Proverbs 18:24
Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family. MSG
One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin but a friend sticks closer than a brother. NIV
The man of many friends (a friend of all the world) will prove himself a bad friend, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.AMP
I was watching an episode of Chloe and Lamar where Lamar’s friend, Jamie, was being kind of trifling. They had been friends since high school in Queens, played basketball together, and won a championship. They are more like brothers than friends. Jamie almost died of a colon disease but Lamar was right there for him giving him a job and keys to his house. Jamie started slacking on his responsibilities because of his friendship and eventually messed up a big business deal. Lamar relieved his friend of his duties. Jamie was devastated and didn’t answer his phone for three days. Lamar went to look for his friend and found him dirty, depressed, and drunk. He called his wife to tell her he was spending the night until Jamie sobered up so he could have a real talk with him. Chloe told Lamar, “You’re a good friend.” Lamar said, “You’re a better wife.”
Lamar showed me something about friendship. There is a difference between a companion and a friend. Whodini asked us a very important question back in the 80’s, “Friends, how many of us have them…the one’s we can depend on?" What we learn in our maturity is that some of the people we called friends were really just companions.
1. Companions are friends who come and go but real friends stick by you like family. Lamar kept saying that Jamie was his brother. He stuck by him even when he was at his lowest. He didn’t just let Jamie slide on being trifling and messing up the business deal but he didn’t kick while he was down either.
2. Companions are unreliable friends who if we continue to allow in our lives will cause us to come to ruin. Is it possible that Lamar was a friend to Jamie but Jamie was a companion to Lamar? If Jamie really values Lamar as a brother then he has to step up and be a brother not just a companion. A man who has friends must first show himself or herself reliable.
3. Companions try to be friends with everybody and never really established any real depth or transparency but everyone should have at least one friend who knows you like a brother. Sometimes, blood brothers are more like companions and friends more like relatives. You can’t choose your relatives but you can choose your friends. Choose wisely!
Dear God,
Help me to be a better friend to a select few. Increase the quality of my friendships. Give me discernment to know who to pour into and who to withdraw from. My success depends upon my lifeline connection to real friends. Help me to stay connected to real brothers and not unreliable companions.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
You're Only As Strong As Your OX!
Proverbs 14:4
Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest.
Babe the Blue Ox was a great help around Paul Bunyan’s logging camp. He could pull anything that had two ends.—Babe the Blue Ox, Minnesota Tall Tales.
Having a strong Ox in order to get some work done is no tall tale. Oxen have been important to both eastern and western worlds for a long time especially in agricultural areas. All throughout the Old Testament you read about oxen used for ploughing fields. Oxen were the only animals strong enough to break up the hard earth so that the seeds could be planted to yield a bountiful harvest. Even in the New Testament, Paul uses the analogy of Pastors/Elders of the church being Oxen to help church members experience a spiritual harvest through teaching and preaching. Your Pastor has to go before you to break up hard spiritual ground to plant God’s word to produce a harvest in your heart. In I Timothy 5:18 he says, “Do not muzzle an Ox(Pastor) while it is treading grain(teaching/preaching), the worker deserves his wages(tithes/offerings). Every person needs a Pastor so you can have a Spiritual Ox to help you experience a Spirutal harvest.
Not just in the spirutal world but also in the business world you need to make sure you have an ox to produce a harvest in your life and you need to take care of them, because you are only as strong as your ox. If there is no ox on your team your barns will always be empty but if you have at least one ox, you will experience a harvest.
Whenever you hire anybody to be on your team or you try to build a team through relationship you need to find somebody who has gifts as strong as or stronger than yours. That’s why the bible says; do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. You don’t want to be connected with someone who is not pulling in the same direction as you. Deuteronomy 22:10 states, “Do not plow with an ox and an ass yoked together. KJV You need someone as strong as an ox not as stubborn as a donkey.
What does it mean to be as strong as an ox?
They are physically powerful and healthy. When you add people to your life or your team make sure they can carry their own weight because you don’t need any dead weight.
They are producers and they produce with a lot of power and force. They need to be impact players.
They are not easily broken or damaged. If they are going to be on your staff or team they must have strong self esteem. At the pace you are pulling you don’t have time to stop and baby somebody with low self esteem.
