Inseparable

Romans 8:31-39

31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

32 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?

33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.

34 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.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Is there anything in your life, that is causing separation between you and God the Father? If so, what is it? Could it possibly be money, pride, suffering, or even fame that’s keeping you from walking in unity with God? Take a moment to examine your life, as we near the end of 2021. If there is anything, or anyone holding you back from giving your all to God, remove it, or them from your life, ASAP! Don’t take anything from this year into the next, that has been unprofitable, unfavorable, and unholy. Start your new year in right standing with the Father, and allow your love for Him to grow stronger, daily.

Scattered Minds

1 Peter 3:8-19

The men and women who make up the body of Christ in these last days, aren’t all on the same page. We are living in a time, when many false doctrines have infiltrated congregations around the globe, causing some to hold fast to the traditions of men, rather than the commandments of God the Father. The apostle Peter teaches in our text, we are all to be of one mind, as we fulfill God’s purpose in our lives. Unity is essential in keeping the body of Christ together, and allowing each member to effectively use their gifts for edification, but where division is present, confusion has the ability to keep many from being their best for God. Not only are the members of Christ’s body commanded to be of one mind, but being meet for the Master’s use also demands that we walk in humility, show compassion toward others, and be willing to extend encouragement to all who need it. When a person’s foundation is built on godly principles and standards, they’ll easily render good for evil, or blessing for persecution. The church today loses its influence on the lost, the more they give in to false doctrine, which causes division. But, when the Lord is once again sanctified in the hearts of men, only then can they truly submit themselves to the truth of God’s word, and easily recognize anything that is contrary to what the Father commanded them to do.

Googoo Gaga!

1 Corinthians 3:1-11

The more I study and meditate on the Word of God, the more obvious it becomes to see how many churches today are mirror images of the early churches in Scripture. For example, the church at Corinth, would typically find themselves falling into sin, by way of being controlled by their carnal desires. For this reason, the apostle Paul had labeled the Corinthians “babes in Christ”. This fact was proven by their spiritual immaturity and childlike quarrels, through envying, strife, and divisions.

The Corinthian church had split into two halves; one side claimed to be of Paul, and the other of Apollos. Making claims of being rooted from a man is carnality, and the apostle Paul took great displeasure in the church for doing so. The only solid foundation men are to build upon and grow from is, the Son of God. Verse 11 of chapter 3 reads, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Jesus is the true foundation of the church, and all those who believe. The apostle Paul, like all ministers are commanded to do, laid the foundation with Word of God, and Apollos continued in the Word, to help the church grow and mature.

The work of God’s ministry involves many different people, with diverse gifts and abilities, but it’s vital to acknowledge, there are no superstars in God’s kingdom, only team players. While we are to give honor to those who are deserving of it, we are not to place any man above the Son of God, because all praise belongs to God, not a man.

Many churches today suffer from the “babes in Christ” syndrome, but if the people replace their carnal desires with those of the Father, only then can the focus of the church be shifted back into the right perspective, and the people can begin to grow from babes, to mature sons and daughters of God.

The Big Breakup!

Amos 5:18-24

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another exciting episode of, “The Big Breakup”! Starring, The Disgruntled Wife, and The Unjust Husband! I’m your host, “holyell”, and I’ll be bringing you all the juicy details of tonight’s most fascinating scenes!

Disgruntled Wife: (Screaming) Ahhhhh! I can’t take this anymore.

Unjust Husband: You can’t take what? All you do is whine, moan, and complain. Why can’t you be like your sister, and do what her husband tells her, without giving him lip?

Disgruntled Wife: Are you serious?! You don’t deserve anything good from me anymore. Since we got married, I’ve done EVERYTHING for you…EVERY BLEEP BLEEP THING!!! And, I never complained. You showed me kindness, and acted like you cared in the beginning, but you’ve finally revealed who you really are.

Unjust Husband: You know I care, and will always loooove you. Go look in your closet, and count all the beautiful dresses I just bought for you. Or, look at all the fine jewelry I got you for our ten year anniversary. I take you out to eat at least twice a week, so you don’t have to always cook, and I pay ALL the bills. You live in this big house, with no worries. So, what are you still complaining about?

