Love/Hate Relationship

Proverbs 8:32-36

When a man truly loves God, he’ll learn to hate those things offered by the world. This present world is anti-God, and seeks only to promote sinful living, over the righteous living God promotes. The Lord gives wisdom to those who desire to obtain, and understand His life-saving knowledge, and directs their thinking (with His Spirit) to cater to desires that are pleasing to Himself. When we realize the true value of the Word of God, we’ll begin to lose interest in the many distractions and temptations that are set daily before us, by satan and his ungodly servants.

As a Christian grows in their relationship with their heavenly Father, their desire to want to please Him will greatly increase, in the same way a child does their best to please their natural father. It does the heart of a father good, to see their child excelling in academics, sports, music, or even exhibiting consistent good behavior. God smiles on His people when they willingly obey His Word, and seek only to mature, and get better at learning His ways.

When we love the wisdom of God, we’ll hate walking after man’s foolishness. When we love the grace of God, we’ll hate missing a moment to thank Him for giving us blessings we don’t deserve. When we love God’s everlasting mercy, we’ll acknowledge daily that He alone is worthy of our praise. When we love God’s presence, we’ll hate when the enemy tries to distract us with unhealthy music, TV, or other media that disturbs our moments with the Father. When we love God’s justice, we’ll hate witnessing social injustice, racism, and police brutality. When we love the truth of God’s unadulterated Word, we’ll hate when men lie, and use deception to take advantage of innocent people, especially those who do it from the pulpit. When we love the salvation that brings everlasting life from God, we’ll hate the fact that in these last days, men will be willingly ignorant of this truth, and set themselves on the path to eternal damnation.

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

Ell

Disguised Deception

2 John 4-11

From reading this text many times, and from different perspectives, I found it interesting how the apostles would speak to unique congregations, on different occasions. Oftentimes, the crowds which gathered under the apostles, consisted of only men, and the messages delivered were centered on certain duties that pertain to fathers, and their roles as men in the body of Christ, as well as in their homes. This lesson’s text specifically identifies John’s audience as “the elect lady and her children”. Whoever this elect lady was, she was relevant enough for the apostle John to hold an audience with, to warn her and her children about false teachers.

Men who are under the authority of satan, typically plot to infiltrate the minds of woman, because they are considered the “weaker vessel”, and if convinced, they can spoil the minds of their husbands and children as well. In the garden of eden, the serpent knew this truth, and took advantage of his opportunity to beguile the woman, who in turn convinced the man to disobey God. Women aren’t inherently dumb or naive, but when under pressure or confused, they have a tendency to making emotional decisions. John knew full well the susceptibility of the woman, so he gave warning to the elect lady, and taught her how to recognize a deceiver, and their wicked presentations.

John was filled with joy upon hearing that the children of the elect lady were all walking in the truth of God’s commandments. For those who have children, imagine how you would feel, if all your kids were living a committed life to God. I’m certain your days would be filled with love, joy, peace, and laughter. Well, John’s gladness provoked him to deliver a message of warning, so that the elect lady could be fully equipped to guard her children against those who would attempt to steer them away from holiness.

It is mentioned in the text, that “many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh”. Satan is known for mixing a wee little lie, with a lot of truth, but that small bit of deception is powerful enough to turn men away from the truth. Those who know God, and abide in the doctrine of Christ, are easily recognizable by the fruit they bear. But, those who are of the devil, will reveal themselves by their tainted doctrine, and unholy lifestyles. John told the elect lady to turn away from men who dilute the Word of God, with their deceptive words, and refrain from bidding them God speed, or engaging in greetings with them, because doing so would deem her a partaker of their evil deeds also.

As you continue to live for God, allow your excitement for knowing Him keep you focused, and committed to doing His will, but don’t forget to guard yourself, and your children, from deceivers who are littered all over the world, and seek only to pull you away from your heavenly Father.