They must be good at doing something. What skills are they bringing to the table?
They are firm in their faith. Their faith has to agree with your faith. How can two walk together unless they agree?
As you are looking for an Ox to be on your team you must first be an ox yourself. You draw who you are. If you want a harvest you will only be as successful as your strongest Ox. No OX, No Harvest.
Dear God,
Help me to have the strength of an ox, the heart of a lion, the wisdom of an owl. Surround me with good people who will help me to produce the harvest you have purposed for my life. Strengthen the work of my hands so that I may be as strong as an ox.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest.
Babe the Blue Ox was a great help around Paul Bunyan’s logging camp. He could pull anything that had two ends.—Babe the Blue Ox, Minnesota Tall Tales.
Having a strong Ox in order to get some work done is no tall tale. Oxen have been important to both eastern and western worlds for a long time especially in agricultural areas. All throughout the Old Testament you read about oxen used for ploughing fields. Oxen were the only animals strong enough to break up the hard earth so that the seeds could be planted to yield a bountiful harvest. Even in the New Testament, Paul uses the analogy of Pastors/Elders of the church being Oxen to help church members experience a spiritual harvest through teaching and preaching. Your Pastor has to go before you to break up hard spiritual ground to plant God’s word to produce a harvest in your heart. In I Timothy 5:18 he says, “Do not muzzle an Ox(Pastor) while it is treading grain(teaching/preaching), the worker deserves his wages(tithes/offerings). Every person needs a Pastor so you can have a Spiritual Ox to help you experience a Spirutal harvest.
Not just in the spirutal world but also in the business world you need to make sure you have an ox to produce a harvest in your life and you need to take care of them, because you are only as strong as your ox. If there is no ox on your team your barns will always be empty but if you have at least one ox, you will experience a harvest.
Whenever you hire anybody to be on your team or you try to build a team through relationship you need to find somebody who has gifts as strong as or stronger than yours. That’s why the bible says; do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. You don’t want to be connected with someone who is not pulling in the same direction as you. Deuteronomy 22:10 states, “Do not plow with an ox and an ass yoked together. KJV You need someone as strong as an ox not as stubborn as a donkey.
What does it mean to be as strong as an ox?
They are physically powerful and healthy. When you add people to your life or your team make sure they can carry their own weight because you don’t need any dead weight.
They are producers and they produce with a lot of power and force. They need to be impact players.
They are not easily broken or damaged. If they are going to be on your staff or team they must have strong self esteem. At the pace you are pulling you don’t have time to stop and baby somebody with low self esteem.
They must be good at doing something. What skills are they bringing to the table?
They are firm in their faith. Their faith has to agree with your faith. How can two walk together unless they agree?
As you are looking for an Ox to be on your team you must first be an ox yourself. You draw who you are. If you want a harvest you will only be as successful as your strongest Ox. No OX, No Harvest.
Dear God,
Help me to have the strength of an ox, the heart of a lion, the wisdom of an owl. Surround me with good people who will help me to produce the harvest you have purposed for my life. Strengthen the work of my hands so that I may be as strong as an ox.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Get Me Outta Here!
Romans 7:22-23
For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.
T-Mobil has a commercial featuring Dewayne Wade who is in a hotel room getting dressed in the bathroom. When he tries to exit the doors get jammed and he starts yelling, “Get me out of here!” His phone somehow records his desperate plea and goes out over the 4g network. Everybody gets a hold of the message and begins to interpret that Dewayne wants out of Miami via a trade when in actuality he just wants out of the bathroom. The maid opens the door and says, “You made the news.”
How many times have you felt like D-Wade, trapped inside a situation wanting to get out, but your actions being misinterpreted from people on the outside? It’s amazing how people don’t really know what you struggle with on the inside but take “sound bites” out of your life to hear what they want to hear. Bad news travels around the world before good news can get out of the door good. We all want the best of who we are to come out but sometimes the perception of who we are gets communicated first.
Akon was right, “I’m locked up and I can’t get out.” The best of who I am, the part of me that most resembles God sometimes gets locked in the changing room. I’m getting ready to come out only to find out that my flesh locked the door on my higher self. While my lower self walks out of the hotel misrepresenting who I am. Have you ever said something you wish you could take back? It’s almost like you can hear yourself talking but you are not quick enough to stop it. There is a battle going on in the “changing room,” and I want outta here!
