Narrow is the Way

If you haven't noticed lately that the narrow ways of Christ is getting smaller and the Broadway of this world is enlarging their borders rapidly. Some might say it don't take all of that to receive Jesus and I say yes it does and even more. God to me is not when I need Him He is everything I need! He is God Jehovah my all and all, my keeper, my way-maker, Jehovah-Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness)!

I Stand

The more I know Christ the more I want to know Him and not compromise my salvation for any recognition of this world. There are ways to be lifted in Christ Jesus and some are through prayer, fasting, living a righteous life and through songs. Words don't much bother me so much anymore I look for Jesus in the life of a person. For Jesus is the one I am attracted to and the one whom I am in love with!

Desire Solid Food

Hebrews 5:12 You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God's word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.

Many Christians are still in the place of desiring the sincere milk of the word and yet should desire solid food of God’s word. We have been taken to the same places time and time again and Satan has us yet fooled again to thinking that we are serving God and we fall to temptation. We blame God from such attacks and wondering where is our protection? We pray, we call upon the Lord, we fast and do even what the word says until someone crosses us or say things we don’t like and become abusive for it is our protective mechanism (the world is still in us). We are yet in the same place as we started and refuse to move any further, why? We are afraid of the move of God in another aspect and direction in our lives. This is called trust.

(Trust)

1. Reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence.

2. Confident expectation of something; hope.

We trust that when we work we get a reward and we receive payment for a job done for a certain amount of time. We trust that when a repairman comes to fix the boiler that he knows what he is doing for we have no knowledge of it. We trust when we dine out that the food isn’t poisoned and can be enjoyed without getting sick and yet we have a hard time trusting God. He is for us and not against us.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Have no fear God is still sitting on the throne and has all power in His hand. Just like starting something new like swimming or swimming lessons. We fear the water for our concentration is on drowning instead of having a good time swimming and playing in the water with friends. Our immediate thoughts are on remembering bad events first and when this person went swimming and died or almost drowned or something of this nature. This also happened when Moses help bring the Children of Israel out of Egypt so that God can give them the promised land; there were many complaints that were being hurled from the mouths of the Children of God for their trust was not in Him but on what they foreknew. It is easier to go backwards than to move into the unknown ahead of us.

Then how do we move forward? What examples do we have that show us that we can move forward in God and not be afraid? There are many examples in the bible that exists. Search the scriptures yourself and find them. Moses is one example. Jesus is a great example. What about Jeremiah the prophets who challenged false prophets or even Saul who later became Paul who persecuted the Christians later became a Christian himself. When we search for the scriptures in the bible we ask God for His insight to help unlock the passage of scripture we are reading. Pray and seek the Lord and He will direct your paths.

This is how we approach the new steps God wants us to take and that is to launch out into the deep (Luke 5:4). When we launch out into the deep and God speaks not only should we obey Him it is also for our benefit. That is exactly right we have benefits when we obey God. God is our benefactor and as long as we are under His protection He is liable for everything that happens to us under His care. Now we must be a Christian and living according to God’s word in the bible and have repented for our sins.

Nothing new exists under the sun and God has great things for us when we come to know Him more each day.  He has no thoughts of evil but of peace.

Jeremiah 29:11 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.

Desire today and the rest of your life solid food so you can teach others to also desire solid food and not milk the rest of their lives in Christ.

Well God bless you all and have a wonderful day in the Lord.

Prayer:

Lord we repent today and will not have the spirit of fear anymore but will trust in you and hear your words and be doers of them. In Christ Jesus we pray Amen!

Be encouraged today and live not for yourself but live for others to see God’s Glory in your life.

Until next time God Bless You

Minister Merv

Being Persecuted

Being Persecuted

2 Corinth 4:6-10 (Contemporary English Version)

6The Scriptures say, "God commanded light to shine in the dark." Now God is shining in our hearts to let you know that his glory is seen in Jesus Christ.

