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PASTOR'S NOTES

(4/3/22)

In this series of Making Faith Investments, we will be exploring the subject of " Understanding the Teachings of Jesus Christ.”

☆ Jesus Christ’s teachings will set everyone Free who acknowledges Him as Lord in their lives.

John 8:1-11 (AMPC)

1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

2 Early in the morning (at dawn), He came back into the temple [court], and the people came to Him in crowds. He sat down and was teaching them,
3 When the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery. They made her stand in the middle of the court and put the case before Him.
4 Teacher, they said, This woman has been caught in the very act of adultery.
5 Now Moses in the Law commanded us that such [women—offenders] shall be stoned to death. But what do You say [to do with her—what is Your sentence]?
6 This they said to try (test) Him, hoping they might find a charge on which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger.
7 However, when they persisted with their question, He raised Himself up and said, Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.
8 Then He bent down and went on writing on the ground with His finger.
9 They listened to Him, and then they began going out, conscience-stricken, one by one, from the oldest down to the last one of them, till Jesus was left alone, with the woman standing there before Him in the center of the court.
10 When Jesus raised Himself up, He said to her, Woman, where are your accusers? Has no man condemned you?
11 She answered, No one, Lord! And Jesus said, I do not condemn you either. Go on your way and from now on sin no more.

I would like to discuss what was happening in verse 5 of John 8.

The scribes and Pharisees had planned to stone this woman to death just to silence the teachings of Jesus by employing half of the truth.
Definition of half-truth….
A statement that is only partially true. They are statements which mingles truth and falsehood with deliberate intent to deceive.

☆ 5 Now Moses in the Law commanded us that such [women—offenders] shall be stoned to death. But what do You say [to do with her—what is Your sentence]?

These are key biblical scriptures that give us the unadulterated truth about committing adultery.

Leviticus 20:10 (AMPC)
The man who commits adultery with another’s wife, even his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

Exodus 31:18 (AMPC)
And He gave to Moses, when He had ceased communing with him on Mount Sinai, the two tables of the Testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.

☆ Jesus' sentence for the woman was, "Go on your way and from now on sin no more.”

Questions To Consider

Do you think Jesus Christ would teach us something that He has not given us the knowledge and wisdom to achieve?

Would Jesus teach us a reality that we could not live in?

Romans 8:1-41 Therefore there is now no condemnation [no guilty verdict, no punishment] for those who are in Christ Jesus [who believe in Him as personal Lord and Savior]. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do [that is, overcome sin and remove its penalty, its power] being weakened by the flesh [man’s nature without the Holy Spirit], God did: He sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful man as an offering for sin. And He condemned sin in the flesh [subdued it and overcame it in the person of His own Son], 4 so that the [righteous and just] requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not live our lives in the ways of the flesh [guided by worldliness and our sinful nature], but [live our lives] in the ways of the Spirit [guided by His power].

(4/10/22)

In this series of Making Faith Investments, we will be exploring the subject of " Understanding the Teachings of Jesus Christ.”

☆ Jesus, the Light of the World

John 8:12 (NLT)
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to

Psalm 18:28 (GNT)
O Lord, you give me light; you dispel my darkness.

Psalm 27:1 (GNT)
The Lord is my light and my salvation; I will fear no one. The Lord protects me from all danger; I will never be afraid.

Isaiah 9:2 (NLT)
The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.

John 12:46 (NLT)
I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.

Ephesians 5:6-9 (NLT)6 Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. 7 Don’t participate in the things these people do. 8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

Questions To Consider

☆ What are you allowing the Light of Jesus Christ to produce in you which causes others to desire His Light for their lives also?

(4/17/22)

In this series of Making Faith Investments, we will be exploring the subject of " Understanding the Teachings of Jesus Christ.”

Investment is simply taking a valuable asset and giving it into a system that provides increased returns from your valued asset that you invested.

We will take the teachings of Jesus Christ as valuable assets and apply them into our belief system while we study and expect to experience the Faith-filled results Now!!!

☆ Jesus Christ is teaching us to Make Faith Investments in God.

Mark 11:22 (NLT)
Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God.

How can we have Faith in God ?

Romans 10:17 (NLT)
So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.

Romans 10:17 (CEV)
No one can have faith without hearing the message about Christ.

☆ Continuously hearing, listening to, and giving attention to the Word of God will provide us with the evidence that we need to have Faith in God.

Hebrews 11:1(NKJV)
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

~ Substance relates to Realization.
~ Evidence relates to Confidence.

☆ Why is Faith in God significant to us?

Hebrews 11:6 (NLT)
And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

☆ It requires Faith in God to believe that He exists and desires to reward us with a Rich and Satisfying life in Jesus Christ.