The Apostle Paul described this as a struggle or a war against the law of my mind and the law of sin in our bodies. When we know the law of God or the word of God it makes us conscience of what is right and wrong. Knowing what is right or wrong is a start but not the end. Knowing actually increases the appetite of the flesh to do what you know not to do. When we see someone fall from grace we always are quick to say, “They knew better than that!” They did and you do too, but why do WE continue to do it? Because the best of who we are gets trapped in the changing room while the worst of who we are gets miscommunicated.
How do we get outta here?!
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Proverbs 1:7 a healthy respect of God’s teachings is the beginning of getting out of the war between your higher self and your lower self.
Getting Wisdom and understanding will help you overcome the lower desires that pull you from your higher self. Proverbs 2:10-11 for wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.
A relationship with Jesus will set you free from your old self. By (Jesus) dying to what once bound us, we have been RELEASED from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Sprit, and not in the old way of the written code. Romans 7:6
I’m Outta Here!
Dear God,
Thank you for opening the doors and releasing me from my old self. I’m able now to represent you the right way and to put to death the old ways that had me trapped in the changing room. Old things have passed, all things have become new again. I’m ready to spread the good news and leave my old self in the changing room. Thanks for getting me outta here!
In Jesus Name,
Amen
For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.
T-Mobil has a commercial featuring Dewayne Wade who is in a hotel room getting dressed in the bathroom. When he tries to exit the doors get jammed and he starts yelling, “Get me out of here!” His phone somehow records his desperate plea and goes out over the 4g network. Everybody gets a hold of the message and begins to interpret that Dewayne wants out of Miami via a trade when in actuality he just wants out of the bathroom. The maid opens the door and says, “You made the news.”
How many times have you felt like D-Wade, trapped inside a situation wanting to get out, but your actions being misinterpreted from people on the outside? It’s amazing how people don’t really know what you struggle with on the inside but take “sound bites” out of your life to hear what they want to hear. Bad news travels around the world before good news can get out of the door good. We all want the best of who we are to come out but sometimes the perception of who we are gets communicated first.
Akon was right, “I’m locked up and I can’t get out.” The best of who I am, the part of me that most resembles God sometimes gets locked in the changing room. I’m getting ready to come out only to find out that my flesh locked the door on my higher self. While my lower self walks out of the hotel misrepresenting who I am. Have you ever said something you wish you could take back? It’s almost like you can hear yourself talking but you are not quick enough to stop it. There is a battle going on in the “changing room,” and I want outta here!
The Apostle Paul described this as a struggle or a war against the law of my mind and the law of sin in our bodies. When we know the law of God or the word of God it makes us conscience of what is right and wrong. Knowing what is right or wrong is a start but not the end. Knowing actually increases the appetite of the flesh to do what you know not to do. When we see someone fall from grace we always are quick to say, “They knew better than that!” They did and you do too, but why do WE continue to do it? Because the best of who we are gets trapped in the changing room while the worst of who we are gets miscommunicated.
How do we get outta here?!
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Proverbs 1:7 a healthy respect of God’s teachings is the beginning of getting out of the war between your higher self and your lower self.
Getting Wisdom and understanding will help you overcome the lower desires that pull you from your higher self. Proverbs 2:10-11 for wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.
A relationship with Jesus will set you free from your old self. By (Jesus) dying to what once bound us, we have been RELEASED from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Sprit, and not in the old way of the written code. Romans 7:6
I’m Outta Here!
Dear God,
Thank you for opening the doors and releasing me from my old self. I’m able now to represent you the right way and to put to death the old ways that had me trapped in the changing room. Old things have passed, all things have become new again. I’m ready to spread the good news and leave my old self in the changing room. Thanks for getting me outta here!
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet!
I Kings 10: 6 She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. 7 But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard.[1]
So many times, we live our lives from the perspective of other people’s opinions. You miss out on the grand scope of things because of the limited perspective of other people and your own limited experience. It reminds me of the Six blind men who were exploring an elephant for the first time.
