Consider God

Psalm 93

Mountains peak, and valleys stretch far and wide. But, if you think that’s something, consider God. Oceans run deep, and great waves flow continuously. But, if you think that’s something, consider God. The sun shines bright from millions of miles away, and the moon, the same at night. But, if you think that’s something, consider God. The sky is filled with countless stars, that twinkle and sometimes shoot across the vastness of the heavens. But, if you think that’s something, consider God. Man and woman were made with an anatomy and systems more complicated than the space shuttle. But, if you think that’s something, consider God.

Our God, is awesome. He created the heavens, and the earth. He sustains and maintains His creation by His very word. It is a good thing, to give thanks and praise to the God of all creation.

A Ride With The Devil

Matthew 4

Have you ever wondered, why Jesus willingly tagged along with the “tempter”, after He had fasted 40 days, and was hungry? We are taught in James 4:7 to submit ourselves to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from us. Rather than resist the devil, Jesus allowed the devil to take Him along on a short journey, with hopes of tempting Him to disobey the will of God, His Father.

Jesus has always been submitted to God, so why would He freely tag along with the very one who caused man to sin in the beginning? Contrary to worldly belief, the enemy has absolutely no power to stand against the Son of God. In fact, satan has already been condemned to the pit of hell, then eventually will spend his eternity in the lake that burns with fire. I have come to believe, Jesus allowed the devil to tempt Him, in order to show the children of God how to handle themselves whenever their seasons of tempting comes. The most effective way to stand against any attack of the enemy is, utilize the word of God as your countermeasure. Every situation satan presented to Jesus, He used God’s word to shut down his wicked motives and intentions.

The body of believers will most certainly be tempted during their lifetime, but using the word of God when faced with difficult times, will prove effective to counter anything that’s intended to sway them from the truth.

Hide And Seek

1 Kings 19

There’s something about Heaven, or more specifically, the realm of the spirit, that I am unable to fathom. Throughout the Scriptures, there are many instances where a spiritual manifestation superceded natural law and order. For example, Jesus turned water into wine from grapes that never existed. How do you explain that in scientific terms? Another example took place when the angel of the Lord helped Peter escape from prison, without using a key to open the cell, nor any gadgets the Beagle Boys used in the Duck Tales cartoons. It’s evident, the spirit realm operates on an entirely different playing field than the natural, and for this reason, men should take heed to developing their understanding of God’s Word, so that they’ll be able to navigate through the earth the way God intended them to.

That brief introduction was intended to continue from where we left off on the previous lesson, as the prophet Elijah was running and hiding from queen Jezebel, who sought to take his life. For an entire day, Elijah had run as far as he could, then retired into a wilderness area, where he rested under a juniper tree. It’s apparent, Elijah was still shaken in faith from the threat of the queen, because he begin to request that God take his life, as he felt he was no better than his fathers before him. This was a very intense moment, because Elijah trusted in God, and His amazing power, but the fear of one woman turned the bold lion, into a cowardly chicken.

So, Elijah fell asleep in the wilderness, undoubtedly neglecting to care for his now weak and famished body, but God had not forgotten His servant, and sent an angel to minister unto him. The angel had prepared a meal for the prophet, then woke him up to eat. It would be super awesome to enjoy a meal prepared by an angel, don’t you agree? What’s even more amazing is, the second meal the angel prepared for Elijah gave him strength that lasted 40 days and nights. Wowzer! One angelic cuisine was packed with enough nutrients and essentials to give a man strength for over a month! I can only imagine what the benefits a full heavenly meal would provide. I tell ya, trying to understand the realm of the spirit gives me headaches sometimes, but I love it!

After his long journey, Elijah went into a cave, and lodged there, until the voice of the Lord was heard. God said, “Elijah, what are you doing in here?” (Ell’s translation). The prophet responded, “I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” There’s no doubt the words Elijah spoke were truth, but God needed a moment to whip His servant back into spiritual shape. God then commanded Elijah to go and stand upon the mountain, to meet Him there. The mighty and matchless God made a grand entrance on the mountain, the likes of which Hollywood stars, athletes, or even famous wrestlers pale in comparison to. Before the Lord arrived, a great and strong wind passed through, literally tearing down the mountains, and breaking the rocks in pieces. After the winds had passed, an earthquake shook the very foundations of the land. If that wasn’t enough to get Elijah’s blood pumping, a great fire followed after the earthquake, and then the voice of the Lord began to speak. Again, God asked Elijah, “What are you doing here?”, and he delivered the same response. While Elijah ran to hide himself, God sought him out to reveal another plan he was to partake in.