7We are like clay jars in which this treasure is stored. The real power comes from God and not from us.

8We often suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don't know what to do, we never give up.

9In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again.

10We face death every day because of Jesus.

All who are true worshipers in Christ Jesus must remember that all those who follow Christ will be persecuted for Gods’ sake. If you remember in the word of God that Jesus carried His own cross. When will we carry our own cross, follow Christ and not look to man, not look to fame to validate us or look to the world for recognition. Our lives are in Christ Jesus! Jesus death in God for the world, resurrection and His living were to claim us to be freed from sin, bondage. How did Jesus do this by dying? By dying for the world, and rose again with all power. Our first step is by accepting we are sinners and must repent of our sins and live for Christ by following His commandments and teachings written in the word of God. 

Yet those-who-are-called-out-of-bondage are still tied, hooked on the high of sin that it is apparent (readily seen; expose to sight) and became married to false teachings and drunkenness with demonic angels. For if you don’t follow Christ you are following the devil. We must examine the word of God and ask Him what these passages meant as to get God intent with full understanding.

In fact we forget that there are only two ways to live. We either serve Jesus or Satan. There are no in-betweens just these two options.

We are being led astray in some cases by doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1) which has adversely (acting or serving to oppose; being or acting in) opposition to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our ears have itched and our hearts fain (happily, glad and willingly) in disbelief that Gods’ word is true. Instead of using our faith we use tangible objects of desire and see no proof in our present life that God exists or can help. This is why we give up and become meat for the slaughter to die a death of uncertainty for our beliefs that went awry (askew, amiss, with a turn or twist to one side). All because we couldn’t make a sound decision as to what we believe in. 

Our eyes will not be open to the word of God unless you believe in Jesus. Then I ask are you following the teachings of Christ and have given up the worldly lifestyle? If not then we need to evaluate our living. Are we living according to the scriptures in Christ or are we just living life anyhow?

Before I go any further if you have not given your life in exchange to have life in Christ by repenting and doing the will of Christ you then will not see many results. Quickly you will try God and quickly you will turn to other false gods who are deaf, dumb, mute, and those who physically can’t move or those who move and have no understanding.

We are like Thomas who believed not Jesus (one of the apostles who followed Christ) until he inspected Jesus wounds that He resurrected from the grave. We call Thomas doubting Thomas and we doubt as well (John 20:27-28) frequently to ask God if He hears us.

We are supposed to be the light of the world and not become like the world. Once we are saved and repented for our sins we are supposed to change. Come on Christians who follow Christ let us be examples to the world live right to help others gain victory in their lives from sin.

2 Timothy 3:12-13 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived (English Standard Version).

If you are not persecuted for Christ and the Glory of God as a Christian then I would ask are you living a Godly life.

Be not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus who is a witness to all who loves Him by keeping Gods’ commandments like Jesus did. There is only one God and His name is Jehovah and One son Jesus and One Holy Spirit. 

One more thing if we don’t examine every aspect of our lives in Christ we can easily allow the devil to become part of our lives without even knowing it. From tradition, music, our up-bringing, our learnt philosophies and so on… we can let those evil things in our lives and without our permission could be fighting a battle we know not where it came from. 

Everything is not good and all things bad are not bad. When you search the scriptures and ask for understanding from the Most High God He will in-turn answer give interpretation and clarity that you seek?

God Bless You People of God!

Pray and seek the Lord and remember Christ was persecuted and so shall we be who desire Him.

Prayer: Lord I desire to live for you today and repent for my sins. I ask that you come into my life today and make me brand new. The old life is passed away and behold all things are new. I want to live for you for the rest of my days in Christ Jesus Amen!

Minister Merv

Christ the answer

Do not be derailed or listen to a voice you have not known. Let not your assignment be delayed or canceled. For the enemy Satan is coming against God's Chosen People and he desires to sift those in Christ like wheat. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord! Look not to your left or right keep your eyes upon Christ who is the answer!