Six blind men stumble upon an elephant for the first time. Each man finds a different part of the elephant and is ecstatic in their descriptions of what they have found. One man describes the trunk, another, the tail, yet another, the body and finally the leg is described. Each is insistent they have the accurate description and the others must be wrong. http://www.noogenesis.com/pineapple/blind_men_elephant.html
Each one of them has a part of the truth but the half has not been told. How many times have we let people come back with hearsay about a church and you base your opinions on something you haven’t experienced or seen for yourself? You’ve condemned someone or something based on somebody else’s limited understanding of a piece of what they’ve experienced. An elephant gets shrunk down to a rope because one blind man touched his tail.
The Queen of Sheba had heard about how much wisdom Solomon had and how great his kingdom was but it was not until she paid a visit herself that she discovered just how great his wisdom and kingdom were. She said, “not even half was told me!” How much of life are you missing because you are living off of half of what other people tell you.
It’s amazing to me how many people tell me the varied opinions of what our church is all about before they experience it for themselves. One lady told me on Facebook that she “heard our church was only for young people” until she tuned in live for TNT to hear me preach. She said your teaching made me want to come to your church for the first time because you are nothing like what I heard. How many great experiences, good friends, wonderful opportunities have we let slide because you listened to somebody who only had a fraction of the truth? Our problem is that we don’t investigate ourselves.
In order to experience all that God has for you, you must:
1. See for yourself. One of my long time members joined my church because the Holy Spirit kept telling her to go to my church even though everybody around her said don’t. She was driving past our church when God made her turn around. When she came in for prayer the intercessor prophesied over her everything that was going on in her life. She never missed another week.
2. Let go of limited understanding. The problem with the blind men wasn’t their blindness it was their inability to let go of their limited understanding so they could share with each other their different pieces. We need to share with other people our pieces of the truth so we can understand the bigger picture.
3. Take an open mind with you when you go then test the Spirit by the Spirit. Jesus said, “My sheep know my voice and they will not hearken to the voice of a stranger.” You will know what is from God and what is not.
Dear God,
I want to experience all of what you have for me. I am ready to explore every piece of the truth so that in knowing the truth the truth will set me free. I am not satisfied with other people’s prejudices and spin on the truth. I want to know fully every revelation you have for me. Get me out of my comfort zone and show me everything you have for me. I have a feeling that the half has not been told. Eyes haven’t seen, ears haven’t heard, and neither has it entered into the hearts of men what you have for me. Show me Lord, I want to see.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. 1 Ki 10:6-7
So many times, we live our lives from the perspective of other people’s opinions. You miss out on the grand scope of things because of the limited perspective of other people and your own limited experience. It reminds me of the Six blind men who were exploring an elephant for the first time.
Six blind men stumble upon an elephant for the first time. Each man finds a different part of the elephant and is ecstatic in their descriptions of what they have found. One man describes the trunk, another, the tail, yet another, the body and finally the leg is described. Each is insistent they have the accurate description and the others must be wrong. http://www.noogenesis.com/pineapple/blind_men_elephant.html
Each one of them has a part of the truth but the half has not been told. How many times have we let people come back with hearsay about a church and you base your opinions on something you haven’t experienced or seen for yourself? You’ve condemned someone or something based on somebody else’s limited understanding of a piece of what they’ve experienced. An elephant gets shrunk down to a rope because one blind man touched his tail.
The Queen of Sheba had heard about how much wisdom Solomon had and how great his kingdom was but it was not until she paid a visit herself that she discovered just how great his wisdom and kingdom were. She said, “not even half was told me!” How much of life are you missing because you are living off of half of what other people tell you.
It’s amazing to me how many people tell me the varied opinions of what our church is all about before they experience it for themselves. One lady told me on Facebook that she “heard our church was only for young people” until she tuned in live for TNT to hear me preach. She said your teaching made me want to come to your church for the first time because you are nothing like what I heard. How many great experiences, good friends, wonderful opportunities have we let slide because you listened to somebody who only had a fraction of the truth? Our problem is that we don’t investigate ourselves.
