Life Is Bliss

Amos 5:4-5, 14-15

Is life truly worth living? It’s obvious, the state of the world is in steady decline, as we witness Bible prophecy fulfill before our very eyes. The uprising of wars, and rumors of wars, persecution, affliction, and all those things mentioned in the Scriptures, are surely coming to pass. With all the chaos, and turmoil ravaging the lands, can the people of God experience a life of goodness, and prosperity during these prophetic end-times? I’ll first answer that question by listing a few scriptures that support my strong opinion.

“Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8 KJV

“Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.” Proverbs 16:3 KJV

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 KJV

“In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.” Deuteronomy 30:16 KJV

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.” Psalm 23:1-2 KJV

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33 KJV

Is life truly worth living? Of course it is! Despite the fact that this world will soon be over, God allows those who are engrafted into His royal family, to experience the full benefits of His amazing love! When we seek good, and not evil, God promised to be with us. Whether in times of sickness, trial, or testing, God will always defend those who seek to fulfill His will, over their own.

The enemy knows his time meandering around the earth is nearly up, so he’s pressing hard against the children of God, trying to convince them to give up. But, we already have the victory over satan. The problem is, many of us aren’t living as if that’s true. When we allow our problems to be bigger than the Problem Solver, this causes issues with our professed beliefs. Even as we live in obedience to God, we must remain bold and steadfast, regardless of what comes against us.

Believers have the power of God working within them, through His Spirit, that helps them do great things in the earth. We receive power, after the Holy Ghost comes upon us, to get wealth, call those things that be not, as though they were, lay hands on the sick, and help them recover, and many other wonderful things! So, rather than spend your life focusing on all your problems, look to God, and trust Him to help you live a good life on this troubled planet.

Walk in love,

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

Don’t Tempt Me!

James 1:12-15

Of all the ingredients that go into satan’s recipes of sinful ploys, only two are required, that allow for temptation to be effective; enticement, and the lust of men. There’s not one thing the devil can do to tempt God’s children, except they first reveal their hidden desire for what he offers. God tests His people, to prove what’s in their hearts, and to help make them better for His purposes, but satan tempts Christians, in order to pull them away from their allegiance with the Father, and keep them bound in sin.

There are times when men assume that God is tempting them, but our Father would never do anything to cause intentional harm to those He loves. On the other hand, the enemy would do everything within his power, to see that the followers of Christ are all destroyed.

Temptation is very powerful, and can sever even the most solid godly relationships. Don’t believe me, just ask Adam and Eve how powerful temptation can be. The first humans placed in the earth, who inhabited God’s very presence, gave in to satan’s wicked scheme. After conversing with that unusual couple, call and chat with Lot’s wife, and ask, what was so valuable in Sodom, that caused her to look back, and lose her very life. The key to understanding temptation is, recognizing that satan knows what we desire, even those secret things, because oftentimes, we speak our thoughts into the atmosphere. So, when he tempts us, it’s usually with something we’ve always yearned for, but probably don’t need.

Anything that will lead you to sin, is not a blessing from God, but a trick of the enemy. I often wonder, how Judas was so close to Jesus, yet couldn’t overcome his lust for money. The hidden greed in his heart, was coupled with satan’s allurement, which led him to his eventual demise.

Be wise in these last and evil days, because our adversary, the devil, is trying harder than ever, to keep us out of God’s will. All who endure the temptations of the enemy, along with his wicked schemes, will one day receive the crown of life, God promised to those who love Him. Always remember, sin brings eternal death, but obedience brings eternal life.

Walk in love,

Ell

Do You Love Me?

Isaiah 1:11-17

Would you accept gifts from someone who said they loved you, but was inconsiderate, full of sin, weighed down in iniquity, evil, corrupt, rebellious, and turned their back on you? Whether it was something you desired, or simply something seemingly valuable, would you find it difficult to refuse? Love has been abused since the beginning of time, when men claimed to love God, yet their lifestyles proved otherwise. Even today, many have a limited understanding of what love represents, and cater only to the feeling and emotional aspects of it. The definition of love is vast, yet understandable, but many fail to take time to delve into the core of its meaning.

God is love, and when the term is used, God must be at the root of its intended purpose. When I tell someone I love them, it’s not because I get butterflies in my tummy, or goosebumps on my skin, but I understand they are a precious creation, made by God, and deserve to be treated as Christ Himself. I’d be willing to make sacrifices, and assist as necessary to make their lives better, in an effort to prove that the love I spoke with my lips, was more than mere words alone. Love is action, and our works reveal whether our professed love is genuine, or counterfeit.

Our text reveals God’s feelings toward those who abuse love, and attempt to justify ill actions with gifts. Israel had rebelled against God, yet still believed He would accept their offerings and sacrifices. To their surprise, their sinful behavior kindled the Lord’s anger, to the point He refused to accept any gift, offering, sacrifice, feast, or anything that brought Him delight in the past. Unfortunately, their offerings were vain and unable to please God, so He commanded them to put away their evil doings, and rather than present vain offerings to Him, show genuine love to those around them instead.

