesus Christ makes us children of God, but we must display our faith. In 1 John 4:7, the Bible says, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” We must bear the attributes of children of God by love being the expression in our relationships with people.  In John 8:39, the Bible says, “They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.” Replace “Abraham” with “God”. As children of God, we do what our Father does! It is our jobs as children of God to reflect our Father by obeying His Word.

If we are commanded to love people as we love ourselves, then we should desire peace for all people!

God Bless!

Marshall

Jun 28, 2021 – The Beatitudes Part 8 – Matthew 5:10 – blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake

Hi Everyone!

As believers, it is inevitable that we will experience some level of persecution in our walk of faith. As we draw closer to God, we are going to experience some people that will resist the work that God is doing in our lives. We may become the victims of vicious gossip, people may lobby campaigns against us, and the pressure may get to be so much where we may want to retreat. It is when we experience the heaviest amounts of persecution that we must draw even closer to the Lord, seeking His comfort, His perspective, and His direction. The enemy attacks the flock, hoping to scatter the sheep, and through divide and conquer, can more effectively cause believers to stray and become consumed. If we are facing persecution as believers, then we must be moving in the direction God has ordained for us to go. Today, we will look at Matthew 5:10, enduring persecution for righteousness’ sake.

“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

The word “blessed” means “happy, fortunate, favored regardless of circumstance”. Under what type of circumstance do we consider ourselves blessed, when everything is going well? In Numbers 22:6, the Bible says, of Balak king of the Moabites who wants to engage the prophet Balaam, “Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.” Man thinks that because we may have the power to bless and curse, that our determination of what’s blessed and what’s cursed is supreme law. That couldn’t be more false. In Numbers 22:12, the Bible says, “And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.” What God determines as blessed is blessed, and there is nothing man can do to overrule His determination. The question is, will we believe in His Word over the unpleasant circumstances we face as believers? Which perspective do I cleave to, God’s blessings or my own grief?

The word “persecute” means “to cause to suffer, to cause to flee, to pursue with adverse intentions”. Persecution is an intentional act on a person in order to cause them harm. Christ tried to warn us that we wiill suffer some persecution as believers. In John 15:18, He said, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.” Let us first get the thought of always being liked or loved out of our heads, because sometimes, being a believer is going to make us hated, whether openly or secretly. Why is this? Well, Christ says, in John 15:19, “If 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.” We are not of the world, so the world hates us because we are different. Believers are special, set apart by God, and not designed to fit into the world’s system. In John 15:20, Christ goes as far as to say, “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.” Strangely, our sufferings are on full display, and the world is watching, waiting for us to crack under the pressure. If He endured persecution, then why should we ever expect a free ride in the faith?

The phrase “righteousness’ sake” means “on the account of Godliness”. In 1 Peter 3:14, the Bible says, “But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled”. There is a difference in suffering for righteousness’ sake and receiving the penalty for the wrong we have done. Persecution and punishment are two different things. In 1 Peter 3:17, the Bible says, “For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.”

The phrase “theirs is the kingdom of heaven” ensures that there is an inheritance waiting for us who endure persecution. In 2 Timothy 2:12, the Bible says, “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us”. We will be able to walk in authority with Christ when we endure suffering. In Romans 8:18, the Bible says, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”  No amount of persecution suffered can be compared to God’s glory revealed in us! We endure persecution so God’s light can shine in us even more, pointing to the way of Christ. In 2 Corinthians 4:17, the Bible says, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh FOR US a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” Who ever thought that persecution actually worked FOR US?

If that doesn’t make us blessed, I don’t know what will!

God Bless!

Marshall

Jul 29, 2021 – The Beatitudes Part 9 – Matthew 5:11 – blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you

Hi Everyone!

Having a person accuse us of doing something we haven’t done is an emotionally unsettling experience, mostly without any way to correct the record in people’s minds. Having a person speak ill of our salvation, call us stupid or naive for serving the one true God, consider us weak for believing in our God can damage us inside. I remember a time a couple months ago, where a guy on my unit, who complimented my commitment to my faith and the changes I’ve made in my life, called me a “fake Christian” because I disagreed with a point he was making. This is light compared to real suffering, but every believer is to expect some form of this to happen in their walk of faith. If they did it to Jesus Christ, then we will definitely face false accusations. In the face of this suffering, we have the opportunity to hold our peace and display true faith and love by our response. Today, we will look at Matthew 5:11, making our case for Christ in the court of false accusation.

”Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.”

The word “blessed” means “happy, fortunate, favored regardless of circumstance”. Our blessings do not depend on the opinions and accusations of others, but our blessings completely depend upon the favor God so richly pours upon His children. In Genesis 12:2-3, the Bible says, “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” What God has to say about us as His children is far different than what the world has to say about us. God promises to defend and protect us no matter what the world’s opinions may be of us. In James 1:12, the Bible says, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” As easy as it would be to react to the accusations of the world, God determines us blessed if we endure, and has a crown reserved for us.

The word “revile” means “to defame, rail at, to taunt”. The word “persecute” means “cause to suffer, to cause to flee. When a person reviles us, they are purposely spreading a false report upon us with the intention to changing our identity and causing us harm in the process. In Luke 6:22, Christ gives more depth to Matthew 5:11 by saying, “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.” The person who reviles us is the person who hates us, intending on causing division between us and the people we love. Why would someone desire a believer to become divided from people? The Word of God can’t go out and be displayed! In 2 Timothy 3:3, the Bible speaks on some of the “last days” behaviors, and it says, “Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good”. The Bible is written to prepare us to live in a world that will lie to us and hate us for being believers. In 1 Peter 3:15-16, the Bible says, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ”. Despite the false accusations of this world, God is calling for our response to be meekness and Godly reverence, meaning we respond to the world the same way we will respond to God.

The word “evil” means “a charge or accusation”. The world “falsely” means “to utter an untruth or deceive by falsehood”. 1 Peter 4:13-14, “But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” Wait a minute, these aren’t “our” sufferings? Doesn’t the Scripture clearly state “Christ’s sufferings”? So, this means that it is not about us at all, but about Christ, and if we endure, then God’s glory will rest upon us! John 15:21 says, “But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.” They are doing it because they don’t know better! Knowing this should cause us to view those who falsely accuse us and speak evil about us with compassion, not with contempt.

Who knows, maybe our response may cause them to reconsider their stance and open the door for God’s truth to come in!

God Bless!

Marshall

July 30, 2021 – The Beatitudes Part 10 and Last Part – Matthew 5:12 – for great is your reward in heaven

Hi Everyone!

What is our disposition like when we find ourselves under persecution? Do we break down, give up, give in, or do we question God for allowing this to happen to us? How should our disposition be when under persecution? I am not the only person who raises an eyebrow when I see what is expected of me when afflicted by persecution. It is like we have to do the exact opposite of what our first mind used to do (remember that, used to!), and a lot of times it makes absolutely no sense to us whatsoever.  How we respond testifies to what power is at work within us. If our disposition remains one of victory, no matter what happens to us, then the power of the Holy Spirit is at work mightily in us. Today, we will wrap up our study on The Beatitudes with Matthew 5:12, rejoicing under the trials of persecution.

“Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”

The word “rejoice” means “be cheerful or happy”. In every part of this complete study, I have described the word “blessed” as meaning “happy, fortunate, favored regardless of circumstance”. I purposely drove this point home because I want us to understand that these are the words of Christ, declaring that we are blessed, not because of our circumstance, but because of the presence of the Lord in us. Now, Christ tells us to “rejoice”, which is another way of telling us to live, think, and move as blessed people. In Luke 6:46-48, Christ says, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.” When we receive instruction from the Lord, and we carry it out, we build upon a firm foundation that won’t allow our structures to be shaken in any storm that comes our way. That firm foundation is Christ! Christ establishes our state of spirit as “blessed”, and now by telling us to rejoice, He is encouraging us to live out His word. In Acts 5:40-41, the Bible says, “And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.” The apostles were confined and beaten for teaching in the name of Jesus Christ, and the walked away rejoicing, blessed to be chosen as worthy to suffer for His name. How many of us see persecution as a privilege to suffer for His name?

“be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven:”

The phrase “exceeding glad” means “jump for joy, to leap out of happiness”. People jump for joy when something amazing happens, when it is a cause for celebration. Persecution is a cause for celebration? Ouch! In Philippians 2:5, the Bible says, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus”. This means we have to think the way God thinks, and approach matters the way God intends for us to approach them. Christ is spurring us to live from victory, but we must understand that God’s thoughts are on a level that is beyond our comprehension. The word “reward” means “payment for service’. In Matthew 25:21, Christ says, “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” We want to be believers who get to experience a proud Father, who gives us heavenly rewards, not only in heaven, but on earth as well. Will He find us faithful under persecution, though?

“for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you”

The word “prophets” means “foretellers, or inspired speakers”. Christ is telling us that we are not alone in our sufferings, that this has also happened to the prophets before us. A lot of their accounts are in the Bible! In Hebrews 12:1, the Bible says, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us”. We have examples from the prophets, from the apostles, and from Christ on how to endure the sufferings of persecution, which gives us a clear example of how we must respond and perceive persecution for Christ’s sake, and that is from a stance of victory!!! Sometimes, knowing we are not alone makes a world of difference!

May our rejoicing in the Lord become a shining example of how believers respond to all things in our lives!

God Bless!

Marshall

Jul 31, 2021 – Jeremiah 42:6 – we will obey the voice of the LORD our God

Hi Everyone!

Obedience to the Lord is mandatory. When we come to obedience, we are testifying that our God knows what is best for our lives, and His direction will bring the best possible outcome for us. Obeying the Lord isn’t always easy, because sometimes, it may come at a cost to us. I have had to walk away from people I love and built lifelong bonds with, I have had to change things I was doing in my life to become in line with His plans for my life, and I had to shed some weight I held on my shoulders. Obedience requires sacrifice, but it also requires an undying trust for the Lord. That trust is built by carrying out the Word, no matter the consequence or outcome. From this, God reveals His faithfulness and we then discover why obedience to God works so well for our greater good. It becomes easier and easier to do what God calls for us to do, because with every act of obedience, we experience an understanding of why he required us to make these steps. Today, we will look at Jeremiah 42:6, obedience no matter the cost.

“Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God.”

The word “good” here means ” that which is appealing and pleasant to the senses, fruitful”. Our definition of good and God’s definition of good are two different definitions. We attach the word “good” to our feelings and emotions, while God attaches the word “good” to His purpose being fulfilled. In Genesis 1:3-4, the Bible says, “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.” Do we really understand that the first time the word “good” was used was when God’s word was obeyed as He called for it? It wasn’t about feelings or emotions. God spoke and it was done, simple as that. In Romans 8:28, the Bible says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” The word “good” is always attached to the purpose of God, no matter what twists and turns may come our way in the process. The thing with a lot of people, me included, that makes obedience so hard is we haven’t submitted to God’s meaning behind the word “good”, despite everything we may have experienced from God’s moving hand in our lives. “Good” has to “feel good” to compel our obedience and that shouldn’t be!

The word “evil” means “disagreeable, unpleasant, harmful”. How is it ever possible for us to construe God’s intent for our lives as evil? In Jeremiah 29:11, the Bible says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” God said He doesn’t have evil thoughts towards us and our God doesn’t lie. In context, this verse was uttered concerning the upcoming 70 year captivity of the children of God by the Babylonians. God is assuring them that He still doesn’t have evil thoughts concerning them, even though they are about to be enslaved. God saw the end result, not the immediate circumstance. Joseph had the right idea when speaking to the brothers who sold him into slavery. In Genesis 50:20, the Bible says, “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” Joseph understood his experience from God’s perspective not His own, and he saw the bigger picture, that God used him to save his family. His brothers had fear, but Joseph had faith and forgiveness.

The phrase “obey the voice” means “to hear attentively, with the intention of carrying out the call or proclamation of the Lord”. In 1 Samuel 15:22, “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” God desires for us to obey His Word, not give Him what we think He will desire. In Philippians 2:8, the Bible says, “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Christ our Perfect Example was obedient to God knowing full well He was going to suffer and die on the cross. God’s Word was more important than His feelings or His pain. The phrase “may be well with us” means “to benefit or cause to be successful.” Look at the verse. It says it may be well with us WHEN we obey. Don’t expect the benefits without the obedience! In Psalm 31:23, “O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud DOER.” The rewards of obedience are cool, but obedience is the most important thing, because it produces the will of God in our lives!

God Bless!

Marshall

Aug 1, 2021 – 2 Thessalonians 3:3 – the Lord is faithful

Hi Everyone!

We have a firm foundation in the Lord. We didn’t just receive salvation when we received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, but we also received the power to become the children of God. Within this power, we will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, which will teach us God’s word and guide us into all truth, and as we abide in the Father and He in us, the fellowship allows us to move in the earth as Christ did. Somewhere along the line, many believers stopped believing in this power, incorrectly believing that this power was only available to the Church in Acts and not to us. This is the precise position Satan loves to see us in, because a believer without a foundation is someone that can easily be led astray. Today, we will look at 2 Thessalonians 3:3, being established in the foundation of Christ.

“But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.”

The word “Lord” means “Supreme in authority, controller, head over all things to the church”. This is speaking about the Lord Jesus Christ. Is Jesus Christ Lord over our lives? Most would quickly say, “yes”, me included. In Luke 6:46, Christ says, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” If Jesus Christ is Lord, then why are His commands so hard for us to follow? Why do we refuse to believe in the Word of God? In Matthew 7:21, Christ says, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” We can’t profess that Jesus is Lord, but not do God’s will. God isn’t looking for lip-service Christians who won’t step into the authority God has given us to have dominion in the earth. The first command God gave mankind was in Genesis 1:28, which says, “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and SUBDUE it: and have DOMINION over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” God blessed us first, then gave us a charge to be fruitful and multiply, then He uses the words “subdue’ and “dominion”. God created us to have dominion, but how many fill the churches all over the world overcome by the things in life? If Christ is Lord in us, then we will do what He commands, so that means we will walk in His power that He has given us.

The “faithful” means “trustworthy in duty to oneself and others, especially to His promises”. In 1 Corinthians 1:9, the Bible says, “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” His faithfulness allows us to experience fellowship with Him and the Lord Jesus Christ. His faithfulness makes the gift available, but it is our jobs to receive it! In Hebrews 10:19-20, the Bible says, “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh”. If the blood of Jesus Christ shed for the remission of our sins has given us the power to come into the holiest, then where is our boldness to do so? Christ paid the cost and made the way to Him holy. In Hebrews 10:23, the Bible says, “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)”. We have to solidify our faith by action, not by words without power, because on the other end of this is  God’s faithfulness, ready to take us the rest of the way! God promised, and He will do it!

The word “stablish” means “to set fast, to confirm, or to strengthen”. We make the mistake of thinking that it is our faith solely that brings God’s will to pass, but it is His faithfulness that makes us rooted and unmovable in Him. In Colossians 2:6,7, the Bible says, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” Our Church is filled with people who have received Christ as Lord, but have yet to allowed Him to root us and build us up in Him. Why is this? Because we have failed to allow the Holy Spirit entrance within us to teach us who we are and who our God truly is. The phrase “keep you from evil” means “preserve in safety from moral and spiritual wickedness that can cause harm to oneself or others.” In John 17:15-16, Christ says, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” Christ prayed to God concerning us, that we would remain under His protection, yet many walk in fear instead of faith, failing to trust in the faithfulness of our God.

Our foundation is secure in the Lord and we have the power to display the faithfulness of our God in this world by living according to the Word of God. The question is, will we?

God Bless!

Marshall

Aug 2, 2021 – Genesis 15:1 – Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

Hi Everyone!

God has a Word for His children. In the Word of God lies our direction, our purpose, and the instruction we need to be exactly who He called us to be. Sometimes, this Word is written, experienced through reading Scripture, or by having Scripture read to us. Other times, this Word is spoken by the Holy Spirit into the deepest parts of us or by people who God put His Spirit in to share a Word of life with. Since creation began, God has had a real desire to communicate with His children, and everything that has transpired since creation has been to bring us into this open communication and fellowship with Him. God also speaks through visions, through very real manifestations God sends to reveal Himself to us. No matter the method God uses, the motivation is the same, to take us from where we are to where He designs us to be. Today, we will look at Genesis 15:1, the Word of God securing promise in our lives.

“After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.”

“After these things.” What things? This means there is something else connected to this verse. Abram here encountered Melchizedek King of Salem, who blessed him with material goods, bread and wine, but also blessed him with safety from all of his enemies, and Abram then assured the King of Sodom that he or his people didn’t desire anything belonging to Sodom. So Abram was blessed and he then was able to make an agreement with The King of Sodom to ensure they lived in peace. The phrase “word of the Lord” refers to a spoken word or speech coming from God. The word “came” means “brought into existence or made manifest”. In 1 Corinthians 2:9-10, the Bible says, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” When the word of the Lord comes, it is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit, who ensures the message is delivered exactly how God intends. In Matthew 11:25-26, Christ says, “At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.” God didn’t choose the smartest people, or the most saved people to reveal His Word to. He revealed it to people who would receive His Word in full trust, just like a babe would.

A vision is a physical picture God gives to usher in a divine truth. Visions are intentional and are perfectly timed. In Habakkuk 2:2-3, the Bible says, “And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” There are precise times for the visions of God to be manifested, and all the pieces came together first before the vision came to Abram. We can’t rush the vision of God. We just have to receive it when it comes by faith.

The phrase “fear not”, means “don’t be frightened or afraid.” Our God knows our deepest feelings! In 2 Timothy 1:7, the Bible says, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” God telling us “fear not”, implies to us that we need to clear out anything that is not of God in order to receive His Word clearly. Fear blocks our faithful hearing of the Word of God. The word “shield” means “protector, ruler, or defense”. In Psalm 5:12, the Bible says, “For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.” God protects His children! We don’t have to look for a better defense, because our God defends us better than anyone. Knowing we are under God’s protection gives us no real reason to be afraid. In Psalm 91:2, the Bible says, “I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” God said to Abram “I AM thy shield”. Imagine our God standing in front of us, protecting us from everything that comes our way. Awesome, right? The word “reward” means “benefit or payment for service”. In Ruth 2:12, the Bible says, “The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.” Don’t think for a second that our God won’t reward us beyond our service or expectation, because our God exceeds our understanding of what a reward is!

There is real benefit to serving our Lord with boldness and faith, receiving His vision with babe-like obedience. Abram received the vision of the Lord, and the fatherless turned into the father of many nations! What can our faith allow God to conceive in us?

God Bless!

Marshall

Aug 3, 2021 – 1 Timothy 4:6 – nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine

Hi Everyone!

It is our jobs as believers to make sure the Word of God goes out and spreads throughout the earth. Most don’t realize it, but what we teach, we are able to retain more because the repetition of the Word allows the Word to plant itself deeper within us. Too many of us both fear and are reluctant to share the Word of God, or even fellowship with other believers about the Word, and it stifles our own growth in the process. God gives us simple instructions when it comes to His Word, but most of us refuse to obey, becoming stagnant in our knowledge of the Word and in our impact as believers. How can we become the ministers God ordains for us to be when we won’t conform to His Word? Today, we will look at 1 Timothy 4:6, conforming to the ministry of Jesus Christ,

“If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.”

The word “brethren” means “people connected in intimacy and fellowship with another, people of the same faith”. In Colossians 1:12-14, the Bible says, “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins”. We have this amazing gift that ties us all together; a shared experience with our heavenly Father through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and power through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This shared experience should give us the attitude of wanting to see others receive what we have, and also see this gift grow in other believers. The word “remembrance” means “to place underneath as a foundation”. In John 14:26, Christ says, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” The Holy Ghost brings the Word to our remembrance, and we must do the same for other believers.

The phrase ‘good minister” refers to any virtuous teacher, pastor, deacon or servant who speaks the Word and carries out the intended purpose of God. In Acts 1:8, the Bible says of Christ speaking, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” A minister is no different than a witness, testifying to the things we have seen, heard, and have been given by the Holy Spirit to share with others. In Ephesians 3:6-7, the Bible says, “That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.” Believers share in the same body, the same promises, the same gospel, and the same ministry, all of which is given by the same grace of God, which is a gift. With this gift, comes the power of God at work in us and through us. Why would we be disobedient, and cut off the access to God’s power to others because we won’t share? Ministry is not about us, but those we are serving by sharing the Word to them.

The phrase “nourished up” means “educated”. The phrase “words of faith” refers to the Word of God, Christian doctrine, the gospel, and all that we as believers in Christ stand for. In 2 Timothy 3:14-15, the Bible says, “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” The Holy Spirit has taught us everything we know about the Word of God, and we then should feel led to share this word with others. The word “doctrine” means “instruction from God”. The word “attained” means “to conform oneself to”. In Romans 12:2, the Bible says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” This renewing process is a constant feeding of the Word of God, bringing ourselves into conformity to it. In Matthew 28:20, Christ says, “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” When we refuse to share the Word of God with people, we are disobeying the Word of God, and hindering the growth of the body of Christ.

May we become generous with the Word of God, being transformed into the good ministers God ordains us to be.

God Bless!

Marshall

Aug 4, 2021 – 1 Timothy 5:8 – but if any provide not for his own …

Hi Everyone!

“Am I my brother’s keeper?” I remember being asked to speak at the memorial service for a young brother who committed suicide in January 2018, and this was the first thing I asked. This brother received some devastating news, and felt like he had no one to vent to on the new unit they placed him on, so he went to his cell, covered up his window and hung himself. He was 26 years old, a father of two. In that moment, I realized how important being there for people in need is, how being a Christian is about looking after the needs of others, and I recommitted my resolve to leave no person behind. This level of support should begin at home and extend to our faith community and also to nonbelievers as well. How can we effectively display Christ in our lives, while ignoring the needs of people we should hold near and dear to our hearts? Today, we will explore 1 Timothy 5:8, providing for the household of faith.

“But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”

The complete phrase “provide .. for” means “to consider in advance, to see to beforehand, care for”. The word “own” means “pertaining to self, especially the home”. In 1 Peter 5:2-3, the Bible says, “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” There is a deliberate generosity that believers must possess, a willingness to see to the needs of the people around us, and if we are to consider them in advance, then the Bible is calling for us know what is going on with the people around us, especially the people in our own house. “I didn’t know” is no longer an excuse, because we are to find out! In John 21:15, Christ is posing a question to Peter. The Bible says, “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.” We display our love for the Lord by providing for those who can’t provide for themselves. A lamb is an animal that can’t protect itself, and is classified as an animal that has to be led to their provision. If we as believers do nothing to provide for others, we send a message that it is okay for someone to starve. This shouldn’t ever be present in the faith, but sadly, it is.

The phrase “of his own household” means “relatives”. How we treat our family is an example of how we will treat others. If a person rolls out the red carpet for a stranger, while leaving their own relatives to starve, then it shows how they feel about their household. In Matthew 25:44-45, Christ says, “Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.” Do we realize that when we fail to meet the needs of people in our home, and also others that need us, we are essentially doing the same thing to Christ Himself? What does that say about our love? What does that say about our faith? in James 2:15-16, the Bible says, “If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?” The level of love and faith can only be shown by action, by purposely tending to the needs of others.

“he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel”

The word “denied” means, “to desert, to reject, to contradict, declaring it untrue” In 2 Timothy 3:5, the Bible says, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” When we make the faith a lie, when we display a lack of love towards believers and unbelievers, we give the Christian faith a black eye, which could cause others to turn away from the faith. In Titus 1:16, the Bible says, “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” What we do gives the clearest testimony of who we are, and who we are in the faith. The word “infidel” means “heathen, pagan, disbelieving, untrustworthy”. The person who puts their faith to shame by withholding provision from people in need is worse than someone who rejects the gospel! In Galatians 6:7, the Bible says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” If we turn our backs on people in need, whether they be relatives, people in the faith, or the faithless, God will turn His back to our needs.

Are we our brother’s keeper? Yes we are!

God Bless!

Marshall

Aug 5, 2021 – Proverbs 28:13 – whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy

Hi Everyone!

There is a television show I watch from time to time that shows video clips of pets. Quite frequently, they show a house completely trashed, garbage everywhere, a pillow shredded to feathers, and shoes chewed on. The owner comes home and walks through the carnage only to find their precious dog hiding in the corner facing the wall! They ask the dog did they do it, but the dog won’t even turn its head to face the owner! A dog acts completely outside of its nature to greet its owner at the door, all because they have done wrong! Sadly, we aren’t much different, committing gross sins against God and then we hide from His presence, even going as far as to cover up our wrongdoing. The evidence against us is overwhelming, but we won’t even face up to it, and ask for God’s forgiveness. God knows we are going to mess up, sometimes royally, but His love is ready to forgive us if we come before Him repentant and just ask. Today, we will look at Proverbs 28:13, receiving God’s forgiveness and mercy through confessing our sins before Him.

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”

The word “covereth” means “to conceal, to hide from plain sight”. This is no accidental act. When we try to cover our sins, we are intentionally trying to hide them from God and from others. In 2 Chronicles 16:7, the Bible says, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.” God sees everything, including the things we intentionally try to hide. The word “sins” means “transgressions, trespasses, to revolt morally or religiously”. When we sin, we are in utter rebellion against the will of God, choosing to live in a manner that is the exact opposite to what He desires and commands for us. In Exodus 2:12, the Bible says, “And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.” Moses sees an Egyptian smiting a Hebrew, one of his brethren, so he stepped in and killed the Egyptian. Moses was the adopted son of Pharaoh’s daughter, but he knew the murder he committed was wrong, so he tried to cover it up. In Exodus 2:15, the Bible says, “Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.” The truth will always surface, no matter how well we try to hide it. Pharaoh found out and Moses fled. The phrase “shall not prosper” means “will not be profitable, will not advance”. Moses lost everything he had, home, status, power when he covered up his sin, and it caused him to flee from the kingdom he served under. We lose hugely when we conceal our sins.

The word “confesseth” means “to acknowledge as wrong”. Another definition is “to throw a stone at”. In Psalm 32:4-5, the Bible says, “For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.” Confession comes from conviction, and when are convicted by sin, we experience a detachment from God that is very unsettlingly. In 2 Corinthians 7:10, the Bible says, “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” It is that Godly sorrow experienced that compels us to confess our sins before God. The word “forsaketh” means “relinquish, to separate oneself from”. In Isaiah 55:7, the Bible says, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Do we realize that when we sin, we go our own way, completely abandoning the way of God?

The word “mercy” means “divine compassion”. This compassion isn’t because of any worthy thing we have done, but it’s solely because of God’s sovereign freedom and love to bestow it upon whom He chooses. In Lamentations 3:22-23, the Bible says, “It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” God’s mercies meet us in the morning when we awaken, and his compassion can’t fail. He is ready to receive us and forgive us if we let Him. In 1 John 1:9, the Bible says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” God offers an immediate remedy when we confess our sins before Him. He forgives us and cleanses us from ALL unrighteousness, making us good as new!

All have sinned and come short of the glory of God, but have all confessed our sins?

God Bless!

Marshall

Aug 6, 2021 – Psalm 55:22 – cast thy burden upon the LORD

Hi Everyone!

Too many believers are trying handle the pressures of life alone. I used to be one of these people, putting everything on my shoulders, bottling up my hurts and frustrations, reluctant to entrust any of this to anyone else. I used this as an excuse to not let anyone else in, including God, so I became an island unto myself. It wasn’t until I developed a real relationship with the Lord that I began to understand that I never had to handle anything in life alone. God is always here for us, ready to help us, or allow His presence to provide the comfort we need to persevere through any trial. Too many believers clutch their burdens to their chest, unwilling to give it to the Lord, and the Church is crumbling at massive rates, because the Body isn’t whole. Today, we will look at Psalms 55:22, casting our burdens before an all powerful God.

“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”

The word “cast” means “to throw out, throw, throw down, or throw away.” We cannot control what happens to us in life, but we can control where our burdens go. In Matthew 7:6, Christ says, “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.” The problem with a lot of believers, me included, is we tend to cast our burdens, our wealth, and our identity unto the wrong people and the wrong things, not giving God what He asks us for. God wants our burdens! In 1 Peter 5:7, the Bible says, “Casting ALL your care upon him; for he careth for you.” Do we really understand that our God loves us and cares about what we go through? God never designed us to live without His presence or His help, but if we won’t come to God, how can we ever expect Him to respond? In Matthew 7:7, Christ says, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you”. Another one of our problems is we somehow believe that God is too busy dealing with important matters to bother with our “little problems”. That is a lie from the enemy. God says, ‘Cast ALL your care”, so nothing is too small or too big for our God.

The word “burden” means “something given, a lot that is dispensed”. Simply put, sometimes life hurts, and we are given things that are painful to endure. In 2 Corinthians 12:7, Paul writes of his own experience, “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was GIVEN to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.” This thorn was given to him to endure, and in his displeasure, Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:8, “For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.” Paul asked God three times to remove the thorn. It is during this time of asking God that we feel like He’s not hearing us, because the answer doesn’t come right away. When it does come, it is Christ who sends the answer! In 2 Corinthians 12:9, the Bible says, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” The answer is for us to rely on the grace and strength of God, and not on our own power and ability to endure. Whether the answer requires us to rely solely upon God or to do something ourselves, the answer has to come from God. We have to bring it to Him first! The word “sustain” means “to feed, guide, or nourish”. In Matthew 7:9, Christ says, “Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?” God is not going to allow us to ask Him for help and not give us the help we need.

“He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”

The word “suffer” means “to grant permission”. In order for anything to happen to us, God has to give permission, but it goes deeper. The word “moved” means “to cause to permanently decay, fall or slip”. Here is the condition. The word “righteous” refers to believers who are in conformity to God’s standards and His Word. In Psalm 37:23-24, the Bible says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.” So God won’t give permission for the burden to be permanent IF He is ordering our steps! In 2 Corinthians 4:17, the Bible says, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory”. Our burdens as believers conformed into the standards of our God are temporary, but this will only happen when we cast our burden unto the Lord. If the process doesn’t begin with God, it will not end in our favor.

God Bless!

Marshall

Aug 7, 2021 – Lamentations 4:2 – the work of the hands of the potter

Hi Everyone!

The Church is suffering an identity crisis. God created us to reign, only to find His children subjecting themselves to bondage and fear. Instead of beholding a Church that brings us into conformity with the identity God placed within us, we have accepted the lies of the enemy, and titles that grieve our loving God. As the world becomes more and more Godless, people are going further and further away from the people God created us to be. Our identities are in the Word of God, and if we go any other place to receive our identity, we are going to be grossly misled. The level of brokenness, poor self-esteem, and hopelessness that exists in the Church behind closed doors is heartbreaking, and we have to establish ourselves in the Word of God to re-establish our identity in Christ. Today, we will look at Lamentations 4:2, who we really are in Christ.

“The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!”

The word “precious” means “valuable or honorable”. The word “son” doesn’t just pertain to male children, but to children period, especially the adopted ones. A son is the builder of the family name. In Genesis 1:27-28, the Bible says, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” Firstly  God created us to have dominion and subdue the earth. God created us with authority! It is a symbol of complete trust in our capability to give us the whole earth to have dominion in and to subdue. How many people on this earth would we trust with all of our banking information, identification information, or anything of immense value? That person would have to be someone we think incredibly highly of, correct? How can we as a Church ever have a poor self image when we have such an amazing God who entrusts the whole world to us! In Exodus 19:5-6, the Bible says, “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.” God deems us to be a unique possession of immense value, priests in a kingdom, and a nation holy and set apart by God. Why is the Church filled with people who don’t understand just how precious we truly are?

“comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers,”

The word “fine’ means “good”. The word “good” expresses the fulfillment of God’s intended purpose from the beginning. In Job 23:10, the Bible says, “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Fine gold is tried, which means it goes into the fire, where all the impurities are burned off it, leaving the gold undefiled. In 1 Peter 1:7, the Bible says, “That the trial of your faith, being much MORE PRECIOUS than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ”. So if faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God, which means our faith is tied to the Word of God, then we have to securely place our trust in who God says we are. That is more precious than even we are! The word “esteemed’ means “considered, fashioned, or invented”. The word “earthen” means “any vessel made from clay”. The word “pitchers” means “vessels, especially a vase”. In Genesis 2:7, the Bible says, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” The word “dust” means “clay or mud”. Please understand this. We are the ONLY thing God created that HE TOUCHED!! Everything else, He spoke and it emerged, but He TOUCHED us!

“The work of the hands of the potter!”

The word “work” means “product”. The word “hands” means “power, means, and direction”, but it also means our hands because He formed us with His hands. The word “potter” refers to our God. In Jeremiah 18:6, the Bible says, “O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.” We can’t establish our own identity as clay in the hands of the Potter. We are who He created us to be! in Ephesians 2:10, the Bible says, “For we are HIS workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” We are the prized possession of God, His crowning achievement. That is who we are!

God Bless!

Marshall

Aug 8, 2021 – Titus 2:12 – we should live soberly, righteously, and godly

Hi Everyone!

God desires for His children to live Godly lives. He gives us His Word, so we can use it as the standard for our lives, and be an example of Him in this world we live in. Free will has caused people to make choices to not follow the Word of God, people make the conscious decision to live their lives to fulfill the lusts they have burning inside of them. There must be something different about the Church, and the Body should be a constant representation of the attributes of Christ. Too many times, there are more scandals within the walls of our congregations instead of manifestations of the Holy Spirit, and we as a Church are losing the war against the world. This shouldn’t be. Today, we will look at Titus 2:12, living a Godly life in an ungodly world.

“Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;”

The word “teaching” means “to educate, to instruct, to train up, to admonish by word and deed”. A big part of our instruction is by actions, by showing people how it is done, rather than just telling them. In Proverbs 22:6, the Bible says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Training up people is a very hands on experience, where we not only teach by example, but we follow through by making sure they can apply the teaching to their lives. Jesus told the disciples in Matthew 28:20, “TEACHING them to OBSERVE all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” This means the Church has to be diligent in making sure that people are being taught how to live the faith out. Too many people are just told what to do and what not to do, and the faith is misconstrued as a bunch of rules instead of a developing relationship with a loving God.

“denying ungodliness and worldly lusts”

The word “denying” means “to reject or contradict, to declare as untrue”. The word “ungodliness’ means “impiety towards God in thought or action”. In 2 Timothy 2:15, the Bible says, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” It begins in the Word of God, where we plant the truth in our hearts, so we will clearly see a lie when it presents itself. Study means we do more than just read the Word of God. We break down Scripture to allowing the Holy Spirit to produce the meaning. In James 1:5, the Bible says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” We have to ask God for the wisdom we need to receive His Word in truth. If we can’t, or won’t, receive the Word of God in truth, then how can we ever expect to live it out? The phrase “worldly lusts” means “conforming ourselves to long for what is forbidden and corrupt.” We can’t blame Satan for the corruption we receive and live out. The devil didn’t make us do anything! We also can’t blame God for the temptations we find ourselves under. In James 1:13-14, the Bible says, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” We have to hold ourselves accountable for the lusts that we are enticed by. In 1 Corinthians 10:13, the Bible says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” God, in His abounding love and infinite mercy, gives us the ability to escape and triumph over temptation.

“we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world”.

The world “soberly” means “of sound mind”. The word “righteously” implies living in conformity to God’s will. The phrase “present world” refers to the system of the world, the moral and physical evils, cares, desires, and temptations. in John 16:33, Christ says, “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.” Christ overcame the world, and in doing so, gave us the ability to do the same through Him. In Titus 2:7, the Bible says, “In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity”. The Word of God gives us everything we need to live a Godly life, and the Holy Spirit both leads and convicts us as we live our lives unto the Lord. A believer should only focus on living a life for the Lord, not living a life of sin, because darkness can’t exist in the light. The power of sin is broken!

Let us live as shining examples of victory over the world through Jesus Christ our Lord!

God Bless!

Marshall

Aug 9, 2021 – Titus 3:1 – to be ready to every good work

Hi Everyone!

God institutes order in our world, and part of that order is obedience. There are authorities in place that are selected by God to be exactly where they are, and whether we like it or not, we as believers must obey their directives. The only exception is, if they are ordering us to NOT worship our God through prayer, fellowship, praising God, or carrying out His will. In prison, where I am currently housed, there are officers who work here who don’t handle themselves well. The staff may be nonbelievers, but the position they have is ordained by God, and we must respect that. Also It is not easy, but God never said it would be. In difficulty, we sometimes have the greatest opportunity to make a strong case for the faith, and our obedience to authority is received by our God as obedience to Him. Today, we will look at Titus 3:1, submitting to authority.

“Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work”

The phrase “put them in mind” suggests that we must leave a reminder with people, causing them to consider the message. In Romans 15:14, the Bible says, “And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.” God equips us with His goodness and His Word, to be extended to others, so we can build each other up in knowledge and in correction. As believers, we should desire that the people around us are at their best, thinking at their best, and also living the lives God intends them to live.

The phrase “to be subject” means “to subordinate, to obey, to submit oneself to, and to place oneself under the authority of.” This requires a conscious decision, and it is not automatic. In Romans 13:1, the Bible says, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” This is why the Word of God is so important, because if we don’t study the Word, we probably won’t understand that the authority we place ourselves under is of God and ordained by God. God is essentially telling us that if we obey them, we are obeying Him. On January 6, 2021, groups of protestors stormed the United States Capitol in an act of sheer defiance to the laws of our land and the powers God ordained to be in place. In the process, many people were hurt, some died, and many were indicted. Most of the protestors thought they were doing the right thing, doing what’s best for our country, and some were professed Christians. In Romans 13:2, the Bible says, “Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.” The authority politicians are under, whether we like it or not, is ordained by God, and God is looking for His children to obey, unless the authority is telling us to not worship and serve our God. In Acts 5:28-29, the Bible says, “Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.” Any authority that tells us to not serve our God is not obeying the will of God. In that respect, we have to obey the Word of God.

The word “principalities” means “rulers, authorities, people of power.” The word “powers” speaks of those who have been entrusted with power over us. This just doesn’t mean governmental bodies, but it also means our bosses on the job, the teachers at school, the offices of the Church, the hierarchy in the home, or the rules and laws that govern us. In 1 Peter 2:13, the Bible says, “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme”. Our obedience and subjection is not about us, but about God. The phrase “obey magistrates” means “conform to the advice, counsel, or orders of the rulers in place.” In Hebrews 13:17, the Bible says, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” We want to make the jobs of the people in easier by our obedience.

“to be ready for every good work”

This means we have adjusted ourselves and prepared ourselves to labor effectively for the will of God to be done. In Colossians 1:10, the Bible says, “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God”. God desires us to be fruitful in our work, but we must be obedient and place ourselves under subjection to powers God has ordained.

If we can’t obey men created in the image of God, then how can we ever obey God?

God Bless!

Marshall

Aug 10, 2021 – Hebrews 2:8 – Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet

Hi Everyone!

As believers, Jesus Christ is the foundation of our faith. It is by Him that salvation is attained to all those who believe on His name and receive Him as Lord and Savior. It is by Him that we are able to partake in the divine nature, and also by Him that we receive the Holy Spirit, which gives us access to the same power He possessed when He walked the earth. This is the same Christ who, by His death and resurrection, took the power of death from the enemy and the consequences of sin from us. If we are at war, would we ever want to be under the direction of someone who has never triumphed, or under the Headship of someone who doesn’t have power? If the Name of Jesus Christ is all-powerful, then surely He must be all-powerful as well. Today, we will look at Hebrews 2:8, the might and power of Jesus Christ our Lord.

“Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.”

The word “Thou” is referring to God. God is the Creator of the world and everything in it, and it is His purpose being fulfilled on this earth. Nothing happens in this world without God knowing about it beforehand. This world we live in belongs to God. In Psalm 24:1, the Bible says, “The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” Everything belongs to God, and there is not a thing on this earth that doesn’t belong to Him. He created everything for His glory. In 2 Samuel 22:33, the Bible says, “God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.” There is only one God, and He is the one that gives the power for us to operate in this world as children of God.

The phrase “put..in subjection” means “to bring under the control our power of”. The verse says “all things”, so God took His power and gave it to someone else to rule in His place. Who is that person? Jesus Christ! In Colossians 1:15-17, the Bible says, “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” Jesus Christ fulfilled the initial design God had for us since He created mankind, given in Genesis 1:26, which says, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” Who better than Christ to surrender all control to, the person who overcame the world?

Christ says in Matthew 28:18, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Christ acknowledged that the power He had, ”ALL POWER,” was given to Him. What is the first command He gave right after He proclaimed that He had all power? He commanded the disciples to go and make disciples to all the nations, baptize them, and teach them to follow the Word of God. Christ commanded that we serve! If we received all power, what is the first thing we would do with it? Ouch! Here what Christ did with this power. In Philippians 2:6-7, the Bible says, “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men”. Christ knew who He was, and the power He possessed, but instead of taking the position of a king, He took the form of a servant, trading His Deity for the flesh of men. How many of us would use this power to serve others, live without sin, and then give ourselves to die for the sins of mankind? In Philippians 2:9, the Bible says, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name”. Because Christ humbled Himself, He was highly exalted, and was given a name above every name.

“But now we see not yet all things put under Him”

The key to this part of the verse is “we see not”. In 1 Corinthians 15:24-26, the Bible says, “Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” This means that Christ still reigns today! The promises He has given us, the words He spoke, and the commands He has given us are still active. We have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit, and also to the power of God allowing us to conform into the image of Christ. This is how it will be to the end!

Let us use the power we have received through Christ to serve others as He did!

God Bless!

Marshall

Aug 11, 2021 – Hebrews 2:17 – that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest

Hi Everyone!

Do we really understand what Christ did for us? I know for me, it doesn’t always stay “fresh” in my mind, but there come moments where I study the Word, or hear the Word preached, and it brings a completely new understanding, causing me to be in awe again at the undying love God has for us. Today, I came to an understanding about Christ that made tears well up in my eyes. He HAD to come and take on flesh and blood so He could be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. He desires to completely understand us at our level in order to know exactly how to deliver us from our bondage. Imagine the richest person in the world stripping themselves of their wealth to live among the homeless, to experience their kind of living so they can deliver them from homelessness! That’s what Christ did for us, and that attitude was already present in Him before He came! Today, we will take a look at our awesome Savior in Hebrews 2:17, and understand the magnitude of His love for us.

“Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.”

The phrase “in all things” suggests that there is nothing that is not covered by what Christ did for us. In Romans 8:37, the Bible says, “Nay, IN ALL these THINGS we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Nothing on this earth stops us from being MORE than conquerors through Christ Jesus. In 2 Peter 1:3, the Bible says, “According as his divine power hath given unto us ALL THNGS that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue”. Whatever we need to live a Godly life has been freely given to us as children of God through Christ Jesus our Lord. Whatever God does for us through Jesus Christ is complete and is all-encompassing.

The word “behoved” means “necessary, or of necessity”. So if it “behoved Him”, then that is saying that Christ believed it to be absolutely necessary to “be made like unto His brethren”. Do you know what this means? It means Christ made the decision to come down to earth and robe Himself in flesh, and He made the decision BEFORE He came! In John 8:56-58, Christ says, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” Christ existed before He was born of Mary, and came to this world and intentionally took on flesh and blood for us, but not JUST to be our atoning sacrifice.

“That he might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God”

The word “merciful” means “compassionate”. The word “faithful” means “trustworthy in performance and duty.” In Hebrews 4:15-16, the Bible says, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Christ felt it was necessary to come down, robe Himself in flesh and blood, and experience life through our eyes, through our mind, and through our heart. Christ lived on earth so He could understand us better, so He could use this understanding to be compassionate to us. In 1 John 2:1-2, the Bible says, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” An advocate is like a lawyer who defends us and speaks on our behalf, so Christ came down here to be able to defend us better to God! A High Priest was responsible for offering the sacrifice for sins, but Christ became both the High Priest AND the sacrifice!

“to make reconciliation for the sins for the people”

The word “reconciliation” means “atonement, or propitiation.” In 2 Corinthians 5:21, the Bible says, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” Christ took on flesh and blood, but ultimately took on the sins of the world, all to satisfy the debt of sin upon us. in Romans 5:10, the Bible says, “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” Christ died on the cross to bring us into full forgiveness for our sins, saving us from the penalty of death. Christ wanted to reestablish our relationships with God and invite us into the kingdom of God as children and heirs, as kings and priests, as people who will become witnesses in all the earth!

Christ deemed it necessary to come down in order to set us free! How powerful is His love for us!

God Bless!

Marshall

Aug 12, 2021 – Philippians 2:12 – work out your own salvation with fear and trembling

Hi Everyone!

Who are we when no one is around to correct our behavior? Every believer is responsible for their own salvation. Sure we have an obligation to spread the Word of God to all we can, pointing them to the way to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord, but the salvation part is completely up to them. We can’t force salvation upon anyone who doesn’t want it, nor can we force anyone to live a holy life. There comes a point in time where we have to live out what we were taught and trained up to do, a time where the training wheels have to come off. Will we hold onto our faith? Will we cleave to obedience? Will we continue to progress in the absence of our pastorate? Who are we when no one is around to correct our behavior? Today we will look at Philippians 2:12, walking out the faith for ourselves.

“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

The word “beloved” refers to the Church, Christians united with God and one another in bonds of holy love. As believers, do we really understand that we are connected to God and each other by Christ? In Ephesians 4:3-6, the Bible says, “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” The key word to this is “endeavoring”. This requires an effort on everyone’s part to keep the unity God ordains us to have. He won’t force us to be family, neither does He want us to force unity among the Church. The Bible says we are a body, and a body is designed to work together to perform the functions God intends.

“As ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now more in my absence”

The word “obeyed” means “to heed or conform to the authority of God or our spiritual leadership”. In Ephesians 6:5-7, the Bible says, “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.” When we are obedient to our spiritual leadership, it is the same thing as if we are obeying God. Obedience should be sincere, from the heart, and because we desire to obey our God.  In Romans 1:5, the Bible says, “By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name.” God gives us the grace, the training and ability to be obedient to Him, and from that provision, people then make the choice to obey or not obey the Word of the Lord. In Romans 15:18, the Bible says, “For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed”. We are only supposed to give others what God gives us to help them obey Him, and that is found in the words He gives us to speak and the work He has required us to do. The spiritual leadership trains us believers to live holy lives, and we are to live that out even more when the leaders  aren’t around.

“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”

The phrase “work out” means “accomplish, finish, to continually labor to bring into completion.” In Romans 6:19, the Bible says, “I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.” Each day we must choose to live holy lives and, yield our members (parts of people) as servants of righteousness. No one can make that choice for us. The word “salvation” means “deliverance from sin and its spiritual consequences, and admission to eternal life”. In 1 Corinthians 9:27, the Bible says, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” We work out our salvation by keeping our body, mind, and heart under subjection to the Word of God. “Fear and trembling” implies a deep reverential sense of accountability. If we are afraid of anything, it should be of offending our Lord by our words or deeds. In Isaiah 66;2, the Bible says, “For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” When we are taught the Word of God, we should be taught to develop our own relationship with God, where we seek and obey Him for ourselves. It is only through our own relationship with God that we develop the deepest Godly reverence we need to finish our race.

God Bless!

Marshall

Aug 13, 2021 – The Forgiveness of God Part 1 of 19 Parts – Psalm 51:1 – have mercy upon me

Hi Everyone!

We all have done things in our lives that we aren’t proud of, and we definitely all have done things in our lives that have sorely displeased God. We have all sinned, we have all come short of the mark God has set for us, and we all need God, who is more than willing to forgive us of our sins. We live in a society where a person’s sins and shortcomings are put on open display, but our God wants to forgive us and wipe our slates clean. The way God deals with sin and the way we deal with sin are sometimes two different ways, and that shouldn’t be. We are more reluctant to forgive than our God, even after receiving forgiveness ourselves. Today we are going to look at Psalm 51:1, a study into the life changing forgiveness of our God.

“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.”

David wrote this Psalm after coming to the realization of his sin, when he slept with Bathsheba, tried to cover up the sin, and when he was unable to do so, had Uriah the Hittite killed, taking Bathsheba to be his wife. God identified David as being a man after God’s own heart, someone who fellowshipped with God daily, who inquired of the Lord about all things. He was someone God doted on and loved immensely, and yet he sinned terribly. In Romans 3:23, the Bible says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” No matter what our status is in society; king, priest, believer or nonbeliever, we are all going to sin and come short of God’s glory. No one is exempt, everyone will sin, but what happens next means everything. In 1 John 1:9, the Bible says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” God has provision in place for those believers who sin and come short, but what about the unbelievers? In Romans 5:8, the Bible says, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” God also has provision in place to forgive the unbeliever too!

The word “mercy” means “to bend or stoop in kindness towards an inferior, to be gracious toward someone in need.” David humbled himself as a king, asking God to step in and show Him grace as a sinner. In Ephesians 2:8-9, the Bible says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” We have to believe that God is capable of forgiveness and willing to do it for us in order to have the confidence to come before Him. The word “lovingkindness” means “goodness and faithfulness to preserve our lives, and redeem us from sin.” There is no true forgiveness without love. in 1 Peter 4:8, the Bible says, “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” God’s love and mercy opens the floodgates for forgiveness when we humble ourselves and come before the Lord with a sincere heart.

“According unto the multitude of thy tender mercies,”

The word “according” refers to the standard by which a command or promise is governed by. The word “multitude” means “abundance.” The phrase “tender mercies” means “compassion like a mother cherishing the womb.” In Psalm 69:16, the Bible says, “Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.” Our sins cause us to turn away from God, and also causes God to turn away from us. Asking for forgiveness is our turning back to God, asking Him to turn back to us. In Psalm 106:45, the Bible says, “And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.” When we turn back to the Lord, humble ourselves and ask for His forgiveness, God remembers his promises and removes the penalty behind our sins. To repent implies a changing of the mind.

“blot out my transgressions.”

The phrase “blot out” means “to erase, or wipe out”. In Isaiah 43:25, the Bible says, “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” God alone is the one who blots out our transgressions, erasing them from His memory. How many of us are capable of forgiving someone on this level? The word “transgressions” means “a revolt or rebellion against God and His commands.” When we sin, we are sinning against God first! In Isaiah 44:22, the Bible says, “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.” God forgives us so we can return to Him, serving Him with our entire hearts, without our sins hindering our fellowship with God. He doesn’t desire us to hold on to our sins, neither does He desire to hold our sins against us. Our God is mighty to save and redeem those who are lost.

God Bless!

Marshall

Aug 14, 2021 – The Forgiveness of God Part 2 – Psalm 51:2 – wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin

Hi Everyone!

Sinfulness creates filth in our lives. Every time we sin, it is like we are taking something from a landfill and throwing it into our homes. The more we sin, the more our homes fill up with filth, and eventually our homes will be deemed inhabitable and subsequently condemned. Christ came to this world to live and to die, allowing His shed blood to be the substitute for our sins, clearing the filth from our homes and making them brand new. Only the blood of Christ can cleanse us fully, but sadly, people try to cleanse themselves, operating on their own righteousness, and find themselves only adding to the filth that is heaping in their lives. It is only when we humble ourselves before God, acknowledge the sins that we have committed, and ask Him for His forgiveness that the cleansing process will begin. We can’t miss a step in this process. Today, we will look at Psalm 51:2, the cleansing power of God.

“Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.”

The word “wash” means “God’s internal cleansing of the heart”. The key word is “God’s”. Some people have this almost insane mentality that doing good will cleanse them of the filth they have carried around, that doing good will balance out the wrong they have done. It is God’s INTERNAL cleansing, spiritual cleansing that makes us clean. The word “throughly” means “completely or entirely”. God doesn’t miss a spot when He cleanses us. In Hebrews 9:13-14, the Bible says, “For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” The old testament required blood sacrifices of bulls, goats, cow and sheep for purification, but this process would have to be repeated year after year because the sacrifices were only for a limited time. Their blood could not fully satisfy the debt of sin. In 1 John 1:7, the Bible says, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from ALL sin.” Man is incapable of cleansing himself from ALL sin, but the blood of Jesus Christ can!

The word “iniquity” means “perversity, moral evil, conscious and deliberate wrongdoing.” I remember when I lived in iniquity, choosing to involve myself in gangs, choosing to pollute my community with drugs, choosing to get involved in shootings, and the list goes on. I was the worst of the worst, and there is no way that I deserved forgiveness of my sins and cleansing of my iniquity. In Isaiah 1:16, the Bible says, “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil.” God’s cleansing allows us the ability to walk away from that iniquity, from the life of sin that kept us in bondage. In Isaiah 64:6, the Bible says, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Man loves to condemn us for living a life that doesn’t please God, instead of helping us find our way back to Him, but our best efforts at righteousness are still filthy rags to God. In Titus 2:14, the Bible says, “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” ALL iniquity. This means that the blood of Christ will cleanse us from everything we have ever done. God’s cleansing is complete.

“Cleanse me from my sin”

The “cleanse” means “to be pure, to be emptied.” In Revelation 1:5-6, the Bible says, “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” Do we understand that God’s cleansing by the blood of Jesus Christ was the greatest act of love, and also positioned us to be a part of the kingdom of God, as kings and priests? We went from filthy to favored, from sinful to saved, from horrible to honored, all because of the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus Christ to all who believe on His name. In Jeremiah 33:8, the Bible says, “And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.” The word “sin” means “offense or habitual sinfulness.” God is ready to cleanse us but we have to come to Him and ask, then get out of His way, and allow Him the room to do it. The question is, will we trust him with our filth?

God Bless!

Marshall

Aug 15, 2021 – The Forgiveness of God Part 3 – Psalm 51:3 – for I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

Hi Everyone!

It can be hard to admit that we are wrong. The majority of our relationships suffer because we fail to admit we are wrong and humble ourselves to ask for forgiveness. My sister Angela, who passed away in 2017, felt she wronged me since we were kids, blaming herself for every bad thing that happened to me thereafter. She came from Florida to visit me in prison just to apologize and make things right. What happened in that visiting room July 16, 2016 is etched into my mind forever, and has really governed my life ever since. There IS no tomorrow when it comes to asking for forgiveness, or for forgiving those who have wronged us. Tomorrow may never come. My sister told me she HAD to come make things right with me, not knowing she would get diagnosed with cancer a couple months after the visit and go to be with the Lord 10 months later. God is standing right here, ready to forgive all who come to Him confessing sin, and seeking His mercy and forgiveness. The question is, will we swallow our pride and admit to our faults? Today, we will look at Psalm 51:3, acknowledging our sin before God.

“For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.”

“Acknowledge” means “to discern, to perceive, or to confess.” In 1 John 1:8-9, the Bible says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Have we noticed the word ‘IF” in this verse? The word “if” expresses a condition in order to receive forgiveness and cleansing. When we acknowledge our sin, we are bringing it to the surface, and calling it what it is, sin. Without this acknowledgement, forgiveness can’t begin. In Psalm 32:5, the Bible says, “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.” The word “transgressions” means “revolt or rebellion against God and His commands.” Acknowledging our sins before man is okay, but acknowledging our sins before God is the key. He is the only Person who can completely forgive us from sin, and restore us into right standing with Him. Hiding our sins does nothing because God sees everything. In Psalm 38:18, the Bible says, “For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.” When we confess our sins, we should have the right attitude. It should bring us sorrow to displease God, and we should be genuinely sorry for what we have done. As people, we won’t accept an insincere apology, so do we honestly believe God will?

“and my sin is ever before me”

The word “sin” means “offense against God.” The word “ever” means “continually, or constantly”. This is showing us that our sins will hang over us until we acknowledge them and ask God for forgiveness. In 2 Corinthians 7:9-10, the Bible says, “Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” Sometimes we are convicted when someone else points out the sin within us. Sometimes, their merely sharing the Word of God is sufficient to convict them of sin. I know this very well, because many times, it felt like the pastor’s message was directed at me, addressing some fault I needed forgiveness for. In Isaiah 59:12-13, the Bible says, “For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them; In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.” When we sin against the Lord, it presents clear testimony of our actions before God, showing how apart from God’s presence we are through our sin. As representatives of God on this earth, we reflect God’s light, and when we sin, we make God out to be a liar. In Genesis 4:7, the Bible says, “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.” God knew Cain’s heart and knew he had a heart fast approaching sin. He tried to warn Cain, but Cain rose up and killed his brother Abel. In Genesis 4:10, the Bible says, “And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.” Our actions will always give testimony, and our charges cry from the ground!

Let us acknowledge our sins before a merciful God who will wipe our records clean!

God Bless!

Marshall

Aug 16, 2021 – The Forgiveness of God Part 4 – Psalm 51:4 – against thee, thee only, have I sinned

Hi Everyone!

Do we really understand that when we sin, it is God who is the most offended? We may hurt people, and the scars may be extensive, but it is God who we have to seek forgiveness from in order to experience full and complete restoration. People may never forgive us for what we have done, and many of us still carry “Scarlett Letters” in the sight of others, but God wipes away our sin with His endless love for us. We as believers have to keep the proper perspective about sin – who our sin is actually against beneath the surface, if we are to ever be free of the burden sin carries. I remember apologizing to my family more times than I can count for the way I acted and treated them when I was in the world, but many of them still hold my faults against me to this day. The day I realized that seeking God’s forgiveness would wash away the offense some of my family never forgave me for became the most liberating day of my life. The weight was gone! Today, we will look at Psalm 51:4, the real victim behind our sin.

“Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.”

The word “sinned” means “missed the mark.” In Genesis 1:27, the Bible says, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” We have to first realize that mankind was created in the image and likeness of God, so we are to be both the physical and spiritual representation of God on this earth. Here is why, even when we sin against man, it still gravely affects our God. In 1 John 4:12, the Bible says, “No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.” No one has seen the physical person of God, but we experience God through our love for our brothers and sisters. Here’s where it gets real. In 1 John 4:20, the Bible says, “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” The way we treat each other is an example of how we will treat God. Man was created in the image and likeness of God, so when we sin against man, it is just as if we we’re looking in the face of God and committing the sin against Him. Here is why our sins hurt God more than man. 2 Corinthians 5:21, the Bible says, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” God does not sin, has nothing to do with sin, and even sent His son, who knew no sin to become sin for us, so we can become righteous in God’s sight. God has done so much to give us the outlet of forgiveness from sin, so it grieves Him to continue to witness us sin before Him.

“And done this evil in thy sight”

The word “done” means “performed or accomplished”. The word “evil” means “moral or ethical wrong, something disagreeable to God.” The phrase ”in thy sight” pertains to being in the presence of God. Putting all of this together, David, the writer of this Psalm, recognizes that he has performed a moral wrong, something that sorely displeased God, and he committed the act right in the presence of God. Ouch! In 2 Chronicles 16:9, the Bible says, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.” God doesn’t miss anything that we do, good or bad. This is why bad things happen, because of the sin that is in the world. When we realize that it is God we are ultimately sinning against, it should convict us. In Acts 2:37, the Bible says, “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Our conviction should always push us toward making things right with God.

“that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest”

The word “justified” means “declared right or innocent”. This means we can’t blame God for the sin we commit. In Romans 3:4, the Bible says, “God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.” The word “judgest” means “to pronounce a sentence to either vindicate or punish”. In Psalm 119:160, the Bible says, “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.” God calls it as it is, and whatever He declares has always been true since the beginning. There is no getting around it!

If our God declares that when we sin, we are actually sinning against Him, then let us approach sin from that standpoint.

God Bless!

Marshall

Aug 17, 2021 – The Forgiveness of God Part 5 – Psalm 51:5 – behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Hi Everyone!

Since Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate from the fruit of the tree that God expressly told them not to eat from, mankind has been the heir to a sin nature. Sin becomes this natural occurrence in our lives, where we don’t have to be prompted to do wrong. That attribute is in all of us, and no one is exempt from it. As people, we like to rate sin according to our personal convictions instead of rating it to the Word of God. There is no such thing as a little or big sin, because all sin carries the same stench to our Father’s nostrils. Even in prison, one can chronicle the lives of brothers and there was always some level of negative influence that exposed us to things that are unnatural to God, and these behaviors can be traced back for generations. We were born with this sin nature, but it doesn’t have to remain that way, because by salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, we are born again with a new nature, born of Spirit instead of flesh. Today, we will look at Psalm 51:5, the nature of sin in us.

”Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.”

The word “behold” is a word expressing emphasis that is needed to be placed upon a thought or statement. It can also be used to express surprise, as if one received an epiphany. In Genesis 1:31, the Bible says, “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” I see the word “behold” in this verse and I see it hitting – God just how awesome His creative hand is, and how proud He is of what He created.

“I was shapen in iniquity”

The word “shapen” means “twisted or formed.” This isn’t God’s fault, nor did He create us like this. This is the nature of sin that has passed from generation to generation since Adam. In Job 14:4, the Bible says, “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.” No matter how good we act, there is still a sin nature that must be eradicated from everyone’s life, and my parents’ salvation is not sufficient to pay for the sin nature I was born with. Everyone must receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior in order to be born again and not be in dominion to the sin nature we inherited. In Psalm 58:2-3, the Bible says, “Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth. The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.” Our sin nature is rooted in the deepest parts of us, causing wickedness to spring forth, estranging us from God from the womb! Ouch! The word “iniquity” means “perversity, moral evil, and conscious wrongdoing.” In Job 15:12-14, the Bible says, “Why doth thine heart carry thee away? and what do thy eyes wink at, That thou turnest thy spirit against God, and lettest such words go out of thy mouth? What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?” When we lived in iniquity, there was a rebellion in our heart towards God that made us disobey Him. Our hearts were tainted, our speech was sinful, and we didn’t have to be taught this. Our sin nature was attracted to disorder, and addicted to lawlessness. In Psalm 5:4-5, the Bible says, “For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.” Just because God knows we are born with this sin nature, doesn’t mean that He is okay with it, nor will He ever condone it. Fortunately for us, Hebrew 8:12, the Bible says, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” This is done when we come to God in faith, accepting His gift of forgiveness and salvation by faith in Jesus Christ.

“and in sin did my mother conceive me”

The word “sin” here speaks of the accumulated shortcomings that ultimately leads to sin. In Romans 5:12, the Bible says, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” We have to understand as believers that we did nothing to inherit the sin nature given to us through the disobedience of Adam. It was a generational curse, penalizing us for sin we have nothing to do with. Here’s the good news! In Romans 5:17-18 the Bible says, “For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” Our sin natures aren’t final!! Through salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, we are born again of God to experience grace and life, and able to experience the spiritual nature!

God Bless!

Marshall

Aug 18, 2021 – The Forgiveness of God Part 6 – Psalm 51:6 – behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts

Hi Everyone!

Truth is something uncomfortable to those who has no desire for it, but for believers, it is woven into the tapestry of our faith. We cannot have faith without truth, and we cannot have truth without the Word of God. When we came into the faith, we had to acknowledge our shortcomings, had to confess the sin that had severely broken our lives, we had to express our understanding that we could do nothing to pay for the debt of sin we carried, and we had to understand that forgiveness could only come by God, and salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Our God only accepts truth as we come seeking His forgiveness. How many of us can fully accept the wrong what we’ve done as wrong, without making excuses for why it was done? Today, we will explore Psalm 51:6, the necessity of truth.

“Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.”

The word “behold” is once again mentioned in Psalm 51, and this word is used, to beckon someone to pay attention to whatever is said or revealed, but it also expresses surprise, like one who has received an epiphany. It seems like, as David is praying, he is receiving revelation, giving him an understanding into God and how He works. David openly fellowshipped with God, and inquired of Him for any question, comment, or concern he had, and God gave him the answers He was looking for. David wasn’t the only one! In Psalm 73:1-3, the Bible says, “Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish ….”. Asaph, another writer of the Psalms, was disheartened when he saw the wicked parading their wealth around, mocking God as they did it. He felt they didn’t deserve any of the blessing they received, and he let God know how he felt. Asaph had to get to a place of complete honesty with God about how he felt. God requires brutal truth, but He will respond with the answers we need for our peace to return to us. In Psalm 73:16-17, the Bible says, “When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.” God allowed Asaph to see that the material possessions of the wicked are short-lived, because they are on their way to destruction. In Matthew 16:26, Christ says, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” God gives us the unfiltered truth, real truth.