John 10:10 (NLT)
The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

☆ God invests Faith in us from start to finish so that Jesus Christ’s Righteousness will be accomplished in us.

Romans 1:17 (NLT)

This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

☆ The only possibility we have to please God is by Faith.

Hebrews 11:6 (NLT)And it is impossible to please God without faith.

Questions To Consider

☆ Why is Faith in God significant to us?

(5/15/22)

Making Faith Investments in
"Knowing who Jesus Christ Is."

Colossians 1:15-20(CEV)
15 Christ is exactly like God, who cannot be seen. He is the first-born Son, superior to all creation.
16 Everything was created by him, everything in heaven and on earth, everything seen and unseen, including all forces and powers, and all rulers and authorities. All things were created by God's Son, and everything was made for him. 17 God's Son was before all else, and by him everything is held together. 18 He is the head of his body, which is the church. He is the very beginning, the first to be raised from death, so that he would be above all others. 19 God himself was pleased to live fully in his Son. 20 And God was pleased for him to make peace by sacrificing his blood on the cross, so that all beings in heaven and on earth would be brought back to God.

☆ "Jesus is Preeminent.”
This means that Jesus Christ is first, in everything. First in importance, first in honor, first in exaltation.

☆ Jesus Christ is Preeminent in all things because…

He is the exact image and likeness of God.

Hebrews 1:1-6 (GNT)
1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors many times and in many ways through the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us through his Son. He is the one through whom God created the universe, the one whom God has chosen to possess all things at the end. 3 He reflects the brightness of God's glory and is the exact likeness of God's own being, sustaining the universe with his powerful word. After achieving forgiveness for the sins of all human beings, he sat down in heaven at the right side of God, the Supreme Power. 4 The Son was made greater than the angels, just as the name that God gave him is greater than theirs. 5 For God never said to any of his angels, “You are My Son; today I have become your Father.” Nor did God say about any angel,“I will be his Father, and he will be my Son.” 6 But when God was about to send his first-born Son into the world, he said,“All of God's angels must worship him.”

☆If we want to see God, keep looking at Jesus Christ.

John 1:18 (NLT)
No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.

John 10:30 (NLT) The Father and I are one.”

John 14:6 (CEV)
“I am the way, the truth, and the life!” Jesus answered. “Without me, no one can go to the Father.

John 8:12 (NLT)Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

Questions To Consider

How is Jesus Christ important in your life?

(5/22/22)

Making Faith Investments in
"Understanding who Jesus Christ Is."

Colossians 1:15-20(CEV)
15 Christ is exactly like God, who cannot be seen. He is the first-born Son, superior to all creation.
16 Everything was created by him, everything in heaven and on earth, everything seen and unseen, including all forces and powers, and all rulers and authorities. All things were created by God's Son, and everything was made for him.
17 God's Son was before all else, and by him everything is held together. 18 He is the head of his body, which is the church. He is the very beginning, the first to be raised from death, so that he would be above all others. 19 God himself was pleased to live fully in his Son.
20 And God was pleased for him to make peace by sacrificing his blood on the cross, so that all beings in heaven and on earth would be brought back to God.

☆ Jesus Christ is the Word of God.

Hebrews 1:3 (21st Century KJV)
Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

John 1:1-5 (21st Century KJV)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.
4 In Him was life, and that life was the Light of men.
5 And the Light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not.

☆ Jesus Christ is The Way, Truth and Life.

John 14:6 (CEV)
“I am the way, the truth, and the life!” Jesus answered. “Without me, no one can go to the Father.

Psalm 33:4 (21st Century KJV)
For the word of the Lord is right, and all His works are done in truth.

Psalm 33:4 (NLT)For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does.

Questions To Consider

How is Jesus Christ, being the Word of God, transforming your life?

5/29/22

Colossians 1:15-20(CEV)
15 Christ is exactly like God, who cannot be seen. He is the first-born Son, superior to all creation.
16 Everything was created by him, everything in heaven and on earth, everything seen and unseen, including all forces and powers, and all rulers and authorities. All things were created by God's Son, and everything was made for him.
17 God's Son was before all else, and by him everything is held together.
18 He is the head of his body, which is the church. He is the very beginning, the first to be raised from death, so that he would be above all others.
19 God himself was pleased to live fully in his Son.
20 And God was pleased for him to make peace by sacrificing his blood on the cross, so that all beings in heaven and on earth would be brought back to God.

Colossians 1:18(CEV)
He is the head of his body, which is the church. He is the very beginning, the first to be raised from death, so that he would be above all others.

☆ Jesus is exalted as “The Head of His church" which means He is the ultimate authority over His church.

His Church is His Body. When we become Born-again, we become a member of Christ’s body.

It is His will and His word that governs and energizes the life of His church because Jesus Christ is the Exalted Head of His Church!