In order to experience all that God has for you, you must:
1. See for yourself. One of my long time members joined my church because the Holy Spirit kept telling her to go to my church even though everybody around her said don’t. She was driving past our church when God made her turn around. When she came in for prayer the intercessor prophesied over her everything that was going on in her life. She never missed another week.
2. Let go of limited understanding. The problem with the blind men wasn’t their blindness it was their inability to let go of their limited understanding so they could share with each other their different pieces. We need to share with other people our pieces of the truth so we can understand the bigger picture.
3. Take an open mind with you when you go then test the Spirit by the Spirit. Jesus said, “My sheep know my voice and they will not hearken to the voice of a stranger.” You will know what is from God and what is not.
Dear God,
I want to experience all of what you have for me. I am ready to explore every piece of the truth so that in knowing the truth the truth will set me free. I am not satisfied with other people’s prejudices and spin on the truth. I want to know fully every revelation you have for me. Get me out of my comfort zone and show me everything you have for me. I have a feeling that the half has not been told. Eyes haven’t seen, ears haven’t heard, and neither has it entered into the hearts of men what you have for me. Show me Lord, I want to see.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. 1 Ki 10:6-7
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
His Curse My Gift
Romans 5:15
But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!
When they were trying to decide what to do with Jesus, whether to release him or crucify him Pilate thought he was innocent and deserved to be let go. But the people insisted that he be crucified. Pilate said, “My hands are washed and his blood is not on my hands.” Someone cried out, “Let his blood by on us and our children!” What they meant was that the curse of killing an innocent man would be upon them. They were so convinced that Jesus was guilty of blasphemy they were willing to let his blood be upon them. That’s why Jesus had to proclaim from the cross, “Father forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing!” We really should have been cursed all the more when Jesus died but he kept the curse to himself. Instead of the curse they got the blessing because Jesus kept the curse so we would receive the blessing.
Through one man we all deserved the curse. Adam disobeyed God and as a result sin entered the world and humanity was cursed. Jesus, the second Adam reversed the curse through his obedience even to the point of dying on the cross. One man brought a curse the other man gave us a gift. The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life.
When Balaam was hired to curse the Israelites he told the men that hired him, “I can only say what God tells me.” No matter how much people want to curse you they can’t curse what God has blessed. God told Abraham that those who curse you will be cursed and those that bless you will be blessed. You don’t have to worry about any men or women trying to put a curse on you when Jesus has already reversed the curse. One man’s curse became our blessing. One man brought sin out of disobedience but another man caused an overflow of blessings to come into our life through the gift.
What is the gift?
1. The forgiveness of sin. Jesus demonstrated his love for us in that while we were yet sinners he died for us. His death was the payment for our sin.
2. Abundant Life. Jesus came to give his abundant life which consists of the overflowing, vibrant quality of life made available in Christ was evident in the authority of his speech and the power of his touch[1]
3. The gift of eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.
Dear God,
Thank you for reversing the curse, what was meant for my bad you turned it around for my good. Every morning is a gift that I open with gratitude realizing that you didn’t have to wake me and bless me. Thank you Jesus for dying that I might be able to live a life full of abundance. Thank you for my gift.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
[1]Elwell, Walter A. ; Comfort, Philip Wesley: Tyndale Bible Dictionary. Wheaton, Ill. : Tyndale House Publishers, 2001 (Tyndale Reference Library), S. 818
But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!
When they were trying to decide what to do with Jesus, whether to release him or crucify him Pilate thought he was innocent and deserved to be let go. But the people insisted that he be crucified. Pilate said, “My hands are washed and his blood is not on my hands.” Someone cried out, “Let his blood by on us and our children!” What they meant was that the curse of killing an innocent man would be upon them. They were so convinced that Jesus was guilty of blasphemy they were willing to let his blood be upon them. That’s why Jesus had to proclaim from the cross, “Father forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing!” We really should have been cursed all the more when Jesus died but he kept the curse to himself. Instead of the curse they got the blessing because Jesus kept the curse so we would receive the blessing.
Through one man we all deserved the curse. Adam disobeyed God and as a result sin entered the world and humanity was cursed. Jesus, the second Adam reversed the curse through his obedience even to the point of dying on the cross. One man brought a curse the other man gave us a gift. The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life.
