The Right Investment

Deuteronomy 30:1-6

Living, is more than breathing, walking, talking, producing, reproducing, working, exercising, fishing, or all the things we consider enjoying life. In the eyes of God, living begins when a man’s heart has been circumcised, so that he can love the Lord with his whole heart, and soul. Many today, involve themselves in various activities, that constitute living, according to society, but only in God, does a man’s life truly begin to have purpose.

The desires of a carnal man are to live their “best life” now on this earth, but they fail to invest in the life that truly matters. There are religious leaders who support this erroneous theology, and encourage their members to aim to live their best lives now also. This life offers nothing but pain, shame, and, suffering, so making investments in a corrupt society, is like investing in bad stocks; you’ll never yield positive returns. God desires that His people stay connected to Him, because He knows that the corruption in this life has a time limit, and He expects us to remain strong, while not confirming to the world. Unfortunately, many have conformed, therefore God allows things to happen in the earth, to shake them back into His reality.

If the body of Christ was focused more on God’s agenda, rather than storing treasures on the earth, I’m apt to believe, the lost would be more convinced God is real, by witnessing their peculiar lifestyles. But, when we suffer, we cry, moan, and complain more than the world. When bad things happen, we speak doubt, and not faith. The light of the church has grown dim, thus fulfilling the end time prophecy, when God will intervene to pour out His Spirit on all men. “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:” (Acts 2:17 KJV).

Despite those who fail to represent holiness the right way, God will reveal His power to this world, then all will be totally convinced, He is, everything the Bible says He is.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Power In Prophecy

Isaiah 61:8-11, 62:2-4

Of all the spiritual gifts God bestowed upon His chosen, the apostle Paul advised the church at Corinth to desire the gift of prophecy. Paul felt strongly about his preference, because “greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.” (1 Corinthians 14:5). Spiritual gifts that actually benefit the whole body of believers, offer greater blessings than those that bless individuals persons, so it’s wise that we covet those gifts that will edify more people, than just ourselves.

The gift of prophecy was exercised throughout Scripture; more notably through the books of the prophets. Isaiah was considered one of the major prophets, but not because he was greater than the others. His book comprises a great amount of text, and prophecy, than what the minor prophets have recorded. Isaiah’s prophetic words offer great hope, especially for those who have suffered, or are suffering for the sake of the Gospel.

Whether we choose to believe it, or not, Christ will return, and all who remain true to their calling, will be rewarded. We learn in our text, there will be an “acceptable year of the Lord”, where God will have vengeance on those who persecuted His children. Such prophecies help us endure hard times, and keep us encouraged, while striving to serve God daily.

Allow God’s prophetic Word to inspire, motivate, and push you to work diligently in the earth. Watch, pray, love, and exercise all the gifts you operate in, to the glory of the almighty God.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

The Redeemed

Isaiah 62:5-12

Upholding righteous standards, while living in a sinful world, isn’t always easy to accomplish, because the children of God face daily struggles and temptations, that are set to distract them from walking the path of righteousness. Fortunately, God has allowed His Spirit to dwell in His children, to provide comfort in uncomfortable situations, wisdom beyond human intellect, and remembrance of the teachings of Christ’s doctrine. God has also set men in place (although many have fallen away from the faith), to build up, encourage, edify, and strengthen the faith of all who are in Christ Jesus.

While the world continues on its downward spiral toward destruction, Christ’s disciples are to keep unity amongst themselves. As the redeemed of the Lord, Christians have a responsibility to express their affinity to God, through their living. When all members of Christ’s body are unified in their approach to soul winning, God empowers them to cause significant change, wherever they go. Times truly have changed since the days of the early disciples, but the power of God remains potent, and can still prove effective, if we make wise use of it.

We have been mandated to occupy, or work until Christ returns, so Christians should always be seen doing something for God’s kingdom. In John 9:4, Christ said, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” The works we do are not to benefit ourselves only, but to help others see the goodness of the Lord. Many are occupying their time, concerning themselves with frivolous worldly matters, when they should be more focused on where they’ll spend eternity.

The church must do a better job keeping themselves holy in the sight of God, so that their witnessing to others will have the right impact, and can yield positive results. “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy” (Psalm 107:2).

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

You Are Special

Isaiah 61:1-7

I often reference one of my favorite quotes which says, “The end of a matter, with God, is always good, and if it’s not good, then it’s not the end of the matter.” These words encourage, and inspire me to continue fighting the “good fight of faith”, despite what I see going on around me. Bad things happen to good people, and suffering comes as a package deal with salvation, but God will one day wipe every tear from our eyes, and reward His people for their dedicated service.

