The Power of One Man

The Power of One Man

Romans 5:19

For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

There’s been a lot of discussion over the POTUS’ statement about same sex marriage, him being a world leader I can certainly understand why so much weight has been given to his opinion. His influence is worldwide. A lot hinges on the words of the President but all of the power of that one man does not match the Power of one man, namely Jesus Christ the Son of man.

As Powerful as his words are, President Obama can’t destroy me or save me. Jesus is the only one through his death on the cross that saved man. Adam was the one man through his one act of disobedience that condemned many in the human race but Jesus saved the lives of many by justifying our sins through his sacrificial death. Through one-man came condemnation and through another salvation. What the law was ineffective in doing, Jesus did through one act of Love. While we were yet sinners, Jesus died for us. President Obama’s statement on Same Sex marriage caused a great discussion and forced the church to talk about how it would treat its Gay and Lesbian neighbors. Jesus died so that we could Love God and our neighbors. Who is my neighbor? According to Jesus people who are not Religious, people you may never associate with, these people are your neighbors. Read Luke 10:30-37 and replace Samaritan with Gay. Replace the wounded man with ‘wounded Christian’ and you will see the implications of Jesus’ story. The same way you feel about replacing those words is how religious people felt about Jesus including Samaritan’s in the salvation picture.

He who has been forgiven much loves much. Today, you have the power of one to bring life or death, love or hate, judgment or mercy. Walk in the Power of the one who died for you.

Dear God,
Use me today to love my neighbor as I love myself. Help me to want the same things for my neighbor that I am entitled to. Thank you for dying for me that I might be set free. Teach us how to love people who are different from us but still a part of the human race. We have the Power of One.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Let It Rain!

Let it Rain

I Kings 8: 35 “When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and when they pray toward this place and give praise to your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them, 36 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live, and send rain on the land you gave your people for an inheritance.

There will be seasons in our lives when there is no rain because we have not allowed God to reign. When we don’t allow God to influence our lives in live in subjection to his rule we can find ourselves in an unnecessary drought.

During Elijah’s time God pronounced a drought that lasted 3 years. It was because the people worshipped Baal instead of the true and living God. When we trade in our worship of God for idolatry it causes a drought in our lives. Idolatry is when we replace God with created things. Our jobs, relationships, money and egos take the place of God’s prominence in our lives. As a result, there is a drought that takes place. Things begin to dry up in our lives because God no longer reigns.

There is a place we can go where God will make it rain again. That place is the House of Worship. When it is dry our lives we can come back into God’s house so God can let it rain. Last night Bishop Paul Morton sang his song, “open the flood gates of heaven and let it rain.” He also preached a sermon entitled, “Cut the Devil’s Tap Off!” When we cut the devil’s tap off God will let it rain in our lives.

How do we get it to rain again? How do we get God to bless our finances again? How do we restore vitality to our marriages? How do we get our ministries to grow again? How do we get promotion and opportunities in our place of business?

1. Pray to God in his house. Jesus said, “my house shall be called a house of Prayer but you have made it a den of robbers.” We have to stop making a church a place where we come in with our hidden agendas and make it a place of prayer. When we pray from a pure place God will hear us. Jesus said, “Ask and it shall be given, knock and the door shall be open, seek and you will find.”

2. Confess God’s name. Put God back in a place of prominence. Admit that he is God and sovereign. When you make a confession of God’s name you are also admitting to other people what God means to you. We are living in a time where God’s place in your life can no longer be a secret to the people you are in relationship with.

3. Turn from your Sin. There must be a change in behavior from that which caused the drought in the first place. Turn the devil’s tap off before you try to clean up the mess that is in your life.

Dear God,

Let it rain again in our lives. We realize where we went wrong and we confess our sins to you. Please forgive us of our sins and let it rain as your reign in our lives.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

The Big Pay Back!

The Big Pay Back!

2 Thessolanians 1:6
God is just; he will pay back trouble, to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled and to us well.

Sold me out, for chump change (yes you did!!!) Told me that they, they had it all arranged, you handed me down, and that’s a fact, you you’re pumped, you gotta get ready for the Big Pay Back!--James Brown

It bothers us when people we trust do us wrong, people who are supposed to be on our team turn on us, it is disturbing. Doesn’t it bother you when people trouble you for no other reason than mere jealousy? It’s unfortunate but chances are somebody somewhere will trouble you but you can’t waste energy plotting your revenge. Revenge belongs to God. God will trouble those who trouble you. Justice is a wheel that grinds slow but it grinds fine.

Even when men think they are getting away with something, God has a way of catching up with the people who trouble you.

1. Jesus said to pray for those who persecute you. Why? Because Jesus knows that if God really gives them what they deserve for messing with you then they would be wiped out! That’s why Jesus prayed from the cross in excruciating pain, “Father forgive them for they don’t realize what they are doing.”
2. Never take your own revenge, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay says the Lord. Romans 12:19
3. God will send relief for those of us who are troubled. God knows how much we can bear and he will come to lift the heavy burdens. Help is on the way!

