A Little Too Late

Amos 5:1-3, 16-17

If you were in a position of great authority, and were presented the opportunity to save a life, by use of extreme punishment, or to refrain from executing discipline, so that the convicted could continue on a path to their eventual demise, which would you choose? It’s never a good feeling when bringing discipline upon others, because it hurts to see them suffer, especially when they could have chosen a better direction. Judges and jurors are met with this challenge on a daily basis. It’s not easy to condemn someone to punishment, because most people have a heart, but when your hand is forced to put someone away, because of their consistent unlawful behavior, there’s no choice left, except judgment. Parents also experience these feelings quite often, when they are forced to discipline their unruly children. It matters not how cute and precious those little rascals can be, when daddy and mommy lay down the law, those little ones are expected to obey. But, when they consistently refuse to adhere to the standard, parents are forced to execute plan “pow pow”.

The God of all creation has had His own share of similar instances, when the children of Israel forced His hand to bring judgment upon them, through their continual disobedience. God loved the nation of Israel unconditionally, and had amazing blessings in store for them, but they found more pleasure in their hypocrisy, than in remaining steadfast in His will.

Our text presents prophecy of future lamentations Israel will face, because they had fallen so far away from God’s standard, until there was “none to raise her up” (vs. 2b). After reminding the people of their blatant sins, God offered them one last chance to change their ways. In verses 14 and 15, God said, “Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you as ye have spoken. Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph”. After all the hypocrisy, sinning, and wicked things Israel were undoubtedly guilty of, God gave them another opportunity to clean up their ways. Are you generous and compassionate to others, when they wrong, or offend you? Do you give second, third, fourth, and fifth chances, so others can eventually get themselves together, and have time to ask your forgiveness? Or, do you bring down the hammer, the moment someone comes at you in an unacceptable manner?

God’s mercy is everlasting, and the truth of His Word, will endure through every generation, but there will come a time when those second, third, and tenth chances will be taken away, and God’s hand will be forced to bring judgment down on all who remain in sin, and refuse to correct the error of their ways.

Walk in love,

Ell

The Day Of The Lord

Zephaniah 1:14-18

There are many areas of Scripture, people are hesitant to read, because they either bring fear, or confusion, when trying to understand them. In fact, the average Bible reader prefers to study more about the blessings of God, as opposed to learning about end-time events. Our lesson text details a very unique day, that will come, according to God’s schedule plan.

Every man, and woman, who refuses to accept Christ as their savior, will soon face a day, that will be like none anyone has ever experienced on the earth. Although many believers will unfortunately experience end-time tribulation, when the enemy amplifies his attacks against God’s people (which seems, at times, to already be in effect), and causes hurt and shame to many, the day of God’s wrath will come, after Christ has taken His people away from the plagued, and sin-sick world.

The prophet Zephaniah was very descriptive, as he mentioned the details of that sad, and terrible day. It’s mentioned that this day will be one of great wrath, trouble and distress, waste and desolation, darkness and gloominess, clouds and thick darkness, trumpet and alarm, bloodshed, and a day wicked men will not escape.

We serve a God of love and justice, and not one who desires that men perish in sin, but to willingly refuse His salvation, and liberty from eternal damnation, automatically sets one on the path to experience this tragic day. It’s the will of God that no one perish, but that all come to repentance, so they’ll have no fear of the great day of the Lord, when it comes.

Walk in love,

Ell

Have A Heart

Luke 11:5-13

Why are people so mean these days? Have you thought about that lately? I’m not too sure how things went on back in the olden days, but from my experiences growing up in the 80’s and 90’s, men showed a bit more respect for one another, than they do today. Fathers taught their sons proper work ethics, and how to be kind and courteous to women, and mothers would show their daughters the ways of womanhood. Far gone are the days of “yes sir”, and “no ma’am”, because children aren’t being taught to respect their elders. Instead, are youth are being groomed by Disney and Nickelodeon, rather than good old fashioned wisdom, and Bible teachings. Old cartoons usually conveyed chivalry by showing a man laying down his coat over water, so a woman’s feet wouldn’t get wet, or by young boys holding doors open for elderly women. Those virtues are hardly seen today, because men have become selfish, and more self-centered than ever before.