The word “desireth” means “to incline to, to bend towards, also implying attraction.” The word “truth” means “faithfulness, stability, and certainty.” The only way we can be faithful, stable, and certain is by the Word of God. That is the only truth in this world. In John 14:6, Christ says, ” … I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” The truth is the only way to God, and also the only way to forgiveness. In John 1:14, the Bible says, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and TRUTH.” We can only become what we are full of, and if we aren’t full of truth, then we can’t be full of forgiveness. In Proverbs 16:6, the Bible says, “By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.” Sin can’t be removed without truth, because in Proverbs 28:13, it says, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Let us not give God half of the story. Let us trust God with the full truth. The phrase “inward parts” implies our innermost thoughts, the deepest parts of us, from the place we love to keep buried.

“and in the hidden part, thou shalt make me to know wisdom”

The phrase “hidden part” means “the secret portions.” The word “know” is a relationship/marital term, that expresses us becoming one with what God reveals, so in this case, we become one with the truth. The word “wisdom” is the manifested knowledge and fear of God, given by Word and displayed through His will. in Proverbs 1:23, the Bible says, “Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.” The truth is designed to show us where we are both right and wrong, and if we allow the truth to correct us, then we will receive the Holy Spirit’s revelation of the Word of God. In Proverbs 2:6, it says, “For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.” When we become one with the truth, acknowledging our sin before God, He will begin a change in us from the deepest part of us that will give us His Spirit, His wisdom, and His truth to live abundant lives with.

Our God delights in truth. Do we?

God Bless!

Marshall

Aug 19, 2021 – The Forgiveness of God Part 7 – Psalm 51:7 – wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow

Hi Everyone!

In prison, when I invite people to attend church service or when I talk to brothers about the faith, I frequently hear the same type of responses from brothers who don’t want to make the step towards God. They tend to say that they want to make sure they are all the way right before they come to church because they don’t want “to be playing with God,” or they say they don’t want to be a hypocrite like others they have seen around here. Some have said that they have gone too far and they are beyond saving. It is kind of odd that they are saying this to someone convicted of murder, serving a life sentence (at the current moment-God is at work on my freedom as I type!). There are too many people who won’t come to the faith because all they see is the daunting task of trying to clean themselves up to come before God, and don’t realize that it is the blood of Jesus Christ that God has given us that cleanses us. When God cleanses us, we are clean, but will we forsake the mentality that tells us we have to clean ourselves up first? Today, we will be looking at Psalm 51:7, the cleansing of our Lord.

“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”

The word “purge” means “purifying, to free, to refine.” The idea of purging is to pull out impurities from a substance or person in order to make them pure before God. Last time I checked, we can’t pull anything out of ourselves. In Psalm 73:13, the Bible says, “Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.” One of the major problems that prevent people from coming to the faith fully is we are trying to cleanse ourselves, we are trying to purge the filth from ourselves, and we are leaving God out of the equation. In Acts 10:15, the Bible says, “And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.” What GOD hath cleansed, not us! If we could cleanse ourselves, or purge the filth from ourselves, then Jesus Christ dying on the cross was for no reason whatsoever. in Malachi 3:3, the Bible says, “And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.” The results of the purging process are similar to the refining process, where the substance that touches us pulls the impurities from us, making us pure and clean. Only God can do this, so if we are looking to operate in our own strength and righteousness, we will fail miserably.

The word “hyssop” speaks of a leafy plant with a hairy stem, which could be used for brushing. Examples would be an Egyptian marjoram and thyme. In Exodus 12:21-22, the Bible says, “Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover. And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.” The first mention of the word hyssop was during the first Passover, when they used the hyssop to dip into the lamb’s blood and strike the lintels and side posts, so when the Lord passed through Egypt to smite the firstborn, those who struck their side post and lintels were passed over and saved. In John 1:29, the Bible says, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” Christ’s blood cleanses us from the curse of death, purging iniquity and sin from us. The word “clean” means “unadulterated, uncontaminated, and holy (both moral and spiritual).” In Matthew 8:2-3, the Bible says, “And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” Leprosy was incurable, but a word from the Lord made him clean.

“Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”

The word “wash” implies God’s internal cleansing of the heart. We try to cleanse ourselves by removing things from our lives, but God removes things from our hearts. In Isaiah 1:18, the Bible says, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” When God washes us, it changes our appearance completely! In John 15:3, Christ says, “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” We try everything under the sun to make ourselves clean but only when God sends a Word do we become pure and holy. The effects of our cleansing by the blood of Jesus Christ not only makes us whiter than snow, but gives us eternal life!

God Bless!

Marshall

Aug 20, 2021 – The Forgiveness of God Part 8 – Psalm 51:8 – make me to hear joy and gladness

Hi Everyone!

Forgiveness is designed to change our hearts and minds. We commit offences against God, we realize how far we have slipped from God’s presence, we acknowledge that we sinned against God and we humbly ask for His forgiveness. This should not only change our ability to fully experience the presence of God, but it should also give us a heart of joy again. Joy and gladness is something very important to a believer’s life, and it is something that is constantly attacked by the enemy, and also something we relinquish every time we step outside of the will of God. As believers, we should desire happiness in our lives, but we should also want to continue to experience the joy that only God can give through our relationship with Him. Today, we will look at Psalm 51:8, experiencing the joy from the result of forgiveness.

“Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.”

The phrase “make me” isn’t a demand as much as it is a request. David is asking God to “cause him to hear”, or “position him to hear”. This implies that David doesn’t feel like he is in the right place to experience joy because of the sin that has damaged his life. In Isaiah 59:2, the Bible says, “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Our sins separate us from the presence of God, and turn His hearing off us. This is not a good thing for anyone, but especially for a believer, because our faith and knowledge of the Word of God grows through our relationship with God. If communication is shut off in a relationship, the relationship will begin to lose power until it ultimately dies. God allow us to feel this separation so we can cry out to Him. In Matthew 27:46, the Bible says, “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Christ experienced this separation from God when He took on the sins of the whole world, as He hung on the cross. At Christ’s worst possible moment, He no longer felt the presence of God, which is the first time in His whole life! It never once says anything about Christ complaining about the pain, which was extensive and unimaginable, but His complaint was about God’s presence leaving Him. When will we see God’s presence within us as the one of the most important aspects of our faith?

The word “hear” means “to understand, to witness, to regard, or to conform to.” The word “joy” means “welcome cheerfulness.” The word “gladness” means “glee, rejoicing, pleasure, blithesomeness.” Blithesomeness means “having a cheerful, carefree disposition.” This means we don’t have to worry about the ultimate penalty of our sins, even if we may face some consequences as a result of our actions. In 1 John 4:17-18, the Bible says, “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” To want to hear joy and gladness is to not be overcome with guilt about what we have done, to not be afraid of God’s punishment because we are residing in His presence. In Isaiah 35:10, the Bible says, “And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Does the thought and understanding of our salvation give us an attitude of joy, and does it give us a cheerful, carefree disposition about where we stand with the Lord?

The word “bones” means “body or the substance a body consists of.” The word “broken” means “collapsed in contrition”. In Psalm 6:2, the Bible says, “Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.” Our sin should cause us to tremble and become afraid, and the more we grow spiritually, then more out of place we feel when we step outside of the presence of God. In Matthew 21:43-44, Christ says, “Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” Imagine that God is telling us that He is going to remove His presence from us and allow others to experience the blessing of His presence instead. He then gives us a away back in, by telling us that if we fall upon “this stone”, which is Christ, we will be convicted and restored unto God without being utterly destroyed by this same stone falling upon us. Shouldn’t this give us a real reason to rejoice?

God Bless!

Marshall

Aug 21, 2021 – The Forgiveness of God Part 9 – Psalm 51:10 – create in me a clean heart

Hi Everyone!

Sin taints our hearts. Those little indiscretions that don’t seem like much on the surface actually cause spiritual heart issues that disturb our relationship with God. The ultimate goal of forgiveness is restoration into a right relationship with our God, to be able to hear from Him and for Him to hear us. Do we realize that we must not only stomp out the sin in our lives, but the heart behind it? If you remove drugs from someone, they won’t use any in that moment, but if you remove the heart for drugs from someone, and they will never use drugs again. Not only is forgiveness essential, but restoration of our hearts is as well, because we must return back to God’s default settings if we are to ever become victorious over sin. We have to acknowledge that our hearts aren’t right before the Lord because of the sin that tries to take over our lives, and we must come to God and ask Him to make our hearts new again. Today, we will look at Psalm 51:10, becoming new in God.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”

The word “create” should be looked at the same way it was applied in the beginning. In Genesis 1:3, the Bible says, “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.” God spoke and it was. David is asking God to “create” in him a clean heart, so he is essentially asking God to speak to his heart, that it may become exactly what He has created it to be. We have to believe that the Word of the Lord is enough to cleanse us from sin and to heal our hearts. In Matthew 8:7-9, the Bible says, “And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.” The voice of the Lord will bring about anything He desires to happen, but are we willing to allow God into our space to reset our hearts the way He desires? We live in a world where so many feel like they have do everything themselves, but if that is the mentality, how can we ever get to the point where we rely solely on the Lord to repair what is broken?

The word “clean” means “morally pure”, so one can intimate God. Default settings. In Genesis 1:26, the Bible says, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” God created us to bear His image and His likeness, essentially becoming representatives of Him. Sin completely tarnishes God intention in creating us, and it mars our appearance. The word “heart” means “seat of one’s inner nature”. In Acts 15:8-9, the Bible says, “And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.” God knows our hearts, and who better to fix our hearts but the Creator of our hearts? Self-help books may offer perspective, books by Pastors may even tell us what we must do, but until we cry out to God, asking Him to “create’ in us a clean heart, we are just receiving information  to no avail.

“And renew a right spirit within me”

The word “renew” means “to rebuild or repair”. In Romans 12:2, the Bible says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Being renewed by God continually will allow us to fully establish, by evidence, what the will of God is. In order for us to understand God’s will, we have to have our ears, mind, and heart open to receiving His Word, and the best way of doing that is if God creates in us a clean heart. The phrase “right spirit” means “to be upright, constant, and steadfast in the seat of our emotions, mind and will.” In Mark 14:36, the Bible says, speaking of Christ , “And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.” Christ cast His will away to do the Father’s will, knowing death was His fate. Why do we have the hardest time allowing God’s will to be done in the smallest of matters? The word “within” implies our innermost being, so David is asking Good to give him the type of spirit that will give him the desire to remain close to God and obey His Word, and to give him that spirit in the deepest places in him.

We as the Church must allow God to return us back to default settings, so we will always have a desire to dwell in His presence and follow his Word.

God Bless!

Marshall

Aug 22, 2021 – The Forgiveness of God Part 10 – Psalm 51:11 – cast me not away from thy presence

Hi Everyone!

It is a real scary thought for God to pull His presence from me. I still remember clearly the life I once lived, completely apart from God, and I cringe at the fought of being apart from Him. I remember when I was in a maximum security prison in 2016, just blessed with a security downgrade to medium security, and the thought of me going to a medium security prison and messing up terrified me. One of my “Big Brothers” told me that I was going to do well because of that same fear of messing up, because it shows that I respect the blessing God has given me so much that I don’t ever want to jeopardize it. We have to be the same way with our faith, where we have such an appreciation and respect for what God has provided for us that we are unwilling to jeopardize our faith for anything in the world. Losing God’s presence in our lives is the same as dying, because there is no life without God’s presence. Today, we will look at Psalm 51:11, remaining in the presence of our God.

“Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.”

The word “cast” means “to throw or toss”, so to “cast away” something means “to throw out, to toss aside, to throw away.” Kinda sounds like something done to trash; correct? When we allow the “world” to become God, when we allow sin to have authority over our lives, we become no different than trash in God’s sight. Kinda harsh, isn’t it? In Genesis 4:13-14, the Bible says, “And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.” God punished Cain for killing Abel by not only casting him from his land but casting him from His presence as well. Cain couldn’t bear the thought of this punishment, and immediately, the peace and safety he once felt by the presence of God was gone. Cain was terrified and outside of the presence of God, there is much to fear. A far cry from Psalm 91:2, which says, “I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” The protection of God leaves with His presence. David understood that his sin could’ve resulted in God removing His presence from him, which led to his repentance, unlike Cain, who was sorry for what was going to happen to him as the result of his sin. There is a difference between true repentance and being sorrowful of the punishment. Trust me, I know this well.

The word “presence” means “face.” In 2 Chronicles 7:14, the Bible says, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” This is the type of attitude we must have if we want to keep the presence of our Lord in our lives. In Psalm 80:7, the Bible says, “Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.” Salvation is made available to us because God chose to make His face shine upon us. When God’s face shines upon us, we have a glow because of His light. In Psalm 67:1, the Bible says, “God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.” God’s mercy and blessings come as the result of his face shining upon us. There are great benefits to being in God’s presence. In 2 Kings 13:23, the Bible says, “And the LORD was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet.” God’s grace, compassion, and respect await those who are in the presence of God, yet, so many people would rather be outside of the presence of God in order to experience the pleasures of a sinful life.

“And take not away thy Holy Spirit from me”

The Holy Spirit’s anointing was upon David, and that was something he did not want to lose, neither should we. In John 14:16-17, Christ says, And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” God not only desires for his spirit to be WITH us, but IN us as well. David understood what he stood to lose as the result of his sin, and we have to be people who desire God’s presence so much where we don’t want to ever break fellowship with God again, causing His presence to leave us. That is like a car trying to run without an engine.

May our desire to please God and dwell in His presence outweigh the consequences of being without His presence.

God Bless!

Marshall

Aug 23, 2021 – The Forgiveness of God Part 11 – Psalm 51:12 – restore unto me the joy of thy salvation

Hi Everyone!

There comes a time in every believer’s life where restoration is needed. No one is exempt, because as we acknowledge and confess our sins, asking God to forgive us, there is a restoration process that takes place. This can be a daily part of a believer’s life, because there is always some area in our lives where we fall short. I know for me, as I have grown more spiritually, when I fall short, it bothers me a lot more, and it robs me of my joy. David was broken behind his sin, and feeling out of alignment with God, he cried out, asking God to repair what was broken in him. Sin produces guilt in a believer’s life, and guilt will destroy all parts of a person’s peace. God doesn’t want His children walking this earth downtrodden, void of hope, fearful about condemnation, and He is the only Person that can restore our joy. Today, we will look at Psalm 51:12, a full restoration by God.

“Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.”

The word “restore” means “to turn back, to bring back, to re-establish.” It implies a return to a former or normal condition by means of repairing, rebuilding, or altering.” What is that former or normal condition? In Genesis 1:26, the Bible says, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” Mankind is supposed to bear God’s image and likeness, and have dominion in the earth. That role is jeopardized by sin, because sin separates us from God. David realizes that he is in need of restoration, so he is asking God, not trying to fix himself. We try to go at changing ourselves alone without realizing that we are only digging ourselves deeper into a hole that only God could dig us out of. In Joel 2:25-26, the Bible says, “And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.” When God restores us, when He restores our years, there is much to praise the Lord about, and that fellowship returns between God and us.

The word “joy” means “welcomed cheerfulness, or gladness.” In Psalm 122:1, the Bible says, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” When we fall short, guilt doesn’t allow us to be glad to be in the house of the Lord or in His presence. In Genesis 3:9-10, the Bible says, “And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” Sin makes us want to hide from the presence of our Lord, so the person that hides from God can’t be filled with His joy. In John 15:10-11, Christ says, “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” Our joy is full when we keep the Lord’s commands and abide in the love of Christ. The word “salvation” means “liberty and deliverance.” Salvation should produce joy within our spirits. When was the last time we walked in joy solely because of the understanding that we are saved? In Psalm 13:5-6, the Bible says, “But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.” We can sing knowing that we can rest in God’s mercy, can celebrate the fact that we have passed over from death to life, experiencing the true benefits of a great relationship with God.

The phrase “uphold me” means “to lean one up against, to take hold of”. The phrase “free spirit” means “willing or generous Holy Spirit. In 2 Corinthians 3:17-18, the Bible says, “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the LORD.” We have freedom through our salvation, to experience the glory of God, and also experiencing the change God’s glory makes in our lives. In Psalm 119:116, the Bible says, “Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.” We are held up and secure by the Word of God, and that provides a real reason to hope. When the Holy Spirit is upholding us, we are secure in the power of God, able to be exactly who He created us to be; the children of God!

God Bless!

Marshall

Aug 24, 2021 – The Forgiveness of God Part 12 – Psalm 51:13 – then will I teach transgressors thy ways

Hi Everyone!

Our God has every detail of our lives figured out, and our God is in full control of everything that is happening in our lives. God allows the harsh lessons we receive from our sin to be the teaching lessons we give others, so they don’t fall into the same traps as we have. I look back on my past life, and all the wrong I have done, and now that I have been saved, restored, and filled with the Holy Spirit, the past I have been delivered from is now the testimony I give to show people that it is not too late for them to cry out to God. If we slipped on a wet floor, wouldn’t we want to warn someone else, so they don’t fall? Our God uses all parts of our lives to produce something for His glory, but we have to allow God to use us how He sees fit, and that is to advance the Kingdom and bring glory to God. Today, we will look at Psalm 51:13, experience becoming a great teacher.

“Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.”

The word “teach” means “to goad, instruct, to train, especially for war.” In Exodus 4:10-12, the Bible says, “And Moses said unto the LORD, O my LORD, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.” Our eloquence, our intelligence, or experience means absolutely nothing to God, because God qualifies the people He calls, and gives them the words that He desires for them to speak. God gives us the word, and we teach others what God gives us. In Proverbs 22:6, the Bible says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Our past experiences should make us even better teachers, because we have been brought back from the brink of destruction to experience the salvation, restoration and power of the Holy Spirit having reign. That is a wealth of experience that can help someone else triumph over sin. The word “transgressors” pertains to rebels, people who apostatize, people who revolt against God, people who practice iniquity. In Mark 12:14, the Bible says, “And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” Christ didn’t care who the person was, what their background was, and He didn’t discriminate who He made teaching available to. We have to have the same mind and teach from the same perspective, giving everyone a chance to know who Christ is through us. We like to pick and choose who we speak to based on our own personal sentiments and convictions, but that is not how God works, and that is not how He will work in us. The person who has been delivered from sin should have a desire to see others be delivered.

The word “ways” means “road, course of life, or mode of action.” In Psalm 25:4-5, the Bible says, “Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.” We can only teach a person what we ourselves learn from God. David assured God in Psalm 51:13 that his experience would not be vain because he is going to use his fall, and what God has taught him, to make sure others didn’t fall behind him. In Proverbs 16:23, the Bible says, “The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.” Whether we agree or not, we are giving sermons every time we open our mouths. What type of message are we teaching, one of hope and deliverance, pointing the way to Christ, or one of the world, pointing the way to death?

“And sinners shall be converted unto thee.”

The word “sinners” means “criminals, one accounted as guilty and subject to the wrath of God”. The word “converted’ means “to turn back in repentance.” In Luke 22:31-32, the Bible says, “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” Our repentance should pave the way for others to seek repentance, because we should not only be willing to share our testimony, but also show them how to live a holy life in Christ. In James 5:20, the Bible says, “Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” Even our failures aren’t about us, but about how God can use them to help turn someone’s life around!

Who would’ve thought God could take our worst moment and turn it into someone else’s best moment?

God Bless!

Marshall

Aug 25, 2021 – The Forgiveness of God Part 13 – Psalm 51:14 – deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation

Hi Everyone!

How did you feel when you were delivered from the penalty of your sin? Are we really appreciative of what God has done for us, or do we have this nonchalance about God’s forgiveness, like it’s nothing more than receiving a warning when stopped by the police for speeding? What happens after forgiveness? Do we go on living without understanding the sacrifice that was made so we can have forgiveness, that blood was actually shed, so we could have a clean slate? Many will never have the understanding that David has about his forgiveness, deliverance, and restoration, primarily because they haven’t committed the type of sin he has. Murder, the killing of someone created in the image and likeness of God, is like staring at the face of God and taking His life. To be forgiven of that should make anyone proclaim God’s goodness and righteousness to the ends of the earth. I tell people all of the time that if God forgave me, a former murderer, then He can and will forgive anyone. Today, we are going to look at Psalm 51:14, proclaiming the deliverance of God everywhere we go.

“Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.”

The “deliver” means “to snatch away, to rescue.” Deliverance often indicates the power of one entity overcoming the power of another. In Hebrews 2:14-15, the Bible says, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Christ took on this flesh and sacrificed Himself on the cross, that through His death, He would destroy the enemy, who held the power of death. This means Christ, in taking away the power of death from the devil, is now the only one who can convict and condemn a person of sin! In John 8:10-11, the Bible says, “When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” Christ didn’t come to condemn the world of their sin, but to save the world from their sin. Everything Christ did through his life, death, and resurrection paved the way for the provision of forgiveness and restoration, whether we take the gift or not. God loves us so much that He doesn’t want to hold our sins over our heads, like the charges they hung over the head of Christ when He was hung on the cross. In 2 Peter 3:9, the Bible says, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” When we change our hearts and our impression about who we think God is, maybe our hearts and impressions will change about the provision of deliverance he bestowed upon us.

The word “bloodguiltiness” means “bloodshed causing death, violence causing death.” The word “salvation” means “help, safety, victory, and deliverance.” In Matthew 5:21, Christ says, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment.” Murder had a penalty, and it was subject to judgement and death. However, in Colossians 2:13-14, the Bible says, “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you ALL trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.” Through Christ, we have forgiveness and salvation from ALL our sins! In John 12:47, Christ says, “And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.” Our belief doesn’t change the fact that Christ came to save.

“And my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.”

The word “sing” means “shout for joy.” The word “righteousness” speaks on the justice and will of God in our lives. In Psalm 35:27-28, the Bible says, “Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.” Does the thought of us being forgiven and saved cause us to shout for joy? How is our attitude towards God pertaining to our forgiveness? In Psalm 71:15, the Bible says, “My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.” How appreciative are we of our salvation? Well, who has heard about it?

God Bless!

Marshall

Aug 26, 2021 – The Forgiveness of God Part 14 – Psalm 51:17 – The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart

Hi Everyone!

What CAN we sacrifice to someone who sacrificed their Only Begotten Son, so we may have access to salvation and eternal life? For everything God has done for us, He really doesn’t ask for much in return, but we frequently find ourselves doing things that displease God. Sin puts us in a position where we are out of alignment with God, so instead of ushering us into new promises, and maturing us to be examples of the faith, we have to come before God and ask Him to get us out of the holes we have dug for ourselves. What good is a sacrifice when we haven’t learned from the Ultimate Sacrifice? God allows us the privilege of returning to Him, so we can come before Him broken, so He can rebuild us the way He ordains, so we can be the pillars of faith that He created us to be, but we have the hardest time humbling ourselves, even when we have wronged the Lord. Today, we are going to look at Psalm 51:17, coming to a place of brokenness before God.

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”

The word “sacrifice” means “the slaughtering of flesh as an offering.” Sacrifices were made in the Old Testament by taking an animal without blemish before the priest, who laid hands on it and killed it, sprinkling its blood on the altar and other places God designated. It was a pretty messy scene, but in Hebrews 9:22, the Bible says, “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” The sacrifice, especially for sin, was an outward display of what is required when we sin, and that acknowledgement hopefully becomes the thing that caused us to obey the Lord. Not much changd all the way to Christ, because In John 1:29, the Bible says, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” Christ came to the world to become a sacrifice, His blood shed in atonement for the sins of the whole world, but there was something different about His sacrifice! In Hebrews 10:10-12, the Bible says, “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.” The sacrifices of the law couldn’t take away sin, but rather rolled them forward. Christ made one sacrifice, for all to receive through faith, and no other sacrifice had to be made to take away the penalty of our sin. He’s seated at the right hand of the Father because the work is done!

The phrase “broken spirit” means “a shattering in the seat of the emotions, mind and will of a person.” The phrase “contrite heart” means “a collapse in the seat of one’s inner nature.” In Luke 18:13, Christ says, “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.” Have we ever gotten to state of brokenness, where we won’t even look up towards heaven, where we know we are completely out of fellowship with God, in desperate need of His mercy? In 1 John 1:9, the Bible says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” How many of us read this verse, and have developed a nonchalance when we ask God for forgiveness, treating that request with the same attitude as we have when we ask God to bless our day? It tore David to pieces to disobey God, but can we honestly admit that we sometimes don’t have this same brokenness behind our disobedience? Paul was frustrated behind his sin, and in Romans 7:24, it says, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” How arrogant can we be in the presence of God?

The word “despise” means “to deem contemptible, to think to scorn.” If we have the wrong attitude towards our sin, and there is no brokenness, then how can we expect forgiveness? In Proverbs 1:25-26, the Bible says, “But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh.” God knows our hearts and minds, and knows whether we are broken or not, knows whether we are saddened by our sin. We don’t want to be the people whose petitions for forgiveness are laughed at because we aren’t sincere. In Matthew 15:8, Christ says, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” God knows, and the last thing we want is our offering being despised by God.

What is our attitude towards our sin before God: brokenness or nonchalance? Let us examine ourselves.

God Bless!

Marshall

Aug 27, 2021 – The Forgiveness of God Part 15 – Psalm 51:19 – then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness

Hi Everyone!

It is our obligation to please our God, to offer sacrifices that please Him. When we fall short of God’s glory by sinning against Him, we should have a desire within us to make things right with God. This requires the right attitude, one of humility, one of brokenness, one of genuine remorse for what we have done that has sorely displeased our God. God not only weighs our hearts, but He also looks at our sacrifice, whether it is pure and holy. The Old Testament had animal sacrifices, the New Testament began through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and this testament continues by us becoming living sacrifices. Sacrifice is absolutely necessary for the kingdom of God, because it signifies a dying to our own will and the way to seize God’s will and Way. Today, we are going to close this study into “The Forgiveness of God” by looking at Psalm 51:19, an offering pleasing to God.

“Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.”

The word “pleased” means “to bend towards, to incline to, to delight in.” In Psalms 37:23, the Bible says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” God must order our steps in order for us to live lives that please Him. We have to forsake our own way, and entrust the path for our lives to the Lord, to do as He wishes. In James 4:7-8, the Bible says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” God is pleased with children who willingly submit to Him of deep reverential respect for Him, and as we come near to God, He will come near to us. God loves to be in the presence of children with pure hearts, with submissive spirits, cleansed by Him.

The word “sacrifice” means “the slaughter of flesh as an offering to God.” In Romans 12:1, the Bible says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Living sacrifices, meaning we present ourselves to God, ready to be used by Him how He pleases. It means our life doesn’t belong to us anymore, but it belongs to God, who by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, redeemed us from the penalty of sin that ensured a death sentence eternally for us. God doesn’t ask for much out of us, but He doesn’t want a sacrifice that isn’t entire. We can’t sacrifice part of us. It’s all or nothing. In 1 Samuel 15:22, the Bible says, “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” God doesn’t care about our sacrifices, if they aren’t done in obedience. We can do God’s work daily, but if we’re not doing what God told us to do, then does our sacrifice hold any weight in His sight?

The word “righteousness” means “being in right relation to a legal, ethical, or spiritual standard.” Our sacrifices can’t be just anything, nor can we have any type of bind when offering sacrifices. In 1 Corinthians 13:3, the Bible says, “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.” We can give everything we have and offer to go into the fire, but if it isn’t done in love, then it won’t have any value in God’s sight. In Psalm 4:4-5, the Bible says, “Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.” David knew that God required much more than just a dead animal and its blood for and offering. God really desired the heart to be right before the Lord, which will also make the sacrifice right. At this point David would do anything to make things right with God, but knew His heart being right before God is what God desired.

“Whole burnt offering” are offerings that are totally consumed. Sacrifices must go through the fire. in Hebrews 12:28-29, the Bible says, “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.” Are we willing to come before God broken, in need of His forgiveness, having the right heart and attitude, so we can go into the fire and come out a vessel of purity, pleasing to our God? What God asks us for is so small compared to what He provides; but will we be willing to present our faults before the Lord on His terms?

God is more than willing to forgive us of all of our transgressions, but are we willing to present offerings that please Him?

God Bless!

Marshall

Aug 28 – Sep 12, 2021: WARFARE IN THE SPIRIT REPEAT – 16 DEVOTIONS, from May 19 to June 3, 2021:

Sep 13, 2021 – John 12:26 – if any man serve me, let him follow me

Hi Everyone!

I remember when I was a busboy in a restaurant, where I would frequently wait tables as well. Part of my duties were to take orders, clear tables, and keep the customers’ drinks full and plentiful. One of the things I used to also say is, “Hi, welcome to Ham & Egger! My name is Marshall, how may I help you?” I explained who I represented, presented myself as both a representative of the restaurant, and as their servant, and I then wait on them to tell me what they wanted? It wasn’t about me and what I wanted personally, but rather about ensuring the customers have the best possible dining experience. As believers, it is sometimes hard for us to take on the role of a servant, because we have the hardest time with only desiring that someone else’s needs are met instead of our own. In the kingdom of God, it is all about God, and our only desire should be pleasing our God by our service to others, and when our hearts are trained on this, God delights in it. Today, we will look at John 12:26, service that puts us in the presence of God.

“If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.”

The word “serve” means ”to be an attendant of, to wait upon, to minister as a deacon.” Christ wasn’t just speaking just to the disciples. Christ wasn’t speaking just to the religious leaders and scholars. He wasn’t speaking just to the pastorate and people who can brilliantly decipher Scripture. He was speaking to everyone! “Any man” is an all-call for everyone, no matter the background, shortcomings or educational level. In Matthew 16:24-25, Christ says, “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If ANY MAN will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For WHOSOEVER will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” We serve an all-inclusive God, offering everyone the privilege to follow Him and to serve Him with our lives. God’s not looking for a particular someone. He’s looking for all of us! Exodus 8:1, the Bible says, “And the LORD spake unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me.” God is trying to release us from the bondage we carry to be able to serve Him fully, because we can’t serve God the way He desires when we are spiritually in bondage. In Joshua 24:14, the Bible says, “Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.” God doesn’t want half-hearted service from us. He wants His children to serve him genuinely and truthfully, leaving the life of bondage behind us.

The word “follow” means “be in the same way with, to accompany as a disciple.” Not only are we to deny ourselves and take up our cross to follow Christ, but we have to leave behind our lives. In Mark 1:17-18, the Bible says “And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.” The disciples walked away from their jobs and the money they would make; to follow after Christ. In Mark 10:29-30, the Bible says, “And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now IN THIS TIME, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.” People don’t follow after Christ because they don’t see the benefit. People don’t serve God and others, because they only want to know what they can get out of it. God is looking for people who surrender their lives to Him in order for Him to use us as He ordains

“If any man serve me, him will my Father honour.”

The word “Father” speaks of God as the Creator, Preserver, Governor of ALL men and things, watching over them with paternal love and care. In Matthew 25:20-21, Christ says, “And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Do we want to hear our Father tell us how proud He is of us for serving him faithfully? In Matthew 25:40, Christ says, “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

We serve our God by serving others faithfully and completely. God honors this kind of service!

God Bless!

Marshall

Sep 14, 2021 – Joshua 7:13 – sanctify the people

Hi Everyone!

What is keeping us away from full obedience to our God? What is that thing that is present in our lives that is keeping us from the best possible relationship we can have with our Heavenly Father? What is that sin or sinful behavior that we are reluctant to let go of that constantly keeps us out of fellowship with God? Sin not only disrupts the fellowship we have with God, but can also interfere with any success we want to experience as believers. Sin also keeps the enemy present in our lives, and it minimizes the strength we have against the spiritual and physical warfare we may encounter. When we lose battles that we have full capability of winning, are we willing to accept the truth that we have something accursed among us? Today, we will look at Joshua 7:13, removing the accursed thing from our midst.

“Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.”

The word “sanctify” means “to set apart for holy use, to consecrate, to withdraw from profane or ordinary use.” The first thing Joshua has to do is begin the process of withdrawing Israel from profane or ordinary use, which pertains to the first command to “sanctify” the people. The next command of “sanctify yourselves” pertains to the setting apart for holy use. In 2 Corinthians 6:17, the Bible says, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” We have to separate ourselves both physically and spiritually to be received by God the way He intends, but many of us don’t want to leave our crowds, our families, our friends, or our activities in order to be received of the Lord. In Proverbs 18:1, the Bible says, “Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.” Do we desire to receive of the Lord the Word He has for us? Are our lives too busy, and filled with too many conflicts in our schedule to receive the wisdom of God? Israel just conquered Jericho and is the process of conquering other places. They suffered defeat to a people with way less people than were sent out by Israel, people they had no business losing to. Joshua wants to know why, and in Joshua 7:11, God says, “Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.” The reason Israel lost the battle in Ai was because someone in Israel took something God commanded that they not take. In Joshua 6:18-19, the Bible says, “And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD.” God gave Israel specific instructions, and someone violated God’s commands. We will always suffer loss, and others will always be punished when we disobey God. There are always victims when we sin against God!

“There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel”

The phrase “accursed thing” means “doomed things, something under ban, something forbidden by God.” The spoils of war could only be set aside for religious use only, including gold, silver, etc. These items, set aside exclusively to holy use, could not be used for everyday purposes, for to use such items in this way was a grave sin. In Proverbs 28:22, the Bible says, “He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.” We can separate ourselves from the fellowship of God due to our own selfish ambitions to be rich. Achan took silver and gold from the spoils, and buried them under his tent. Because of his greed and blatant disobedience to God, Israel lost a battle they should’ve won, and 36 lives were lost. How many people have to lose because of our disobedience?

“Thou canst stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.”

The phrase “stand against’ means ‘to succeed or prevail”. Victory won’t come until we remove the things that displease our God from our lives. In Joshua 1:8, the Bible says, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Instead of focusing our attention on not taking accursed things, let us focus our attention on receiving and obeying the Word of God, which is sure to bring us the success God desires for us to have against the enemy!

God Bless!

Marshall

Sep 15, 2021 – John 15:15 – but I have called you friends

Hi Everyone!

Communication is vital to any positive relationship we have. When a relationship forms, communication becomes the thing that builds our knowledge of each other. We begin to discover the back stories, the expectations, and also the things that draw us closer together. Relationships strengthen as we begin to know each other better, and we become accustomed to their ways so much, that some of their attributes wear off on us. The same dynamic exists in our relationship with God, where our knowledge of Him builds a deeper and richer bond, where His nature rubs off on us, allowing us the privilege to bear His image and likeness. We must communicate with God through prayer and allow Him to communicate with us through His word and his Holy Spirit. God desires friendship with his children, and effective communication is a great start. Today, we are going to look at John 15:15, a word on having an amazing friendship with God.  

“Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.”

The word “call” means “to name, to declare as, to speak as being something or being called something”. In Matthew 16:18-19, Christ says, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” When Christ named Peter, he now had a new name, a title, and he was filled with the power to become exactly who and what Christ named him to be. In Isaiah 55:11. the Bible says, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” The scripture not only applies to promises, but it also pertains to who He names us to be! The first thing we have to grasp is, whatever and whoever God declares us to be, we will become.

The word “servants” means “slaves, people in voluntary service, implying obedience and devotion to God.” The word “knoweth” is a term of intimacy, establishing relationship between what is said and what is applied to our lives. We become one with God’s Word when we “know” the Word of God. In Genesis 4:1, the Bible says, “And Adam KNEW Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.” Life comes from what we know. As servants, we didn’t know what God was doing because we didn’t have access to the knowledge we needed to understand the Lord’s business. All of our knowledge was on the surface, and there was no real intimacy. In Galatians 4:1-2, the Bible says, “Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.” That is how we are when we first come to the Lord, not really knowing a whole lot, mostly focusing on obedience and doing right, instead of building the relationship. Many people never come to God fully because they equate Christianity to a bunch of rules, instead of building a powerful relationship with our heavenly Father. The word “lord” means “supreme in authority or controller.” Our relationship with God grows as the communication between us and God builds, and we will not only see Him as “supreme in authority,” but he will also be our Father as well!

The word “friends” means “dear to God, people God is fond of”. Are we friends with God? In Genesis 18:17, 19″, the Bible says, “And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.” To be a friend of God, God will know our ways, and whether we trust in Him in order to carry out His Word. In James 2:23, the Bible says, “And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.” Abraham was intimate with God, speaking with him and God speaking back. To “make known” refers to a teacher who unfolds divine things. In John 16:13, Christ says, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” Since creation, God has desired friendship with His children, and the Holy Spirit teaches us more about God so we can have the intimacy with God that He desires.

He stands at the door knocking. Will we let Him in?

God Bless!

Marshall

Sep 16, 2021 – John 16:13 – the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth

Hi Everyone!

God ensured that we will have all access to THE truth, which can only be found in the Word of God. He gave us the law, the prophets, the priests, leading up to the appearance of Christ, who came to fulfill the law. It didn’t end there, because while Christ still walked the earth, He promised to send us the Holy Spirit to us, to dwell in us, teaching us everything we need to know in order to walk in truth as believers. When we open ourselves up to the leading of the Holy Spirit, we begin to receive a word given directly from God, revelations directly from the teaching of God, and whatever we learn becomes truth we receive that comes from God to us! Do we understand how much of a privilege that is? Today, we are going to look at John 16:13, being taught truth by the Holy Spirit of God.

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

The phrase “Spirit of truth” refers to the Holy Spirit. The word “Spirit” speaks of the Spirit of God coming to and acting upon Christians, illuminating and empowering us, remaining with us, imparting to us spiritual knowledge, aid, consolation, sanctification, and making intercession with and for us. The word “truth means “verity, something not hidden, but open and known, divine and derived from God. In John 1:14, the Bible says, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” One of Christ’s names is Emmanuel, meaning ‘God with us”, and one of His major attributes is truth. In Number 23:19, the Bible says, “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” God’s Word is truth, Christ came to the world full of truth, and now God has sent the Spirit of truth, which is the Holy Spirit, to us so we can experience truth in us as well. What does the Holy Spirit’s truth do in our lives? In 2 Corinthians 3:17, the Bible says, “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” The Holy Spirit’s presence within us gives us liberty, true spiritual freedom that will translate to freedom in all other areas that are led by the Holy Spirit. That is why John 8:32 says, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Abiding in the truth sets us free to live the life God intends for us.

Christ didn’t say “IF he, the Spirit of truth, is come”, but He said WHEN. Christ was making the disciples certain that the promised Holy Spirit was coming. The word “guide’ means “to show the way”. In John 14:6, the Bible says, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” If Christ isn’t the way, truth, and life in our lives, then it’s is not going to be possible that we will be guided into truth. We are living in a society where people want the version of the truth that appeals to them, and that is why our homes suffer, our churches are losing victory, and our lives are absent of power. The Holy Spirit has come to show us the way into ALL truth. Our God is not a part time God, and whatever He does is complete. In John 14:17, Christ says, ” Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” The world can’t experience real truth because they refuse to experience or know God, and in that refusal have cut themselves off from experiencing salvation and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. There is no freedom in their lives, no matter how “good” their lives appear on the surface.

“But whatsoever he shall hear, that He will speak: He will shew you the things to come”

The word ‘hear” means “to be informed”. The word “speak” means “to declare or announce”. The word “shew” means “to foretell or speak beforehand.” In 1 John 2:27, the Bible says, “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.” The problem in our world is that too many people are self-driven, self-taught, and self-made, some of the biggest lies imaginable. The truth we know was given to us by the Holy Spirit, who is quoting God directly. Just as the Holy Spirit only shares what He receives from God, we must only share what the Holy Spirit gives us to speak.

We don’t want to become believers who go “off script,” causing us to close our doors to the truth God desires to freely give us. May we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us in truth, which will take us to heights unimaginable.

God Bless!

Marshall

Sep 17, 2021 – 1 John 2:19 – they went out from us, but they were not of us

Hi Everyone!

Not everyone who starts a journey with us will finish the journey with us. This is a sad reflection, but a very true one indeed. I know personally, in the last 18 years of my imprisonment, I have seen more people turn their backs on me than at any other point in my life. Many people turned their backs on me when I turned my face to God, unable to understand who I was becoming in Christ. We can expect people from our past lives to walk away when we have seized the things of God, but what happens when the people who depart from us are people in the church? How does it feel to encounter someone we built a foundation with in the Lord, someone who may have taught us, someone who we thought had unshakable faith, depart from the faith to live a life that is the polar opposite to one of the faith? Today, we are going to look at 1 John 2:19, the manifestation of who is for us or against us, for the kingdom and against the kingdom.

”They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”

The phrase ”went out from us” means ”to depart, to leave the company of, to break fellowship with.” In Deuteronomy 13:13, the Bible says, ”Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known.” So not only will there be people in the faith who won’t finish this race with us, but they will draw people away from the faith altogether! In 2 Peter 3:3-4, the Bible says, ”Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” The Bible gives us clear descriptions and warnings about these kinds of people, ones who flood the church with their misinformed opinions about the things of God, all in a push to draw people away from the faith. God gave us these warnings so we would remain vigilant, keeping watch over the house of God, so we won’t be the ones deceived when they appear. In Matthew 13:24-25, A parable from Christ, ”Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.” The enemy’s job is to draw people away from the Lord, to deceive the nations, to hinder a person’s path to salvation and sanctification. Why wouldn’t he send people into the church of all places? In Psalm 41:9, the Bible says, “Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.” Sometimes, the person the enemy sends is going to be someone close to us, someone we trust, someone we would never expect. It’s going to hurt, but it is going to happen.

“For if they had been of us, thy would no doubt have continued with us”

The word “continued” means “endured, stayed, or remained.” In Proverbs 27;17, the Bible says, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” A friend is there to build their friend up, and a friend is someone who is going to push us towards the purpose of God in our lives. In Proverbs 18:24, the Bible says, “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” As we are being pushed towards the purpose God has for us by our friends, we are doing the same for them. Beware of the person who tries to steer you away from fellowship with God, from serving his kingdom, and be ready to cut your losses, because when they see they can’t shake you loose they will leave. In Matthew 10:35-36, Christ says, “For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” It may even be family who doesn’t continue with us!

“But they went out, that it might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”

The word “manifest” means “made known, reveal, declared.” In 1 Corinthians 11:19, the Bible says, “For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.” God knew these days were coming, and it is to reveal the wolves among the sheep. In 2 Timothy 2:19, the Bible says, “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” God knows who is for us and who is against us, and He wants us to know it as well.

People will depart from the faith and depart from our fellowship, but let us cleave tighter to the Father, so we won’t be counted amongst the fallen.

God Bless!

Marshall

Sep 18, 2021 – 1 Peter 4:8 – for charity shall cover the multitude of sins

Hi Everyone!

Do we love our brothers and sisters as God loves us? When we look at the brothers and sisters around us, what do we see? Their actions? Their faults? Do we look at our brothers and sisters through the eyes of Christ? I heard a disheartening comment from a brother, saying that if he had it his way, he would want every drug dealer taken out into the street, lined up, and shot. You would’ve thought that this comment was made by someone of the world, but it was made by a believer! I engaged him in conversation, expressing to him the errors in his comment, that believers are supposed to love and show grace to people, but he justified his stance. He later apologized and acknowledged that he has to work on himself, and I received him as if he did me no harm. It is easy to love lovable people, but what happens when the person hurts our feelings, or acts in a way contrary to the Word of God? Do we demonize them, or do we love them? Today, we will look at 1 Peter 4:8, covering each other in unconditional love.

”And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”

The word “fervent” means “without ceasing, intense, stretching out continually.” The word “charity” means “love, affection, benevolence, spoken of goodwill towards others, the love of our neighbor, brotherly affection, which the Lord Jesus commands and inspires.” This is agape love! In Mark 12:30-31, Christ says, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” Christ gave us these two commands to simplify a complicated law. Christ is telling us that if we love God, we won’t transgress against Him, and if we love people, then we won’t hold their offenses against them. In 1 Corinthians 13:7, the Bible says, “Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” Do we believe that our brothers and sisters, no matter what position they are in now, can be transformed by the power of God and by the salvation of Jesus Christ? Are we willing to endure the faults of others, exercising the grace that God so frequently exercises? Are we willing to pray for those whose actions attack our sentiments or beliefs? When people see us, is love the dominant attribute in our lives? In Romans 15:1, the Bible says “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” Are we willing to be strong for those who need strength? Are we wilingl to look upon our fellow man and woman with compassion no matter what state they may be in? The love we give someone today may very well be the salvation that may happen tomorrow, because when we love, we usher in the presence of God, and wherever the presence of God is, things change!

“For charity shall cover the multitude of sins”

This part of the verse didn’t say “WE shall cover the multitude of sins”. It says, “CHARITY shall cover.” When I was getting my Technical Diploma in The Fundamentals of Building Maintenance, Care, and Construction, one of the things I learned was to let the tool do the work. We risk injury to ourselves and others when we try to make the tool work for us. The word “cover” means “to hide, overlook, and not subject to punishment.” In Colossians 3:13-14, the Bible says, “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” We have to always look at what Christ has done for us, forgiving us the many times we have fallen short, and we have to extend that to our brothers and sisters. We have to look at the love we received from God despite our many attempts to stray away from the path. In Proverbs 10;12, the Bible says, “Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.” God wants us to cover people in love, to make love our primary offering to others. The word “multitude” means “large in number, populace”. In Luke 7:47, Christ says, “Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.” I remember who I used to be, clearly recalling a time where I lived to sin, and no matter my sins, God still forgave me. Who am I to then look upon someone else like they aren’t qualified to receive that same forgiveness and love that I have? In James 5:20, the Bible says, “Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” The love we show today could mean forgiveness and salvation for someone else.

How important is our love for our brothers and sisters? How important is forgiveness?

God Bless!

Marshall

Sep 19, 2021 – 1 Peter 4:11 – Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever

Hi Everyone!

Ministry is very important to the building up of the kingdom of God. When we share the Word of God with someone, we are essentially speaking the very words God spoke, thus conveying to someone a divine message of truth. This is a very important task, because salvation can result from the words we speak from God. Many churches are losing their power because the pastorate have gone to preaching words that didn’t come from God, teaching messages that didn’t come from the Bible, and people are sadly living lies, expecting victory to come forth. Just as victory can come into someone’s life as a result of the Word being shared, punishment will come to those to teach the Word falsely if someone is led astray. Today, we will look at 1 Peter 4:11, teaching the true Word of God.

”If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

The word “speak” means “to teach or preach.” In 2 Timothy 4:2, the Bible says, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” When we share the Word of God, it isn’t our job to pick the time or season to preach or teach the Word of God, neither should we wait for a convenient time. Whenever the Lord gives us the Word and the push to share it with people, we have to trust that the season is perfect, whether they receive the Word we teach or not. Now, to the person who thinks in the flesh, it would seem like a waste to preach to someone who doesn’t receive the Word, but nothing is wasted. In 1 Corinthians 3:6-7, the Bible says, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” Too many of us are too worried about the effect of our teaching instead of just teaching the Word. It is God who stirs the Word we teach and preach in someone’s heart that causes the change, in His own perfect timing. This verse isn’t exclusive to the pastorate or the teachers, because the first 3 words of 1 Peter 4;11 says, “If ANY man”. We all have this responsibility, but so few step up to the plate. This is why Christ says in Luke 10:2, “Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.” Our reluctance to share the Word of God is causing people to not be introduced to our God, and have the tools they need to live in this world for Christ.

The phrase “oracles of God” means ‘the utterances of God, the doctrine of the gospel through Christ”. It also included the leadings of the Holy Spirit. Anything the holy Spirit gives us to share will always line up with the Bible, because in Matthew 18:16, Christ says, “But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.” The only way we will covey a word to someone that can NOT be proven wrong is if we give them the Word as God directs, if we use the Bible to share divine truth with them. Ministry is only effective if it is led by the Holy Spirit.

“If any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth, that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

The word “minister” means “to be an attendant, a teacher, or serve in the office as a deacon.” The word “ability” means “power, strength, or might”. Once again, look at the first three words, ‘If ANY man”. Don’t say what you aren’t qualified to do, because we all are expected to share the Word of God, no matter what office we may hold in the church. For the person who feels they don’t have what it takes to share the Word of God, Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” It is God that equips us for service, and gives us the Words to share. The word “glorified’ means “to celebrate with worship, praise, and adoration, to bring honor to.” In Romans 11:36, the Bible says, “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”  In 1 Corinthians 6:20, the Bible says, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” We belong to God, even the Words we speak are His, so we must, as teachers, as preachers, as servants of the Most-High God, speak the words God gives us, because not only will salvation and sanctification result, but God will be glorified through our service.

Sounds like reasonable request from God, who has given us everything, including his only begotten Son.

God Bless!

Marshall

Sep 20, 2021 – Proverbs 28:20 – a faithful man shall abound with blessings

Hi Everyone!

There is a major difference between monetary gain and the blessings of our Lord. Sometimes, money, and the pursuit of it, form a curse that keeps a person in bondage, where they pursue wealth more than they pursue salvation, sanctification, and restoration. We chase after superficiality, hoping it will bring us happiness, but it never fulfills our expectations, and often disappoints us in the process. Society is doing a good job at replacing the blessings of God with aspirations of financial wealth. If someone was to go in church and ask people if they can choose between living the life God intended, becoming who He called us to be, and a million dollars, and they can make the decision privately, we’d be surprised by how many new millionaires there would be! The person of faith isn’t concerned with wealth. That person is concerned with fulfilling the purpose God has for them and pleasing the Lord with their lives. Today, we are going to look at Proverbs 28:20, wealth versus the blessings of the faithful.

”A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.”

The word “faithful” means “exercise fidelity, having moral security, spiritual firmness.” In Hebrews 11:6, the Bible says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” If we are trying to please God without faith, we are setting ourselves up for a major fall. Faith doesn’t have anything to do with money and financial gain, but it is about entrusting our lives, our paths, and our will to the Word of God, executing the Word as God directs. In Matthew 24:45-46, Christ says, “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.” God is more concerned with us managing His house and His affairs well than He is with making us rich. This verse says, “to give them meat in due season.” Serving the Lord faithfully and obediently has its rewards, and the rewards will come in due season. “Due season” is in God’s perfect timing, where in Ecclesiastes 3:1, the Bible says, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:13 says, “And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.” When God rewards us for our faithfulness, it is a gift from Him for us to enjoy. There is never any guilt behind the rewards of God. 

The word “abound” means “increase, have an abundance, be plentiful.” The word “blessings” means “good favor bestowed, especially upon the faithful and righteous in Christ.” Blessings aren’t necessarily financial, and if our minds correlate money and material wealth with blessings, then we have completely missed a huge part of the blessings of our God. In Genesis 39:2-3, the Bible says, “And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.” Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers and served under Potiphar. How can a slave be wealthy financially? In Genesis 39:22-23, the Bible says, “And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.” Joseph when he was imprisoned, had favor and prospered there too. God was with Joseph and brought success to everything he touched, because he handled his responsibilities well, doing what pleased the Lord. In Matthew 6:33, Christ says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Our primary focus should be on the kingdom first, trusting in the Lord to provide for our needs in the process.

“but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.”

The phrase “maketh haste” means “to hurry, to labor tirelessly.” The word “innocent” means “without guilt, clean or pure.” It is the Lord that makes us rich, so having our own aspirations to get rich will only lead to trouble. In 1 Timothy 6:9-10, the Bible says, “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

The person who races after riches in the Lord will be spiritually wealthy, and our lives will be pleasing to the Lord. This is true wealth, something that can’t be taken away.

God Bless!

Marshall

Sep 21, 2021 – 2 Peter 1:4 – are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises

Hi Everyone!

God doesn’t just give us His Word. He also gives us promises that He will certainly fulfill according to His Word. His promises will always designed to draw us closer to Him, and to further establish us as children of God. We have such an awesome God, who goes out of His way to ensure us that He has our best interests in mind, and He also chases us down, just so He can adopt us into His heavenly family. We will never find certainty in this world, because everything in it is capable of flaws, flaws which can produce disappointment and lead us astray. Our God’s promises give us a stable foundation under our feet to build the lives He desires for us to live in Him, and that foundation gives us victory over the sin that tries to entangle us. Today, we will look at 2 Peter 1:4, being the proud partakers of the divine nature.

”Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

The word “given” means “to bestow gratuitously.” This is more than just something being handed to us, but it is gifted to us beyond what our service has produced. We must always keep our humility, understanding that God doesn’t have to do anything for us. In Matthew 7:11, Christ says, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” Our God gives something to us that can’t be replicated by anything or anyone, and his requirements are extremely small for what He is providing. In Matthew 7:7-8, Christ also says, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” All God wants us to do is ask, worship him, and seek to enter the kingdom of God. The phrase “exceeding great and precious” means “possessing a value or an esteem that is immeasurable or beyond comprehension.” In Ephesians 3:20, the Bible says, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” What God does has no limitations, and when His power is working in us, it will feel like there is nothing we can’t do either! The word “promises” mean “assurance of good, and in this case, a DIVINE assurance of good.” In Acts 2:39, the Bible says, “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.” Don’t ever believe that God hasn’t included us in the promise!

“That by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature”

“That by these” is a phrase that tells us the ability to be partakers of the divine nature was facilitated by these exceeding great and precious promises. In 2 Corinthians 7:1, the Bible says, “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” The promises of God should compel us to rid ourselves of the filth that is taking residence in our lives, making room for everything God wants to place inside of us. We have to make room for the promises of God by removing anything that would threaten the promise In Genesis 21:10, the Bible says, “Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.” This hurt Abraham, because he loved his son, but in Genesis 21:12, the Bible says, “And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.” There is only room for the promises of God in our life, so we must be willing to cast out anything contrary to the promise.

“Having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust”

The word “corruption” means “decay, decomposition, or ruin.” The word “world” pertains to the present world and its order of things, as opposed to the kingdom of God, always with the idea of moral and physical evil, irregular desires, temptations, cares, and worthlessness. The word “lust” means “longing for what is forbidden.” In 2 Peter 2:20, the Bible says, “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.” Imagine narrowly escaping being burned alive in a fire, only to find another fire to jump into. God’s promises aren’t designed for us to keep putting God to the test, and we may not make it out the next time.

May we express our gratitude for the promises of God by partaking in the divine nature, leaving the life of sin behind.

God Bless!

Marshall

Sep 22, 2021 – 2 Peter 1:10 – give diligence to make your calling and election sure

Hi Everyone!

The time of being merely ”church-goers” is over! It is time to secure ourselves in the foundation of our faith in Jesus Christ, and offer ourselves to be led completely by the Holy Spirit. Salvation is a gift, one that our God doesn’t take back, but it is time we live our lives like we have been redeemed from the penalty of death. What would you do if you almost lost your life, but you were saved, knowing you deserved death? Well, that is exactly what happened. Christ gave his life in order to save ours, but instead of living our lives growing spiritually and building an extraordinary relationship with God, we live as if nothing happened, like nothing changed. God gave us this free gift, but it is our job to use this second chance to allow God to transform our lives and reinforce our foundation in Christ. Today, we will look at 2 Peter 1:10, a word on not bringing shame to God’s choice.

”Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall”

The word “brethren” means “ones connected by fellowship and intimacy, spoken of believers.” As brethren we are very special to God because we are His children. In 2 Thessalonians 2:13, the Bible says, “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.” Being the brethren of the Lord is not a title that can be thrown around, made into an afterthought. Being the brethren makes us loved deeply by our God, and it establishes that we were God’s choice. In 1 Thessalonians 3:1, the Bible says, “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you.” Think about this. Paul, Silvanus, and Timotheus made up the pastorate who checked on the state of the church in Thessalonica, and the pastorate is asking the brethren to pray for them, that the word of the Lord would go where God ordains for it to go. So the prayers of the brethren have power, which means God not only hears their prayers, but He answers them as well! Being the brethren is a privilege, one of great honor, because it establishes that we have access to experience the presence of God.

The phrase “give diligence” means “to make speed, make effort, be earnest.” In Hebrews 12:15, the Bible says, “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.” Our diligence to remain in the presence of God, to live according to His Word, and to please our God will keep us away from anything that will cause us to fall. This is the kind of diligence God desires, a people who meditate and live by his Word day and night. The word “calling” means “an invitation, a divine call to the kingdom of God, the gospel and its privileges.” In 2 Timothy 1:9, the Bible says, “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” God calling us had nothing to do with how good, smart, or saved we are. God called us according to His grace and his own purpose, and in Romans 11:29, it says, “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” When God calls us, He doesn’t take back His choice. The phrase “election sure” means “a firm, fixed choice, pertaining to the benevolent purpose of God by which any are chosen unto salvation so they are led to embrace and persevere in Christ’s bestowed grace and the enjoyment of its privileges and blessings here and hereafter.” Do we really enjoy our salvation and our place in the kingdom of God? In Jeremiah 1:5, the Bible says, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” God’s choice was made long before we were born, in case anyone believes God somehow made a mistake.

“For if ye do these things, ye shall never fall”

The word “fall” means ‘to stumble, trip, or err.” God provides a fool-proof way of never falling, but we must do what the Word of God tells us to do. In 1 John 3:18-19, the Bible says, “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.” Instead of focusing on not doing wrong, let us focus on doing what the Word says. God does want our words. He wants to see a people determined to live out our faith, even more determined to cleave to the Word of God for everything we need to live Godly lives. God wants to see His Church and see victory, brethren living their salvation, redemption, and sanctification out loud.

The question is, will He see that in us?

God Bless!

Marshall Jones

Sep 23, 2021 – Acts 6:7 – and the word of God increased

Hi Everyone!

There are a lot of people in the world who don’t know Christ, and sadly, there are also a lot of people in the Church who don’t know Christ either. The Word of God must spread for the benefit of people receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and also so believers will be equipped with everything they will need to have abundant lives here on earth. This brings glory to God, so He definitely won’t make this hard for us to do. When we have leadership in place in the Church that are obedient to God and follow His Word, then the Word will go out and be received as God intended. The Church in Acts spread and had power because they placed their faith solely in God’s Word and trusted that the Holy Spirit would do the work. They were obedient to the Word and the gospel spread with power throughout the world. The Church has that same ability to increase in power now! Today, we are going to look at Acts 6:7, spreading the Word of God in obedience.

”And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.”

The word “increased” means “to grow, enlarge, or spread.” In the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19, Christ says, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” The Word of God is designed to spread into the whole world, and discipleship is supposed to spread as well. When the Word of God spreads, the manifestation of God is unleashed into the world, transforming lives. In Acts 19:18-20, the Bible says, “And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.” When the Word of God spreads, people change their ways, leave their old lives behind, and the Word of God prevails in the land. People then become governed by, the ‘laws’ of loving God and loving our fellow brothers and sisters. In Ezekiel 34:16, the Bible says, “I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.” These are some of the life changing events that will happen as a result of the Word of God being spread throughout the world.

The word “disciples” means “pupils, learners, believers, spoken of Christians, especially after Christ’s death. In John 15:5, Christ says, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” As children of God, we are disciples of Christ, and our discipleship will bear fruit as long as we abide in the vine, which is Christ. The reason why the fruit isn’t as visible in the Church now is because parts of the Church have gotten away from abiding in Christ, and are ceasing to follow the Word of God as written. In martial arts, teachers will be able to identify another teacher’s technique based on watching the pupil’s movements. The world has to watch us and see our Teacher, Jesus Christ, through us. In Acts 11:26, the Bible says, “And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” When the world begins to identify us by our Teacher, then we will be identified as Christians, because we bear His image in our lives!

“And a great company of priests were obedient to the faith”

The word “obedient” means “to hear under as a subordinate, to listen attentively to the Gospel, or to heed or conform to the command of an authority.” The word “faith” means “a firm persuasion, assurance, fidelity, the doctrines believed and received of the Gospel.” In Romans 1:5, the Bible says, “By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name.” When we receive the Word of God, we spread it, obeying the command of the Lord. We are never to hold the Word of God to ourselves, essentially denying a person access to the kingdom of God. God gave us the Bible, He also gave us Christ, Christ gave us the Holy Spirit, and the priests, pastors, and teachers taught according to the Word of God they received. The pastorate extends this same Word to us, and we then share it with others. If the Word of God is obeyed by our leadership, if our pastorate are imitators of Christ, teaching us to be imitators of Christ as well, then the Word will never cease to spread and have power in the world.

May we become a people obedient in the faith, spreading the Gospel into the entire earth.

God Bless!

Marshall

Sep 24, 2021 – Joshua 24:15 – choose you this day whom ye will serve

Hi Everyone!

We must make a choice to serve the Lord. The world has its own system, with its own rules, and what appears to be its own rewards. We can clearly see on a daily basis that people are making a choice to serve the world, living to please their flesh. The kingdom of God also has its own system, created by God, established by Jesus Christ, and led by the Holy Spirit. There are definite rewards for making a choice for the Lord, but a lot of people are too busy looking for instant gratification, and they allow their impatience to cause them to fall away. A friend of mine has backslidden, and is making conscious choices to chase after the world. I once told him that we have to make the same choice for the Lord daily, because there are no off days when the enemy is busy 24 hours a day, trying to steal, kill, and destroy. 10 years from now, we have to make the same choice for the Lord. Today, we will look at Joshua 24:15, today is the day to choose to serve the Lord.

”And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

The word “evil” means “displeasing, bad, or good for nothing.” The word “serve” means “to place oneself under the bondage of, to worship” There are people who don’t see the benefits in serving the Lord with their entire hearts, and some of these people are in the Church! In Psalms 68:19, the Bible says, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.” The Lord loads us up with benefits daily, but for some reason people have been blinded to it. What are some of these benefits? In Psalm 103:3-6, the Bible says, “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.” There are more benefits than we deserve, but the Bible is loaded with benefits for all who serve Him. In Romans 8:15-17, the Bible says, “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” Imagine, we have the benefit of adoption, to be children of God, and heirs to the kingdom of God with Christ! In Romans 6:16, the Bible says, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” We serve whatever we choose to obey, whether it is the flesh or the Spirit.

The word “choose” means “to select.” When we choose, we are making a conscious decision, based on the options that are before us. Ruth and Orpah were given a choice by Naomi to go back home after their husbands died, being too old to marry and conceive to give them sons to marry. Ruth and Orpah staying would be pointless by human standards. Orpah made the choice to leave, but In Ruth 1:16, the Bible says, “And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.” Ruth experienced God and didn’t want anything else, even when she had absolutely nothing. She knew it was bigger than her deceased husband. It was about serving the Lord! The word “house” means “family or household”. Men have the responsibility of ensuring that their families serve the Lord, ensuring that their wives are loved like Christ loved the Church, and also making sure the children are trained up in the way they should go. The reason this world is the way it is is because men haven’t taken their rightful places, serving the Lord with undivided hearts. Genesis 18:18-19, the Bible says, “Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.” There are blessings in store for those who serve the Lord, who make this day the day they choose the Lord.

”For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The greatest benefit ever!

God Bless!

Marshall

Sep 25, 2021 – Joshua 24:14 – now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth

Hi Everyone!

What is keeping us from fully serving the Lord? Could it be something from our past that we are unwilling to let go of, or a relationship with a family member or friend that is hindering our walk with the Lord? Could it be behaviors that we have grown so accustomed to that we are unwilling to cast them away, to seize what God wants us to do? Could it be fear, unforgiveness, anger, or pain? Even though we didn’t walk in the wilderness with Israel back then, we all have our own wilderness, and we all have our own Egypt, the representation of a past God delivered us from. God doesn’t want us continuing to live in the bondage of our fathers before us, but He desires us to live in freedom, in truth and in Spirit. The time is now to leave that old way of life behind, to leave that old way of thinking behind, and allow the power of our Lord to transform our lives in a most amazing way. Today, we will look at Joshua 24:14, service out of the deepest fear of the Lord.

”Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.”

The word ”fear” means ”deep moral and spiritual reverence.” People who fear God are considered faithful and trustworthy, because that fear encourages us to believe and act morally. In Proverbs 1:7, the Bible says, ”The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Fearing God begins the process that will end with us becoming one with God through our knowledge of Him. Remember, ”knowledge” is a relationship term expressing a union formed between us and truth. In 2 Peter 1:3, the Bible says, ”According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.” Our knowledge of God’s word allows us to see that we have received power to live Godly lives that are of moral excellence and will bring glory to God. Fearing God isn’t about being afraid of consequences, but rather positioning ourselves to led God manage our consequences. In Deuteronomy 10:12-13, the Bible says, ”And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?” Fearing God causes us to walk in His ways, and experience His love, both given and received. In John 14:15, the Bible says, ”If ye love me, keep my commandments.” There is no lip service here, but our work, our efforts, and our hearts reveal who we truly are.

