Living in the Blessing

God has a set plan for blessing in our lives in order to supply all our needs. Our job is to obey the calling set for us. God made this call before the foundations of the world.

“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:” Ephesians 1:4.

He has the plan all set up for us to have all of our needs met effortlessly as long as we obey his calling. All this provision is done through Christ Jesus.

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

So, that sounds like a deal you can not refuse, Wow!!someone else looking out and providing for me? How many of us really believe that happens. I always thought I was in charge of my provision and as long as I worked 5-6 days a week as hard as I could, then all was well. That sort of selfish, self centered thinking only got a ton of labor not blessing. The provision was not there either. I still had very little abundance, mostly just breaking even. What a blessing, right? After a while the commitment to my employer got less important because of burn out. We as christians, are suppose to do all things as unto the Lord, this includes our work.

“Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.” Ephesians 6:5-8.

Doing good work for our employers is the way we keep ourselves above reproach. As christians, we have an obligation to keep our testimony good. Jesus said that He came to give us an abundant life.

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10.

The average person today feels they have to forsake all to make ends meet. This includes working on Sunday and not worshiping our Lord like we should. No one really has the kind of faith that takes John 10:10 literal. We say we believe what it says but non of us test it out. I was no different until 5 years ago when God got a hold of me and showed me that He was better able to supply our needs. What an eye opener that was. Living by faith can happen, you can live on God's promise of supply. You have to be fully vested in Him and believe His way is the best and only way. Even though I understand the “concept” of living by faith it still took a while to really grasp what living by faith means to God. Leaving everything, your burdens, cares, good times and bad in His hands. He will supply and work everything out on your behalf. God created us, He knows what we need better than we do.

“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5.

The creator does know their creation, so we must trust in the Lord to supply all our needs. When that idea finally hit home, I was able to fully submit to Him.

Psalms 37:3-5

3.Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

4.Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

5.Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Proverbs 3:5-8

5.Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6.In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

7.Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

8.It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

Commitment

As I look at society as a whole, commitment is not at the top of the list. In an earlier blog, I wrote of being a Living Sacrifice, which is a definite commitment that involves putting Christ first, ahead of all else, including yourself. All too often, self is the main concern and all else is secondary. We see this in marriages, Christian service, child rearing, in the workplace, and even in our friendships. In my younger years, even I was only worried about my own gain. I did not want to lose anything. I wanted it all, for me, myself. Little did I know I was only cheating myself out of the most fulfilling life I could ever have or thought possible?

About five years ago, all of that changed for me. God showed me that He came to this world to give me a life abundant and free (John 10:10) and that I did not have to work so hard for myself to attain so little, that if I would believe in His promises, by simple faith, give up my own wants, needs and selfish desires, that all the things in my life I was chasing for myself could come to me through Him.

In Matt. 6:33 God tells us, “But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Just before this verse, he was saying, that if He takes care of the lilies of the fields and the birds in the trees, don’t you think He would take care of you? Well, Yes, He Can, and He will. When you take a step back and make your commitment first to God, begin striving for a real, relationship with him, He will help you begin to see as a child of God, How to give your all for the Kingdom of God, when you give yourself as a Living Sacrifice, you commit to a marriage that will be Godly and stronger, your service to God will have pure and holy intentions, you will commit your children to God and raise them in a Godly home, your actions and performance in the workplace will begin to point others to the God you serve and your friends will see a new man standing before them honorable, compassionate, and loving.

As you set God before you, all your needs for you and your family will be supplied,  and as you sow into your life in Him, He will show you a life of abundance as His Child, because He sees your commitment to Him, your desire for advancing the Kingdom and sharing others with Him as your whole desire, He begins to reward you openly into a life full and free.

Living this life of faith, committed to God is not always fun, not always easy, but as we each begin to show others how God can change things and work in your life, they will begin to see that a life full of selfishness and free falling takes a lot more work for so little reward. We will be able to turn societies thinking back to full commitment and begin to take on responsibility for rebuilding our Godly Community and Country, so God can in turn add “all these things” back to us and our children.

 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” II Chron. 7:14

Baptism, the Next Step

Previously, I wrote about salvation through Jesus Christ. As we look through the Bible, Jesus told His Disciples to baptize the new converts. We read in Matthew that the Disciples were to teach all nations and baptize the believers in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. What an honor to be baptized that way. To be given permission to use those names to do so. Do we really understand what we have here, the ability to baptize in the names of the Most High? As we tell people about the need for salvation, we need to show them the need to obey by getting baptized.

