Love Your Enemies

Jonah

Has there ever been a time in your life, when you hoped (and even prayed) for God to allow someone to remain in wickedness, and never come to their rescue? It would have pleased you so much, to see the person you despised, die in the midst of their unhealthy lifestyle, and you wouldn’t have lost a second of sleep after. If God told you to go to that person, and tell them He would soon deliver them from their struggle, clean them up, and set them on a better path in life, would you hesitate to deliver His message? Despite the history you may have had with someone who probably rubbed you the wrong way, when God sends you, you must go, or negative and even life-threatening consequences could follow. This was the case with the prophet Jonah, in our text.

Jonah was receptive to God the Father, and could hear clearly when He brought words to him, but, when God gave a word to him that would help those he so dreadfully loathed, the once reliable prophet chose rather to hide himself from the presence of the Lord (as if he could), and set sail in the opposite direction. The story of Jonah is an interesting one, as it reveals how the heart of a man can change quickly, especially after a life and death encounter. The same heart that could change from stone to flesh, could also revert back to stone in a moment’s notice. Oh how fickle are the ways of man.

Jonah grew up hating the people of Ninevah, so much to the point he did not want God to show them mercy. While trying to run from God’s assignment, Jonah caused innocent men to lose their valuables, when throwing them overboard, as God allowed a great storm to disturb the sea, while he hid on a ship. Whether we notice it or not, when we resist God, we affect the lives of others, and cause harm to those who had nothing to do with our disobedience. Jonah revealed to the men, he was the cause of the storm, and knew that he must be thrown overboard, so the storm would cease.

Long story short, God prepared a great fish (whale) to swallow Jonah, and allow him a moment of reconsideration. Not only did Jonah change his thoughts while descending into the depths of the sea, some say he literally died, signifying the events of the coming Savior. In any case, Jonah was in no position to bargain with God, so he prayed a prayer of thanksgiving, God caused the whale to vomit him on dry land, then he turned a three day trip to Nineveh, into one day (not sure if he ran, or was on horseback).

So, Jonah finally fulfilled his mission, and did as God commanded him to. After bringing a life-saving word to the people of Ninevah, their reception of the message was taken very seriously. When the king of Ninevah heard the word, he proclaimed for all the people (and animals) to fast, and reverence the God of Heaven, seeking remission of their sins. Once again, when we refuse to obey the Lord, we could potentially cause whole cities to be destroyed. Knowing this, when God speaks to you (whether through the Holy Scriptures, or the spirit of your mind, by His Spirit) take heed, and don’t delay, because hesitation could be detrimental to yourself, and those you were sent to help.

Divine Connection

Acts 8:26-35

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9). God cares for all men, whether they do evil, or good. In fact, one of God’s most amazing and unappreciated characteristics is, His patience. Oftentimes, men take for granted, the time God grants them in the earth, but soon that time will expire.

King Solomon helps us understand, “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” (Prov. 15:3). God wants all men to submit themselves to His will and authority, so they can reap the best benefits of this life, and the next. Unfortunately, the world has become so corrupt to the point men, women, and children alike, are dying at unfathomable rates. Many pass away too soon, before they can even begin to enjoy the benefits that come with living a saved life. God the Father sees all, knows all, and desires that all come to Him, before their time is cut short. For this reason, the Spirit of God works through those who are attuned to His will, and joins them with others who diligently seek the truth of God’s Word. God is good, and His mercy endures forever, so all who have a strong desire to known Him, will indeed discover the depths of His unparalleled love, grace, and mercy.

Our text introduces a certain man; one who was of great authority, and served under queen Candace of the Ethiopians, who had come to Jerusalem to worship. While it may seem strange for an Ethiopian eunuch to seek worship in Jerusalem, tradition tells that king Solomon taught his religion to the queen of Sheba, who established it among her people. So it was only right for the man to travel to give honor to the God of the great king Solomon. As the man sat in his chariot, he struggled to understand the readings of the prophet Isaiah. It’s evident he had a desire for godliness, but couldn’t grasp its concepts. This was the perfect opportunity for God to connect a man seeking the truth, with another who understood and lived the truth.

During this time, persecution of the church had elevated to astounding rates (spearheaded by Saul, who had recently ordered the death of Stephen), yet the apostles and disciples of Christ continued to branch out to spread the Gospel to different lands. While watching the Ethiopian man from Heaven, struggling to understand the Word, God sent an angel to Philip, instructing him to get up, and go to Gaza. Not knowing the reason for the urgent request, Philip arose and did as he was instructed. When he arrived, the Spirit told Philip to join himself to the same chariot which the Ethiopian man sat upon. I’m certain God was smiling, as He observed the willing and obedient servant, approaching the chariot of someone seeking to know and abide by the truth. After Philip literally ran to meet the man, the Bible says, “Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.” (vs. 35).