Disgruntled Wife: SMH… you know what? You’re an interesting character. You say you do all these things because “you loooove me”, but answer these questions for me please. Number one, where do you go after work? Number two, what’s the name of the woman you meet up with? Number three, do you buy me things to keep me distracted? Number four, when you say you love me, is it according to the same love God gives? Number five, why do you seek other women for pleasure, when I give you all you need? Number six, why did you marry me, knowing you wouldn’t remain faithful? Number seven, why…

Unjust Husband: Alright alright alright! I don’t want to hear this.

Disgruntled Wife: It’s the truth. I work, cook, clean, do all these things for you consistently, yet you feel the need to go outside of our union to find pleasure. Am I not enough?

Unjust Husband: ….

Disgruntled Wife: See, you can’t even say nothing. You know what, I’m leaving! I’ve given you way too many chances to change, but you’re comfortable in your unfaithful ways.

Unjust Husband: Yeah right, you ain’t going nowhere. Besides, you are a Christian, you don’t believe in divorce. So, take all that somewhere else.

Disgruntled Wife: Because I love God, you don’t think I can leave your sorry bleep bleep? Listen, did you know, Christ is married to the church, and one day He’ll come to take His bride (the church)? But, if He comes and finds your lamp not lit, you’ll be left behind forever.

Unjust Husband: There you go with all that Bible talk. I don’t care about all those make-believe stories some ancient writers wrote. I’m not afraid of God, nor am I afraid of you. So go sit down somewhere.

Disgruntled Wife: See, that’s where you’re wrong. The same way God can separate Himself from an unjust people, is what I’ll give to you. I love you, and always will, but I must leave you forever.

Unjust Husband: Bla bla bla….bla bla…….oh wait, and BLAAAAA!

Disgruntled Wife: I wash my hands of this, and leave you to your judgment. Goodbye!

This concludes another episode of, “The Big Breakup”! Thanks for tuning in.

This lesson was intended to portray the message in our text. There are some who were in God’s hands of protection, but willingly left it for worldly pleasures. They held traditional feasts, assemblies, gave burnt offerings, and sang songs, but God would not accept any of their sacrifices, while sin ruled their hearts. God provided all their needs, but they constantly went after other things. Knowing they’d never return to the Father, judgment was set for all who permanently sided with evil, rather than cling to the light of God’s goodness. Woe unto everyone, who refuses God’s free gift of salvation!

Walk in love,

Ell

The Lord’s call and family conflict

Matthew 10:34-39

One of the biggest challenges new believers face is, maintaining their new found love for God, while learning to adjust in the same environments they once operated in before they met Christ. There are many who find difficulty in trying to balance holy living, while still dealing with their troubled past. Wives who commit their lives to Christ, but are joined with unsaved husbands, tend to struggle loving them, as the men consistently reject what God is doing in their wives. Children who dedicate their hearts to God at early ages struggle with obeying unsaved and unruly parents. When we accept the call of God on our lives, there’s no doubt we’ll run into issues during our encounters with our unsaved loved ones, but no matter who rejects our commitment to serving God, we must stand firm on what we believe.

Christ told His disciples He came not to bring peace, but a sword. “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.” (Hebrews 4:12). Because men love and embrace darkness, they’ll never accept, nor appreciate the light of God that shines through our lives, until they realize that the end of darkness is death. Many families are divided, because some have decided to serve God, whereas others choose to abide in sin. No matter how much you love and care for your family members, Jesus said that whoever loves them more than they love Him, aren’t worthy of Him. Well, tell us how you really feel Jesus. Knowing that every man must work out his own salvation with fear and trembling, Jesus wants all our focus on Him, so that we can become all He desires us to be. Rather than compromise our faith by giving in to the pressures of our family, we should strive to live holy, so that those we hold dear can see the hand of God ordering our steps, and hopefully submit to Him as well.

Walk in love,

Ell