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. (Matthew 28:16-20). Jesus was very clear about baptism and when it took place. Everyone who was saved was to be baptized as soon as possible.

         

Jesus went to John the Baptist to be baptized before He started His earthly ministry. Bible says, "Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him. And lo a voice from heaven, saying, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:13-17). Jesus goes to the river Jordan and asks John to baptize him. I feel if Jesus thought it to be important enough to do himself then we need to take heed and follow. The whole time Jesus traveled around with the disciples, He was showing them how to be like Him and how to respond to different situations and the attitudes in which to use. I can only imagine how that would have been had I been one of them traveling, watching Jesus do miracles, and seeing educated men of God being out witted by a carpenter. I would hope I would have been like a sponge, soaking up all the knowledge first hand. After Jesus was baptized, God said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Christ being baptized showed obedience to His Father and the public that same obedient act. So, after you have gone forward to accept Jesus as Savior, take the next step and get baptized as soon as possible. I know when I was baptized; I came up out of the water different. From that day forward my knowledge of the bible grew and grew. The Word began to make sense and I saw my life start to change over time. I grew spiritually and an understanding of the personal relationship Christ wants and needs began to develop. It is my belief that, this single act of obedience brings blessing to your life.

In every instance of salvation there has been a baptism of the believer. In Acts 2:38, Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Peter told everyone at Pentecost to repent and be baptized. In Acts 2:41, Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. All who believed were baptized. When Saul was converted in Acts Chapter 9, he was baptized after he received his sight. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. (Acts 9:17,18). That whole story can be read from verse 1 through 18. Saul who was named Paul by the Lord also was obedient to the command of baptism. Jesus intended for us to be saved and then publically show our inward decision through baptism to be His. I believe it is a seal to the deal of salvation that brings the Holy Spirit to us for growth and it also creates an atmosphere of success for ministry work.

In Romans 6: 3-5, Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection. This passage best describes what really happens in baptism. We go under the water as unto death and burial, then come back up out of the water again as Christ rose again giving us the newness of life He has. This outward display of our inward decision shows everyone we are not ashamed to claim Christ as our savior.

If you read my previous post about salvation and got saved, then get baptized as soon as you can. God will take you places you never dreamed.

Is The Gospel Message Getting Out?

I would have to say salvation and baptism are at the core of a pastor's heart. At least they should be. I know  it is for me. Salvation is the most important to me because without salvation, baptism means nothing. As pastors, we need to see to God's work and His will. It is God's will that all be saved.

 "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."  ( 2Peter 3:9)
As each day passes, it gets closer and closer to the time when the Lord will return for all his followers.
"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." (2Peter 3:10)

Time is running out and there are so many people that need to hear this message. I can see a town full of lost people right here where I am and as a pastor, I encourage all my fellow colleagues to adjust their lesson plans to present the urgency of the plan of salvation to all who will listen.  Jesus is returning soon and there are still souls to be won. The Bible says, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23). 

That is why Jesus died on the cross for all of us. " But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8). He made a way for all of us to be reconciled to God forever just by obeying God's will. This is a free gift to us just by accepting Jesus as Savior. " For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:16,17).

Not many things these days are free so take it while it is still available. I like the idea of living forever with my Lord and Savior. What other reasons could there be for serving the Lord then to help people reconcile themselves to God. That is a true friend and brother or sister. Bible says to go out and preach the message of the gospel to all nations and to baptize the people who except Christ as Savior in water. "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:18-20).

Then we need to teach them to observe all that Jesus has commanded. I remember the night I accepted Christ as Savior. It was during a revival and that night the evangelist was talking about hell and fire and that all who do not get saved will burn forever in Hell. Well, I did not want to burn so I went forward and accepted the Lord as Savior. What a relief that was. Now I had the assurance of salvation and eternity with my Lord and Savior. Have you given your life to the Lord? Would you consider making the decision to accept Jesus.

I want to make this easy for you, no need to wait, if you want to accept Him today, I have added a simple prayer for salvation, just for you...
"Dear Lord please forgive me of my sin. I accept you Jesus, as my personal Savior. I accept your free gift of salvation. I believe Jesus is the Son of God. I believe Jesus died on the cross for my sin and rose again on the third day. I believe Jesus is alive and in Heaven. In Jesus name. Amen."

If you prayed this prayer I believe you have been born again. Please send us an email telling us your experience. We have a "New Converts" packet that will help you get started learning about the Lord you have accepted.
Email: Littlejake52@aol.com