“And serve Him in sincerity and in truth”

The word “serve” means “to work, or toil, but in worship of God, a joyful experience of liberation.” In Luke 17:15-16, the Bible says, “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.” The leper realized he was cleansed and he gave Christ glory, a joyful experience of liberation. Believers tend to start strong but some eventually fade into “normalcy”, where we forget that defining moment where we saw we were cleansed from the sin that threatened to take our life and keep us out of the presence and fellowship of God. The word “sincerity”, when used in a moral sense, is linked with truth, virtue, uprightness, and righteousness. In John 4:24, Christ says, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” We are to both serve and worship the Lord according to the Word of God, also according to the leading of the Holy Spirit. In Psalm 119:1-2, the Bible says, “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.” To serve the Lord in sincerity and truth requires us to give our hearts completely to the Lord, and give our minds and bodies completely over to the will of God.

“And put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.”

The phrase “put away” means “to cast aside or to remove.” In Ezekiel 20:7, the Bible says, “Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.” We have to keep that old life behind us. What’s behind us is meant to stay behind us, and God delivered us so we can be His children, a symbol of victory in the world. God has provided us with a powerful testimony of both Egypt and the Promised Land, but which land will our actions speak of?

Will we live delivered or continue to dwell in bondage?

God Bless!

Marshall

Sep 26, 2021 – Jeremiah 3:15 – feed you with knowledge and understanding

Hi Everyone!

It is a blessing to have good pastors, those who are attentive to the Word of God, and those who lead the flock with love and truth. We have to be able to trust that the words that are taught and preached in our churches are the true Word of God, because the pastorate are supposed to lead us directly to Christ. As a society, the Church is being filled with people who are supposed to lead the flock of God, but mislead them into embracing doctrine that is not Biblical. When selfish ambition and monetary gain becomes the running theme in the Church, then, it pushes God out, and God doesn’t want to be anywhere that He isn’t sovereign. We are experiencing an emptiness in our churches and it is because there are pastors who are preaching, but aren’t sent by God, who can’t lead the flock effectively because they aren’t leading in truth. Today, we are going to look at Jeremiah 3:15, becoming pastors whose heart is after the Lord.

”And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.”

The word ”give” means ”to send, appoint, or ordain.” This means God has appointed the people He desires to lead His flock. In Jeremiah 1:4-5, the Bible says, ”Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” God’s word always comes before the appointment, and God’s appointment was already established before we were born. Many people are taking on roles as pastors when they haven’t been appointed, when a Word hasn’t come from the Lord, all because they feel they should be preaching the Word of God. In Jeremiah 29:8-9, the Bible says, “For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed. For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD.” As believers, we know that there will be false doctrine taught, even in the Church, but it is our responsibility to examine our pastors, to make certain they are preaching the true Word of God. If someone puts a drop of poison into a drink, the person who drinks it is in jeopardy of losing their life. Spiritually, it is the same way.

The word “pastor” means “to tend to a flock, to shepherd, to lead.” The word “heart” here refers to the center of God’s being, also referring to the will of God. God is only going to appoint pastors who are preaching the Word He gives them, and pastors with a heart to do God’s will. In Jeremiah 23:4-5, the Bible says, “And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD. Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.” So God will appoint pastors over the flock, in the interim, that will lead us all the way to the end of the earth, when the King will come, so that’s not about when Jesus appeared on the earth two thousand years ago, because in John 6:15, the Bible says, “When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.”, Christ didn’t come to earth to be a king, but He came to serve God by offering Himself as the atoning sacrifice of the world once and for all, and to establish the environment for pastors to work. Then, in Revelation 19:12, the Bible says, “His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.” In verse 16 of the same chapter, it says, “And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. Then, Christ is coming to reign!

“Which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding”

The word “feed” means “to keep, to lead.” The word “knowledge” stems from the root word “know’, which essentially means “to become one with.” The word “understanding” means “insight, intelligence, circumspection.” Pastors are supposed to lead the flock to become one with the Word of God, to abide in God and allow His Holy Spirit to abide in us. This can only be done by teaching the true Word of God. In Ezekiel 34:14, the Bible says, “I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.” A pastor is someone who positions the flock for success, who feeds them good Word, and places them in a location where the enemy’s attack won’t prevail. A pastor’s concern is only on two things; receiving the Word of God and sharing that Word with the flock.

God Bless!

Marshall

Sep 27, 2021 – 2 Peter 2:20 – the latter end is worse with them than the beginning

Hi Everyone!

Once Christ becomes our Lord and Savior, there is no turning back. Yesterday, I told a brother that as believers, we make the same decision everyday to serve the Lord. I don’t care if a person has 50 years of unwavering faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, or a person is a new believer, both have to make the choice daily to serve the Lord. Anyone is capable of backsliding if they don’t allow the Holy Spirit to lead and they don’t plant the Word of God in their minds and heart daily. It is one thing to not know and sin, but it is a completely different thing to know better and still sin anyway. We have to always remember where we have come from, and never lose sight of the fact that we have been bought with a price, and that price cost Jesus Christ His life. We don’t want to face horrible consequences, ones worse than before, because we somehow believe that grace gives us a license to do as we wish. Today, we will look at 2 Peter 2:20, a permanent escape from the pollutions of this world.

”For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.”

The concept of “escaping” suggests that we have been given a way out of the bondage of sin. In Acts 8:22-23, the Bible says, “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.” Iniquity is a bond that keeps us trapped, and unable to be free, but repentance gives us a way of escape. The word “pollutions” means “staining, foulness, or defilement.” The idea of pollution is to poison something pure, to completely destroy its appearance and greatly diminish its value. In Malachi 1:11-12, the Bible says, “For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.” God has a purpose for His children, for His Church, and for the type of worship we offer Him. When we bring something unclean, defiled, or filthy into the presence of God, He will not honor it. We can’t be believers that give God the scraps, or give Him anything. He wants offerings that are pure and acceptable to Him.

The word “world” speaks of the present order of things, as opposed to the Kingdom of Christ; always with the idea of worthlessness, moral and physical evil, and the seat of cares, temptations, and irregular desires. The world has the ability to influence people away from the knowledge of God, even after we have escaped the bondage from sin due to that same knowledge and application of the Word of God. Do we understand what we have been delivered from? In Luke 11:24, the Bible says, “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.” Have we really embraced that we were servants to sin, and there were evil spirits in us that had reign and influence over our lives? The evil spirit has been removed from us, and we can serve the Lord from a position of freedom and clarity through His word.

“Through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”

The word “knowledge” here means “full discernment and recognition”. We also know that the word knowledge here fully implies that have become one with Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. In John 17:21, Christ asks of God, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” The knowledge of God gives us the ability to become one with God’s Word and to become one with our Savior, who died on the cross so that we may have eternal life. The word “Lord” means “supreme in authority, or controller”. The word “Savior” speaks of Christ, who saves His people from the guilt and power of sin and from eternal death, from punishment and misery as the consequence of sin, and gives us eternal life and blessedness in His kingdom.

Do we truly understand what we have been delivered from, and WHO delivered us from it?

“They are entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.”

The word “entangled” means “to entwine, to involve oneself with.” The word “overcome” means “vanquished or made worse”. So the unclean spirit comes out of us, making us clean and able to receive the Word of God totally. In Luke 11:25, Christ says, “And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.” When we have been cleansed from sin, the enemy is going to find us neat and orderly, but will he find us occupied with the Holy Spirit? Once we have been cleansed, and we have become new creations in Christ Jesus, having full access to the kingdom of God, we now have a new nature, and we are no longer under the enemy’s system. We now make a conscious choice to live in sin if we allow ourselves to become entangled and overcome, because in James 1:14, the Bible says, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his OWN lust, and enticed.” Can’t blame Satan anymore for our sin when we come into the knowledge of Christ Jesus. We can only blame ourselves. In Luke 11:26, the Bible says, “Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.” This is what happens to us if the Holy Spirit doesn’t dwell within us and if we aren’t hiding the Word of God in our hearts. We become completely vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy.

We have our salvation to experience triumph over the enemy, and also to experience the abundant life God has desired for us to have as His children. May we keep ourselves clean from the pollutions of the world, and anything that will break our oneness with God.

God bless!

Marshall

Sep 28, 2021 – James 1:2 – count it all joy

Hi Everyone!

In life, we are going to face trials. It is not a pleasant experience, and most of us wish we can live a pretty safe existence where nothing pressing happens. Unfortunately, that is not the case! We have to embrace trials when they come; and see our trials through the eyes and mind of Christ. The way God sees our trials is way different from how we see them, but if we develop an understanding about His purpose for trials, then it may completely change our approach. I remembered when I struggled mightily under trials and frequently gave up or looked for a way out, a trap door to release me from the hardships. What I should have been looking for was a way through my struggles, entrusting that way to God to direct me as He wills. Ever see a believer at peace, experiencing joy in midst of trial? That is someone who is cleaving to the Word of God and resting in the assurance that God will guide us through every trial that comes our way. Today, we will look at James 1:2, finding joy in the midst of trials.

”My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;”

The word “brethren” means “one connected to another in intimacy and fellowship, especially fellow Christians.” This fellowship is vital to the kingdom of God, because in Psalm 133:1, the Bible says, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” No matter the background, no matter the ethnicity, tax bracket, gender, or past sins, we are a family, brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, heirs to the promise. In Matthew 18:20, Christ says, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” The gathering together of the saints of God brings the presence and the power of God. In 1 John 1:7, the Bible says, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” We all have the light of God within us and we are expected by God to be the light of the world. The brethren have a great responsibility in the earth to bear the image and likeness of God.

The word “count” means “to deem or to consider”. The word “joy” means “delight, an occasion for cheerfulness.” So, to count it ALL joy, it suggests that we treat every circumstance as an occasion for cheerfulness. That sounds impossible, because how can we find cheerfulness in say, grief? In Psalm 116:15, the Bible says, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” Why is a saint’s death precious to God? Because they are coming home to meet their Heavenly Father in person! In Matthew 25:21, Christ says, “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Knowing the saints will be received by our God in joy, should change our weeping to mourning, because this world was never our home to begin with! In Matthew 5:12, Christ says, “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” We have rewards in store for us, which should make the trials manageable.

The word “fall” suggest that trials come upon us, sometimes something that surrounds us. If something surrounds us, there may not appear to be a way out of. The word “divers” means “various in character”. Our trials can take different shapes and involve different people. The word “temptations” means “a state of trial in which God brings His people through adversity and affliction in order to encourage and prove our faith and confidence in Him.” In 1 Corinthians 10:13, the Bible says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” Temptation means the same thing here, and it is something that ALL believers face in their lives.  God doesn’t allow us to go through a trial that we wouldn’t be able to handle and overcome. He gave us the victory before we went through the trial! in John 16:33, Christ says, “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.” Christ has overcome the world, so we have the same access to overcome the world as well, because the Bible says in 1 John 4:17, “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as HE IS, so ARE WE in this world.” God created us to operate the same way Christ did in the earth, and He has given us His greatest provisions, the Word of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit, to lead us to victory.

In the midst of the greatest trial dwells God’s peace, presence and power. That is definitely an occasion for cheerfulness!

God Bless!

Marshall

Sep 29, 2021 – Isaiah 64:8 – and we all are the work of thy hand

Hi Everyone!

God us our Creator, and we are His crowning achievement. He loves us so much, and His desire is for us all to become everything He created us to be. Have we ever considered that we are a part of God’s vision for the world, and we have a role to play that will not only keep us in God’s presence, but also a role that will be a benefit to the Church? I remember watching the movie ”The Lion King” and Simba, one of the main characters, lost his way after His father Mufasa was killed. He was raised by a warthog and a meerkat, who could only show Simba how to live the way they lived, but not as the lion he truly was. At one crucial junction of the movie, Mufasa appears to Simba in a vision, and his last words to Simba were, ”Remember who you are!” It is the Father who gives us our identity but it is our job to remember who we truly are. We are the clay in the hands of the potter, and today we will look at Isaiah 64:8, to further establish our identity in the Lord.

”But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.”

The word “Lord” here is “YHWH” meaning “Jehovah, Self-Existing and Eternal God”. God’s power has no limit or time frame, nor does He need our help to do anything that is in His purpose to do. In Psalm 24:1-2, the Bible says, “The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.” Everything on earth belongs to the Lord. Imagine with me our God commanding dry land to come from the waters that covered the whole earth, and commanding this beautiful earth to come from darkness. Only our God could do something this awesome. The word “father” is speaking of God, the Head our lives, our families, our homes, our careers, and our purpose. Here is where we get personal with God, and Jehovah becomes “Daddy”. Here is where He becomes more than just a Creator. In Genesis 2:7, the Bible says, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” God didn’t just speak us into existence. He took us from the earth, formed us into exactly what He wanted us to be, and then breathed HIS breath into our nostrils, giving us life! Creating us was very personal for God because He touched us when He created us, He breathed into us the breath of life so we can live from what comes directly from Him. In Romans 8:15-16, the Bible says, “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God”. Even as children of adoption, we can still cry out “Abba, Father”, or in our terms, “Daddy!” The Spirit confirms in our own spirit who we are, and that is children of God, and heirs to the promise! The reason the enemy is having so much victory over the Church is because too many have forgotten who we are, haven’t been taught who we are, and won’t accept who we truly are.

“We are the clay, and thou our potter”

The word “clay’ means “of the earth, mire”. The word “potter” speaks of “one who squeezes something into shape, one who moulds something into form.” In Jeremiah 18:6, the Bible says, “O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.” See, God has this figured out, and knows exactly what He has made, why He made us, and what purpose we will serve, but we sometimes want to tell God that we should be living lives contrary to His purpose and intention. In Romans 9:20, the Bible says, “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?” We are not in power to tell God what we should have been. That’s like telling God that He made a mistake.

“And we all are the work of thy hand.”

The word “work” means “product, property, action.” The word “hand” means “power, means, direction, or strength.” Look at this part of the verse again. It says, “We ALL ARE!” In Ephesians 2:10, the Bible says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” God created us to perform his will and had our plan figured out before we were born. In Psalm 100;3, the Bible says, “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” There are no self-made successes according to the Word of God, but there are people created by an awesome God, who loves us so deeply that He was not only hands-on in our creation, but He is specific in our purpose, down to the second!

Remember who you are, but more importantly, remember WHOSE you are!

God Bless!

Marshall

Sep 30, 2021 – 2 Peter 2:1 – there were false prophets also among the people

Hi Everyone!

The enemy is planting bad seed in the Church. Take a real hard look at the Church now, what doctrines are being embraced that are not Biblical, look at the churches that are forming that don’t represent the faith, churches that are adhering more and more to the system of the world. There are churches that practice witchcraft, churches that practice racism, and even churches who preach the ”everyone is going to heaven” doctrine. Things that were once impermissible in church are being allowed, and the Church is condoning and officiating same sex marriages, allowing people to abuse grace and willfully live lives of sex, crime, and lawlessness, and the Church is actually being vilified when we choose to not condone these actions. The Church is losing its power because deception and lies have say and reign in the Church, and that needs to change. Today, we will look at 2 Peter 2:1, ending the deceiver’s reign in the Church.

”But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”

The phrase “false prophets” means “religious imposters, or pretended foretellers.” The word “people” speaks of Christians. The Bible says that there will be imposters in the Church who will look the part, and even sound the part, but will be liars in their lives and message. In Matthew 24:11, Christ says, “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” If the false prophets “shall rise”, then that means their message will be received! In Acts 20:29-30, the Bible says, “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” After the truth is spoken and the foundation is laid in Christ, the enemy is going to come with his representatives and spread doctrine that is designed to separate the flock. God knew this was going to happen, so He sent warnings through the prophets, through Christ, through the disciples and apostles, and now through us. The phrase “false teachers” means “propagator of erroneous Christian doctrine”. This is the person that isn’t necessarily trying to teach but those who are trying to discount or discredit the teachings we have received. We have to know better. In 1 John 4:1, the Bible says, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” We have an obligation to search the Scriptures for ourselves and seek God’s help with establishing truth in our hearts and minds. In 2 Timothy 2:15, the Bible says, “Study to shew THYSELF approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” We have to study the Word for ourselves and weigh up the teaching and preaching we receive to the Word of God. Not only did God give us warning, but He also gave us his Word.

“Who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them”

The phrase “privily shall bring in” suggests that the false teaching and prophecy shall secretly come in by deception. This means we won’t see it coming and it won’t be clear. The phrase “damnable heresies” means “destructive doctrine that causes discord or dissension”. In 1 Corinthians 11:19, the Bible says, “For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.” The heresies in the Church must be made manifest and corrected by the Word of God, but this can’t happen if we willingly tolerate non-Biblical teachings to take root. The phrase “denying the Lord” means “rejecting Christ as Savior and Lord, declaring Christ to be untrue, and contradicting Christ”. This is no laughing matter. There are people in the Church whose aim is to draw people away from Christ by making the gospel of Christ a lie. The word “bought” means “to buy back, to redeem”. In 1 Corinthians 6:20, the Bible says, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” If Christ is made to be a lie, then those people who embrace that lie won’t give God the glory.

“And bring upon them swift destruction”

In Philippians 3:18-19, the Bible says, ” (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: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)” Their destruction, not OURS! We have an obligation to know the truth, and also to know that people are planted in the Church to bring the Church crumbling to its knees.

Let us cleave to the Word of God in truth and may we be bold enough to expel any doctrine or heresy that undermines the Word of God. Eternity is at stake for many!

God Bless!

Marshall

Hi Everyone!

God is doing something new in us. He desires to take us to heights we have never experienced, places we have never gone to before, and He wants us to learn of his Word in ways we never have before. God just doesn’t want us to be His children in title, but He desires for us to walk in the fullest of His power, to move in the earth under the authority He has given us. There is a life that we, as children of God, must leave behind us in order to seize this new thing that God has planned for us, but sadly, so many of us are reluctant to relinquish our comforts. It is a sad sight to behold when someone won’t step out of God’s way and allow Him to break forth healing, freedom, power, and restoration in our lives. It’s time to let go, and allow God to do all that is in His heart to do, because He has the absolute best plan for us, far better than anything we can do on our own. Today, we are going to look at Isaiah 43:19, experiencing this new thing God has prepared for us.

”Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”

The word “behold” is a word spoken or written with intention so that we pay close attention to what is being said. In Revelation 3:20, Christ says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Christ is telling us to pay attention to the fact that He is looking to dine and fellowship with us. Christ wants us to see that He has come wherever we are at, and has knocked on our door. In Luke 17:21, Christ says, “Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” Christ wants us to pay attention to the fact that the kingdom of God is within us, so we don’t have to look at the world or anything it has because God has built the kingdom inside of all of His children! The word behold is designed to catch our attention and that is because something important is about to be said.

The phrase “will do” means ‘to accomplish or complete, conveying the central notion of performing an activity with a distinct purpose, a moral obligation, or a goal in view.” The phrase “new thing” implies a fresh event or occurrence coming by the hand of God. In Lamentations 3:22-23, the Bible says, “It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new EVERY MORNING: great is thy faithfulness.” When God does something new, He doesn’t do it once, but He continues this newness every day. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, the Bible says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” When God makes us new in Jesus Christ, He doesn’t use anything old, because it clearly says, old things are passed away! God isn’t trying to allow us to experience a cleaned up old thing, but rather a new thing altogether. I grew up in church, loved the church, and loved serving the church as a child, but the Church wasn’t in me. There is a difference! I showed promise, but I ended up straying from the church, turning to the streets, becoming a disappointment to God, my family, and my church. When I committed my life to the Lord instead of the church, Christ built the Church within me, and everything has been new from that point forth.

The phrase “spring forth” means “to sprout, to make to grow”. In Isaiah 42:9, the Bible says, “Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.” Please understand that the Word is going to come before the growth becomes visible. We can’t expect growth outside of the Word of God, and we definitely can’t expect a new thing to spring forth from something old without God’s involvement.

“Shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”

The word “know” here means “to become one with by observation, experience or recognition”. This suggests that we will see the evidence of this new thing God is doing, and it will be indisputable that it came from Him. In Isaiah 35:7, the Bible says, “And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.” God is going to cause growth to spring forth from places that people thought growth could never come from. In Isaiah 41:20, the Bible says, “That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.” God is going to make roads appear in the midst of a wild forest, and bodies of waters to arise from the driest desert. This is this new thing that God is trying to do in our lives, taking those people doomed for destruction and transforming them into living, breathing epistles of Jesus Christ.

God Bless!

Marshall

Oct 2, 2021 – Joshua 22:5 – take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law

Hi Everyone!

When it comes to serving the Lord, what is the state of our heart? Do we serve the Lord out of obligation, doing it solely because we owe the Lord everything? Do we serve the Lord out of fear, being afraid of the consequences of not making the decision to serve the Lord? Do we serve the Lord for appearances, so we can appear to live a holy life in public while we secretly enjoy the pleasures of sin? Is our service to the Lord sincere, giving ourselves completely to the Lord because of the love that flows from our hearts towards the Lord, obeying the Lord solely because we love doing what our Father says? As believers, our service should reflect the relationship we have with God, and the fruit will definitely reveal what type of service we are offering. Today, we will look at Joshua 22:5, having the correct heart of service.

”But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

The phrase “take diligent heed” reflects the attitude we must have when it comes to our service. If obeying the Word of the Lord isn’t a priority in our lives, and it doesn’t immediately cause a desire to move in response to the Word, then there is a problem. In Ephesians 6:6-7, the Bible says, “Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.” The person who has their heart in the right place, taking diligent heed, is the person who only sees what the Lord wants and then has an immediate desire to please God. There are people that “do good” but have the wrong hearts, only doing good to win the approval of men.

The word “do”, means “to accomplish or complete.” The word “law” means “precept, statute, especially the Decalogue and the Pentateuch”. The word “charged” means “ordered, directed, or commanded” Moses gave Israel the command that God gave him to give Israel, which is the same command God gives now. In Deuteronomy 6:5-7, the Bible says, “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt TEACH them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” If we are obeying the command of the Lord, then our first attribute is love, a deep Godly affection for who God is and who God is TO US. We then should have an attitude to plant the Word in our hearts and share it with our family, our neighbors, our community, and with strangers. The phrase “walk in all his ways” implies that we live as God desires for us to live. The only way we are to know how we are supposed to live is by the written and spoken Word of God. In Hebrews 12:1 the Bible says, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” God is not going to allow us to live a Godly life without his Word and without examples to fall upon. God wants us to succeed in obedience as well as ministry.

The word “cleave” means “to join oneself to, to stick to, to follow hard, or to adhere”. God desires a people who want to become one with Him. In John 17:23, Christ intercedes on our behalf by saying, “I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” God wants us to be one with God so people will see us and know that we came from Him. A bride happily desires to show people who her husband is, so we have to be people who will show people who Christ is, from the deepest joy in our hearts. In Psalm 103:1, the Bible says, “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.” God wants our all; our hearts, our souls, the breath that is in our bodies, because He will take our offering and produce something that will be valuable for kingdom building. The word “serve” means “to labor with joy, to worship.” Not only does God want everything within us, but that is what He wants us to extend to people as well. Romans 12:1, the Bible says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” We don’t serve an unreasonable God so our service to God is never unreasonable. How we approach the Word of God will become how we approach service, and if we approach God’s Word with our entire being, then our service will come from that same attitude!

God Bless!

Marshall

Oct 3, 2021 – Acts 20:35 – It is more blessed to give than to receive

Hi Everyone!

We must never forget where we have come from. Too many of us receive our salvation, and forget about the times we were lost, the times when we needed a helping hand, times where we couldn’t find a way out of crisis and God sent someone to help us through. In a world that seems to shift more and more towards how the world can benefit them, believers have to go into the world seeking to be a benefit to it. Ministry is tiring at times; but the benefits behind ministry are that souls will be saved, lives will be transformed, people in bondage will be set free, and the newly saved will spread the joy of their salvation everywhere they go. At times, we will feel weak, but we have to remember that there are others who are weaker, in need of a Savior to renew their strength. Today, we will look at Acts 20:35, a word on the blessing in giving ourselves fully in order to help build up the kingdom of God.

”I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

The word ”shewed” means ”to exhibit under the eyes, to exemplify, instruct, or admonish.” This is more than just telling someone what to do and not do, but showing them how to do it. In Proverbs 22:6, the Bible says, ”Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” When a person trains someone, they not only tell them what needs to be done, but they also show them, practicing the skills WITH them until they are mastered. Then, they send them out, to figure out how to use their training in the world. In 1 Peter 5:2-3, the Bible says, ”Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” Ministry is not about the minister but who is being ministered to. In Romans 12:10, the Bible says, ”Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.” Love has to be the driving force behind ministry, and we have to love those we minister to, because we will easily go the extra mile for someone we love. Christ displayed that by His death, so we must show the same love by our life.

“How so laboring ye ought to support the weak”

The word “laboring” means “to work hard until fatigued”. In Romans 15:1-2, the Bible says, “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.” God gives us our strength, our Biblical knowledge and the ability to use both, not so we can appear better than the next person, but so we can help someone experience triumph in the face of their sufferings. in 1 Corinthians 3:9, the Bible says, “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” Do we realize that when we minister to someone for the kingdom of God, we are really working WITH God to ensure that salvation comes to as many people and homes as possible? God isn’t someone who is sitting there, doing nothing, but receiving all of the benefits. God is working with us step by step, lovingly providing for us everything we need to do His will. The word “support” means “aid, protect, or relieve”. The word  ”weak” means “afflicted, distressed by lack, oppression, or calamity.” In 1 Thessalonians 5:14, the Bible says, “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.” We have to use our new positions to help others find their way. Sadly, people are unfairly judged and put down for being weak in the faith instead of being loved and supported. This makes an already weak believer weaker.

“And to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

The word “remember” means “to exercise memory, to recollect.” This is an intentional act of putting in our mind and hearts the example of Christ. In 2 Thessalonians 3:9, the Bible says, “Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.” Christ has all the power in the world, but His whole life on earth, His whole ministry, and everything He contributed was to build up those around him for the kingdom of God. In Matthew 20:28, Christ says, ”Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” If the Savior of the whole world, God robed in flesh, came to minister unto others, becoming a sacrifice for us, then who are we to act like we can’t serve others as well? What if there was someone hanging off a ledge, sure to fall if we don’t step in to help. Do we help or do we let them fall?

Are we doing the same thing when we withhold the Word of God from someone?

God Bless!

Marshall

Oct 4, 2021 – Proverbs 3:3 – let not mercy and truth forsake thee

Hi Everyone!

It is imperative for us to plant the Word of God in our minds and hearts. The Word of God is supposed to be experienced in our lives, and manifested through our character. Do people see the Word of God when they see us? Do we convey mercy in our interactions with people? Truth when we share the Word with others? God created us to love on higher levels, to live from victory, to experience the power and movement of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives. We are to carry the Word of God everywhere we go, not just for our own benefit, but to be a benefit to others, helping them come into the knowledge and relationship with the Lord as we have. It first begins with us, and the way we project the Word of God in our lives becomes the way people perceive that faith in the world. We want to paint an accurate picture of the God we freely serve, and of the faith we place great value in. Today, we will look at Proverbs 3:3, storing the Word of God in our hearts.

”Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart”

The word “mercy” means “lovingkindness, piety, or love.” In Micah 6:8, the Bible says, “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” God wants us to love to be kind to others, He wants us to love loving others, and He wants us to love living Godly lives. He desires a people who serve Him because we love Him. In Ephesians 2:4-6, the Bible says, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” God’s mercy extended to us when we didn’t deserve it, when we were dead in our sins, but there are many in the Church right now who refuse to show mercy to people in need of mercy. God’s mercy gave us access to eternal life, to sit in heavenly places with Jesus Christ, so how can we ever walk this earth, so endowed with blessings, and withhold the very gift from someone else that God bestowed upon us?

The word “truth” means “faithhfulness or stability.” In John 16:13, Christ says, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” God is not only going to give us truth but He will guide us into ALL truth. Truth is a requirement for a successful life as a believer, because John 14:6, Christ says, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” We can’t make it to experience the presence of God without truth, and we most certainly can’t remain in the presence of God without truth. The word “forsake” means “to abandon, to leave, to relinquish.” God wants mercy and truth to remain with us, and for us to never let them go. These qualities in us are the pure essence of God, and He desires for them to be our pure essence as well. Remember, we are created in His image and in His likeness.

“Bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thy heart”

The word “bind” means “to tie, or to join together.” We are to become one with mercy and truth, so when we speak, when we move, and when we minister unto others, mercy and truth is always present. The word “neck” means “throat, as in rumination”. Rumination means to chew on, break down, but from the spiritual standpoint, rumination means “to meditate upon, or turn over in the mind.” In Psalm 1:2, the Bible says, “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” It is our job to receive the Word of God with cheerfulness and meditate on it day and night. The word ‘heart” refers to the center of our being. In Psalm 119:11, the Bible says, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Meditating upon the Word of God keeps the Word fresh and alive in our lives, and it becomes easier for us to refer to when in need. God desires for mercy and truth to become second nature to us, similar to breathing, eating and drinking. In Joshua 1:8, the Bible says, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Some people think that God is some unreasonable judge, hard-pressed about every rule, destroying all of the fun from a person’s life, but that is a lie. God desires for us to experience GOOD success in this world, and is giving us every tool to become successful in Him.

Isn’t this a good reason to live in mercy and truth?

God Bless!

Marshall

Oct 5, 2021 – Joshua 23:10 – He it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.

Hi Everyone!

As believers, we will find ourselves under warfare. The Lord will always fight our battles when we surrender ourselves completely to Him, positioning ourselves to hear His Word and to obey it. When the Lord fights our battles, victory is inevitable, but will we trust the Lord when the enemy is mounting an offensive on every side, not giving us a way out? The enemy boasts of numbers, swords, and armies, but the Lord has His Word, and whatever His word says, it will come to be. I have legal fight going on in my life, fighting to one day regain my freedom from the life sentence I received. Naturally, one would think I would need the best lawyers, the word of some powerful politician, a bunch of money, or all of the above, but all I need is the Word of the Lord telling me that the victory is mine and I will win! Today, we will look at Joshua 23:10, a battle fought and won by the Lord.

”One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.”

The word ”chase” means ”to run after with hostile intent, or to pursue in order to destroy.” How many of us have gone through some level of warfare, and were content with just enduring the ordeal? Here, God is saying that we will chase a thousand! Have we ever mounted an offensive against the enemy who tries to entangle us in warfare? In Leviticus 26:7-9, the Bible says, ”And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you.” News flash: we aren’t powerful without God, and we don’t attain victory without His Word going before us! It is only by the Lord that we have victory, which clears the way for us to experience peace, growth, and the establishment of God’s covenant in us. In Deuteronomy 32:30-31, the Bible says, ”How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up? For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.” The world has their protection and we have ours! I remember a day when I thought a gun was my sole protection in the street life, until I heard story after story of people being shot and killed while they had their guns on them. This world can never give us the victory that God does, and David knew this best. In 1 Samuel 17:45, the Bible says, ”Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.” A boy defeated a giant that day, someone who has been fighting wars his whole life, and in 1 Samuel 17:52, the Bible says, ”And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.” A boy’s faith in the Word of God caused God to fight this battle, because in 1 Samuel 17:47, the Bible says, ”And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give you into our hands.” Too many believers try to take matters into theand own hands, fighting wars with the wrong weaponry, operating on our perception of our own strength and not trusting in God’s strength. God desires a people who will present the battle to Him, and allow Him to not only show us, but show our enemy what a mighty God we serve!

”For the Lord your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.”

The word ”fighteth” means  “to battle, or to prevail.” The word “promised” means “to utter, to say, or to declare unto”. In 2 Corinthians 1:20, the Bible says, “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” God declares His word and His Word does exactly what He ordains it to do. “So be it” is another way of saying “Amen”. Kinda makes us think twice about what we say “amen” to in Church, doesn’t it? In Exodus 14:13-14, the Bible says, “And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.” God wants us to allow Him to fight our battles for us, so that we can see that salvation comes from the Lord and only by Him. In Romans 4:21, it says, “And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.” 

How persuaded are we that the victory is already ours? Will we chase after a thousand at the Word of the Lord?

God Bless!

Marshall

Oct 6, 2021 – Philippians 4:9 – and the God of peace shall be with you

Hi Everyone!

As believers in Christ Jesus, we have the Word of God as a living manual for how to build our lives the way God has ordained for us. Ever try to put a crib together without instructions or at least a picture of how it is supposed to look? Ever disregarded the instructions, thinking that you knew enough to build it, only to find out that you have something built that is missing a couple of pieces? I learned the power of following instructions down to the letter doing electrical work. They have a schematic for a reason! One day I wired up a small transformer to a heating unit, but didn’t pay attention to the schematic, which caused an explosion and a small fire! Because I didn’t wire up the transformer properly, it exploded and became defective! That is what is happening to the Church, because we are trying to build marriages, families, businesses, and ministries without the Word of God being followed. With obedience to the Word of God and to the examples of faith that God places among us, we can experience a peace that passes all understanding. Today, we will look at Philippians 4:9, following God’s great example.

”Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”

The word ”learned” means ”to understand morally from experience, with an idea to do habitually”. We’re not to become Bible scholars who are disobedient to the Word of God. God doesn’t care about how much Scripture we know, but He does care about how much Scripture we follow. We learn the Word of God by living it out. In Philippians 3:17, the Bible says, ”Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.” God is not only going to provide us with His Word, but He will also provide us with people who will teach us by Word and example. The best way to learn the Word of God is to experience it and see it experienced in others. Not only does it give us an earthly example to follow, but it also shows us that this life can be lived. When I was in the world, I couldn’t fathom living for the Lord like I do now, but through my walk, I have seen examples in the faith that showed me His life is doable. Great shepherding is key. In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul writes, ”Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” Our Example is Christ, who followed God’s Word to the letter. Our Example should always lead us right back to God.

The word ”received” means ”to associate with oneself, to have relation with”. This implies that the Word we read or are taught becomes something that we believe applies to us. What does the gift of salvation do for the person who never receives it? There are so many people who won’t come to the Lord because they feel they have done too much wrong. But if they read the Word of God, they will see murderers, thieves, harlots, and sorcerers receive salvation for their souls. I am a convicted murderer, serving life imprisonment, and look at what God is doing in my life!

In Mark 11:24, Christ says, ”Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” We have access to the promises and provision of God, especially the wisdom God freely gives to those who asks Him in faith. In John 20:22, the Bible says of Christ, ”And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost”. Christ implores us to receive the Holy Spirit into our being to allow the Holy Sport to lead us. Our examples have done it and so must we.

The word ”heard” means ”to give audience to, with the intention of obeying”. The word ”seen” implies us observing with the intention of following”. The word ”do” means ”to practice, perform repeatedly or habitually, to execute continually”. In Acts 26:20, the Bible says, ”But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.” Our salvation should be reflected in our actions, in the Word of God we live out daily and repeatedly. What people should see in us is a constant application of the Word of God in our lives.

The ”God of peace” is the God who gives us tranquility arising from reconciliation with Him through salvation in Jesus Christ. In John 14:27, Christ says, ”Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” The peace God gives when we live out His Word entirely is unmatched by anything the world has to offer. When we follow the Word of God, and the examples of faith He plants among us, we have immeasurable access to the kingdom of God and its privileges. We can experience victory like no other!

God Bless!

Marshall

Oct 7, 2021 – 3 John 1:11 – follow not that which is evil, but that which is good

Hi Everyone!

When people see our daily walks as believers, what do they encounter? Are they met with love? Do they see graciousness, peace, humility, and kindness? Is what they see in us similar to what they heard about Christ, and do we embody what the Church is supposed to represent? There is a lot evil in the world, and it has gotten to the point where evil seems to be acknowledged more than good! A little evil is being sprinkled into the lives of believers, and slowly, many are being led astray. We seem to have forgotten that God’s intention for us from Creation day-one is to bear God’s image and likeness, be fruitful, multiply, and have dominion in the earth. The pleasures of sin have sidetracked the Church and less people are seeing God in us. Today, we will look at 3 John 1:11, becoming the Church who truthfully displays our loving God and Creator.

”Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.”

The word “beloved” means “dear, spoken of Christians as united with God or each other in bonds of love.” In Deuteronomy 33:12, the Bible says, “And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.” ”Beloved” is a term of affection, letting us know the overwhelming amount of love God has for us. There is true safety in the love of the Lord, a real covering, and that covering ensures that we will have everything we need to triumph over whatever comes our way. In John 15:12-13, Christ says, “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” True love is sacrificial, and it says, “I will do anything for you.” Being loved like that is powerful, and that is what this whole world has access to, even though many don’t accept it.

The word “follow” means “to mimic, to imitate.” In Psalm 37:27, the Bible says, “Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.” Not only are we to not mimic evil, but we are to completely leave the presence of evil. We are not supposed to be seen in the presence of evil, where people can’t distinguish the difference between the world and us. We are not supposed to just do good, but dwell in good. In Romans 13:14, the Bible says, “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” We aren’t supposed to make opportunities for evil to have residence in our lives, and if we are living by the Word of God, clothing ourselves in the Lord Jesus Christ, then what people will see is God working in and through us. The word “evil” means “worthlessness, wicked, vicious, bad in heart, conduct, and character. In 2 Peter 2:14-15, the Bible says, “Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness.” This is a glimpse of the people who follow after evil. There is no stability, there is no power, and there are no blessings, only curses.

The word “good” means “virtue or beneficial.” ”Good” expresses the fulfilled intention for our conduct, our behavior, and our identity. Virtue refers to moral excellence, so God desires for us to go beyond! In 1 Peter 3:11-12, the Bible says, “Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” Everything we do is under God’s watchful eye, and when we walk as God desires for us to walk, He will not only hear our prayers, but answer them as well!

“He that doeth good is of God, but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.”

Obedience is the main characteristic of someone who “doeth good”. In Luke 6:47-48, Christ says, “Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.” If we obey the Word of God, we “do good”, and we become the express image of God on this earth. We will withstand the storms that come our way. The phrase “seen God’ means “perceive with mind and senses, to know God and His character, or to experience God.” In 1 John 2:29, the Bible says, “If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.”

What we do, represents who we are, and who we belong to. How do we want to represent God, who has done everything for us?

God Bless!

Marshall

Oct 8, 2021 – James 1:25 – this man shall be blessed in his deed

Hi Everyone!

We have been given true freedom in Jesus Christ, a freedom no one can take from us. What do we use our freedom to do? Do we forget what we have been taught? Do we lose sight of the road God has paved for us to experience liberty, forgetting the sacrifice made so we can enjoy the privilege of salvation? There are many people that display a change in prison, only to falter and backslide upon release from prison. Why is that? People typically experience freedom and get away from what actually worked when they were confined. God didn’t give us a Promised Land for us to turn back to Egypt. He desires for us to continue in the faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ, given by the Word of God and the teaching of the Holy Spirit. God wants our actions to reflect the freedom He has given us. Today, we will look at James 1:25, being a doer of the work God desires for us to do.

”But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

The word ‘looketh into” means “to peer within, to bend besides”. This isn’t a fleeting glance, but a deeper view into what God reveals to us. In 1 Timothy 4:14-15, the Bible says, “Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.” Just like we can neglect the gift in us by not using it for God’s glory, we can neglect the Word of God by not giving our undivided attention to it. Does our commitment reflect where we truly want to be spiritually? Do we desire to become more knowledgeable of the Word of God, all while refusing to study His Word? If we want a superficial relationship with God, never experiencing the power or the promises of God, then we are going to give His Word a quick glance and let it leave our minds the minute we receive it.

The phrase “perfect law of liberty” refers to the true freedom given to believers from the dominion of sin , enabling us to obey God’s Word and apply its promises to our lives. In John 8:32, Christ says, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” The truth is in the Word of God and God’s Word is perfect. God’s Word points to Christ, who died on the cross that we should have permanent freedom from the bondage of sin, redemption from the penalty of death and also eternal life! The Word of God reveals this, but if we don’t look deeply into the Word of God, we will look over the promises that will save our souls!. In John 8:36, Christ also says, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” This is a freedom that can’t be taken, but we can relinquish it. In Romans 8:2, the Bible says, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” When we look into this perfect law of liberty, we will understand that we have been set free from the bondage of sin and no longer have to walk in it.

“And continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

The word “continueth” means “to remain, or stay near”. This implies that we keep the Word of God in us! In Psalm 119:11, the Bible says, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” This means we meditate upon the Word of God, keep the Word of God present in our minds, in our hearts, and in our speech. In 1 Peter 2:16, the Bible say, “As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.” Even though God has given us freedom in Jesus Christ, He still gives us the power to choose what we use our freedom for. We can either use our freedom to serve God, or we can walk this earth like we have never been redeemed. The phrase “forgetful hearer” refers to a person who handles the Word of God with negligence. This means they don’t place value in the Word. In Proverbs 7:2, the Bible says, “Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.” We will abuse anything we don’t place value in. The phrase “doer of the work’ refers to the person who hears the Word and performs what it says. In Matthew 7:24, Christ says, “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock”. The doer of the work has a solid foundation and that foundation is Christ! The word “blessed” means “happy, fortunate, favored despite the circumstances.” In John 13:17, Christ says, “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” It isn’t about what we know, but it’s about doing what we know! There is a blessing in store for those who perform these things commanded by God in His Word.

True freedom is given to us through salvation, by faith in Christ Jesus, but it remains by putting the Word of into practice.

God Bless!

Marshall

Oct 9, 2021 – Hosea 4:1 – there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land

Hi Everyone!

God doesn’t ask much from us, yet we have the hardest time giving God what He desires. He desires to be our Father, yet we don’t take the time to communicate with God and allow Him to communicate to us. He desires for us to have His image and likeness, to be fruitful, multiply and have dominion in the earth, but we live in fear, we bury our talents, we assume identities that aren’t who God created us to be, and we alter our appearance so much that people can’t see God in us. God asks us to put Him first, but money, ambition, our habits, and even our spouses have become first in our hearts. God has made a case for His love since the beginning, and hasn’t given up on us yet, but we can’t expect Him to not make a case against us when we keep living lives displeasing to Him. Today, we will look at Hosea 4:1, God’s case against His children.

”Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.”

The word ”hear” implies listening intelligently with the intention of obeying what we hear. We can’t equate the Word of God we hear to a car backfiring, where it causes an immediate reaction without any lasting effect. Just hearing the Word of God isn’t good enough. In Luke 11:28, the Bible says of Christ, ”But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.” God is concerned with us not hearing nor putting the Word of God into practice, and not observing His Word in our lives. In James 1:19, the Bible says, ”Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath”. We have to have a desire to hear the Word of God, being ready to act upon it. Sometimes, we can’t receive God’s word because we are too busy talking, and even busier acting on impulse. God desires His children to be ready to receive His Word. The phrase ”word of the Lord” means ”the divine communication and commands that God has for his children.” This is a language of love, and God desires for us to understand Him. In Mark 4:14-15, Christ says, ”The sower soweth the word. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.” Satan tries to come against every word God speaks to us, so it never becomes planted nor bears fruit. The Word of God provides everything we need for repentance, salvation, and forgiveness of our sins, which allows us to become the children of God in not just creation, but in identity.

”For the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land”

The word ”controversy” means ”quarrel, dispute, contention or case”. Think about a courtroom where God is the judge, and the prosecutor. There is no defense against a case made by God against us. In Hosea 12:2, the Bible says, ”The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.” There is not only a case against us according to our sins, our choices, and our actions, but there is also a penalty that can be enforced against us. Fortunately for us, there is another person in a legal case besides the judge, prosecutor and the accused. In 1 John 2:1-2, the Bible says, ”My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an ADVOCATE with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” Christ is our defense, and His intercession ensures that we won’t receive the penalty from sin that we deserve, but the people who qualify for this defense are ONLY those who believe on His name as Lord and Savior, receiving redemption from death and bondage.

”Because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land”

The word ”knowledge” suggests that we become one with the Word of God by obeying God’s word. In Hosea 4:6, the Bible says, ”My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” The reason why there isn’t any truth, mercy, or knowledge in the land is because people have rejected the Word of God in their lives. There can be no faithfulness, piety, compassion or discernment without the Word of God, because we reject the very thing we need. Including our Advocate, Jesus Christ. How can we ever stand against a case God makes against us, especially when we have flat out rejected the Word of God?

Now is the time to turn to the living Word of God in obedience.

God Bless!

Marshall

Oct 10, 2021 – Acts 10:15 – what God hath cleansed, that call not thou common

Hi Everyone!

There is a lot of mudslinging going on in the church. The person who is redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, made new by the Word of God is frequently met by people who make judgements on their identity based on who they used to be. I have listened to professed believers say what sins deserve death by firing squad, creating a list of what sins should carry no forgiveness. When this happens, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not being taught, and people have taken God’s place on what is acceptable, and what isn’t. The Church shouldn’t be a judgement seat, and the Church should never deny someone the Gospel of Jesus Christ because they feel the person isn’t ”clean enough” to receive it. This isn’t love and this isn’t the service God desires from His children. What God declares us to be, we are, and no man can ever undermine the Word of God. Today, we will look at Acts 10:15; being declared cleansed by our loving Father.

”And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.”

The word ”cleansed” means ”purified, made free from filth, to declare lawful”. This declaration not only abolished the Old Testament dietary restrictions, but it also put a stop to racism, stereotypes, and bias in the Church as well. We have to look at people through the eyes of the Lord. In Ezekiel 36:25-27, the Bible says, “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” There is a complete transformation that takes place inside us when God cleanses us. We will be pure from our filthiness, we will get a heart transplant, and we will receive the Holy Spirit so we can live Godly lives. Imagine receiving such a powerful transformation only to have someone in the Church take it upon themselves to declare us filthy all over again. Isn’t that like saying Christ’s blood isn’t powerful enough to be the price for our sins? In Matthew 8:2-3, the Bible says, ”And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And IMMEDIATELY his leprosy was cleansed.” We have to believe that Christ has the power and authority to cleanse us, and we also can’t be so ”holy” in our own cleanliness that we can’t believe that God will do the same thing for someone else. In John 15:3, Christ says, ”Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” We have to leave our feeble minds out of the equation when the Lord declares someone or something to be clean. Peter was the top pastor of the Church and he had these issues!

”That call not thou common”

 The word ”call” means ”to declare”. The word ”common” means ”unclean, defiled, or polluted”. In Acts 10:28, the Bible says, ”And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.” Before Peter could go a step further in his ministry, he had to address the uncleanliness inside of himself.  In Matthew 7:5, Christ says, ”Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” Before we can begin to help someone with their new identity in Christ, we have to experience it fully for ourselves. Peter would have continued to deny people access to the Gospel because they were Gentiles had not God caused Peter to experience this vision. In Titus 1:15-16, the Bible says, ”Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” The people who truly realized they have been made pure in Christ Jesus, declared clean by God despite the filthiness that threatened to separate us from His presence and inhabitation, are the ones who then look at others like they are and can be cleansed as well. Some people will always view me as a ”murderer”, ”scum of the earth”, or ”evil incarnate” but their declaration of me isn’t who God declares me to be. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, the Bible says, ”Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Who are we to say anything different?

God Bless!

Marshall

Oct 11, 2021 – Proverbs 30:5 – he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him

Hi Everyone!

I am a firm believer that the Word of God is everything we need to live lives of victory in this earth. The Bible is truth, whether we place our trust in it or not, and God’s word has stood soundly even before the world began. I have heard people profess to have no peace but I then ask them have they cast their cares upon the Lord? If they have, I then ask them have they brought their prayers and petitions before the Lord in thanksgiving? Some of them answer that they have. Finally, I ask them do they then focus their minds on the things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praise worthy, and I tend to get silence. The Word of God works in a person’s life if they place their trust in the Word enough to do what the Word says. There is vulnerability when it comes to trust, a complete surrendering of our will and power in order to be led by the purpose of our God, but many don’t believe in God’s word enough to activate its power. Today, we will look at Proverbs 30:5, placing our full trust in the pure Word of God.

”Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.”

The phrase ”word of God” refers to the commandments, utterances, and divine communication God makes with His creation.  In John 1:1-3, the Bible says, ”In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” The Word of God is responsible for all of creation, and there is nothing in creation that can’t be attributed to the Word of God. Why do we doubt the Word of God’s power when this world wouldn’t exist without it? In Hebrews 4:12, the Bible says, ”For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” The Word of God is as alive today as it was when the world was created by it, and it is not only powerful, but it is also capable of cutting into us to display our real thoughts, beliefs, and feelings.

Think not?

In Mark 9:22-24, the Bible says, ”And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” The father of the child with the dumb spirit wanted healing for his son, and his desperation was loud and clear. Christ looked into his heart and saw his unbelief, the real cause of the miracle not being done. The Word of God is powerful in itself, but we have to activate the Word of God by faith.

The word ”pure” means ”refined or tried”. It describes the purifying process of a refiner, who heats metal, takes away the dross, and is left with a pure substance. The reason the Word of God isn’t powerful in a lot of believers’ lives is because it has been diluted by traditions, by people adding falsehood to the Word of God, and omitting truth from Scripture. In 2 Timothy 4:3-4, the Bible says, ”For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” This is not only happening in believers’ lives but this is also becoming prevalent in Church. Pastors who unapologetically preach the truth instead of making the Church happy are becoming less popular while there are mega churches who have standing room only that are sprinkling in lies, blanket blessings, and false prosperity doctrine aimed at pleasing the broke and money hungry. The Word of God has been proven to be truth all by itself, producing sound doctrine to all who seek the Word in truth.

”He is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.”

The word ”shield” means ”defender, or protector”. The word ”trust” means ” to flee for protection or to place confidence in”. In Psalm 91:2, the Bible says, ”I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” Our actions will show what we place our confidence in, because the first thing we turn to is what we trust. In Psalm 59:9, the Bible says, ”Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.” If we believe God’s Word is pure and true, then we know that we can have rest in God’s strength, assured that He is our protection from everything that comes out way. In Proverbs 2:7, the Bible says, ”He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.”

When the Word of God is pure in our lives, we will walk in it, and it will be evident to all!

God Bless!

Marshall

Oct 12, 2021 – Romans 2:4 – not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Hi Everyone!

We tend think we are in full control of our lives, especially our moment of repentance. We also tend to think that we made the choice for Christ completely on our own. Many people in the Church don’t believe that every minute detail of our lives God had full knowledge of before we were even born. God knew every decision we would make, and He also knew the precise path He would have us take in order for us to come into true repentance. Sadly, we say God is Omniscient, but don’t believe it. Imagine a loving God sitting back watching His plan for our lives unfolding, knowing that we were going to mess up in the process so badly that we wouldn’t deserve the forgiveness or the favor we so richly received. Imagine the level of patience God had to exhibit for us just so we could get to the point He ordained for us to get to. Maybe we will come into another level of knowledge of God’s all-surpassing love for us. Today, we will look at Romans 2:4, the goodness of God leading us into repentance.

”Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”

The word “despisest” means “to think against”. This is the person who discounts, discredits, or devalues the provision of God. In Proverbs 15:5, the Bible says, “A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.” We have to place great value upon the Word of God, and greatly consider the promises of God as well. The Bible tells us about God’s plan for salvation, but it also tells us about His character, about the qualities God possesses that allow us to experience the promises He has for us. The word “goodness” means “usefulness or moral excellence”. Usefulness also implies value, and that is why 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” The Word of God is not only valuable, but it has a purpose to equip us to perform the purpose of God. in Exodus 34:6, the Bible says, “And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth”. God has more than enough goodness to dispense to all He desires to bestow it upon, yet there are people who think against the goodness of God, people who actually devalue His goodness. Ouch!

The word “forbearance” means “to exercise self-restraint or patience”. The word “longsuffering” means “patient endurance when others make it hard to do so”. In Romans 9:22-23, the Bible says, “What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory”. So instead of desiring to use his power to destroy us for the sin we so proudly carried, God used that same power to exercise patience with a bunch of people who have been pushing Him to destroy them. In Exodus 32:13-14, the Bible says, “Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever. And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.” Other translations use relented rather than evil. God gave His word to creation that they could become exactly who they were created to be, but even God gets fed up with us. Praise God that He is so faithful, patient, and longsuffering.

“Not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.”

The phrase “not knowing” means “not comprehending or not understanding”. The people who think against the goodness, patience, and longsuffering of God have no real clue of the gift they have been given. The “goodness of God’ is God’s good nature to furnish our needs, even the ones we don’t think we need. In Philippians 4:19, the Bible says, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” God’s provision touches every part of our lives if we let it. The word “leadeth” means “to guide, incite, or induce”. The word “repentance” means “pious sorrow for unbelief and sin, and a turning away from that to God and the Gospel of Christ.” In 2 Peter 3;9, the Bible says, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” God’s goodness allows Him to be patient with us until the precise set of circumstances happen, causing us to turn to HIm in need of salvation. How can we ever despise the goodness of God, knowing it leads us into eternal life?

God Bless!

Marshall

Oct 13, 2021 – Romans 3:24 – justified freely by his grace

Hi Everyone!

It is such a beautiful gift to receive forgiveness of our sins, and salvation for our souls. Our God loves us so much and didn’t want to see the sins of Adam to be a constant reflection on who we are as God’s creation. Since creation, God desired us to commune and fellowship with Him … with Him as our God and King … and we being His children. It had to break God’s heart to provide such a beautiful garden only to have his children choose death over life. Despite our failures, God provided us with an atoning sacrifice for our sins, Jesus Christ, who redeemed us from the penalty that we so richly deserved. I remember who I used to be in the world, and in tears, I appreciate who I am in the Lord now, knowing someone died so I could live. Who am I to deserve something so valuable? Today, we will look at Romans 3:24, redemption through Jesus Christ our Lord.

“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus”

The word “justified” means “to render innocent or righteous, spoken especially of the justification bestowed by God on men through Christ, in which He is said to regard and treat us as righteous, absolving us from the consequences of sin and admit us to the enjoyment of the divine favor.” In Luke 18:13-14, Christ says, “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” The person who is justified understands that their own righteousness is not going to suffice, that they don’t even deserve the right to look towards heaven. We must be broken by our sins, and cry out to God for His mercy. In Romans 5:1-2, the Bible says, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” There are many that won’t come to the faith because they mistakenly believe they have to “clean themselves up first”, thus misunderstanding that our behavior will never justify us before God. But it is by our faith in the provision of grace, forgiveness, justification, redemption and salvation freely given through Christ Jesus by our loving God. This gift was available before we were born and God is just waiting on us to receive it!

The word “grace” means “the unmerited favor of God, which He shows by saving us from sin”. We can’t earn what God has freely provided for us by because we all have fallen short by sin. Romans 3:23 says, “For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”. Do we have the right to ever look down on someone else who has yet to receive this gift that we have, knowing we were once as they were? In Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast.” We can never advance so far in the faith that we forget that this beautiful life we live now through salvation was handed to us by God, made available to us when we didn’t deserve to ever be forgiven. So many people walk into a church and experience judgement, and instead of warmth welcoming them, they are met with suspicious eyes and whispers from the congregation if they don’t look like they “belong” in the Church. This shouldn’t be. in Titus 3:7, the Bible says, “That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Not only do we have justification through the grace of God, but we are also solidified as heirs of God, ensuring us eternal life.

The word “redemption” means “ransom paid in full, delivering us from the power and consequences of sins”. The word comes from the ancient slave market, where one would pay the necessary ransom to obtain a prisoner’s or slave’s release. In John 8:34, the Bible says, “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” The sin nature we inherited from Adam put us in bondage, and our own sin nature kept us in bondage. Nothing we can do can release us from the bondage we were under until Christ Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the whole world. In Matthew 20:28, Christ says, “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Christ came to earth with redeeming us from bondage in His mind!

In Hebrews 9:12, the Bible says, “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” Only the blood of Christ could secure our freedom, not our works, not church going, not living a good life. Only by faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord, Savior, and Redeemer are we made free indeed!

God Bless!

Marshall

Oct 14, 2021 – 2 Corinthians 4:17 – worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory

Hi Everyone!

Sometimes, trouble seems to endure forever. Believers can experience pressure so severe, that some have fallen away as a result. God never promised that we wouldn’t experience trial, that life as a believers would be easy and carefree. When we expect to not have struggle, we are setting ourselves up for major disappointment. God wants to be our God in the midst of every circumstance, no matter how good or how pressing, and He wants to establish His purpose in all circumstances of our lives. Through the midst of the heaviest ordeals of my life as a believer, I experienced the greatest level of peace, and I know that is available to all who call upon the name of the Lord in faith. We endure seasons of afflictions, but the beauty about the season is that it will end, and there will be a harvest of wisdom available to us from God. Today, we will look at 2 Corinthians 4:17, enduring affliction to the glory of God.

”For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory”.

The word “light” means “easy, or a weightless trifle”. The word “affliction” means “pressure, tribulation, trouble, or persecution”. The reason our burdens feel so incredibly heavy is because we are looking at it from ground level, not being able to comprehend the way out or through the ordeal. In Matthew 11:28-30, Christ says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” God commands us to come to Him with our burdens, with our troubles, with our afflictions, and He will give us rest for our souls. I have been guilty time and time again of trying to go at my problems alone, without anyone’s help, and I have crashed and burned when my own strength failed. In Philippians 2:5, the Bible says, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus”. We have to have the mind of Christ in order to see affliction the way God wants us to look at it. God wants us to surrender our understanding to receive his understanding. Christ said, “My yoke is easy, and my burden light”, so God is not going to place something upon us where we fold under its weight. In 1 Corinthians 10:13, the Bible says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” The word “temptation” is not talking about the enemy soliciting us to sin, but it is speaking about trials where God brings His people through adversity and affliction in order to encourage and prove our faith and confidence in Him. That easy in fact, but intense pressure has major purposes, one of which is to establish our faith and confidence in God.

“Which is but for a moment”

The word “moment” means “at the very instant”. In Psalm 30:5, the Bible says, “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Even discipline is momentary, so our affliction definitely has an expiration date to it. God never designes our afflictions to extend indefinitely. In Isaiah 54:7-8, the Bible says, “For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.” Sometimes, when we experience affliction, whether self-induced or otherwise, we will feel like God has forsaken us, but He hasn’t! In Daniel 10:12, the Bible says, “Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the FIRST DAY that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.” Daniel experience terror from a vision he saw, and cried out to God for answers. He sat in agony for what seemed like an eternity, but it was only 21 days before the answer came. When we are going through affliction, it doesn’t seem to end, but God already has the answer for us.

“Worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight in glory”

The word “worketh” means “accomplishes”. The word “eternal” means “perpetual, speaking of the blessedness of the righteousness in God.” The word “glory'” speaks of the exalted state of blissful perfection of glorified saints in salvation and when we dwell with God in heaven. In 1 Peter 1:6-7, the Bible says, “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ”. If we are looking at our afflictions the way God desires us to, we will see them as something temporary, something we have already been empowered to endure. We will see our affliction as something God has allowed us to go through to strengthen and to further establish our faith, and the purpose of our affliction is going to bring glory to God. We have to see affliction from the position of victory, that someone else is going to be blessed besides us because of what God has allowed us to go through. Maybe then, our anguish will turn into praise!

God Bless!

Marshall

Oct 15, 2021 – Acts 26:16 – for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness

Hi Everyone!

God has done so much for us, far too much for the little He is asking of us. One of our obligations as believers is to spread the Word of God, the goodness of God, and the testimony God has given us to as many people as we can, but this is one of the things that believers find the hardest time doing. Maybe we, like I have myself at one time, put our own spin on what God actually wants from us, and we bow out from the pressure we have placed on God’s command. Whatever God places upon our hearts to speak won’t be difficult for us to do, because He will appear unto us, giving us what we need to say. In addition to that, we have the testimony of what God has done in our lives, how we were saved, and how God continues to lead us as a perpetual message and our most powerful sermon. Today, we will look at Acts 26:16, becoming the ministers God has called us to be.

”But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee”

The words “rise and stand” signify a call to obedience from us by God, for us to be ready for a word from Him. In 2 Timothy 2:4, the Bible says, “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” As believers, we are looked upon as soldiers, and soldiers always are ready to receive a command. The world around us doesn’t matter, just the Word that comes from our Master. A person who stands, awaiting a Word from the Lord is the person seeking to carry it out. In Ezekiel 2:1-2, “And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee. And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me.” Something amazing happens when the children of God stand at attention, awaiting a word from Him. We position ourselves to receive his Spirit, and with his Spirit, comes the power to do that work God calls for us to do. In Philippians 2:13, the Bible says, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” God gives us exactly what we need to perform his will, pleasing him in the process.

The word “purpose” means “intent”. This means God shows up at the appointed time for His will to be done. In Daniel 10:10-11, the Bible says, “And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.” When God touches us, He gives us the power to stand, but sometimes He takes us through a process of maturation first, a period of humility and brokenness before his Word brings us to our feet. I love how God is specific, visiting each of us individually, showing us that the Word coming from the Lord is for us. In Ephesians 1:11, the Bible says, “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will”. God is not going to send us to do anything that we won’t prevail in according to His will. In Isaiah 55:11, the Bible says, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Everything God commands us to do is a part of His will, and His will will be done where it goes forth. He doesn’t send us out on losing battles.

“To make thee a minister and witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things which I will appear unto thee”

The word “minister” means “subordinate, servant, or attendant”. Remember, as believers and soldiers, we live to please our Commander. The word “witness” means “one who testifies truthfully to what they have seen, heard and know”. God is never going to have us do anything that we are incapable of doing. In Mark 5:19-20, the Bible says, “Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.” This man just received deliverance from a legion of demons, and wanted to go with Christ, but Christ told him to stay home and witness to his friend what God did for him. He witnessed in Decapolis(which means TEN CITIES) all God has done for Him. God gives us a testimony that can be used to witness to others and brings glory to God in the process, and He will also supply us with everything we need to minister to the needs of others. The question is, will we stand, ready to obey the command from the Lord?

God Bless!

Marshall

Oct 16, 2021 – Psalm 40:8 – ‘I delight to do thy will, O my God

Hi Everyone!

The Word Of God is powerful, able to transform lives, save souls, heal the sick, and raise the dead. The Word of God also shares with us what God has desired from us since the beginning, and how He has set His purpose in motion to reconcile us back unto Himself. As we read the Word, we are further acquainted with the intentionality of our God to make every provision for us to live in the world as children of God, experiencing the provision of the Kingdom of God right here on earth. We are introduced many times to God’s all-surpassing love for us, we also receive God’s plan for salvation, and we also discover His will for our lives There is real treasure in the Word of God, but what does it mean to us? When the Lord speaks to us, what is our attitude? Joy? Rebellion? Excitement? Resentment? What should our attitude be when it comes to the Word of God and the will of God? Today, we will look at Psalm 40:8, delighting in the will of God.

”I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.”

The word “delight” means “to incline to bend towards”. Imagine a plant that is placed into the window where the sunlight is coming through. The plant will bend towards the light, knowing the sunlight is vital for survival. Do we as believers bend towards the Word of God, knowing it is vital for our survival? In Psalm 119:15-16, the Bible says, “I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.” When we delight to do God’s will, we have to position ourselves to receive the Word of God with an open heart and mind, treating it as life-giving food to our hungry souls, and we have to lock the Word of God into our hearts, minds, and in our thoughts. In order for us to delight in God’s will, we have to know what the will of God is in our lives. in Psalm 119:24, the Bible says, “Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.” The Word of God is true testimony, and it is the best counsel we can ever receive. This means the Word of God will cover every possible situation that comes our way, and it also means that the Word of God will ultimately lead us to the purpose God has for us. In Psalm 119:47-48, the Bible says, “And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved. My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.” We should also incline ourselves to whatever God tells us to do, no matter where it leads. His commands aren’t overbearing, and God doesn’t require anything more from us than our labor of love, loving God and loving each other. In Psalm 119:92-93, the Bible says, “Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction. I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.” The Word of God saves our lives, and prevents us from dying in our afflictions. Because of the Word of God, we can be brought back to life!

The word “will” means “pleasure, anything pleasing to God.” In John 4:34, “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” Christ knew that the will of God was (and still is) more important than the needs we have as people. Is the will of God food, a necessity for survival and longevity? In Matthew 16:24-25,  “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”  When we incline ourselves to pleasing God, God comes first, and we must leave ourselves out of the equation. We go from being individuals, living to serve ourselves, to transformed people who live to please God. In Mark 3:34-35, which follows Christ’s question “Who is my mother, or my brethren? “And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.” When we do the will of God we get to experience this kingdom family that gives us direct and unrestricted access to God.