Dear God,

You already know about those who are causing us trouble. I will focus my energy on being productive and let you handle the trouble makers. Forgive me for wasting time worried about my troubles because I know trouble don’t last always.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

You Can Have It Back

You Can Have It Back

Matthew 27:3
When Judas, who had betrayed Jesus, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders.

Some things just ain’t worth keeping, especially when it costs you more than what it’s worth. We’ve all gotten something we wish we could give back after we’ve obtained it. In the world of sales it’s called “buyer’s remorse,” when people make impulse purchases and afterwards they begin to process, ‘Do I really need this?’ It may stem from fear of making the wrong choice, guilt over extravagance, or a suspicion of having been overly influenced by the seller. Sometimes, there are escape clauses for people who experience buyer’s remorse to give back the purchased item without penalty.

It is only after we see the costs and the adverse effect of our desires that some of us experience remorse. It could be a car or a house. It could also be a wedding ring or a hotel room. It could be an abortion or a divorce. These are some of the things we wish we could give back but it’s already too late to give it back.

Judas wanted to give back the money after he saw that Jesus was condemned to die. Judas was seized with remorse and wanted no parts of the money that he received to betray his teacher, Jesus. Judas was half way right. He gave back the money but he didn’t get back to Jesus. He hung himself. His best move would have been to get back to Jesus but he felt like the damage had already been done. How many of us have already made a transaction that we seem like we can’t recoup from?

The good news is that you have an escape clause or a ‘buyers remorse clause,’ “If you confess your sins, God is faithful to forgive you of your sins.” Whatever it is you regret doing you may not be able to give it back but you can get back in relationship with Jesus today. You can have it back! You can get your joy back. You can get your relationship back. You can get your self-esteem back. If my people will humble themselves, pray and turn from their wicked ways, God will hear from heaven and heal their land.

Dear God,

Thank you for giving me an escape clause. I’ve made some stupid transactions and it looked like I was stuck with my bad decisions. But I thank you that through Jesus Christ you can turn my mess into a miracle. Thank you for helping me to get back to where I belong in you.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

How Much Did They Pay You?

How Much Did They Pay You?

Matthew 26:15

What are you willing to give me if I hand ‘Jesus’ over to you? So they counted out thirty silver coins.

It’s a crazy question but I’m going to ask it anyway, “How much would you seek out Jesus for?” How much would it take for you to lay down your relationship with Jesus? They say that everybody has a price. What’s yours? In our right minds we would say, ‘There is no price that anybody could pay me to sell Jesus out,’ but yet many people sell him out for less than Judas got. We sell Jesus out for a few minutes of pleasure. We sell Jesus out for a career opportunity. We sell Jesus out to keep a relationship. We sell Jesus out for the sake of being politically correct. How much did they pay you to let him go?

The Chief Priests wanted Jesus dead but they had a hard time getting past all the people who believed in him so they went in to someone close to him. Sometimes the most vulnerable people are the ones closest to Jesus. The enemy knows that if he can find your price, you just might betray him. Judas had a weakness for money and the chief priests exploited that weakness by offering Judas 30 pieces of silver to turn Jesus over. 30 pieces of silver was the price someone had to pay if a slave was accidently gored by an ox. Judas sold the Savior of the World for the price of a slave. I don’t think Judas thought they would kill him, he just wanted to hand him over but in handing him over he participated in his crucifixion. This thought was so unbearable that Judas went out and hanged himself.

Betraying Jesus, even for a little while puts our own lives in jeopardy. How do we avoid selling Jesus out?

1. You have to know your areas of weakness. The devil is always looking for an entry point through your weakness to get you to turn against Jesus. Strengthen the weak areas in the walls of your defense.

     2. Don’t accept anything that would betray Jesus. If what you are getting ready to do would hurt
         Jesus in anyway don’t even consider it.

     3. Take advantage of your way of escape. Jesus told Judas to his face that he would betray him.
         He said, “friend whatever you are going to do, do it quickly.” That was a way out for Judas.
         God will always provide a way of escape but you have to take it.

     4. Give them their money back but don’t kill yourself. If you discover that you have betrayed
         Jesus in anyway, repent of your actions but don’t make permanent decisions over something
         that can be fixed.

Dear God,

You are worth more to me than anything. I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold. Fleeting pleasures are not worth my salvation. I will not sell out, give out, or put out. I’m holding on and I won't let go of your hand.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Do You Have A Smartphone or a Dumbphone?

Matthew 25:3
The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.

Your smart phone is an amazing device that can connect you to the world, allow you to utilize social media, do word processing, Skype, conference call, take pictures, watch movies, do banking, it’s amazing how much you can get accomplished on your smartphone. With all that it can do, none of that will work if the smart phone is not recharged using the charger. The more you use it, the more the power is drained from it. It is going to need to be recharged.

Whenever I travel, I make sure that I pack my power cords and adapters so that I can ensure that I have power for my Smartphone. It would be foolish for me to take the phone but leave the charger. It’s the same way with us as Christians when we try to do ministry without oil. God can do so much through us, he can heal the sick, give sight to the blind, set the captives free, preach good news to the poor, clothe the naked, feed the hungry, help the homeless, visit those who are in prisons, cast out devils, but if we are not connected to our Power source we are of no use to God. We are like the five foolish virgins who brought lamps but no oil.