When Balaam was hired to curse the Israelites he told the men that hired him, “I can only say what God tells me.” No matter how much people want to curse you they can’t curse what God has blessed. God told Abraham that those who curse you will be cursed and those that bless you will be blessed. You don’t have to worry about any men or women trying to put a curse on you when Jesus has already reversed the curse. One man’s curse became our blessing. One man brought sin out of disobedience but another man caused an overflow of blessings to come into our life through the gift.
What is the gift?
1. The forgiveness of sin. Jesus demonstrated his love for us in that while we were yet sinners he died for us. His death was the payment for our sin.
2. Abundant Life. Jesus came to give his abundant life which consists of the overflowing, vibrant quality of life made available in Christ was evident in the authority of his speech and the power of his touch[1]
3. The gift of eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.
Dear God,
Thank you for reversing the curse, what was meant for my bad you turned it around for my good. Every morning is a gift that I open with gratitude realizing that you didn’t have to wake me and bless me. Thank you Jesus for dying that I might be able to live a life full of abundance. Thank you for my gift.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
[1]Elwell, Walter A. ; Comfort, Philip Wesley: Tyndale Bible Dictionary. Wheaton, Ill. : Tyndale House Publishers, 2001 (Tyndale Reference Library), S. 818
Monday, May 23, 2011
You Have A Credit!
Romans 4:
23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
Nothing thrills me more than to look through my bank transactions and discover that to the right of all my debits an indention signifying that I have a credit. What is even better is when my credit outweighs my debits. That means I’ve put in more than I’ve taken out. If we look at the transactions from our lives you will notice that to the right side of your life are moments where God made some deposits in you that outweigh what you’ve done for him. There are moments when you didn’t have anything to put in but because you trusted him he put in for you and it was credited to you as righteousness.
There is an assurance you have when you have a credit in your account. I think that’s what Tupac meant when he said, “it feels good putting money in your mailbox.” The only problem is what Tupac had to do to put money in his mailbox. He had to hustle and sell drugs so unfortunately he was making withdrawals while he was making deposits. It is only when we trust God that God makes a deposit on our behalf. Abraham believed God’s promise that he would make a nation through him even though he was an old man and Sarah’s womb was dead. Because he believed God it was credited to him as Righteousness.
That doesn’t mean we remain idle and not work but instead we trust God for our work instead of doing something against God’s will. When we have a credit from God because of our faith it means:
Our transgressions are forgiven. (verse 7) We have overdraft protection. Some banks allow you grace when you take out more than you have in because of relationship. Your pattern through the years shows them that you can be trusted to quickly make up the difference. When we trust God he makes up the difference when we fall short.
Your sins will never be counted against you. (verse 8) your credit score with God is always high not because of your history but because Jesus paid it all on Calvary.
We are justified. (verse 25) We stand before God as Righteous because of our faith in a Resurrected Jesus who died for our sins. Justified=Just-as if- I-didn’t do it!
Dear God,
Thank you for my credit! I checked my account and you kept me from falling. I’m still in good standing because you first loved me. I made too many withdrawals but you covered me until I was able to make a deposit. Thank you Lord for giving me credit I didn’t deserve. I love you Lord and I’m grateful, you get all the credit, the Glory, and the honor.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
Nothing thrills me more than to look through my bank transactions and discover that to the right of all my debits an indention signifying that I have a credit. What is even better is when my credit outweighs my debits. That means I’ve put in more than I’ve taken out. If we look at the transactions from our lives you will notice that to the right side of your life are moments where God made some deposits in you that outweigh what you’ve done for him. There are moments when you didn’t have anything to put in but because you trusted him he put in for you and it was credited to you as righteousness.
There is an assurance you have when you have a credit in your account. I think that’s what Tupac meant when he said, “it feels good putting money in your mailbox.” The only problem is what Tupac had to do to put money in his mailbox. He had to hustle and sell drugs so unfortunately he was making withdrawals while he was making deposits. It is only when we trust God that God makes a deposit on our behalf. Abraham believed God’s promise that he would make a nation through him even though he was an old man and Sarah’s womb was dead. Because he believed God it was credited to him as Righteousness.