In my 38 years of journeying on this planet, I’ve learned, the farther men drift away from God, the more inclined they are to entertain immoral, and unethical behaviors, but the closer they remain to the Father, the more apt they are to show love and kindness by default. Jesus taught that friends are to always be there for each other, even if it comes at a cost. When you say love someone, there will ALWAYS come opportunities for that love to be proven. Our text gives a few examples of the proper way to handle friends in need, and the importance of showing kindness to those in desperate situations. If I’m hungry, and come to a friend in the wee hours of the night for food, is it right for them to shun me away saying, “it’s too late”, or give me a bag of rocks? Not at all. Instead, they should make it top priority to see that my need is met, especially if they have more than enough to spare. This is especially relevant for the body of Christ. No brother, or sister joined to God, should ever deny a fellow believer assistance (within reason, obviously). Even if you can’t personally assist someone, the least you can do is help point them in a direction where help can be rendered.

If you claim to have the love of God residing in your heart, it should ALWAYS show in your actions. Remember to treat all men the way you desire to be treated, and love them with the same love God shows you every day.

Walk in love,

Ell

Proper Prayer Posture

Matthew 7:7-11

There are countless verses of Scripture in the Bible, that teach us how to receive answers for our prayers, from God. Whether we ask, seek, knock, fast, meditate, perform good deeds, worship, or praise, there’s a requirement that must first be met, in order for our prayers to reach God ears, and merit a legit response. God is holy, and demands that His children be holy as well. Just as a good parent seeks only good for their children, God cares for the church as a good Father should. But, in order to justly receive all God has stored up for us, we must be free from sin. Free, not in a sense that we’re perfect, or mistake-free, but free as in forgiven, born-again, and striving to do God’s will daily.

Oftentimes, men pray amiss, and seek things that will only please their selfish desires, but God blesses us, so that we can be a blessing to others, while bringing glory to His name as well. Even children born into wealthy families have rights to obtain an inheritance, but certain behaviors must still be maintained, in order to receive what’s due to them, at the appropriate time. The prophet Isaiah understood this when he wrote, “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2). When we live outside of the will of God, He’s not obligated to hear, nor answer anything we cry out to Him. This is similar to a parent being asked for a treat, from a child with consistent unruly behavior. A good parent understands, rewarding children for bad behavior is not a common standard, and could possibly encourage the child to continue in their unhealthy habits (although there are times when you can actually show kindness to a child who’s deserving of punishment, and shock them back into reality). When we learn to desire only those things that are pleasing to God, then He’ll be more inclined to listen to our requests, and bless us accordingly.

So, when you pray to God, what do you ask, and seek from Him. Do you make petitions for things to make your name great, and draw attention to your own plans, or do you desire things that will benefit yourself, and others, spiritually and naturally as well?

Walk in love,

Ell

Effectual, Fervent Prayer

Luke 18:1-8

“…men ought always to pray, and not to faint;” (vs. 1). Jesus spoke in parables for a number of reasons, but more so, to instill valuable spiritual lessons into the hearts of His listeners.

Our text details the parable of the unjust judge. In this story, a woman was being treated unjustly by her “adversary”, and sought justice from a ruler, known to be biased, and unfair. Under normal circumstances, the judge would have ignored the woman’s request, and push her case to the side, but she was persistent in seeking justice, and came to the judge on multiple occasions. The woman’s “continual coming” would eventually give the judge intolerable annoyance, and pester him beyond endurance, so he elected to avenge her.

Jesus never mentioned the details of the woman’s adversary, nor the unfair treatment she was experiencing, but the message was clear; if a selfish, and unrighteous individual can be convinced to give support to the innocent, how much more would God do for those who love Him? God is merciful, and gracious without question. He is love, and offers it freely to all who will accept it. Unlike the woman in the story, who was persistent in seeking justice, many Christians unfortunately give up, and stop seeking God, the moment things turn south in their lives. I must confess, I’ve had my share of experiences, where I wondered if God was even listening to my cries for help, because it seemed that all my praying and fasting rendered no results. But, God always had a way of reminding me, He was well aware of the goings on in my life, and had blessings at the end of all my tests. There were times, when God would allow things to last for a season, to monitor how I would respond. Some tests I passed with flying colors, whereas others, I had to retake a few times, until I got it right.