The lamps were used to light the path for the wedding party so that the groom could find his way to the bride. It’s our job to make sure we are lights to the world so that they can find their way to the bride, the church, and the groom who is Jesus. We cannot be effective lights if we have no oil to keep us lit.  The lamps represent our witness and the oil represents God’s anointing via the Holy Spirit. It’s important that we reconnect to our power source after we’ve been drained during ministry. How do we recharge?

1. Cut off your Navigational device on your phone. The navigational system connects to the satellite intermittingly to allow others to know where you are. It’s draining to constantly check in with other people and allow them access to your whereabouts. That’s why Jesus often withdrew to lonely places after doing ministry. He had to recharge.
2. Cut off Apps that are running in the background. Many times we have too many things going on at one time. Cut off stuff you are no longer using but that are using you.
3. Plug into a power source every day. Our Power comes from God and we can reach him through:

1. Prayer
2. Worship
3. Scripture
4. Fasting
5. Have a back up battery pack. I have a Mophie battery pack. When I am not near a power source and my battery is running down, I can flick a switch on my Mophie which holds my phone and it recharges my phone without being plugged in. Our back up battery pack is the Holy Spirit. When we are weak He is strong. The catch is that you must be filled with the Holy Spirit prior to trying to access it. This too must be recharged by what you do in Step Three.

Dear God,

Help me to get reconnected to my power source. I cannot be effective in ministry unless your oil is on my life. If I have too many apps running in the background of my life, shut them down so that I can fully utilize my power in you. In you, oh God, I move, live and have my being. Outside of you I have limited power. Renew the right spirit within me and restore the Joy of my salvation, whatever you do, please don’t take your Spirit away from me. I need you Lord each and every day. Use me today as a conduit of your power.

In Jesus Name,
Amen

What Do You Have on Your Mind?

What do you have in mind?

I Chronicles 17:2
 Nathan replied to David, “Whatever you have in mind, Do it, for God is with you.”

One of my favorite scriptures is Proverbs 18:16, “Your gift will make room for you and bring you into the presence of great men.” There are a lot of gifted men and women that make it into the presence of great men and great platforms but the problem is that when they arrive they don’t have anything of substance on their minds. Success comes when preparation meets with opportunity. During your downtime you must be busy preparing yourself so that when your opportunity comes you will have something on your mind worth sharing. What’s on your mind?

David had an opportunity to build God a house or what we would call a Sanctuary, or temple,. Initially, the prophet tells David, “Whatever you have on your mind, do it…” because of David’s heart God is ready to hear what’s on David’s mind. We want to give God a piece of our mind before we give him all of our hearts.

When somebody loves you they want to know what’s on your mind. Even so, what’s on your mind may not match what’s in God’s will. That’s why the Bible tells us, “Lean not to your own understanding but in all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your path.

What’s on your mind?

1. Write your goals in concrete and your plan in sand. You should have in mind what you want to accomplish for God but know that at anytime God can alter how he’s going to get it done.

2. Put something on your mind. Read your bible daily and a book weekly. You have to study to show yourself approved. Knowledge is power.

3. Tell God what’s on your mind through prayer so he can establish the work of your hands by the words of your mouth.

4. Renew your mind through regular praise and worship. The Holy Spirit is the one that transforms our minds so that we can have the mind of Christ.

Dear God,

Let this mind of Christ Jesus be also in me. Transform my mind so that even my thoughts would be pleasing to you. Thank you for the opportunities where you have brought me into the presence of great men. Expand my thought process so that I reflect your wisdom in my daily affairs. Order my steps today so that I end up in your will.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

It's Time to Straighten Up

It’s Time to Straighten Up
Psalm 106:43-45
Many times he delivered them, but they were bent on rebellion and they wasted away in their sin.

My Dad was telling me about how hard he used to work in the tobacco fields as a young man. He would go down the row and pick suckers off the tobacco plants two rows at a time, sixteen rows total, until he finished. By the time he was finished he said, “I couldn’t straighten up! I had to walk all the way home bent over. I don’t know why I was so ‘bent’ on getting it done.”

Why do we work so hard, drive so hard, for something that’s going to leave us bent over in pain? Why are we so hell bent on something that leaves us hurting in the end? At the end of the day nothing is worth being bent over if I can’t straighten up.

God delivered us so many times but we are bent on some route that leaves us in bad shape. We are like that woman that Jesus met who was bent over for 18 years, she couldn’t straighten up. Jesus said, “Woman you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her and immediately she straightened up and praised God.” (Luke 13:11-12)

How do we straighten up?
1. Remember all the things that God has done for you and what you have to lose.
2. Surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
3. Confess your sins to God.
4. Accept the grace and forgiveness of God.
5. Walk upright in the commandments of God.

Dear God,

My deepest desire is to straighten up so you can get Glory out of my life. Please forgive me for having a one track mind and get back on the path of righteousness so that I can finish the work you have for me to do.

In Jesus Name,

Amen