“Once To Die…”

Hebrews 9:24-28

Every person you know, including yourself, will someday suffer a physical death. While the thought of dying in this earth oftentimes cause some to faint, we can rest assured that Christ made it possible for us to not have to endure spiritual death. Our hope and confidence rest in the fact that Jesus not only took care of our past, but our present and future are eternally secure as well. While we strive to live holy in an unholy world, we can trust in the Spirit of God to help us overcome all manner of evil and temptation. While it is appointed unto all men to die, our physical death will be the beginning of our spiritual eternity.

Nothing To Lose

2 Kings 7

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to an exciting episode of, “Nothing To Lose” starring, the Four Lepers! I’m your host, “HolyEll”, and I’ll be bringing you all the details of tonight’s most fascinating scenes!

(During the days of the great prophet Elijah, a season came when severe famine entered the land. The situation for the children of Israel had become so lamentable, until they forced themselves to eat unclean animals, and some attempted to eat their own children. Moses predicted this would happen, if the people ever fell into sin. Unfortunately, they did.)

(Four leprous men lingered near the gate of a Syrian camp.)

Leper 1: Why are we still sitting here, waiting to die? Our condition will only lead to our death, so let’s get up from here, and do something.

Leper 2: What would you advise us to do?

Leper 3: Yeah, what are we supposed to do? No one can stand to be near us, let alone set their eyes upon us.

Leper 4: Sigh… God help us.

Leper 1: Listen guys, if we go into the city, there’s famine, and we’ll die from starvation. If we sit here, we’ll die from this miserable disease anyway, so let’s take a chance and go into the camp.

Leper 2: Wait a minute. If we go in there, the Syrians will turn us away.

Leper 3: Right! They’ll certainly send us back into the streets .

Leper 4: Sigh… God help us.

Leper 1: Alright, listen. We’re going in there, and if they spare us, we’ll live, but if they kill us, we’ll die.

Leper 2: Umm…. that’s kinda obvious (speaking sarcastically)

Leper 3: (Looking confused and uncertain)

Leper 4: Sigh… God help us.

Leper 1: It is better to die with hope, than with none at all. Let’s go fellas.

(“And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there.” vs. 5)

Leper 4: Oh my God! There’s no one here!

Leper 3: Where did all the men go?

Leper 2: (Mouth wide open in amazement)

(“For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us. Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.” vs. 6-7)

Leper 1: Hey, since there’s no one around, let’s see what’s in these tents!

(“And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.” vs. 8)

With nothing to lose, the frail, yet hopeful lepers joined together, removed themselves from their place of misery, and went forward in faith, to find what they hoped for. Surprisingly, they received more than what either of them could have imagined. God is well aware of our struggles and wants to see us blessed, but we will never receive of His glory, until we get up from our place of misery, realize we have nothing to lose, and go forward in faith.

This concludes the exciting episode of, “Nothing To Lose”. Thanks for tuning in, and have a fantabulous journey!

Believe ‘Til The End

Hebrews 4:1-11

No matter how hard life gets for you, don’t give up. Despite daily trials, tribulations, and seemingly unending struggles, strive to endure until the end. This advice goes out to all who are fighting the “good fight of faith”, and continue to boldly represent holiness, in an ever-changing world.

Throughout history, there were many who started out following after righteousness, but grew weary in doing well. While some had ample opportunity to consider the inward struggle between good and evil in their hearts (like Judas Iscariot), and allow their faith in God to supercede the latter, their supposed hope in the Lord was exposed as being fraudulent. Others who followed after Jesus, allowed the negative influence of family or peers to steer them away from doing what’s right, in place of fulfilling carnal desires. How often are you invited by someone close to you, to participate in events or activities that do very little to promote healthy spirituality? Oftentimes, we are tempted to do things that only satisfy our flesh, and does nothing to build or edify our soul. Gone are the days when believers looked forward to prayer and Bible study meetings, where God could be exalted, and hearts could be encouraged. Nowadays, church folk gravitate more toward what the world promotes on social media or television.