Jesus encouraged His disciples to never stop praying, nor lose heart, because God would always support them, despite all the hardships they’d encounter on their paths. When hard times come, it’s easy to throw in the towel, and the devil doesn’t make things any easier by trying to convince us to doubt God, and live in fear, unbelief, and worry. But, through Christ, we have the power to overcome doubt, fear, and unbelief. Because of Christ, believers have access to God’s supernatural strength, that enables them to overcome natural experiences.

In those moments when you’re on the verge of giving up, take 30 seconds, and ask God to restore your strength, and equip you with all the tools you need, to remain steadfast during your tough seasons. Always remember, tough times don’t last, but tough people do, so don’t stop praying, because God will see you through.

Walk in love,

Ell

A New Home

Acts 1:6-11

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another exciting episode of, “A New Home”! Starring, Papa, and little Johnny! I’m your host, “holyell”, and I’ll be bringing you all the details of tonight’s most fascinating scenes!

Papa: Okay family, I called you all here to tell you that I’ll be going away for a while, on business, but I won’t be gone too long, so I expect everyone to be on their best behavior.

Children: Ohhh no pappa, where are you going, and how long will you be away, and why are you leaving?

Momma: It’s okay kids, papa’s going away to work a new job, and guess what? He’s building a new house for us as well!

Papa: Ahh honey, you spoiled the surprise!

Children: Yaaaaaaay! We’re getting a new house! We’re getting a new house! We’re getting a new house!

Little Johnny: Papa

Papa: Yes Johnny

Little Johnny: Umm… while you’re away, who will take care of momma and this house?

Papa: Johnny, I leave you in charge.

Little Johnny: Really papa?!

Papa: Yes. And, I expect you to always listen to momma, do your chores and homework consistently, and without complaining, protect your sister’s from those pesky Johnson boys across the street, and never forget, although I’m away, I’m always watching you.

Little Johnny: Okay papa! I promise I’ll do my best to protect our home while you’re away, and I’ll be nice to Cindy and Rachel (most of the time), and ummm I’ll beat up the Johnson boys if they mess with them, and I will always do my chores and homework, and listen to mommy everyday, and…

Papa: Okay okay little Johnny. I believe you’ll do great while I’m gone, but remember, I’ll be back soon to see whether you kept your word, or not. So, I leave you in charge of keeping things right while I’m away. You represent me, little man, so I expect you to behave the same, as if I’m still here.

Little Johnny: Scout’s honor papa. I will do my best!

This concludes another episode of, “A New Home”! Thanks for tuning in.

This story conveys a similar message Jesus left to His disciples before He ascended into the clouds. They were to carry on, where He left off; witnessing of His purpose to all the world. Knowing the journey wouldn’t be easy, Christ was also sure to leave them with a comforter, to assist them on their endeavors.

The power that ignites believers to boldly proclaim the message of the Gospel comes by way of the Holy Ghost, and absolutely NO OTHER SOURCE. In order to effectively preach God’s message, one must have God’s Spirit within them. When Christ returns, He’ll do as Papa did in our story, and check to see whether we obeyed His commands, or not, so live today, as if Jesus was still here, and allow His Spirit to empower you to be great until He returns.

Walk in love,

Ell

Are You Convinced?

John 17:20-26

Have you considered lately, why there has been so much difficulty for Christians to convince the world, that Jesus was sent by God, to become the savior of all mankind? Well, I have, and it’s rather disheartening to witness how men give more reverence to dead athletes, than to a man who sacrificed His life, to save their souls.