That doesn’t mean we remain idle and not work but instead we trust God for our work instead of doing something against God’s will. When we have a credit from God because of our faith it means:
Our transgressions are forgiven. (verse 7) We have overdraft protection. Some banks allow you grace when you take out more than you have in because of relationship. Your pattern through the years shows them that you can be trusted to quickly make up the difference. When we trust God he makes up the difference when we fall short.
Your sins will never be counted against you. (verse 8) your credit score with God is always high not because of your history but because Jesus paid it all on Calvary.
We are justified. (verse 25) We stand before God as Righteous because of our faith in a Resurrected Jesus who died for our sins. Justified=Just-as if- I-didn’t do it!
Dear God,
Thank you for my credit! I checked my account and you kept me from falling. I’m still in good standing because you first loved me. I made too many withdrawals but you covered me until I was able to make a deposit. Thank you Lord for giving me credit I didn’t deserve. I love you Lord and I’m grateful, you get all the credit, the Glory, and the honor.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Staff Infection
Psalm 101:7
No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house, no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence.
Staphylococcus is a group of bacteria that can cause a number of diseases as a result of infection of various tissues in the body. Staphylococcus is more familiarly known as staph (pronounced Staff). Staph related illness can range from mild and requiring no treatment to severe and potentially fatal.
Surprisingly, Staph infections are most common in hospitals and other institutional health care settings and strike people with weakened immune systems. It’s important to protect yourself and others from Staph infections when your immune system is vulnerable. It’s amazing that we oftentimes use the analogy of the church being a Hospital. People come to the hospital to get better not sicker, but if we don’t protect the environment from infected staff it can spread to people who just came to get better.
Another place Staff infections occur is at work, originations, and your home. It happens when spiritual bacteria of deceit and falsehood get into the body of Christ and cause toxins to infect the fellowship and productivity of its members. It’s important as caregivers, leaders, and parents that we maintain the health of our members. Oftentimes in hospitals, staph infections are spread by the people who care for the patients. Because they had contact with someone infected they can carry it back to somebody who was not infected but was vulnerable. When you know that there is infection in your family, church, or business it is up to you to address it immediately before it spreads to everybody else and proves fatal to those involved.
David was very much aware of staff infections and told God that he would remove people from his house that could cause staff infections through deceit and falsehood. It’s interesting that David starts with his own house before he even starts with his kingdom. King David said he would remove anybody from his house, from his presence that practiced deceit or falsehood.
John Maxwell said that the Law of the bad apple was that, “one bad apple could mess up the whole barrel.” If you let toxic behavior go unchecked it could mess up your whole staff, family or organization. Someone once told me that, “a church mess is a spill that didn’t get cleaned up immediately.” It’s important that when we see the potential for a staff infection that we deal with it before it becomes an epidemic.
How to avoid a Staff infection:
1. When you see toxic behavior address it immediately. The Law of the bad apple also says that people in your organization know who the bad apple is but they are waiting on you as the leader to do something about it. When you let it persist not only does it spread to the organization but it kills your credibility as a leader because you didn’t do anything about it.
2. Treat the disease not the symptom. When there is a Staph infection it can appear as a boil. The boil is a symptom but underneath is the bacterial infection of Staph. You can’t just treat the surface without administering medicine for the disease. Sometimes, people appear to be symptomatic through emotional outbursts but you have to go deeper as to what’s causing the behavior through intervention, counseling, prayer, and treatment.
3. Quarantine the infected for treatment. In 2 Thessalonians 3:6 Paul warned the church there of staff infections involving idleness. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. 14 if anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed. Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
4. If they refuse treatment they must be removed from your presence. Paul talked about a man who was sleeping with his father’s wife. Everybody in church knew about it but was not doing anything. Paul told them they needed to throw him out. I Cor. 5:5- Hold this man’s conduct up to public scrutiny. Let him defend it if he can! But if he can’t, then out with him! It will be totally devastating to him, of course, and embarrassing to you. But better devastation and embarrassment than damnation. You want him on his feet and forgiven before the Master on the Day of Judgment.