In times when we are afraid to step out on faith, following a possible failure, God is always waiting to give us new strength to take on new tasks ahead. The work of the Christian is perpetual, and never ends, so rather than hide and cower over past failures, we should be mindful to take breaks, regain our strength, then step back onto the battlefield. God will always equip us with what we need to face every challenge ahead of us, despite how often we belittle ourselves.

Who Am I?

Exodus 3:1-12

God created all men special, and not one person deserves more esteem than another. From the least of mankind, to the greatest, all people were made fearfully and wonderfully by God, and are capable of doing amazing things through His power. Oftentimes, when in the presence of men and women who are considered famous or popular by worldly standards, some can become nervous, and feel unworthy to be amongst them. But, no matter who the world promotes as great, no man is greater than the almighty God.

While leading his father-in-law’s flock through a desert, Moses was unaware of the great responsibility that was moments away. As he approached Mount Horeb, the angel of the Lord appeared in a flame of fire, in the midst of a bush. This definitely caught Moses’ attention, and he turned to get a closer look. But, before he could take another step, God called unto him, and made known that he was on holy ground, and to remove his shoes. During this time, the children of Israel were being severely oppressed by the Egyptians, and God would not allow it to continue any longer. From the fiery bush, God told Moses He would send him unto Pharoah, so that he could bring His people out of Egypt. Humility is always revealed in the hearts of those who love God, and Moses proved this by asking God, “Who am I, that I should go unto Pharoah, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt” (vs.11). God assured the humble servant, He would certainly be with him as he carried out this task, and commanded him to return to the same place where he was standing, to reverence God after delivering the Israelites from the Egyptians. God knew His plan would work, and that Moses would do his part, so He wanted him to return to Mount Horeb, as he and Israel serve God from that point on.

Moses felt intimidated and unworthy to stand before the great Pharoah, but with God, he had all the confidence he needed, to do as God commanded. For every situation you face in life, whether great or small, don’t allow them to intimidate you, especially if God commanded you to go through it. God is all powerful, and He can equip you with all you need to be bold, no matter what you face in this life. Don’t let men and women shame or make you feel unworthy, because with God you are more than worthy!

Can You Hear Me Now?

Matthew 17:1-8

Hearing the voice of God has been misunderstood for ages, and many have taken advantage of others, by claiming to hear from God, while taking money in exchange for a “word from the Lord”. Throughout the Old Testament, God spoke to men in various ways; from a burning fiery bush, to even using a donkey to get a man’s attention. In the New Testament, God spoke though His Son, Jesus, and gave Him all the instructions required, to guide men back into the fold. Today, the Holy Ghost is in the hearts of those who have received God’s gift of salvation, to offer strength, comfort, and bring back to remembrance, the teachings of Christ.

God would never leave His people to traverse these perverse lands alone, so He made sure to give us His Spirit to keep us on the right track. Men who claim to hear from God on the behalf of others, typically have motives to manipulate them for selfish reasons. God doesn’t speak to men as He did in the past, so for those who yearn to know God’s plans for them, read His Word. Also, for those who want to hear the voice of God audibly, read the Word out loud lol (credit to Justin Peters).

The Bible entails all the instructions and tools the church needs to keep themselves occupied, until Christ returns, so I admonish all to be mindful of those who claim God gave them a Word for you, because everything God wanted you to know, is written in His Word. While God can bring people to your heart and mind, He will hardly ever tell someone what you need, without first revealing it to you.

Be strong, be vigilant, because the enemy is still trying to take us out before this year ends. We’ve had ups, and downs, but by the grace and mercy of God, we are still here. Continue to guard yourselves against the evil one, and keep your faith in the Lord. Study and meditate on the Word of God daily, so that you can prove to Him, your love and dedication to His will is solid.

