LAY ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT

Hebrews 12:1-4 (GWT)
1Since we are surrounded by so many examples of faith, we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially sin that distracts us. We must run the race that lies ahead of us and never give up.
 2We must focus on Jesus, the source and goal of our faith. He saw the joy ahead of him, so he endured death on the cross and ignored the disgrace it brought him. Then he received the highest position in heaven, the one next to the throne of God.
3Think about Jesus, who endured opposition from sinners, so that you don’t become tired and give up.
 4You struggle against sin, but your struggles haven’t killed you.

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In this passage of scripture we are directed to having weights upon us. Well we know in the physical area of our lives that if weights are too heavy to carry we soon  will drop them. We can’t manage to carry weights that overwhelms us and without help we will give up and quit. We also call weights baggage. Sometimes unnecessary baggage we carried from previous relationships, experiences and from the past.

We carry baggage every day and even from previous events in our lives which can pile up and be as big as a mountain. We can have physical baggage and spiritual baggage that are associated with burdens in our lives daily. We can see them and sometimes can’t identify them. And can identify them and not see them or cannot see them at all. It’s easy to see someone else’s baggage than it is to see our own.

Now both baggage or weights can accumulate to an unbearable size  and we need to use a tool, helper, to help motivate us to get rid of the baggage we carried for such a long time. One tool we can use is faith.

That’s right faith. If we have faith as small as a mustard seed we can move larger objects like mountains and burdens out of our way to relieve of excess weight and dead weight.

Matthew 17:20 (WEYNT) "Because your faith is so small," He replied; "for I solemnly declare to you that if you have faith like a mustard-seed, you shall say to this mountain, 'Remove from this place to that,' and it will remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you.

So even though we have large problems in our lives we can use our faith in Christ to help remove our stress-relievers, burdens and the load will be manageable for us to bear and  will be easy to get rid of those we don’t need to carry.

So for example: boyfriend is not Godly or girlfriend and they want to go against God’s word (biblical teachings) believe in Christ and pray and God will deliver you.

Sex is for marriage and if you are not married no need to practice marital benefits. For it is a sin and you are out of order and being in sin you get what is associated by the sin you practice in.You have lived for years without it stay celibate or a virgin until marriage. This is an honor and a privilege amongst married couples.

Don’t even fall for the line we are getting married anyway for if you are then the day of marriage is appropriate for marital benefits. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. This is a door-way the enemy the devil uses to break down the forces and barrier put up because of him (meaning Satan).

Let’s go here a true marriage is between a man and woman as according to the bible (Genesis 2:18-24). If you have a problem with that then God is the one to be addressed in this matter for His word is true and I believe every word of it.

Committing adultery with a person who you not espoused or spoused to is a sin. In this day and time things are a little lenient. For adultery one punishment was to be stoned to death by a group of people. Now in different religions and parts of the world it varies on punishment. This is part of the Ten Commandments; Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery. (Exodus 20:14, Deu 5:18, 22:22, Matthew 5:27, 19:18, Mark 10:19, Luke 18:20, Romans 13:9)

It may be that not any of these things that plagues you and it may be something else? Just use your faith in God and He will give you instruction.

A way to remove some baggages is to forgive ourselves for the mistakes we made in the past and learn from them. We must ask God for forgiveness in the areas we tend to over-look or pass by purposely.

Today let’s look inside ourselves and ask God to help show us our piled up weights or baggages and teach us to use our faith in Christ wisely so we don’t become overwhelmed where we easily give up and quit. If we follow Christ our days here on earth will be much more pleasant and satisfying. This is not to say that we will not encounter trouble sometime we will but at least we would know how to react and handle them.


God Bless you Saints in Christ!

Prayer: God help us to use our faith so we can lay our burdens down and give them to you and do your work in Jesus name we pray Amen!



Minister Merv

Pouring into New Wineskins

Pouring into New Wineskins

Matthew 9:14-17

14Then the disciples of John came to Jesus, inquiring, Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast [a]often, [that is, abstain from food and drink as a religious exercise], but Your disciples do not fast?

15And Jesus replied to them, Can the wedding guests mourn while the bridegroom is still with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

16And no one puts a piece of cloth that has not been shrunk on an old garment, for such a patch tears away from the garment and a worse rent (tear) is made.

17Neither is new wine put in old wineskins; for if it is, the skins burst and are [b]torn in pieces, and the wine is spilled and the skins are ruined. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.

Wineskins  - made from animal hide sheep or goat to hold wine. The skin of the animal is sewn up and it is a preserver.