All who are adopted into the royal family of God, have been blessed with power, love, and a plethora of amazing benefits, that when exhibited properly, should easily convince men, that God is the only way to gain eternal peace. So, why does the world make mockery of men and women, who preach the Gospel? The main reason people today shun Christianity is, because there is great division among the body of Christ, and where unity is absent, the power of influence is non-existent. Take for instance, those who gather in protest, to stand for certain rights. The power of their unity and togetherness is potent enough to cause change, even in government. An example of this was made evident when the lgbtq community fought to legalize marriage. Not only was this an example of the power of unity working in one’s favor, but throughout history, men have banned together, standing for what they believe, in order to induce change. This makes me wonder, why don’t Christians join together, rather than separate themselves, to show the world the truth, and power in God’s love? There are countless churches today, that all teach from the same Bible (or at least they should), yet their messages are watered down with doctrine and opinions that are irrelevant to one’s salvation. The church is divided, because leaders aren’t representing themselves appropriately, and the message of the Gospel has been altered to keep “members” in the seats, rather than “disciples”.

Gone are the days when church was a place where men, women, and children would go in feeling one way, then leave ENERGIZED, and ready to face what may come the next day. In our text, Jesus prayed sincerely to the Father, that the disciples, and those who would come to God in the future, would be unified, so that the world could see real evidence of Christ’s purpose, and mission on the earth. Christ knew, a unified church, would be more than enough to prove His love to an evil world.

I pray now, that all who have given their hearts to the Lord, submit yourselves once again to His will. I pray that you allow God’s Spirit to lead, guide, and direct your paths, as well as keep you safe from all harm. I ask God to give you power, boldness, strength, and courage to stand against those who seek to divide you from those who fight alongside you in faith.

I believe that you are a powerful piece in God’s plan, and you WILL accomplish what He created you to do. Keep your heart and mind fixed on Jesus, and try your best to encourage those around you. We all need each other to be effective, and make an impact in this crazy world. In those moments when you feel the pressure of conflict or drama arising, pray quickly, and ask God for resolution, because only through His strength, can we overcome the enemy’s plans to break us apart.

Walk in love,

Ell

Abstain From The Profane

Ezekiel 36:22-28

God is holy, and His name is to be praised, feared, and reverenced in all the earth. As the Creator of all things, it’s only right that all creation render to God His just due.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” (Psalm 19:1)

“O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. 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.” (Psalm 95:1-7a)

“He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart. The trees of the Lord are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted; Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house. The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies. He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down. Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth. The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.  The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens. Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening. O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.” (Psalm 104: 13-25)

“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:” (Colossians 1:16)

All things were created for God’s good pleasure, so when something tends to sway off its normal path, God has a unique way of setting it back right. Not only does this apply to nature, but to men also. We were created by God, to serve His purpose, and He expects us to do what brings glory to His name. Unfortunately, many things have changed, since the error of the first couple, that has caused all sorts of imbalances in the earth. Despite the effects of sin, and satan’s unyielding plot to destroy God’s people, the children of God are required to uphold God’s holy standard, no matter what.

The children of Israel, in the past, fell victim to satan’s influences, as they profaned the name of the Lord, by delving into heathen practices and beliefs. These actions no doubt caused many heathen nations to lose respect for the power of the living God, because His own people had turned against Him. But, for His holy name’s sake, God said, “I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes” (vs. 23). God chose a people to represent His good name in the earth, but Israel brought only shame to it, so He had to step in, and reestablish that He alone, is the true and living God, who holds all power in His hand.

When we mess up, God gives us opportunities to correct the errors of our ways, but when we settle in our mistakes, God has to step in, and give us a little push, to get us back on track. When we claim to be children of God, we are expected to live as such, on a daily basis. Despite how the world is ever-changing around us, we must stay rooted, and grounded in the Word of God, because He alone, is worthy to be praised, feared, and reverenced in all the earth.

Walk in love,

Ell

Haters Gonna Hate

Daniel 6:6-13

Life can be interesting in so many ways. Some people work hard, earn a good living, and treat others with kindness. They live according to the “Golden Rule”, and give respect to those deserving of it. These persons typically mind their own business, and seek only to make the lives of others better. On the other hand, there are those who seem to have their lives in order, and lack no good thing, yet they make it their business to find fault in those who consistently do good, and not evil. One thing I have learned in this life is, it matters not how good you are, nor how many good deeds you perform for others, there will ALWAYS be someone waiting, and hating on you. They’ll even go to great lengths, just to find the most minute flaw in your life, in an effort to expose it, in hopes that it’ll damage your image, and reputation. Whether through lies, deceit, or manipulation, these lame and wicked individuals will do all they can to mess up your life, when they need to focus on enjoying their own.