The prophet Isaiah recorded, Christ will soon comfort all who mourn, and give to them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, and establish God’s people as trees of righteousness. A tree, firmly rooted in good ground, is not easily moved, and brings forth good fruit. In the same sense, the body of Christ will be planted of the Lord, so that He might be glorified, through their good works.

Suffering is an occasional topic in my daily writings, because many are experiencing hard times, so I try to offer words of encouragement, to keep readers strong, and striving toward God’s expected end. While the world may despise, and call you names other than a child of God, when all this is over, the Father will call you His own, and tell you, “well done “.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Save Me!!!

Isaiah 49:1-7

If you were swimming in the ocean, and was caught off guard by an undertow current, would you ignore the help of an experienced lifeguard, swimming to your rescue? If you were severely injured in an automobile accident, and was unable to move, would you tell the ambulance and rescue team, you’ll figure things out on your own? When we’re in trouble, we rarely turn down the opportunity to receive assistance, especially if it’s rendered free of charge. Men and women are in position, in various areas of life, to aid and assist those, who require help. Whether a person was involved in a car accident, work injury, burglarized, or whatever the case, there are always people at the ready, to meet their need.

The world was once drowning in sin, and needed a savior, so God prepared for Himself, a body, by which to come to the earth, and redeem man back to Himself. For various ungodly reasons, many have refused to accept God’s help, and chose to figure things out on their own. These people fail to realize the gravity of the situation they’re in, and can ill afford to die in their sin, yet God offers limited time for them to reach out, and take hold of His hand.

Refusing to accept God’s free gift of salvation, is equivalent to the person rejecting the lifeguard’s help, while being pulled underwater, by an undertow current. Sin is real, and the devil cares nothing for men’s souls. For this reason, he attacks the children of God relentlessly, and won’t stop until his judgment is executed. Snap out of your world of selfishness and pride, and reach out to grab hold of God’s saving hand. Don’t allow the waves of sin to pull you under, into an eternity of sorrow.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Be Wise In God’s Eyes

1 Kings 3:16-28

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:7 KJV). Knowing how to rightly judge in all situations, takes more than book knowledge to accomplish. Those who have aspirations to become lawyers, or judges, are required to undergo years of extensive schooling, in order to be certified to operate in the field of law. Even with countless hours of training and experience, there will always be situations too complicated, from which to discern the truth.

With the wisdom of God, man has the ability to understand, and carefully uncover truths, not easily revealed. Our lesson gives a perfect example of how wisdom can bring truth from a confusing situation. When commanded to ask anything he desired from God, Solomon said, “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad:” (vs. 9). Solomon knew he would need more than money and his father’s good name, to lead the people of God into glory, so asking for wisdom was the wisest decision he made in his entire life.

Before you begin a task, or are confronted with a challenging issue, do you deal with it head on, and wind up regretting your actions in the end, or do you ask God for wisdom, to make the decisions that would please Him? Never make the mistake of trusting your own wisdom, or the wisdom of men, over the wisdom that comes from above. The all-knowing Father, can guide you safely through all the difficult situations you’ll encounter in life, without causing harm to yourself, or innocent bystanders in the process.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Strive Until The End

Esther 10:1-3

“Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?” (Galatians 5:7 KJV). There are many who start out serving God with all their heart, whose lives exemplify the example Jesus left for the church to follow, after He left the scene. These men and women put God’s best interests at heart, and strive to love their neighbors, while doing all they can, to help those in need. They shun the spotlight, and take advantage of opportunities to bless others, without being seen. Rather than make a name for themselves, these bold believers choose to boast in the Lord, and His goodness. Although these individuals seem to be unhindered in their purpose, they are still susceptible to falling short of God’s glory. The devil tries hard to knock the children of God off track, by influencing them to cling to carnal things. If the believer entertains carnal thoughts long enough, they’ll inevitably give in to the enemy’s temptation.

Many have run well for God, and fought hard to keep His name holy, but after being elevated, and getting their heads puffed up, they gave in to the temptation that was so desperately awaiting to pull them down. Men who once preached “holiness is right” from the pulpit, have allowed their stardom to alter their message, only to please itching ears. Others have been hindered by the mighty dollar, and sought to make profit from the church, rather than speak as a prophet, to benefit the people.

It matters not how you start, but how you uphold what you begin. This was proven true in the life of Mordecai. From the beginning, Mordecai sought only to protect the people of God, while serving as an example of righteousness before them. When faced with adversity, the man of God never wavered, nor altered his stance on what was right in the eyes of God. Even when his faithfulness and trust in God, allowed him to be elevated to a high degree throughout the land, he still held true to his initial motive, to keep the people of God safe, to ensure provision for them, and to continue speaking peace to all his seed.