The church looks identical to the world in the way they dress, speak, and think. This is very unfortunate, as many who blend in with the world usually get pulled away from their first love (God), and cling to the fads and trends of carnality. The world is indeed a sphere of continual wickedness, masked with the guise of perpetual happiness, but underneath the semblance of peace and hope, is the true evil intent of the adversary of the believer.

Trust God until the end, and don’t let anything or anyone cause you to fall, or turn away from your faith in the Father. The enemy is coming at the church with full force, but the power of God resides in all His children, through His Spirit, and has equipped them to stand against all the wiles of satan. Don’t give up, don’t give in, because you have the victory over wickedness and sin.

Repent, And Keep Moving

Psalm 51:1-12

When a Saint falls, their number one priority should be to first seek repentance from God, then allow Him to cleanse them from their error. Oftentimes, when we stumble, we tend to care more about the opinions of others, rather than coming before the Lord to seek forgiveness. While those who are the body of Christ should strive to represent holiness at all times to the world, when they veer off track, their first conversation should be with God alone. Man has no power to forgive sin, but God has all power, and He alone can purge, wash, and restore us back to our rightful place in Him. Throughout our lifetime, we will fall short of God’s glory, but because of Jesus, we can approach the Throne of Grace, and have our iniquities washed away.

King David, a man after God’s own heart, was responsible for committing two ungodly acts, that caused much misery and pain in his future. But, rather than blame others, or try to sweep those situations under the rug, the king repented, and sought reconciliation with the One Whom he had transgressed against.

God loves His people, but He hates when we sin. Everytime we submit to sin, we acknowledge that what we allowed to gain our attention, was more important than what God warned us against. For this reason, we should always get convicted when we mess up, because this proves that we are aware of our actions, and aren’t fixed on making sin habitual.

After king David messed up, then repented, he committed the rest of His life to service to God. Never allow your sin and mistakes to cause you to lose faith in God. We are born in sin, and shaped in iniquity, so it’s only natural for our flesh to desire things of the world. But, when we put off the old man, and gird ourselves with the new and improved, God fills us with His Spirit, that helps make avoiding sin a lot more easier, than trying to resist the devil on our own.

We live this life for purpose and reason, but not too long, for only a season.

Ell

Reel ‘Em In!

Genesis 41:14-24

Living as a Christian in 2020, has become far from easy. While we strive to live holy, and keep evil communication from our lips, the world continues to strive against us, forcing us to prove what’s truly in our hearts. Based on this fact, it’s important for those who are engrafted into the family of God, to remain mindful of how they conduct themselves, while in the company of unbelievers. It’s easy to conform to the ways of men, so that we could blend in with their company, but God requires the Saints to shine their lights in all places, all situations, and among all people. This is very crucial, because God can use us to draw others to Himself, if we aren’t afraid to be different from the world. It’s hard to catch a fish when your bait looks exactly like it, but when you secure an attractive lure to your hook, you’ll begin to attract all types of fish to your line. Is your life attracting men to the Lord, or do people lose interest in God, from the way you live?

We live this life for purpose and reason, but not too long, for only a season.

Ell

Transparency

Acts 7:9-15

When I wake up in the morning, and open my eyes to see the new day, God is with me. As I turn over in bed, regaining feeling in my numb legs and arms, God is with me. When I gather enough strength to plant my feet on the floor, and slowly rise upright, God is with me. As I wash, then gird myself for the day ahead, God is with me. When I think of what the day will bring, God is with me. As I travel on the dangerous highways, going to and fro, God is with me. When I spend all day, pushing to make it through another day of hard labor, God is with me. As I deal with the pressures of life that come by way of those who are evil, wicked, or even my foes, God is with me. When I try to smile, stay positive, and keep a straight face, to hide the hurt, pain, and shame inside me, God is with me. As I give strength to others, when I require strength for myself, God is with me. When those who i thought were for me, turn against me, God is with me. When my body goes through seasons of sickness and pain, God is with me. When those I love, lose their lives, God is with me. When those I don’t know perish, and my heart still feels pain, God is with me. When the enemy attempts to knock me off track, God is with me. As I sit and write this tonight, exhausted from another long day of work, God is with me. When I consider, I am still alive, healthy, and have a sound mind, it’s because God is with me. I love the Lord, indeed I do. It’s because of Him, I can not, and will not give up. I am thankful for all who strive to live holy, in an unholy society; to all who are committed to staying true to God’s will. Be strong, be vigilant, stay faithful, because God is with you.