The Comforter

Isaiah 40:1-5

How can one find peace, in the midst of a storm? Where do you go for direction, when wandering aimlessly through the wilderness of life? Who can give comfort, in situations that are uncomfortable? This present year is nearing its end, and many have struggled to crawl out of valleys, climb over mountains, and even stand firm during stormy seasons, since the year began, and of all the things lacking in life, trouble is far from being one of them. But, regardless of how tough this year has been, we who have made it this far, can have hope that God will reward us for our perseverance. Although the prophecy in this text was directed toward the people of Judah, the power of God continues to work in favor of those who love Him, and keep His commandments. God promised to bless those who obey Him, and knowing this should bring great joy to the believer, because “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22). It is indeed hard, at times, to find comfort in the midst of suffering, but the love that comes from the Father, is strong enough to penetrate through our situation, and give us peace, as we go through whatever comes against us. Be strong, and trust in the power of the Lord, because if He was loving enough to deliver Judah from years of oppression and persecution, He’ll freely carry us safely out of this trying year, and into a promising new one.

“Look back on your past, only to push you into a better future.” – Ell

Listen, And Live

Jeremiah 38:1-6

When God spoke a word, in the scriptures, it was always in the best interest of those whom His words were directed, to take heed, and do as He commanded. God gave instruction, direction, or warning, so that those whom He called to serve His purpose, would fulfill what He expected from them, without distraction or delay.

In those times when men refused to follow God’s direct instructions, a hard lesson was usually associated with their disobedience. One such example can be found in the book of Numbers. Despite all his favor, fame, and miraculous works, Moses never stepped foot in the land of promise, due to his disobedience. During the time when Moses had led the children of Israel into the desert of Zin, where no food or water was to be found, the people had become hungry and parched. Things were so bad, that even Miriam, Moses’ sister, died, and was buried there. So, Moses and his brother Aaron prayed to God earnestly, and God appeared to them, then gave Moses a simple instruction; “Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink”. Obeying God couldn’t get any more simpler than that… right? Unfortunately, Moses had become so frustrated with the complaining people, that rather than speak to the rock as God commanded, he literally whacked it, not once, but TWICE, out of disgust for the rebellious people. Shame on you Moses lol. He was almost there too!

Our text gives another example of the importance of adhering to the voice of the Lord. God had given a word to the prophet Jeremiah, to warn the people of the city to flee toward the Chaldeans, so they might live, because their city would soon be overtaken by the Babylonian army. By this time in Scripture, Jeremiah had proven himself to be a true prophet of the living God, but his words weren’t received well by the princes who were gathered in his presence also. Rather than take heed to God’s life-saving warning, the men convinced the king, that Jeremiah was only weakening the hands of the military, as well as the people in the city, by uttering such hurtful words. The naive king gave in to the cries of the princes, and had the prophet Jeremiah thrown into the dungeon. To give a shortened version to the conclusion of this story, God took care of His prophet, and rescued him from certain death, but as for king Zedekiah and those who remained in the city, well… let’s just say they never saw the light of day, ever again (the details of their judgment are extremely graphic).

When God gives instruction to us today (as He expects us to obey the Bible), it would be wise for us to read, hear, study, and take heed. God knows what’s ahead of us, and desires that we not be overtaken with sin. But, we must trust that His Word is true, and willingly do those things He asked of us, in His Word.

Why does the living man complain?

Ell

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 My Son; listen to Him

Luke 9:28-36

The story of Jesus, and His transfiguration on a mountain, is a very familiar one, and full of valuable details; some of which go unnoticed by the casual Bible reader. But, the more you study this text, the greater understanding you’ll develop of Christ’s purpose on the earth.

God sent His Son to the earth, to redeem man back unto Himself. This act alone proves the value and worth of man, and should inspire all to appreciate God more. There was no other way by which man could be rejoined with God, except a perfect sacrifice was offered. Jesus, was the sacrifice that atoned for the sins of all men. Before Jesus accomplished “his decease” at Jerusalem, He would often take time to pray alone. Knowing the task at hand would be gruesome and impossible to accomplish on human strength alone, Jesus wisely took time often, to talk with His Father, to gather strength and courage to follow through until the end. Yes, Jesus was God in the flesh, but that same flesh was just as ours; susceptible to feelings, pain, and other intense emotions. I cut one of my fingers at work a few years ago, and I literally felt as if I was dying, but I can’t begin to imagine the pain Jesus felt as He was beaten, stabbed, and tortured beyond belief.