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

Ell

Keep God’s commandments

Proverbs 3:1-10

This lesson will be a short reminder to all those who claim to be born-again sons and daughters of God, that keeping His commandments always yield amazing benefits. Although heaven and earth are soon to pass away, disciples of Christ are yet mandated to live by a godly, and holy standard. Serving God, at times, seems tedious, and can cause the minds of even the most faithful to question whether or not He sees all the troubling experiences they encounter, but the Lord never slumbers, nor sleeps, and pays close attention to every detail of everything we face. God commanded His people to do things a certain way for a reason. For example, to obtain peace and long life, one must only remember God’s laws, and keep His commandments. While that may be a simple command to obey in order to reap such great blessings, attempting to follow God’s words are usually met by inevitable confrontation. Satan has a hard time ignoring those who seek to please God, because he was deemed, “the author of confusion”, and directs all his focus on knocking them off track. For this very reason, the text reminds us in verses five and six to, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledged Him, and He shall direct thy paths”. When we consult God’s advice on all the situations we face in life, it will greatly reduce the possibility for satan to influence us to sin. God’s power never fails, and if we commit all our trust to Him, then He’ll make sure our choices and decisions are stamped with His approval.

From morning, to afternoon, and in the evening, God should be at the forefront of our minds and hearts. His way is right, and those walking along the path He directs exhibit consistent righteous behavior. Make sure you have a full understanding of what God expects of you, after claiming to be His own, because many wear the title “Christian”, but live contrary to what it stands for.

Walk in love,

Ell

Living humbly

Matthew 23:1-12

Trying to live under corrupt leadership can at times be a difficult thing to do. Most people know to be good by default, but when they see those in authority living the alternative of what they preach, it makes them hesitate to trust in their words. Jesus commanded the people in our text to obey the words of God, even if they’re delivered from the mouths of hypocrites, because although the leaders refuse to live by them, God’s word remains true. Jesus continued to teach, and point out the signs of hypocrites. The following is a list of those characteristics: hypocrites demand respect as teachers, demand service, but don’t render it, teach, but don’t practice it, seek praise of men, flaunt and puff up their religion, desire only the best sets in social gatherings and church, glory in personal attention and titles, rob men of the truth and life, while rejecting that same truth and life, take advantage of innocent widows, give looooooong prayers just to impress, strive to win men to their sect, rather than to God, try hard to convince men that their hypocrisy is truth, but not God’s word, glory in bodily cleanliness, but live in moral filth, and pretend to be religious by exhibiting outward religious acts, while ignoring inward holiness in life and conduct. It’s a dangerous thing to purposely steer men away from the truth of God’s Word, because there’s a special judgment awaiting them in the end, which includes the second death. Christians are to live holy, while denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. We should also live soberly, righteously, and godly, so that when Christ returns, we’ll be found without a spot or wrinkle, and appear before our Savior holy and without a blemish. Learn God’s truth for yourself, to avoid being deceived by men’s lies and evil manipulations, and to be found humble in the sight of God, and men.

Walk in love,

Ell

Jesus seals the New Covenant

Mark 15:6-15, 25-26, 33-39

Are you easily influenced by the opinions of others? Do you tend to trust the word of those around you concerning issues, without discovering the facts for yourself. There are people all over the globe who are easily beguiled into following the beliefs of others, over choosing to learn the truth about a man for themselves. Even today, the masses who watch the news are swayed to judge a man based on how they are portrayed by the media, without knowing the truth behind the scenes. The Bible teaches that we are not to judge anyone, because our own lives are under the microscope daily, and we must ensure that we live up to godly standards in order to receive the reward promised in the end.

It’s always a dangerous thing to follow the crowd, especially during moments when you know little about a situation. An example of such idiocracy took place as Jesus was being judged by Pilate, before a crowd of senseless people. No matter the accusations presented against Jesus, Pontius Pilate could find absolutely no evidence that supported those false claims. Rather than develop their own opinions of Jesus, the crowd trusted more in the words of the wicked chief priests. Even when the option to release a prisoner was suggested to the people, they chose to release a known murderer, rather than a man who wasn’t proven as committing any crimes. The evil of men can be so convincing, until it can blind the eyes of almost anyone. This type of influence originated in heaven, when Lucifer managed to convince a portion of the angels to follow his leading of prideful ambition. When you’re not rooted in God, you become an easy target for satan to influence, no matter how strong you believe your own will to be. No man who ever lived has been able to subdue evil on their own strength. It takes the power of God to even stand a chance against the wiles of the devil.