“Thy law is within my heart”

The word “law” means “instruction, precepts, or statutes”. The word “heart” refers to the deepest, innermost parts of us where our emotions and desires come forth. In Psalm 119:10-11, the Bible says, “With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” We must seek God with our whole heart, undivided, and plant God’s word in our heart, because from this, we have the ability to be led by the Holy Spirit into the full will of God for our lives.

We were bought with a price; and we belong to our Redeemer. Let us live our lives on purpose, and intentionally incline to the will of God.

God Bless!

Marshall

Oct 17, 2021 – 1 Thessalonians 5:14 – warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak

Hi Everyone!

Our brother Andy lies in the hospital right now, convalescing after a drug overdose. He suffered some pretty brutal side effects, and where it stands right now, he experienced kidney failure, his heart took a hit, both his arm and leg are severely swollen due to something called ”compartment syndrome”, as he was not receiving blood circulation to these limbs. Not only is he fighting for his life still, but he is fighting for his limbs as well. He is in bad shape, in need of our prayers, and greatly in need of God’s grace to heal his body and his heart. It is easy for someone to cast judgements upon someone who is suffering due to their own choices, but what Andy needs is our love, our compassion, our encouragement that he can be transformed by the power of God working mightily in him. Andy’s addiction is no different than my issues with anger, and someone else’s idolatry, someone else’s adultery, someone else’s stealing. We’ve all done wrong in our own way, but when we fall, what type of Church do we hope to see, one that is compassionate, loving, encouraging and edifying or one full of haughtiness or judgement? Me, Jessica and our family humbly ask the Church for your compassion and prayer during this difficult time, because Andy needs our support. Today, we are going to look at 1 Thessalonians 5:14, building a Church of love, compassion, and encouragement.

”Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.”

The word ”exhort” means ”to call near or invite in order to comfort or encourage”. People who are struggling in sin need to KNOW we are here for them. How can we ever exhort our brothers and sisters in silence? In Hebrews 3:13, the Bible says, ”But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” We are supposed to be a daily encouragement to those in need. I try to build an environment in every prison I’ve been housed in that anyone can come to me if they need to talk, vent, or if they need help. I know what I have been delivered from by God, and I want the people around me to receive the same healing. They only know I am here for them because I go to them. The word ”brethren” refers to the Church, the body of believers in Christ Jesus, or Christians. Paul is encouraging the Church to be a source of encouragement and comfort in their communities, thus taking the Church outside of its walls.

The word ”warn” means ”to put in one’s mind and heart, to caution, or to reprove GENTLY”. People who have fallen short do not need a bunch of people jumping on their backs. They need to experience loving guidance into the way they should take in truth spoken in love. He word ”unruly” means ”disorderly or insubordinate”. In John 16:8, Christ says, ”And when He is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment”. ”He” is referring to the Holy Spirit. In 2 Timothy 3:16, the Bible says, ”All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”. The Word of God should be the foundation of our reproof of those who are subordinate, but we should never beat someone over the head with the Bible. They don’t need our judgement, but rather they need our encouragement and guidance into the choices they need to make.

The word ”feebleminded” means ”low-spirited, fainthearted, discouraged”. Do we really understand how hard it is for someone struggling in sin to break free from that level of bondage? Fainthearted people will give up under pressure, and discouraged people will relapse into their sinful, but they will do it faster without our comfort, without our love, without our guidance. In Galatians 6:1, the Bible says, ”Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye WHICH ARE SPIRITUAL, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” It was easier for me to change because I was met by people who saw what I could become in Christ Jesus instead of who I was in my sin. I was encouraged by people who remember the times when they needed mercy instead of judgement.

The word ”support” means ”faithfully attach to, or faithfully care for”. In Romans 15:1-2, the Bible says, ”We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.” As the Church, the strong have to be the strength for the weak. People afflicted may not be able to ”see” God in their state, but they can see us and we must reflect the kingdom of God and be ”little Christs”. We have to be patient, loving, and a source of Godly counsel and perspective to those who need us.

Andy needs our prayers and support in this time of need. Who do you know that needs the same from you?

God Bless!

Marshall

Oct 18, 2021 – Philippians 3:13 – forgetting those things which are behind

Hi Everyone!

The goal every believer should have is to become one with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This oneness causes us to experience God in a way we never have before, and allows us to walk in great power and purpose. God created us in His own image and in His own likeness, but He gave us the choice – whether or not we would live our lives in that manner. Even though Paul was the chief Pastor of the Church, he didn’t hold his position or accomplishments for the gospel to any esteem, because His goal was to live a sinless life of sanctification and power. Every day, he was given a new opportunity to race after Christ-likeness, and he wanted to seize it for himself. Yesterday meant nothing, because the only thing that mattered was abiding in the Lord daily. Every day, we have the opportunity to reveal who we are and what we are racing towards, and God desires children who race after Him with everything they have. Today, we will look at Philippians 3:13, seizing oneness with Jesus Christ.

”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”

The word ”brethren” refers to the body of believers in Christ Jesus, the ones sealed with salvation and the gift of eternal life, and of course, Christians. It means ”one connected with another in any kind of faith, intimacy, and fellowship.” In Colossians 1:2, the Bible says, ”To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” The brethren are going to have the character as believers and it will be evidenced in their lives. The word ”count” means ”to take inventory, to estimate”, also meaning, ”of the result of reasoning; to conclude, to judge”. This is the person who weighs the Word of God to whatever circumstance they face and declares that the Word of God is the only conclusion, the only answer to the issues we face. In 2 Corinthians 13:5, the Bible says, ”Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” The Word of God is the gauge by how we examine ourselves, because 2 Timothy 3:16 says, ”All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” Paul weighed himself daily against the Word of God and concluded that he was short of what God desired of him. The word ”apprehended” means ”to take eagerly, to seize, or to possess”. Paul desires oneness with Christ Jesus, to conform his life to the Word of God, being in the image and in the likeness of God. In Colossians 3:1, the Bible says, ”If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” We have to pursue Godliness in our daily lives, striving to obey the Lord in all things. This isn’t about religion or works, but this is about growing into a loving relationship with our God, and developing the desire to please Him in all things. Paul knew he would come short, but he still lived His life to serve God faithfully and he strived to reach the goal of oneness with Christ. His shortcomings didn’t stop him for continuing to try.

”But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before”

The word ”forgetting” means ”lose out of one’s mind, to neglect”. When we neglect something, we don’t feed it, take care of it, or allow it to grow.” What is behind us is of no importance compared to what lies ahead. In Luke 9:59-60, the Bible says of Christ, ”And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.”  Christ isn’t telling us to not care about or care for our loved ones, but what he is saying is that nothing, or no one, should come before the Word of God. If God says, ”Follow me”, then the priority is where God is leading us. In Luke 9:62, the Bible says, ”And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” The only way we can successfully plough is if we look ahead and keep ourselves focused on what lies ahead. The phrase ”reaching forth” means ”to stretch oneself upon”. In Hebrews 6:11-12, the Bible says, ”And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” We are to press forward in faith and in knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, looking to experience newness in God as we experience oneness in Christ.

Every day provides a brand new chance to abide in the Lord. Will we seize it?

God Bless!

Marshall

Oct 19, 2021 – Matthew 11:29 – and ye shall find rest unto your souls

Hi Everyone!

We have the greatest example of how to live a Godly life on earth in Jesus Christ. The Word of God shows how he conquered opposition, illness, demonic forces, sin, and the grave. In Christ lies everything we need to be conquerors as well, but do we truly believe? When God asks for our obedience, for us to heed His instruction, do we listen, knowing it is the best thing for us? In obedience, we will have rest, knowing we are doing what our God requires, and if we follow the example of Christ in this world, then we will live lives of victory. God wants us to be willing servants for Him, fully understanding that by being servants of the Lord, we will begin to bear more and more of His image in the process. Christ came to earth and had every opportunity and right to be a King but took the form of a servant. This is an example of putting service ahead of status. Today we will look at Matthew 11:29, receiving the yoke of Christ.

”Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

The word ”take” means ”to bear up or carry”. The word ”yoke” means ”a coupling, or servitude”. A yoke is placed upon oxen, usually two are attached, and straps are attached to them so they can be handled by whoever is driving them. The yoke ensures that the oxen move in the direction the driver desires them to go, and also in the same direction as each other. This requires complete surrender, so when we take Christ’s yoke upon us, we are completely surrendering our will, desires, and goals to God. In Philippians 2:4-5, the Bible says, ”Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus”. The first thing we must do in order to take the yoke of Christ on us is to stop being selfish. We must develop a mind of service rather than living our lives looking to be serviced. In John 13:14-16, Christ says, ”If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.” Another thing we must understand when we take on the yoke of Christ is we are not too good or too advanced for the work the Lord has for us. Christ, who is God robed in flesh, washed the disciples’ feet, just to give an example of what they also must do. Taking the yoke of Christ upon us is the same and telling God, ”Wherever you lead me, I will follow”.

The word ”learn” means ”to understand by study and observation”. In 1 Peter 2:21, the Bible says, ”For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps”. We never got the opportunity to physically walk with Him and learn of him in the physical, but He left us a pretty pronounced example in the Word of God and walking with Him by the leading of the Holy Spirit. In 2 Timothy 2:15, the Bible says, ”Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” We have the Word of God to take upon us, allowing it to lead us wherever God ordains. Being able to rightly divide the word of truth ensures we will move in the direction God desires for us to go. We have to completely surrender ourselves to the Word of God in order to learn of Christ.

”For I am meek and lowly in heart”

The word ”meek” means ”gentle or humble”. In Matthew 5:5, ”Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” When we take the yoke of Christ upon us, we take up the example of Christ, and also partake in the victory. We become partakers also of the divine kingdom which gives us the divine nature. The ”lowly in heart” are the ones that bring themselves to a low estate so God’s power can take over. In Philippians 2:7-8, the Bible says, ”But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Christ was and is the greatest example of meekness and humility in the earth, and the Word of God is urging us to strive for this as well.

The phrase ”find rest” means ”to obtain quiet from occupation, oppression, or torment”. In John 16:33, Christ says, ”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.”

Because Christ overcame the world, we have access to peace and rest in God. When we allow God to direct us as He wills, He will give us his peace to handle everything that will come our way. Our minds and hearts will have true rest, and we will find comfort in serving the Lord.

God Bless!

Marshall

Oct 20, 2021 – Romans 10:14 – how then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed

Hi Everyone!

Hearing the Word of God is vital for salvation. Many are being ”saved” in feeling but not in truth, and as a result, many churches are lacking power because the Word of God isn’t mighty in its members. This shouldn’t be, because every believer should be able to give their account of how the Word of God was spoken, written or read which led to their salvation. The preacher and teacher have the responsibility of making sure that people receive the truth, which is able to save our souls, and lead us to lives of victory. There are members who don’t know the promises of God in order to believe in them, and there are some believers who have no clue of how to call upon the Lord. How can people believe in the Word of God, when they aren’t being taught the Word of God accurately? Today, we will look at Romans 10:14, the power of preaching the Gospel.

”How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?”

If we look at this verse correctly, we would see that the end result is at the beginning of the verse, so we will start from the end and work our way to the beginning. The word “preacher” means “someone who publishes or heralds religious truth, the Gospel with its attendant privileges and obligations.” In Titus 1:3, the Bible says, “But hath in due times manifested His word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour.” When the Word of God is preached, it is revealed to the preacher just as it is revealed to the hearer. The preacher is telling people what God tells them to preach. In Jeremiah 1:7-9, the Bible says, “But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.  Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.” God is not concerned with what we feel are our limitations, because a preacher only preaches the Word of God they have been given, and so they become the mouth of our God in the process. At least 100 times in this process of putting together these devotionals, I had a plan, verses listed, and an idea of what direction I was going to go in, but God adjusted my plan on a moment’s notice and sent me in a completely different direction. God revealed the verses He wanted used by putting them on my heart, and even the points of reflection. Sometimes, I even asked God, “Is THIS what you want me to say? Ouch!” A preacher or teacher is only supposed to speak the words God commands them to speak.

The word “heard” means “to understand, to learn by hearing, to know, to be informed of.” In Romans 10:17, the Bible says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Our faith comes from the Word of God, so if we encounter a faithless church, then one can assume correctly that the Word of God isn’t being received as truth, and people aren’t governing their lives by the Word of God. In Ephesians 4:21-23, the Bible says, “If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind”. Then there will be evidence that the Word of God is being preached in truth, because it will begin a radical change in the lives of those who receive the Word, allowing it to renew their minds and hearts. Hearing the Word of God isn’t the same thing as hearing a noise. We hear with the intention of following the Word.

The word “believe” means “to entrust, to be firmly persuaded, to have faith in”. In Acts 13:38-39, the Bible says, “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” When we believe in the Word of God, we have access to the power we need to live holy and victorious lives. It doesn’t matter what we hear if we don’t believe it. The question is, will we believe in the Word of God and allow it to transform our lives? The word “call” means “to invoke for aid or worship.” In 2 Timothy 2:22, the Bible says, “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” Hearing and believing the Word of God will cause us to desire a life without youthful lust, giving us the desire to live a life pleasing to God.  Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

When the Word is preached, people hear it, believe in it, then call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and salvation comes to them. The power of preaching!

God Bless!

Marshall

Oct 21, 2021 – Acts 10:34 – of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons

Hi Everyone!

Our God is not a respecter of persons. He is willing to forgive all, save all, and redeem all from the curse of sin, and He is also willing to bestow His grace upon us, so we can become exactly who He ordains for us to be. We live in a society where people have developed a hierarchy: the “haves” and the “have-nots”, the saved and the unsaved, and it threatens to keep us divided as a people. Even in prison, there is a perceived hierarchy according to what crime a person has been convicted of, and what types of things a person was doing when they were free. I blow up that hierarchy on a daily basis, by openly conversing with everyone no matter their background. God has to be sorely displeased with us, because the more we look at who we feel is qualified to receive the Word of God, the less people find themselves at the feet of our Father. Today, we will look at Acts 10:34, true equality in the Gospel.

”Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons”

Are we supposed to stand silent, when God is calling for us to speak? The Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 says, “Go ye therefore, and teach ALL NATIONS, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching THEM to observe ALL THINGS whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Christ laid the groundwork for the Word of God to go everywhere, years before Peter had this vision which finally opened up his eyes to the stereotypes he had towards Gentiles. This vision had to be done three times with Peter, because he was hard-headed, but eventually he conformed to the will and the Word of God. in Acts 10:44-45, the Bible says, “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Because Peter was finally obedient to the word of God, his heart of stone was replaced with a heart of flesh, and he saw the power of the Holy Ghost fall freshly upon people he assumed didn’t qualify. Other Jews were there too were astonished, so we can assume that more people changed their stances.

Christ didn’t give us a directive that He Himself didn’t follow. In John 4:9-10, the Bible says, “Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.” Even when Christ walked the earth, He was breaking down the stereotypes, and also offering salvation to all he came into contact with. Now, if we are to live as Christ lived on earth, and we are to think as Christ thinks, then how can a Church have stereoptypes, bias, or racism in it? Christ came to tear the walls of the church building down in order to build a real Church of people. How can we fulfill the vision Christ has if we don’t see each other as equals?

The word “perceive” means “to seize with the mind, to comprehend”. There’s more to this definition because we have to attach the word “eagerly” to it. This means there isn’t an inner conflict anymore with Peter. He is excited to receive this revelation! In Matthew 26:41, Christ told the disciples, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” The flesh is going to always tell us to remain divided, or give a reason for why “they” need to stay “over there” and “we” need to stay over here, but the spirit knows the truth! We have to mortify the flesh in order to receive the things of the Spirit, and that requires us to admit that our way is not going to cut it with God.

The phrase “respecter of persons” means “to be accepting of a face, to exhibit partiality.” God will use anyone and allow his Word to be spoken by anyone, or anything. Think not? In Numbers 22:28, the Bible says, “And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?” Don’t think for a second that God “needs” us to speak His Word. We are His choice. Still not convinced? In Luke 19:39-40, it says, “And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” Trust me when I tell you, God choosing us to speak his Word is an honor and privilege that we don’t deserve, but if we are unwilling to open our mouths like Peter, God is not without a suitable replacement.

God chose us, so who are we to withhold the Word from someone else?

God Bless!

Marshall

Oct 22, 2021 – Romans 8:13 – but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live

Hi Everyone!

Life is through the Spirit of God. I sadly hear the lies that there are many roads to God, that people can do what they want, worship whoever and however they want, because ”it’s all the same anyway”. It shows me how Godless this world is becoming by the second, and how badly we need God in all facets of our lives. A life of sin and living after the flesh is a one way trip to death, and where death is, God isn’t. Many are going to be stubborn and reject our loving God until they meet God, only to see that they believed the lie in vain and now are subject to the eternal wrath of God. I don’t want this for anyone, to live a life absent the Lord, but we must put the flesh to death in order to experience life. God didn’t send Christ to die for us to not receive life through His death, and when we reject Him as Lord we are testifying that He died in vain. Today, we are going to look at Romans 8:13, putting our flesh to death through the Spirit.

”For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”

The word ”live” means ”made alive by salvation, and the indwelling of the Spirit of God, sealing us for an abundant, eternal life.” In John 6:63, Christ says, ”It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

There are people who think they are ”living” because they have an abundance of worldly possessions, their ideal mate (or mates), a great job, but this isn’t living at all.

The Spirit of God is the only thing that can give life.

In Genesis 2:7, the Bible says, ”And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Man’s life began when God breathed in man the breath of life, not when we were formed. There are too many people that won’t let God breathe His breath, His Holy Spirit on and in them, so they are essentially the walking dead. We can’t live outside of the Word of God, because the verse says the word Christ speaks IS spirit and life.

If the Spirit is what makes us alive, then how can we live without it?

The phrase ”after the flesh” refers to sinfulness, proneness to sin, the carnal nature, the seat of carnal appetites and desires, of sinful passions and affections whether physical or moral. In Romans 8:6-7, the Bible says, ”For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” The flesh is in direct opposition to God. A person can have a world’s worth of possessions, but do they have life and peace?

Why do people race after the flesh, ignoring the life that is in the Spirit and Word of God?

In Hebrews 11:25, the Bible says, ”Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the PLEASURES of sin for a season”. If sin wasn’t pleasurable, no one would do it. If the high from drugs didn’t feel good no one would use drugs and if sex didn’t feel good, people wouldn’t cheat and displease God by having sex in a way God didn’t ordain.

Which dog are you going to feed, flesh or Spirit?

In Romans 8:5, the Bible says, ”For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.” Whatever we follow after is the nature we subject ourselves to, but there are consequences if we make the wrong choice.

The word ”die” means ”to die forever, to come under condemnation of eternal death, i.e. exclusion from the Messiah’s kingdom, and subjection to eternal punishment of sin.” In Romans 6:23, the Bible says, ”For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”, but Romans 8:1 says, ”There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Which dog are we going to feed, flesh or Spirit?

”But if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live”

”Through the Spirit”! People think they can ”be good” and it will be sufficient, but without the Spirit working in us, there is no life!

The word ”mortify” means ”to kill off or put to death”. The word ”deeds” means ”practices or acts”. Galatians 2:20 says, ”I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

When we live through the Spirit, we have the power to put the deeds of the flesh to death. It isn’t our holiness that does it but it it is Christ living in us, giving us victory over the power of sin. It is our job to use this power to put the flesh to death by following after the Spirit.

God Bless!

Marshall                 

Oct 23, 2021 – Romans 12:1 – that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice

Hi Everyone!

What are we willing to do for the kingdom of God? What can we offer God that would be pleasing to Him? Jesus Christ gave a sacrifice that was totally pleasing to God, and that was Himself, His death being the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the whole world once and for all. No other sacrifice give before Him was sufficient to pay the cost for our sins, and no sacrifice after His sacrifice will ever be sufficient to pay the cost. We as believers have received a gift that cannot be reimbursed, receiving redemption from the penalty of death and the bondage of sin. We have the ability to live amazing lives in the Lord, experiencing the privilege of partaking in the divine nature. God doesn’t ask for much in return, just that we give ourselves totally to Him for Him to use us in a way that brings glory back to Him. He wants us to live lives that are pleasing to Him. Today, we will look at Romans 12:1, being living sacrifices pleasing to the Lord.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

The word “beseech” means “to call near or invite in order to encourage or admonish”. The word ‘brethren” refers to believers, Christians connected to each other in intimacy and fellowship of God.  Paul is speaking to the Church. The phrase “mercies of God” means “loving compassion of God”. In Lamentations 3:22-23, the Bible says, “It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” Paul is encouraging the Church to recognize that we ourselves were not consumed because of the Lord’s mercies, and we still are not consumed because of the same mercies. In other words, Paul is urging the Church to remember the times God’s mercies were mighty in our lives, ultimately leading us to salvation, to not forget where we have been brought from. In Hebrews 10:19-20, the Bible says, “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh”. Because of the mercies of God we have boldness to come into the presence of God, by the way He prepared for us. God provided the sacrifice, and He also provided the way for us to partake in the divine kingdom. We have to remember that when we were at our worst, God prepared us a way to receive salvation and entrance into the kingdom.

“That ye present your bodies a living sacrifice”.

The word “present” means “offer up, to exhibit”. The phrase ‘living sacrifice” refers to people who are saved, made alive by the Holy Spirit making themselves available to God in service and obedience. Recognizing God’s mercy in saving us should give us the mindset to want to help advance the kingdom. In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, the Bible says, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” When we received salvation, our bodies no longer belonged to us, but rather to the Lord who redeemed us. We have to live in appreciation for what Christ has done for us, and we must have the right attitude in service and obedience to God. In 1 Corinthians 13:3, the Bible says, “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.” Sacrifice without love has no value, and it does no one any good. Christ sacrifice involved His death, but God is asking for us to sacrifice our time, our will, and our selfish ambitions to serve Him completely. In John 3:16, the Bible says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Love was the motivating force behind the sacrifice Christ made for us, the desire to see us become better than what we were. This should be our motivation as well.

“Holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

The word “holy” means “pure or clean by God”. The phrase “acceptable unto God” means “well-pleasing to God.” Romans 6:13, the Bible says, “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” We gave ourselves totally to the world, now we must give ourselves totally to the Word of God, yielding everything we are in service to God and others. The phrase “reasonable service” means “rational ministration to God.”

How can we experience such a priceless gift from God and then act like the little He asks of us is too much?

What are we willing to sacrifice to ensure that the will of God is done in the kingdom?

Good bless!

Marshall

Oct 24, 2021 – Romans 13:13 – let us walk honestly, as in the day

Hi Everyone!

When people see us, what do they see in us? Do we reflect the Word of God as Christians, truly saved and redeemed by our loving God? Do we live our lives as if we have the “second chance” we have always hoped for, using this amazing opportunity to serve the Lord? Our conduct is a reflection of what nature is at work in us, and we have to make every effort to make sure that we are living lives that don’t resemble the world. This world is filled with every kind of evil, and sadly, that evil is seeping into the Church, which is becoming more and more tolerant to sin. We must get back to living Godly lives, representing our God accurately through our behavior and interactions with people. If people see us and are surprised that we are believers, then we aren’t living our faith out loud, or do we look so much like the world that people can’t see God in us. Today, we will look at Romans 13:13, walking in the light of the Lord.

”Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.”

The word “honestly” means “decorously, decently, or properly.” “Walking honestly” means living a life pleasing to God, a life that reflects God’s presence in us and our understanding that we have been redeemed. In Romans 6:4, the Bible says, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” When we were saved, the old life we lived was left behind, buried unto death, but we have to make the decision daily to not dig that nature back up. Once we seize the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, we will make a deliberate effort to live a unholy life, against the new standard and nature in us. In 1 Peter 2:12, the Bible says, “Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.” The world can try to discount who we are in the Lord, but at the end of the day, our behavior can and will cause people to glorify God. No matter what the world says or does, we have a responsibility to reflect the Gospel in everything we do.

“not in rioting and drunkeness”

The word “rioting” means “letting loosing, carousing, usually indicating wild parties, orgies, brawling, or actual civil unrest.” The word “drunkenness means “intoxication”. In Proverbs 23:20-21, the Bible says, “Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.” We are not to be among these type of people, because it will become hard to distinguish us as believers from the world who practice lawlessness. The drunkard and glutton won’t just suffer financial poverty, but will experience moral and spiritual bankruptcy as well. In Galatians 5:21, the Bible says, “Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” These are the ones that practice these evils freely – there are grave consequences for those who do.

“Not in chambering and wantonness,”

The word “chambering” means “cohabitation”, or in other words, “lying with someone sexually who is not your wife or husband, playing house, or sleeping around.” The word “wantonness” means “lasciviousness, or in other words, sexual promiscuity”. In 1 Corinthians 6:18, the Bible says, “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.” Sexual promiscuity violates the command God gave us. In 1 Corinthians 7:2, it says, “Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.” The Bible gives us a clear provision to enjoy a fulfilling sexual relationship that he approves of, but sadly, many follow after their flesh.

“not in strife and envying”

The word “strife” means “quarreling or contentious debating”. The word “envying” means “jealousy which produces anger”. In James 3:14-16, the Bible says, “But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” These attributes display a lack of God’s presence because these attributes come from the Satan’s influence in the world. If Paul spoke of all of these evil qualities, and he is speaking to the Church, then one can only imagine how the Church is now. Ouch!

May we come to live boldly as children of God and heirs to the promise, being separate from the world and its evils.

God Bless!

Marshall

Oct 25, 2021 – James 1:19 – let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath

Hi Everyone!

Anger is an issue affecting a lot of people’s lives, and believers are no different. Many of times in my life, I wouldn’t have had the trouble I did had I listened more and been less reactive in the midst of disagreement. Most of the time, had I just shut my mouth and not said anything, the problem would’ve solved itself. In the midst of anger, a few things happen. One, the mind becomes clouded by what we feel, and we can’t think as clearly. Two, we tend to have selective hearing while angry, looking to only hear things that will essentially fuel the fire. Three, we tend to say things that are hurtful, and are bound to destroy relationships. I know this well, because anger used to be a real issue for me and it has caused me extensive damage throughout all my life. God desires a church that is positioned to hear, people ready to obey, rather that people who are angry and impulsive. Today, we will look at James 1:19, weakening the power of anger in our lives.

”Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath”

The phrase “beloved brethren” is spoken of Christians united with God and each other in bond of holy love. When Paul says this, he is displaying just how much the Church means to him, and how much he desires for the Church to be it’s best. In Ephesians 4:15-16, the Bible says, “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” Love is always the foundation for every message Paul spreads to the Church, even when he has to correct their behavior. Paul is hoping that, by his letters to the Church, that God will cause growth and interconnectedness to come from the word God has given into share. When a person truly loves you, and speaks words that are meant to help, we receive them better. In James 5:20, the Bible says, “Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” Paul desired to see people saved, and see lives transformed. I believe the Church had full confidence that Paul held their best interests in his heart. If you ever want to make an impact in someone’s life, love them first!

The word “man” here doesn’t speak of males, but it means “human beings or mankind.” this message isn’t directed at one person, but to “every” person. This shows that we all have the ability to either get it right or wrong. The word “swift” means “prompt or ready”. The word “hear” means “to give audience to in order to heed or obey”. It is using the ear as an instrument of obedience. In 2 Corinthians 10:5-6, the Bible says, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” In order for us to be swift to hear, we must clear away any thought that keeps us from obeying the Word of God, cast away every feeling that shuts our ears to the Word of God. It takes diligence. in Ecclesiastes 5;1, the Bible says, “Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.” God doesn’t care if we preach the best sermon in the world, or give everything we have to people in need. God wants us to be ready to heed and obey His word.

“slow to speak, slow to wrath”

Thw word “slow” means “dull or not hasty”. The word “speak” means “to talk or utter words”. In Proverbs 10:19, the Bible says, “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.” A verbally impulsive person is someone who says the first thing that comes to mind, which can be extremely harmful, because the wrong thing tends to come out. In Proverbs 17:27, it says, “He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.” This means to make what we say count for good! The word “wrath” means “passion, violent commotion of the mind, also meaning anger, indignation including a desire for punishment or vengeance.” In Proverbs 14:29, the Bible says, “He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.” I know by experience the consequences of an impulsive, rash decision, but I also know that being slow to wrath can open the doors of understanding and pave the way for peace.

The enemy enjoys an impulsive believer, but God desires believers who exercises self-control and are able to communicate in a manner that pleases Him in all situations.

God Bless!

Marshall

Oct 26, 2021 – James 1:12 – blessed is the man that endureth temptation

Hi Everyone!

In our lives as believers, we are going to experience trials. Sometimes, the trials are easier to endure, but at other times, they are uncomfortable, painful even, when we need to cleave more to the Father in order to endure them. God never promised us a life that is easy or pleasant, but Christ did say that His yoke is easy, and His burden is light.

When going through trials, we must ask ourselves,

”Am I trying to endure the trial in my own power and strength, or am I relying upon God’s strength, enabling Him to equip me with everything I need to triumph over that trial?

In my own life, I have discovered the completion of a trial to be a great blessing, because God always lets me know why He allowed me to go through that trial from some event that occurs after the trial is over. Nothing God does or allows us to go through is without an ultimate purpose.

His ultimate purpose in all trials is to refine us and make us ready to receive eternal life when our lives on earth are over. Today, we will look at James 1:12, enduring perishable trials for a crown that doesn’t perish.

”Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

The word ”blessed” means ”well-off, receiving God’s favor regardless of what the circumstances may be.” Our state of blessing is not dependent upon outside circumstances or financial provision, but rather upon the Word of God’s declaration of who is blessed. In Matthew 24:45-46, Christ says, “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.” The person who does the will of God, tending to His people and helping to build his Kingdom is the person who is blessed. In Romans 4:7-8, the Bible says, “Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.”

The person whose sins are forgiven, allowing them to receive the gift of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ is the person who is blessed.

Eternal life is ours, which is more than enough of a reason to be blessed. In John 16:33, Christ says, “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.” God doesn’t promise believers an easy pass through life, but says we “shall have tribulation”. To me, it is a blessing to be given advanced notice!

The word “endureth” means “remain patient under, or to persevere”. The word “temptation” actually means “a state of trial in which God brings His people through adversity and affliction in order to encourage and prove our faith and confidence in Him.”  In Job 23:10, the Bible says, “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” There is purpose behind our trial! A lot of times, when we are facing trial, it is extremely hard to understand the reason or purpose behind it. That is why it is important for us to be patient, to persevere, to trust in God to see us through. The word “tried” means refined, proved and found to be acceptable”. In Job 5:17, the Bible says, “Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty”. Sometimes, trials are going to redirect us, even when we feel we are going the right way. When the Church was persecuted in Acts, that had to be awful trials, but what happened? The Church was scattered, but every place they were scattered, the Word of God was spread! The Church grew exponentially all over the world because of the trials the Church suffered. God is more concerned with His will being done than he is with the trials we suffer as believers.

“he shall receive the crown of life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him”

The word “receive” means “to obtain”. The phrase “crown of life” refers to the eternal life of bliss and glory in the kingdom of God which awaits the true disciples of Christ after the resurrection. In 1 Corinthians 9:25, the Bible says, “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.” The crown we will receive will remain forever! In Revelations 1:6, it says, “And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” We are destined to reign with Christ and preach with Christ as kings and priests in heaven, but why isn’t His will being done “on earth as it is in heaven”? The ones who “love Him” are the faithful disciples and followers of Christ. God assures us that when we remain faithful under trial, that we will obtain eternal life crowned as the favored of the Lord. Sounds like a great benefit to me!

God Bless!

Marshall

Oct 27, 2021 – 1 Corinthians 1:18 – but unto us which are saved it is the power of God

Hi Everyone!

No matter how clear and accurate our message about Christ is, there will be people who don’t believe it and won’t believe it. On my unit, there are guys that are completely against the Gospel, but believe in things that resemble the truth in a lot of ways. Their explanations of their beliefs make no real sense to me, but to them, my faith doesn’t make sense either. In that moment, it is like we are speaking two different languages, and in essence, we are! There are going to be people who will perish, only to find out the God we serve, and the Savior we believe in was the real Gospel this whole time. By then it will be too late! This is why spreading the Gospel is extremely important, because people are at least given the chance to receive the Word of God as truth in their lives. Today, we will look at 1 Corinthians 1:18, preaching the Gospel’s miraculous message of power to both the living and the dying.

‘For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”

The word “preaching” implies a spoken word manifesting a message from God to His people. In 2 Timothy 4:2, the Bible says, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” Sometimes our preaching and sharing the Word of God will come at the precise time someone needs to hear it, and other times, it will feel we are preaching and sharing the Word of God to a “brick wall”. God commands us to preach and share the Word of God in all seasons, not just the ones that are easy, but all in seasons of difficulty. In 1 Corinthians 1:23-24, the Bible says, “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are CALLED, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” Our message is Christ and Him crucified, but the ones that are called to receive this message are the ones who will experience its wisdom and power. If we worry about what side of the coin people are on before we preach and share the Word of God to them, then we are trying to serve our own opinion and not God. The phrase “preaching of the cross” refers to God’s total revelation, the Gospel in all its fullest, the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, and the entire divine plan and provision for the redemption of sinners. We preach and share an amazing benefit to mankind!

“To them that perish foolishness”

We can’t control what side of the coin people are on, before and after we share the Word. The word “perish” means “to destroy fully, speaking of the unsaved slated for eternal death unless they receive salvation by faith in Jesus Christ.” The word “foolishness” means “silliness, absurdity”. In 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, the Bible says, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” The ‘god of this world’ is Satan. Before we begin to judge someone for being in the world, for living a life of sin, let us consider that the enemy is trying to keep the unsaved blind, trying to keep them in a state of darkness so they can’t see the light of Christ. It’s not just a life drug addiction, or promiscuity, or murder, stealing, or evil, but the unsaved are living a life where they have been unable to receive light. If Christ says in Luke 13:5, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” The unsaved are dying, and unless they repent, that death will be permanent. If someone was dying right in front of you, wouldn’t you try to help them live?

“But unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”

The word “saved” refers to those saved by Christ and are kept by Him. The word “power” means “miraculous force of God”. In Romans 1:16, the Bible says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” We know the Gospel’s message to be real power, but we had to come to a place where we believed it to be truth, and received Christ as Lord and Savior. We are continuing to be refined daily by this same Gospel. Imagine the person who has never known this, who has never experienced this power at work. Ephesians 1:18 says, “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints”. We have a privilege the world doesn’t have; the gift of salvation, eternal life, and a real hope not defined by the standards of the world, a real miracle.

With this knowledge, let us look to the world with compassion, as Christ did, and make a better effort at winning souls for the kingdom of God.

God Bless!

Marshall

Oct 28, 2021 – 1 Corinthians 2:4 – but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power

Hi Everyone!

I used to have the wrong impression of my calling, that I was going to have to go to a seminary for 4 years, learn all of this stuff about the Bible that I was going to have to remember, and speak in the way I hear preachers around me speak. Ouch! I made it impossible to do in my mind, primarily because of the baseless expectations I placed on my call. I thought I would be doing the teaching, but I was terribly wrong! I am merely nothing but a mouthpiece that God is using to share HIS message. Even though I study God’s Word daily, everything I thought I would have to learn has been provided by the Holy Spirit. I realized that I have to forsake my knowledge, and take on the knowledge of God, and surrender my speech to take hold of the things God wants me to say. The world is going to try to mesmerize people with astounding speech, of great eloquence, of mighty oration, but without the Holy Spirit giving the words life and power, it will be to no avail for the kingdom. Today, we will look at 1 Corinthians 2:4, demonstrating the Holy Spirit’s power through the speech He gives!

”And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power”

The word ”speech” means ”communication or utterances”. The word ”preaching” means ”to cry out, to proclaim, to herald the Gospel, or to publicly instruct.” Paul was one of the lead Pastors of the Church, with an extensive knowledge of Scripture. In Acts 26:5, the Bible says, ”Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.” Before Paul was converted, he lived his life as a Pharisee, which means his knowledge of the Scripture had to be great. In Acts 22:3, the Bible says, ”I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.” So in essence, Paul could hold his own in a room of religious scholars easily, and before conversion, he was leading the charge to persecute the Church. Imagine the irony, that some of same people he led to persecute the Church were later the some of the same people who persecuted him!

The phrase ”enticing words” suggest a ”persuasive eloquence”, but here is Paul, a former Pharisee leader turned Christian Pastor, saying that he doesn’t use enticing words of man’s wisdom. This means he had to abandon what he thought he knew to seize the things of God. In Philippians 3:8-9, the Bible says, ”Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith”. When we follow after the Lord, speaking the message He gives us, He doesn’t need what we know. We need what God knows! Paul, one of the smartest religious leaders, forsook all he knew and had so he could win Christ, so he could experience a life of faith, not one of knowledge. The phrase ”man’s wisdom” speaks of the learning and philosophy current among the Greeks and Romans in the apostolic age intended to draw away the minds of men from the divine truth, standing in contrast to the simplicity of the Gospel. In 1 Corinthians 1:17, the Bible says, ”For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.” In other words, intellectualizing spiritual truth is counterproductive to the Gospel!

”But in demonstration of the Spirit and of power”

The word ”demonstration” means ”manifestation”. The word ”Spirit” refers to the empowerment imparted by the Holy Spirit on and after the Day of Pentecost, by which the apostles and early Christians were endowed with high supernatural qualifications for their work. In Romans 15:18-19, the Bible says, ”For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.” When we speak the words the Holy Spirit gives us to say, our words now possess the power to reach hearts and minds for the glory of God and for the spreading of the Gospel in earth. The word ”power” means ”miraculous force”. When the Holy Spirit is allowed to teach and move, there will be evidence of healing, of transformed lives, of saved souls, and a growing church in truth and power! It doesn’t take man’s wisdom, but the power of the Holy Spirit moving in our lives, also in our pastors.

God Bless!

Marshall

Oct 29, 2021 – 1 Samuel 16:7 – the LORD looketh on the heart

Hi Everyone!

Looks are very deceiving. The outward appearance is like art, always subject to interpretation, and the wrong interpretation can lead to disappointment. In the Church, we can sometimes place an expectation on what we see on the outside of someone and assign positions in the Church to someone who seems to fit our impressions of ministers, teachers, and preachers without looking within. How do you think the tares get sown among the wheat – the enemy has planted his people in the Church to lead people astray? We’re not paying attention to what really counts about a person. While the worldly mind looks at outward appearance, which has no real definition, God looks at our heart to make the determination of our fitness to serve Him. Today, we will look at 1 Samuel 16:7, a heart fit for anointing.

”But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”

The word ”look” means “to gaze upon intently, to regard with pleasure, to favor, to have respect.” In 1 Samuel 16:1, the Bible says, “And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.” See, God already had his pick for king. He knew what household, what city, and what person He had in mind. Samuel was merely the person who was carrying out the wishes of God, and even His idea of who God selected was wrong! This was the man of God and he didn’t know what God knew. In Isaiah 55:8, the Bible says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.” Our positions in the Church mean nothing if we are not being led by the Lord, making the decisions He desires us to make. Understand that God provided a king for himself to carry His Word and people through the generations leading to Christ. God desired a man after His own heart.

The word “countenance” means “appearance, also spoken of comeliness”. Physical beauty is very deceptive. In 2 Samuel 14:25, the Bible says, “But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.” Absalom was extremely attractive in appearance, but He killed his brother, tried to overthrow David’s kingdom, and had sex with David’s concubines in open display of all Israel. Appearance doesn’t speak on the things God looks for in a leader. In Psalm 147:10-11, the Bible says, “He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.” God seeks the things that count; deep moral reverence, those who seek His mercy, those who desire to abide in his love.

The word “refused” means “to reject as an offering.” In 1 Samuel 15:22-23, the Bible says, “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.” God is only concerned with His will being done, and David was the man for the job, someone who wouldn’t go his own way or seek his own power, but someone who would inquire of the Lord before he made a move. David was the youngest son, the 8th son of Jesse, but he was chosen to be king.

“For the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart .”

The word “seeth” means “to look, regard, or perceive”. The phrase ”outward appearance” implies something pleasing to the eye.  The word “heart” refers to the entire disposition of the inner man. in Jeremiah 17:10, “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” God created David knowing fully well that he would be anointed to be king. He knew his heart, knew his ways, and knew he could be led by Him. In Jeremiah 18:6, the Bible says, “O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.” God desires people who surrender themselves to God to be shaped and molded into the vessels God desires for them to be.

There can be a huge difference between our impressions of those called by God and who we would consider called. This shouldn’t be. Let God’s thoughts become our own by inquiring of Him for the direction and perspective we need as believers.

God Bless!

Marshall

Oct 30, 2021 – 1 Samuel 17:37 – go, and the LORD be with thee

Hi Everyone!

If we look over our lives, we have an extensive record of God’s deliverance over many situations that we couldn’t see a way out of. People always tell us to not look back, and even the Bible says in Luke 9:62, ”And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t look back to recall the goodness of God, the deliverance of God, or the love of God because our testimony consists of what He has already done for us. The Word of God and people who tell us to not look back usually mean that we shouldn’t yearn for our past lives or hold onto past hurts or past sins that can today keep us in a state of bondage. When we need encouragement in the midst of a trial, sometimes a great encouragement is remembering when we were in a similar situation, but God delivered us from it. Today, we are going to look at 1 Samuel 17:37, encouragement of deliverance from a trip down memory lane.

”David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.”

There was a battle going on. Goliath, a giant and seasoned fighter, was challenging Israel to fight. Saul and Israel were “dismayed and greatly afraid” according to 1 Samuel 17:11. The fear of Saul shouldn’t surprise us, because he was always hiding when he was supposed to step forward. In 1 Samuel 10:21-22, the Bible says “When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found. Therefore they enquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold he hath hid himself among the stuff.” Saul hid when it came time for him to be declared king, so it doesn’t surprise me that he was hiding in fear here. The irony was Saul was extremely tall compared to everyone else around him, but he was willing to allow a boy to fight a “man’s battle” by sending David to the front lines.

The word “delivered” implies the power of one entity overcoming the power of another, but it also means, “to snatch away or to rescue”. The word “paw” means “hand, or means of strength and power”. David remembered God delivering him from two beasts who are well known to prevail over people. In my opinion, the key to the topic verse is the first three words, “David SAID moreover”. In Proverbs 18:21, the Bible says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” If we speak words of defeat in the face of our giant, we can’t expect to win!

In Mark 11:22-23, the Bible says, “And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he SAITH shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he SAITH.”

Not only do we have to have faith, but we have to boldly speak out our faith!

No matter the mountain, no matter the giant, we must speak life and victory. David not only remembered God’s deliverance, but He also remembered that he was also anointed to be king before this incident happened! In 1 Samuel 16:13, the Bible says, “Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD CAME UPON David FROM THAT DAY FORWARD. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.” No matter how valiant David was, his victory against Goliath was because of the Spirit of Lord was upon him. Do we attribute credit for our victories correctly?

“He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee.”

The word “hand” means the same thing as “paw”, meaning “the means of strength or power”. Goliath fought from experience, equipment, and size, but in 1 Samuel 17:45, the Bible says, “Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the NAME OF THE LORD OF HOSTS, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.” David knew his weaponry was in the name of the Lord. Even with everything at his disposal; the Spirit of the Lord upon Him, words of faith and victory, David still couldn’t step into battle until Saul gave the okay! Humility and obedience!

Replace Goliath with that sin, or that sickness, or that infirmity, or that affliction that has kept us in bondage. In Psalm 34:19, it says, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.”

Can we recall a time when we were in warfare against a seemingly insurmountable opponent and God delivered us? Will we trust in God’s deliverance now?

God Bless!

Marshall

Oct 31, 2021 – John 5:39 – search the scriptures

Hi Everyone!

Here in prison, I am often confronted with people who tell me they ”know” the Bible, that they read it through a couple times and know what it is all about. I’ve had conversations with Muslims and people that practice the Native American faith, and some of them say that they have a Bible and they read it. There are, in fact, a lot of people that read the Bible in prison, some you’d never expect. Having knowledge of the Word of God isn’t enough, and a person can read the Bible day and night and still end up in the lake of fire when all said and done. Why is that? The Bible gives us the perfect plan and roadmap for salvation, but reading the Bible in itself can’t save anyone from their sins. Imagine Jesus’ bewilderment with the Pharisees and religious leaders, who were the ”representation” of the Word of God but who didn’t know the way to salvation. Today, we will look at John 5:39, becoming people who live out their knowledge of the Word of God.

”Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”

The word “search” means “to make an inquiry of, to investigate”. The word “scriptures” means “Holy Writ” referring to the Old Testament. Christ was still alive, so we know this isn’t referring to the New Testament. In Hebrews 9:15-16, the Bible says, “And for this cause he is the mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.” So, because Christ hadn’t died yet, and the New Testament hadn’t been written yet, the only “scriptures” Christ could be referring to was the Old Testament. Christ is telling the people who think they know it all that they don’t know what matters! Acts 17:11-12, the Bible says, “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.” The Bereans searched the scripture daily, with a mind ready to receive the true and living Word of God, and because of it, many people were saved. If what you know about the Word of God doesn’t lead you or anyone to salvation, then does what you know really matter to God?

The word “think” means “suppose or assume”. The phrase “eternal life” refers to the life of bliss and glory in the kingdom of God which awaits the true disciples of Christ after the resurrection. In Romans 10:17, it says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”. So faith comes by the Word of God, which brings credence to Hebrews 11:8, which says, “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.” Abraham received the Word of God, believed, and carried it out. Because of his faith, he received the promise. In Hebrews 5:9, the Bible says, “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him”. Christ is the author of eternal salvation, just as He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. Salvation is available to those who believe in and carry out the Word of God. The people talking with Christ thought what they knew gave them eternal life, but the “Way to salvation” was standing right in front of them, and they didn’t know who He was!

In Acts 9:4-5, it says, “And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” Paul was a religious scholar, trained by the best, but He didn’t know Christ’s voice, nor knew who He was. In John 1:10-11, the Bible says, “He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto his own, and His own received Him not.” We tend to know those who we are in a relationship with, but because some people desire knowledge over a relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ, He stands right before them unacknowledged. The word ‘testify’ means “give evidence, acts as a witness”. In Luke 24:44-45. the Bible says of Christ, “And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures”. Knowing the scriptures means nothing if the Holy Spirit doesn’t open up our understanding to them.

Knowing the Lord Jesus Christ is the most important thing we need to know about the Scripture, for in Him we have salvation!

God Bless!

Marshall

Nov 1, 2021 – 2 Corinthians 4:6 – to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God

Hi Everyone!

When God created the heavens and the earth, He wanted a place where mankind could live, enjoy and have dominion, but He also wanted to commune with us openly and freely. God never created us to walk in darkness, but due to the fall of Adam, we were born into a darkness that can only be healed by God’s precious light. Since the beginning, Light has triumphed over darkness, and Christ dying on the cross ensured that we can once again enjoy the privilege if walking in the Light. There is a condition to this. We have to receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, believing that His shed blood was the perfect atoning sacrifice for our sin in order to experience the joy of God’s light in us and upon us. Sadly, we live in a world that is becoming more and more Godless, and in the process, people are enjoying darkness more than light. Today, we will look at 2 Corinthians 4:6, the defining, revealing light of God.

”For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

The word “God” here means “Supreme Divinity”. The word “commanded” means “to speak or say, to call, or bring forth”. In Genesis 1:3-4, the Bible says, “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.” Not only did God command for light to come forth, but he also immediately separated it from darkness. Whatever God commanded, it became exactly as he intended. In Psalm 33:8-9, the Bible says, “Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.” God’s commands are powerful and everything in the world conforms to the commands of God. In Mark 4:39, the Bible says, “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.” Christ has the same power God has, because He is Emmanuel, meaning “God with us”. There should be a great assurance that we have in God’s Word, especially when He commands something … it will be what He says it will be.

The word “light” refers to moral and spiritual light and knowledge which enlightens the mind, soul or conscience. That includes also the idea of moral goodness, purity and holiness, and of consequent reward of happiness. It also refers to the true knowledge of God and spiritual things, Christian piety. In Colossians 1:12, the Bible says, “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light”. God made us ready and able to partake in the divine inheritance of salvation, eternal life, and the beautiful process of sanctification here on earth. The word “shine” means to beam, or radiate brilliantly.” In John 1:4-5, the Bible says, “In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” God has shined His light in us, a light that darkness has no understanding of. What He has given us is a gateway into the kingdom of God, to experience not only his Word but the benefit of being children of God.

The word “darkness” speaks figuratively of moral darkness, the absence of spiritual light and truth, including the idea of sinfulness and consequent calamity. In Acts 26:18, Christ says, “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” God never created us to walk in darkness, but now He desires our eyes to be opened, so we can see our sinfulness and our need for salvation. God desired a people that walk in faith, that live according to His Word, that keep the darkness of the world outside of them.

“Hath shined in our hearts, to give light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ”.

The heart refers to the center of man, the seat of the desires, feelings, affections, passions, and impulses.” When God’s light shines in our hearts, these qualities change for the glory of God. The word “light” here refers to moral or spiritual illumination.

In 1 John 1:7, the Bible says, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

God wants to make us people who not only walk in the light, but become people who truly enjoy the light! God put his light in us so we can know that Christ is God incarnate, and as children of God, we no longer have to answer to darkness. Colossians 1:13 says, ‘Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son”.

With the light of God shining brightly in us, we can live lives that bring glory to God, that honor Him in all we do.

God Bless!

Marshall

Nov 2, 2021 – 1 Peter 5:9 – resist stedfast in the faith

Hi Everyone!

As believers we are expected to face persecution in our lives. It can come in different forms, some catching us so off guard that it can knock us around a bit. Persecution doesn’t feel good, nor does it make a person desire to press forward, but as believers, we have the privilege of being partakers in the divine privileges as children of God with the sufferings. We must press forward, we must endure trial when it comes our way, and we must cleave to the faith when times get hard. Our faith is the solid foundation under our feet, it is the counsel we need in affliction and it is the strength in the face of weakness. Our faith comes by hearing the Word of God, so if we abide in the Christ in all situations, we will be able to weather any trial that comes our way. We are not alone, because believers everywhere are going through the same struggles.

Today, we will look at 1 Peter 5:9, remaining steadfast in the faith when afflicted.

”Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”

The word “resist” means “to stand against, or oppose”. The word “stedfast” means “to be solid or stable”. Putting these two words together, it is the person who firmly stands in opposition. The phrase “in the faith” means “the object of Christian faith, meaning the doctrines received and believed, Christian doctrine, the gospel, and all Christianity stands for.” This means we aren’t using anything outside of the faith to stand in opposition to the enemy.

In 2 Corinthians 10:4, the Bible says, “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)”. If the weapons of our warfare aren’t carnal, then we can’t resist the enemy with carnality.

When in resistance to the enemy we have to be equipped.

In Ephesians 6:11, the Bible says, “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians 6:13 also says, “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Taking up the whole armor of God is all we need to do, and when we have done all we can do, we dig our heels into the ground and stand.

In James 4:7-8, the Bible says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” The enemy is looking for someone who is unarmed, unprotected, someone who is trying to operate in their own power. When we resist the enemy with the Word of God, wearing the whole armor of God, and we refuse to give up our position to the enemy, he has to flee! God still desires for us to cleanse our hearts and hands, ensuring we don’t receive or touch anything that can give the enemy a way in.

The word “knowing” suggests a full understanding of what is going on. This means we are aware of what is going on around us at all times.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:5-6, the Bible says, “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” It is our job to pay attention, because God has assured us that, by us being in the light, that things are way more visible to the believer.  The word “afflictions” means “hardships, pain, suffering”.

In 1 Thessalonians 3:2-3, the Bible says, “And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith: That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.” God has also assured us that we will have people in place that will help encourage and comfort us, so when afflictions come, we can have a solid foundation to stand on. The phrase “are accomplished” means “have undergone, endured”.  Sometimes, when we are under affliction, we feel like we are the only people in the world going through it, but the Bible says differently.

In 1 Corinthians 10:13, the Bible says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” The word “temptation” here means “a trial God allows us to go through in order to sharpen our faith”. The word “brethren” speaks of the Christian fraternity or family. God wants us to be assured that not only are we not alone, but the whole body of Christ suffers affliction in some way.

In 1 Peter 2:21, the Bible says, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps”. God has provided for us examples of the faith, so when we are under affliction, we will know how to persevere.

This validates God’s word when He promised to never leave us or nor forsake us. We are never alone!

God Bless!

Marshall

Nov 3, 2021 – Galatians 6:7 – God is not mocked

Hi Everyone!

There are consequences for every decision we make, either good or bad, no matter how small or big our choice may be. Our choices make ripples, and those ripples can affect others, can change lives greatly, and either please or displease God. A lot of times, we make these types if decisions without considering how it could affect someone else or affect our witness, and that shouldn’t be. As believers, we want to sow seeds that produce a harvest of righteousness, seeds that will help change lives for the better, seeds that God can use to produce an extraordinary increase. We don’t want to plant seeds that spring up, leading to horrible consequences that it takes a lifetime to rectify. We don’t want to be a people of God who make decisions without considering God, or considering whether or not our decisions bring glory or shame to Him. Today, we will look at Galatians 6:7, reaping what we sow.

”Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

The word “deceived” means “to cause to roam from safety, truth, and virtue”. The enemy loves to deceive the children of God by sprinkling in a little lie within the truth. If he can get you to question the Word of God as being true, then he has a playground to run amuck in.

In the beginning, in the garden, when the serpent deceived Eve in Genesis 3:4-5, it says, “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” Deception comes when a person is caused to consider something other than the Word of God as truth. When a lie has reign, then there is no room for the truth to bear fruit. Since the fall, the enemy has used deception to keep people away from the kingdom of God and also uses deception to keep believers away from spiritual maturity.

In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, the Bible says, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” The enemy uses deception to tell unbelievers that God’s grace ensures that no matter what they do, they will still go to heaven. The enemy is handing out free passes for people to practice lawlessness without consequence, and they are being led further from the mercy seat of God.

In John 8:44-45, Christ says, “Ye 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. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.” It is extremely difficulty for a person who is deceived to receive the truth. They are conditioned to receive a lie.

The word “mocked” means “to ridicule, to make mouths at”. In Psalm 5:4-5, the Bible says, “For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.” We are not to be deceived into thinking that we can be wicked, or vile, or do things that sorely displease God and expect no consequence.

In Jude 1:18-19, the Bible says, “How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.” These are people who aim to put the Lord to shame by doing whatever they “feel” like doing, instead of doing what the Lord tells us to do. Their actions put God to shame and paint a horrible picture of the faith.

“For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

The word “soweth” means “to scatter seed”. The word “reap” means “to bring in a harvest”. In Romans 2:5-6, the Bible says, “But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds.” We may think we are getting away with something, but God knows and He sees, and He will produce the appropriate consequences for our behavior.

In Hosea 10:12-13, the Bible says, “Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.” God gives us a choice of where we will sow, either to righteousness or evil, but it always comes back.

There is always a harvest wherever we sow our seed, and the harvest will reveal the manner of our seed.

God Bless!

Marshall

Nov 4, 2021 – Galatians 6:8 – he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting

Hi Everyone!

When I lived in the world, I was slowly wasting away. I willingly fed my flesh and answered to every desire I had, and I suffered some very real and extensive consequences for my actions. No matter how bad it got, I fed my flesh even more and chased after the world harder. I rationalized that if I committed harder to the street life, to the drug trade, to gang activity, I would eventually get the reward from my loyalty and efforts. I was arrested 18 years ago and that debt is still outstanding! Thanks be to God, that when I committed my life to chasing after the Spirit, I have been rewarded with salvation, eternal life, the leading of the Holy Spirit, and I have been able to accomplish more for the glory of God than I ever have trying to gain my own rewards from sin and iniquity. There is a world around us that is wasting away because they are still seeking an awesome harvest from the flesh that they will never reap. Today, we will look at Galatians 6:8, sowing and reaping in the Spirit.

”For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

The word “soweth” means “to scatter seeds”. The word “flesh” means “sinfulness, proneness to sin, carnal nature, the seat of carnal appetite and desires, sinful passions, and affections, whether physical or moral.” The person that soweth to the flesh is the person who willfully engages and practices in a sinful life that is displeasing to God. In Job 4:8-9, the Bible says, “Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same. By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.” People don’t either realize or appreciate the fact that living a life of sinfulness and iniquity has direct and indirect consequences. People think that because they seem to have gotten away with their actions, that their day of accountability isn’t coming. In Proverbs 13:13, the Bible says, “Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.” God gives the Word so we can follow it and experience success, but many disregard the Word, the messengers God sends, the warnings God commands people to give.

When the gavel finally came down on my actions, I was without excuse, because I could name at least a 100 different instances where someone tried to admonish me, but I refused to hear. In Proverbs 22:8, it says, “He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.” Not only did I refuse to hear, but I also became arrogant that nothing was going to stop me from living the life I wanted to live.

“Shall of the flesh reap corruption”

The word “reap’ means “to bring in a harvest”. The word “corruption” means “to suffer decay or ruin”. This means the flesh we sow into will be the same flesh that ruins us. In Romans 8:12-13, the Bible says, “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” God gives us a choice of what we will live for, the flesh or the Spirit. If we make the wrong choice, He still gives us provision to get back on track, by repentance, turning away from the flesh and turning to the Spirit. In Romans 6:21, the Bible says, “What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.” What did we accomplish living in the flesh, and what do we have to show for our lives of sin besides pain and horrible consequences?

“But he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

The word “Spirit” speaks of the Holy Spirit, so those who “soweth to the Spirit” are those who walk by the holy Spirit, who live in obedience to the Spirit’s leading. In Galatians 5:16-17, the Bible says, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” There is no straddling the fence between flesh and Spirit. We have to choose!

The phrase ”life everlasting” speaks of the life of bliss and glory in the kingdom of God which awaits the true disciples of Christ after the resurrection. This is the greatest harvest imaginable. In Ephesians 1:13, the Bible says, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.” When we sow in the Spirit, we will be sealed by the same Holy Spirit for the promise of eternal life, but we will also experience the power of the kingdom of God while still on earth.

In the flesh, I had to work for a harvest that never came, but living in the Spirit, I can experience my harvest right now!

God Bless!

Marshall

Nov 5, 2021 – Micah 6:8 – walk humbly with thy God

Hi Everyone!

God desires His children to live lives to please Him. He not only requires this, but He loves us so much that He actually equips us to be able to reflect Him in our actions, in our behaviors, in our attitude, and in our hearts. When people see us, it is supposed to make perfect sense when they find out that we are believers. I remember a time in my life when people couldn’t believe that I actually read my Bible, because of my bad behavior. Praise God that He continued to mature me, that His Word has life in me, because now, it makes perfect sense that I am a believer. The more I grew spiritually, the more I wanted to live my life to please God, and I became even more grateful, because I understood that’s what God requires of us, and He has already provided us with the means to fulfill it. Today, we will look at Micah 6:8, walking humbly with the Lord.

”He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”

The word “shewed” means “to reveal, to explain, to make manifest, to make known, or to cause to see”. This suggests God has gotten our attention in order to direct it to something He wants to reveal to us. In 1 Corinthians 2:9-10, the Bible says, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” God has things available for us that our minds are unable to comprehend, but He equips and prepares us because He loves us and we love Him.

In John 15:15, Christ says, “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for ALL THINGS that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” Christ is revealing all things given to Him by God for the people He calls friends, so the amount of revelation we receive depends on the level of the relationship we have with God. in Matthew 13:11, the Bible sspeaks of Christ, “He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.” Because we are the children of God, heirs of the promise, and because the Holy Spirit is guiding us into all truth, we have access to the mysteries of God.

Now that we understand that God has revealed to us His mysteries, how does this apply to our lives. The word “good” means “well-pleasing, morally correct, or fruitful.” The word “good” expresses the Word and command of God being fulfilled because in Genesis 1:3-4, it says, “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was GOOD: and God divided the light from the darkness.” Why was the light “good”? Because God commanded for it to come forth and it did, exactly as He commanded it to. So, from this we can understand that the will of God is good, and if we can receive God’s will into our lives, our lives will be good as well as pleasing to Him.

The word “require” means “to seek or ask of for worship”. What does the Lord require? In John 4:24, Christ says, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” We can’t worship God from a worldly perspective, nor can we sprinkle in lies and expect to please God in our worship. In Deuteronomy 10:12-13 the Bible says, “And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?” When we love the Lord, and walk in the Lord’s ways, keeping His commands, and serving Him with an undivided heart and soul, not only will we experience a God who is well-pleased with us, but we will also come to the understanding that this is all of our good!

“but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”

The phrase “do justly” means “to live righteously unto others.” This means we treat people how God wants us to treat them.

The phrase “love mercy” means “to join oneself to another, in order to imitate God in compassion, in love, and in kindness towards our brothers and sisters.

The word “humbly” means “lowly, not considering oneself, but what is pleasing to God.” In Hosea 12:6, the Bible says, “Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment and wait on thy God continually.”

When we set our hearts to serve the Lord completely, justice, mercy, and humility will be natural attributes of our character that points to God’s presence in our lives. God shows us what He requires, and He also shows us that He will prepare us to perform what He requires, so if God doesn’t get from us what He requires, then the blame is solely on us!

God bless!

Marshall

Nov 6, 2021 – 1 Corinthians 11:1 – be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ

Hi Everyone!

Our greatest sermon is our conduct, how we carry ourselves as believers in the world. People will forget sermons, won’t receive teachings, but they can recall our character at a moment’s notice. What does our character reflect? Does the love of God come off in our interactions with people, and in the midst of conflict, does self-control and gentleness project from our persons? When our behaviors line up with the Word of God, it makes our witness more effective, and it also makes the Holy Spirit’s work in us more visible. Everything we are and do should point to Christ, because whether we are on the pulpit, or the last row, last seat in the congregation, our message has come from our mouths and also our lives. Our pastorate should actively pursue Christ, we should actively pursue Christ, and those who follow us should actively pursue Christ. The Church should be one movement towards Christ. Today, we will look at 1 Corinthians 11:1, leaders being followers of Christ.

”Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”

The word “followers” mean “imitators”. This is where we get a variation of the word “mime” in the English language, which suggest that a person follows the exact movements of the person they are observing. In Matthew 28:20, Christ says, “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

The word “observe” mean “to obey, to keep watchfully and vigilantly”. In order to be taught to observe something effectively, we must hear the instruction and be shown how to do what is being asked of us. The disciples had Christ’s teachings, but they also saw Christ work, so when Christ left this commission, he was certain they could perform all that is commanded. In John 14:26, Christ says, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” We also have the Holy Spirit, which will lead us into living the life God intends us to live. We are never without the Word of God as believers, because God wants to ensure that we have everything we need to follow Him.

In 1 Corinthians 4:16, the Bible says, “Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.” Paul followed Christ, Timothy followed Paul, and now Paul is encouraging the Church to follow Timothy, giving them the assurance that he has been taught by Paul and of The Holy Spirit. All teaching is supposed to show people the way to Christ, and all teachers must be followers of Christ.

In Ephesians 5:1-2, the Bible says, “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” When we follow God, our walks should be one of love and sacrifice, lives that are pleasing to God.

In John 13:14-15, Christ says, “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” What we have been given by Christ, we have to give to others as well. No job was beneath Christ, including washing His disciples’ feet. We must be willing to give what we have to those in need.

In Acts 3:6, the Bible says, “Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” What we don’t have means nothing when it comes to our following Christ. In 2 Corinthians 8:12, the Bible says, “For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.” Christ’s only desire was fulfilling the Word of God and doing the things that pleased God. Christ was provided everything He needed to please God. So are we!

In Philippians 3:17, the Bible says, “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.” As followers of Christ, it would be in our best interest to seek a community of people who are following Christ as well, so we have a constant flow of spiritual examples for us to reference. Sometimes, we have to be shown how to love our wives, how to raise our children, how to pursue friendships by watching those in the faith.

In 1 Thessalonians 1:5, the Bible says, “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.” Followers of Christ have power, the Holy Spirit, and faith. When we share the faith, this same power can be transferred!

May our following Christ lead to others doing the same.

God Bless!

Marshall

Nov 7, 2021 – Nahum 1:7 – The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble

Hi Everyone!