God knows what we have need of, and He always has someone in place, to assist in whatever way possible. The Ethiopian man may have left his estate with questions, but I’m certain he arrived back home with more than he expected. Trust God to help you find answers to questions you may have concerning His Word, or life in general. When you seek God with all your heart, He’ll always send someone to help you gain a better understanding of those hard things you are unable to grasp.

For The Sake Of The Gospel

1 Thessalonians 2:1-10

For the sake of the Gospel, the apostle Paul endured many things from ungodly men, most of which were unfavorable and unsympathetic. While establishing churches in different cities, the apostle Paul, along with other apostles, were met with challenges purposed only to stop their progress. Of all the sufferings (beatings, imprisonments, shipwrecks, and many more) Paul and his brethren faced, they allowed nothing to hinder them from establishing foundational Gospel teaching in various lands.

Paul knew the importance of spreading the Gospel, and made it his top priority to see it through. Paul admitted himself, that even through the suffering, he and his companions were bold in their God, to speak the Gospel to the church at Thessalonica, despite the great contention against them. When times get rough, average men usually turn tail and gallop away, but real men and women of God stand strong, even in the midst of major conflict.

Standing for the truth isn’t as simple as it sounds, but requires a certain character and behavior, in order to be bold as the apostles were. The apostle Paul was able to stand during times of suffering and intense persecution because, he modeled his life after the life of Christ. Jesus portrayed all characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit in all His encounters, thus allowing Him to always please the Father with his words and actions. In the same sense, Paul and the other apostles were consistent in being honest, pure, faithful to God’s purpose, humble and considerate with others, gentle and kind, and selfless in all their doings. Not only did Paul preach the Word, but he lived his life according to that same Word, on a consistent basis.

When we read the scriptures, we easily become fascinated with the lives of God’s great men and women, but we too can live great lives for the kingdom of God as well. If we love God, keep His commandments, study and meditate on His Word, then live every day rendering selfless acts to our fellow man, our names will someday be listed in the heavenly hall of fame, along with Paul and others also.

A Moment With The King

Matthew 24:3-14

If you could spend a day with Christ, what questions would you ask Him? Would your concerns cater more to events from your past, present, or future? Would you want to know the answers to why certain things happened in your life, that no one could explain, or would you prefer to know how your life would eventually end up? If I could ask Jesus anything, I’d first question His unyielding love for a people, who continually dishonor His name. I would also want to learn the full extent of the love He has for all men. I would then ask Him for advice, on how to remain strong in difficult times, as He once experienced in the Garden of Gethsemane. Being in the presence of Christ, would cause my mind to be filled with a multitude of thoughts, questions, and concerns, but I would probably just enjoy being near Him, until my day in His presence was over.

The disciples of Jesus, were always at liberty to bring to Him, any and all concerns they had. One day, as the Son of God sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him secretly, with a matter they didn’t wish to share with others. The disciples were concerned about the words Jesus had previously spoken in reference to the eventual destruction of Jerusalem. These men also sought clarity on the signs of Jesus’s second coming, as well as the end of the world. These were actually legit concerns that Jesus didn’t hesitate to respond to.

As His disciples, Jesus always made sure to make things clear for them, even when they didn’t fully believe, nor understand His words. Jesus explained, the beginning of sorrows will be made known during the time of great deception; when many shall come in His name, and deceive many saying, “I am Christ”. In addition to great deception, the world will experience wars, rumours of wars, nations rising against one another, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. If the disciples thought those signs were hard pills to swallow, Jesus was just getting started. Not only would the world experience deception and earthly devastation, but the disciples themselves, would face harsh persecution, and even death, for Christ’s name sake. But, in the midst of all this sorrow, they are commanded to continue preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God, to all the world.

I’m not sure whether or not the disciples were motivated to preach while walking down from the mount of Olives that day, but Jesus’ words were nothing but truth, and some have already been manifested to this day. In the year 2020, many have claimed to be messengers of God, while deceiving hundreds and even thousands into believing their wicked doctrines. Also, the earth has experienced all types of famines, earthquakes, viruses and diseases, and all other types of devastation.

We are truly experiencing the prophetic end-times, and like the disciples, we too must strive to spread the Gospel of God, to all nations. Whether we are scheduled to face persecution, affliction, or even death, the duty of all believers is to endure unto the end. Only through perseverance, can the race be won, and all who wait on the Lord, will be saved.

Why does the living man complain?