No matter where you are in life, strive to maintain your initial stance in godliness. Whether God allows you to abound, or be abased, don’t change your belief in Him, nor in His power to overcome all evil. If you resist the devil, he will flee from you, but if you don’t keep God’s Spirit in you, the enemy will return with backup, to try and take you down. Run well until the end, and avoid all obstacles thrown in your way.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Reverence God, Love Thy Neighbor, Bless The Poor

Esther 9:18-23, 29-32

Remembering, and celebrating the good things God does for us, is actually promoted by Biblical text. The modern church holds gatherings, showing appreciation for leaders, and …(I can’t think of much more than that lol). Seldom do churches celebrate each other, as it was in Scripture, because men and women who lead, are viewed as gods. But, our God is pleased when we gather to honor Him, for giving us victory in all our circumstances, as well as when we bless other believers (and there poor), from the same platform. Celebrations should never be self-centered, nor focused on one individual, no matter the title he bears.

The people of God in ancient times, always acknowledged God, as their focus of gathering, on all occasions. The fact that man can do nothing on his own strength to combat evil, is reason enough to reverence God, who has all power and authority over the enemy. The body of Christ should focus more on appreciating each other, in edification and encouragement. Not one member is more important than the other, and once we come to this understanding, we’ll be better prepared to care for the lost and needy. Think back over your life, and give God praise for all the victories He won, on your behalf.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

God Protects His Own

Esther 8:3-8, 16-17

Throughout history, all who made attempts to thwart the progress of God’s people, were eventually convinced to stand down, by way of force, or even death. When Pharoah refused to release the children of Israel from Egypt, he and his people suffered plagues, the likes of which caused many to lose faith in their false gods, and respect the power of the true, and living God. When the mighty Goliath breathed threatenings against God’s people, the Lord used young David, to prove to him, and the Philistines, where the source of true power came from. Time after time, God’s people were confronted by men, whose sole purpose was to stop the spread of His kingdom in the earth, but despite their unyielding efforts, God worked mightily through His people, to keep His plan in motion.

Our text this week, was centered on the story of Esther, and Mordecai, and How God protected, and provided for them, in the midst of an evil plot to destroy all the Jews within the king’s provinces. The same evil spirit that controlled the minds and thoughts of men like Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, and Pol Pot, once ruled in the heart of Haman. Such a spirit promotes pride, arrogance, haughtiness, jealousy, strife, wrath, lack of reasoning, lack of understanding, and lack of love. Men who portray these attributes may cause certain levels of shame and destruction to the lives of innocents, but God will always have the last word in such cases.

Through prayer and fasting, God turned Haman’s plot against him. The same gallows he built to hang Mordecai, was ironically used to hang himself. In addition, the Jews were permitted to destroy all those who hated the them (including Haman’s ten sons), so that God’s people could be free from any more threats of destruction. Without hesitation, the king reversed Haman’s wicked decree, and allowed Mordecai to write whatever law he desired, that was in favor of his people. That’s amazing! This was equivalent to being granted a blank check from a billionair!

God has a way of doing things, and while we may not always understand His plans at first, it’s comforting to know, He will expose our enemies, provide protection through the process, and give us more blessings and resources than we had, in the end.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Rotten Apples

Esther 5:9-14

Have you heard the phrase, “one bad apple spoils the barrel”? This quote simply implies, if you hang around trash long enough, you’ll eventually wear the stench of it. Typically, the people you spend time with, are more than likely influencing your behavior, whether negatively, or in a positive way. In the case of the bad apple, there could be fifty, to a hundred pristine and healthy apples in a barrel, but one could be internally infested with worms and germs, that could eventually transfer to the good apples. Unless they are separated with haste, all the good apples could become rotten in a matter of moments.

Corruption has a tendency to spread, and cares not for who or what it infects, because the root of all corruption is sin. In our text, Haman continued his plight, to terminate Mordecai, and all the Jews. This man was full of corruption, and found pleasure only in material possessions, and the praise and glory of men. A prideful heart, is incapable of harboring feelings of compassion, sympathy, and empathy, thus causing one to ignore the values required to love thy neighbor as thyself.

Haman was so wicked, until his evil influence infiltrated the hearts of those in his home as well. The wife and friends of Haman advised that he build a gallows, from which Mordecai would be hung. This idea pleased the unjust man, and further blinded him from the path of self destruction ahead.

When men plot evil against the children of God, we ought not avenge ourselves, because we can only see so far in the spirit, whereas God can see the whole picture. “For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people” (Hebrews 10:30). Mind your company, and remove yourself from those who are contaminated with corruption.

Walk in love,

Ell