During the course of my life as a believer, I have encountered some amazing moments in the faith. Even in prison, I have been the recipient of God’s favor continuously, no matter how hard times have gotten. I have been in moments and times where I had no idea how I would make it through, but God stepped in and worked everything out, turning the test into a testimony. Brothers have seen me endure loss from deaths to family members, and the same day, I am helping someone else work through their pain. When asked how could I put someone else’s pain above mine in the moment, I could only point to God’s strength, to God’s power, and to God’s peace. In my darkest moments, I cleaved to God and He worked everything out on my behalf. Experiencing the Word of God’s in my life causes me to fully understand that God really has my back! Today, we will look at Nahum 1:7, the great defense of God.

”The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.”

The word “good” means “kind and benevolent”. In Psalm 25:8-9, the Bible says, “Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.”

God had an intention for this world when He created it. He intended to create a world for mankind to have dominion over and more importantly, God desired us to fellowship with him openly and freely. Despite our sin, God’s intention is still the same, and He still is trying to teach us His way. In Psalm 33:4-5, the Bible says, “For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth. He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.” We can look at the earth and behold the goodness of the Lord. We can experience truth, righteousness, and the moving hand of the Lord and see the goodness of God. In Lamentations 3:25-26, the Bible says, “The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.” The word “wait” speaks of an expectation of His promises coming to pass. The word “seeketh” means “to pursue or follow in order to worship”. God responds to our faith and our worship with His goodness, and we should hope and patiently expect God’s salvation to come.

In 1 Chronicles 16:34, the Bible says, “O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.” We should always have a heart of gratitude when we experience the goodness of God, because His goodness and mercy are available to us forever. Don’t think so? In Psalm 23:6, the Bible says, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” Believers have eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord, so if goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives, then it has to be forever!

“a strong hold in the day of trouble”

The phrase “strong hold” means “a fortified place, a place of defense, a place of strength”. In Psalm 46:1-2, the Bible says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.” God IS, not WAS, but GOD IS! There are too many people who say they are believers but don’t believe that the miracles God performed through His children back in the “Bible days” are still available to us today. This verse says, “a very present help”, so this means we can call on God’s help and He will respond today! The word “day” means time, and the word “trouble’ means “distress, adversity, or affliction”. In Psalm 62:6-7, the Bible says, “He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.” The key word in these verses is “ONLY”. There is no other defense, refuge, or strength in the time of adversity or affliction but the Lord. If we look in another direction, we will be sorely disappointed.

“And he knoweth them that trust in Him”

The word “knoweth” is relational, not only meaning “to regard or consider” but it also suggest that God abides in us or becomes one with us.” The word “trust” means “to flee for protection, to confide in”. God knows the faithful from the unfaithful, knowing those who trust in Him. in Psalm 37:3, the Bible says, “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.” God takes care of those who place their full trust in Him. In Psalm 40:1, the Bible says, “I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.” God is always going to prove himself true, but it is our job to trust in Him.

I am trusting in the Lord for something great, and I have full confidence that God has already answered my prayer and is responding on my behalf. Are you?

God Bless!

Marshall

Nov 8, 2021 – Micah 7:5 – trust ye not … put ye not … keep the doors of thy mouth from

Hi Everyone!

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is life-changing in more than one way. It will lead someone to the knowledge and love of our God, which caused Him to sacrifice His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, for the sins of the world. He did this to give us another chance at a right relationship with Him if we believe in the Word and receive Christ as Lord and Savior. The Gospel also establishes our new identities as sons and daughters of God, friends of Jesus Christ, and shows us that we have inherited the gift of eternal life. Christ assured us that after He left, we would receive the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, to guide us into all truth. Amid such amazing promises The Bible also reveals that the Gospel at work in us will cause divisions within the family structure, separation from the people closest to us, and that our foes can be in our own house. Are we prepared for the day our family and friends despise us for seizing the Gospel? Today, we are going to look at Micah 7:5, the destruction of our support system for the sake of the construction of the Gospel.

”Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.”

The word “trust” conveys a notion of faithfulness and trustworthiness such as one can depend on. The word “friend” means “an associate, acquaintance, or companion”.  This isn’t saying that we shouldn’t trust our friends, but it is saying that our trust for our friends should not outweigh or replace our trust in the Lord. In Jeremiah 17:5-6, the Bible says, “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.” The person who trusts in a friend over God is the person that places a curse upon them and departs from the presence of the Lord. That person is going to experience dry places, hard times, and all of their attempts to grow will be in vain. In Hosea 13:9, the Bible says, “O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help.” If we look to a friend for help first instead of God, we are setting ourselves up for failure, because in Psalm 121:1-2, the Bible says, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.” Trusting in creation instead of the Creator is not wise, and it will only lead to us not getting the help we need.

‘Put ye not confidence in a guide.”

The word “confidence” means “to hie for refuge, having a feeling of safety and security, or relying on”. The word “hie” implies we instinctively run towards someone or something at the first sign of trouble. The word “guide” means “a leader of a nation or group”. This leader could be in our or outside of the Church. Not every leader is going to have the right motives and intentions for the people under their leadership. In Jeremiah 50:6, the Bible says, “My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.” We have to place our full trust in God and in His Word, instinctively running to the presence of the Lord in all situations, not just trouble. In 1 John 4:1, the Bible says, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” We have to be careful with whom we place our trust, Not everyone has our best interests at heart.

“Keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.”

The word “keep” means “watch carefully over”. The word “mouth” is referred as an instrument of speech. This once again is speaking of those who talk to, and entrust their cares to their spouses ahead of talking to God. In Judges 16:15, the Bible says, “And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.” In Proverbs 31:3, the Bible says, “Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.” We have to be careful who we entrust our strength to, who we share our vision with. Even our spouse can despise what God is doing in our lives, and plot against us. Didn’t Michal despise David, when he danced with all his might when the Ark of the Covenant came back to Israel?

In Matthew 10:36-37, Christ says, “And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”

God isn’t asking us to not love or trust people. A life without trust is a prison in itself. God is commanding that we put nothing in front of HIM!

God Bless!

Marshall

Nov 9, 2021 – Judges 18:5 – ask counsel, we pray thee, of God

Hi Everyone!

As a newly committed believer, I used to have it bad, always going my own way instead of seeking God’s direction. I was so excited to be serving the Lord, so excited to be reaching after all of the untapped potential I had when I was free that I put grind above God. Many times, I placed myself in situations where I had to turn back and go to the spot where I decided to veer off from where God was directing me, and then go in the direction God desired for me to go. Sometimes, the direction we want to take isn’t bad in itself, but what makes it bad is if we go at it in our own strength, without seeking the Lord’s guidance. Seeking God’s guidance and moving according to God’s leading is vital in all believers lives, because the only true success is given by the Lord. Today, we are looking at Judges 18:5, inquiring of the Lord to make our journeys prosperous.

”And they said unto him, Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous.”

The phrase ”ask counsel” means ”to inquire, or to request the perspective and direction”. The phrase ”we pray thee” means ”to say please, to beg”. Seeing God’s direction is extremely important, and if someone has to be begged to inquire of God, then it must be vital. When David and his men were at war, the Amalekites invaded Ziglag, David’s home, and burned it with fire, also taking their families. David and his men came home to find destruction. In 1 Samuel 30:7-8, the Bible says, ”And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David. And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.” Despite David’s anguish, despite his anger, David still stopped and inquired of the Lord before he went after those responsible. This was a mighty warrior of God, but he knew his strength meant nothing without God’s leading.

Let’s look at something else here. In 1 Samuel 30:6, the Bible says, ”And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.” David was not only in great distress, but his men wanted to stone him for something he had nothing to do with. Even in the midst of struggle, David ”encouraged himself” in the Lord, which means ”to strengthen oneself, to fortify oneself” in the Lord. David knew where his strength came from, and instead of moving, he reached after God. In Isaiah 40:31, the Bible says, “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” David knew nothing else could strengthen him at this very perilous time in his life, so he leaned on the Lord for strength and guidance. How many of us are shaken by adversity so deeply that we won’t ask God for help?

The phrase “may know” means “to discern, to recognize, to understand”. This phrase suggests that we position ourselves to not only receive the Word from the Lord, but we become one with it in order to carry it out.

The word “way” means “a road, a course of life, or a mode of action”. In Proverbs 19:20-21, the Bible says, “Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.” We have to come to the Lord and ask of Him where we should go, how shall we do it, and whether we will get victory when we go there. Our own way will fail if we aren’t led by the Lord, but however the Lord directs us on will stand against anything.

In 2 Samuel 22:31, the Bible says, “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.” When we surrender our way to receive God’s way, we will see just how faithful God is, and we will discover just how perfect God’s way is. God knows exactly what we are to do and how to position us for the success he wants us to have.

The word “prosperous” means “profitable”. In Genesis 24:56, the Bible says, “And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.” We shouldn’t allow anyone or anything to hinder the way that God has made for us. We also should never embark on any journey without being assured that God has directed it.

In Genesis 39:3, the Bible says, “And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.” When we go our own way instead of the way God desires for us, we won’t prosper, but if He sends us, He will be with us every step of the way to ensure we prosper!

God Bless!

Marshall

Nov 10, 2021 – Jeremiah 18:6 – behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand

Hi Everyone!

God formed us with a distinct purpose, something only we are able to do. We were created with an innate uniqueness, and God created to be set apart, able to be guided into the calling He has over our lives. Sadly, in our rebellious nature, we work against the purpose of God by trying to shape our own direction, by trying to blaze our own trail, also by trying to declare to God who we are and will be. Some of us run like Jonah, fearful to face up to what God has for us. God desires for us to submit ourselves completely to Him for Him to have reign and dominion in our lives. This is the only way we can truly be successful, if we allow God to shape and mold us into who He has created us to be. People judge success by money, job, or fame, but God judges success by our willingness to become everything we were created to be. Today we will look at Jeremiah 18:6, clay in the Potter’s hand.

”O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.”

The word “potter” speaks of a person who squeezes clay into shape, someone who moulds something into form”. God was growing weary of Israel, because they were going at things their own way, trying to order the course for their life. In Psalm 37:23, the Bible says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” A “good” man, someone who is performing exactly how God created them to perform. Remember when God called for light in the beginning and the light appeared, how did God feel about it? In Genesis 1:4, the Bible says, “And God saw the light, that it was GOOD: and God divided the light from the darkness.” Good is a word that shows the pleasure God takes in something becoming exactly what it is created to be.

In order for us to be moulded into form, squeezed into shape, and for God to make a determination of what we will become, we have to believe that He had this in mind since the beginning. In Genesis 2:7, the Bible says, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” In the beginning, we were in the Father’s hands, being moulded into form. We are the only thing in creation that God actually touched with His hands when He created it. Imagine the amount of love God put into his creation, in making us special, forming not only our bodies, but his good purpose in us.

In Ephesians 1:4-5, the Bible says, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will”. He purposed us to be holy and without blame from the beginning, knowing full well we would be adopted into the family by the salvation of Jesus Christ. God created us miraculously from such a simple substance, dirt, and put His whole purpose for mankind in us! In 1 Corinthians 1:28-29, the Bible says, “And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.” God takes us from such humble beginnings so one can say that they are the reason for their “success”.

The word “clay” means “mire of the earth”. The word “hand” means “power, means, or direction”. In Romans 9:20-21, the Bible says, “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?” Why do we speak against God, like He doesn’t know exactly what He is doing when He created us? I could easily say, “God, why did I have to come to prison in order for You to form this ministry in me?”, but the life experience I have is unique, and many don’t make it back from the pits I became stuck in. I can talk to both the saint and sinner, and clearly relate to both. Praise God for forming me with my disobedience in mind, using the harsh lessons learned for His glory!

In Psalm 37:4, the Bible says, “Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” The word “delight” means “be pliable, able to be formed”. When we allow God to form us into who He has called us to be, we will be able to access the provision of the kingdom, because His desires will then become our desires!

In Isaiah 64:8, the Bible says, “But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” When we declare to the Lord that He is our Father, and we are the work of His power, it is the same thing as presenting ourselves to the Lord, saying, “Use me!”

May we become clay in the Potter’s hands, able to be used by our loving God!

God Bless!

Marshall

Nov 11, 2021 – 1 John 5:14 – he heareth us

Hi Everyone!

God is our Father, and as our Father, He loves to give us what we ask for. Sometimes, we are disobedient, other times we lack faith, we ask for things that complete our selfish desires, or we ask for things that God doesn’t want us to have according to the purpose He has for our lives. God is never going to give us something that will block His purpose in our lives. Too many people don’t get what they asked for and then blame God for what they didn’t get, but our God has a greater plan in place, one that is not only going to bless our lives, but is going to bless the lives of people we touch. I thank God for telling me ”No” and ”Not now” when it came to certain prayers, because I wouldn’t have been ready to receive what God would’ve given for the purpose He intended. Sometimes, we aren’t ready for what God wants to give us. Today, we will look at 1 John 5:14, having confidence in asking God for what we want.

”And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us”

The word “confidence” means “assurance, all-outspokenness, or frank reliance”. This isn’t just being sure, but this means that we have no problem with boldly professing our faith out loud. In Mark 11:22-23, Christ says, “And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he SAITH shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he SAITH. God is not looking for “closet Christians” who are unwilling to experience God’s faithfulness out of fear of disappointment. Sometimes, God will tell us to leave the confines of our comfort in order to experience the higher level of His comfort. Will our mouths profess that God’s will is perfect at times of great inconvenience? Where is our confidence; is it in the circumstances we face, or is it in God, who holds both the strength to endure and the keys to deliverance?

In Hebrews 10:35, the Bible says, “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.” There is a reward because of our confidence in the Lord. The Lord loves those who place their trust in Him.

Think not?

In Jeremiah 17:7, the Bible says, “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.” The Lord is ready to rain down blessings upon those who trust in Him, but do we have that outspoken faith, that frank reliance upon God? 

In Ephesians 3:12, the Bible says, “In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.” We get our boldness not from arrogance, but from faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, by cleaving to the Word of God in truth. Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Our faith is only in the living Word of God.

“If we ask any thing according to His will, he heareth us.”

The word “ask” means “to beg, to desire, or to require”. The key word to this second half of the verse is “IF”. How many of us don’t ask God for what we desire out of fear we won’t get it? “If we ask”.

In Matthew 7:7, Christ says, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you”. Now on the surface, it seems like this is all inclusive, that we can just ask God for anything, and He will give it to us. Here is where common sense comes in, because God isn’t going to give us something that is going to ruin the purpose He has for us. In James 4:3, the Bible says, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” Sometimes, God says “no” to save us from ourselves! Other times, He says “no” if our hearts aren’t right. Would you hand your car keys to a ten year old and tell them they can go on a cross country road trip with their friends?

The phrase “according to His will” is another key, because God’s will comes first. The word “according” implies a “oneness” with God’s will. His will becomes our will! There is always a condition we must meet in order for God’s will to be dispensed. The phrase “His will” means “the determination, purpose, or pleasure”. Have we taken the time to ever inquire of God what His will is before we asked for whatever we desired of Him?

In 1 John 3:22, it says, “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” Another condition. Are we following the Word of God? If we aren’t aligned with the Word of God or the will or God, then how can we ever expect God to “hear” us, meaning ‘to regard and listen in order to answer our prayers”?

The Word of God comes first, the will of God is then received, and then we can ask God in confidence, because what we ask God for will be aligned with His will. Watch how many prayers get answered this way! 

God Bless!

Marshall

Nov 12, 2021 – 1 John 5:15 – and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask

Hi Everyone!

Do we believe that when we pray for something according to the will of God, that our prayers are already answered? God desires this level of confidence from us, that we carry ourselves as if the prayers we offer up already belong to us, and celebrate the victory as if what we prayed for is in our hands. That is like the runner who celebrates winning the race before they enter the starting blocks, fully confident of the ending. This is true faith, that full assurance that God not only hears our prayers, but He responds in His own perfect timing that will greatly benefit His purpose in our lives. Many of us pray for something, and then worry about what we pray for, as if we won’t get it. God wants children who place their full trust in Him in prayer. Today, we will look at 1 John 5:15, a confident prayer life.

”And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”

The word ”know” doesn’t just imply that someone is ”fully assured or confident.” When we know something, it becomes a part of who we are, and what we know becomes second nature. This is why we need to cleave to the Word of God, and understand what the Bible says about prayer, belief, and faith. All three should bring us right back to the Word.

The word ”hears” means ”to heed, listen to, regard in order to answer our prayers.” We must first believe that God wants to answer our prayers. In Matthew 7:11, Christ says, ”If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” Christ gave us something we can understand, being parents, giving good gifts to our children who ask us. There is nothing we don’t want to do for our children, and it bothers us when there is something they want that we can’t do. 

In Matthew 7:8, Christ also says, ”For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” God wants to grant our requests, and open up the provision of the kingdom to us. In John 9:30-31, the Bible says, ”The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.” This blind man was blind from birth, and was healed by Christ. He never asked for healing in the text, but Christ saw him, had compassion on him, and gave him his sight. He understood that if a person does the will of God, God will hear him, and now he was sharing this testimony with the Pharisees! God sometimes will give us things that we never asked for!

Here is an example of someone who got what they asked for.

In Mark 10, blind Bartimaeus was by the highway side begging. He heard Jesus was walking by, and in Mark 10:47, it says, ”And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.” Have we ever cried out to God in prayer? Have we ever ignored the people telling us to hold our peace when we were crying out to God? In Mark 10:51-52, the Bible says, ”And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.” Blind Bartimaeus cried out, ignored the people trying to silence him, and when Christ asked him what we wanted, he made his request. Did this text say anything about Bartimaeus’ belief? Not one thing! His faith and belief was projected in his actions!

”Whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”

”Whatsoever” sounds all-inclusive, but remember, we must ask God according to His will.

In Mark 11:24, Christ says, ”Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” The word ”ask” means ”to beg, to request, or to desire.”

The word ”petitions” means ”objects sought”. In John 15:7, Christ says, ”If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” When we become one with God, our priorities, our desires, and what we ask for changes. We become children who desire to please our Father, and God responds by answering our prayers, knowing they are prayers according to His will. In John 14:13, Christ says, ”And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.’‘ God’s answered prayers bring glory back to Him, allowing us to reveal His power to others through our testimony. 

Blind Bartimaeus cried out, God heard him and responded answering his prayer. May we have his level of confidence in our prayers too.

God Bless!

Marshall

Nov 13, 2021 – 2 Corinthians 3:6 – the Spirit giveth life

Hi Everyone!

As believers, all things become new. Gone are the day of trying to do the right thing to make oneself square with God, gone are the days of trying to keep the law that is impossible for us to keep, and gone is seeking our own righteousness. As children of God, we are partakers of the new covenant, one where the blood of Jesus Christ has freed us from the law of sin and death, where we have the beautiful opportunity to experience life and peace through Jesus Christ our Lord. God already has provision in place for us, ready to bestow it upon all who receive Christ as Lord and Savior, but some of us will receive Christ as Lord and Savior, but still cleave to the provisions of the law. There is a difference in doing right out of God’s love in our hearts and out of God’s love for us, and us doing right on our own hoping to be made righteous in the sight of God. The law exposed our sin, but the Spirit of God exposed life and freedom. Today, we will look at 2 Corinthians 3:6, the power of the new covenant to make us able ministers in the Spirit.

”Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”

The phrase “hath made us able” means “to enable or to qualify,” The word “ministers” means “an attendant, a Christian teacher or preacher, teaching the divine things of God.” The “Who” is God, because it is God that enables and qualifies us to share the Word of God with others. In Jeremiah 1:6-7, the Bible says, “Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.” The first thing the majority of us say when we are commanded to speak the Word of God to someone else is, “I don’t know enough Bible to do this”, or “I’m not ‘that’ saved yet”, or yet still “I am too jacked up to help someone else.” We immediately go to our qualifications, but what we see in ourselves is way different than what God sees in us.

In Exodus 4:10-12, the Bible says, “And Moses said unto the LORD, O my LORD, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.” When God qualifies us to be servants of Him, He will give us the Words to say, the people to say it to, and His power is going to work mightily in us. All we have to do is trust God enough to show up ready!

The “New Testament” is the new covenant that provides the forgiveness of sins, salvation from the penalty of death, eternal life, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, allowing us to operate in the earth as Christ did. The word “new” implies something not known before, something newly introduced, and it also implies better. The word “testament” means “covenant, or contract”. 

In Hebrews 9:16-17, the Bible says, “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.” The New Testament didn’t activate until after Christ died, but it was in place before Christ walked the earth as God robed in flesh.

In Jeremiah 31:31, the Bible says, “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah”. God already prepared this covenant for us through the death of Christ. In Hebrew 8:6-7, “But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.” The new covenant provides us a better position and better promises, allowing us to operate according to the spiritual nature that works in us!

“not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”

The “letter” refers to the writings of the Mosaic law, but the “spirit” refers to the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, by which the apostles and early Christians were endowed with high supernatural qualifications for their work, remaining with us, imparting to us spiritual knowledge, aid, consolation, sanctification, and making intercession with and for us. This is the gift that Christ has given us by His death. In Romans 7:6, the Bible says, “But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.” God ensured that through salvation by Jesus Christ, we now have access to live according to the spirit and have deliverance from the curse of the law.

In John 6:63, Christ says, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” If Christ came so we can have life and that more abundantly, then abundant life has to come through the Spirit of our Lord.

In Romans 7:9, it says, “For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.” The law only reveals the sin that is in us, and the awareness that there is nothing we could do to pay for our sins. The law showed us that we need a Savior and perfect sacrifice for sins, that through faith in Jesus Christ, we can have real life for the first time. In Romans 8:2, the Bible says, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” When we understand what Covenant we are under, that we have life through the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, that we have ministry through the Word the Holy Spirit gives us to say, we will become able ministers of the new covenant.

Let us lay down the law and take up the spirit, receiving life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

God Bless!

Marshall

Nov 14, 2021 – 2 Corinthians 4:2 – commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God

Hi Everyone!

We have been given an incredible responsibility when we became children of God. Not only must we live in love as children of God but we have to receive and convey God’s Word in truth. There is a lot of mixture in the Church, a lot of people mishandling the Word of God, treating the traditions of men like sound doctrine of God, and people are being led astray in the process. We must renounce every shameful thing, every lie, and every misdeed that keeps us from the full fellowship of God. God desires us to walk in truth, confident that the Holy Spirit working in us produces a righteousness in us that we can’t do alone. If we know that something we are practicing is not Biblical, then it is time to let it go, because by our behaviour we project the Word of God to be a lie. Today, we are going to look at 2 Corinthians 4:2, renouncing a shameful life to seek a life of truth.

”But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”

The word “renounced” means “disowned”. The phrase “hidden things” implies things private or concealed, something one doesn’t want revealed.  The word “dishonesty” speaks to those things that are shameful or disgraceful. In Matthew 4:17, the Bible says, “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, REPENT: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The word “repent” means “a pious sorrow for unbelief and sin; and turning from them unto God and the gospel of Christ”. It also implies a change of place or condition. In order for someone to renounce something, they must believe that what they believed before was completely false, and not in keeping with who they are now.

In Acts 19:18-20, the Bible says, “And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.  So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.” The Word of God, the true and living Word of God, is the thing that causes true repentance in people, causing them to renounce their past, their poor decisions, and their shameful thoughts. This means no more secrets, no more hidden sins happening while projecting the image of salvation and power. In Romans 6:21-22, the Bible says, “What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” When we renounce the shameful, hidden things that stunted the growth of our relationship with God, we no longer have any fellowship with that old life, nor are we to identify with it anymore. That life is behind us, where it belongs.

“not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully”

The phrase “walking” means “to follow after, to tread all around, or to live as”. The word “craftiness” means “subtlety or trickery”.  When we repent or renounce the old life, it also means that we live differently, and live according to how God desires us to live. When Jacob lived, his name meant “trick or trickster”, and he lived his life accordingly, even cheating his brother Esau out of his birth right and blessing. Esau wanted to kill him, but Jacob fled. When it came time for Jacob to meet Esau again fear caused him to take many precautions to keep himself and his family safe. Right before he meets with Esau, he wrestles with God. In Genesis 32:27-28, the Bible says, “And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.” In order for God to lead Jacob into this new season, Jacob had to renounce his identity. In order for him to do that, he then must accept the name God has given him.

The phrase “handling the word of God deceitfully” implies that a person tampers with the Word of God which brings corruption to the Word and to the faith. This is the person that dilutes the Word of God, the person who twists the meaning of the Word causing people to be led astray. in Matthew 24:24, Christ warns “For 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.” Christ knew the day would come when people would preach false doctrine and deceive the church, and now Paul is admonishing the Church to make sure that it isn’t us doing the deceiving!

“But by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”

The word “manifestation” means “an exhibition or bestowment by God”. The phrase “commending ourselves” means “to present oneself as worthy”. In Colossians 1:28, the Bible says, “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus”.  Here is the responsibility portion and how it extends to our fellow brothers and sisters. We are to teach and receive the teachings of the Word of God in truth and “all wisdom”, so that the people we teach can stand before God as the righteousness of God in Christ.

The word “conscience” means “the faculty of the soul which distinguishes between right and wrong and prompts one to choose the former and avoid the latter.” The truth God exhibits in us allows us to be presented as worthy vessels of God by not only God, but by the people that lay their eyes upon us.

In 1 Timothy 4:12, the Bible says, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” The world will see us and know that God is at work in us. When we repent, renouncing those hidden things, we receive the bestowed truth of God, which not only allows us to receive and convey the Word of truth to others, but it changes our life to the point that it becomes obvious to others.

May our repentance lead to an accurate exhibition of the Lord’s presence and power in us.

God Bless!

Marshall

Nov 15, 2021 – 2 Corinthians 5:17 – if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature

Hi Everyone!

When we became believers, everything about us is changed! We not only have been forgiven of our sins, but our sin debt has completely been paid in full by the blood of Jesus Christ. We now have true redemption from the penalty of death for our sins, and we can fully experience the newness of life by the Holy Spirit of God. Everything is new now, because our old life, our old means of doing things, our old way of responding to situations, and our old selves are now buried. Sometimes, we don’t always feel saved, or feel different, but how we feel is not always real! The Word of God declares us new, and also declares that old things have passed away. Yet there are believers in the Church who can’t move on with their lives to experience this new thing, because they still cleave to what is dead and gone. Today, we are going to look at 2 Corinthians 5:17, being new creations in Christ.

”Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

The phrase ”any man” is all-inclusive, meaning everyone has access to this promise, but the condition is that we are believers. In John 3:16, the Bible says, ”For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’‘ God made this provision available to everyone, but we have the responsibility to receive the truth into our hearts and minds and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

In Romans 5:8, the Bible says, ”But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.’‘ God didn’t wait until we were first changed for this promise to be available to us. God made this promise available to us before we were even born, so God took our sin into account when Christ died for us and made certain His death would pay the cost for everything we have done. Please trust the Bible when it reveals that debt was paid and the gift was available before we arrived on earth to commit our first sin!

The phrase ”in Christ” is spoken of believers who receive salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, and become one with Christ relationally by our allowing our Triune God to made His abode in us. In John 15:4, Christ says, ”Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” A branch relies on the vine to supply everything it needs to survive, and as believers we attach ourselves to God by faith in Jesus Christ, allowing the Holy Spirit to supply everything we need to live Godly lives in Christ.

In Romans 8:9-10, the Bible says, ”But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” When we became believers, God attached us to the Spirit, so the Spirit could dwell in us. Something spiritual took place at salvation, and a death occurred, but will we believe that in order to fully seize the promises of God?

The phrase ”new creation” speaks of new Christians who are renewed and changed from evil to good by the Spirit of God. The word ”creation” means ”formation”, so salvation takes us right back to the beginning, where we were formed in the image and likeness of God, having His breath, that is His Spirit breathed into us, making us living souls! Hence the term ”reformed”! Titus 3:5 says, ”Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost”.  God’s work, not our righteousness, is what makes us new creations in Christ, but yet we have a Church full of people who still claim that they are unqualified, not good enough, not saved enough, still answering to the old man.

”Old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new”

The phrase ”passed away” means ”to perish”. The word ”become new” signifies an activation of newness due to our being in Christ as believers. We become new after we accept Christ as Lord and Savior and are saved by His blood. In Isaiah, 43:18-19, the Bible says, ”Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.’‘ God didn’t ordain this new thing to spring forth so we would continue to cleave to the old man, the old life, the old way. God didn’t make us new to remain stagnant in the faith. God made us new so we would answer to our new names, to our new identities, to our new lives in our promised land.

Will we accept our rightful place as children of God led by the Holy Spirit to live powerful lives here on earth? Salvation is only the beginning of what God has planned for us as new believers.

God Bless!

Marshall

Nov 16, 2021 – Zechariah 1:3 – Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts

Hi Everyone!

God has always sought His people to turn to Him. He has always desired relationship with us, one of open communication, one where we have direct and unrestricted access to God. Sin drove a wedge in between us and God but Christ’s death on the cross permanently broke that wedge, giving us the ability to once again commune with God again. God even did one better, allowing His Holy Spirit to dwell within us so we have God’s truth, His protection and His provision inside of us. Everything we need for the Godly life God desires us to live is now inside of us, and we have the kingdom of God inside us. If we keep a broken, dejected, pessimistic stance towards life, then it is now a choice, because God has given us every chance to experience life and peace by remaining in Him. Today, we will look Zechariah 1:3, turning to our loving God

”Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.”

The phrase ”Lord of hosts” refers to God as being the Commander of the angelic armies, but it also expresses God’s sovereignty over the entire earth. In Psalm 24:1 the Bible says, ”The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” Everything on the earth and in the earth belongs to God, because He created everything.

In Ephesians 1:4-5, the Bible says, ”According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.” God not only created us, but He chose us to stand before Him holy and in love, even the Gentiles, who were already chosen for adoption by Christ unto himself. The world and its occupants being exactly who God created them to be greatly pleases Him.

When David fought Goliath, Goliath fought from experience, but in 1 Samuel 17:45-46, the Bible says, ”Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.” David didn’t fight from experience, but instead, he fought Goliath in the name of the ”Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel”. David knew that his power came from God, and there would be no victory without God.

The phrase ”turn ye unto me” speaks of repentance, when we try to go our own way, chart our own course, live apart from God. There has to be a realization that the way we are going is wrong and displeasing to God, and this sorrow should make us desire to come back to the Lord. In 2 Corinthians 7:10, the Bible says, ”For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”  God desires for this sorrow to turn into repentance leading to salvation, not just sorrow without fruit. I used to always be sorry for the things I have done, but I always went right back out and did those same things I was sorry for all over again. I was convicted but there was no change. Why? Because there was no repentance. In Luke 13:3, Christ says, ”I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Because I refused to repent, choosing to remain sorry instead, I was headed for death, a life separate from God instead of with God.

In Matthew 3:8, the Bible says, ”Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance”. Repentance isn’t lip service. Fruit is what we see, and if a person is still acting like the world does, then where is the repentance? In 2 Corinthians 6:17-18, the Bible says, ”Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” There must be a physical turning from sin and turning to the Lord, a ”re-turning” to the Lord, and God will receive our repentance and re-establish us as children of God.

The whole point of repentance is for us to become children of God and God to be our Father, as God intended from the beginning. In Luke 15:7, Christ says, ”I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”  

Heaven rejoices because when someone repents, they become exactly what God has created them to be; children of God. If there is joy in heaven, then that means that God is pleased by our repentance.

God Bless!

Marshall

Nov 17, 2021 – 2 Corinthians 9:7 – God loveth a cheerful giver

Hi Everyone!

God has given us everything, including His only begotten Son, so that we may have eternal life through faith in His name. He did it from a place of love, and from a heart of willingness. What can we do to repay God for bringing us back from the dead? How can we extend our appreciation to God for all he has done for us? The greatest commands are to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves. So if we can extend our appreciation to God by obeying His word, by loving Him and loving our neighbors, why don’t we? Our love begins in the heart, our generosity begins in the heart, and our giving should carry the right motivation. What would be the purpose of giving when our heart is conflicted, holding on to the offering after we hand it to someone? Does that type of giving please God? Today, we will look at 2 Corinthians 9:7, being a cheerful and loving giver.

”Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

“Every man” is all-inclusive, it means that this applies to all of us. In Mark 12:31, Christ says, “And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”

Christ didn’t tell us that we can pick and choose here. If love is in our heart, then our neighbor is anyone, and we can’t pick and choose who we love and be in obedience to God in the process.

The word “according” implies the standard behind an action, the thing that drives our giving. “Purposed in his heart”, means “intend with one’s first mind, a premeditated, predetermined mindset.” When we make a decision to give, we should make this decision without a second thought. In Deuteronomy 15:7-8, the Bible says, “If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.” Love does not cause us as believers to shut our eyes to the needs of those around us. If we are able to give and we don’t, then what does that say about our love? What does that say about the measure in our hearts towards our brothers and sisters?”

In Romans 12:10, the Bible says, “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another”. Romans 12:13 says, “Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.” We are to esteem our brothers and sisters in Christ and our neighbors as well, and we are to do all we do with love, from the deepest place within us, which is the heart.

The word ”give” means “to bestow upon or offer up”. In John 3:16, the Bible says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” God gave us the greatest gift we could ever receive, His precious Son, and there are people who still reject His gift. He gave it because of the love in His heart toward us, to not see us die in our sins, but have the gift of eternal life.

There was no conflict in His mind about this gift because Isaiah 9:6, the Bible says, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is GIVEN: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” God’s mind was made up before Christ walked the earth as the Lamb of God.

The word “grudgingly” means “having an attitude of regret, reluctance about something done, usually out of a sense of obligation”. God doesn’t not want us cleaving to our gift, unwilling to let it go. In Exodus 25:2, the Bible says, “Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.” When our hearts are right before God, there is always a willingness to give and serve others.

The word “necessity” means “out of constraint, compulsion, or distress”. It also suggests giving done under pressure or legalism. In Luke 21:3-4, Christ says, “And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.” The widow gave two mites but it spoke louder because of her attitude about it. She gave more because her heart was in the right place.

The word “love” means “to regard with a strong affection”, and a “cheerful giver” is someone who willingly and enthusiastically bestows gifting upon others. It should make us feel good to give, to reach into our bounty and help someone out in need. It can be time, money, or our skill, but whatever it is, may we be cheerful givers!

God Bless!

Marshall

Nov 18, 2021 – Zechariah 3:4 – Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee

Hi Everyone!

I have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ! Somebody died knowing He was dying for me, knowing that by faith in His name, I can receive salvation, redemption, and eternal life. He died, knowing I was a murderer, knowing I was a robber, knowing that I sold drugs, stole cars, and engaged in gang activity. He saved me knowing I knew better, knowing I grew up in Church and went astray, living a life of lawlessness, knowing that I would lose myself in the process. To know that even when I lost myself, God never lost me, and no matter how bad I got, God wrapped His arms around me and welcomed me home when I repented of the evil I have done and sought His forgiveness. Me wearing the clothing of minister, counselor, friend, brother, and believer means so much to me, because I am truly reminded of the cost of this outfit I now wear. Today, we are going to look at Zechariah 3:4, being robed with new, clean clothing by God.

”And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.”

The phrase “take away” means “to remove”. The word “filthy” is one of the worst, vile terms that can be used to describe one’s uncleanliness. It means “soiled, as if excrementitious”. The root word “excrement” refers to bodily waste, so the level of spiritually uncleanliness has gotten to this point. The word “garments” means “clothing or a covering”. In Psalm 51:7, the Bible says, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” When we allow God to remove our filthiness from us, we will be clean. When we try to clean ourselves up, we will find our efforts futile. In Isaiah 64:6, the Bible says, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Our best efforts as believers to be righteous still amounts to filthy rags, something soaked in bodily waste! Please understand something in this topic verse. Joshua is the High Priest, and his garments are filthy.  This is indicative of the wave of priests and people that were constantly defiled throughout Israel’s history. We all can find ourselves in a state of defilement is we don’t allow God to reign in our lives.

The angel of the Lord commanded that the garment be removed from Joshua, which is further testimony that it is God who cleanses us and not anything we do. In Isaiah 43:25, the Bible says, “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” See, when God cleansed me from my filthiness, it was for God’s sake, not my own, and He cleansed me so He wouldn’t have to ever hold my past filth against me anymore. I am only who I am now because God ordered the angels to remove my filthy garments from me.

“Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee,”

The word “behold” suggests that God desires us to make a mental observation of something, that God really wants our attention. In John 1:29, the Bible says, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John the Baptist was determined to take people’s attention off him and onto Christ, the purpose behind his ministry. He boldly declared that Christ takes away the sins of the world, that Christ removes the filthy garments from us!

The word “iniquity” means “perversity, or moral evil”. Iniquity causes guilt within us that we can’t justify or remove  without Christ, and that guilt causes bondage. The phrase “to pass” means “to remove itself”, so God allows our iniquity to remove itself the same way clothes are removed. Micah 7:18-19, the Bible says, “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” We are incapable of cleansing ourselves of our unrighteousness. Only the blood of Christ can cleanse us, causing our iniquity to be removed in the process.

“And I will clothe thee with a change of raiment”

The word “clothe” means “to wrap around”. In Luke 15:22, Christ says, “But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.”  See, this verse means everything to me and as these tears are falling, I thank God for cleaning my filthiness, for changing my heart and life, from removing the stench of my sin from His nostrils. Praise God for clean clothes, to be clothed by our awesome God, turning a prodigal into a son!

God Bless!

Marshall

Nov 19, 2021 – 2 Corinthians 9:12 – is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God

Hi Everyone!

Our ministry brings glory to God. When we present ourselves to God in willing obedience, in selfless service, and with a heart to see people grow and prosper, God can make amazing things happen through us. How willing are we to love out loud, and tend to the needs of someone around us? When God has been so faithful to us, so giving and generous to us, will we pay this great deed forward by using our abundance to meet the needs of someone else? It doesn’t have to necessarily be money, because there are people in spiritual poverty, emotional poverty, and relational poverty, unable to break free on their own, unable to see that we have a God that is more than willing to give the kingdom of God to the poor in spirit. How thankful are we to God when we make conscious decisions to allow the people around us to suffer? What does that speak of our faith. Today, we are going to look at 2 Corinthians 9:12, a ministry of service that brings glory to God.

”For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God”

The word “administration” means “ministry, aid, attendance of alms collected.” The word “service” refers to public service. There has to be a certain attitude when it comes to giving, one that desires us to all be as equals. In Acts 2:44-47, “And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” See, when believers come together, and everyone is on one accord, we will see each other the same way we see ourselves, and other people’s needs will matter to us the same as ours do. Gladness will flourish through the Church through giving, and people will praise God in thanksgiving for all He has provided. God desires for our service, no matter what that service may be, to bring edification to the body of Christ for the glory of God.

In Mark 10:43-44, Christ says, “But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.” When we come together as one, the only thing that matters is the God we serve faithfully, and the people that will receive our ministry. Do you see that the individual isn’t in the equation? Our ministry, just like our love is about God and about people, not about us! We are conduits and vessels, conduits because the Holy Spirit flows through us like electrical pipes providing service to an appliance, and like vessels because the Holy Spirit fills us like cauldrons which can then be drawn from. This is why Romans 12:1 is so important when it says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Living sacrifices do not care about themselves, but they give themselves up for others.

“Not only supplieth the want of the saints, also by many thanksgivings unto God”

The word “supplieth” implies provision, something that is needed and profitable by someone else. The word “want” means “deficit, lack, and poverty”. The word “saints” refers to believers of Jesus Christ, the saved of the lord, the ones purified and sanctified by the influence of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 4:34-35, the Bible says, “Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.” See, when the Holy Spirit moves, and the Church is operating according to the Gospel of Christ, no one is going to go without! God gives abundance to some to balance out those who don’t have. This isn’t just about money, because believers have a lot more issues in their lives than just money. God created the Church to fill gaps from what He has bestowed upon all of us.

In Acts 3:6, the Bible says, “Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” Peter was the lead pastor of the Church, and he told the lame man he didn’t have the money he was looking for, but he had something better, The Name of Jesus Christ, which caused the lame man to walk. What did the lame man do? Acts 3:8 says, “And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.”

Our contributions to the faith will cause the ones we give to, to give God the praise, and glory is brought to God through our giving.

What is our giving producing?

God Bless!

Marshall

Nov 20, 2021 – Proverbs 11:27 – he that diligently seeketh good procureth favour

Hi Everyone!

I once asked a brother on my unit a simple question, ”What do you want out of life?” It is a very loaded question because the brother was involved in some activities that weren’t becoming to his character. The next question I would’ve asked is, ”Are the things you are doing consistent with what you say you want out of life?” In prison, it isn’t wise to tell people that their direction in life is the wrong path to take, so one has to ask questions that will get them to admit within themselves that they aren’t doing things consistent with what they truly want. We as believers are supposed to pursue good, the things God has ordained for us, because when we pursue good, it pleases our God and it brings us into His divine favor. When we seek evil, then our pursuits will eventually land us under horrible circumstances with even more worse consequences. Today, we will look at Proverbs 11:27, what are we in pursuit of?

”He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.”

The phrase ”diligently seeketh” means “to be early at any task, to search of painstakingly.” This isn’t someone just haplessly looking for something, but someone turning over stones, looking in caves, someone determined to find what they are looking for. In Jeremiah 29:13, the Bible says, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” We can’t be divided in any part of our search when it comes to the things of God. When we give our all to learning of the Lord, He will reveal Himself to us. In Hebrews 11:6, the Bible says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”  God rewards those who search Him out painstakingly.

The word “good” is a term that expresses God’s pleasure behind something becoming exactly what and who He created it to be. This is the will of God, for us to become exactly who we were created to be. So when we “diligently seeketh good” we are racing after the things of God, the things that God created us to experience in Him. God becomes the priority, what He wants and what He expects from us. In Matthew 6:33, the Bible says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Our search should be into what pleases God first, above anything, and that can be found in the Word of God, through prayer and through listening to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

The phrase “procureth favor” means “to strive after divine goodwill or God’s delight”. This also means that we are to seek the things that please our God. In Proverbs 3:3-4, the Bible says, “Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.” Our pursuit of God and the things of God should come from the deepest part of us, and when we strive after mercy and truth, to embed them in our minds and heart, we will find divine goodwill from God that will be visible to all.

In 3 John 1:11, the Bible says, “Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.” What we do and what we race after is a clear representation of what is at work inside of us. In Proverbs 12:2, the Bible says, “A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.” People want the favor of God, but won’t do the things that please Him. How can we say we are the children of God but the things of God are the last thing on our minds?

“But he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him”

The word “mischief” means “moral evil or trouble”. In Psalm 10:2, the Bible says, “The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.” The enemy will not only plot against the weak, poor and vulnerable, but they also aim to weaken the strong. If we attend to the enemy’s agenda, then we will aim to weaken ourselves and others as well, so our pathway to God becomes filled with hindrances and obstacles. Evil will always come back to the person who practices it. In Esther 7:10, the Bible says, “So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified.” Haman hated Mordecai because he wouldn’t bow down or reverence him, so he plotted to not only have Mordecai killed, but all the Jews living in the kingdom of Ahasuerus. Be careful to never plot against people who are favored of the Lord, because God not only rescued Mordecai, who diligently sought good, but He allowed Haman to be hanged in the same gallows that he had constructed for the death of Mordecai!

There is reward or retribution from what we painstakingly search out. Is it evil or good?

God Bless!

Marshall

Nov 21, 2021 – 2 Corinthians 12:9 – My grace is sufficient for thee

Hi Everyone!

God did not promise us a free ride filled with fun, wealth, and a care-free attitude. God assured us that we would have trouble, persecutions, afflictions, and struggles, but God also promised us that He would never leave us nor forsake us. Sometimes, God isn’t going to give us a way out of what we are going through, no matter how difficult it may be. Sometimes, our struggles are meant for us to endure as believers, so that we will understand that there is a power at work within us that far surpasses the power of our struggle. If God won’t remove our struggle, then He has already given us the provision to endure the struggle we face. Praise God for His provision under all circumstances, because His grace extends to much more than just salvation! Today, we will look at 2 Corinthians 12:9, God’s grace being sufficient under affliction.

”And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

A little back story. Paul had a thorn in his side, what he believed to be a messenger of Satan, which came to struggle with him to keep him humble. Paul did what any believer should do, ask for help. In Psalm 121:2, the Bible says, ”My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.” So Paul knows his help comes from the Lord, so he is looking for his help to come. Nothing. Paul asked again, because surely God will hear him if he asks twice. This was one of the lead pastors of the Church, a person who spoke directly with the risen Lord, but he still didn’t get an answer. Paul asks again, and then he got his answer, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” On the surface, to someone who doesn’t know God, this doesn’t sound like a good answer, but to someone who walks according to the Spirit and not of the flesh, this is the only answer that makes sense. Christ is telling Paul to experience His grace, to be a partaker of His strength.

Why? Because in Philippians 4:13, the Bible says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” ALL things, include enduring a thorn in the side, something that won’t go away. The word “grace” speaks of the divine and unmerited favor as exercised in conferring gifts, graces, and benefits on man, but it also pertains to God making up the difference from what we lack so we can be complete in Him. Think about the phrase “grace period” (for those who sometimes can’t make ends meet). A grace period gives us more time to make things right, but in God’s case, grace bridges the gap between where we are and where we need to be.

The word “sufficient” means “enough or satisfactory.” In Ephesians 2:8, the Bible says, “For BY GRACE are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God”. If grace was enough for salvation, then it is enough for thorns in the side and for sanctification as well. Christ said His grace was sufficient “for thee”. That is telling us that we already have what we need to endure affliction in Christ.

“for my strength is made perfect in weakness”

The word “strength” means “miraculous power”. The phrase “made perfect” means “accomplished, completed, or fulfilled”. The word “weakness” means “moral frailty or feebleness”. See, Paul asked the wrong question in asking for the thorn to be removed. Christ wants to do a miracle in the face of our frailty, and show Himself power in the midst of our affliction. Why? In 1 Corinthians 2:5, “That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” Sometimes, God requires us to abandon our path of what we think will work, and exchange it for His power to move mightily in us. God wants to leave no question that it is Him that carried us through our thorn.

“Most gladly therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me”

The word “gladly” displays an attitude that makes Paul receptive to the suffering because he gets it now! The word “glory” means “to rejoice”. The word “infirmities” means “moral frailties”. 1 Peter 4:14, the Bible says, “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” We must understand that when God allows us to experience affliction, it is so His power can work in us.

The word “power” means “miraculous force”. The word “rest” means “to tent upon, or abide”. Sounds a lot like a covering, right? In Ephesians 3:16, it says, “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man”. This is true wealth, knowing that the power of Christ makes the difference, that it conquers suffering and affliction, giving us the power to not only endure but triumph!

Isn’t that something to be glad about?

God Bless!

Marshall

Nov 22, 2021 – 2 Corinthians 12:10 – for when I am weak, then am I strong

Hi Everyone!

How is our response when trouble comes? Do we hide in a cave somewhere, fearful of the devastation, or do we see affliction as a way for God to manifest His strength and power in us? The truth is, no one in their right minds wants to endure suffering if they don’t have to, but if we are able to view our sufferings through the eyes of Christ, we would see that our faithful endurance under trial pleases our God. God doesn’t allow trouble to arise so we can suffer, but that through the experience, we can see what a mighty God we serve, because His grace fills the voids caused by the suffering. Our perspective in the face of trouble determines what we learn from our trouble. God gives us the privilege of seeing our weaknesses turn into strength, for us to declare God’s strength in the face of weakness. Today, we will look at 2 Corinthians 12:10, taking pleasure in the strength of God, despite the experience and appearance of weakness.

”Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

The word ”pleasure” means ”to think well of, or to view with favor.” Paul had a thorn in his flesh, something that had to be a struggle to experience as evidence by him asking the Lord to remove it three times. Christ responds to his request, actually responds, and tells Paul to take hold of His grace, and to rely on His strength. See, we have to see beyond what is happening to us, and leave behind what we think would work against the ‘thorns’ in our flesh.

In Romans 5:3-5, the Bible says, ”And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” So in the midst of our trial, there is a process that happens inside and outside of us that produces a hope in the Lord, and an outpouring of love in our hearts by the Holy Ghost. Don’t think that when we are under some form of affliction, it is for no reason? There is always a reason behind anything that God allows us to go through. In James 1:2-4, the Bible says, ”My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” God sees fit for us to go through turbulence so we can build patience. This isn’t the ”waiting” kind of patience, but the ”I am going to remain rooted in the Word and relationship with God no matter what” kind of patience. This patience ensures that we will be complete in God, lacking nothing we need to be who God has called us to be. Who would’ve thought that trials build a resiliency in us as believers to be thoroughly equipped for everything that comes our way?

The word ”infirmities” means ”moral frailties”. Paul’s real struggle was within, because he writes in Ephesians 6:12, ”For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Spiritual battles have to be fought in the Spirit.

The word ”reproaches” means ”insolence, harm or injury”. The word ”necessities” means ”unavoidable distress or calamity”. There are going to be things in life that we must go THROUGH, but note in Psalm 34:19, the Bible says, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” When we understand that we have real victory in Jesus Christ, then we know that our afflictions, our distresses, our calamities, and our trouble has a spiritual expiration date, even when the physical situation doesn’t change. The word “distresses’ means “calamity or the narrowness of a room”. This is a time when the walls close in around us and we feel trapped, but in 2 Corinthians 2:14, the Bible says, “Now thanks be unto God, which ALWAYS causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.” When the walls close in, we have freedom and victory in Christ!

“For when I am weak, then am I strong”

The word “weak” means “feeble, or impotent”. Impotent is a term that expresses a person’s lack of power to procreate, a direct contradiction to God’s command for us be fruitful and multiply. The word “strong” means “powerful or capable”. In 2 Corinthians 13:4, the Bible says, “For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.”

Only God can turn our weakness into strength, but we must faithfully endure the struggle, viewing the thorns in our flesh with favor. It truly changes our perspective, knowing we can still be strong no matter how afflicted we may be.

God Bless!

Marshall

Nov 23, 2021 – Deuteronomy 4:6 – keep therefore and do them

Hi Everyone!

Our obedience to the Word of God pleases God, and establishes us as the children of God in the world. The world watches believers ever so closely, to see if we are really of the faith, or if we are Christians who pay more ”lip service” than true service to God. Do we realize that, as believers, we represent our Father and we represent the Word of God’s power and authority over our lives. How can we ever get a world to love and obey God when they can’t see these traits in us? As representatives of the kingdom of God, it is important that we display the truth, in not only our speech, but in our conduct, because the world will see it and give God the glory for establishing a people set apart for Him. We can only become a great people by living the Word of God out loud. Today, we are going to look at Deuteronomy 4:6, the worldwide impact of our obedience.

”Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”

The word “keep” means “to observe, to take heed, to obey”. The word “do” implies that we accomplish or perform the Word of God. The only way we can keep the Word of God is if we do what it says. In Luke 6:46-48, Christ says, “why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.”

Who we are as believers is connected to what we do as believers, and our identity in Christ is in our obedience to His Word. Our stability in our faith is the result of our obedience to the Word of God. In Deuteronomy 30:20, the Bible says, “That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.” Our love for the Lord comes through our relationship with Him, where, through His Word, we discover His love for us, the sacrifices made for us, and the plan God had that included us when we were severely broken and flawed. How can we not love God, and cleave to Him in spiritual marriage when we come to an understanding of his love for us? It should make it easier for us to desire to obey Him in all things.

The word “wisdom” means “skillfulness, and experience”. The word “understanding” means “comprehension or discernment”, and even though mankind can make this quality fallible, we can always ask God for guidance in any matters we have questions about. In Proverbs 1:7, the Bible says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Where we stand in the faith will become obvious to the eyes of anyone watching us, because in Matthew 7:20 Christ says, “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” What are we displaying as believers? In Psalm 19:7, the Bible says, “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.” The Word of God changes people and changes things in people. These changes become a living testimony of God’s work in us, sometimes confounding people as to how we are able to do the things we do and know the things we know.

“Which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”

The word “hear” means “to listen, to regard, to discern, or to give an ear intelligently to.”  See, we are only wise and understanding because of the Word of God at work in our lives. When we can directly connect our behavior, our attitude, our knowledge, and our perspective to the Word of God, then God gets the glory, because it is obvious that we aren’t doing this on our own.

In Psalm 19:8, the Bible says, “The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.” The Word of God has the power to not only open up our eyes, but open the eyes of those who watch the Word at work in us.

The word “understanding” here has a slightly different meaning. It means “distinguished, intelligent, or mentally separate.” Our obedience to the Word of God and our submission to the Lord’s work in our lives separates us from the world. 1 Peter 2:12 says, “Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.” We want our speech and conduct to reflect the power of God working mightily in us, so they too will give God the glory. Ministry is in obedience too!

God Bless!

Marshall

Nov 24, 2021 – Galatians 3:8 – in thee shall all nations be blessed

Hi Everyone!

God didn’t just have a plan for the Israelites when He created the world. He had a plan for the Gentiles as well, the worldly people who haven’t yet come into salvation by Jesus Christ. Just knowing God had a plan to adopt us into the kingdom of God by faith in Jesus Christ, lets me know how deep His love is for His creation. I remember having a long season where no one wanted me, where I experienced more closed doors than smiling faces, and through the midst of my constant rejection, I just wanted someone to want me. Spiritually, there are many people walking the earth seeking acceptance instead of rejection, but do they know that they have a God that has desired to love and accept them with wide open arms? Have they been told? Today, we will look at Galatians 3:8, a beautiful adoption by God of a wayward, heathen people.

”And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.”

The word “scripture” speaks of the written word of God, the “Holy Writ”. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, the Bible says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” The scripture of God has great purpose, to make a people ready to be in the presence of the Lord, to also equip a people to serve the Lord with all of their hearts.

The Bible accurately displays God’s plan for mankind, and also shows His intention to bring salvation to the world. In Acts 18:28, “For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.” The Scriptures of God also point to Christ, the Savior of the world, the foundation that our faith is built upon.

In Colossians 1:16-17, the Bible says, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” To experience Christ as king, we must know that He is God robed in flesh, and everything in the world was created by Him and for Him, including us! The word “consist” means “set together”, so everything pertaining to our faith is set together by Christ.

The word “foreseeing” means “to see beforehand”. You are not a mistake! You are not some chance happening, nor did you come to the faith by accidental occurrence. We are included into the design and creation of God’s kingdom! In Romans 8:29-30, the Bible says, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” God foreknew us, God did not just stumbled across us and then offer us salvation because we were standing there. He always knew that we were going to be counted in the number of saved, the ones who will be conformed into the image of Jesus Christ.

The word “justify” means “to render free”, spoken of the justification bestowed by God unto men through Christ, absolving us from the consequences of sin and admitting us into the enjoyment of the divine favor. God bestowed it upon us, meaning that it was Him that gave us salvation, not our goodness. In Romans 3:24, the Bible says, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” In order for us to be RE-deemed, it means that we are being bought back. If we are bought back, then that means we must have belonged to the Lord initially!

The word “heathen” refers to the Gentiles, the people part of the pagan nations. In Romans 5:8, the Bible says, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” The love of God ensured that we as Gentiles would have access to salvation by Jesus Christ through “faith”, which means “assurance or confidence in the doctrines received and believed, the Christian doctrine, the gospel, and all that Christianity stands for.”

The phrase “preached the gospel” means “to announce the good news in advance”. The word “blessed” means “to confer a benefit on”. In John 10:16, Christ says, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” Christ already made room for us in the kingdom, knowing we were not a part of the fold.

In Ezekiel 37:22, the Bible says, “And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all.” God’s design was always for the Jew and the Gentile to become one in Christ, meaning that God has always had a place secured for us in His kingdom. May we operate in this earth like the children of God and not like people who have no place in the kingdom.

God Bless!

Marshall

Nov 25, 2021 – 2 John 1:8 – but that we receive a full reward

Hi Everyone!

What we have in the Lord is precious, and we have to value our walk with the Lord. God has rewards in store for us if were faithful with what He has blessed us with. With a bestowment of gifts, of favor, of ministry, and most importantly, the Word of God, there has to be a fair expectation by God that we are going to use what we have to advance His kingdom. What He bestows upon us is also crucial in us knowing the truth, so that we are not led astray in the process. We have a responsibility as believers to guard the Word of God in our hearts and minds, and also not give up any ground to the enemy. The enemy would love to see us stagnant in the faith, never allowing God to work a mighty work in us, but God calls us to mature as believers and to help mature other believers as well. Today, we are going to look at 2 John 1:8, securing our rewards as believers in Christ Jesus.

”Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.”

The phrase ”look to yourselves” means “to watch, to guard, or to examine yourselves.” We have to check ourselves, to make sure that we are aligned with the Word of God at all times. In 2 Corinthians 13:5, the Bible says, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” We have to be on watch, because the enemy is looking to remove the truth from our faith, the same way he did to Eve in the garden.

In Genesis 3:4-5, the Bible says, “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” Sometimes, the enemy will trick us by making something seem pleasant that God has told us to not partake in, which can alter our perspective towards it. When the enemy can get us to reconsider, we have set ourselves up for failure. In 1 Peter 5:8, the Bible says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”

We have to not only examine ourselves, but we have to examine our adversary. Being “sober and vigilant” are terms used for soldiers keeping watch, especially at night where our visibility is diminished. The enemy works best when we are not on guard, and when we are not wearing our armor. That is why Ephesians 6:11 says, “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil”, because the enemy’s job is to find vulnerability.

“That we not lose those things which we have wrought”

The word “lose” means “to destroy fully”. In Matthew 16:26, Christ says, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Our souls are extremely valuable to God, which is why He sent Jesus Christ to die for the sins of mankind, to save our souls from an eternity of damnation. We have to place the same value upon our souls as God does, and guard them from the offensives of the enemy.

The word “wrought” means “earned, accomplished, labored for, or engaged in”. This means God made an investment in us, and we have to do our part to protect this investment. In Luke 8:12-13, the Christ says, “Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.” When the Word of God is sown into our hearts, we have to make sure the environment the seed is cast in it is conducive for growth. If not, the enemy can come and take the Word of God from our hearts, or the Word of God can’t grow and bear fruit because it doesn’t grow deep enough to have roots. We don’t want to become believers who lose ground in the faith because we don’t allow the Word of God to grow and bear fruit in our lives.

“but that we receive a full reward”

The phrase “full reward” implies being paid back for our labor completely and perfectly. In 1 Corinthians 3:8-9, the Bible says, “Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” When we exercise our faith, we are essentially teaming up with God to not only advance the kingdom, but bring God’s will to pass. Our work is subject to test, and in 1 Corinthians 3:14, it says, “If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.” When want to be the believers that our God is proud of, calling us “good and faithful servants”.

Let us serve the Lord, never losing a step, securing our heavenly reward in the process.

God Bless!

Marshall

Nov 26, 2021 – Lamentations 3:22 – because his compassions fail not

Hi Everyone!

I know for a fact that it is only because of the Lord that I didn’t die many times over. I lived a life of lawlessness, completely in opposition to the things of God, all while telling myself I still believed. I was a mess, looking for an even greater mess to find myself in, and I disobeyed God more times than I can count. Almost losing my life didn’t change me, and losing my freedom didn’t change me, and I was headed for destruction. It wasn’t until I had my moment of clarity, not only seeing the sin that has separated me from God, but also seeing the love God had for me to restore someone like me into His kingdom. Then, I looked back and saw many other instances where I knew God was standing right there protecting me, loving me, digging into me and fertilizing the soil around me, all so that I can grow and bear fruit! I might have failed God, but He never failed me! Today, we will look at Lamentations 3:22, the unfailing mercies of God.

”It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.”

The word ”mercies” means “piety, or lovingkindness”. I love how the word mercies is plural, because God is a God of abundance, not giving us exactly what we need but more than we need. In Psalm 23:5-6, the Bible says, “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” God not only anointed our heads, but His oil (Spirit) ran over us, and goodness and mercy didn’t just appear, but it follows us all the days of our lives. Do we really understand that God’s Word is more than enough for what we need?

In Ephesians 3:20, the Bible says, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” When God gives us anything, He always goes beyond what we can ever expect! In Romans 5:19-20, the Bible says, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world, and even the ones yet to come! God, being completely holy and pure, without sin, desires to fellowship with us, despite the sin that has kept us separate from Him. That is like the richest man on earth purposely seeking out the homeless to befriend, to love, to save and to restore.

“that we are not consumed”

The word “consumed” means “to utterly destroy or ruin”. This verse is really a love letter to mankind. In Ezekiel 37:4-6, the Bible says, “Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.” God took a valley of dry bones and brought it back to life, building an army in the process. How did He do it? He told Ezekiel, the man of God, to prophesy to the bones!

In John 6:63, Christ says, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” God had a plan in place to ensure that when we fell, that our fallen state was not the final verdict. Just as this life sentence I am serving is not my final verdict, my past sinful life wasn’t the final verdict. I have new life as a new creation in Christ and Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” There is no condemnation to us in Christ Jesus so we will not become utterly destroyed!

“because his compassions fail not”

The word “compassions” means “love and tender mercies”. The word “fail” means “to end, to cease, or to perish”. In 2 Peter 3:9, the Bible says, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” God has patiently waited for us to give ourselves totally to Him, and He continues to wait for those who will also join us in the fold. In Jeremiah 3:12, the Bible says, “Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever.” God is always giving us opportunities to return to Him, and the reason behind it is love. God loves us so much and desires us to be whole in Him.

May we come to appreciate His mercies and return to His embrace. God is waiting!

God Bless!

Marshall

Nov 27, 2021 – Proverbs 20:6 – but a faithful man who can find?

Hi Everyone! 

Arrogance is a quality that not only robs the church of power, but it blocks our access to God. In the substance abuse recovery community, arrogance is the leading cause of relapse, because recovered substance abusers feel like they have done enough and are now strong enough to handle a life of sobriety. There is a major difference between someone who us confident in the Lord and in what God has given, and someone who boasts of themselves, like they are responsible for the favorable state they now reside in. There is no such thing as a ”self-made success”, so no one has any right to boast in anything, but Christ. God doesn’t look for a bunch of accomplished Christians patting ourselves on the back for where they are and what they have accomplished, but He looks for obedient believers who live their lives to bring glory to His name. God wants people He can entrust His will to. Today we will look at Proverbs 20:6, forsaking our own goodness for the goodness of God. 

”Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?”

The word ”proclaim” means ”to accost a person in order to announce”. The word ”goodness” means ”piety, or kindness in deeds”.  The verse says ”most men’, so it shows a danger trend of people in the Church patting themselves on the back. In Romans 12:3, the Bible says, ”For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Arrogance in not from God, and in fact, it robs us from operating according to the will of God. Everyone has access to the measure of faith, so even if our roles as believers are different, God has given each the measure of faith to walk in.

In James 1:17, the Bible says, ”Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.’‘ Our gifts come from the Lord, and He doesn’t discriminate who He bestows His gifts upon. We are ”special” only because we are children of God, only because He bestowed His gift and His identity on us.

When the disciples came back from their ministry mission in Luke 10, they were excited that the power of God moved through them. In Luke 10:19-20, Christ says, ”Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” The power we have as believers is nothing to rejoice about, but just being the children of God should be something to rejoice.

In Ephesians 2:8-10, the Bible says, ”For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Our salvation doesn’t come from us. Even the faith we have doesn’t come from us, because according to Romans 10:17, it says, ”So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.’‘ Our faith comes from the Word of God, so our faithfulness doesn’t come from us either. We are the workmanship of God, created in Christ Jesus, so we aren’t a self-made success. We are only able to walk in the Lord because God gives us the authority to do so, and our best efforts still couldn’t save us. How are we any better than our fellow man when we have been given the same Word, to walk in the same measure of faith, and God gave us salvation to become the children of God.

In Luke 18:11, Christ says, ”The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.” Even in prayer, the Pharisee patted himself on the back before God, and even cut down the publican who couldn’t lift up his head. What happened to the Pharisee? He didn’t leave his prayer justified, because he trusted in his righteousness and not the righteousness of God.

”But a faithful man, who can find?”

The word ”faithful” is a term that expresses a rare, beneficial quality from the trustworthiness of one to God. In Job 13:14-15, the Bible says, ”Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand? Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.’‘ God doesn’t care about how holy we think we are. He is concerned with us doing His will, with us moving on His Word, no matter where it leads. The word ”find” means ”come forth to appear”. God is looking for a faithful people to appear, leaving our egos behind and to seize the will of God. The faithfully humble will be exalted…

God Bless!

