I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel.

Galatians 1:6

Paul and Barnabas had just finished their first ministry journey. Evidently others were preaching a different gospel. A group of people were trying to get gentiles to adhere to following the Jewish laws and customs as a prerequisite to being saved. In other words, accepting the price Jesus paid on the cross for our salvation was not enough. They were undermining the truth of the good news that salvation was a free gift, not a reward for their good deeds, namely circumcision.

There is only one way to Heaven, it's through the Blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. There is only one God-given way to be forgiven of our sins, it's through believing in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. No other person, method, or ritual can give eternal life.

Our works can never be good enough to satisfy God's judgment, Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the truth, the life and the way. No man comes to the Father except through me." 

People have the right to believe other religions and doctrines, but that doesn't guarantee their ideas and beliefs are correct. It doesn't guarantee their salvation and eternal life. Father God does not accept any man-made religion as a substitute for faith in Jesus Christ, His Son.

Be careful not to be swayed by man's ideas. No matter how good it sounds make sure it lines up with the Word of God, Keep your eyes on Jesus and follow Him only. Remember God only one way to Him - Jesus.

But Who do you say that I am?

Matthew 16:16

In His travels one day, Jesus asked His disciples a question. "Who do men say that I am?"

"Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets," they all chimed in. This could have stemmed from the verse in Deuteronomy 18:18 where God says He will raise up a prophet amidst the people.

Then Jesus asked a very poignant question. "But who do you say that I am?"

Simon Peter spoke up and vehemently declared, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Peter recognized the true deity of the Jesus and confessed Him to be the long-awaited Messiah. No mortal man could heal the sick, raise the dead, even control the natural elements as this God/Man. 

Jesus is asking you this same question today. Who do you say that I am?

Is He the only begotten Son of the Loving God who died on a cross for your sin and rose again on the third day? Is He your Lord and Savior? Is He your soon coming King? 

If you can't answer a resounding "YES", then why not?

Jesus is the King of all kings, the Lord of all lords, the Ruler of the whole universe, the redeemer of all mankind. He paid the ultimate price for you, enabling us to spend eternity basking in His Love and Grace.

Receive His Love today. Confess Him as your Lord and Savior, and you too declare along with Peter, "Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God!"

People honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from me.

They worship me in vain, their teachings are but rules taught by men.

Matthew 15:8

Jesus watched how people twisted the scriptures to profit from their own agenda. He quoted Isaiah the prophet.

These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.

Isaiah 29:13

The Prophet Isaiah criticized the people for their hypocritical actions. Their claim to be close to God proved to be a farce by their continued disobedience, which eventually brought judgment upon themselves.

It's easy to quote just a portion of scripture when it benefits our cause, or makes us "look good" to others. We are told, "love your neighbor as yourself," yet how many of us go out of our way to actually help someone in need? We tell God we will do anything He asks, yet we won't even talk to our neighbor about their salvation. Many times we do things to be seen of others, not to please the heart of God.

Does any of this sound familiar? I've caught myself in this trap a few times. Matthew 6:2 tells us these kind of actions will give us man's reward, not our Heavenly Father's.

 If we truly love the Lord we will keep His commandments. If our heart really does follow hard after God we will want to obey His Word and do what He asks of us. 

I encourage you today to take inventory of your life. Where is your heart? Is it set on your own agenda or Father God's purpose? Are you wanting man's approval or the Lord's? The rewards and recognition this world gives is fleeting. I don't know about you my friend, but I desire my Father's eternal rewards. He is my Abba Father, my Daddy God. I choose to serve Him with my whole heart and be obedient to the best of my ability.

How about YOU?

If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Matthew 6:14-15

Jesus gave us a grave warning concerning unforgiveness. If we choose not to forgive others, God will not forgive us. We all know how very difficult it is sometimes to forgive others who have hurt us deeply. I've heard people say, "But you don't know what they did to me or my family. They don't deserve forgiveness."

You are absolutely right. They don't deserve to be forgiven. And neither to we! Yet Father God chose to forgive us our sins and shortcomings. By denying others their forgiveness, we are telling God we are a better sinner than them. God's forgiveness toward us is not the result of our forgiving others, but it's based on our realizing what forgiveness means.

Ephesians 4:31-32 tells us to, "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

In God's mercy, He chose to send His only Son, Jesus, to pay the ultimate price for our sins. We were forgiven the moment He gave His life on the cross, carrying our sin and shame with Him to the grave. Then He rose from the dead, presenting His innocent blood before the Father. The work was complete. Now it's up to you and me to accept His payment for our sins.

Unforgiveness is just as deadly as murder, rape, incest, or any other horrible act toward others. King David was a man after God's own heart, yet he committed adultery, got the woman pregnant, then murdered her husband. Saul had many Christian put to death for their faith before Jesus got a hold of his life and changed him dramatically. He became Paul a great apostle for the Lord, suffered much for the Kingdom, and wrote the majority of the New Covenant.

We, as sinners, are all on the same playing field so to speak. We all fall short of His righteousness. Ask God to help you recognize any unforgiveness in your life. Make a choice today to have mercy on others as Father God had mercy on us. Don't allow Satan to trick you into holding a grudge or unforgiveness in your heart. Choose to forgive. Only then will we be truly free of our own sins.

Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.

This is your spiritual act of worship.

Romans 12:1

There is a big difference between a Savior and a Lord. A Savior is someone who saves you from something, someone who delivers you or rescues you from a dire situation. As a born again Christian, you have asked Jesus to forgive you of your sins and come to live in your heart. Jesus rescued you from a sinful life and the resulting punishment.

A Lord is a person who rules over people or situations. If Jesus is your Lord, He takes first place in your life. He requires your allegiance,your respect, your worship. Your body now belongs to Him if He is your Lord.

Romans 12:1-2 declares, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will.

Under the Old Covenant, the people would bring their sacrifice to the priests who would kill the animal and place it on the alter to be burned. The spotless lamb represented their sins and became an act of worship to the Living God. This symbolized the Sacrificed Lamb of God, Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God, which would fulfill the old law and bring us into a New Covenant. God required obedience from the imperfect mankind, and the daily sacrifice bridged the gap, or paid the price for man's sin and unworthiness. But, Praise God, His love reached throughout the ages as He sent His Son, Jesus, to pay the final price for all men from the beginning to the end of time.

Father God gave His best for us, shouldn't we give our best for Him? Because of His mercy and love toward us, shouldn't we be willing to give our best for Him? 

We are to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to Him, to work through, to live through, to accomplish His will through. The life of God in us is transforming our minds to His will. He is changing us from the inside out. He is becoming our Lord.

So many times people say they gave their heart to the Jesus, but there is no change. There's no evidence on the outside. Jesus might be their Savior, but not their Lord.

I ask you today brothers and sisters, because Father God gave His best for us, shouldn't we give our best for Him? Today, choose to give your all to the One who loved from the beginning of time. Offer your body a living sacrifice that is holy and pleasing to Daddy God. Declare to everyone Jesus is your Lord and your Savior. This is your spiritual act or worship for all to see.

The Spirit gives life, the flesh counts for nothing. The words I speak to you are spirit and they are life.

Luke 6:63

The Word of God, through the power of the Holy Spirit brings life. Without the help of the Holy Spirit, we can't even begin to recognize our need for a new regenerated life in Christ Jesus. All spiritual renewal and growth begins and ends with our precious Savior, Jesus, the only begotten Son of the Living God.

The only alternative to spiritual life is death. Jesus said in John 10:10, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill and to destroy. I have come that you may have LIFE and that you may have it more abundantly." When we live to satisfy our flesh, there lies nothing but death and destruction ahead of us. However, when we allow the Word of God to live big in us, there is overwhelming LIFE, health, and joy as we grow in God. Death is swallowed up by the LIFE of God residing in you.

The God we serve is in the business of changing lives. He sent His only Son to die on an old rugged cross so that you and I could experience that abundant life which can only be found through Jesus Christ.

His Word is powerful enough to overcome anything you may be facing. It can destroy any and all strongholds. Whether, drugs, alcohol, nicotine, pornography, a bad temper, or anything else satan may try to destroy you with, the Word of God is more powerful. Nothing is too difficult for our One and Only True and Living God.

Our flesh will only bring death and destruction, but the Words Jesus spoke are SPIRIT and are LIFE. Get into His Word today. Study it. Plant it firmly in your inner being. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart and bring healing, health, and LIFE to your spirit and your flesh.

The choice is yours. Life or death. Which will you choose?

One Nation Under GOD

This week we celebrate our independence day. This nation was founded on biblical principles and freedom of religion. Men and women down through the ages have fought and given their lives so that you and I can gather together and worship our Heavenly Father and do service for Him as we see fit.

God has truly blessed the United States of America. But in recent years our country, as a whole, has forgotten its great heritage. We are slowly becoming a nation of non God fearing people, lovers of pleasure instead of lovers of Almighty God. We kill our babies and call it choice. Sin is rampant and what used to be considered evil is now declared good.

But thank God, you and I have the power to change it, one person at a time. If you are a born again child of the most High God, you have the dynamite power of the Holy Spirit residing in you. The life giving blood of Jesus Christ flows through your spiritual veins.

There are people we come in contact with on a daily basis who don't know Jesus died for them that they might live. They are unaware Father God loves them unconditionally. There are those who we see on the street, in the store, at work, at school who are hurting, sick, depressed, downtrodden, who need Jesus.

It's wonderful to gather together with other Christians to worship Him and be fed the Word of God. But, what are we going to do when we leave this building? We are the light of the world! Will we do what we can to reach a dying world? Or, sit back and say, "Let someone else do it."

An old song MY HOUSE IS FULL by Lanny Wolfe says it very clearly.

There is peace and contentment in the Father's house today
Lots of food on His table, and no one is turned away
There is singing and laughter as the hours pass by
But a hush calms they singing as the Father sadly cries.

My house is full by My field is empty
Who will go and work for Me today?
It seems My children all want to stay around My table
But no one wants to work in My field.
No one wants to work in My field.

Many people go to church, call themselves Christian, but are we doers of His Word? We are to love the sinner but hate the sin. I want to challenge you today, listen to Daddy God's heart. We can make a difference in America, one soul at a time. If you love this great country YOU can BE the difference. YOU can BE the change!