Ell

This Is He…

Luke 7:24-28

Are you familiar with the phrase, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”? As a kid, I preferred to select books that had cool, colorful, and appealing covers. This was because, I expected the contents of the book to be worth reading, if the cover was enticing enough to catch my attention. Unfortunately, that wasn’t always the case. In essence, this phrase warns of the danger of passing judgment on a person based on their outer appearance, without gaining full knowledge of who they really are.

Take a moment to think back over your life, and consider those whom you prematurely passed judgment on, then found them to be pretty cool characters. One such character in the Bible who was prejudged because of his appearance was, John the Baptist. Unlike men who “preach” or “prophecy”, while choosing to dress in the finest apparel, eat choice meals, and make themselves known for self gratification and status, John chose rather to adorn himself in the most modest of garments (camel’s hair and a leather belt), eat rustic food (locust and wild honey), and preferred to preach and prophesy in the wilderness, rather than from the pulpit. Jesus, Himself was recorded as quoting, “For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist:” (vs. 28a). This comparison of greatness is not absolute, but relative to certain aspects of the parties involved. In other words, there were other prophets who’s ministries were great as well, but Jesus was referring to the simple fact that John’s privilege and position to represent the Messiah made him greater than all the other prophets.

You and I may not have been called to be great prophets or the like, but we were commanded to be great in our duties as representatives of Christ. In this life, men may not recognize you for moral character, holy living, or obedience to God, but rest assured, God has read all the pages from the book of your life, and He knows how great your end will be!

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

Ell

What Are You Preaching?

Ephesians 3:7-13

The purpose of proclaiming the Word of God is, to edify and build the faith of those who are in Christ Jesus. When the believer’s faith is strong enough to understand God’s will for their lives, they can then put their faith to work, by compelling others to come, and become partakers and fellow-heirs of the body of Christ. If faith comes by hearing the Word of God, then all who preach God’s Word, should seek only to strengthen the faith of those who receive their words.

The church was established to continue the representation of God’s holy way, from the time of the disciples, until now. It’s unfortunate how many churches have conformed more to worldly standards, rather than holding fast to the standards set by the early church. The original disciples, along with those who were commissioned to go out and preach the Gospel, were keen on delivering pure, and unadulterated words inspired by God. They were bold, effectual, and most important, they were humble.

Early church leaders suffered greatly for delivering the Gospel message, but the more they were persecuted, the harder they worked to win souls. The same can hardly be said about modern churches, as the preaching of the Gospel message has been altered to satisfy itching ears, instead of building the faith of believers. The apostle Paul set a prime example of how leaders should carry themselves among the body, and of all the things he was accused of in his past, Paul never allowed them to distract him from his purpose. The great apostle went so far as to consider himself “less than the least of all saints” (vs. 8). This was an expression of extreme humility, which kept Paul safe from allowing pride to settle in his heart.

Leaders today should live in such a way, that God gets all the glory from their lives, and they should seek none for themselves. The average preacher you see on TV nowadays, dresses better than movie stars, drives the most expensive vehicles, print their names and faces on all the material they sell, while preaching messages that are 2 percent God, and 98 percent hot garbage. God desires that all men come to repentance, but men who refuse to preach the truth, make it hard for those who are sincere in seeking a better life.

Judgment is coming to the house of God, but it saddens me to witness many being deceived, because of men and their lust for fame and fortune. To those who remain true to God’s Word, be encouraged, and don’t allow anything to keep you from falling short of God’s glory. Continue to preach the Word in season, and out of season. Be bold in your proclamations whether people want to hear it, or not. Always remember, God will hold you accountable for how you influence the minds and hearts of others. So, if your aim is to use the Bible to deceive for selfish gain, rather than edify the body of Christ, then you’re in line to receive very harsh judgment, from God Himself. “And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” (Luke 14:23)

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

Ell

Just An Average Joe

Acts 6:1-7

“But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:” (Philippians 2:7 KJV). Contrary to popular belief, there was nothing fascinating about Jesus physically, that stood out amongst those He encountered. All the pictures and images of the long hair, blue eyed angelic Jesus, are highly exaggerated, and inaccurate. Not only was Jesus visually an “average Joe”, He made certain to keep a low profile, while focusing all His attention on redistributing the Words that came from His Father, to preach and teach to the world.

“For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.” (Isaiah 53:2 KJV). When God prepared Himself a body, He was wise enough to refrain from molding an image like James Dean, Marlon Brando, Cary Grant, Rock Hudson, Denzel Washington, Idris Elba, and Shemar Moore, because people would more than likely gravitate toward them due to their outer appearance, rather than the message they presented. While it’s good to dress modest, and present ourselves decent while doing the Lord’s work, we should be focused more on increasing the reputation of God, rather than promoting our own.