In our text, the prophet Daniel had a first-hand experience with haters. Daniel was blessed by God, and promoted from his captivity, to be preferred above all the presidents and princes of the land, because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king set him over the whole nation. Daniel’s exaltation pricked the hearts of the presidents and princes, who developed extreme jealousy toward him, and eventually plotted to find any occasion, or fault against him. Following extensive research, the jealous men found nothing negative against Daniel. One would assume the men would drop their act, and let Daniel live in peace, but their jealousy had converted to envy and hatred, thus causing them to go way out of bounds, and attack Daniel on a spiritual level.

Nearly everyone knew, Daniel prayed with his windows open, to His God, three times a day, so the evil leaders enticed the king to sign a decree stating, “that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions”. Seriously?! These men were so jealous of Daniel, until they made a decree for an entire nation, simply to target one man? People do the same today, as they go to the extremes, just to make the lives of others, hell on earth. I often wonder, what is it about a good man, that others intentionally hate on them, for no good reason? Well, the king signed the decree, and the evil plan was set in motion. Later on in the story, Daniel was found praying according to his usual time, and with his windows open, by the peeping little minions, who hurried back to the king to give their report.

Many know how this story eventually played out, but if not, feel free to read the entirety of chapter six. I admonish all Christians to continue doing good, despite being hated on by others, because as believers, our main goal is to first please God, and not man. So, all our works should be done with good intentions, and motivated by God’s love. Hopefully, through our continued kindness and generosity, we can eventually win the hearts of our haters to the Lord.

Walk in love,

Ell

Prayer Power

Matthew 6:9-15

How do you pray, and after what manner do you model your prayers? Growing up in the 80’s, my siblings and I would often recite Psalm 23, Psalm 103, and the obvious Matthew 6:9-13. On most Saturdays, our mother would have Bible study with us, and teach us things from the Word of God. The more we would quote the Scriptures, the more they were cemented in our minds. This was an awesome thing she did, because it helped us to understand the Word at an early age, and taught us how to pray, and what to pray for.

Prayer is simply conversing with God, and although He may not respond in the conventional manner, His replies are usually manifested in some shape or form. God is a Spirit, and responds when we come to Him in spirit, and in truth, so approaching Him in the flesh, or with carnal motivations, is not the wise choice.

Jesus taught His disciples to first acknowledge God, for who He is, even before making a request. This is important to help us understand proper prayer posture, as well as how to keep God as the focal point of our petitions. Oftentimes, we come to God in our feelings, rambling things out of hurt, shame, or worry, causing us to pray amiss, but thankfully the Holy Spirit takes over when we struggle communicating with God, and cleans up our mumbo jumbo, so that He can have a more clear understanding of what we really mean.

In the same way healthy communication is vital in natural relationships, it’s even more important in our relationship with the Father. God is all, knows all, and sees all, so refusing to acknowledge His guidance and wisdom seems senseless. So, why don’t we pray more, and worry less? Could it be, we trust more in our own wisdom, or the wisdom of men, over the God who created EVERYTHING?! God desires that we come to Him, and seek first His instruction in all things. When we learn the value of prayer, we won’t use it only when things are going bad, but we’ll find great delight in simply enjoying moments of boasting in the God, who made all things.

Take more time out of your busy days and pray to God, and rather than blurt out selfish requests, brag on the goodness of our Father, and how He has blessed your life immensely already. God knows what we have need of, even before we ask. He also knows our thoughts, before we think them. How amazing is that?! So, as you continue to mature in godliness, be sure that prayer is always in your heart, and not only used as a last resort, because like a good parent, God would love to hear from His children, and shower them with all His blessings.

Walk in love,

Ell