Marshall

Nov 28, 2021 – John 1:1 – Jesus Christ: The Mystery Uncovered Part 1 – In the beginning was the Word

Hi Everyone!

The life of Jesus Christ didn’t begin at his birth in Bethlehem. Most people consider Christ to be separate from God, like He was a totally different person than God. A lot of other religions classified Christ as a prophet, as a powerful person, but don’t consider Him to be God. There are even factions from the ”Christian” umbrella that classify Christ as the Messiah, but not as God. Because Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of our faith, knowing exactly who Christ is, begins everything we will know, learn, and understand about the Word of God, and God’s plan for mankind. If we don’t know who Christ is, then our faith in God is suspect, because everything we have, and are as believers comes through Him. If we don’t understand who Christ is, then it makes understanding the Bible difficult, because there are things in scripture that we won’t be able to receive because we haven’t come to know Christ. Today, we will look at John 1:1, the beginning to the series, ”Jesus Christ: The Mystery Uncovered”.

”In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

The word ”beginning” means ”commencement of all things”. We think if the word commencement, and some of us think of college graduation ceremonies, which signify the ”beginning to our entry into society”. In Genesis 1:1, the Bible says, ”In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Where we come from is just as important as where we are going, and in fact, where we come from becomes the foundation for what we build upon it. ”Know thyself” is a powerful statement because if our foundation isn’t the Word of God then what we build on it won’t stand.

In 1 Corinthians 3:11, the Bible says, ”For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” In construction, the foundation is the beginning of the structure, so is Jesus Christ that foundation we are to build our lives on, likewise Christ HAS to be the beginning. If God says in Exodus 20:3, ”Thou shalt have no other gods before me”, then why would God have us build on any other foundation but Him? Why would God have us declare anyone else but Him to be our beginning, especially one believed to come after Him?

In Proverbs 8:22-23, the Bible says, ”The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.’‘ This part of Proverbs dealt with not only wisdom, but it also represented Christ being in existence since the beginning. To know Christ is to understand His beginning, and not only was Christ there from the beginning, but he was also there from everlasting, meaning Christ was there before time existed!

The word “Word” means “the Divine Expression”. This is speaking directly of Christ, so in the beginning, Christ was the Divine Expression of God. In Colossians 1:16-17, the Bible says, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” All power and authority was established by Christ from the beginning, and He is also the mastermind of everything setting together perfectly.

In 1 John 1:1, the Apostle John goes further to write, this time from a deeper experience, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life”. The phrase ”have handled” means “to verify by contact”. This means it is time to not only know who the “Word of God” is, but it is time to experience the Word of God, as in Psalm 34:8, where it says, “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”

The word “God” here means “the Supreme Divinity”. Not only is Christ with God, but Christ is God. In Isaiah 9:6, the Bible says, ” For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, THE MIGHTY GOD, THE EVERLASTING FATHER, The Prince of Peace.” This was prophecy concerning Christ, and this establishes Christ as God some 700 years before Christ actually appeared in the flesh.

In Revelation 19:13, the Bible says, “And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.” Christ still iss the Word of God. From the beginning to the end, He never stopped being the Word of God.

In John 20:28-29, the Bible says, ”And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” Christ didn’t deny that He was indeed God to Thomas, which means that it must be true! Jesus Christ is God!

God Bless!

Marshall

Nov 29, 2021 – John 1:14 – Jesus Christ: The Mystery Uncovered Part 2 – and the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us

Hi Everyone!

Jesus Christ, the Word of God, the Word being with God, and the Word being God, became flesh and blood for us! God knew from the beginning that there would be no payment for our sin debt that we could offer up sufficient to pay the cost, so He arranged for us to experience salvation through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. In order for Christ to shed His blood for us, He had to be here on earth to do it. It also goes deeper than salvation, because Christ coming to the earth gave us the perfect example of how we are to live on this earth ourselves. Christ came and experienced this world on our level, so He can show His Church how to do the same thing, but He also can then serve as our Intercessor, able to identify with our struggles here on earth. This is all-compassing love, and it is something we have the privilege of walking in. Today, we are going to look at John 1:14, the power of the Word of God becoming flesh for us!

”And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

The word “Word” means “the Divine Expression of God”, speaking of the pre-existent nature of Christ, that spiritual and divine nature spoken of in the Jewish writings before and about the time of Christ. The phrase “was made” means “became, came into physical existence, generated, and came to be”. In 2 Timothy 3:16, the Bible says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”. When the Word of God became flesh, He brought the divine living expression of doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness in the earth. Christ showed us how it was done, how to live according to the Word of God.

The word “flesh” speaks of the incarnate human nature of Christ. This doesn’t carry the same meaning as “flesh”, the sinful nature that keeps us separate from God. In 1 Timothy 3:16, the Bible says, “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” The Bible is always going to confirm its truth in multiple verses , especially of Christ being God manifested in the flesh. 

In John 14:9, in response to Philip asking Christ to show them the Father, the Bible says, “Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?” Christ seems a little frustrated with Philip, because he walked with the Lord, heard His teaching, saw the miracles, but still didn’t connect the dots. That is an example of our having the truth right in our faces but still not seeing it clearly.

The word “dwelt” means “to encamp, to tent upon, to occupy, and to reside in and with.” Not only does God desire to live with us, but He wants to live in us. Imagine this along with me. God came down and took on flesh, just so He could reside in us, and then offer Himself up as the only perfect sacrifice so we could receive the Spirit of God, which dwells in us. He wants to live with us, live in us, and be a covering for us. In Psalm 91:1, the Bible says, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”  “The shadow” is a covering! In John 14:17, Christ says, “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” God’s precise purpose for Christ’s presence on earth was to be a conduit to produce God’s intended purpose for us as believers.

“(And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.”

The word “beheld” means ‘to perceive, or to look closely at”. The word “glory” refers to internal character: glorious moral attributes, excellence, infinite perfection, divine majesty, and holiness.” The phrase “only begotten of the Father” refers to Christ being the only one born of God. In Matthew 1:20-21, the Bible says, “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” To experience this is far better than just knowing it.

The word “grace” speaks of God’s divine influence, and the word “truth” speaks of God’s divine truth. Christ didn’t possess anything that wasn’t directly of God and the word “full” means “abounding or complete”.

There is no emptiness in Christ Jesus. His flesh was a shell for the fullness of God to dwell in Him!

God Bless!

Marshall

Nov 30, 2021 – John 3:31 – Jesus Christ: The Mystery Uncovered Part 3 – he that cometh from heaven is above all

Hi Everyone!

Jesus Christ came from heaven. That is His origin and He was there from the beginning. Because Christ came from above, the language He speaks, the things He does, the authority He walks in is the product of who He is and where He comes from. Christ is The King, and even though He lived in the earth, He knew who He was and where He came from. Our Church suffers from identity issues, because we have the Word of God declaring who we are and where we came from, yet we walk as if we are still of the earth, like we aren’t royalty. Jesus Christ wasn’t just some man who walked the earth and did some cool stuff while He was here. Jesus Christ came from Heaven on a Godly mission to save the world from sin and redeem the lost who have faith in Him. Because of where He comes from and the authority He walks in, we have a sure guide into the kingdom of God! Today we will look at John 3:31, where our Christ comes from.

”He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.”

The word “above” actually means “from the first, or from the beginning”. John the Baptist is attesting that Jesus Christ, the Person, and His ministry is paving the way for is from the beginning, so to come “from above” is to “come from the beginning.” In Revelation 1:8, Christ says out of His own mouth, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” Jesus Christ is the first and the last word!

The second word “above” pertains to the authority Christ has in and over the earth, and if He is “above all” that means His authority is The Authority. In Matthew 28:18, the Bible says, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, ALL POWER is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Not ‘some’ power, but Christ has ‘all’ power, so the Word of the Lord is the final word. How many people in the Church believe this in theory, but not in faith?

In John 1:13, the Bible says, “Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” Christ was born of God, as the only begotten of the Father, He stands alone in power and majesty. Even John the Baptist knew Christ’s place in the kingdom, because in John 1:15, he said, “John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.” To “bear witness” means to “give testimony concerning Christ”. John the Baptist experienced Christ to give testimony of who He is and where He came from, and we must do the same thing! John the Baptist was ‘older’ than Christ, in earth terms, but he says that Christ was before Him, and has a higher rank than him. Christ speaks of John the Baptist in Matthew 11:11, saying, “Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Christ says that John the Baptist was the greatest on earth, but the person that is on the lowest peg in the kingdom of God is greater than him. If Christ came from the earth, His authority would only go so far, but because He is God and came from heaven, there is no limit to the extent of his power!

“he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth.”

The word “earth” means “of human nature and birth, pertaining to worldly things.” The word “earthly” means “worldly, according to the flesh”. In Romans 8:7-8, the Bible says, “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” The person that lives according to the flesh is only living to do what pleases themslves. This person is going to always be in contention with the things of God, never being able to be in God’s will.

In John 8:29, Christ says, “And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.” Even though Christ came to earth, He never lost sight of who He is, and He never stopped being God.

In Matthew 12:34, Christ says, “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” We are going to speak from the nature at work within us, and Christ spoke the refreshing Word of God. If you want to know what a person’s nature is, listen to the place their conversation comes from!

The word “heaven” speaks of the upper and superior heaven, the abode of God and His glory, of the Messiah, of angels, everything said to be of God. In John 6:33, the Christ says, “For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.”

Christ came down from heaven to give us eternal life through Him. He left the place of eternal life to bring this beautiful life to us on earth, and because of it, He is THE AUTHORITY above all!

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 1, 2021 – Ephesians 1:21 – Jesus Christ: The Mystery Uncovered Part 4 – far above all

Hi Everyone!

Christ is the most powerful Person in the world. No one has ever come to this earth as God robed in flesh, and no one has ever been the full atoning sacrifice for the entire world. In our world we have governments, presidents, kings, heads of states, but none of their power will ever be able to come anywhere close to matching the power of our Lord Jesus Christ. In order to fully believe in Christ’s ability to do what His Word says, we must believe that He has the power to do it. We have to understand that all of the world’s power comes from Him, and He allows power and dominion to be in place. There are many that has professed to have power, and have been sent crumbling down, because there is only one God and our God’s is supreme. Today, we are going to look at Ephesians 1:21, the supreme power of Christ.

”Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:”

The word ”above” is a word of precedence, assuring us that not only is Christ the authority, but His authority was before anything else that was set in place. The word above here not only signifies rank, but it also signifies authority. In Philippians 2:10-11, the Bible says, ”That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

The word ”Lord” means ”Supreme in Authority, Controller”.  This means that the President of the United States, the Queen of England, or the Prime Minister of Canada does not have any control over the Lord Jesus Christ. The word ”principality” means ”rule, or magistrate”. The word ”power” means ”ability or authority”. In Romans 13:1-2, the Bible says, ”Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.” We are to be subject to the higher powers; our pastors and elders, our government leaders, our bosses, and any other people God put in authority over us. At the same time, our leaders are supposed to submit to Christ as Lord and attribute their authority to Him.

There are real problems for our leaders and our people when Christ isn’t Lord to them. In Daniel 2:37, the Bible says, ”Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.” The authority of King Nebuchadnezzar was GIVEN to him by God. He was just fine as long as King Nebuchadnezzar gave the glory to God as he did in Daniel 2:47, by saying, ”The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret,”.

Things vastly changed for him in Daniel 4:30-31, when the Bible says, ”The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.” When Nebuchadnezzar gave himself the glory instead of God, he lost everything God gave him, including his mind!

The word ”might” means ”power resulting from outside forces”. The word ”dominion” means ”government or rulers”. In Colossians 2:15, the Bible says, ”And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” This means that Christ has dismantled all of the world’s powers from the Cross, and has shown the whole world who is really in charge.

The word ”name” is used to imply character, dignity, referring to an honorable appellation, or title. In Acts 4:12, the Bible says, ”Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” The power is in the name of Jesus Christ, not in the titles that man gives to express authority. No matter how far we rise up the pecking order in this world, we must someday answer to Christ.

”Not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.”

The word ”world” not only speaks of the earth, but it really means ”age or period of time”. In Hebrews 2:8, the Bible says, ”Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.” We still don’t have any idea just how far the authority of Christ goes. We can’t see far enough or think long enough to begin to grasp how powerful our Lord is!

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 2, 2021 – Ephesians 1:22 – Jesus Christ: The Mystery Uncovered Part 5 – and hath put all things under his feet

Hi Everyone!

Christ is the Head of the church. It is by faith in Him that we receive salvation, receiving grace through faith in His name. Christ did it all so we can have the privilege of eternal life and also in walking in divine authority and power. Christ doesn’t rule to control us, but He rules to liberate us of everything that has hindered us from living the most amazing life we can live in Christ. When Christ is Head in our lives, the Holy Spirit has room to move unrestricted through us, causing us to move in the same miraculous power that Christ did. When Christ is the Head, we can fulfill what God desired for us since creation, to walk in dominion in power. So many people in the Church don’t have victory because we haven’t placed ourselves in subjection to Christ, giveing us access to the only Person on earth who has triumphed over everything in the earth, including death. Today, we will look at Ephesians 1:22, looking to our Great Head of the Church, Jesus Christ.

”And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church”

The phrase “hath put” means “make subject to, to subordinate, to bring all things under the rule of”. In Psalm 8:6, the Bible says, “Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet”. Christ, the Head of the Church has authority over us, and also has authority over what we do as well. This is why obedience is so important, because if we aren’t operating in obedience to God, then we are telling Christ, by our actions, that he is not the Head of the Church.

In Luke 6:46, Christ says, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” Christ isn’t looking for a Church who says that He is Lord, but then lives in complete disobedience to His Word, when it would highly benefit them to listen? There are many in the Church that rob themselves of the blessings of God because they won’t bring themselves under subjection to Christ. In 1 Corinthians 15:27, the Bible says, “For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.” Until Christ is in full control of all things in our lives, our persons, our relationships, our finances, our minds, our hearts, and our purpose, we will never grow into the people God has created us to be. Christ isn’t the Head of our lives to be some domineering figure in our lives, nor is he trying to be our slave driver.

In Romans 8:17, the Bible says, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” See, when we are obedient to the reign of Christ in our lives, we will learn kingdom principles that will ultimately make us kings and priests, able to reign with Christ in heaven, but it also gives us the ability to be an heir of God together with Christ to bring the things from heaven to earth. Christ is in authority so He can teach us, by the Holy Spirit, how to operate in heavenly dominion on earth!

“and gave him to be the head over all things to the church”

The word “head” means “chief, spoken of Christ in relation to His Church which is His body, and its members are His members.” In Matthew 28:18, the Bible says, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Christ walked in the power of God on earth, but on earth, He was always subject to the Father, living His life in every way to please God. Christ answered to God while on earth, but when He ascended to the Father, the power He has always had returned back to Him, being fully God now again, not subject to the robing of flesh anymore.

In 1 Corinthians 15:28, the Bible says, “And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.” Christ shows us how to be subject unto God, and also shows us how to be subject to Him in the process. Because Christ and the Father are one, our obedience ensures that God can reign freely reign through us.

In Ephesians 4:15-16, the Bible says, “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” Who would’ve thought that our individual obedience to God would ensure that the whole body moves, grows, and builds like a well-oiled machine? It is bigger than just us! Our obedience affects the whole Church, the same way Christ’s obedience on the cross affected the whole Church! His obedience and Headship is the reason we have the Church today.

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 3, 2021 – Nehemiah 9:6 – Jesus Christ: The Mystery Uncovered Part 6 – Thou, even thou, art LORD alone

Hi Everyone!

Jesus Christ is not only the Lord of salvation, but He is also Lord of creation. Remember, Christ is the Word, being with God in the beginning, and being God in the beginning as well. The wonders of this beautiful world are the result of His creative power, with all things being created by Him and for Him. What Christ has done both since creation all the way through salvation sets Him completely apart from anyone and anything in the earth. Because Christ is the Word and is indeed God, and He is responsible for creation, He will sustain everything He has created. In doing this, the world will have a front row seat to the power and majesty of Christ, which compels our worship. Does Christ have our worship for all He has done? Today, we will look at Nehemiah 9:6, the creative power of Christ.

”Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.”

The word Lord means ”Supreme in authority, Controller”. The word ”alone” means ”separately, apart, or chief”. Christ stands out by just being who He is, because who He is displays the difference between the Spirit and the flesh. Despite being created for God to work effectively through us, we can’t be the shining symbol of God’s creation if we look no different from the world around us.

In 2 Kings 19:15, the Bible says, ”And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth.” The phrase ”hast made” means ”to accomplish, to fulfill, to bring to pass”. The word ”heaven” means ”the sky”. But it goes deeper. Christ has also made the ”heaven of heavens”, which is the abode of God, the place where God and the heavenly host reside, the place where our heavenly blessings come from.

The word “hosts” speaks of a mass of people forming into an army of the Lord, built and established for his use. In 2 Kings 19:19, the Bible says, ”Now therefore, O LORD our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD God, even thou only.” It is one thing to know that Christ is God alone, but it takes on a quite different form when we experience the deliverance that only Christ can give, to know by experience that Christ stands alone!

”The earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein”

The word ”earth” means ”the land under God’s authority”. In Genesis 1:1, the Bible says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” God knew when He created the world that there would come a point where heaven and earth would need to be separate, so He could stand separate from a world of sin. In Deuteronomy 10:14-15, the Bible says, “Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD’s thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is. Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day.” See, God created this world for us to not only live in, but to stand out in as well.

In 1 Corinthians 8:6, the Bible says, “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.” Creation was set in place for man to become one with God in Christ, thus being one with God Himself.

“And thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee”

The word “preservest” means “to revive, to keep alive, in a sense of flourishing”. In Proverbs 2:8-9. the Bible says, “He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.” We are sustained by Christ to understand Godliness in every aspect, so that we can put our full trust in Him to provide all we need to live as He created us to live.

The word “worshippeth” means “to depress, to prostrate oneself, bow down, or to do reverence. In Psalm 86:8-9, the Bible says, “Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works. All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.”

When we can understand Christ as Creator as well, it should add a whole different aspect to our worship, because He not only made us, but He saved us to experience and unbreakable relationship with Him, one where we will worship Him in spirit and in truth.

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 4, 2021 – Isaiah 7:14 – Jesus Christ: The Mystery Uncovered Part 7 – and shall call his name Immanuel

Hi Everyone!

There is power in our names. Our names declare what we will ultimately become, so it is expressly important to seek God’s perspective on what we should name our children. Also, it is just as important as believers that we name ourselves correctly, declaring ourselves to be the children of God, the redeemed of the Lord, the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. God ensured that when Christ was sent, His name would already be established to confirm His identity and His role in the earth. With the name of Jesus came the answer to the burning question, ”Is Jesus Christ God?”’, to which we can answer boldly, ”Yes He is!” When God makes a declaration in a name, it will be exactly as He ordains it. Since creation, a name was powerful, and in the name of Jesus Christ we have salvation and eternal life by faith in His name. Today, we are going to look at Isaiah 7:14, the precious name of Jesus Christ.

”Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

The context of this passage is important. The Lord spoke to King Ahaz, and told him to ask of God for a sign from God. Basically, God is telling Ahaz, ”Let me show you that it is really ME talking to you, that I AM who I say I AM”. Whenever God is the one desiring to send us a sign and not us looking for a sign, then God really wants to show us something important!! The word ”sign” means ”evidence, miracle, token, or signal”, all of which carry immense value when it comes from God. In Luke 2:12-14, the Bible says, ”And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” God sent the angel to appear to the shepherds, people you don’t really hear about being a part of the congregation, because their profession typically made them ceremonially unclean. Imagine God opening up heaven to the shepherds, allowing them to see this heavenly miraculous sign, but according to ”religion”, they were unqualified to be in God’s presence. Isn’t this a picture of salvation; unclean people, having no place to experience the presence of God, yet He does it anyway, opening up heaven to people society may feel don’t deserve it?

The shepherds went to experience the Word of God, and in Luke 2:17-18, the Bible says, ”And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.” God chose the people disqualified from attending church to be His ministers, proclaiming the birth of Christ everywhere they went! Never say what you are too unclean for, because all you need is a word from God and a sign from Him and He will build a ministry in you. This all came from a sign!!!

The word ”virgin” here refers to a woman who has not had any sexual relations with a man. The virgin spoken of here is Mary, as confirmed by Luke 1:34-35, which says, ”Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.’‘ Everything about Christ’s arrival on earth brought the supernatural into the earth, and she was impregnated by the Holy Spirit of God! The word ”conceive” means ”to be pregnant, or to be with child”. The word ”bear” refers to the delivery of a baby. I love how precise God’s word is because God knows our name, our sex, and our purpose before we come to the world. Remember, Isaiah wrote this prophecy some 700 years before Christ’s arrival.

The phrase ”shall call” is really an instruction for us ”to pronounce, or to address by name”. In Genesis 2:19-20, the Bible says, ”And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.” God gave Adam the authority to name every living creature and those names haven’t changed. God gives us our names and with our names, come our roles.

In Matthew 1:23, the Bible says, ”Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.’‘ This name came straight from God himself! This passage is the impending fulfillment of the prophecy initially spoken to King Ahaz in Isaiah. Whatever God declares it to be, it is, and when Christ was named Immanuel, it established that Christ is definitely God!!

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 5, 2021 – John 5:43 – Jesus Christ: The Mystery Uncovered Part 8 – I am come in my Father’s name

Hi Everyone!

The authority a person has also reveals the extent of their power. When ambassadors go to different countries, the fully represent their home country and are so acknowledged in the country they are entering. The goal of ambassadorship is to bring the value of the home country to the visiting country, to form a partnership, so the visiting country can also receive the benefit of the home country. Jesus Christ came from heaven to earth to serve as an Ambassador of God, representing the interests of heaven and also bringing the power of heaven to earth. The goal is to re-establish the partnership between us and God, so we can become one country, one breath, one power. God wants the same for us. Today, we will look at John 5:43, coming in the name of God.

”I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.”

The word ”come” means ”to appear, to enter into, or to exist”. The word ”name” means ”authority or character”. To come in God’s name means to represent Him in every aspect of our lives, but He didn’t only desire that Christ represented Him. He wants us to represent Him as well. In Genesis 1:26, the Bible says, ”And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” God wanted a direct representation of Him in the earth, to reflect His image, but also to move in His authority. Remember, in Genesis 2:19, the Bible says, ”And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.” God provided Adam with ways to exercise his God given authority, the same way He does with us.

In Proverbs 13:17, the Bible says, ”A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.” Christ came to restore our spiritual health by re-establishing our relationship with God. In 2 Corinthians 5:19-20, the Bible says, ”To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” Ambassadorship was so there could be a final reconciliation between us and God through salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. Not only do we partake in God’s authority, but we partake in His grace as well.

In John 7:28-29, the Bible says, ”Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me.’‘ See, even though Christ was God robed in flesh, and possessed the authority of God in the earth, He never once forgot where He came from and Whose interests He was serving on earth. This is why the servant of God must not grow conceited, but remain humble, understanding that we are only sent, not the Sender!

In John 16:28, Christ says, ”I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.” Our jobs on earth are simple: come, fulfill God’s Word and purpose over our lives, and leave the earth to be joined with the Father. Christ didn’t come for His own glory, but to glorify God by His life and by His death.

The word ”receive” means ”to take hold of, to seize with force”, but it also means simply, ”to believe as true”.

In Matthew 24:4-5, Christ says, ”And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” The fact that Christ us telling them to not be deceived shows that He knew people would be deceived. In John 1:11-12, the Bible says, ”He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name”. When we receive the Lord Jesus, when we believe His testimony to be true, and when we accept Him as first Lord, then Savior, we have the privilege to be called the children of God.

In 2 Timothy 4:4, the Bible says, ”And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” The world is being deceived into not believing in God, and we have immeasurable problems because of it. Christ came in the Father’s name so that by faith in His name, we can have salvation for our souls and the gift of eternal life.

Whose name do we come in?

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 6, 2021 – Philippians 2:9 – Jesus Christ: The Mystery Uncovered Part 9 – and given him a name which is above every name

Hi Everyone!

The power of Jesus Christ is the power of God, and because of Christ’s victory over the world, over His triumph over death and sin, His has a name that is above every name. Because Christ gave up the fullness of the Deity to take on flesh, humbling Himself to the Word of God, He was able to bring the kingdom to earth. The only reason we have access to salvation, eternal life, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is because of the humility of Jesus Christ. How many doors will open to us when we humble ourselves before God? How many doors close when we are not humble, when we exalt ourselves, when we lift ourselves up above others because of where we stand in the faith? Our greatest example is Christ, who could’ve come to earth to reign, but instead, came to earth to serve and became greater than all of us. Today, we will look at Philippians 2:9, the Name above all Names.

”Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name”

The word “exalted” means “elevated above others, to raise to the highest position”. It didn’t say “a higher position”, but it said “the highest position”. This means nothing and no one is above Christ. In Luke 1:32-33, the Bible says, “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” Not only is Jesus Christ named as the Son of the highest, but it also says that His reign won’t end. There has never been a king on earth whose reign hasn’t ended, and many times, it ended before the king died! We serve a King that will never lose His throne.

In Hebrews 7:25-26, the Bible says, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.” Because His reign won’t ever end, the provisions of his reign are still available to us to this day! Jesus Christ is able to save us to “the uttermost” so this means the person who is furthest from the kingdom of God can still be reached in order for Christ to save them! How many people have we discounted as being incorrigible, giving up on them before the Lord was able to change their hearts, turning them into children of God?

Notice something here. Christ never exalted Himself even though He had every right to. In Matthew 23:11-12, Christ says, “But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” Christ is showing us a system that is the complete opposite of how the world works. The greatest people in the kingdom are the greatest servants, people who make themselves available to God to use as He sees fit. We live in a world where families are broken severely due to power struggles, where governments crumble because it’s leadership won’t humble themselves as servants under God.

In Acts 2:33, the Bible says, “Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.” Christ knew His power came from God to do what He was to be done in the earth, and he was in full submission to the power, authority, and purpose of God.. The Word of God was the only priority for Christ, a perfect example of how we must be in the earth as well. When we are humble, we empty our vessels out in order to be filled by the Holy Spirit.

In John 5:19-20, Christ says, “Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.” Christ showed us that everything He had came from God, and if anyone marvels, then it is God that gets the glory!

The word “given” means “to grant as a favor, or by favor something freely given”. The word “name” implies authority or character, it is also used to imply dignity, an honorable appellation or title.” In Hebrews 1:3-4, the Bible says, “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”

Christ used everything in His life, everything God gave Him, to uphold God’s Word and power, to live in full obedience to God as a humble servant, instead of a King! now He IS the King of KIngs!

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 7, 2021 – Jeremiah 23:5 – Jesus Christ: The Mystery Uncovered Part 10 – execute judgment and justice in the earth

Hi Everyone!

Since creation, God has already established Christ’s presence in the earth. God has been setting His purpose in order, all to bring Christ to the earth. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that Christ comes from the lineage of kings, especially with Him being the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. No matter what has happened over history since creation, God has ordained event after event to transpire, only to guide us forward into His plan for our lives. There have been imprisonments, slavery, wilderness, whole generations of unfaithful people dead, kingdoms overthrown and regained, and overthrown again, but nothing has stopped the prophecy of Christ from coming to pass. Today, we will look at yet another piece of evidence of Christ’s role in the earth in Jeremiah 23:5, Christ, the Righteous Branch.

”Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.”

The word “behold” implies that we fix our attention upon what is being revealed, whether it’s shown by the Word of God, or whether it’s manifested in the physical. There is importance behind the word “behold”, because God really wants us to understand where He is coming from. In Malachi 3:1, the Bible says, “BEHOLD, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.” God has been preparing the way for Christ long before He physically arrived, because God desires us to be ready to receive Him.

In Matthew 21:37-38, Christ spoke of Himself by saying, “But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.” God sent so many people ahead of Christ to speak of His coming which is more evidence that God has been paving the way for Christ since the beginning.

The word “raise” means “to ordain, to establish, or to set in place”. The word “righteous” means “just or lawful because of conformity to the standard of God.” In John 4:34, the Bible says, “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” To compare the work and will of the Lord to food is to suggest that it is necessary for survival! Is doing the will of God a necessity for us to survive?

The word “Branch” means “sprout or shoot”, speaking of offspring or a descendant. The fact that the word “Branch” is capitalized lets us know that the Word of God is speaking of Christ. In Isaiah 11:1-2, the Bible says, “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:  And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.” Christ came from the line of David, who was Jesse’s son, and once again, the Branch here speaks of Christ. A “rod” is typically a tool for correction of sheep, and this verse also shows that the Holy Spirit will rest on Christ, allowing Him to possess wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

“And a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgement and justice in the earth.”

The word “reign” means “to ascend the throne” The word “prosper” means “to make or act circumspectly or intelligently, to act with insight”. Immediately, when most people think of the word “prosper”, they shift towards finances, but this is true prosperity; to know the Lord, to serve Him, to receive of His Spirit the things we need to succeed in our faith.

There was a time and place for Christ to reign on earth, but it wasn’t when He came to the earth. In John 6:15, the Bible says, “When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.” Christ knew this was His time to serve, not to reign, which is why He wouldn’t allow them to make Him a king. The word “judgement’ means a formal decree or verdict”. The word “justice” means “blameless conduct or integrity”. This verse is not only stating that Christ would come, but it is expressing what would happen when He left the earth!

In Revelation 15:3, the Bible says, “And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.”

When Christ ascended to the Father, He also ascended back to the throne, and that is where He reigns and from there will judge the earth. Who would’ve thought that this one verse of prophecy established Christ to the end times?

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 8, 2021 – Isaiah 8:14 – Jesus Christ: The Mystery Uncovered Part 11 – and he shall be for a sanctuary

Hi Everyone!

Christ has many roles in a believer’s life. Christ is always a place of refuge for us to have shelter, protection and rest, and from this amazing blessing, we can have confidence in God that what we need from God, He will provide. In addition to being a refuge, Christ will also become a stumbing block to any who are disobedient to God. Ever wonder why we didn’t become the ”successful sinners” that we may have hoped we would be? It was because we belong to God and He has an incredible purpose for our lives in Him, so He will let us fall when we live in disobedience. Sometimes, allowing us to trip and fall is the only thing that will keep us from falling off of the edge! Christ doesn’t love to punish us, and in fact, Christ did not come for us to experience condemnation. Correction? Yes! Condemnation? No way! Today, we will look at Isaiah 8:14, the sanctuary and the stumbling block of Christ.

”And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.”

The word “sanctuary” means “a place of refuge, a consecrated thing or place, an asylum or holy place”. In Psalm 91:1-2, the Bible says, “He that dwelleth 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.” God is truly a refuge for us, a resting place for His children to be whole and protected.

In Proverb 18:10, the Bible says, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” Running to the strong tower implies importance and urgency, an assurance that where we are running to is a place of safety. Are we confident in Christ to be this strong tower in our lives, or has He become a story at Christmas and Easter?

In Isaiah 4:5-6, the Bible says, “And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence. And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the day time from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.” God is going to protect His glory, because His protection preserves us for a mighty work in God, that will ultimately bring glory to His name. Christ is this sanctuary for us, this beautiful shelter sent especially for us! He not only protects us, but He saves us from the penalty of death for our sin.

In Isaiah 25:3-4, the Bible says, “Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee. For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.” God deserves our glory for sending us Christ to fill every gap we have, for covering us from fear and torment, and for protecting us from the storms that come. Christ is true sanctuary for anyone who believes in His name.

“but for a stone of stumbling, and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem”

The phrase “stone of stumbling” refers to a “built stone to inflict, smite or strike.” The phrase “rock of offense” implies an obstacle designed for one to trip over. In Psalm 23:4, the Bible says, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy ROD and thy STAFF they comfort me.” The rod is for correction, and the staff is for direction.

In Romans 9:32-33, the Bible says, “Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” When we don’t move by the Word of God in obedience, when we don’t operate in faith, when we don’t trust in the salvation of Christ, we are certain to stumble and fall.

The word “gin” means “a bird trap or spring net”. The word “snare” is also a trapping tool like a noose or a bait hook. In Proverbs 12:13, the Bible says, “The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.” Christ being a stumbling stone for us isn’t meant for our fall to be permanent, but it is meant for us to learn from it and pursue righteous and obedience to God.

In Luke 2:34, the Bible says, “And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against”. Our fall is only meant for us to rise again victorious as the children of God, saved by the Lord Jesus Christ!

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 9, 2021 – Galatians 4:4 – Jesus Christ: The Mystery Uncovered Part 12 – God sent forth his Son

Hi Everyone!

God’s timetable is absolutely perfect. Sometimes, we feel like God is moving way too slow as we wait on our promises to materialize into reality, but when they arrive, we then understand that it couldn’t have come at a better time or with more perfect timing. God sent Christ the same way at the perfect time, when the disciples were ready for Him, when the Jews were in full rejection of Him, and He caused this perfect time to produce the atmosphere for the perfect sacrifice to live, die, and be resurrected, ascending back to the Father. There is no accident in God’s plan and nothing is ever a surprise to God. Usually, God allows everything to fall into place before He sends His Promise, and in this case, the Promised Messiah, the hope of nations, the Savior of the whole world. God did it this way,  because He was only going to do this once! Today we will look at Galatians 4:4, the Anointed One of God, sent to the perfect place at the perfect time.

”But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law”.

The phrase ”fulness of the time” means ”the completion or fulfillment of an era or season.” The word ”come” means ”to arrive or appear, to be made public”. In the Habakkuk 2:3, the Bible says, ”For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” There is always an appointed time for the things, people, purposes, Word and vision of God to appear.

Think about the word ”appoint”. When we have an appointment, it is a preset time to arrive somewhere, and in the kingdom of God, Christ had an appointment, an appointed time to appear on earth in the flesh. In Daniel 9:24-25, the Bible says, ”Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.’‘

This prophecy is speaking of the the time period leading into the triumphal entry of Christ, where He will ultimately be the perfect atoning sacrifice for sin. God had every precise detail taken care of, including the right leadership in place, that would not receive Christ as a baby, but target him so severely that his parents would have to flee to Egypt to avoid his death! Then, in Matthew 2:14-15, the Bible says, ”When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.’‘ Every moment of Christ life on earth was appointed by God, to preserve Him for His mission.

”God sent forth His Son”

The word ”sent” means ”to despatch”. Almost every country in the world has some kind of emergency service, where when someone calls help is despatched. The world was in dire trouble, and God despatched Christ!

Now for the people who believe that Christ’s life began in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, I have news for you. In John 8:57-58, the Bible says, ”Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” Christ was here before and because He is God robed in flesh, He always was!

In Genesis 49:10, the Bible says, ”The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.” Shiloh speaks of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. If Christ is coming, then that means that He is here already, ready to be despatched!

”Made of a woman, made under the Law”

The word ”made” means ”to come into being”. In Matthew 1:23, the Bible says, ”Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” God sent Christ into the world, and used Mary to give birth to Christ, to bring His purpose to pass.

The word ”Law” speaks of the Mosaic Law, the rules the Jews were governed under at that time. In Matthew 5:17, Christ says, ”Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” If Christ came to fulfill the Law, then that means He came to follow the Law to the letter. Christ was despatched to the earth to experience life under the law, but without sin! Our Christ has triumphed in life and death!

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 10, 2021 – Galatians 4:5 – Jesus Christ: The Mystery Uncovered Part 13 – to redeem them that were under the law

Hi Everyone!

Adoption is an act of love and compassion, where a person or a couple takes in a child, and raises them as their own. The child has all of the same rights as a child naturally born to the parents, and odds are, will go on to bear the attributes of the parents as well. Christ wasn’t sent just to save the world from their sins, but He was sent so that we can, through salvation, experience the adoption into the family of God by faith in Jesus Christ. God not only desires to take a mop and clean up our failures, but He desires for us to be the children of God, operating in the fullness of the Spirit that He places inside each of us. This adoption comes by redemption, and redemption is the result of an investment of love into us at a time where we don’t deserve God’s love. Today, we will look at Galatians 4:5, the redemption and adoption of God’s children by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

”To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”

The word ”redeem” means ”to purchase out, to buy up from the possession or power of someone, to set free from the service or bondage of.” Our sin made us slaves and prisoners to sin, but our Redeemer lives! In Matthew 20:28, Christ says, ”Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Christ had every right to come to earth and be served by the world. He is God robed in flesh! Christ forsook His rightful ability to reign in order to minister to us, to give us the truth of the Word of God, and give His life to buy us back from the bondage from sin and the penalty of death.

In Galatians 3:13-14, the Bible says, ”Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.’‘ In order for Christ to redeem us, He had to take our place, becoming a curse for us, so the punishment we so freely deserved would pass away. Christ also redeemed us in order to give the Gentiles the same right to the promise of Abraham as the Jews had, but only by faith in Jesus Christ. How can we ever activate a promise by God when we don’t believe in the Activator of the promise?

The phrase ”under the law” implies that one is subject to Mosaic law. In Galatians 3:23, the Bible says, ”But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.’‘ The law was what governed our lives before Christ came to establish faith in Him as the redemption from the curse of the law. In Romans 8:2-3, the Bible says, ”For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh”. Christ not only came to save us, to redeem us, but He came to condemn sin in our flesh. Condemning something suggests that you declare them subject to ruin or death. Titus 2:13-14 says, ”Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” When Christ came to the earth, He came to remove the curse of the law, and redeem us so we could be a unique possession of God, on fire to do His will.

Remember, adopted children have the same rights as naturally born children, so we have access to walk in the same power Christ did on the earth because in John 14:12, Christ says out of His own mouth, ”Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.’‘ Our faith in Jesus Christ, in the Word of God, and in the authority God has given us as the children of God gives us the ability to walk in the Holy Spirit’s power in the earth.

The word ”receive” means ”to take in full”. The phrase ”adoption of sons” means ”the placing as a child of God by faith in Jesus Christ”. In Romans 8:15-17, the Bible says, ”For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” We are heirs through the death of Christ, and we experience the spirit of adoption through faith in His name. It is only by faith in Jesus Christ will that we ever be the children of God, redeemed and adopted in Him.

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 11, 2021 – John 6:38 – Jesus Christ: The Mystery Uncovered Part 14 – I came down from heaven

Hi Everyone!

Do we live our lives to do God’s will on the earth? Are our lives Christ-centered, and is our mission in life to fulfill the purpose God has for our lives? Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith, came to earth for our purpose and one purpose only: to do what God has called Him to do. How many of our lives become entangled in the pursuit of our own ambitions, in our own desire to do the things which bring us pleasure. Christ is not only Lord and Savior, but He came to also be an example of how our faith is to be lived out on earth. Christ showed us that we have to die to self, and declare the Word of God to be the only truth we receive into our spirits. When we become a people of God who live our lives completely for Him, according to His will, we will have access to the abundant lives that His Word promises up. Today, we will look at John 6:38, the obedience of Christ to the will of God.

”For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.”

For Christ to say I “came down”, is further evidence of His existence before His physical arrival on the earth. In Colossians 1:17, the Bible says, “And He is before all things, and by him all things consist.” Christ was present from the beginning and is still present now. As we have mentioned in this study so far, Christ was “despatched” to earth from heaven. In John 3:12-13, Christ says, “If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.” We need to receive the things of God from a spiritual perspective, and for us to do that, we must have the Holy Spirit teaching and guiding us into all truth. Who came down from heaven? Jesus Christ. Who ascended back unto the Father and is seated at the right hand of God? Jesus Christ. The word “heaven” speaks of the upper or superior heaven, beyond the visible firmament, the abode of God and His glory, of the Messiah, of the angels, the spirits of the righteous after death, and everything said to be with God. Christ didn’t come from some place on earth. He came from heaven to share an existence with us on earth!

In the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6:9-10, Christ instructs the disciples on how to pray by saying, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” This is very important to this study; because Christ is identifying God as being in heaven, identifying God as being holy, He’s asking for the kingdom of God to come to earth, and also is submitting to God’s will on earth the same way it is in heaven. Christ came down from heaven to do the will of God, and God’s will is for the kingdom of heaven to come to earth for us to live and experience! Christ is not only the Mediator of the New Covenant, but He is the gateway to the kingdom of God!

In John 4:34, the Bible says, “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” Food is necessary for survival, so doing the will of God was necessary for Christ’s survival. When will the will of God become so necessary that our survival depends upon our doing the will of God? Christ came to bring the kingdom of God to us, and we should live to bring the kingdom of God to others. God desires fellowship with His creation and when we don’t do our part, we break fellowship not only for ourselves, but also for the people who God wants to be reached.

The word “will” means “purpose, or pleasure”. In Job 23:11-12, the Bible says, “My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” Job understood this completely, and there was no man like unto Job, because he lived and breathed to do the will of God. The will of God has to become food and water to us. In John 5:30, the Bible says, “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” When we are in the will of God, the words we speak and the judgement calls we make are the ones that God desires us to make, so we move, think, and speak as Christ did in the earth.

The word “sent” here is where we get the word “apostle” from, which means to be sent for a mission from God. Matthew 26:39 says, “And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” True obedience is to do God’s will, even when you are trying to find a way out. Christ set the example, and we must follow it.

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 12, 2021 – Colossians 2:10 – Jesus Christ: The Mystery Uncovered Part 15 – ye are complete in him

Hi Everyone!

The authority of Christ gives us the ability to have everything we need provided to us by Him. We have the ability as believers to live, grow, and excel as believers, making us able to stand over the lies of the enemy that tries to exercise authority over us. God desires us to walk in victory, to triumph in the earth as Christ did, but in order for us to have this precious victory, we must allow Him to complete us and be complete in Him. Whether we acknowledge it or not, we have voids and gaps within us without Christ, and we must allow Christ entry, to allow the Holy Spirit to fill in these empty places. The enemy is also looking for voids within us, because those are points of weakness where they can gain entry and blind the Word of God in us. The authority of Christ is above all other authorities, but we must allow Christ to complete us in order for us to walk fully in Him. Today, we will look at Colossians 2:10, Jesus Christ the Completer.

”And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power”

The word “complete” means “filled, supplied abundantly with, imparted richly”, suggesting a spiritual maturity that gives us the ability to walk in the power of God on the earth. There is only one way we can be complete, and that is in Christ. We have sought completion in friendships, in relationships, with children, and in our professions, but the only one who can complete us is Christ.

In John 1:16-17, the Bible says, “And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” We have to receive the fullness of Christ within us, understanding that grace is the thing that God gives us that makes us complete in Him. In 2 Corinthians 9:8, the Bible says, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work”. God makes us complete in Christ Jesus, so we have everything we need in order for God’s will to be done. God doesn’t want to just give us “some” grace, nor did He fill Christ with “some” grace. God is an all-or-nothing God who readily prepares us for our work in Him.

In 2 Peter 1:3-4, the Bible says, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” God wants us to fully participate in the divine nature, to operate in the earth as if we are in heaven, and He makes us complete in Christ for this purpose.

In Ephesians 3:17-19, the Bible says, “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” When we place our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit has the permission to inhabit our hearts and we become anchored in the love of God. Our eyes open to the love of God, to the extent of His immeasurable power, and to the knowledge of the Word of God. All of these things give us a rock-solid foundation, but it allows us to build an indestructible dwelling.

In Hebrews 5:14, the Bible say, “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” God wants us to mature spiritually as believers, to be able to put the Word of God to use.

The word “head” means “chief one”, speaking of Christ being the Head of the Church. The word “principality” means “power, dominion, speaking of the princes and chief among angels”. The word “power’ means “privilege, authority, jurisdiction, rule, or influence”. In 1 Peter 3:22, the Bible says, “Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.” Christ has all power and in possessing all power, everything on earth and in heaven is subject to Him.

This is our Savior, but is Jesus Christ Lord in our lives as well?

In 1 Corinthians 15:27-28, the Bible says, “For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.”

Just as Christ came to earth and subjected Himself to God, we must subject ourselves to Christ, who IS the authority and power over heaven and earth. If we are complete in Christ, there is nothing we can’t do!

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 13, 2021 – Isaiah 40:11 – Jesus Christ: The Mystery Uncovered Part 16 – He shall feed his flock like a shepherd

Hi Everyone!

Jesus Christ is our Savior, our Lord, God robed in flesh, the Author and Finisher of our faith. He existed before the world began and He is seated at the right hand of the Father in power and in strength. Have we come to know our Lord as Shepherd? A shepherd tends to the needs of the sheep, leading them by day, and protecting them by night, guiding them into places where they can eat, drink, and be filled. A shepherd’s life is about the needs of his sheep, and a good shepherd is willing to give his life for his sheep. Our Lord and Savior is that Good Shepherd, and His love for His sheep made Him give His life for us, so that we could live eternally in Him. No matter how far we have strayed and no matter how much wrong we’ve done, the Good Shepherd has found us, carried us in His arms, and brought us back into the flock. Today, we will look at Isaiah 40:11, Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd.

”He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.”

The word “feed” means “to pasture, to graze”. This suggests that Christ puts us in a position to eat and drink, that our sustenance comes from what the Lord provides. Sometimes, we have gotten to a point in our lives where we try to be our own providers, where we try to feed ourselves instead of entrusting God to do it. Isaiah 49:10, the Bible says, “They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.” Our loving God is going to make sure that we have everything we need to live, and to live out the purpose God has for us.

The word “flock” means “an arrangement of animals, or an arrangement of people who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior”. In Ezekiel 34:30-31, the Bible says, “Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord GOD. And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD.” Our being in the flock of God is the privilege we have of being children of God, and to display our identities as children of God to the world around us. God desires to see his children well taken care of, which is why Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” God was to give us everything He has, but we first have to seek the kingdom of God and the righteousness of God.

The word “shepherd” means “to tend to a flock, to pastor, or to rule.”  Not only are we called to be sheep under Christ, but we are also called to shepherd others to the lord as well. In Ezekiel 37:24-25. the Bible says, “And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever.” Even though David’s name is being mentioned, the scripture is talking about Christ, who is in the lineage of David. God has already destined Christ to rule and pastor His Church, and for Him to be our Head.

“He shall gather the lambs with his arm, and shall carry them in his bosom, and he shall gently lead those that are with young.”

The word “gather” means “to bring together. to assemble”. The word “lambs” refer to believers of God, the children of God, and the saints of God. The word “arm” means “might, power, or strength”. In Ezekiel 34:22-23, the Bible says, “Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle. And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.” Our lives are in great jeopardy without our Shepherd, and we are extremely vulnerable. We can’t rely on our strength, power, and might, but we have to rely on the Lord. This requires humility, because the word “carry” means “to lift or bear up”, so we have to allow God to lift us, not we elevate ourselves.

In 1 Peter 5:6, the Bible says, ”And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power” “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time”.

The phrase “gently lead” means “conduct, guide, sustain, or protect”. Our Lord Jesus Christ is guiding us into our destiny, sustaining our dreams and visions in Him, He is protecting His purpose over our lives, and He is conducting us into our Promise Land. Before He did any of this, He came to earth and became the Passover Lamb, giving His life for us to find pasture, and to bring us together to serve the Lord as one!

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 14, 2021 – John 3:16 – Jesus Christ: The Mystery Uncovered Part 17 – whosoever believeth in him … have everlasting life

Hi Everyone!

We have an amazing love from God, an unconditional love that is all-encompassing, that takes us from a position of death and condemnation, to a position of life and peace through Jesus Christ our Lord. God gave His Son Jesus Christ to the world as the Atoning Sacrifice for the sins of the world, and in the depths of His generosity to us, He gives us one condition: to believe in Christ, the only begotten Son of God. Salvation came through Christ and is available to us by faith, so that we can not only partake in the divine nature of God, but so we can obtain everlasting life, a boarding pass to the new heaven and earth, to live with God forever. This is the verse our whole faith hedges upon because without us believing in the name of Jesus Christ, there is no salvation, no Holy Spirit indwelling, no everlasting life in heaven. Today, we will look at one of the most known Scriptures of the Bible, John 3:16, the love of God making salvation available to us.

”For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

The word “God” means “Supreme Divinity”. The word “loved” means “to regard with strong affection, favor goodwill, or benevolence, to serve with fidelity”. The word “world” speaks for the earth and its people. In Romans 5:6, the Bible says, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” If our salvation depended upon our strength or perfection, then there is no way any of us would be saved. God took us in the roughest possible state we were in; completely separate from God in all of our ways, without any power to resist the enemy’s advances, and He still loved us enough to make the provision for our salvation.

In Ephesians 2:4-5, the Bible says, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)”.  God’s mercy withheld the penalty that was due to us for our sin and His love spearheaded salvation for us when there was no way that we could earn it. I remember who I used to be before I found true salvation and redemption in Jesus Christ, and even as I type, the enemy is mounting a powerful offensive on me, completely disrupting my confidence in Him. I am so happy I don’t have to rely on me, but on Christ, and because of my status as a believer, I have the power in Christ to resist the enemy and cleave to the Word of God’s declaration of my identity.

“That he gave His only begotten Son”

The word “gave” means “to bestow upon”. The phrase “only begotten Son” refers to The Word, the only begotten Son in the highest sense, as alone knowing and revealing the essence of God. This is Christ Jesus! In 1 John 4:9-10, the Bible says, “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

Love isn’t “lip service”, but it is manifested in our actions. If someone on earth gave their child as a sacrifice so we could live, there would be no doubt as to their love for us, so why do we question God’s undying love for us? In Romans 8:32, the Bible says, “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” Why do we walk this earth feeling disqualified to partake in the divine nature of God when He clearly made the ultimate sacrifice so we can?

“That whosever believeth in Him should not perish, but everlasting life.”

The word “believeth” means “to entrust oneself to, to be fully persuaded”. God extended this invitation to everyone, no matter the background or the sin. Don’t feel that you are too bad for salvation, just believe in Jesus Christ! In Romans 8:1, the Bible says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

The word “perish” means “to destroy fully”. The phrase “everlasting life” refers to the life of bliss and glory in the kingdom of God which awaits the true disciples of Christ after the resurrection. We’re talking about heaven! God doesn’t ask for much from us in order for us to attain the most incredible gift imaginable. Someone died so we could live an abundant life in God and that someone is Jesus Christ. May we come to receive the gift of God into our spirits and receive Christ as Lord and Savior. In doing so, we also receive the love of God as well!

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 15, 2021 – John 3:17 – Jesus Christ: The Mystery Uncovered Part 18 – that the world through him might be saved

Hi Everyone!

Christ was sent to earth to become the perfect sacrifice for sin, giving all who believe in Him salvation, redemption and eternal life. Some people are still waiting for Christ to come, expecting to see a great war commander, or a brutal judge that will reprove the world of sin. Then, you have the people who beg God to send Christ back right now, so they can be taken with Him to heaven without once considering all of the people who will miss out on heaven if He did come right now. Even as Christ now sits at the right hand of God, He serves as an Advocate and Intercessor for us, so we all can experience heaven just as He has. Christ didn’t come to earth to condemn us, but He came to save our souls, to declare us alive in Him forever. Today, we are going to look at John 3:17, Christ sent to save, not condemn.

”For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

The word ”sent” implies being set apart in order to be despatched as an agent and messenger of God. The word ”world” refers to the present world, the present order of things as opposed of the kingdom of Christ, and hence, always with the idea of transience, worthlessness, and evil both physical and moral, the seat of cares, temptations and irregular desires. This verse says, ”For God SENT not His Son INTO the world”. This has to mean that Christ’s life didn’t begin at His birth in Bethlehem, but Christ existed before His birth in heaven, because He was SENT INTO the world! In John 17:3-4, Christ prays to God saying, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” This is important! Christ existed before the world began, and He was sent to earth with a mission and purpose from God, one which He fulfilled. Whether we see it this way or not, when God created the world, everything in it was finished, including us, then He rested,! We weren’t just born, but we were sent at an appointed time, for an appointed purpose, and just as Christ came and fulfilled His purpose, we must do the same.

In John 17:8, Christ also prays, “I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.” See, God not only appointed Christ to arrive on earth at a specific time and place, but He also gave Christ a Word to share, and appointed people that would receive His Word and believe that Christ was SENT by God. Our lives must reflect that we were sent by God and the Word we share was given by God. Our lives are supposed to be a testimony of God in Christ that will cause others to believe in God as well. Just in case someone believes I am wrong to make this comparison, let’s look at John 17:18, which Christ prays, “As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.” We are sent as well! This is for the person who feels like they don’t have purpose, or their lives don’t have meaning. We are alive because God has a purpose for our lives and a Word He wants us to speak. In 1 John 4:17, the Bible says, “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because AS HE IS, SO ARE WE IN THIS WORLD!”

The word “condemn” means “to judge, imparting penalty for sin”. The word “condemn” also expresses that a structure is inhabitable and declared slated for ruin or destruction. There is no hope for something condemned, which is why Christ didn’t come to condemn the world. In Colossians 1:27, the Bible says, “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the HOPE of glory”. In Christ, we have hope because we have salvation, redemption, and eternal life. In John 8:15, Christ says, “Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.” No man. Christ didn’t come in judgement, but He came in the power of God to seek and save the lost. Why do you think His most powerful moments in His ministry were with people society declared outcasts?

The word “saved” means “salvation from eternal death, sin, and the punishment and misery consequent to sin”. Christ was sent to deliver us from everything associated with sin, so that we could deliver the Word and purpose that God has for us. In Luke 9:56, the Bible says, “For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them…” We have the wrong perception of Christ if we thought He came to rain fire and brimstone on our heads. Christ was sent with a message of repentance and salvation. Don’t ever say that there is no hope for you, because Christ’s life and death secured your hope in Him, giving you a life of victory, not condemnation.

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 16, 2021 – Isaiah 53:12 – Jesus Christ: The Mystery Uncovered Part 19 – because he hath poured out his soul unto death

Hi Everyone!

Jesus Christ, in all His glory and power, made a choice that very few of us would ever make. Imagine giving up your most prized possessions, and accepting poverty for people in dire need, knowing that many wouldn’t take your gift, or have any appreciation for it? Imagine sharing your inheritance with a bunch of people who will squander what your Father sacrificed for? Imagine volunteering to take the death penalty for someone else’s crimes, when you have never done anything other than what God has desired you to do since birth? Place Jesus Christ into that imagination because that is exactly what He did, and He also did it, so he could be able to speak on our behalf to God. Christ did much more than die for us. He lived for us, to share the kingdom of God with us, no matter how much we didn’t deserve it. Today, we will look at Isaiah 53:12, a generous Intercessor in Jesus Christ.

”Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

The word “divide” means “to separate, to apportion”. The word “portion” means “inheritance or allotment”. The word “great” refers to the multitude, speaking of believers. This shows that Christ was given something by God and He shared it with us! In John 17:6-7, Christ prays, “I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.” Christ life and ministry on earth equipped us with everything we need to be the children of God, and not only children, but ministers and heirs in Him.

In Psalm 2:7-8, the Bible says, “I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” God declared Christ as His Son and then gave Him the earth, and us, for an inheritance. In Psalm 24:1, the Bible says, “The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” See, God owns everything, then He gave it to Christ, and now He is sharing it with us. Christ is able to do all of this because He triumphed in the world and by His death.

In Colossians 2:15, the Bible says, “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” Christ not only receive all power from God, but He took away the power of everything in authority in the earth. Then He shares this power with us!

The word “spoil” refers to booty, something acquired from others, usually taken by force. Think of pirates when you think of booty, and you’ll understand that it is something of value. The word ‘strong” means “powerful or numerous”. This gives us the impression that there is more than enough to go around. In Philippians 2:10, the Bible says, “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth”. Our Christ has everything so all that He has He freely gives us so we can walk and live in power as well. In Acts 26:18, Christ says, “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” God destines His children to walk in victory and He sent Christ to ensure that we would!

“Because he hath poured out his soul unto death; and he was numbered with the transgressors;”

The phrase “poured out” means “to be emptied out or lay out, be demolished”. The word “death” means “ruin”. The word “numbered” means “counted or enrolled”. The word “transgressors” means “rebels, offenders, and people who revolt against the Word of God”. In Mark 15:27-28, the Bible says, “And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.” Christ took on an identity that never belonged to Him and was strung up on the cross with people who were guilty of their offenses. His sacrifice gave us His power.

“And he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

The word “bare” means “to carry or take away”. The word “sin” means “crime or penalty”. In 2 Corinthians 5:21, the Bible says, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” Not only did Christ love us when He offered himself up for us, but He did it to ensure that we had an inheritance with God.

The word “intercession” suggests a person who operates as a go-between, someone who speaks on the behalf of another. In Hebrews 7:25, the Bible says, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Christ is still making intercession for us with God, still beckoning that God gives us chance after chance to give our lives fully over to Him. He wants us to have what He has, an inheritance in God that no one can take away, and the ability to triumph in the earth against anything that comes our way.

In 1 John 2:1, the Bible says, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous”. Our God is something truly amazing, to send Christ to pay the cost for our sins, and then have Christ also serve as our Advocate when we do sin. Imagine advocating for the person who contributed towards your death, but doing it willingly and with abounding love. That is the Christ we serve!!!!

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 17, 2021 – Zechariah 13:7 – Jesus Christ: The Mystery Uncovered Part 20 – Awake, O sword

Hi Everyone!

People are equipped with a fight or flight response to fear, and when they came for Christ, everyone eventually fled. Even Peter, who cut off the High Priest servant’s ear, eventually ran and then denied our Lord three times. Peter would go on to be the chief pastor of the church, but he had a period in his life where he acted like he never knew Christ. None of this caught Christ by surprise, and God even prepared us for this in prophecy. Not only does prophecy point to the existence of Christ, but it also pointed to the people that would flee from His presence, and also of the Church that would be scattered as well. God doesn’t make a mistake in His plan for our lives, and as we learn more about Christ, we will discover how we fit into this perfect plan as well. Today, we will look at Zechariah 13:7, a Shepherd struck and a Church that scattered.

“Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.”

The word “awake” suggests a lifting or raising up in battle. The word “sword” means “a destructive, cutting instrument used as a symbol of judgement. The word “shepherd” means “to tend to a flock, to rule, or to pastor”. This is speaking of Jesus Christ. in John 10:14-15, Christ says, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.” Christ knew that not only was His job to lead us into a right relationship with God through salvation, but He knew there would be a time where He would have to lay His life down for us. Only Christ could make this sacrifice and He was obedient to His call. When the crowd came to seize Him, He didn’t flee their capture, nor did He try to get out of their grasp. Our Lord and Savior set the perfect example for how we are to obey the Lord, no matter the cost, and also showed us how to be living sacrifices on the earth.

The word “man” doesn’t just mean “male or human being”, but it actually means “valiant warrior”. You have to be valiant warrior to go to your death for your people, and that’s what Christ did for us!

The word “fellow” means “associate or companion”, and the term expresses a union between God and Christ.

In John 17:21-23, Christ prays, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” Christ was that valiant warrior that went to His death in order to unite the Church, to make us one with God and one with each other.

“smite the shepherd and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.”

The word “smite” means “to strike, kill or wound”. The word “sheep” means ‘the flock, the believers of God, or the disciples of God”. The word “scattered” means “dispersed or spread out”. In Mark 14:50-52, the Bible says, “And they all forsook him, and fled. And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him: And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.” Imagine the disciples, experiencing the miracles of Christ, seeing the Word of God in action, but when they faced persecution, the fled, and one even shook out of his clothes to run. These men would go on to pastor the Church, so they experienced the same redemption we have!

Christ wasn’t surprised because He even said in Matthew 26:31, “Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.” Even before His death He knew they would flee, because He IS the Word of God.

The phrase “turn my hand” implies that the Church is going to be persecuted. In Acts 8:3-4, the Bible says, “As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. Therefore they that were scattered abroad WENT EVERY WHERE PREACHING THE WORD.” Even the disciples fleeing and the Church scattering had a monumental purpose, to spread the Word of God all over the world. The enemy had no clue that when Christ died on the cross, the Church would explode all over the world, in full demonstration of God’s power! Who knew that God had purpose in our fear?

The Shepherd was struck down, the disciples fled, the Church scattered, but the Word of God spread all over the world as a result. May God’s perfect will be done!

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 18, 2021 – Ephesians 1:20 – Jesus Christ: The Mystery Uncovered Part 21 – and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places

Hi Everyone!

When God raised Christ from the dead, He activated great power in Him, even greater than Christ had in earth. When Christ was on earth, He operated within the confines of His body, of human limitations, but when He had risen from the dead He had all power again, all ability and unlimited reach! He sits at the Father’s right hand in power, truth and love, which He despatches to us through the Holy Spirit. In addition to despatching power, truth, and love, He also sends His grace, and makes intercession for us, so that at all points of our lives, we have someone speaking on our behalf to God. Even as His work is finished, He is still working for us, still in service, and the most beautiful thing about it is, He went back to heaven, but didn’t forget about us on earth! Today, we will look at Ephesians 1:20, the power Christ possesses at God’s right hand.

”Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places”

The word “wrought” means “to be active, to be efficient, to produce an effect.” In Matthew 28:18, the Bible says, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” When God rose Christ from the dead, He gave Him all power, power He freely makes available to us. In Ephesians 1:19, the Bible says, “And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power”. We are included in receiving this power, and now this power is completely active in us, the same way it is in Christ.

In John 6:63, Christ says, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” The Spirit of God activates the power in us, and the word “wrought” comes from the word for “energy”. Energy always produces an effect, and the Spirit of God working in us will always produce an effect.

The word “raise” means “to rouse from sleep”. The word “dead” refers to a corpse. In Acts 2:24-25, the Bible says, “Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved”. Christ’s death and resurrection took away the power of death from the enemy, because death wasn’t the final place for our Lord, neither is it for us. In Romans 6:4, the Bible says, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” God raised Christ from the dead to give him all power, but to also give us the ability to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit here on earth. This power gives us the power to live a new life in Christ, and experience the same leading of the Holy Spirit as Christ did.

In Romans 10:9, the Bible says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Our salvation is a product of our confessing the Lord Jesus and also believing that God raised Him from the dead. Without that belief, there is neither salvation or power.

“And set him at his own right hand in heavenly places”

The word “set” means “to seat down, or to appoint”. The phrase “right hand” is a place of the highest honor and distinction, designated for the person next in rank and power. If Christ is at the right hand of God seated, then He IS the power of God! In Colossians 3:1-2, the Bible says, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” As believers, we died to our former selves, and were raised up in Christ, so our perspective has to always be on the kingdom of God, not of the earth. We are no longer of this world. In Hebrews 1:3, the Bible says, “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high”. Christ is the express image of the the person of God, fulfilling the complete purpose of God with His life on earth, and after his work was done, He sat at the right hand of God in heaven and in all power.

In Ephesians 1:3, the Bible says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ”. God doesn’t just want to give us some of heaven, some of His kingdom, and some of His power. He wants to give it all to us, so we can walk as Christ did, full power of the Holy Spirit active and effectual in us.

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 19, 2021 – Acts 5:31 – Jesus Christ: The Mystery Uncovered Part 22 – a Prince and a Saviour

Hi Everyone!

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ came to earth and did a powerful work for us. We have access to salvation, and the ability for repentance, to be able to turn from the wickedness that has kept us separate from God. I know this very well, because at one point in my life, I was the worst person I knew. I lied, stole, sold drugs, robbed people, participated in gang activity, and unfortunately, have also taken life as well. I am the absolute last person on earth that deserves the forgiveness God offers freely, and sometimes, I don’t feel qualified to teach anyone anything about God, knowing how far I have strayed from the path. Do I rely on my own feelings, or do I rely on the Word of God, and what it says about forgiveness, and repentance? Many people don’t come to Church or develop a relationship with God because they don’t know that Christ really paid the cost for their sins, all of them! Today, we will look at Acts 5:31, the Prince and Savior Jesus Christ, the giver of forgiveness and the receiver of repentance.

”Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.”

The word “exalted” means “elevated or lifted up”. in Acts 2:33, the Bible says, “Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.” Because Christ was raised from the dead, and now is seated at the right hand of God, we now have access to the Holy Spirit’s manifestation in our lives. There is always going to be evidence of the Holy Spirit in someone’s life, whether it be something they see or something they hear.

In Acts 2:36, the Bible also says, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Christ isn’t just the Messiah, and He definitely isn’t just a Savior, but He is also Lord, the Supreme Controller, the Possessor of all power. The word “right hand” refers to strength, might, power, and authority, designated for someone of the highest rank of honor and distinction. In Hebrews 2:10, the Bible says, “For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” Christ’s power brought us back into the presence of God, causing us to receive the Holy Spirit and it’s power, so we may live lives that bring glory to God. Christ endured sufferings and remained perfect throughout it, and his victory meant victory for mankind as well, those who by faith, believe on His name.