When you use the word love, what are your intentions behind it? Is it a tool you use to manipulate others, in order to get what you want, or do you understand the true definition of God’s love?

Walk in love,

Ell

Don’t Get Caught Up

Deuteronomy 8:11-20

Prospering in this life, is what most people strive for. Whether obtaining wealth by way of money, land, or other means, the average person longs to be in a position where suffering and struggling are non-existent. Prosperity is no doubt a blessing from God, that offers benefits all believers can enjoy, but there are two things men must be mindful of while reaping the harvest of God’s blessings. Temptation is a very dangerous thing, and when associated with prosperity, men usually get caught up in pride and self-exaltation, or develop the tendency to forget God in place of “things”. How would you feel, if you blessed someone with everything they desired, and rather than show gratitude, they moved on as if you did nothing for them? They didn’t even consider telling you “thank you”, but took your gifts, and bounced. The average person would have an inkling to snatch all their gifts back, because ungrateful people don’t deserve certain things. How do you think God feels, when He blesses us over and over, then we turn and give our time to all things except Him?

The children of Israel were issued a grave warning in our text. After receiving all good things from the Lord, they were warned not to forget Him. God knows the hearts of men, and their susceptibility to want to take the credit of others for themselves, so He made certain to inform them of the great consequences they would face, if they forgot the Lord, and walked after other gods. Obedience to God is the difference between blessings and curses, prosperity and poverty, and eternal salvation and eternal damnation. God gives us the ability to prosper, and we should always acknowledge Him no matter what season we experience. In times of plenty, God deserves our obedience. In times of trial and testing, we are still commanded to obey the Lord.

Although the warning in our text was given to the children of Israel in ancient times, God will not let the church of today, get by with giving what He deserves, to something or someone else. God promised to destroy Israel for their disobedience, and He’ll be certain to punish us as well.

The more God blesses you, the more humble you should become. The higher God takes you in this life, the lower you should bow before His presence. Walk in humility, to avoid falling into pride, and possibly allowing your blessings to cause you to forget God.

Walk in love,

Ell

An orderly worship service

1 Corinthians 14:26-33

As you watch a football game, you notice many players of varying size, strength, and ability, spread across the field. All members on a team have specific assignments, based on their skill set, physical ability, and level of importance. For example, rarely would you place a wide receiver in the position of the offensive lineman, because his physical frame, and strength would not prove sufficient enough to hold up against a 300lb defensive lineman. But, spread the receiver outside, and he’d be in a prime position to be an effective part of his team’s offense. When each player plays their own position effectively, there’s little room for error, but when pride and arrogance causes some to make their position more important than the rest of the team, it opens doors for all sorts of problems.

One thing that makes coaches proud is, when their team plays a clean game, where everyone put forth their best effort, and there were minimal penalties called during the game. In the same way a football team assembles together, to get on one accord before performing on the field of play, the body of believers are to take time often to gather together, in order to edify one another, and enjoy the presence of God amongst those of the same mind and spirit. The purpose of church is not to spend hours in a building, collecting multiple offerings, nor attempting to be the next “Star Search”, instead all who gather in the name of the Lord, should come with the intentions of learning, growing, and encouraging everyone in attendance.

When some take advantage of their gift, seeking to make themselves great among the saints, God shuns this behavior, and prefers that gifts be used only to edify, and not promote self. All members of the body of Christ are important, and no one should feel irrelevant, in comparison to another’s gift. Just as the quarterback and center play a major role on the field, the punter and kicker have roles of equal importance as well.

Walk in humility, and exercise your gift to bring honor to God. Shun all things evil, and conduct yourself in an orderly, and decent manner whenever you’re amongst fellow believers.

Wack in love,

Ell

Ornan’s land is site for temple

1 Chronicles 21:28-22:1

All around the world, you can find massive and majestic buildings, standing tall and firm. From the Sears Tower in Chicago, to the Leadenhall Building in London, what keeps such great edifices standing, are the solid foundations they rest upon. Without a firm foundation, no building would last, nor withstand severe weather. This same principle applies to our spirituality as well. The more firm and rooted we are in God, the longer we can withstand in this evil day, while continuing to build upon the kingdom of God. In our text, king David was assured that choosing to have God’s temple built on Ornan’s land would be ideal, because Ornan was a man of good character, and showed reverence for God. Can God use you to do great works in His name? Does your character, and behavior align with how Christ carried Himself on the earth? Invest more time in establishing a better relationship with God, so when He’s looking for someone to use, your name will be on the list of willing candidates.