In our text, Jesus took a few of His disciples into a mountain with Him, to pray, but they fell asleep, while He continued with His purpose. When the men had finally awoken, they saw Jesus, standing with Moses, and Elijah. Unaware of their conversation (Jesus and the ancient prophets spoke of His “decease”, or the time of His death), Peter felt honored to be in such a presence, then offered to erect tabernacles for the three anointed men. While men care more for carnal things, God cares more for souls. Rather than entertain Peter’s request, God simply commanded the men to hear the words of Jesus, and obviously obey them. God’s words confirmed what Jesus had previously told the disciples moments prior when He said, “For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels” (vs. 26).

When we study and obey the words Christ spoke, we’ll gain a better understanding of our purpose in this life, strength to endure daily, wisdom to know and discern good from evil, and the courage necessary to be bold in this evil and perverse generation. “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not, keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me” (John 14:23-24).

Walk in love,

Ell

On the mountain with Jesus

Matthew 17:1-7

Throughout our lives, we’ll build a collection of memories that will be accumulated from various experiences we encounter. While some of those memories we’ll prefer to forget, others will bring joy that will last a lifetime! My face lights up everytime I see a star shooting through the midnight sky, or when I witness dolphins swimming in the ocean, while basking on the beach at sunrise. I’ve yet to experience beautiful mountains, or snow, but those, along with other things, are penciled on my bucket list. I’ve lived long enough to see a few of God’s amazing creations, but I would love to have experienced what Peter, James, and John saw on the mountain of transfiguration.

In our text, Jesus allowed a select few of His disciples to accompany Him, as He made His way atop a mountain, to meet some “old” friends. When the men finally reached their destination, one of the most amazing things in Scripture began to take place. Verse two reads, “And (Jesus) was transfigured before them: and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light”. Can you honestly imagine seeing that with your own eyes? I know Hollywood produces movies with amazing special effects, but with Jesus, nothing was altered with cameras or effects, and was as real as life itself.

Throughout the Bible, light is synonymous with knowledge, and being God in the flesh, Jesus’ transfiguration revealed who He truly was. Not only was His formed changed before the eyes of the disciples, but Jesus was also blessed to grace the presence of two men who had left the earth over a thousand years prior to this visit: Moses, and Elijah were seen talking with Jesus on the mountain. When I first read this passage of Scripture, I had developed so many questions I wanted answers to, but I eventually realized that my frail human mind need not understand all of God’s doings, because His ways are not like the ways of man, so I resulted to standing in awe of the awesome things He does, without trying to question everything. I had wondered how could men who haven’t been seen on the earth since they were taken up by God many years before, appear as if they never left. I also couldn’t understand how the disciples recognized two men whom they had never seen, yet called them by name. In any case, this experience was indeed breathtaking, and moved Peter to offer to make tabernacles for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. In the midst of him speaking, Peter looked up and saw a bright cloud began to overshadow the company of men. What happened next, literally struck fear in the disciples, and brought them to their knees. God’s voice began to speak from the cloud and said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear Him”. Real talk, I would have already been bugged out from seeing Jesus light up like the sun, along with witnessing two men appear out of thin air, but after hearing God speak from a bright cloud, I probably would have ran and hid behind a rock, or something as well. Jesus came and touched the disciples, then told them not to be afraid, because this was a moment few would see, but all would remember forever.

Do you get bubbly inside, and excited when you think on the goodness of Jesus, and all He’s done for you? How often do you thank God, and reverence Him for simply being who He is? There average person spends hundreds of dollars a year to be entertained by movies that offer intense and vivid visuals, yet none are real, and were created using visual effects. God has done, and can do things that Hollywood can only copy, so take more pleasure in appreciating the great things He does daily, rather than glorifying man’s futile efforts.

Walk in love,

Ell