The word “Prince” means “chief leader or author”. An author writes the story, so they know it beginning, middle, and ending. In Hebrews 12:2, the Bible says, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Christ knew He would triumph over the cross, over death, and over sin, and He also knew that His victory would open up the doors for people like me, who felt they were far too bad to receive forgiveness, to be called children of the Most-High God. A Prince is the Son of a King, and now we, as children of God, are royalty as well. Never let the world tell you who you are. Let the Word of God tell you who you are! The word “Savior” means “deliverer” and it is speaking about Jesus the Messiah, who saves people from the guilt and power of sin and from eternal death, from punishment and misery as the consequence of sin, and gives them eternal life and the blessedness of His kingdom. If we are still walking in guilt, then that means we haven’t accepted what the Word of God has said about our salvation.

“To give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.”

The word “repentance” means “a change of the mind or direction, implying pious sorrow for unbelief and sin and a turning from them unto God and the gospel of Christ”. The “forgiveness” means “freedom, pardon, to release one’s sins from sinners, to deliver from captivity. The word “sins” means ‘offense or aberration from a prescribed law or rule of duty”. In Acts 3:26, the bible says, “Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.” We can be changed by the blessing of God making forgiveness and repentance available to us.

In Ephesians 1:7, the Bible says, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace”. God gave us the access but we have to receive it. 2 Corinthians 7:10 says, “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” Godly sorrow is what I experienced, where I knew I sinned against God, and it produced a desire in me to want to change my life, to serve Him with all my heart. God took the worst of the worst, and turned me into a child of a King!

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 20, 2021 – Proverbs 30:4 – Jesus Christ: The Mystery Uncovered Part 23 – what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?

Hi Everyone!

Jesus Christ descended to the earth from heaven, to live as we do but without sin, becoming the perfect atoning sacrifice for our sin. When He died, He conquered Satan, who had the power over death, and released us from the curse we were under. After triumphing over death, He was resurrected, appearing to many witness, before ascending back to the Father in heaven. He came to earth with a mission and fulfilled his mission on earth. Everything in the earth belongs to the Lord, and there is nothing that He isn’t in control of, including nature. We serve a Lord who has conquered everything that we face today in our lives, and is seated in heaven, a place we as believers will experience when this life is over. Today, we will look at Proverbs 30:4, the ascension and triumph of Jesus Christ.

“Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?”

The word “ascended” means “upward motion” and in this case, “an upward motion into the appearance and presence of God in heaven”. The word “heaven” means “the abode of God, the place of the Lord’s throne, the place where God operates.” In John 3:12-13, Christ says, “If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.” Christ not only came to earth, but He came and shared heavenly things with us. For the people who believe that our taste of heaven comes when we die, you have missed the beauty God has provided to us here on earth as well. God wants us to experience the kingdom of God on earth too! Christ is speaking prophecy concerning himself, by telling Nicodemus about His ascension to heaven.

This is how powerful Christ’s words are. In John 8:18-19, He says, “I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me. Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.” Christ’s words are the Word of God!

The word “descended” means “to do downward to a lower region”. In John 6:32-33, Christ says, “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.” Christ didn’t just come down from heaven to live on earth, He came to give us life, to build a Church that He will come back for! In Revelation 1:17-18, the Bible says, “And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” On our own, we can’t stand in the presence of God, But if He touches us with His right hand, His power, we can live and not die, because our Christ has conquered the grave!

“who hath gathered the wind in his fist? Who hath bound the waters in a garment? Who hath established all the ends of the earth?”

The word “gathered” means “to collect or harvest together”. The word “bound” means “to cramp” implying a confinement to a space. The word “established” means “accomplished, ordained, or made sure”. This is showing Christ as being in control of all nature. In Luke 8:24-25, Christ shows His power over the elements of nature and weather, because the Word says, “And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.” The disciples walked with Him, saw miracles, but still couldn’t fully comprehend the measure of His power on earth. In Proverb 8:29-30, the Bible says, “When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him”. Nothing on earth moves without the permission of God, and Christ was God robed in flesh. Christ enjoyed seeing the mighty hand of God move in the earth. Do we?

“What is his name, and what is his son’s name if thou canst tell?”

The word “name” means “an appellation of authority, honor, or character”. The word “tell” means “to confess, know recognize or discern”. In Acts 4:12, it says, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” In the name of Jesus Christ lies salvation, redemption, and the power of the Holy Spirit in us. In Romans 10:9-10, the Bible says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” When we confess the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, our lives change forever! Not only can our lord and Savior control the elements of nature, but He also controls the elements of our lives, and His desire is to bring the kingdom of God into our lives.

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 21, 2021 – Psalm 68:18 – Jesus Christ: The Mystery Uncovered Part 24 – Thou hast ascended on high

Hi Everyone! 

The power of Jesus Christ’s ascension to heaven unlocked a power within us. We have been set free from the bondage that kept us from salvation, that greatly hindered our redemption, and had us slated for permanent destruction. God not only set us free, but He also imprisoned captivity, restricting our access to it. Imagine the day I am freed from prison, and am united with my family, but instead of enjoying my freedom, I leave home, drive back to the prison I was set free from, pound on the doors of the prison, and tell them to let me back in! That would be insane, wouldn’t it? Yet, many of us return back to the sinful lives we were delivered from, from the attitudes we were saved from, and we put on captivity as if we were never freed. This is not what Christ ascended to the Father for. He ascended so we would be free indeed, and operate in the fullness of the Holy Spirit’s power working in us. Today, we are going to look at Psalm 68:18, the ascension of Christ and the liberation of us. 

”Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.”

The phrase ”ascended” means ”to make an upward motion into the presence of God”, speaking of Christ going back to heaven. In Acts 1:8-9, the Bible says, ”But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.” Christ’s ascension to the Father meant Holy Spirit power for us, so we can live in the earth as His witnesses, so people would turn their lives over to Christ, and have their souls saved as well. The Word of God gives us promises, but we must follow the Word of God in order to activate the promises.

The disciples had to follow Christ’s command, when He told them in Luke 24:49, ”And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” What this means for us is, God has promises prepared for us as His children, but we must be obedient, and we must be in position to receive them. The disciples were terrified; their Lord crucified, resurrected, and now ascended, and His command was for them to stay in Jerusalem, the same place where Christ was persecuted for being our Lord. Obedience isn’t easy, but it is necessary!

The phrase ”hast led captivity captive” implies a taking prisoner of the institution of imprisonment as spoils of war or military raid. When Christ ascended to the Father, He took bondage away from Satan, giving all who believe in His name freedom. In Ephesians 4:8-10, the Bible says, ”Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)”

I am currently in prison, currently sentenced to life imprisonment without parole, unable to leave. If someone was to gift me a car or a house while I am still in prison, what tangible, immediate good would it do for me? Now if I am released from prison and then bestowed these gifts, then they have the power to change my life. Christ’s death allowed him to descend into the deep, to conduct a military raid on Hell, to take away death, bondage and the power of death away from Satan, giving us true freedom in Him to receive His gifts fully. The word ”receive” means “to take hold of, or to seize”. The word “gift” means “a present or offering”.

In Acts 2:33, the Bible says, ”Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.” There is always going to be evidence of the gift of God working in us, and Christ died, rose, and ascended to give us the gift of the Holy Spirit.

“Yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.”

The word “rebellious” refers to the backslider and the person who revolts against the Word of God. The word “dwell” means “to reside in, to rest in, or to inhabit.” In Romans 5:10, the Bible says, “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” Christ’s ascension to the Father ensured that a person like me, a person who was a disgrace to the kingdom to God, can receive salvation and adoption through Jesus Christ. Christ’s victory became mine because the Holy Spirit dwells in me! The rebel becomes restored through the victory of Christ.

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 22, 2021 – Hebrew 9:15 – Jesus Christ: The Mystery Uncovered Part 25 – receive the promise of eternal inheritance

Hi Everyone!

The New Testament of the Bible begins with the 4 Gospels, all speaking about Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. Christ’s death did much more than just save us from sin and redeem us from the penalty of death. His death began the New Testament itself, a new agreement that fulfilled the Old Testament, and bestowed upon us even greater promises than that of the Old Testament. God desired to walk with His children and be their God in the Old Testament, but in the New Testament, He desired to dwell IN US by the Holy Spirit, the Promised Comforter. God desires that, through the New Testament, we would walk on earth in the power of God, as children of God, experiencing the kingdom of God on earth, and then obtain our inheritance of eternal life when our life here is over, to once again dwell WITH God again. Christ’s death activated this Promise! Today, we will look at Hebrew 9:15, the Mediator of our New Testament, Jesus Christ.

”And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.”

The word ”cause” means ”the channel of an act, or the reason for being”. The word ”mediator” means ”go-between, intercessor, or reconciler”. In 1 Timothy 2:5-6, the Bible says, ”For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” The Mediator is the executor of the New Testament, the person who ensures the terms of the agreement are met, the promises are established, and all parties involved know what they must do and what they are entitled to. Jesus Christ died on a cross to ensure that the New Testament would be activated, also to ensure that we would have intercession between us and God. The ”New Testament” is a new covenant between us and God, sanctioned by the blood of Christ, which means Christ had to die in order for the new covenant to have power.

In Hebrews 9:16-17, the Bible says, ”For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of NO STRENGTH AT ALL while the testator liveth.’‘ Do we understand that our sin put Christ in a position where He had to come down from heaven and die, so we can receive the promises of the New Testament?

The phrase “by means” implies the method by which the new testament was activated and that method was “death”. This didn’t signify a natural death, but this word “death” means “a violent death”. In Acts 8:32, the Bible says, “The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth”. Christ knew what His mission was on earth; He knew that His death would be brutal, but was still obedient, so we could be partakers in this new covenant, full of promise. In Luke 22:42, the Bible says, “Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” Obedience isn’t doing what is easy, but true obedience is when you’d rather flee than obey and you still obey.

“for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament”

The word “redemption” means “ransom paid in full, deliverance, or salvation for those who believe in the name of Jesus Christ, that He died to saved us from our sins.” The word “transgressions” means “law breaking, deliberately stepping over the boundary.” The Old Testament showed us that it was impossible for us to keep the entire law perfectly, that something more was needed. In Romans 3:24-25, the Bible says, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God”. God made sure we had a substitute, a perfect sacrifice, to replace our inability to keep the law. Christ’s death bought us back, when there was nothing we could do on our own to pay the cost for our sin.

“They which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance”

The word “called” means “invited to repentance and salvation”. The word “receive” means “to seize or take hold of”. The word “promise’ means “divine assurance of God”. The New Testament is one big promise, a divine assurance of good, because those who receive the promise experience victory over sin and death. In Hebrews 3:1-2, the Bible says, “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.” Because we are called into this wonderful salvation and repentance, we must consider the means by which we received such an amazing gift, and live in complete faithfulness to God. We can’t live our lives as if there wasn’t a great sacrifice made by Christ so we could receive this gift.

The phrase “eternal inheritance” speaks of perpetual heir ship, and admission into the kingdom of God, to spend the rest of our lives with Him. In Acts 20:32, the Bible says, “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.” The New Testament positions us to be of the kingdom of God on earth and also positions us to be admitted into the kingdom of God in heaven. If we believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and believe that God raised Him from the dead, then the kingdom of God is ours for the taking, both now and for eternity!

God bless!

Marshall

Dec 23, 2021 – Galatians 4:7 – Jesus Christ: The Mystery Uncovered Part 26 – an heir of God through Christ

Hi Everyone!

Jesus Christ’s presence on earth showed us how to live according to the kingdom of God. He lived in authority, spoke in divine truth, and provided miracles that only someone sent by God could do. Christ also lived to prepare us for a world where the Holy Spirit dwells in us and guides us into all truth. His death ensured that we would have access to the kingdom of God now and in eternity, but we have to believe in the name of Jesus Christ, believe God rose Him from the dead, and receive Him as both Lord and Savior. If we just receive Him as Savior then we may be free and may have our ticket to heaven, but if Jesus is Lord, then we will learn how to live kingdom lives on earth, reigning with Christ as priests and kings. In sin, we were in bondage, but in salvation, we are children of God and heirs to His promises, promises freely available to us by the Word of God. Today, we will look at Galatians 4:7, Jesus Christ, the gateway to our inheritance of God.

”Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”

The word “servant” means “a slave, involuntarily or voluntarily in a qualified sense of subjection or subservience.” Whether we acknowledge it or not, when we were living in sin, we are enslaved by sin. In John 8:34, the Bible says, “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” We become enslaved to what we conform ourselves to, which is why Romans 12:2 says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” When we are enslaved by sin, our minds can’t be renewed daily, and we won’t be able to perform, and to establish by evidence that the will of God is perfect.

Sin keeps us away from the will of God, and when we live in sin, we live our lives to please the flesh. In Romans 6:16, the Bible says, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” What we obey is what we serve, and if we serve our flesh, then we obey its desires.

Our actions give a testimony for what we serve. In Romans 6:22, the Bible says, “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” We bear fruit that invites a holy life when we are servants to the Word of God, and we become partakers of eternal life when we become servants to the Word of God. If we are servants to the Word of God, then we obey the Word of God and walk into a great fellowship with God.

Our position in the kingdom changes when we say “yes” to our God. It doesn’t become servitude out of obligation, but it is the will of God out of a loving relationship with God.

Our title changes from “servant” to “son”. The word “son” here doesn’t stress gender, but it stresses role. The word “son” here means “the bearer of the family name, or offspring”. In Romans 8:16-17, the Bible says, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” Inside our spirits lies the evidence that we are the children of God, only given to us by the Word of God. It is our job as believers to proper claim our new role in the kingdom and learn how to live out our roles properly. in John 1:12-13, the Bible says, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” We are empowered to become children of God, something our best efforts won’t ever allow us to experience. The flesh doesn’t profit anything but death, but God desires we become His children, not just His creation.

The word “heir” means “a partaker of the blessings which God bestows upon his children, implying admission to the kingdom of heaven and its privileges.” Christ didn’t die on the cross just so we could be saved, but so we can actively partake in the divine kingdom of God, In Galatians 4:1-2, the Bible says, “Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.” Even as children of God, we must mature spiritually in order to partake fully in the divine kingdom of God.

“Through Christ” is a phrase that expresses that Christ is the vehicle or conduit into our successful inheritance of the kingdom of God. There is an appointed time for our maturity as believers, and as heirs, we can operate fully as the children of God. Christ came to bring us the kingdom, but will we seize it for ourselves?

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 24, 2021 – John 16:7 – Jesus Christ: The Mystery Uncovered Part 27 – the Comforter … I will send him unto you

Hi Everyone!

One of the most powerful gifts we could ever receive is the gift of the promised Holy Spirit. The inhabitation of the Holy Spirit in us is the evidence of God’s existence, but it is also evidence that the words of Christ are true when He spoke them on earth. When the Holy Spirit comes upon us we are filled with power to operate as children of God in the earth, and we have the privilege to experience the kingdom of God while we still live on the earth. Christ had to die, be resurrected and ascend to the Father in order for us to experience the Holy Spirit’s arrival. Christ came to earth to give us more than just salvation.  He came to bring us a relationship with God that we never had before, one where the Spirit of God dwells richly in us, directing the course of our lives and minds from within. Today, we will look at John 16:7, the promised Comforter’s presence in our lives.

”Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.”

The word ”truth” means ”evidence in relation to facts, what is not concealed, but in the open.” Truth stands against any lie the enemy tries to give us, because lies aim to redirect us from the instruction of God, and from the position God wants us to occupy. In John 14:5-6, Christ says, ”Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” People want to get to God by their own way, and some even speak the lie that there are many ways to God, but there is only one Way, THE Way, and that is Jesus Christ.

In John 1:14, the Bible says, ”And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.’‘ The Word of God, Jesus Christ, became flesh and was full of grace and truth, because God’s Holy Spirit dwelt completely in Him. When we can walk in truth, we can enjoy the privilege of being children of God.

In Psalm 91:4, the Bible says, “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” The truth protects us in spiritual warfare, when the enemy tries to launch attacks against us with his lies. In 2 Timothy 2:15, the Bible says, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Filling our minds and heart with the truth of God makes God proud of us, and we are able to differentiate between the truth and lie with the truth planted within us. When Christ tells us the truth, it becomes the foundation that we place our whole lives upon.

The word “expedient” means “advantageous or profitable”. In Romans 8:28, the Bible says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Christ is the Word of God, and He assures us that even the grief we suffer has a divine good for those who love God.

Because the disciples loved Christ, He is telling them that it is profitable for them that He goes away, that it would benefit them greatly. We know the phrase “go away” in this case to mean Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension back to the Father in heaven. Christ even goes as far as to tell us why, that by Him going away, the “Comforter” can come unto us. The word “Comforter” means “Intercessor, Advocate, bestowing spiritual aid and consolation, spoken of the Holy Spirit”. In John 7:39, the Bible says, “(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”. Christ will send the Comforter, but we must believe in Christ in order to receive Him.

The word “depart” in this case speaks of Christ’s ascension back to the Father. The word “send” means “despatch”. Christ didn’t say in this verse that God would send the Comforter, but He said, “if I depart, I will send Him unto you.”

In Matthew 28:18, the Bible says, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, ALL POWER is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Christ went back to the Father with all power, and His first thought was to give this power to those who believe. In John 14:26, Christ says, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” This further proves that Jesus Christ was God, because in John 14:7, Christ says, “If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.” God, Christ, and the Comforter are all one, the presence, power and Person of God.

God bless!

Marshall

Dec 25, repeat of Dec 4, 2021 – Isaiah 7:14 – Jesus Christ: The Mystery Uncovered Part 7 – and shall call his name Immanuel

Hi Everyone!

There is power in our names. Our names declare what we will ultimately become, so it is expressly important to seek God’s perspective on what we should name our children. Also, it is just as important as believers that we name ourselves correctly, declaring ourselves to be the children of God, the redeemed of the Lord, the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. God ensured that when Christ was sent, His name would already be established to confirm His identity and His role in the earth. With the name of Jesus came the answer to the burning question, ”Is Jesus Christ God?”’, to which we can answer boldly, ”Yes He is!” When God makes a declaration in a name, it will be exactly as He ordains it. Since creation, a name was powerful, and in the name of Jesus Christ we have salvation and eternal life by faith in His name. Today, we are going to look at Isaiah 7:14, the precious name of Jesus Christ.

”Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

The context of this passage is important. The Lord spoke to King Ahaz, and told him to ask of God for a sign from God. Basically, God is telling Ahaz, ”Let me show you that it is really ME talking to you, that I AM who I say I AM”. Whenever God is the one desiring to send us a sign and not us looking for a sign, then God really wants to show us something important!! The word ”sign” means ”evidence, miracle, token, or signal”, all of which carry immense value when it comes from God. In Luke 2:12-14, the Bible says, ”And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” God sent the angel to appear to the shepherds, people you don’t really hear about being a part of the congregation, because their profession typically made them ceremonially unclean. Imagine God opening up heaven to the shepherds, allowing them to see this heavenly miraculous sign, but according to ”religion”, they were unqualified to be in God’s presence. Isn’t this a picture of salvation; unclean people, having no place to experience the presence of God, yet He does it anyway, opening up heaven to people society may feel don’t deserve it?

The shepherds went to experience the Word of God, and in Luke 2:17-18, the Bible says, ”And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.” God chose the people disqualified from attending church to be His ministers, proclaiming the birth of Christ everywhere they went! Never say what you are too unclean for, because all you need is a word from God and a sign from Him and He will build a ministry in you. This all came from a sign!!!

The word ”virgin” here refers to a woman who has not had any sexual relations with a man. The virgin spoken of here is Mary, as confirmed by Luke 1:34-35, which says, ”Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.’‘ Everything about Christ’s arrival on earth brought the supernatural into the earth, and she was impregnated by the Holy Spirit of God! The word ”conceive” means ”to be pregnant, or to be with child”. The word ”bear” refers to the delivery of a baby. I love how precise God’s word is because God knows our name, our sex, and our purpose before we come to the world. Remember, Isaiah wrote this prophecy some 700 years before Christ’s arrival.

The phrase ”shall call” is really an instruction for us ”to pronounce, or to address by name”. In Genesis 2:19-20, the Bible says, ”And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.” God gave Adam the authority to name every living creature and those names haven’t changed. God gives us our names and with our names, come our roles.

In Matthew 1:23, the Bible says, ”Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.’‘ This name came straight from God himself! This passage is the impending fulfillment of the prophecy initially spoken to King Ahaz in Isaiah. Whatever God declares it to be, it is, and when Christ was named Immanuel, it established that Christ is definitely God!!

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 26, 2021 – John 1:18 – Jesus Christ: The Mystery Uncovered Part 28 – ”No man hath seen God at any time

Hi Everyone!

Jesus Christ came to earth for many reasons, much more than just salvation. We have discovered that Christ came to seek and saved those who are lost, to rescue them from the penalty of eternal death, to give believers the power to become the children of God, to bring the kingdom of God to earth, and by His ascension to the Father in heaven, we also have access to the Holy Spirit’s inhabitation in us. The Holy Spirit teaches us about the Word of God, guides us into all truth, and gives us the power to do the same and even greater works than Christ did while He was on earth. Another purpose Christ had was to declare who God is to us, to give us a proper introduction to the Father, so that we can also share that with others. Christ came to earth to declare the goodness of God toward us, and to show us how to live our lives to please Him here on earth. Today, we will look at John 1:18, God revealed to us by Jesus Christ our Lord.

”No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”

The phrase “hath seen” means “to discern clearly, to experience, to know, to be acquainted with or know God’s character.” In Exodus 33:19-20, the Bible says, “And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.” Moses asked God to show him His glory, and God wouldn’t allow him to see his face, but what God allowed Moses to see was the effects of God’s face being upon someone; he got to experience God’s goodness, His favor, His grace and His mercy. Christ came to show people that, while we may be unable to physically see God in His full spiritual essence, He is right here with us and we will see His impact in our lives.

In Deuteronomy 4:12-13, the Bible says, “And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice. And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.” Even being unable to physically see God, we have received His covenant, His Word and His power living within us. There is a ton of evidence God has given us of his presence in our lives, so instead of focusing our attention on seeing God physically, maybe we should focus our attention on what we can see, and that is His Word and his Word’s effect in our lives.

The phrase “only begotten” means “only born, or sole, the Word, as alone knowing and revealing the essence of the Father.” In John 1:14, the Bible says, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” Jesus Christ’s birth was the first time God’s glory was fully manifested in bodily form, fully possessing (and being) grace and truth. Christ came to give us a complete picture of who God is.

In John 3:18, Christ says, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Our believing in Christ is a lot deeper than  just believing in a Savior. Christ is God robed in flesh, so to not believe in Him, who came in the expressed image and power of God in bodily form, is to suggest that God isn’t real either! The “Son” is in the gospel sense the Messiah, sent forth from God, as partaking of the divine nature and being in intimate union with God the Father. In John 6:46, Christ says, “Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.” Christ bears the complete record of who God is, and He makes that record available to us.

“Which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”

Being ‘in the bosom of the Father” expresses mutual intimacy between Christ and God, an intimacy that is due to great relationship. In John 13:23, the Bible says, “Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.” This disciple is John, and they had the closest level of intimacy of all of the disciples. This is why John was entrusted to preach the Word about who God really is, and the intimacy God desires to have with us.

The word “declared” means “to unfold, to make known as a teacher In 1 John 4:16-17 the Bible says, “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.”

God is love, so if we walk in love, God manifests Himself to us, in us, and through us, just like He did for Christ in the earth!

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 27, 2021 – Ephesians 1:23 – Jesus Christ: The Mystery Uncovered Part 29 – the fulness of him that filleth all in all

Hi Everyone!

Jesus Christ is the head of our Church. He is the foundation, the Chief Cornerstone, the Rock the Church rests itself upon. We are the body of Christ, in union together, moving according to the leadership of Jesus Christ, the Word of God. Christ’s ascension back to the Father allowed Him to send us the Holy Spirit, Who guides us into all truth. No matter if a believer is across an ocean, in a different city, or a different country, we make up this body, the physical movement of the Word of God, and we all are to work together to ensure the will of God is done. How can I work together with someone I have never met? By following the Word of God. Through the Holy Spirit’s inhabitation, we have the ability to live in power as Christ did, and move as the Church in Acts moved. The power the Church moved in back then is still available to us, but we must allow Christ to be the Head just as they did. Today, we will look at Ephesians 1:23, the Church, the body of Christ, where He is head.

”Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”

The word ”body” means “an organized whole made up of parts and members, spoken of the Christian Church, the whole body of Christians collectively, where Christ is the head.” The Scripture says ”His body”, meaning we belong to Him. In Psalm 24:1. the Bible says, “The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” Christ is the head of the Church and everything and everyone in it, and He is the Authority. In Colossians 1:18, the Bible says, “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

If Christ is head, then that means He is also Lord, the Supreme Authority that the will of God operates through. A body can’t function without the Head, neither can we function without being in one body. In Romans 12:4-5, the Bible says, “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” Even though we have different callings, and hold different positions, our job as the body is to operate as one by following the Holy Spirit’s direction for our lives. In 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, the Bible says, “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” The Church is designed to move as one with Christ at the Head, who is also one with us. Unity in the Church and in the Spirit is the goal, so that the perfect will of God can be done, and the Word of God can come alive in the hearts and minds of people all over the world.

When the Church is active, lives are supposed to change, souls are supposed to be saved, people are supposed to be healed, and people in bondage are supposed to be set free. Our movement in the earth should be no different than Christ’s movements in the earth, because the last part of 1 John 4:17 says, “as he is, so are we in this world.” The world is supposed to see us and see Christ in us. in Acts 11:26, the Bible says, “And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” They were called Christians because they represented Christ, doing the same things He did in the earth for a whole year in Antioch before people identified them with Christ.

The word “fulness” means “completion, speaking of a multitude reaching an intended goal in number”. In Ephesians 4:10-12, the Bible says, “He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ”. The Church must grow because there are positions to fill by those who will edify the body of Christ, who will come into unity of the faith together with the saints and with Christ.

The word “filleth” means “to supply abundantly with something, to impart richly, or imbue with”. 1 Corinthians 12:6-7, the Bible says, “And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.” The purpose of our individual capacities in the Lord is for all of us to fill gaps in the body, so every conceivable need in life is met by the Christ who is the Head of the Church. As the body, we are the conduit for the power of God to reach the world.

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 28, 2021 – Acts 7:59 – Jesus Christ: The Mystery Uncovered Part 30 – Lord Jesus, receive my spirit

Hi Everyone!

Everything we are belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ. When we understand Who we belong to, it will make it easier for us to live for Him. As His children, God has always desired us to understand the mystery of His kingdom, so that we can be one with God the same way Christ was one with God.

Is Jesus Christ Lord over our lives, even our spirits? Do we know Christ, in all His glory, to be the one who receives our spirits into heaven?

When Christ ascended back into heaven, He received all power, and in having all power, He is the one we answer to, and the one who holds or safe passage into the kingdom of God.

We want to go to heaven, and experience eternal life, but are we a part of the kingdom of God while we are on earth? Does our spirit belong to the Lord, or do we believe that we are lord over our spirits?

Today, we will look at Acts 7:59, making ourselves available for the Lord to receive our spirits.

”And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

The word ”stoned” refers to a penalty imposed by a crowd pelting or throwing stones at someone, usually until they die. In this case, Stephen was ”on trial” for blasphemy, and the people in the synagogue wanted to murder him for speaking the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ. They couldn’t make a case against him lawfully, because not only did he teach the infallible Gospel of Jesus Christ, but in Acts 6:8 the Bible says, ”And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.”

Stephen moved in the Holy Spirit’s power and in His direction, and he was faithful to His call.

In Acts 6:13, the Bible says, ”And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law”. We know the people lied about Stephen, but the thing that sticks out is that they attested that Stephen ”ceaseth not to speak”. Stephen taught and preached everywhere he went and they hated him for it, especially since there was indisputable evidence of God’s power working in Him.

What really angered the synagogue people was in Acts 7:55-56, which says, ”But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.” These two verses are powerful because they express what we must do as believers, that we must ”look up steadfastly into heaven, seeing the glory of God”, and we must testify to the things God reveals to us. Stephen testified to what Christ showed him, and Christ allowed Stephen to see that Christ was no longer seated at God’s right hand, but He was standing!!! In Luke 22:69, Christ says, ”Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God,” but now He is standing and allowed Stephen to see it with His own eyes! When we do the will of God, Christ reveals the kingdom to us through the Holy Spirit. Stephen was stoned because he saw what Christ revealed and he was bold enough to speak. In America, we won’t speak about what God reveals and there is no fear of death.

The word ”calling” means ”appeal to, to invoke for aid, for worship, testimony, and decision”. Who do we call upon when we are afflicted? Who do we call upon when are under persecution? Who do we call upon when we are broken?

 I just had a horrible stretch of days, amounting to heavy spiritual war, and I have never been in a spiritual battle that heavy before. I tried to call on Jesus, but I was so wrapped in my brokenness that I didn’t fully ask for help. In Jeremiah 29:12-13, the Bible says, ”Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” The reason I struggled more mightily than I had to was my heart was divided. My pain became more real than my God, and I couldn’t give it all to Him, even knowing He is my only help.

This is important! Stephen calls ”upon God, and saying, ”Lord Jesus…”. 

This is further evidence that Stephen uncovered the mystery of God, that Jesus Christ IS God!!

The word ”receive” means ”to accept, to take hold of, or to seize”. In 2 Corinthians 5:8, the Bible says, ”We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” Stephen knew his death was coming and he knew who would receive his spirit. He knew the kingdom of God opened up to receive him, and He called upon God for it.

In Luke 23:46, the Bible says, ”And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.’‘ There are parallels to Stephen and Christ, and that is because the same Holy Spirit was in both. Who will receive our spirits when our time on earth ends?

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 29, 2021 – Isaiah 44:6 – Jesus Christ: The Mystery Uncovered Part 31 – I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

 – Part 31 is The last in the Series – Jesus Christ: The Mystery Uncovered

Hi Everyone!

Our Lord Jesus Christ came to earth and became the Savior to the whole world. We have access to salvation, redemption, and eternal life through faith in His name. Christ was perfect in the earth because He is Emmanuel, God with us, God robed in flesh. All of this puts us in a great position, because we become the children of God, having direct access to the kingdom of God and all of His mysteries. We can know the things of God as believers through the Holy Spirit, who teaches us and leads us into all truth. We have all of this amazing access as believers.

But is Jesus Christ Lord in our lives?

Christ was there in the beginning, creating the whole world, He came down to earth to become the perfect atoning sacrifice for us, and He has ascended back to heaven in all power, as Lord over all. His reign has no end, because not only was He first, but He is also last. Today, we will close out this series into Jesus Christ with Isaiah 44:6, Christ, our Alpha and our Omega.

”Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.”

The word “Lord” means “supreme in authority, controller”. A “king” is one who demonstrates his power and authority. How did Christ demonstrate His authority and power? In Matthew 20:26-28, Christ says, “But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Christ exercised His authority to serve people, to heal the sick, to raise the dead, to cause the blind to see, and to stir the hearts of people so they would turn to God for forgiveness and healing.

In Luke 7:22-23, the Bible says, ”Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.” Christ didn’t come to have a power struggle with anyone, but He came so people could experience the kingdom of God while they still lived on earth. In Matthew 21:5, the Bible says, ”Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.”  Christ moved in the authority as a king, and had every right to fully be God, but made himself a servant, coming in full obedience to the Word of God. In the humility of Christ, we have an example of how we should, be no matter how we elevate spiritually, or the positions we hold in the Church.

”And His redeemer the Lord of Hosts”

The word ”redeemer” means ”one who buys someone back from spiritual death and bondage”. In Isaiah 43:1, the Bible says, ”But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.” When Christ came, He took our place on the cross, and because of His blood, shed on the cross for the sins of the world, we have access to redemption that our best behavior couldn’t give. In Isaiah 44:24, the Bible says, ”Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself.’‘  Our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, is also our Creator, and the Author of all things. Think about our Savior, who has all power in earth and in heaven, making provision for our salvation by making Himself the Sacrifice for our sins. We won’t sacrifice time, money, effort, or love for someone else, even those we love, but our amazing God did it all. The word ”hosts” speaks of a mass of people organized like an army, or the Church, who is also the army of the Lord.

In Job 19:25, the Bible says, ”For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth”. Our Redeemer lives and is in all power in heaven!

The word ”first” means ”chief one” speaking of rank and order. The word ”last” speaks of Christ being an end. The word ”beside” means ”without”. In Revelation 1:8, the Bible says, ”I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” Christ was there in the beginning and He was there when salvation was made available to us, and He will be there in the end, when eternal life begins with a new heaven and a new earth, where Christ reigns forever.

In Revelation 1:17-18, the Bible says, ”And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” Not only is our Loving Redeemer alive, but He is victorious over the enemy, as evidenced by Him having the keys to hell and death. There is nothing to fear when our God, the Lord Jesus Christ, has won the battle, and has come to earth in order to redeem His Church from the bondage of sin and the penalty of death.

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 30, 2021 – Jude 1:23 – others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire

Hi Everyone!

Sharing the Word of God with others is such a powerful occurrence, one that is very pleasing to God. We received an amazing salvation through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord, one that has cleansed us from the filth of our sin and iniquity. We are new creations in Christ, transformed by His blood and by His Word, and our lives are completely new. We have access to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, receiving guidance and teaching from the Holy Spirit. Abundant life is now ours and we have the privilege to access to the kingdom of God’s provision, and live according to God’s standards. In the midst of our incredible gifts, there are a ton of people around us that don’t know the Lord, that haven’t received salvation and redemption, that are living in sin that will lead to death, and that are being sorely misled. How can we live so well, while our brothers and sisters are wallowing in flames? Today, we will look at Jude 1:23, pulling our brothers and sisters out of the fire.

”And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”

The word ”save” means ”to preserve safe from danger, loses, or destruction, in a spiritual or moral sense.” The word ”fear” means ”reverence, respect or honor to God or Christ, a deep reverential sense of accountability to God or Christ”. There are people who are misled by the false teaching of ungodly people, and are in dire need of redirection, having people teach them the Word of God in truth. God begins this work on earth with us.

In 1 Timothy 4:14-16, the Bible says, ”Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” God gave us a gift of salvation, but when He charged us to go into the world and make disciples of all nations, He entrusted ministry to us as well, to ensure people are receiving the truth of the Word of God.

In 2 Timothy 4:2-3, the Bible says, ”Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears”. The enemy is busy sowing tares among the wheat, and many churches are filled with false teachers, people who spread apostasy in the Church, causing division and defection from the body. This is why we must preach in season or out of season because the truth must be shared and taught everywhere. Because we recognize that it was the Lord Jesus Christ who died on the cross so we would have the privilege to stand on His foundation, building our whole lives upon it, we should have a desire to do the things that please Him. We honor our Lord by doing what He says, and in this verse in Jude, He wants us to reach after those who are lost and misled by the false teachings of those with no honor for the things of God.

”Pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”

The word ”pulling” implies taking out of, seizing from, or snatching someone away. This isn’t talking about the refining fire of God, which is beneficial for our well being, but this is speaking about the fire in Jude 1:7, which says, ”Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” This is a fire that consumes, a fire that destroys, a fire that condemns, and a fire that torments.

In Luke 16:24, Christ says, ”And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.” This is the fire we are pulling our brothers and sisters out of, a fire that will blaze eternally.

The word ”hating” means ”to detest to persecute”. The word ”spotted” means ”defile or stained”. The word ”flesh” implies sinfulness, proneness to sin, the seat of carnal appetites and desires, sinful passions and affections whether physical or moral. In Zechariah 3:3-4, the Bible says, ”Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.’‘

God is looking to cleanse the world of sin, which is why Christ was sent. Let us continue that work allowing the Word of God to be washing people clean, and delivering them from the fire. Only the Word of God can do it!

God Bless!

Marshall

Dec 31, 2021 – Isaiah 41:10 – fear thou not; for I am with thee

Hi Everyone!

When we are without strength, walking in fear, broken and dejected, we have a God who will respond with the help we need to endure trial. God never allows His children to go through anything that He doesn’t keep us through, and if we seek His guidance, His perspective, His presence, and His protection, we will have everything we need to survive whatever storm or battle may come our way. God doesn’t promise His children an easy life, especially those in ministry. Sometimes, we are going to have enemies mounting up on all sides, and sometimes the pressure will be so great that quitting seems to be a better option than enduring. In the face of the hardest struggle, our God us right there, and if we rely upon His strength, we will stand upon our struggle victorious! Today, we are going to look at Isaiah 41:10, strength in the face of fear.

”Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

The word ”fear” means ”to be frightened, to make afraid”. If God is telling Israel to not be afraid, then this is evidence that God knows our feelings from the deepest parts of us. In Romans 8:27, the Bible says, ”And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.’‘ Our loving God searches our hearts, and knows what’s in there, even if we don’t open our mouths. God cares about our feelings, and He doesn’t want us walking in fear, because in Psalm 139:1, the Bible says, ”O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.” God doesn’t just get in our hearts and minds to know our thoughts and feelings, but to further commune with us. To know someone means you become one with them, and that’s what God is doing, building a solid relationship with us. He wants us to get to the point where we will come to Him and know we are safe, and that is why He led this verse with ”Fear thou not”.

God doesn’t just tell us to not fear, but He goes further, He gives us a reason why we shouldn’t fear. ”I am with thee”. God is with us, and with Him dwelling inside of us, there is nothing worth fearing. In Psalm 27:1, the Bible says, ”The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” We are not walking in darkness, nor are we living without deliverance and strength to make it through life.

The word ”dismayed” means ”bewildered or to come undone”. God tells us to not be dismayed and gives us another reason, because ”I am thy God”. Having a relationship with God ensures that we are his children and He is our God, and what real parent won’t protect their children from harm, even with their own lives? In Joshua 1:9, the Bible says, ”Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.’‘ Wherever we go, God is right there. There is nothing or no one to fear!

The word ”strengthen” means ”to give courage to, to increase, to fortify, or to establish”. The word ”help” means ”surround, aid, or protect”. In Psalm 121:1-2, the Bible says, ”I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.” Our God is bigger than our circumstances, than our fears that our enemies, and bigger than our life sentences without parole!

In Deuteronomy 31:6, the Bible says, ”Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.’‘ These are more reasons why we should trust God, because He won’t fail us, nor forsake us. God is not going to have us step out in faith and then leave us hanging. Moses encouraged Joshua with this Scripture because Joshua was leading Israel into the promised land, into a place that wouldn’t be easy to overtake. He was telling Joshua that He wouldn’t have to rely on his own strength, because God would have him covered.

The word ”uphold” means ”to sustain, to keep up”. The phrase ”right hand” means ”power, strength, or might”. The word ”righteousness” means ”right relation to justice, and a moral or ethical standard”. In Proverbs 18:10, the Bible says, ”The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.’‘ God’s righteousness is the power we need to overcome anything the enemy tries to do against us. The right hand of God is His Spirit moving at His command because in Zechariah 4:6, the Bible says, ”Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” The Spirit of God is power, and we will have the victory.

Who do we trust in warfare, our fear or on our God?

God Bless!

Marshall

Hi Everyone!

If we need a clear reference to a perfect Godly life on earth, we need not look any further than Jesus Christ. If want a manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s power in the world, then we need not look no further than Jesus Christ. If we want to see the purest example of undefiled love, or sacrificial love, of obedience under the most difficult circumstances, then we need not look any further than Jesus Christ. By reading God’s word and by tuning our hearts to the leading of the Holy Spirit, we have everything we need to understand how we are to live in the earth. People should see us and see God, and they should see us, and know that we are ambassadors of Christ. What do people see when they see us? Today, we will look at Hebrews 1:3, the Greatest Representation of God on earth, Jesus Christ.

”Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

The word ”brightness” means ”to emit light or splendor, whose divine majesty is evident.” The word ”glory” means ”of internal character, glorious moral attributes, excellence, perfection, and divine character”. In John 1:14, the Bible says, ”And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” God’s glory was upon Christ and it was obvious to all, even to those who didn’t want to admit it. When God shines His light upon someone it will become visible to others, and it is a symbol that God is proud of them.

In Mark 1:9-11, the Bible says, ”And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’‘ When heaven opens us, and the Holy Spirit comes upon us, it is a symbol that God is pleased with us as His children.

The phrase ”expressed image” means ”an exact copy, engraving, or representation of someone or something”, but in this case, we are speaking of Christ being the exact representation of God. In John 14:9-10, ”Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.’‘ Christ is the expressed image of God’s person, which simply means ‘If you want to see the human form of God, look at Jesus Christ’.

Here is where we come in:

In John 14:23, the Bible says, ”Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” Obedience to God’s Word is the way for us to be filled with His presence, so we can live as the exact representation of God as well. In Romans 8:15-16, the Bible says, ”For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God”. Our names and roles change when we become the children of God, and the world should see us and see God. The word ”person” speaks of God’s nature or essence” so we represent who He is in the earth.

”upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sin”

The word ”upholding” means ”to bear up, govern, or direct”. The word ”word” means ”utterance, usually a command, something decreed”. The word ”power” means ”a miraculous force, implying greatness, omnipotence, majesty”. In Revelation 4:11, the Bible says, ”Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” God created all things in Christ so that the world would move according to His Word, and operate in the fullest of His power. As children of God, we are to reflect the image of God in the earth, moving by His Word and exercising His power in the earth. This is how people will see God working through us and give glory to Him.

Christ, ”by himself”, purged our sin, or in other words, purified and cleansed us from our offenses against God and God alone. In Hebrews 9:14, the Bible says, ”How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Christ purging us from sin gave those of us who believe, the ability to serve God and walk in the fullness of His power on earth.

”Sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

Sitting down is a heavenly picture displaying that Christ’s work is finished. In Psalm 110:1-2, ”The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.” When Christ work was done in the earth, He sent the Holy Spirit to continue the work, to build God’s Church, the bride of Christ, and make a people ready for God. The ”right hand of God” implies the highest seat of honor and distinction, also signifying strength and power. If Christ is seated at God’s right hand, then He is the power and strength of God!

Jesus came as God in bodily form, so that we can be transformed into the expressed image of Christ, bearing His image and likeness.

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 2, 2022 – Hebrews 2:4 – according to his own will

Hi Everyone!

God proves Himself true through the vessels He uses for His glory. When we become the children of God, we now have access to the kingdom of God, to not only perform the same miracles of Christ, and even greater ones, because He ascended back to the Father. The same Holy Spirit that worked in Christ can work in us, but we are living in a world where people stopped believing enough in the Word of God to step out in faith. God doesn’t ask us to be miracle workers, but He asks us to trust His word and allow miracles to be performed through us. The God of the Church in Acts is still active and alive today, so His Word must remain the same concerning the power we have as His children. There should be some type of evidence of the Holy Spirit working in us, either through the fruit of our character or the power of His mighty hand. Today, we will look at Hebrews 2:4, the signs and wonders of the Holy Spirit in us.

”God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?”

The phrase ”bearing them witness” means ”to unite in adding evidence, or to testify further jointly”. This implies an agreement to the information presented, a confirmation that the information presented is true. In 1 Corinthians 3:5-6, the Bible says, ”Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.” This gospel spread moves in a circle: God gives us the Word, I plant the Word, someone waters the Word, which confirms its truth, and then God gets the increase.

It begins and ends with the Word of God.

In Mark 16:20, the Bible says, ”And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.”  The Lord is always going to team up with us when we are doing God’s will, and He will allow the Holy Spirit to move so mightily in us that people will see that God has to be working in us. When we testify to the power working in us, we are confirming the presence and power of God, and God confirms Himself by showing us even more.

In Mark 16:17-18, Christ says, ”And these signs shall follow THEM THAT BELIEVE; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.’‘ Our faith is critical to the spread of the Word of God and also the display of the Holy Spirit’s power working through us. Now, some people need to understand the difference between taking up a serpent by chance and surviving the encounter like Paul did in Acts 28, and building a whole church by taking a bunch of poisonous snakes, throwing them in the sanctuary and then having people handle them. God is going to prove His Word true, but in Matthew 4:7, the Bible says, ”Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” God is going to direct us with how to use His Spirit, and in that lies the power.

The word ”signs” means ”supernatural indications which the divine majesty is making known, where the power and presence of God is manifested, either directly, or through the agency of those whom He sends.” The word ”wonders” means ”prodigy or omen of apostles or teachers”. In Acts 14:3, the Bible says, ”Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.’‘ See, when we receive the Word of God and we have the boldness to share what we receive, God will always allow something to happen that will display that the word we speak is truth. God always confirms His word. In Acts 14:9:10, the Bible says, ”The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.”

The phrase ”divers miracles” means ”various displays of God’s miraculous power or force used in mighty deeds”. The word ”gifts” means ”a division of the Holy Spirit’s power into parts, and a distribution of this power through the believers in the Church. In 1 Corinthians 12:4-5, the Bible says, ”Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.’‘ God gives the Church different gifts so there isn’t an area in people, or life, that the Church can’t reach.

The word ”will” means ”purpose, intent, or good pleasure.” In John 14:18, Christ says, ”I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” The Holy Spirit comes unto us, so we can walk in power as the children of God, bearing testimony and evidence of the power and presence of God in us. What evidence do we have of God’s power working mightily in us?

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 3, 2022 – Proverb 1:10 – if sinners entice thee, consent thou not

Hi Everyone! 

There are always people in the world that will try to entice us to do the wrong things. As society is becoming more Godless by the second, it is becoming more of the norm for sin to abound in people’s lives. In order for a person to be enticed, it has to be with something that is attractive to them. This means that, even in believer’s lives, there are things that we must keep in check by staying as far away from them as possible. For some people, it’s drugs; for others, it’s crime; and yet for others, it could be sex, but every believer has vulnerable areas in their lives that need the Word of God’s strength to fortify. It isn’t the enticement that causes sin, because there is always someone tempting someone, but what causes us to sin is when we approve of the enticement and give it room to grow within, That is when we start answering to its desires. Today, we will look at Proverb 1:10, overcoming the enticement of the world.  

”My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.”

The word ”son” isn’t specific to gender, but it also means ”a builder of the family name.” In John 15:4-5, Christ says, ”Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” As children of God, we are divinely connected to God, and everything we need is provided by Him. Our job as believers is to use His provision to go out in the earth and represent our Lord and God, edifying the body of Christ, building up His family name.

Children of God receive their guidance from the Holy Spirit’s leading, which is why Romans 8:14 says, ”For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.’‘ The world should see us as believers and see Who is leading us. Children of God make themselves available to God, to be directed as the Lord sees fit. In Galatians 4:7, the Bible says, ”Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” Being led by the Lord in sonship positions us to receive the inheritance God has for His children through the death of Christ.

The word ”sinners” means ”one counted guilty, criminals, the sinful”. This word describes those who are unbelievers for whom sin is continual and who endeavor to persuade even believers to sin with them. As believers, we are to be very careful how we identify ourselves.

Calling ourselves ”sinners” doesn’t fit us according to the Word of God:

In Colossians 1:2, the Bible says, ”To the SAINTS and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” The word sinner is designed for those who haven’t received salvation for their souls, not the saved that may commit a sin.

The word ”entice” means ”to delude in a sinister way, to deceive or persuade”. In Genesis 39:7-9, the Bible, ”And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Potiphar’s wife was not a believer, and she tried to persuade Joseph to sin against God by sleeping with her. Joseph would not be deceived into experiencing the pleasures of sin for any season, but remained faithful to God and his kept his loyalty to Potiphar. We also have a choice, no matter how tempting the enticement may be, because in James 1:14, the Bible says, ”But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his OWN lust, and enticed.’‘ We can’t answer to the lust that burns within us, but we have to answer to the Word of God.

The word ”consent” means ”to yield, to be willing, to be acquiescent to”. In Psalm 1:1, the Bible says, ”Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” God doesn’t want us to live the same way as evildoers, nor does He want us to assume their same path. In 1 Thessalonians 5:22, the Bible says, ”Abstain from all appearance of evil.” God doesn’t want us in the same crowd with anything that appears to be evil. God wants us to make it clear what side of the line we are on. In Ephesians 5:11, the Bible says, ”And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.’‘ Not only are we supposed to not have fellowship with evildoers, but we are supposed to be bold enough to speak against their actions.

If sinners entice us, let us correct them with the Word of God.

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 4, 2022 – Jan 13, 2022 – The Beatitudes Series repeated click on this link:

https://www.redthreadpoets.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Beatitudes-eBook.pdf

Jan 14, 2021 – Proverb 3:9 – Honour the LORD

Hi Everyone!

Does God come first in our lives? It is easy to profess that God comes first, that He deserves our firsts, but when it comes down to our tithes and offerings, does He get our firsts, or does He get what is left over? When it comes to serving the Lord, does He get our best effort, or does He get a chance offering during the day, when we may have time for the Lord? Giving God our first is an intentional act by us to establish that the Lord deserves our absolute best, and He deserves our firsts. Too many of us as believers give God whatever we feel is meet and think we are in line with God’s Word, but does our offering mean anything if God isn’t honored in it? What good is a tithe that doesn’t come first? What good is an offering that we make begrudgingly? We have to look at our loving God, how He created us, how He had a plan for salvation, how He redeemed us from the penalty of death, that should make us want to give God our best. Today, we will look at Proverb 3:9, honoring God with our firsts.

”Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase.”

The word ”honor” means ”to make heavy or powerful, to bring glory to God with”. The word ”Lord” means ”Supreme in Authority, Controller”. In our giving, we are to bring glory to God for who He is. In Romans 14:8, the Bible says, ”For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.’‘ We belong to God, and whatever we do or give should be with our Lord in mind. If God isn’t the driving force behind our giving, then we have lost the whole point in this. In Psalm 24:1, the Bible says, ”The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.’‘ Everything in this earth belongs to God, so when we give, we are acknowledging that everything is His anyway, and we wouldn’t have anything to give if it wasn’t for God. Have we made God Lord over our possessions, or is that something we have chosen to keep for ourselves?

In 1 Samuel 2:30, the Bible says, ”Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.” When we honor God, He honors us, and when we honor God in our giving He blesses us by placing honor upon us.

The word ”substance” means ”riches, wealth, our enough”. In Proverb 10:22, the Bible says, ”The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.” The Lord gives us our riches, and we honor the Lord by giving back. Knowing that it is the Lord that gives to us in the first place should make us willing to honor Him with our substance, but many of us miss the mark. In 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, the Bible says, ”But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” We must have the right attitude with both our tithes and our offerings, because if we don’t, it defeats the purpose of giving in the first place. God loves when our heart is right in our giving.

The word ”firstfruits” means ”first product, best, most excellent”. In Genesis 4:4, the Bible says, ”And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering”. Before God instituted any law about giving, before it became a requirement, Abel gave an offering to the Lord. He separated the firstlings of the flock, and he brought that before the Lord. This is why God respected Abel’s offering over Cain’s because of Abel’s heart about his giving. He honored God with the firsts, with the best, and told God by his actions that God deserves our best.

The word ”increase” means ”income, produce, gain or revenue”. In Malachi 3:10, the Bible says, ”Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” The ”tithe” is ”a tenth”, the first fruits designated for God. In Exodus 22:29, the Bible says, ”Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me.” ”Not delaying” means that there is no hesitation to our giving, and our attitudes are about giving God His just due. We should have enthusiasm about giving to God because He deserves all of our best, everything we have, and most of all, our all, He deserves our willing hearts.

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 15, 2021 – Hebrews 6:15 – And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise

Hi Everyone!

Our God makes promises to us, promises that He will always keep. We have security in the Word of God to do exactly what He says, and also we have assurance that our God always positions His children to be able to do His will. Our problem is that we expect God to move immediately when we ask Him for something, and when it doesn’t come right away, we find ourselves losing heart. As believers, patience is definitely a great virtue, and those who are patient not only will receive the promises of God, but we will also experience a view of God’s faithfulness. Enduring patiently is not easy, but most people who receive the promise after patiently enduring will attest that the wait was well worth it, because God’s perfect will left nothing to be desired when the promise came. Believers who wait patiently become grateful that it didn’t come sooner, knowing that the waiting is God preparing us to be able to receive the promise in the way He intends. Today, we will look at Hebrews 6:15, patiently enduring to obtain the promises of God.

”And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.”

The phrase ”patiently endured” means ”to be long-spirited, to be long-minded, to patiently wait”. To be ”long-minded” suggests that we as believers see the ultimate goal over the immediate gratification of receiving the promise. Patience is always a requirement of the faith, both as we wait on the promises of God, and also as we endure trial as believers. In James 1:4, the Bible says, ”But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.’‘ God doesn’t want us to receive His promises lacking anything. He wants us to be prepared for the promise just as much as He wants the promise to be prepared for us. If it comes too soon, we’ll blow it because of immaturity, and if too long and we give up. God knows just how long it will take down to the second.

In Proverbs 13:12, the Bible says, ”Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.” God knows the waiting game is agonizing, and He knows exactly how the waiting game is going to cause us to feel. When the promise comes, the struggle to wait patiently is washed over by the joy of receiving the promise. In James 1:12, the Bible says, ”Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” God is pleased with those who endure, who are in this faith walk for the long haul, those whose faith isn’t broken in the waiting.

In 2 Timothy 2:3, the Bible says, ”Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” There is an expectation as believers that we will face turbulence in our waiting on the promises, but the promise ensures that we will get there. We are soldiers awaiting word from our Commander, Jesus Christ, and His Word is worth waiting for.

The word ”obtain” means ”to attain or to chance upon”. I love the definition ”to chance upon” because it gives greater context to us waiting patiently. God never said for us to completely stop and wait while we are waiting on the promise. In 1 Peter 1:25, the Bible says, ”But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” God’s Word endures forever, and we will receive what the Lord says we will, but will our patience endure? If we ”chance upon” it suggests that the promise will come along our way.

In 1 Kings 17:9-10, the Bible says, ”Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.” Elijah didn’t receive the promise and become stationary. He went where God told Him to go, and the promise awaited his faith! Even when the ravens fed Elijah earlier in the chapter, he still had to go to the promise. There are many things that God is going to ask us to do while we wait on the promise, things that will bring us closer to the promise of God without us being aware. If our impatience causes us to not hear the Lord’s directions, then we will miss our promise.

The word ”promise” means ”announcement of a divine assurance of good.” In Habakkuk 2:2-3, the Bible says, ”And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” When God makes a promise, heaven moves to ensure that the Word of God is fulfilled. It may seem long, but God says ”wait for it”. Why? ”Because it will SURELY COME!!!”

May we patiently wait on the promises of God because in 2 Corinthians 1:20, it says, ”For all the promises of God in him are YEA, and in him AMEN, unto the glory of God by us.’‘ A fulfilled promise by God brings glory to His name, and He will bring His promises to pass! In Romans 4:20-21, the Bible says, ”He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.” Our God is beyond capable, and if we need any confirmation, look at nature, look in the sky, and look at animals, which are all created by the WORD of God!

Let us be assured that God’s promises are irrevocable and will come to pass if we patiently endure.

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 16, 2022 – Hebrews 7:25 – he is able also to save them to the uttermost

Hi Everyone!

Our God is truly amazing. Not only did He send Christ to the world to save the world from sin by faith in His name, but Christ is our intercessor before God forever, being our Great High Priest. To know that Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father still speaking on our behalf as believers, but also on the behalf of people who haven’t come to know the Lord yet is a perfect display of God’s unfailing love towards His creation. God wants us to be one with Him and set up a priesthood forever in Christ so that He would always be able to draw sinners to salvation, and believers to sanctification. The power in love saves people slated for destruction and guides people into the loving embrace of God. If we knew the love of God, and how it is the powerful action that brought us to fellowship with God on the deepest spiritual level, maybe we would understand why relationship with God is important. Today, we will look at Hebrews 7:25, our perpetual intercession by Christ.

”Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

The ”he” in this is Christ, our Lord and Savior. In Matthew 1:21, the Bible says, ”And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Christ’s name means ”Savior, or the Lord saves”. The word ”save” means ”to deliver, to make whole, to preserve safe from danger, loss, or destruction, specifically salvation from eternal death, sin, and the punishment and misery consequent to sin.” In John 12:46-47, Christ says, ”I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.”

Christ came and offered salvation without judgement, and He wasn’t shaken from His call by who believed and who didn’t believe. Christ suffered a severely horrendous death, was beaten beyond recognition, and then, was nailed a cross by his hands and feet, where he had to keep trying to push his sinking body up to take a breath. This is same Savior that didn’t cast judgement upon those who didn’t believe, and didn’t judge those who crucified Him, but in Luke 23:34, the Bible says, ”Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.’‘ Our Savior was crucified, and while on the cross, He asked God to forgive them, because ”they know not what they do”. That is intercession, directly from the cross, and further evidence that Christ didn’t come to the world to judge, but to save, and even, as He hung on the cross, He preached deliverance to one of the malefactors hanging next to Him! In my opinion, we tend to beautify the story of Christ’s crucifixion because such a beautiful outcome came from it; salvation for our soul to all who believe in His name, but Christ went through hell to save us from hell.

”To the uttermost that come unto God by Him”

The word ”uttermost” means ”full-ended, entire, or always”. God is still offering salvation by faith in Jesus Christ to this day! In John 12:32, Christ says, ”And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.’‘ Christ is drawing ALL men unto Him, whether they accept His invitation or not. When the end comes, there won’t be any excuse, because in 2 Peter 3:9, the Bible says, ”The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” God’s desire for us to be one with Him is unfailing, and this proves that God doesn’t give up on us, that He keeps trying to be our Father, no matter how far we go away from the cross.

”Seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them”

The phrase ”ever liveth” is similar to saying that this is Christ’s life mission. This means that Christ will never stop interceding on our behalf until the end comes. In 1 Timothy 2:5-6, the Bible says, ”For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” Christ is that mediator, and He is always speaking on our behalf to God. I am a living witness to that because there had to be a ton of intercession taking place on my behalf if I am where I am spiritually now.

The word ”intercession” means ”to entreat for or against someone else”. In Romans 8:34, the Bible says, ”Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.’‘ Christ got the victory from death so He could also give us victory from death as well. How amazing love is this, that Christ will always speak on our behalf! May we be as bold in life as He was in death to save us from sin.

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 17, 2022 – ­Acts 11:16 – ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost

Hi Everyone!

Baptism is a very important occurrence in our faith. Before Jesus Christ came into His ministry, John the Baptist baptized the baptism of repentance, which was water baptism. This baptism was in preparation for another baptism coming, which is the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Water baptism is an outward expression of what is going on within, but the Holy Spirit baptism is a baptism where what has happened within is pouring out of us. Baptism identifies us with Christ, and establishes us as being one with Him, and it unlocks another aspect of the kingdom of God to us. This is a part of the promise God has for us, to bring us into unity with the body of Christ, and to move in the power of God in the world. Today, we will look at Acts 11:16, the beauty of baptism in a believer’s lives.

”Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.”

The word ”remembered” means ”to bear in mind, to mentally grasp, to make a fixture in the mind, and to recollect”. The definition ”recollect” gives the strongest explanation of the word ”remembered” because it expresses that something was already imparted to us, that has come back again. God is going to repeat Himself until we understand. In John 14:26, Christ says, ”But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your REMEMBRANCE, whatsoever I have said unto you”. Peter heard the word of the Lord from Christ’s own mouth, and then he saw the Word come to life when Gentiles received the power of the Holy Spirit come upon them. Then he remembered what Christ had told him before.

The Holy Spirit assists us in remembering God’s Word, especially when it produces the evidence of His truth. In 2 Peter 1:14-15, the Bible says, ”Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.” Peter is doing the same thing Christ did: he taught with hopes that after he left this earth, they would remember what they had learned. The whole point in sharing the Gospel is so people will remember it, especially at crucial times in their lives.

The word ”baptized” means ”to make whelmed or fully wet, to immerse”. This word baptized speaks of water baptism. In Luke 3:7-8, the Bible says, ”Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.’‘ There is a drawing by God that takes place that causes a person to seek baptism, and John’s baptism was one of repentance. In Colossians 2:12, the Bible says, ”Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.” Baptism symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ happening to us as we die to self, are buried in baptism and the resurrected out of the water as completely new creations in Christ Jesus. This is why the definition of baptism is highly important, because full immersion, not sprinkling of water, is how water baptism is supposed to be done.

”But ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost”

The word ”baptized” is metaphorically and in direct allusion to the practice of water baptism; to baptize in or with the Holy Spirit and in or with fire, the baptism of the Holy Spirit being the spiritual counterpart of the water baptism. In Acts 1:4-5, the Bible says, ”And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he (Christ) , ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a promise further established by Acts 2:38, which says, ”Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” The Holy Spirit baptism is not only a promise, but a gift, and with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit comes power!

In Joel 2:28, the Bible says, ”And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions”. God desires to pour His Spirit out upon and into us, so we can walk in the same power that Christ walked in, so our lives will bring God glory. Baptism unleashes the power of God in and through us!

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 18, 2022 – 2 Kings 22:19 – I also have heard thee, saith the LORD

Hi Everyone!

Contrition is mandatory to repentance and redemption. If we aren’t genuinely sorrowful for sinning against God, then how can expect to receive His forgiveness and salvation. Israel had a huge problem with straying away from the path God has chosen for them. The rejected Him as King, wanting an earthly king as other nations did. They went after other gods and some even sacrificed their children to them! No matter how bad Israel had gotten or strayed away from the right way, God made forgiveness available to those who softened their hearts, and were contrite before God. In our walks with the Lord, He is looking for the same contrition, the same brokenness over our sins, the same understanding that we sinned against God and we need forgiveness, salvation, and redemption from the penalty of sin. Today, we will look at 2 Kings 22:19, a contrite heart before God.

”Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the LORD.”

The word ”tender” means ”to be soft”, so having a tender heart meant having a heart for God’s Word to enter and cause a transformation to happen. In Job 23:16, the Bible says, ”For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me”. A softened heart before the Lord makes us available to God, to be directed as He wills.

In Hebrews 3:15, the Bible says, ”While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.” To harden our hearts before the Lord implies a stubbornness to obey God’s Word, even an outright refusal to follow God’s Word. The Israelites had an extensive history of disobeying God’s Word over their history, and a lot of the kings led them into disobedience to God’s Word. The phrase ”humbled thyself before the Lord” means ”to bend a knee to, to bring oneself into subjection”. When we soften our hearts to receive God’s Word, it should humble us in order for us to become subject to God’s Word. In 2 Corinthians 7:10, the Bible says, ”For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” A softened heart and humility before God puts us into a position of salvation that won’t be taken away. God offers this freely, but do we accept it?

A little back story to help add context. Josiah became the king of Judah at 8, but at age 26, he asked one of his staff to go into the house of Lord to take account of the silver from the offering made by the people. This money was for the building of the house of God, for repairing what was broken as well. When they went to inventory the silver, they found a book of the law, and brought it to Josiah, and it was read to Him. When Josiah heard it, he knew Judah was headed for destruction, because they clearly were in utter disobedience to God as a people. Isn’t it ironic that the Word of God was held in a place of value, among valuables, but it had no value in Judah because no one knew the Word of God enough to follow it?

When Josiah heard the Word of God, he tore his clothes, softened his heart and humbled himself before God, readying himself for obedience, asking the Lord what He desired of them.

2 Kings 22:19 is a part of God’s response to Josiah’s brokenness, and Godly sorrow about the sin of Judah. The word ”heardest” implies us using our ears as instruments of obedience. In Psalm 51:17, ”The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” God definitely doesn’t despise our contrition. He responds to it! In Matthew 5:4, Christ says, ”Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” The word ”mourn” refers to the brokenness, the sorrow we feel behind our unrighteousness.” This is what Josiah felt, and God turned His ear to his tears.

The word ”desolation” means ”ruin, astonishment, or horror”. The word ”curse” means ”a vilification”. In Jeremiah 44:6, the Bible says, ”Wherefore my fury and mine anger was poured forth, and was kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; and they are wasted and desolate, as at this day.” If God brings desolation and curses, then He has been angered by utter disobedience. In Jeremiah 26:6, the Bible says, ”Then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.’‘ We don’t want to become an eyesore to the world, a symbol of God’s wrath. We want to be a symbol of God’s favor, of His salvation, and of His adoption. Josiah’s act of renting his clothes and weeping before God showed a Godly sorrow that God heard, and He brought redemption to Judah.