If you die today, where will you spend eternity?

Ell

To The End

1 Thessalonians 3:6-13

At the end of every race is, a finish line. Whether there are cars, people, or even horses aligned at the starting point, races typically produce only one victor. All who are participants in a race, train extensively, and strive relentlessly to overcome those who are placed against them, but to those who finish first, all their labor was proven effective.

The Bible teaches, the life we live on the earth, is comparable to a race. The writer of the book of Hebrews helps us understand the race of life this way: “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” (Heb 12:1). According to this passage, there is a definite end to this life, but to those who endure unto the end (lay aside the weight of sin, while striving to live holy), the Savior will confirm or validate their hearts, and make them blameless before God. What better reward is there on earth, that can compare to an eternity with the Creator of all things?

The apostle Paul was well aware of the importance of living a holy life in the earth, and was pleased to hear that the people he left Timothy to watch over in Thessalonica, were indeed growing and maturing in the things of the Lord. Running the race of life according to God’s standard, involves affliction, distress, and persecution, but Paul and those who accompanied him, gained strength, simply from hearing that the church was prospering. Good news can do a lot to help motivate those who may be going through a hard season, and knowing someone you love has been blessed, can work wonders in your life, as well as theirs. Paul prayed earnestly, to return to those he loved, so that he could fine tune the areas of spirituality they needed help with.

Unlike conventional races, where one competes against the other, the race that the church has been given, involves every member supporting each other, all the way to the finish line.

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

Bold And Brave

Isaiah 50:4-11

Earlier this morning, I received a call from one of my favorite cousins, who was weary and distraught, concerning the way evil men appear to be living far better than those who strive to live right, and how they seem to be escaping the judgment they deserve, for their consistent disobedient behavior. Hearing her express those thoughts touched my heart, because her words actually seem truthful. Wicked men and women do seem to have certain advantages in this life, than those who actually deserve better, but I tried hard to help her understand, this present world is temporary, and all those who remain in sin, will surely receive the judgment of God, in due time.

It’s expected for all members of the body of Christ to suffer while doing the works of the Lord, because our Savior, Christ Jesus, set the example we would need to follow, after He ascended back to His Father. The prophet Isaiah was inspired to write how the Son of God would indeed suffer greatly, on behalf of the people of God. Not only did Jesus suffer, but He did it willingly. Can you imagine willingly presenting yourself to men who seek only to see you fall, and do great harm to your physical body? The average person (not fully delivered lol) would be quick to defend themselves against any and all who step to them the wrong way. But, Christians are taught that suffering for Christ’s sake is counted as joy, according to the Bible.

Carnal minded men are unable to see the value in suffering in the name of God, but all will be revealed in that great day. While it does seem that good people only see suffering, and evil ones enjoy good, the real rewards of each person’s labor will be given by God, on the day of judgment.

To all those who may get weary while doing well, strive to keep moving forward, and don’t give up. Yes, this world doesn’t favor those who love God, and sin has caused men to act in ways that are unseemly toward the church, God can still bless us, even during these disheartening times.

Be careful not to judge those who hate and persecute you, but pray for them, and show them that God’s love is way more powerful than their hate. If Jesus didn’t turn His back on God during the most mind-blowing suffering in the history of history, then never allow your struggles and hard times to cause you to turn yours either.

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold… don’t become one of them.

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