It is useless to pour wine into old wineskins for it will burst and it will become a waste. The old wineskins will be good for nothing. It is also called a leather bottle in the Greek.   

Jesus parable speaks about how sewing a new cloth onto an old material will make it worse. Why? for it will not bond or become one with the sown material. After a while the hole which is patched would tear and be greater than the original hole. Even so the wineskin which is patched because of leakage will still leak for the garment would not be whole and the bottle that holds the liquid will spill onto the ground therefore is useless and is good for nothing but to be thrown away.

The value have depreciated and once was of great value and appreicated is now worthless material and can’t be of use to noone.

Pouring new wine into old wineskins is like throwing money away. Nothing can be contained in the wineskins and must be replaced or thrown out. Everything has a time and purpose and limitations accept God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit).

As I was at the gas station pumping gas into the car this very night I heard God said He is not pouring new wine into old wineskins. For the foundation is rocky and there is no stability in it.

Many times God have given a word and some have listened and some have not. He spoke about shifting and others are still in the very same spot they have been in for years.  God is not pouring into old wineskins because we are at a place of disobedience.

The old wineskins are the representation of our flesh and how we live on a daily basis. The many situations that arises and how we perceive them and react to them. From the outside it may appear to look beautiful but the inside is a wreck, torn apart in some places,in some areas and we are trying to hold it together with scotch tape, nail gun, re-sewing with thread, glass blower. Yet the hole will eventually tear again and be worse than before. After all the trys have been done we begin to get the light, we need new wineskins. So the old man must leave in order to build upon new foundation.

We need Christ to help us in our journey of life so He can cultivate and pour into us the Word of the Lord. It starts by the cure-all to the brokeness of relationship and mending with new fabric and leather bottle in Christ is with Christ and our repentance.

Because of wear and tear, abuse and excuse we’ve come to a place in God where His word have become a plight into our lives instead a light unto our soul. In other words we think of the negative before we embrace the positive aspect of life into our thoughts and cancel out what we don’t understand or try to understand.

Matthew 7:6 Do not give that which is holy to the dogs, or put your jewels before pigs, for fear that they will be crushed under foot by the pigs whose attack will then be made against you.

Obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22) and the church have sunk their carnal ways into the lives of people. For the church lives only what they have experience or know. Some have lived and learn and others are ignoring by acting like it doesn’t exist.

Be not like the disciples who were with Jesus and then left and returned no more. (John 6:60-66)

We are injecting our own doctrine into the church and theory instead of applying the lessons left to lead us to eternal life in Christ in the bible. When was the last time you have asked God what did He wanted you to do? We are doing things for God and not have asked Him if this is what He wants done? Many of us are trying to shine in our churches, conferences, anniversaries and have left God out though we say we are doing it for Him. God knows our heart and we have not even talk to Him about many things and we expect Him to put his stamp of approval on our projects without counsel from Him.

Who? God is not pleased and we must clean out the junk out of our lives in order to receive the blessing from God. Yet he can’t pour anything in the our old wineskins that are faulty, amiss, defective.

We are vessels of God that should be pruned from the world ways, our ways and habits. We should adopt God’s ways as a daily practice.

God raises a standard and the world lives anyhow.

Let us become new wineskins so God can pour into our lives then Christ can be repeated in other people lives. Then the world will become new wine for the new wineskins as disciples and childre of the most high.

The new wine represents the blood of Christ, redemption and death to the old ways of man that gives new life, joy and freedom in God.

Knowing what God hath done in our lives should motivate us to help someone else be free from bondage and sin through the introduction of Christ unto them.

When we wear new clothing or get a new game or shoes we feel good when we wear it. We feel special excited and wanting to show off our new clothing, cell phone etc… We want complements and when we get them we are joyous. So does the word of God.

We should be compelled to share the Gospel to everyone we meet with joy and gladness. Operating in Christ with His new wine we have drunk by believing His Word, living the righteous life in Christ and not wanting anyone to perish or go to Hell. Jesus had compassion so should we too have compassion.

Compassion for our brothers and sisters not to go to Hell and damnation which was only for Satan and his demonic servants (fallen angels from heaven).Matthew 25:41 41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

It was designed as an everlasting eternal place for the devil but if we choose not to follow Christ it will be the home of those who have taken the devil as their father.

John 8:44 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.

Choose whom will you serve today and pray that God will hear you when you call Him.