How great of a redemption we forfeit because the Word of God has no authority in our lives!

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 19, 2022 – Hebrews 10:22 – let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith

Hi Everyone!

All of us believers want to see the hand of God moving favorably in our lives. We want to experience His grace, want to be the beneficiaries of His provision, and we desire to be the recipients of His love. We would like to possess the treasure of the kingdom of God, and see the supernatural happen in our lives. We desire all of these things from God, but what does God desire from us. Some people want God’s hand, but not His heart. Some people want God’s miracles, but don’t pursue His relationship. Then again, some people want God’s blessing but don’t want His cleansing. We must come to God with the right heart, mind and attitude, presenting ourselves to be cleansed thoroughly by Him by the blood of Christ. God desires to present us as a people ready for His kingdom, but will we allow God to cleanse the filth from us that keeps our fellowship with God hindered? Today, we will look at Hebrews 10:22, drawing near to God for the deepest cleansing imaginable.

”Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”

The phrase ”draw near” means ”to come to God in prayer, worship, sacrifice and devotion of both heart and life”. In Hebrews 4:16, the Bible says, ”Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.’‘ The key word to this is ”boldly”. How many people in the Church refuse to come boldly to God, but expect to find grace to help them? The attitude we have in coming to God dictates what we ultimately walk away with. People who are lackadaisical in their approach to God, will find the greatest difficulty finding the ”grace to help”, because they have left God’s grace on the table, not important enough to pursue.

In James 4:7-8, the Bible says, ”Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” Drawing near to God takes submission on our part, by our us giving over our minds, hearts, and will to God to do as He wills, and then we must push the enemy away from our presence.

If we come to God, He will definitely meet us where we are. Think not?

In Luke 15:20, Christ says, ”And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.’‘ God doesn’t wait for us to come all the way to Him. He sees us from a distance and runs to us, falling upon our neck in embrace, and doesn’t pay attention to the filth we have come with. I try to tell brothers in my prison environment to not think that we have to ”clean” ourselves up first in order to come to God. His Word cleanses us! In Hebrews 11:6, the Bible says, ”But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.’‘ We must come to God, knowing that He exists, and He will reward our coming to Him.

The word ”true heart” speaks of a genuineness that stems from the deepest places of our desires, feelings, affections and passions. In Matthew 5:8, Christ says, ”Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” A pure heart puts us in a position where we can enjoy the presence of God, just as He intends. In Jeremiah 24:7, the Bible says, ”And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.” God is ready to welcome us into His family, but He wants sincere hearts without ulterior motives.

He doesn’t want to just be the God of the wilderness, isn’t He God of the promised land too.

He wants a people to desire more than just His hand. He wants a people who want His heart! The phrase ”in full assurance of faith” implies that we are placing our complete confidence in our belief in the Word of God being true. In Ephesians 3:12, the Bible says, ”In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.” Our boldness to come before God comes from our faith in God’s identity and His Word. Boldness implies security. How secure are we with the Word of God.

”Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”

The word ”sprinkled” refers to our hearts being sprinkled with the blood of Christ, cleansing us from an evil conscience. The phrase ”evil conscience” speaks of the faculty of the soul that distinguishes between right and wrong, and prompts one to choose moral wickedness over God’s Word. In Hebrews 9:14, the Bible says, ”How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Not only are we cleansed, but our thoughts are cleansed as well! God positions us spiritually to serve Him with nothing hindering us! Being ”washed in pure water” speaks of the Holy Spirit purifying a person’s life by means of the Word of God.

In Ezekiel 36:25, the Bible says, ”Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.” God is the one who does the cleansing, not us, and if we come to God with pure hearts, with genuine motives, with faith in God’s Word, then the Word of God transforms our state from filthy to cleansed, from sinner to saved, and from dead to alive in Christ. Only the Word of God can do this, and we must rely solely on Him to make us a people ready for Him.

God Bless!

Marshall & Jessica

”Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.”–Proverb 18:22

Jan 20, 2022 – Acts 14:22 – exhorting them to continue in the faith

Hi Everyone!

Praise God for those who have gone before me to pave a successful path to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! I remember when I was first sentenced to life without parole, and I was trying to figure out how could I fathom doing a life sentence. I was met with brothers who have been where I had been and showed me the way. As my time progressed, I needed something more than to just endure this time, and I found that ”something” was a recommitment to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Then, I received guidance into the faith by people that have been where I was and knew the way. They prepared me for the struggles and tests involved in the faith. Our faith walk is not easy at times, but the end of our journey leads into the kingdom of God in heaven, where the struggle to receive the kingdom will be well worth it. Today, we will look at Acts 14:22, strengthening our brothers and sisters to press on in faith to receive the kingdom of God.

”Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”

The word ”confirming” implies strengthening, supporting someone further, or re-establishing someone else. The word ”soul” refers to the life in people, their spiritual and immortal natures, the mind and feelings, that make us who we are. In Luke 22:31-32, Christ says, ”And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” Peter was going to go through a period of testing. Christ let him know that Satan was on the attack, but it would be up to Peter to not allow his faith to fail. Christ also used the word ”when” in the verse 32, when He stated ”WHEN thou are converted”, which confirmed that Peter would endure. How did Christ know Peter would endure a test he never faced yet? In Hebrews 12:2, the Bible says, ”Looking unto Jesus the AUTHOR and FINISHER of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.’‘ The author of our faith knows our stories beginning and end, and the finisher has our expected end all set in stone. Christ knew Peter would get the victory, and charged Peter to ”strengthen” his brothers.

The word ”disciples” means ”learners or pupils”. Have we ever stopped to consider that the trials we face are not solely for us, that just maybe, God allows us to go through the trials in our faith, to help someone else when they face battles.

The word ”exhorting” means ”to invoke, invite, or call near in order to aid, comfort, encourage, or admonish”. The word ”continue” means ”to persevere”. The ”faith” refers to the object of the Christian faith, meaning the doctrines received and believed, Christian doctrine, the gospel, and all that Christianity stands for. This means that believers are going to need guidance from people who have already been where they then are, so we have to be willing to help.

In Acts 11:23, the Bible says, ”Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.” The whole point of our encouragement is not so people will cleave to us, but instead cleave to the Lord. Our ministry should always cause us to be directing people towards and into the Word of God. In Acts 13:43, the Bible says, ”Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.” Sometimes, the people who need our encouragement are our pastorate, the people directing the flock for the Lord. How many of us encourage our pastors?

”And that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”

The word ”tribulation” means ”pressure, affliction, or trouble”. In John 16:33, Christ says, ”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.’‘ Christ never denied that we would face trouble, so if anyone is teaching the fairy tale that believers won’t face trial, they are lying.

In Romans 8:17, the Bible says, ”And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” The sufferings we endure will ultimately lead to glory, and the ”kingdom of God speaks of the bliss of heaven which is to be enjoyed in the Redeemer’s kingdom, which is eternal life! Our journey into the kingdom of God won’t always be with ease, but let us take courage when we face tribulation, because we already have the victory in Christ Jesus.

May we spur our brothers and sisters in the faith with the Word of God and the testimony of victory.

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 21, 2022 – 2 Peter 1:12 – I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things

Hi Everyone!

Our job as believers is to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ into our homes, into our communities, into our jobs, schools, and into the world. It seemed like such an overwhelming task at first, being entrusted with something so precious when we feel the most unqualified. God never promised that it would be easy, but location, circumstances, financial status, or popularity means nothing when it comes to the Gospel. It is as simple as studying the Word of God and sharing what we know with others, even reminding them so they won’t forget the truth. The enemy loves to spread lies, and he tirelessly makes a case against the Gospel into everybody he can. The world is crazier than ever! What if believers had this same zeal, to spread the Word of God repetitiously until it can become rooted within others? Today, we will look at 2 Peter 1:12, the beautiful effect of established Gospel truth.

”Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.”

The word ”negligent” means ”to be careless with, to make light of, or to not regard or esteem”. How we feel about the Word of God will ultimately determine what we do with it, and whether or not we walk in the power God desires for us to walk in. In Romans 1:16, the Bible says, ”For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

Do we really see the Word of God as the power of God?

In Hebrews 4:12, the Bible says, ”For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.’‘ The Word of God can cut into places that we’ll never be able to reach. There is no faith without the Word of God, and there is no power without the Word of God. Knowing this, then why are we still so negligent with the Word of God? In Matthew 15:8-9, Christ says, ”This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their HEART is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.’‘ Negligent handling of the Word of God is because the heart isn’t with God, and God isn’t the focus of their lives. If our hearts are with God, then we will look at people the way Christ did, as sheep in need of a Shepherd.

What do we see when we see our brothers and sisters? Compassion? Disgust? Love, Disconnection? Do we still what is really within our brothers and sisters, that the same God that works mightily in us can and will work the same way in them? In Romans 15:14-15, the Bible says, ”And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God.” We don’t just want to share the Word of God, but we want to be diligent in ensuring that the people we can work with will be taught how to handle the Word of God for themselves.

The phrase ”put you always in remembrance” means ”to remind quietly, or suggest to the memory.” This doesn’t suggest a one-time thing, but a continual work. In 2 Peter 3:1-2, the Bible says, ”This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour”. When our hearts are with God, sharing the Word of God will just be the tip of the iceberg. We are going to want to make sure the Word is establishing roots and they are bearing fruit.

”Though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.”

The word ”know” implies a relationship with what is known, a union that forms from the embedded Word in our hearts and minds. In John 3:11, Christ says, ”Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.’‘ God doesn’t want us storing up a bunch of knowledge that isn’t shared.

The word ”truth” speaks of divine and gospel truth, its faith and its practice. 2 Peter 3:17 says ”Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.” If any of us handle the Word negligently, we run the real risk of being led astray, so imagine the state of the ones we teach.

Let us consider the importance of the Word of God, the salvation we have received, and the power we now walk in when we share the Word of God with others. May we have hearts that are willing to go the extra mile for others.

God Bless!

Marshall & Jessica

Jan 22, 2022 – James 1:5 – ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally

Hi Everyone!

As believers, there are a ton of things we don’t know. Wisdom is one of those things that God freely bestows upon us, but do we ask God for His wisdom? If we don’t understand the Word of God, don’t know how to pray, or know how to operate in the kingdom of God here in earth, we have a loving God who despatches His Holy Spirit to teach us the things we don’t know. The key is asking, and if we don’t ask God for the wisdom we need, how can we ever expect to receive it? If we become ashamed at what we don’t know, then it will rob us out of what we can know. There are brothers on my unit and in the prison I am housed in who can’t read, and my job is the tutor on my unit. No one asks for help, even when I offer. Now if it hurts me, imagine how it hurts God to see His children spiritually illiterate, too afraid to ask for help? Today, we will look at James 1:5, asking God for the wisdom we lack.

”If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

The word ”lack” means ”destitute or wanting”. The word ”wisdom” refers to divine things, wisdom, knowledge, insight, deep understanding, represented everywhere as a divine gift including the idea of practical application. The word ”ask” means ”to beg, desire, or require”. In Matthew 7:7-8, Christ says, ”Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” God is ready to provide anything for us according to His will, but often we refuse to ask God for the help we need. In 1 Kings 3:8-10, the Bible says, ”And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing.”

It is perfectly okay to look at our circumstances and be totally overwhelmed in the moment like Solomon was, but what did Solomon do that is sometimes much different from what we’d do in same situation? Solomon brought his fears, uncertainty, and his perceived deficiencies to God, and God was pleased with not only him bringing his fears to God, but with him asking for God’s help to fulfill the assignment God placed over his life. In 1 Peter 5:7, the Bible says, ”Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” God wants our mouths to open and our hearts to pour out before Him, because He wants to replace our deficiency, our fear, and our ”not enough” with His Spirit, so we will have everything we need.

God will never tell us to ask for His wisdom or His help and allow us to be put to shame. In Proverbs 2:3-5, the Bible says, ”Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.’‘ Is the wisdom of God important enough to us in order for us to cry out to God for it? Not only will we learn to reverence our God, allowing our request to testify that God is the only Person who can give us true wisdom, but we will find the knowledge we seek from God.

The word ”give” means ”to bestow upon”. The word ”liberally” means ”bountifully”. God doesn’t just give us the wisdom we need, but He gives us an excess. In 1 Kings 3:12, the Bible says, ”Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.’‘ God heard Solomon’s prayer, received his fears, uncertainties, doubts, and replaced them with so much wisdom that there would be none like him in the whole earth, past or future, except Christ of course. God does what He says He will do!

In John 14:13, Christ says, ”And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” God keeps His word, because it brings glory to Him when His Word is fulfilled in our lives. The word ”upbraideth” means ”to rail at, to chide, to taunt”. This means that God is never going to put us down for asking for His wisdom. In Matthew 7:9, Christ says, ”Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?” God is not going to take our requests and make sport of us by giving us something that make us look stupid. Romans 10:11 , the Bible says, ”For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”

May we fearlessly entrust our lack of wisdom to God, allowing Him to teach us what we don’t know.

God Bless!

Marshall & Jessica

Jan 23, 2022 – James 2:5 – hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith?

Hi Everyone!

God is unfazed by monetary wealth, by fame, by celebrity status, by our business investments, or even by the size of our ministries. God is concerned with a people presenting themselves to God so we can be directed by Him as He wills. Success is not about the accumulation of money, but it is about fulfilling our God given purpose, multiplying the talents He bestowed upon us. There are many rich people who have no faith, and many poor people who have faith that will move mountains. Who is really rich and who is really poor? We were chosen by God to be believers, to be rich in spirit, and His choice makes us a part of the kingdom of God. This is a promise bestowed upon us that God has fulfilled, and our financial status had nothing to do with it. God chose us because He loves us and because we love Him! Today, we will look at James 2:5, the beggar becoming the heir to the kingdom.

”Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?”

The word ”hearken” implies one taking heed to what is spoken or written, giving the full attention to, and hearing intelligently with the intent to obey. James is speaking to the ”brethren”, meaning ”one who is connected with another in any kind of intimacy or fellowship, disciples and followers of Christ, or Christians.” James is intentional in expressing His love for the brethren, so they would be assured that the message is conveyed in love as well.

In Ephesians 4:15, the Bible says, ”But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.” Speaking the truth in love allows a person to mature in the faith in a constructive, edifying environment that maximizes success.

The word ”chosen” means ”to select, or to specifically choose for oneself”. The word ”poor” means ”a beggar or pauper”.  In Matthew 5:3, Christ says, ”Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” God considers the beggars in spirit to be beneficiaries of the kingdom of God. The people who have the most emptiness have more room to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and also have more room for the Spirit of God to have reign. In 1 Corinthians 1:26-27, the Bible says, ”For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty”. God doesn’t care about our status, our strength or our bank accounts. He cares about the measure of our hearts and our willingness to receive Him as Lord and King.

Think about the word ”chosen”. God isn’t without options, and despite our arrogance, God doesn’t need us to fulfill His purpose, nor does He need our praise. In Luke 19:39-40, the Bible says, ”And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” God can make something without life in it to cry out to Him! The fact that God selected us out of everyone else should bring us a deep appreciation and reverence to God. 

The phrase ”rich in faith” implies an abundant of credence and persuasion in the Word of God’s truth, and an unwavering movement in the will of God. In John 15:16, Christ says, ”Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” God selects us to be rich in faith, bearing fruit in the faith that remains. God makes us rich in faith to give us access to the kingdom of God and its provision.

”Heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?”

The word ”heirs” speaks of a partaker of the blessings which God bestows upon His children, implying admission into the kingdom of heaven and its privileges. The word ”promise” means ”an announcement or proclamation of salvation” which is a divine assurance of good. In Luke 12:32, Christ says, ”Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” God selected us because it brings Him pleasure to give us the promises of the kingdom!

In 2 Timothy 4:8, the Bible says, ”Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” This is the promise that God has in store of us, the beggars and paupers of the world who desire to be fed and kept by the salvation of Jesus Christ. May we proudly exchange our worldly poverty for the riches of the kingdom of God.

God Bless!

Marshall & Jessica

Jan 24, 2022 – James 3:17 – the wisdom that is from above is first pure

Hi Everyone!

What are we receiving as wisdom? Is it from the self-help guru who has their must-have tips to having an extraordinary life? Is it in family who ensures that their opinions about your life choices are made very open and plain? Is it in your teachers in school, your circle of friends, or in your latest news report? Do we receive our wisdom from God, and the people He has chosen to speak a wise word to us? There are all kinds of the wisdoms in the world, and they have something that can cover every individual thing we may face, but the wisdom of God will cover it all? Are we seeking God’s wisdom concerning our faith, relationship/marriage, concerning our children, concerning our career, and also concerning our purpose? Who do we seek when we are most vulnerable emotionally, when we are lost on our way? Today, we will look at James 3:17, the wisdom of God and its attributes.

”But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”

The word ”wisdom” means ”divine wisdom, the ability to regulate one’s own relationship with God”. In Proverbs 9:10, the Bible says, ”The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Reverencing our God, submitting completely to Him, and making ourselves available to hear His Word positions us to receive His wisdom. God wants us to have His wisdom so we know how to live the way He desires. In Proverb 2:7, the Bible says, ”He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.” When we serve the Lord with our whole heart, God responds by giving us the things we need to live Godly lives, and He also protects what He is building in us.

God has wisdom available to us, but are we willing to receive it?

In Proverb 2:1-3, the Bible says, ”My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding”. Are we willing to take hold of the Word of God, store His Word in our hearts, and make our ear available to the Word of God? As a baby cries because they are hungry, will we cry out to God to be fed with His wisdom?

Is the wisdom of God this important to us?

There is the wisdom that comes ”from above”, which means ”heavenly, from heaven, divine, from God”, and there is wisdom from the world. The wisdom from the world is intended to draw away the minds of people from divine truth, and is in contrast to the simplicity of the gospel. In 1 Corinthians 2:6-7, the Bible says, ”Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory.’‘ The wisdom of God stands all by itself and has levels to it that are hidden from the wisdom of the world. This is why worldly people have the hardest time understanding the mysteries of God, even the simplest things of the Gospel

The word ”pure” means ”clean or perfect”. In Matthew 5:8, Christ says, ”Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Wisdom must first be undefiled by the wisdom of the world. The word ”peaceable” means ”healthy or wholesome”. In Matthew 5:9, Christ says, ”Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” Wise people always pursue peace. The word ”gentle” means ”appropriate or mild”. In Titus 3:2, the Bible says, ”To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.” The wisdom of God is not violent or confrontational.

The phrase ”easy to be intreated” means ”good for persuasion, compliant”. Meditate on these characteristics of wisdom for a second, and one would see that wisdom is designed to bring people together, so we can be of one accord. We can’t force or manipulate people to receive the Gospel truth, nor can we vilify them for not accepting our case for Christ and the Word of God. Do people see these qualities in us as we interact with others?

The word ”mercy” means ”compassion”. In James 2:13, the Bible says, ”For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.” God is looking for compassion from those of us that He bestows wisdom on. Does the world see mercy from us or judgement? In Luke 6:36, Christ says, ”Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.’‘

The phrase ”good fruits” is in respect to operation or influence on others, things that are useful, beneficial and profitable. Wisdom makes a beneficial spiritual, mental, emotional, and even physical impact on others. In John 15:8, Christ says, ”Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.’‘ God is glorified in the good fruit we best for the kingdom of God.

The phrase ”without partiality” means ”not open to distinction or doubt; unambiguous”. This means that there are no grey areas to God’s wisdom, nor should it be watered down to appease our sensibilities. In James 2:4, the Bible says, ”Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?’‘ Partiality invites evil to come in and have rest.

The phrase ”without hypocrisy” means ”sincere, unfeigned, and genuine”. This is the person who is undivided in their commitment and conviction and does not make unfair distinctions. In 2 Corinthians 6:6-7, the Bible says, ”By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left”. True wisdom comes from the purest place, the Word of God, and in the Word lies everything we must do to live by His wisdom.

Do people see the wisdom of God leading our lives, or do they see the Church cleaving to the latest trend?

God Bless!

Marshall & Jessica

Jan 25, 2022 – 1 Peter 3:22 – Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God?

Hi Everyone! 

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ made a sacrifice, one that gave us the power to become children of God. Before He sat at the right hand of God, He conquered the things that stood in the way of our victory. From His position at the right hand of God, He now possesses all authority, and every power on this earth is now subject to Him. If we are still living in bondage, then that means His authority isn’t at work in our lives. He left us the Holy Spirit, which dwells in us as believers, giving us the authority to live in the earth in power and knowledge of God. The only Person who can give power is the One who is in power, and that Person is Jesus Christ. If we are living without power, does Jesus Christ reign as our Lord and Savior, and is He in control of the direction of our lives? Today, we will look at 1 Peter 3:22, the power and authority of Christ that means power and authority for us. 

”Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.” 

The word ”heaven” means ”upper and superior heaven beyond the visible firmament, the abode of God and His glory, the Messiah, angels, the spirits of the righteous after death. Heaven is where the will of God is done first. In Matthew 6:10, in the Lord’s prayer, Christ prays, ”Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” God’s will begins in heaven and manifests itself in the earth. There is a difference between our abode here on earth and God’s abode in heaven. In Ecclesiastes 5:2, the Bible says, ”Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.’‘ We must know our place as believers, understanding that God is in heaven, and knows what is best for us.

In Matthew 16:18-19, Christ says, ”And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” The reason the gates of hell can’t prevail against the Church is because Christ already got the victory over death and hell when He conquered the grave. By giving Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven, Peter now has access to bring the kingdom of heaven to the earth, to produce the power of God to turn loose the provision of heaven into the earth. It’s much bigger than just salvation for us, because God makes the same heavenly provision available for us, because the Holy Spirit dwells in us as believers, which means the power of the kingdom of heaven dwells in us! If we say we are without power in the earth as believers, then we haven’t received the truth of the Gospel in our hearts and minds.

The word ”right hand” means ”the highest seat of honor and distinction” also referring to the power and strength of God. Jesus Christ is on the right hand of God so He has the highest seat of honor and distinction. In Philippians 2:9-11, the Bible says, ”Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” There is no other name higher than Jesus Christ and in His Name lies the power of salvation, and truth, and the authority for us to move in the earth in power.

In John 14:26, Christ says, ”But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send IN MY NAME, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.’‘ The Holy Spirit came in the name of Jesus Christ, being the Comforter sent to ensure we are never alone. Romans 8:34 says, ”Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.’‘ When Christ makes intercession on our behalf, who brings heavenly intercession to earth? The Holy Spirit!

The word ”angels” means ”divine messengers of God”. The word ”authorities” means ”delegated influence, power, ability, or privilege”. The word ”powers” means ”miraculous force”. All of these things are brought under the control of Christ, because Ephesians 1:21-22, the Bible says, ”Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church”. Because our Lord is above every power in the earth, we have access to this same power, having the same ability to bring the power of heaven to earth.

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 26, 2022 – James 5:8 – the coming of the Lord draweth nigh

Hi Everyone!

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is coming back to redeem His Church. What is He going to see in us when He comes back? Is He going to see a people living by His Word, moving according to the leading of the Holy Spirit, doing signs and wonders the same way Christ did when He lived in the earth? Is He going to see mountain-moving faith, lives lived in victory, and a people ready for His coming? God desires His children to live lives that please Him, and fulfill the purpose He has for our lives. Sometimes, in the waiting, impatience grows and we can become slack in our responsibilities as believers, forgetting that Christ is coming back, even though we have no clue when! Hard seasons will come, but we should ever let them strip us of our hope in the Lord. We must always keep our minds focused above and ahead, on Jesus Christ, because nothing we face here compares to what God has for us in the future. Today, we are looking at James 5:8, patiently waiting on the promised return of Christ.

”Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”

The word ”patient” means ”to be long-spirited”, which not only signifies waiting, but waiting patiently. This means we don’t spend our lives agonizing over His return so much that we fail to do His will while we are here on earth. In Luke 12:42-43, the Bible says, ”And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?  BLESSED is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.” God wants to see faithfulness when Christ comes back to claim His bride, the Church. He wants to see good stewardship, purpose fulfilled, a multiplication of all God has richly bestowed upon us. Being believers and receiving eternal life is only a part of what we are to accomplish on this earth. God wants us to leave a lasting impact that points to Christ.

What if we are impatient, and squander away our time here on earth? In Luke 12:45-46, the Christ says, ”But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.’‘ We are to live our lives as believers to help bring more people into the kingdom, to show people the way to Christ. If we live our lives to please our flesh, running people away from the Gospel, deterring people from receiving salvation, and leading people into lives of destruction, there are major consequences!

The word ”stablish” means ”set fast, confirm, or strengthen”. This is strength in the face of persecution, strength in the face of progress, strength under every circumstance. Patience requires strength. In 1 Thessalonians 3:13, the Bible says, ”To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.’‘ God desires firm commitment and courage, our hope being placed in the Lord and on His second coming.

In 1 Corinthians 9:9-10, the Bible says, ”For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.” God is going to sustain us when we are faithful to His call, and He has given us a lively hope in Christ, something to look forward to.

1 Peter 1:3-4, the Bible says, ”Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you”. God has something amazing prepared for us when Christ comes back for His Church, but He also has the kingdom of God waiting for us today! This is something that can’t be tarnished, won’t lose it’s value, but rather appreciates in value!

”For the coming of the Lord draweth high”

We have a King coming for us! The ”coming of the Lord” speaks of the Advent, the second coming of Christ. The phrase ”draweth high” implies that it is coming soon. In Romans 13:11-12, the Bible says, ”And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” It is time for us to rise up as a Church, to embrace our divine calling, to plow in hope, knowing we have a Savior that is coming back as a King to redeem His Church.

In 1 Peter 4:7, the Bible says, ”But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” We have to live like it is our last day on earth, and this is the only day of our lives that God will see. What will He see when He comes back, people living in preparation for their King, brides with oil in our lamps waiting on our Bridegroom, a Church living in the power of the kingdom of God on earth?

What will Christ see in you?

God Bless!

Marshall & Jessica

Jan 27, 2022 – 1 Peter 1:22 – see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently

Hi Everyone!

Obedience to the Word of God is mandatory to the faith. Inside of the Word of God lies all of the promises for forgiveness, restoration, salvation, redemption, and eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. In the Word of God, we also have promises that guide us into living a Godly life of victory, one that is guided by the Holy Spirit. One of the most powerful messages in the Bible is one of love, understanding the love of God, and also the love of God that we must show others. Love is the means of our fulfilling the law, and also the means of our displaying the essence of God on this earth. Only the Word of God and the Holy Spirit’s leading can teach us this love on a level that is pleasing to God. Today, we will look at 1 Peter 1:22, pure love manifesting the presence of God.

”Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.”

The word ”purified” means ”to make clean, sanctify, or reform”. The word ”soul” refers to the seat of the senses, desires, appetites, passions, the lower aspect of one’s nature. In Acts 15:8-9, the Bible says, ”And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.’‘ We all have the same opportunity for salvation and sanctification, the same God willing to purify our hearts, but we have to allow the Holy Spirit entry to clean us up and clean us out. In Titus 2:14, the Bible says, ”Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.’‘ God doesn’t just want to purify our souls to only make us clean of iniquity, but so we may then have the unrelenting desire to please God in all we do. He cleans us up for us to have hearts towards God and people, so we would have a passion to serve God with the greatest appreciation we can have. The goal of purification is to be like Christ, to represent Him in such a fashion that when they see us they tie us directly to Him.

In obeying the truth through the Spirit”

The word ”obeying” means ”compliance, submission, or attentive hearing”. The word ”truth” refers to the Word of God, whether it be spoken, written, or revealed to us. There is no truth without the Word of God because the Word of God is truth. In John 8:32, Christ says, ”And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’‘ God wants us to be one with the truth, so that what flows from us is truth. It saddens me when I hear people say that there are many ”truths”, because they have effectively believed a lie that will keep them in bondage.

There is only one truth, as evidenced by John 14:6, in which the Bible says, ”Jesus saith unto him, I am THE way, THE truth, and THE life: no man cometh unto the Father, BUT BY ME.’‘

This eliminates the lie of the enemy that keeps people racing after everything but Christ. The truth comes ”through the Spirit”, speaking of the Holy Spirit, which God uses to embed truth within us. In John 14:17, Christ says, ”Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” God gives us His Spirit to impart truth within us, but it is still our job to submit to the Word God give us. This requires us to deny ourselves and forsake our own thoughts, ways, and methods.

”Unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently”

The word ”unfeigned” means ”genuine, sincere, or real”. The phrase ”love of the brethren” refers to the fraternal affections out of a common spiritual life. This means believers should always love not only believers, but all people. This love is a free choice, but conducted through the experience of God’s unfailing love in us.

In 1 John 4:7, the Bible says, ”Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” The depth of our love for others displays the depth of love we have for God.

The word ”fervently” means ”intently”, which means this doesn’t come by chance, but we put forth a real effort to walk in love towards our brothers and sisters. In 1 John 4:20, the Bible says, ”If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” God has given us His Word, which has cleansed us and given us a desire to obey Him in all we do. This was all done out of pure love, and He gives us the same charge. The question is, will we obey?

May we love others out of the abundance of our hearts, which pleases our Father greatly.

God Bless!

Marshall

Jan 28, 2022 – Feb 26, 2022 – Loving You Series – 30 episodes repeated click on this link:

https://www.redthreadpoets.com/wp-content/uploads/LOVING-YOU-eBook.pdf

Feb 27, 2022 – 1 Peter 4:10 – as every man hath received the gift

Hi Everyone!

We have received something amazing from our loving God. Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, so that those who believe in the name of Jesus Christ shall receive salvation for our souls. When Jesus Christ ascended to the Father, the Comforter came to teach us all truth, to guide us into a life of salvation and Godliness, and to ensure that we can live in power as the children of God. What are we supposed to do with this amazing gift? We are to share it with others, so they may become saved, and also receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, so they too can enjoy the privileges of the kingdom of heaven. Our job on this earth, in every capacity God has designated for us, is to not only manage what God has given but to dispense what He has given us as well. Who do we know needs the same second chance we have received? Today, we will look at 1 Peter 4:10, a ministry of sharing the kingdom of God with others.

”As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

The word ”every man” is all-inclusive for believers, for those who have received the gift. God didn’t reserve ministry for just the pastorate. He reserved ministry for us too! The word ”received” means ”to seize, obtain, or take hold of”. In John 1:12-13, the Bible says, ”But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.’‘ When we receive the gift of salvation, we not only received the power of God as children of God, but we are born again of God, made a new creation! In 2 Corinthians 5:17, the Bible says, ”Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” All things are new because we have received this precious gift from God. When we receive Christ we receive the gift of God.

The word ”gift” refers to the gifts and abilities imparted to Christians, particularly teachers. Where does this gift come from? In Acts 2:38, the Bible says, ”Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” The gift comes from God and it is His Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that gives us the power to walk in our gifts and abilities, to know exactly what to do with them and where to dispense this gift. In James 1:17, the Bible says, ”Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” God so richly wants to bestow these gifts upon us, bringing the power of heaven down to us, so we can walk as Christ did.

”Even so minister the same one to another”

The word ”minister” means ”administer something for someone’s lack, to serve as a deacon, or attendant”. Where there is a need we must step in to show people where they can have their needs met. Every one has a different gift, a different means to minister the gift they have been given. In Ephesians 4:11-12, the Bible says, ”And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ”. God gives us these gifts and these roles in the ministry where we can be most effective for service to people in need.

In 1 Corinthians 12:6-7, the Bible says, ”And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.” The ministry is not about us, but about edifying the body of Christ with the gifts God has freely given us. In Acts 3:6, the Bible says, ”Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” Peter ministered to the lame man, but only shared with him what God has given Him through the Holy Spirit, and that was the name of Jesus Christ and the power to declare his healing by that Name.

”As good stewards of the manifold grace of God”

The word ”good” implies God’s approval of His will being done. The word ”stewards” means ”overseers, managers, apostles, teaches or preachers”. In Matthew 25:45-46, Christ says, ”Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.” 

God has entrusted the earth to us, to be good stewards of the gifts, callings and the Holy Spirit’s power in us. We were charged by Christ to go into the world and make disciples of all nations, so the question is:

Are we?

The word ”grace” speaks of the unmerited favor which God shows us in saving us from sin”. The recognition of the grace of God should motivate us to desire others to experience this amazing grace from God as well. God gives to us, and we share what He gives us with others, so they can be blessed too. Ministry is merely extending the kingdom of God we have received to others in need.

God Bless!

Marshall & Jessica

Feb 28, 2022 – Matthew 10:16 – be ye therefore wise as serpents

Hi Everyone!

We are in the midst of a world that is becoming more Godless by the second. I was having a conversation with a brother in the day room of the prison I am housed in, and we both shook our heads in disbelief by the imagery television has which is welcoming sin into our lives. Please be advised: the guy I was speaking with hasn’t been to church one time since I have been in this prison but he was the one that shared this observation with me! From the conversation of television, it went to the street life, violence, choices and it went in a very seamless transition. Because I have been where this younger brother has been, I could navigate around the conversation while directing it into moments to plant seeds. If the world knows how bad this world is getting, then it is bad! Where is the kingdom representation in the earth, where are the people willing to enter into the world, step up, and speak out for the kingdom of God? God desires to send us, but what will we find when we get there, or even more important, will we be willing to go? Today we will look at Matthew 10:16, sheep amongst wolves.

”Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”

The word ”behold” suggests for us to pay close attention to what is being spoken, to give it our undivided attention. In 1 John 3:1, the Bible says, ”Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” God’s all-encompassing love is a gift, that allows us to be children of God, but there are many who refuse to accept this gift, and others who don’t believe the gift applies to them. For some people, the mysteries of God’s love and the salvation by faith in Jesus Christ is something they can’t fathom, because they haven’t even experienced true love from people they see daily. This is why the ministry is so important because we get the chance to make the introduction to our amazing Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Just because we have the heart of love and the desire to go where God sends, it doesn’t mean it will be easy. In this prison I am housed in, there is rebellion in every form. God sends us with the expectation that we will allow Him to direct our mouths and our feet to fulfill His purpose. The word ”send” means ”to set apart in or to send out”. In 2 Corinthians 6:17, the Bible says, ”Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” We can’t be OF the same environment we are trying to reach out to! There has to be a noticeable separation between us and the world, and we have to be unwavering in our stance for the kingdom.

What are we required to do when we are sent out?

In Matthew 10:7-8, Christ says, ”And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.” We receive of God the things we need to perform His will, and those things we are to freely give. God will never send us into any environment that His word won’t empower us in, and He definitely won’t send us anywhere we are ill-equipped to do what God is calling us to do.

In 2 Peter 1:3-4, the Bible says, ”According as his divine power hath given unto us ALL things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” God wants us equipped to be believers and ministers in a world that is conditioned to not receive the Word of God in truth. In this topic text, Christ is preparing the disciples He has chosen for what they will encounter.

The ”wolves” mentioned here are the false prophets who persecute the true ones and seek to destroy the Church. I am sure we have all heard people say, ”There are many truths, and many paths to God”, and that is a lie that has taken root in nonbelievers’ lives. Us being ”sheep”, those who walk forward towards the will of God, will find ourselves among people whose only aim is to stir up division within the Church, and defection from the Church. Sheep rely solely on the Shepherd for direction and provision. In Matthew 13:25, Christ teaches, ”But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.” Because we haven’t been diligent to our call, the enemy has been able to sow tares, false prophets, false preachers, and false teachers to deceive the Church from the inside! Imagine what is happening in the world. Will God find us sleeping on our post or will He find us preaching His truth pushing the lies of the enemy out?

The word ”wise” means ”thoughtful, discreet, prudent, sensible, practically wise in relationships with others”. The word ”harmless” means ”unmixed, innocent; without guile, cunning or deceit”. In 2 Corinthians 6:14, the Bible says, ”Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?’‘

Be IN the world, but not OF the world!

This means we have to know enough about our environments to not be led astray by it, and this also means we have to be able to move freely over obstacles, just as a serpent does. In my prison environment, I have to sprinkle the Word into my conversations, and speak in a manner where it is a conversation that ”somehow” takes a turn into the Word of God. Most don’t realize they walked into a conversation about faith until it’s too late. I face many obstacles as a outspoken believer in arguably the ”worst unit” in this prison, but God makes a way! Being ”wise as serpents” just means we are clever with our points of entry, and because I have been delivered from a lot of sinful behaviors, I still remember where I have come from, and remember the path to where I am now! The world doesn’t know the way to Christ, and sometimes, the backslider doesn’t know their way back to Christ, so we have to be willing to get in the trenches and help guide people into fellowship with the Lord!

May we use all God has given to bear His Light in the world.

God Bless!

Marshall & Jessica

Mar 1, 2022 – Psalm 16:11 – in thy presence is fulness of joy

Hi Everyone!

God is the source of our direction. In the world we see people being directed by celebrities, by social media influencers, by peers and by the communities they reside in. Is that direction leading them towards the cross, towards the doors of the kingdom of God, towards the promises of God prepared for those who He loves and who love Him? If God isn’t directing our paths, we are sheep without a Shepherd, vulnerable, helpless, and prone to attack. This also happens to believers who decide to go their own way, and to forsake the way of the Lord. It could be the person who chooses ambition over obedience, the person who chases after financial gain over the riches of the kingdom of God, or it could be the person who puts their relationships with people over their relationship with God. Without God’s direction, there is no true joy, there is no real peace, and the path is headed for destruction. Today we will look at Psalm 16:11, the path of God producing everlasting pleasure.

”Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

The word ”shew” is a part of the word ”know”, meaning ”to become one with, to make known, to cause to discern”. This text says, ”Thou wilt shew”, meaning it is God’s initiation that causes us to become one with His direction, and with His Word. He has His ministers, preachers, and teachers, but the Holy Spirit works within us to make us know the way. In John 16:13, Christ says, ”Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” The Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit, will guide us into all truth, and ”shew”, (make known, cause us to become one with) the things to come.

Apart from God, we don’t know our way.

The phrase ”path of life” implies a well-trodden road that is the course for life. If the road is ”well-trodden”, then that means people have been on this road before us, blazing a trail that makes it easier for us to know the way. This is why preaching, and teaching is important, because they have been shown the way by God, and they now show us the way to get there as well.

In John 14:5-6, the Bible says, ”Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’‘

Christ is The Way, who showed the disciples and apostles the way, who showed the Church the Way, who showed our families, the Way, who showed our communities the Way. In Matthew 7:13-14, Christ says, ”Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.’‘

This means we can’t find our own way and expect to find life – there is no cutting corners, Jesus Christ is The Way, not one of many ways. This world is in disarray because it is trying to live in a way that is contrary to the Word of God, and destruction is imminent!

The word ”presence” means ”face, or to turn one’s face towards”. This implies the favor of God being upon us, the approval of God when following where He leads. We all want God’s face being towards us, but do we seek the Lord’s face? In Psalm 27:8-9, the Bible says, ”When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.’‘ Do we desire intimacy with God to the point where we seek His face for the sole purpose of letting Him direct our lives the way He intends, so we can receive the instruction we need to fulfill His purpose for us?

Or: do we seek God’s face for His provision, equating God to nothing more than an ATM?

The word ”fullness” implies completion, coming into perfection, so by seeking the Lord’s face and having His face shine upon us, our joy will be complete!

The word ”right hand” speaks of God’s strength, power, might, and authority.” In Romans 8:34, the Bible says, ”Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” There is so much God does to ensure our success in the faith. We just have to stay on the path God has chosen for us.

In Numbers 6:24-26, the Bible says, ”The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”

In the Lord’s path, there are blessings, grace, favor, glory, and peace. May we delight in His way, and reach after His Word with everything we have in us!

God Bless!

Marshall & Jessica

Mar 2, 2022 – Isaiah 46:11 – I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it

Hi Everyone!

Contrary to some people’s views, God doesn’t just have a purpose for Christians. God uses the saved and the unsaved to fulfill His divine purpose, and it is done so that man will glorify God and not put their trust in man. This should also show us that when God chose us for His divine purpose, He really didn’t have to, so there shouldn’t be any loftiness in our service. How many believers turned their noses to the help or the Word that God sent through people we may feel aren’t qualified enough to deliver it? An open ear to the Word of God is necessary for every believer, and in the Word of God, there are numerous examples of nonbelievers having powerful influences for the kingdom of God. Isn’t it sad that people outside of the Church are sometimes willing to obey the Word of God more than people in Church? Today, we will look at Isaiah 46:11, the obedience of a nonbeliever causing freedom for the believer!

”Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.”

The word ”calling” means ”to address by name, to summon, or to invite”. Whether we fully appreciate it or not, God knows every last one of us and when He calls us, He knows exactly who He is speaking to and what they will do. In Romans 8:29-30, the Bible says, ”For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also CALLED: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” I remember thinking God had to have made a huge mistake when the preacher pointed me out of a crowd and yelled ”Preacher!” I looked behind me thinking he had to be talking about someone else, and even pointed at myself in disbelief and asked, ”Me?”, and he yelled again ”Yeah, you, Preacher!” and began to speak prophecy towards my call. It was my 17th birthday, and despite my best efforts to pull a Jonah and run, I am sitting here at age 40 ministering the Word of God. God knew me before the foundation of the world, and called me, and then stood behind His choice, qualifying me for the call He placed over my life. His choice is now bringing Him glory! In Romans 11:29, the Bible says, ”For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” Who God chose is who He chose, but do we want to be the one to blow it?

”A ravenous bird from the east, a man that executeth my counsel from a far country”

The ”ravenous bird” spoken of here is King Cyrus, the Persian king. So God called a person who wasn’t a Israelite, wasn’t from Judah, and held no Biblical knowledge or belief? The phrase ”executeth my counsel” means ”to perform, complete, or accomplish the command and Word of the Lord”. In Isaiah 44:28, the Bible says, ”That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.” What does a shepherd do? Lead sheep! God was beyond confident that Cyrus would accomplish the Word of the Lord, and knew He would lead Judah to rebuild the temple. In Isaiah 45:1, the Bible says, ”Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut”. Wait a minute, Cyrus was anointed? God gave him the strength to rise in power to release the Jews from the captivity of Babylon. In Isaiah 45:13, the Bible says, ”I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts.” Cyrus didn’t operate in his own strength, he didn’t try to do things of his own accord, and he didn’t allow gain to motivate his obedience. If a nonbeliever completely gave himself over to the Word of God, then what is our excuse?

”I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.”

The word ”purposed” means ”to squeeze into shape, to mould into a form as a potter, or to determine.” In Isaiah 55:11, the Bible says, ”So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” When God anointed Cyrus to be king, when God anointed me to preach and teach His Word, when God anointed Jessica to start Forged by Fire, when God anointed Peter to launch Red Thread Poets and Red Granite Daily Devotions, and when God anoint you to…….(fill in the blank), His word went out and won’t come back to Him void, so His will is definitely going to be done!

What is the significance to the king God anointed to free God’s people from the Babylonian captivity being from Persia? In Daniel 6:15, the Bible says, ”Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.” When King Cyrus decreed that the people of God were free from their captivity, it was irrevocable! No one could come and change what King Cyrus decreed, nor take it back. God didn’t desire to release His people from bondage temporarily. He desired us to be free indeed!

God uses us as vessels for His purpose and for His glory. King Cyrus is an example of how we should be with our call. May we answer our call, in faith and obedience.

God Bless!

Marshall & Jessica

Mar 3, 2022 – Isaiah 43:7 – for I have created him for my glory

Hi Everyone!

God created us with a call in mind. Imagine our God creating mankind, already knowing how our genealogy would play out and all the things that would transpire in order to facilitate our arrival to the earth. Imagine our God creating us with unique qualities, and even more unique experiences, which help to equip us to fulfill our call. I didn’t know why I had such a hard life until someone who had it just as hard needed help with breaking free of the downward spiral of poor choices. God allow me to make choice after choice, experience instance after instance, and then unlocked His already established purpose for me to be both a minister and counselor to those in need. God stood behind His choice of me and He does the same for you! Our lives are designed to fulfill God’s purpose and bring Him glory. Today, we will look at Isaiah 43:7, into God’s call, and the purpose He has in place for those He calls.

”Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.”

The word ”called” means ”to invite, invoke, to summon, or to address by name”. The phrase ”by my name” signifies the authority by which we are called, establishing that God in fact established His call in us. In 2 Chronicles 7:14, the Bible says, ”If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.’‘

There is an attitude we must possess in order to fulfill God’s calling, one of obedience, one of repentance, one of humility, and one of submission. Just because we are called, doesn’t mean we are exempt from submission to God, nor does that mean we can still live the same sinful life we lived before. Only after humbling ourselves, praying, seeking God’s face and then repenting of our sinful life, does healing begin in our lives. Too many people want the mighty hand of God to move in their lives, and want God to fill their lives with purpose, but they won’t let God heal what is broken within them. God doesn’t call us to fail, but to succeed.

In Isaiah 65:1-2, the Bible says, ”I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts”. Israel rebelled so hard against God that there were more ”outsiders” that called upon God than His chosen people. God stretched His strength, power, grace, and provision upon a people that rejected Him as God by rebelling against His Word, so He made it available to us!

The word ”created” implies that we are chosen, and even dispatched, at the Word of God. The word ”glory” means ”honor and splendor”, implying that our call as believers allows us to walk in the God’s light, and then we give God sole credit for what is happening in our lives as the result of His call.

In Psalm 100:3, the Bible says, ”Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” Will we magnify ourselves because we are called by God, and in arrogance, act like our ministries, testimonies, and blessings are the result of our own efforts, or will we submit ourselves to God’s intended purpose for our lives, becoming who He ordained us to be?

Isaiah 29:16, the Bible says, ”Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?” We are clay in the hands of the Potter, making us who we are, and also establishing our purpose as well.

In Jeremiah, 1:5, the Bible says, ”Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” We have to understand that who we are was already figured out by God, and who He has declared us to be we will be. Knowing He ordained us for the calling that He put on our lives should make us a little confident in our ability to carry his purpose.

The word ”formed” means ”to squeeze into shape, to mould into a form”. The word ”made” means ”to accomplish or complete, to bring into perfection”. In Isaiah 43:1, the Bible says, ”But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.” We are God’s, created in His image, formed with the abilities to bring Him glory through the fulfillment of His purpose. He created us for such a time as this, to boldly pursue His calling, to valiantly establish His purpose.

Will we answer His call?

God Bless!

Marshall & Jessica

Mar 4, 2022 – Proverbs 29:23 – man’s pride shall bring him low

Hi Everyone!

Arrogance is a quality that removes people from the presence of God, and also the presence of others as well. There is a major difference between confidence and arrogance, and the difference between the two is the Lord. The confident person places their full trust in the Lord, they walk in the authority of the Word of God. The confident person understands that their only real security is in the Word of God, in the presence of God, and that person continually submits to the authority of God, knowing that by God, all things come to be. Arrogance is a person boasting in themselves, in their capabilities, and in the power of their own might, without attributing where they stand to God. Pride is a horrible trait of a person who is trying to fulfill the purpose of God, because the prideful person is self-centered, not Christ-centered. Humility ushers in the presence God and our God honors the humble in spirit. Today, we will look at Proverbs 29:23, a humble spirit before God and man.

”A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.”

The word ”man” here doesn’t speak of gender, but it means ”mankind, or a human being”. This means that this applies to everyone. This is a word for anyone, no matter of where you may find yourself in your walk with God. The word ”pride” means ”arrogance or haughtiness”. In Romans 12:3, the Bible says, ”For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.’‘ It doesn’t matter if a person is the pastor of a 30,000 member church or the person coming to know God recently, we all are to think soberly, with full understanding that it is God who provides to all of us everything we need to live out the purpose He has set for us. The person of arrogance doesn’t recognize that God has provided the means for them to have the positions they have.

The arrogant person doesn’t give God the glory. In Daniel 4:30-31, the Bible says, ”The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.” Nebuchadnezzar exalted himself and attributed it to his own hand the reason he possessed the kingdom of Babylon. Immediately, God showed him who was really responsible for his kingdom, and who really had the power! Nebuchadnezzar was humbled to the point he walked with the beasts in the field!

In Daniel 4:34, things turned around for him, and the Bible says, ”And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation”. Nebuchadnezzar was humbled due to his arrogance, but was lifted back up due to his humility, and reverence of God.

The word ”honour” means ”glory or splendour”. The word ”uphold” means ”to sustain, help, or to keep fast”. In Isaiah 66:2, the Bible says, ”For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” When we have the right attitude towards God, He will turn His face to us, and shower us with His glory. The person who is humble is the person who won’t ever try to go in faith in themselves, but will seek God’s face and His Word about everything in their lives.

In Matthew 23:12, the Bible says, ”And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” If we want God to respond to us in the way we hope, then we must have an attitude of humility, an attitude that makes us an empty vessel before God, to fill us as He sees fit. The phrase ”humble in spirit” speaks of the disposition within man that causes them to be closely linked to God in their moral character and attributes. The humble in spirit tells God, ”Have your way”, instead of ”permit my way”.

In James 4:6, the Bible says, ”But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” God gives the humble everything needed to live Godly lives, and become a bridge between who we are now and who we are ordained to be.

Humility is the absence of arrogance. We can’t have both!

God Bless!

Marshall & Jessica

Mar 5, 2022 – Isaiah 42:1 – I have put my spirit upon him

Hi Everyone!

Our Lord Jesus Christ was a humble servant before He became the Savior of the whole world. While He rose to a position of honor in the earth, becoming the name above all names. We can’t forget that He was faithful in His purpose, living His life in complete humility and service to God. This was God robed in flesh, who could’ve assumed His identity of Deity at any time, but chose to use His power to serve, and not be served. Do we use what God has given us to serve, or do we use what God has given us to magnify our own images? What type of service does God delight in, one that points directly to Him or one where the person is trying to draw attention to themselves? Jesus Christ was the perfect example of a servant, one we should try to emulate in our own lives. Today, we will look at a word of prophecy concerning Jesus Christ in Isaiah 42:1, the Good Servant of God.

”Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.”

The word ”servant” means ”one who ministers or serves God”, speaking of the Servant of the Lord, the Messiah of a God, Jesus Christ. Christ just wasn’t a servant, but He was THE Servant!

In Isaiah 43:10-11, the Bible says, ”Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.” God chose Christ to be the one who would serve Him in this capacity, because Christ’s service pointed back to God in all He did, and the purpose of His ministry on earth was to bring us into a right relationship with God through Him. For Christ, it was never about Him, but about paving the way for salvation to all who believe in His name. In Isaiah 49:6, the Bible says, ”And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.’‘ God thought it was a ”light thing” for Christ to serve God. Salvation for the whole world is a light thing for God to do, but we have a hard time trusting God over our families, over our sicknesses, over our career choices, over our heartaches, over our depression. Is anything too hard for our God? It is God’s faithfulness that allows us to experience such an amazing salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, and also to be filled with such incredible love!

”Mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth”

The word ”elect” means ”choice or selection”. The word ”delighteth” means ”take pleasure in, to favor, to set affection on”. When Christ was baptized, Luke 3:22, the Bible says, ”And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.” This was God robed in flesh presenting Himself to be baptized, yet there are people in the Church who somehow feel that baptism isn’t necessary, even though the Word of God clearly says that God was pleased with Christ for being baptized. Just think of how pleased God must be of us, being baptized when we are sinful, and full of iniquity!

In John 8:29, Christ says, ”And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.’‘ When we please God in our lives, His presence remains with us, and when our service pleases the Lord, His presence is there in approval of us as His children and servants.

”I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgement to the Gentiles”

There is significance behind the Holy Spirit being upon Christ. In Acts 1:8, Christ says, ”But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” The Holy Spirit came upon Christ and He moved in power, healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the blind to see, healing every sort of infirmity. His works were spoken of everywhere, and His life was a direct witness to the power of the Word and Spirit of God.

Judgement means ”a verdict, sentence of legal decision”. This judgement is speaking of His second coming because Christ said it himself in John 12:47, ”And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.” Christ’s service on earth was to save the world from their sins, and facilitate the divine unity between God and His creation. The only thing that mattered to Christ was serving God while He walked the earth.

May our lives become more reflective of the power of God and may we become servants, whose desire is to please the Lord.

God Bless!

Marshall & Jessica

Mar 6, 2022 – Jeremiah 17:7 – blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD

Hi Everyone!

Who do we place our trust in? I have been in situations all through my life, where I trusted in everything but God, only to crash and burn every time. Whatever we trust in, we build our lives upon, and when we trust in something that was never built to last, we are eventually left amid the rubble, wondering what happened? When we trust in the Lord, there is safety, there is provision, there is a future that is secure, and when our trust is in the Lord, we have rest for our souls. In order for us to trust God, we must forsake our way, our thoughts, the ideas we have about how our lives should go, and take hold of God’s will for our lives. When we trust, we surrender our vulnerability to the Lord’s strength, we surrender our knowledge to the Lord’s wisdom, and we surrender our possessions to the Lord’s riches. Trusting the Lord is vital to activate faith, but how many seek the Word of God first, seek the kingdom of God first, or seek the face of God first? Today, we will look at Jeremiah 17:7, the blessings from trusting the Lord.

”Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.”

The word ”blessed” implies benefits, speaking of the benefits of being a child of God. Do we see the benefit in being believers? In Psalm 103:2-5, the Bible says, ”Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies”. With such great benefits available to all who believe, why do we walk around like our lives aren’t full of power or promise. Do we see that God desires believers that will live by His Word and receive His promises?

In Deuteronomy 28:3-6, the Bible says, ”Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.’‘ Please don’t mistake blessings as solely financial benefits by reading these verses, because here, the blessings of God are extended to the things that are in our lives. The blessing isn’t the end result. The blessing begins what becomes a great end result.

In Proverbs 20:21, the Bible says, ”An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.” If what we have, and who we are isn’t blessed, then it won’t last!

The word ”trust” means ”to his for refuge”. The word ”hie” implies an instinctive retreat towards safety. When we trust in the Lord like this, He is our first option, and our instinct will always be to inquire of Him during periods of uncertainty or when we need direction.

In 1 Samuel 30, when the Amalekites raided Ziglag, took the women hostage, and burned the city with fire, a normal person’s instinct would cause them to chase after them and get back what was taken. David wasn’t normal! In 1 Samuel 30:8, the Bible says, ”And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.” David went to the Lord first, encouraging himself in the Lord first (v.6), and then sought God’s perspective on whether he should go and pursue His own kidnapped wives! David came first to God, and trusted God over his own feelings, over his pain, and over his own leadership. Do we trust the Lord this much, where we abandon our instincts, our desires, our goals, and our possessions to instinctively run after Him?

The word ”hope” implies security or assurance. In Psalm 40:4-5, the Bible says, ”Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.” We build our security in what we know, and by knowing the Word of God, becoming one with the Word of God, we have security in who we are, what we have, and that our God will answer our prayers.

In Psalm 31:3, the Bible says, ”For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.” Being under The Rock, Jesus Christ, we have a sure place for our feet, and a strong place of refuge, but there’s more! In Jeremiah 17:8, the Bible says, ”For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.”

When we trust in the Lord, we will continue to bear amazing fruit!

God bless!

Marshall & Jessica

Mar 7, 2022 – 1 Chronicles 16:15 – be ye mindful always of his covenant

Hi Everyone!

As believers, we have to keep the Word of God in our minds and hearts. We have to remember the Word of God as we live this life, and we also have to remember His promises, especially in times of uncertainty. The Bible isn’t just a book, nor is it just an acronym meaning B-asic I-nstruction B-efore L-eaving E-arth. The Word of God isn’t some rule book destined to leave us imprisoned to Christianity, but it is the power of God given to mankind, so that we can experience heaven on earth before we experience the true heaven. If the Word of God isn’t planted within us, we have no power, and we are defenseless, but without the Word of God, we don’t have a clear picture of where we have been and where we must go. The Bible isn’t there just to read and set down, but it is designed for us to break it down and live it out. Today, we will look at 1 Chronicles 16:15, being mindful of the Word of God.

”Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand generations”

The word ”mindful” means ”to mark, to remember”, indicating a process of mentioning or recalling either silently, verbally, or by means of a memorial sign or symbol. It also implies that we bring it to memory or attention. This begins by hearing, reading and studying the Word of God, and storing the Word of God within us. We can’t do it in our own knowledge and intellect. In John 14:26, the Bible says, ”But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” It is the Holy Spirit that causes us to remember the Word of God we hear, read and study, and the Holy Spirit also teaches us what the Word of God means. When we store the Word in our hearts and minds, the Holy Spirit shows us how interconnected the Scriptures are.

The word ”always” implies forever, which means that being mindful of the Word of God is a continual process of discovering and rediscovering what the Word of God says. In Joshua 1:8, the Bible says, ”This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.’‘ Whatever we don’t use, we will lose, so if we aren’t meditating on the Word of God, speaking its truths in our lives, sharing the Word of God with others, then we won’t be able to fully retain what God is showing us.

Being mindful of the Word of God, speaking the Word of God in our lives, meditating upon His commands ensures God’s promises of prosperity and GOOD success. Remember, the word ”good” implies God’s intended purpose from the beginning being fulfilled. God doesn’t just want us to study His Word and be mindful of it for us to become one with it. God wants to make us prosperous in our marriages, in our families, in our friendships on our jobs, in our ministries, and in our worship!

In this Scripture, the word ”covenant” is an alliance or compact made between God and Abraham. Context is everything when studying the Word of God, and we have to always be mindful of who is speaking, who is being spoken to, and who is being spoken of. David is the speaker, and He is giving thanks to God when the ark of God was brought into the tent David pitched for it. David is speaking to Israel, urging them to be mindful of the covenant God made to Abraham. How do we know this? In 1 Chronicles 16:16-17, the Bible says, ”Even of the covenant which he made with Abraham, and of his oath unto Isaac; And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant”. 

The word ”word” implies divine communication, divine command, or a royal decree. The word ”commanded” means ”to direct, order, or appoint”. In Genesis 15:5, the Bible says, ”And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.” Abraham’s descendants can’t be numbered, and in the same breath, a ”thousand generations” implies a number that can’t be fathomed. If there are only 42 generations from Abraham to Christ, then a thousand generations can’t be counted. David is encouraging Israel, to show them that the promises of God have not changed, and He hasn’t gone back on his Word concerning them. This is the same God today, and in Hebrews 8:6, the Bible says, ”But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.”

Just as David encouraged Israel, the writer of Hebrews is encouraging us that God’s Word and His promises continue into eternity, so in order for our way to be spiritually prosperous, we must remain mindful of the Word of God, His commands, and His promises!

God Bless!

Marshall & Jessica

Mar 8, 2022 – 1 Chronicles 28:9 – for the LORD searcheth all hearts … if thou seek him, he will be found of thee

Hi Everyone!

What are the words we are leaving behind for our children? Our legacies as believers are not in the financial benefits we leave behind for our children, but in the result of our relentless desire to see them have even better relationships with the Lord than we have had. What about the brother who is lost, trying to find his way, or the sister who needs to come to a place of spiritual knowledge and healing. The advice and counsel we render as believers can either guide them towards the Gospel of Jesus Christ, or drive them further into oblivion. What do we want our parting words to be on this earth? What valuable mantle do we want to leave behind? Our parting words should be our daily words, and every day we should desire to speak a word that leads someone closer to the Lord. Today, we will look at 1 Chronicles 28:9, the power of a daily Word.

”And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.”

The word ”know” means ”to become one with, to discern”. Knowing can be relational or experiential, but its design is to form a union between people. David told Solomon to ”know thy the God of thy father”, which means that David wants Solomon to know God so well that God becomes his God as well, and David also wants him to have an incredible relationship with God the same way He did. In Jeremiah 9:24, the Bible says, ”But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.” It should be our only agenda, our only focus, to know the Lord and come into an awesome relationship with Him. It should be our crowning achievement, to experience this relationship, to experience God’s love, and it should also be our desire to impact the world in such a way that they want this relationship too. In Ruth 1:16, the Bible says, ”And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God”. Ruth desired to know God, to be in a right relationship with Him, and this had to be based on the example of the faith that Naomi and her sons set. Ruth was willing to abandon any ambition of remarrying and having children to be one with God and to be a part of God’s people.

”and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind”

The word ”serve” means ”to work for, to labor on behalf of”, and it also means ”to bring oneself under subjection to another”. The phrase ”perfect heart” implies one’s complete being. So we have to serve God with our complete being. In Psalm 103:1, the Bible says, ”Bless the LORD, O my soul: and ALL that is WITHIN ME, bless his holy name.” This expresses the attitude God requires us to have when serving Him and others. God doesn’t appreciate divided minds and hearts serving Him because He wants all of our heart and mind. The word ”willing” implies an eagerness to obey God, and the word ”mind” refers to one’s inner being with their thoughts and emotions. In 2 Corinthians 8:11-12, the Bible says, ”Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.” God cultivates an environment, where there is not an excuse for why a person can’t serve the Lord. God wants us to be close to Him, and serve Him, but all we need is a willing mind, a readiness to do the will of God, and a heart that is ready to give God what we have. God loves us and wants us to succeed so He takes what we have and our willing mind, accepts it, and makes it sufficient to perform the purposes that He establishes in us.

”For the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts”

The word ”searcheth” means ”to tread or frequent in order to make an inquiry.” In Psalm 139:1-2, the Bible says, ”O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.” God knows our hearts and minds and knows when our service is genuine. We can’t ”play Church” with God because He knows every part of us, even when we don’t know Him. It says, ”For the Lord searcheth ALL hearts”, so this means believers and nonbelievers. In Romans 8:27, the Bible says, ”And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Do we understand that we have an Intercessor in Christ, that searches our heart to bring a favorable report to God on our behalf? Imagine Christ going through our filth to find treasure, yet we won’t do the same for our brothers and sisters, especially the ones who are lost.

In 1 Samuel 16:7, the Bible says, ”But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.’‘ God looks within us, to see what we are made of, to makes sure our hearts are aligned with His will and plan. The word ”understandeth” means ”to discern, perceive, or to separate mentally”. The word ”imaginations” means ”the conceptions of the mind”, and the word ”thought” means ”intent or plan”. In Hebrews 4:12, the Bible says, ”For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” The Word of God is capable of exposing every hidden thing within us, every hidden motive, the hidden brokenness we have, and also the potential we possess within us to be pillars of the faith!

The word ”seek” means ”to worship, to bring oneself low in obedience and trust to God”. This is the attitude we must have when we are to reach after God, coming before Him as empty vessels, desiring to be filled. This is where we tell God that we need what He has for us to be who He desires us to be. David is showing Solomon how to have the heart of worship, and assuring him that God will make Himself available to those who worship Him.  In 2 Chronicles 15:2, the Bible says, ”And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.” God is not going make our worship of Him be in vain. He will meet us right where we are and He will do a mighty work in us. In John 14:23, the Bible says, ”Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” God desires to make Himself at home in us, so His Holy Spirit will have reign and power in us. If we ”forsake” Him, we ignore His Word, push His presence away, and God will then cast us away, to live the life we desire to live apart from Him.

David prepared His son to be king. Do we prepare our children, our family, our friends, and our communities for service to our Lord? Do we help usher in the heart of worship?

God Bless!

Marshall & Jessica

Mar 9, 2022 – 1 Chronicles 28:20 – be strong and of good courage

Hi Everyone!

We need courage and strength to perform the will of God. The courage and strength we need is something only God can give, but God will always empower and equip us to accomplish what He sets forth in our lives. I was afraid of the call God placed over my life, and there are many times that I felt that I was in over my head, overwhelmed mentally by the responsibility and the magnitude of what I was being asked to do. If we look at the service of God from the perspective of our own strength, then of course, we won’t have the confidence to carry out God’s good purpose, but if we look to God, and trust that He will provide us with everything we need to do His will, then there is nothing to fear. Today, we will look at 1 Chronicles 28:20, more parting words from a father to his son.

”And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.”

David is encouraging his son Solomon ahead of the kingship Solomon will take over. It is always a great thing for someone who has been where we are going to help guide us on our journey. This is why in 1 Corinthians 12:5-7, the Bible says, ”And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal”, because no matter our role in the kingdom of God, we must use what we have to bring glory to God. David and Solomon were both kings, but each had their own roles to play.  David was a man of war, he was called to fight to fortify Israel, and because of David’s role, Solomon experienced peace on all sides, so that the house of God could be built. Both had individual tasks, but both were necessary for the will of God to be done.