In our text, the twelve disciples were persistent in their efforts to spread the message of the Gospel, and the more they preached, the more the church grew. Unfortunately, they were unable to balance preaching, and maintaining the well-being of the church, so they decided that it was wise to appoint others to handle the domestic duties of the church, while they preached the Gospel, unhindered. This idea was received well by the church, and they identified seven men, whom they deemed fit to carry out the daily ministration. Rather than make known the physical attributes of the chosen men, the Bible was sure to acknowledge that Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas were men with strong spiritual attributes. What an honor it is, to be acknowledged by others, not for vain and irrelevant characteristics, but for traits that are relevant to the God of all creation.

Is the reputation you seek to gain, the same as God’s, or do you flaunt looks, money, and other things to gain the attention of men? Do you receive the message of the Gospel the same from all God’s people, or do you tend to give more attention to those who have mega churches, and may be more fit to star in Hollywood films? “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”(Colossians 3:17 KJV). “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” (Colossians 3:23 KJV).

Seek not to gain vain glory, but desire that the body of Christ grow together. Whatever God called you to do, give it your best effort, and be proud of rendering your reasonable services to the Lord.

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

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

Virgin conception announced to Mary

Luke 1:26-33

Have you ever been told to share very important news with someone, then wondered how they would respond after hearing it? The longer you waited to tell them, the more it made you nervous, and antsy. When you finally delivered the message, a calming peace came over you, as you were finally relieved of the jitters, and witnessed how the recipient gracefully accepted your life-changing news. I’m fully aware, heavenly beings don’t operate under the same rules as humans, but I do believe they experience feelings, and emotions as we often do.

The angel, Gabriel, was chosen by God, to go to the earth, and deliver a very special message to a woman highly favored of the Father. Mary, a virgin engaged to a descendant of king David (Joseph), was met one day by the angel Gabriel, who’s very presence startled the young woman, causing her to kinda freak out, and wonder what was going on. It’s easy to read Bible stories, how men were met by angels and became instantly afraid, then judge them for their behavior, but imagine if you woke up one night, and saw an angel standing over your bed. How would you respond, honestly? Mary had good reason to be afraid, because being in the presence of heavenly beings wasn’t included in her daily activities. The angel greeted Mary first, by acknowledging her favor with God. He then proceeded to calm her fear with more encouraging words from the Lord. Can you imagine gazing at an actual angel from Heaven, and trying hard to listen to his words, while gazing in awe and confusion, and still wondering what’s really happening? In any case, Gabriel was successful in fulfilling his assignment, by prophesying the coming events Mary would soon experience.

God favored Mary, not because she was better than all the other women of her time, but I’m certain her faith, reverence, and respect for God was mature, and she would be willing and obedient to properly handle the task given to her. Do you live in such a way, that God can trust you to carry out a special assignment, or will He look past your name, in search of someone who’s faith and lifestyle is pleasing in His eyes? Practice doing self-examinations on a regular basis, so that you’ll always be in right standing with God, and when He’s looking for someone to bless, He’ll never skip past your name.

Walk in love,

Ell

Leaders reject God’s messenger

Luke 7:25-30

Many churches today are plagued by the negative effects of being led by ungodly leadership. When God is in the heart of a man, his actions and motivations are led by the Holy Spirit, thus allowing them to provide the necessities of spiritually the people need to grow and mature in God. God is righteous, and His ways holy, so those He places in leadership positions should always keep those truths in mind. Modern churches are prone to implementing worldly schemes and methods in their ministries, for purposes of keeping with the times, and making the people feel comfortable. On the contrary, leaders who are true to God, preach the Word in season, and out of season. They refuse to hold back the truth of the Gospel, whether it offends some, or not. Weak leaders give in to pressure, and adjust their messages to please the itching ears of the members, and so their offerings will remain consistent.

In our text, Jesus mentioned how the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God, and refused to be baptized of John. Their refusal of baptism proved that they didn’t agree with the message John brought forth, which was revealed in the manifestation of Christ. The very thing John preached on, was right in their faces, yet they still refused to believe. Many people suffer in their spiritual growth, when their leaders refuse to accept the Bible in its entirety. Some even pick and choose certain scriptures to teach their people, that only builds hype, while leaving out the verses that would bring them deliverance.

Rarely do you hear good ole’ fashion Holy Ghost preaching these days, because the true and unadulterated Word of God would offend all those who are weak in their faith. In addition, you hardly see, or hear real preaching and teaching on television, because the truth of God’s Word must be watered down to accommodate all audiences. If God called you to lead, do it under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Never back down, nor give in to the pressure of wicked men who may dress the part of elder, pastor, or whatever, but have no true affinity with godliness.

Walk in love,

Ell