Prayer: Oh Lord I pray unto you today to help me become a new wineskin so you can pour your wine into me and I become a servant of the Lord. Forgive me of my sins and teach me your ways. In Jesus name I pray Amen!

Minister Merv

Look Not To Yourself

The World is growing weary and getting worse because of sin in their lives. It's time to make a change and serve the Lord. But first the church needs to repent and do their  first works over and clean out the mess they called bless. It starts from the Pulpit to the door. This also includes the mess that is going on in the homes and being brought to the church where there are no difference between the clean and unclean (the sacred and secular). For they are mixing together like a spiked hot fudge sundae. There are very little differences.

1. Like the music is sounding more worldly and if that is the offering up to God He wouldn't bother listening to it.

2. Our clothing have become so sexy. We are calling each other diva's and don's and it's escalating. We mimick the world and the world is suppose to mimick us. 

3. We are becoming filthy mouthed and minded. The world have not completely left us for we can recollect how we used to be and would return to our old ways when needed. Pray for those that despitefully use you.

For the spirits in our homes have accumulated and are traveling salesperson being brought to destinations where we go. If we go to the grocery store, church, outings, dinner, movies, to see relatives etc.. the spirits we have are traveling with us. 

The blind can't lead the blind and God called the church to win nations. 

Our testimony have become corrupted for we as Christians know the truth but some have decided to feed their flesh and ignore God. How can we help the world if there is a speck in our eyes until we clean the speck out of our eyes then help our brother or sister who needs help. 

Repent, repent, repent for as Christians we don't live this life just for ourselves? We live this life for every eyes to see how to live when all is going awry.

In Philippians 2:3-4 (NLT - Tyndale House) Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself.

Philippians 2:3-4 (CEV) 3Don't be jealous or proud, but be humble and consider others more important than yourselves. 4Care about them as much as you care about yourselves.

Our lives should be a testimony not a speckled calf not fit for any use but held up by the strength of the Lord to be shone as light unto this dieing world. Salt that has not lost its savor is how we are suppose to be.

Bless you and keep looking to the true and living God for all that you need. 

Minister Merv

Placing Judgement Upon Others When They are in Need. (Biblical Journal Studies 1 (September 06, 2011)

Placing Judgement Upon Others When They are in Need

John 5:8-13

 8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 

 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 

 10 and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry      your mat.”

 11 But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ”

 12 So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?”

 13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.

We put limitations on God and as diplomatic as He is He will not force those of us to receive His blessing upon us unless we receive Him first. In order to receive Him we first must accept Christ, believe in him and realize where we are, know what we need, view our mistakes and then be truthful, repent, start all over and live like Christ did. This is when the blessing of God is manifested daily, earthly and heavenly in our lives.

Somehow stumblingblocks are placed before us and find it hard to move around the obstacles for it challenges our thought process and belief in Christ. It's like when Satan challenged Eve of eating of the forbidden fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Where said not to eat of it or you will die by God. While beguiling her (serpent, Satan) stating that she (Eve) would be like gods in Genesis chapter 3. Knowing all well what God had said and commanded a stumblingblock just dropped before her. Why, for she knew what God said but another thought had interjected into the air and it started to become real even though God commanded not to eat of the fruit. It weighing heavily the thought upon her mind that it could be true. Half-lies are full lies and lies are just lies. For half, little or big are still weighed the same as just lies. There is no-way around it.

Now in the case with the invalid who had been at the house of Mercy (Bethesda) for thirty eight years was delivered from his infimities by Jesus on the Sabbath and he (invalid) was made whole. Now tell me being sick for thirty eight years isn't that long enough? A woman with the issue of blood for twelve years isn't that long enough? What I mean is what difference does it make if someone was delivered on the day of the Sabbath or not? But the Jews were wreaked with anger because of their authority (teachers) being overstepped and vexed them with anger. 

Because the law in which the Jews half-way followed by their own teachings of the scriptures became a stumblingblock for those who follwed their teachings under the law which Moses gave unto the people by God. According unto the law that was considered to be work were not to be done on the day of the Sabbath and would have to wait until the Sabbath day was over for it was considered to be a day of rest and for Christ. 

Tell me my friend if you are sick, in pain and distraught how are you resting and thinking about Christ? I'm not saying that those who are doesn't exist they do. And are great examples of Christian warriors for Christ. Don't get me wrong it can be done for peace will come over you. I am asking can you for those who are thirty eight years in pain and disabled. Hurting for twenty four hours in a day and finally have a chance to get healed even though it is the Sabbath wouldn't you choose to be healed and finally be free also?