Matthew 16:13-19 (CEV)
13 When Jesus and his disciples were near the town of Caesarea Philippi, he asked them, “What do people say about the Son of Man?”
14 The disciples answered, “Some people say you are John the Baptist or maybe Elijah or Jeremiah or some other prophet.”
15 Then Jesus asked, “But who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter spoke up, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus told him:
Simon, son of Jonah, you are blessed! You didn't discover this on your own. It was shown to you by my Father in heaven.
18 So I will call you Peter, which means “a rock.” On this rock I will build my church, and death itself will not have any power over it.
19 I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and God in heaven will allow whatever you allow on earth. But he will not allow anything you don't allow.

☆ "The Church is the body of Jesus Christ.”

☆ Ephesians 1:20-23 (CEV)
20 when he raised Christ from death and let him sit at his right side in heaven.
21 There Christ rules over all forces, authorities, powers, and rulers. He rules over all beings in this world and will rule in the future world as well.
22 God has put all things under the power of Christ, and for the good of the church he has made him the head of everything.
23 The church is the body of Christ and is filled with Christ who completely fills everything.

Footnotes….
* At this very moment Jesus Christ is at The place of Power and Honor over the Church.

* Jesus Christ’s Church is completely filled with His Powers.

* Because Jesus Christ is the head of His Church, we do not become discouraged by what we are seeing played out in the world and even with the handling of Church order.

* Jesus Christ is the sovereign, ruling authority over His Church, as well as, the source from which we, His body, derive all spiritual sustenance and power.

Spiritual sustenance is regarded as a source of strength; nourishment.

Isaiah 40:29 (GNT)He strengthens those who are weak and tired.

Questions To Consider

What actions are you taking to assure that Jesus Christ is the head of your life?

6/5/22

Jesus Christ is God's spokesperson for the Holy Spirit.

John 14:16 (Amp)
And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever—

John 14:17 (Amp)
The Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive [and take to its heart] because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He (the Holy Spirit) remains with you continually and will be in you.

☆ The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. He governs all of the Truth coming out of heaven into earth.
☆ He lives in the Born-again believers forever.

John 14:26 (Amp)
But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you.

☆ Jesus Christ has assigned the Holy Spirit to be the Church Master Teacher.

☆ The Holy Spirit reminds us of the Words of Jesus Christ.

John 15:26 (Amp)
“But when the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of Truth who comes from the Father, He will testify and bear witness about Me.

☆ The Holy Spirit is the source of all truth.

John 16:13 (Amp)
But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth [full and complete truth]. For He will not speak on His own initiative, but He will speak whatever He hears [from the Father—the message regarding the Son], and He will disclose to you what is to come [in the future].

☆ The Holy Spirit has been entrusted with the power to reveal, glorify and testify about Jesus Christ.

John 16:14 (Amp)
He will glorify and honor Me, because He (the Holy Spirit) will take from what is Mine and will disclose it to you.

☆ Jesus Christ has spoken but we will receive….

Acts 1:8 (Amp)But you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me] both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.”

Questions To Consider

How has receiving the Holy Spirit changed your life?

6/12/22

☆ 13 When Jesus and his disciples were near the town of Caesarea Philippi, he asked them, “What do people say about the Son of Man?”

Jesus is referred to as the “Son of Man” 88 times in the New Testament.
In fact, Son of Man is the primary title Jesus used when referring to Himself …
(Matthew 12:32; 13:37; Luke 12:8; John 1:51).

The only use of Son of Man in a clear reference to Jesus, spoken by someone other than Jesus, came from the lips of Stephen as he was being martyred (murdered).

Acts 7:56 (CEV)
Then Stephen said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right side of God!;”

☆ 14 The disciples answered, “Some people say you are John the Baptist or maybe Elijah or Jeremiah or some other prophet.”

The crowds’ viewpoints were all wrong.

☆ 15 Then Jesus asked, “But who do you say I am?”
Jesus focused His question directly at His disciples.
☆16 Simon Peter spoke up, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Matthew relates that Peter did more than just identify Jesus as the Christ; he also proclaimed Jesus’ divine nature: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God”

☆ 17 Jesus told him:
Simon, son of Jonah, you are blessed! You didn't discover this on your own. It was shown to you by my Father in heaven.

18 So I will call you Peter, which means “a rock.” On this rock I will build my church, and death itself will not have any power over it.
19 I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and God in heaven will allow whatever you allow on earth. But he will not allow anything you don't allow.

》Keys are used to lock or unlock doors.

》The specific doors Jesus has in mind in this passage are the doors to the Kingdom of Heaven.

》Jesus is laying the foundation of His church.

Ephesians 2:19-20 (GNT)
19 So then, you Gentiles are not foreigners or strangers any longer; you are now citizens together with God's people and members of the family of God.
20 You, too, are built upon the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets,the cornerstone being Christ Jesus himself.