After continuing to stir up the people vehemently, the chief priest finally got what they fought for, as Pilate released Barabbas, then sentenced Jesus to be crucified. During all their wrong-doing, and malicious intentions, the people were in no way sending Jesus to His doom, rather they paved the way so that He could seal the deal of the New Covenant of grace. Had Jesus not lived a sinless life and died, we would all be condemned to face the judgment of sin. Had Christ decided to pass the cup to someone else, the world would be doomed and destined to eternal damnation. Living in order to die for a sinful and heartless people couldn’t have been an easy thing to do, but Jesus looked pass the faults of men, and saw the needs they couldn’t see for themselves.

Walk in love,

Ell

Life in Christ Jesus

Colossians 2:1-10

Life in Christ Jesus is confusing to those who don’t understand the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge embodied into His very being, yet is the most wonderful experience to those knit together by His love, grace, and mercy. I often write concerning the suffering we must face as believers, but it’s because persecution is inevitable for saints, as satan tries hard to sever the threads that join us together with Christ.

Paul wished that he could reveal to the Colossian church how much he suffered, so that he could continue to bring forth the Gospel to them, and other nations. His suffering was not intended to cause them to faint, rather that their hearts might be comforted by his persistence in the faith. Doesn’t it make you feel good to know that someone you never met before fights so that you can have a better life? Paul was the light to the Gentiles, and his consistent efforts in spreading the Gospel exposed those who made attempts to beguile new converts with enticing words, philosophy, and vain deceit after the traditions of men, and the rudiments of the world. Many were in danger of being deceived by subtle reasoning, in which conclusions drawn from evidences assumed may have seemed conclusive in themselves, but were false and contrary to the Word of God. Even today, believers are drawn away from God’s Word because of men’s use of manipulation and deceptive play on words. Only when we are rooted in Christ, and our faith built strong in Him, can we be prepared to stand against wicked devices and evil plots men set forth to hinder the believer.

Life in Christ Jesus is what makes living purposeful, so “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isaiah 55:6-11).

Walk in love,

Ell

Live by the Truth

1 John 2:20-27

Since the beginning of creation, until now, there have always been those who’ve created doctrines and beliefs that totally contrast the Biblical account. Some include the Five-Percent Nation, sometimes referred to as NGE or NOGE, the Nation of Gods and Earths, or the Five Percenters, Freemasons, Black Hebrew Israelites, and Gnosticism. The Bible warns us continually about avoiding false prophets, and those who seek to deceive our minds with lies, because the groups I mentioned have been ordered to confuse, deceive, and plant lies in the minds of people, causing them to turn away from the truth of God’s Word. Those who are in Christ know that all things necessary to the Christian life in general, comes by way of the Holy Ghost. There’s no need to seek so-called superior knowledge of others, because that only leads to confusion and deception.

Gnosticism was a second-century heresy claiming that salvation could be gained through secret knowledge. Gnostics also believed that the created, material world (matter) is evil, and therefore in opposition to the world of the spirit, and that only the spirit is good. Christianity teaches that salvation is available to everyone, not just a special few, and that it comes from grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9), and not from study or works.

John tells us, in this text, that all liars are those who deny that Jesus is the Christ. He goes on to include that the antichrist also denies the Father and Son. There are so many lies and false beliefs that are intended to confuse the people of God, and those seeking salvation, but we know that all truth is in the Word of God, and that the Word alone is powerful enough to disprove all the lies and heresies against it. The key to not being deceived and caught up in these manipulative persuasions, is to ground yourself in the Word of God. The more you know about God and His Word, the better prepared you’ll be to cast down all things contrary to His teachings. Ezekiel said, “And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord God” (13:9). Jeremiah also weighs in, as he writes, “Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord” (23:16). The apostle Paul sums it all up, as he states, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

As we approach the end of times, the enemy will push hard to influence the world with his wicked agenda. Believers must stand strong, and be ready to hold their ground when false teaches, and those who believe unholy doctrines attempt to pull them away from the Truth. The anointing that abides in us, teaches us all things that are true, and where no lies reside. The world is full of people waiting to deceive us, but we must be prepared to guard against them, and we may be able to convince them to turn their hearts to the Lord. The power of our influence can actually win those who have been deceived by the enemy, because greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world.