So did the thought come across to Jesus with compassion and the man was delivered and healed totally for he was made whole. The disabled man spoke unto Jesus truthfully because of his condition and was honest about his circumstance. Also this man was instanteously made whole by the truth and the compassion of Jesus Christ. Just by Jesus saying take up your mat, bed, couch in different translations and walk. It didn't say Jesus prayed for the man, touched him etc.. just said and spoke these words take up your bed and walk.

This was a man who wanted healing and who knows if Jesus never would have came by would he still be there or would he have died there? 

This is the question we must ask ourselves would we still be where we were  if Jesus would have not come by? If so, why? If not why can't we help someone today to know Christ for the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few (Matthew 9:37, Luke 10:2).

The truth will set us free. How many people you know don't know the truth and what are you doing about it to help them get out of their situation to help them find the truth?

Prayer: Lord we repent and want to do our first works over in you Oh Lord and become a better person and Christian for the rest of our lives. Lord helps us to see what you see and have compassion on our neighbors and help us to win them to Christ. Amen!

Blessings and Peace unto you my Brothers and Sisters in Christ.

Pray for the manifestation of God to come upon so others can be freed from their bondage and accept Christ.

Minister Merv

When All Seems Lost

Psalms 20:1-3 NIV

¹ May the LORD answer you when you are in distress; 
   may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. 
² May he send you help from the sanctuary 
   and grant you support from Zion. 
³ May he remember all your sacrifices 
   and accept your burnt offerings.

When we are down and out and the count is reaching close to ten and our mind is scrabbling for some sign, some kind of help and the biting on our nails are becoming a snack. It’s time way past the time for us to call upon Christ the problem solver to give an answer.

Why do we wait until the options are most critical to make a decision or better yet consult God? We are Christians and suppose to use our faith instead we play spiritual pot luck. We call Jesus on this problem but not that one for we know what to do. Huh what is that? When we begin to think in this manner we are heading for a rude awakening my friend and the results are immensely forthcoming. Shall God intervene on your diet of not calling on Him?

We treat God as an acquaintance or even so a stranger. Sometimes our eyes become blind and dim to the truth and facts that arises in our lives. Look at the situation that continually happens and the manner that it happens and ask God how to come out of your Groundhog Day experience.

Funny I like this movie for it shows the constant mistakes that keep happening to the character Phil Connors who is a weatherman that lives daily the mistakes he’s made and it goes wry. He knows what is going to happen for he lives it until he changes everything. Everything had to change in order for Phil the weatherman can get on with his life and move to another stage in life.

Well that sounds like a lot of Christians who are living the problems like a daily source of habitual fruit. Until we face the problem we accept it as a mountain too big to climb. Or we allow it to fester and grow and we go into hiding expecting it to go away. Though it continues to grow we try to ignore it and think it will go away. Well the sad news is it’s there and the only relief of it going away is doing something about it to change our circumstance, stress, headaches, cries and anger.

On occasion our situations speak to us instead of us speaking to it. We need to talk our problems and say to it you will be gone. It’s just a test and another level in God and we must pass this test. And yes it may seem funny and we sometimes need to talk to our stresses, anger, built up frustration and say not today.

 For example:

1. Today you won’t come and spoil my day. Oh no you will not and bring me out of my mood no sir.

2. I am not defeated and this day will not happen anymore for I will be on top of the situation and though there will be days of uncertainty I will trust in the Lord and with Him I will get through this.

We are not hiders though some of us are. We have a God that is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and we should trust in Him. We should make a boast of the Lord. Rejoice in His Holy Name.

David had to come to a cross-road in his life where he undoubtedly had to trust in God there is no other way. This is the thinking we need to adopt and let it become a lifestyle in our lives. God is the only way. Some may trust in people and other things, money and what have you but me and my family, church family and others who live for Christ will trust in the Lord.

Which means if there is another way that does not please the Lord; and not in the way the Lord have intended, we will not bow down or give in because it’s contrary to Christ. No other method exists if it’s composed by any other means.

Psalms 20:7 NIV

⁷ Some trust in chariots and some in horses, 
   but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. 

Dearly beloved ones in Christ we are not lost and all are not lost. We have Jesus as our advocator and spiritual representative. Stand up and be counted for we have more with us than those that are against us in this world.

Cheer up, encourage yourself just like David did and pull your mind in. Don’t fall for the same trap or use the same mindset as before consult God and don’t wait until a crisis comes before speaking to Him. Read your word and pray and speak to God on a daily basis.