Walk in love,

Ell

The coming Day of the Lord

2 Peter 3:11-15, 17-18

The life of the disciple of Christ is a growth process. Every day God blesses one to enjoy, presents the opportunity for the believer to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord, and Savior, Jesus Christ. Those who have invested numerous years of devoted commitment to godliness, should be to a point where they look for, and desire “the day of God”. During the baby stages of one’s conversion, it’s expected for a babe in Christ to harbor desires for those things they once enjoyed, including the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, but as one matures and develops a greater understanding of life’s purpose, they become transformed, by the renewing of their minds, and seek only a more permanent, and sustained future; one where God will make new heavens and a new earth, and only righteousness will dwell there. This present world offers things that will only be dissolved in the end, but what God has prepared for His children offers eternal benefits that will be enjoyed forever!

In the same way an athlete invests hours into intense and vigorous exercise, so that their bodies, and minds will be at tip-top shape when the time comes to perform, all children in the family of God should devote their time to studying, learning, and desiring more knowledge of the awesome God they’re awaiting to meet, so that they too can perform well on the earth, until He comes to deliver their reward.

Walk in love,

Ell

Rejoice in God’s actions in Christ

1 Peter 1:3-12

Could you tell whether or not gold was real, if it had not been proven by fire, or other extreme measures? How could you enjoy the beauty, and benefits of trees, except they had first gone through dirt, darkness, and extreme pressure during its seed stage, or process of germination? The best of things are usually birthed through the most unfavorable processes. If you don’t believe me, take a moment and reflect on your life, and all the stress, struggles, and suffering you endured, to become who you are today. Whether you like who you’ve become, or not, I’m certain you’re far wiser now, than you were ten years ago.

Saints are to rejoice during times of peace, and times of suffering, because God desires that we remain focused on the eternal perspective, rather than temporary pleasures of this present world. Occupying until Christ returns, or making wise use of the time we’re allotted, means that we work continuously, spreading the love of God everywhere we go. We are also not to become discouraged, nor disappointed in God nor ourselves, when hard times come, because whether you believe it, or not, tough times don’t last, but tough people do. The struggles that we go through are actually more precious that gold itself, because during these sensitive moments, our character is put on front stage, and God shows us off to the world, proving that we can stand through any storm. After every storm, comes greener grass, beautiful flowers, and sunny skies. In the same sense, the more we endure, the stronger we will become mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Similarly, the stronger we become on the earth, the more praise, honor, and glory we will receive “at the appearing of Jesus Christ”.

Our lives weren’t designed to strive for material wealth and prosperity, but to love God, keep His commandments, rejoice in our suffering, love our neighbors, pray always, seek first God’s kingdom, rid ourselves of worry, doubt, stress, and unbelief, and live everyday as if it were our last. At the end of every day, do you consider how you conducted yourself while in the presence of others? Did you complain when your boss irritated you, or yell uncontrollably when your children got on your nerves? Sometimes, God allows certain things to happen, so that we too can check our level of maturity, then adjust our behavior accordingly. For every trial or struggle you face, keep your heart and mind fixed on God, and He’ll be sure to give you the strength you need to endure. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy” (1 Peter 4:12-13)

Walk in love,

Ell

Facing temptation, stay loyal to Christ

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

If the apostle Paul, and men of God from the days of old, were living and preaching in today’s time, they would undoubtedly be the least popular of all preachers. Based on how watered down the Gospel message has become, hearing a Word from the Lord that is unadulterated, and sharper than any double-edged sword, would definitely stir up trouble in most modern-day churches. Rather than expound on prosperity, material wealth, and self exaltation, the ole’ school preachers would promote repentance, salvation, and the “day of Christ”. Seldom are churches warned of the coming of Christ, because most of the time spent in gatherings involve offerings, announcements, and misguided praise and worship. Church leaders have to stand firm on God’s Word, and refuse to give in to societal pressures, because the souls of the people they lead are dependent upon their wise counsel and leadership for their continued spiritual growth and development.

In light of the inevitable return of Christ, Paul, and those who accompanied him, assembled with the Thessalonian believers, to give warning and encouragement, because the times would soon become perilous. Despite how strong or founded the people were in godliness, they were to remain guarded against all evil. The first warning given was that the people guard their minds. The enemy is well aware that if he can penetrate into a man’s mind, the heart and soul will be his to control. Paul then admonished the church to protect their hearts, and keep their emotions in check, because there are many evil spirits that work to stir up men’s emotions, and cause them to waver in their faith. But, the church was advised to stand firm on what they believed, and allow their faith and trust in God’s power, to be the driving force that keeps them steadfast, and unmovable.

As we guard our hearts and minds against the wiles of satan, we must also be aware that some of our own brothers and sisters in the Lord will unfortunately fall away. (Sigh)…sad, but true. The devil has been very effective at deceiving men, and his tactics work well, even to this very day! Wickedness is prevalent in every country on the planet, and good people give up, and give in to the tricks of the enemy, but despite satan and his lying wonders, the people of God must stand together, and hold up the blood-stained banner of Christ Jesus, until He returns to take us with Him.

Walk in love,

Ell