Seek peace,

Ell

Jacob receives Isaac’s blessing through deceit

Genesis 27:5-10, 18-19, 21-29

Blessings are benefits from God that bring instant natural increase to a person’s life, while softening the grounds for God’s spiritual kingdom to be advanced. Throughout the Scriptures, God blessed His people, and they prospered both in natural things (i.e. healing, food, protection, wealth), as well as spiritually (wisdom, understanding, faith, power). God’s intentions for bestowing blessings are never selfish, nor to cause anyone else to feel isolated. In fact, when God grants favor to a man, many of those connected to him are blessed as well. For example, the story of the lame man who was brought to Jesus on a bed by his four friends, ended with him being healed, and his friends being relieved from the physical toil of carrying the lame man around. Sometimes, blessings are as simple as relief from lifting up those who can hardly carry themselves.

God blesses so that His message can be spread all over the world. God heals so that the manifestation can be a testimony that builds the faith of the recipient, and those who may struggle with a similar ailment. Receiving the blessings of God naturally, usually come after a trial of waiting, just as the woman with the issue of blood, when we pray and seek God for answers to life’s issues, or when God just feels like blessing us. Remember, the Lord does whatever pleases Him, so if he wants to bless, He’ll bless. Christ healed the woman at the right moment, in the midst of many, so that she could see that no one is too far for the Lord to reach.

But what happens when blessings are obtained through acts of deceit? People who have wrong motives towards advancing in life, usually face days of unnecessary struggles that God didn’t plan for their lives, simply because they desired blessings through selfish gain. Jacob was experienced in this area, as he deliberately went against God’s order of things, and deceived his father for the blessing ordained for his brother. Deception is one of the characteristics found in the Garden of Eden, that satan exhibited while deceiving Adam and Eve. Even today, many are led astray, and turn from God, because of the power deception can have over us. Jacob’s pride, arrogance, and lack of respect for God had to be the driving force to push him to listen more to his mother’s plan of deceit, rather than God’s plan of faith, love and prosperity.

Do you seek to prosper in life by manipulating others? What good can come from making someone else look bad, just so you can look good? Believers are to already have the love of God dwelling on the inside of their souls, so that any sign of trickery or deceit, should be cast out of their minds before it has time to fester and become a reality. Have faith in God to order the steps of your life. When anyone, including your family tries to lead you on a quick path to success, while violating God’s order of things, turn away, and trust His leading over theirs. Following God’s path may not always be popular, but it always leads to spiritual growth, salvation, and good success.

Seek peace,

Ell

Speak Truthfully Always

Ephesians 4:25-30

According to Scripture, one of the wisest men to walk the face of the earth was king Solomon. In chapter 18 of his book, he wrote, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” The tongue has the power to either bring things to life, or cause them to become permanently ineffective. Knowing this, shouldn’t we be extra careful of the words that proceed from our lips? Everything we say will have a positive or negative effect on our lives, and those connected to us. So it’s important to monitor our words, and choose carefully what we speak into the atmosphere. Every word a Christian speaks should always be truth. This is imperative because God’s word is truth, so our conversations should be in line with His word.

Paul told the Ephesians to put away lying and speak truth to one another, because during those days there were false teachers who taught that it was better to tell lies in instances when it would prove more profitable than simply telling the truth. They believed that if a lie would create a less harmful situation than telling the truth, then it’s best to withhold the truth. Whenever we sin, or fall short of God’s glory, we create an opportunity for the devil to come into our space, and plant seeds of wickedness that could potentially pull us away from God. Paul urged the church to be honest, and only speak words that will help build up others, as opposed to bringing them down. Words that edify deliver grace to those who hear them. How beautiful this world would be, if all the Saints spoke truth to their neighbors. It’s surprising to hear the words that come from the mouths of those who say they love God these days. I’ve even heard some “Christians” cursing more than sailors, in church! This is a shame on all levels.

We misrepresent God every time we speak a lie, or use words that harm others. Think of all the words you spoke today. How many brought edification to someone’s life, and how many times did your words create an atmosphere for satan to impart his influence in your mind? Even in moments when we’re provoked to anger, we must control our words. Hurt people, hurt people, so guard yourself against yourself in times when you’re angry and upset. The best way to help bring your anger to a simmer, is to think back on all the great things God has already done for you. There are times when reminiscing can bring positive change, and get you out of the funk you’re in. But no matter what state you’re in, your words mean much. Do your best to be a good representation of a true Christian and let your words be true, pure, holy, honest, and just.

Seek peace,

Ell