6–8 Your flip and callous arrogance in these things bothers me. You pass it off as a small thing, but it’s anything but that. Yeast, too, is a “small thing,” but it works its way through a whole batch of bread dough pretty fast. So get rid of this “yeast.”(the message version)
Dear God,
Search me and my house, and if you find any wickedness in me please remove it. Keep my house clean so that I may be pleasing and acceptable to you. Help me to be a contagious Christian but not a toxic Christian. I pray that the best of who you are would rub off on the people I come into contact with. Open the eyes of my heart and let me see what you see. If you find anything that’s not like you take it out right now and use me to speak truth in love to those who are not walking in the ways of Christ. Use me today to make sure my house is free from Staff Infections.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house, no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence.
Staphylococcus is a group of bacteria that can cause a number of diseases as a result of infection of various tissues in the body. Staphylococcus is more familiarly known as staph (pronounced Staff). Staph related illness can range from mild and requiring no treatment to severe and potentially fatal.
Surprisingly, Staph infections are most common in hospitals and other institutional health care settings and strike people with weakened immune systems. It’s important to protect yourself and others from Staph infections when your immune system is vulnerable. It’s amazing that we oftentimes use the analogy of the church being a Hospital. People come to the hospital to get better not sicker, but if we don’t protect the environment from infected staff it can spread to people who just came to get better.
Another place Staff infections occur is at work, originations, and your home. It happens when spiritual bacteria of deceit and falsehood get into the body of Christ and cause toxins to infect the fellowship and productivity of its members. It’s important as caregivers, leaders, and parents that we maintain the health of our members. Oftentimes in hospitals, staph infections are spread by the people who care for the patients. Because they had contact with someone infected they can carry it back to somebody who was not infected but was vulnerable. When you know that there is infection in your family, church, or business it is up to you to address it immediately before it spreads to everybody else and proves fatal to those involved.
David was very much aware of staff infections and told God that he would remove people from his house that could cause staff infections through deceit and falsehood. It’s interesting that David starts with his own house before he even starts with his kingdom. King David said he would remove anybody from his house, from his presence that practiced deceit or falsehood.
John Maxwell said that the Law of the bad apple was that, “one bad apple could mess up the whole barrel.” If you let toxic behavior go unchecked it could mess up your whole staff, family or organization. Someone once told me that, “a church mess is a spill that didn’t get cleaned up immediately.” It’s important that when we see the potential for a staff infection that we deal with it before it becomes an epidemic.
How to avoid a Staff infection:
1. When you see toxic behavior address it immediately. The Law of the bad apple also says that people in your organization know who the bad apple is but they are waiting on you as the leader to do something about it. When you let it persist not only does it spread to the organization but it kills your credibility as a leader because you didn’t do anything about it.
2. Treat the disease not the symptom. When there is a Staph infection it can appear as a boil. The boil is a symptom but underneath is the bacterial infection of Staph. You can’t just treat the surface without administering medicine for the disease. Sometimes, people appear to be symptomatic through emotional outbursts but you have to go deeper as to what’s causing the behavior through intervention, counseling, prayer, and treatment.
3. Quarantine the infected for treatment. In 2 Thessalonians 3:6 Paul warned the church there of staff infections involving idleness. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. 14 if anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed. Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
4. If they refuse treatment they must be removed from your presence. Paul talked about a man who was sleeping with his father’s wife. Everybody in church knew about it but was not doing anything. Paul told them they needed to throw him out. I Cor. 5:5- Hold this man’s conduct up to public scrutiny. Let him defend it if he can! But if he can’t, then out with him! It will be totally devastating to him, of course, and embarrassing to you. But better devastation and embarrassment than damnation. You want him on his feet and forgiven before the Master on the Day of Judgment.
6–8 Your flip and callous arrogance in these things bothers me. You pass it off as a small thing, but it’s anything but that. Yeast, too, is a “small thing,” but it works its way through a whole batch of bread dough pretty fast. So get rid of this “yeast.”(the message version)
Dear God,
Search me and my house, and if you find any wickedness in me please remove it. Keep my house clean so that I may be pleasing and acceptable to you. Help me to be a contagious Christian but not a toxic Christian. I pray that the best of who you are would rub off on the people I come into contact with. Open the eyes of my heart and let me see what you see. If you find anything that’s not like you take it out right now and use me to speak truth in love to those who are not walking in the ways of Christ. Use me today to make sure my house is free from Staff Infections.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
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