Give Him Glory and Praise His Holy Name!

For He is Great and Worthy to be Praised Jesus Our Lord!

Sing songs to Zion and Bless His Name!

Prayer:

I pray that all who reads this will begin to feel strength coming into their bodies and accomplish what God has sent out for them to do and strive for excellence and not allow the enemy to creep in unawares. I ask for the Holy Ghost to move into the lives of the people of God and those who desire to be new converts and to show the areas that God have no part in those areas in their lives and that God will be allowed in all areas in their lives and all will be well and that the soul will be prosperous in Christ. In our Lord Jesus Name we praise Amen!

Minister Merv

Watch what you say about God’s Anointed

Psalms 106: 12-18 Then believed they his words; they sang his praise. They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: but lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul. They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the LORD. The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan and covered the company of Abiram. And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked. 

At this moment of scripture we see that saying touch not mine anointed and do my prophets no harm is important that we try to leave all things unto God. We seem to think that we can say anything against a man or woman of God. We must remember that we reverence the spirit of God and not man. Truth and God’s word we should give them and leave the rest up to God. At all times we must be tactful and in some cases be prayerful for our leaders and all saints. For we know not what God is going to do with them in the future. Here we must understand that by not praying for our leaders is a grave error on our part for God said for us to pray without ceasing (1 Thes 5:17). Just as it took Jesus prayers for us to be reconciled back to God it will takes our prayers God invested to win the hearts of many to our Father. Plus if it has worked all this time we should consider praying constantly to help not ourselves but to help others in their walk in Christ. 

Prayer changes things and when we realize that our Jehovah our God has provided for us even before we existed and still present in our mother’s womb, we can then be assured that He has never failed us nor his words failed us in any way. Sometimes we forget that when we were in the same shoes or situation we needed prayer and needed mercy and grace. All Christians have fallen short of the grace of God and yet when we repented received new mercies and grace. 

When will the love of God be imbedded into our hearts and souls. I appeal to all Christians that understand talking about someone is breaking and not encouraging to those who are in need of help even if they don’t see it themselves. 

Sometimes we should immediately pray and not fuss or arrange conversations about Christian for God is the last one to comment on our souls and bring judgment.  There is no stopping those who want to live vicariously out of the will of God but there is choice and one day we all come to it time after time. 

Touch not God’s anointed even you feel differently. For the life you may save is your own. Be prayed up saints for the time is coming near for His return to take back his family into heaven.

May God Bless You All.

It’s a new way of living

For so many years I heard a Deacon in my old church say this (It’s a new way of living) saying and never really got the true meaning until today. Sometimes we just hear things and think nothing of them and now it takes meaning in my life forever.  Thought about living for Christ and how I stand as a Christian. Thought about how I am about to be married for the second time and God blessed me and my wife to be in this together. Thought about dealing with children and moving to a place I really don’t know. Just that right there is a new way of living. Leaving my old church home for what God has plans for us to do together, Sister Alissa and Bro’ Merv.  

It reminds me, and I always refer to Abram leaving his kindred and go to where God is telling him to go with his wife Sarai. Now I feel this journey is a launch out in the deep. No crutches, handle bars, family or familiar surroundings are there to help when in trouble. Just to rely upon God and his word even the more.  Faith must spring forth and I must forge on until victory is won in me and Christ being exalted through my life. 

I know there will be many challenges that lie ahead and I must conquer them all. Yet my all is in Christ and he shall direct my paths, going and comings. This is also true that when we become saved under Christ we are new creatures. The old must be the old and the new must become new.  There must be a washing of the filth in order for God to shine through a person.  

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All washing isn’t bad it just allows you to be seen in a different light as others are opposite of Christ.  Allow the washing of Christ to be a daily process for each day we get closer to God.  Allow the new way of living under Christ be a permanent encounter and not let it become a fad or faze.  

 

When we think of new we think of beginning or starting afresh.  No hindrances’ foretaste has not been used for this is being opened for the first time.  Though we go through trials we will encounter some problems with our own minds thinking we cannot do a thing when God has certainly made plans for us to succeed in his word. This new way of living can only be lead by the Holy Spirit, God and Jesus Christ.  Just think how special Jesus is? He is the only one with that name that can cast out demonic forces and doesn’t need help from us doing it. Wow that is surely a new way of living. 

And if you haven’t had a new way or new wave of living lately get more into God and he will bring you to a place where you will not understand how you got there.  Amen!

God Bless You All