The key of the Kingdom of heaven is the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ, The Son of the Living God.

Questions To Consider

What is your outlook of who Jesus Christ is?

6/19/22

Almost every major religion teaches that Jesus was a prophet or a good teacher or a godly man; but, the Bible tells us that Jesus was infinitely more than a prophet, a good teacher, or a godly man.

Within the Four Gospels, Jesus Christ reveals who He is to everyone that will be willing to believe and receive Him.

John 1:11-12 (NLT)
11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.
12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

Jesus is revealing an important truth to us within this verse 12.
That everyone who will believe and accept Him will have the right to become children of God!!!

Having the understanding of who Jesus Christ is, is the key investment to experiencing God as our Eternal Father.

John 14:6-7 (Amp)
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
7 If you had [really] known Me, you would also have known My Father. From now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

☆ Jesus Christ is our only Oneness with the Father.

John 10:30-33 (NLT)
30 The Father and I are one.”
31 Once again the people picked up stones to kill him.
32 Jesus said, “At my Father’s direction I have done many good works. For which one are you going to stone me?”
33 They replied, “We’re stoning you not for any good work, but for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God.”

☆ Jesus reveals His equality with God.
Our faith in Jesus Christ equality with Father God provides our equality with the Father also.

John 8:58-59 (NLT)
58 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I am!”
59 At that point they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden from them and left the Temple.

Exodus 3:14 (NLT)
God replied to Moses, “I am who Iam. Say this to the people of Israel: I am has sent me to you.”

John 1:1 (NLT)
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 20:28 (NLT)
“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.

Titus 2:13 (NLT)
While we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.

2 Peter 1:1 (NLT)
This letter is from Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ.
I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior.

Hebrews 1:8 (NLT)
But to the Son he says,“Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a scepter of justice.

Isaiah 9:6 (NLT)
For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Questions To Consider

Faith in Jesus Christ and what else makes us equal with God?

7/3/22

In this series of Making Faith Investments, we will be exploring the subject of " Understanding the Teachings of Jesus Christ.”

God has sent Jesus Christ to be mankind's Master Teacher in Making Faith investments in the Kingdom of God.

Mark 4:13-20
13 Then Jesus said to the followers, “Do you understand this story? If you don’t, how will you understand any story?
14 The farmer is like someone who plants God’s teaching in people.
15 Sometimes the teaching falls on the path. That is like some people who hear the teaching of God. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the teaching that was planted in them.
16 “Other people are like the seed planted on rocky ground. They hear the teaching, and they quickly and gladly accept it.
17 But they don’t allow it to go deep into their lives. They keep it only for a short time. As soon as trouble or persecution comes because of the teaching they accepted, they give up.
18 “Others are like the seed planted among the thorny weeds. They hear the teaching,
19 but their lives become full of other things: the worries of this life, the love of money, and everything else they want. This keeps the teaching from growing, and it does not produce a crop in their lives.
20 “And others are like the seed planted on the good ground. They hear the teaching and accept it. Then they grow and produce a good crop—sometimes 30 times more, sometimes 60 times more, and sometimes 100 times more.”

Mark 4:13 (ERV)
13 Then Jesus said to the followers, “Do you understand this story? If you don’t, how will you understand any story?

☆ Jesus is saying that this teaching is key to understanding all the teachings concerning the Kingdom of God.

14 The farmer is like someone who plants God’s teaching in people.
15 Sometimes the teaching falls on the path. That is like some people who hear the teaching of God. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the teaching that was planted in them.

" The Path of life"
The definition of a path is a trail, route, course or a line of movement.

An example of a path is what deer follow through the forest.

Psalm 1:6 (NLT)
For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

Psalm 18:33 (NLT)
He makes me as surefooted as a deer, enabling me to stand on mountain heights.

Our first response after having heard the teaching of God is to keep hearing it until understanding is established in our lives.

Psalm 18:35-36 (ERV)
35 Lord, you have given me your shield to protect me. You support me with your right hand. It is your help that has made me great.
36 You cleared a path for my feet so that I could walk without stumbling.

Psalm 23:3 (Amp)
He refreshes and restores my soul (life);
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
for His name’s sake.

Psalm 119:101 (ERV)
I have avoided every path that leads to evil so that I could obey your word.

Psalm 119:105(NLT)
Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

Proverbs 4:13-14 (NLT)
13 Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life.
14 Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t follow the path of evildoers.

☆ God's teachings provide our line of movement.

Acts 17:28 (NLT)For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

Questions To Consider

What are your personal questions?

7/10/22

In this series of Making Faith Investments, we will be exploring the subject of " Understanding the Teachings of Jesus Christ.”

God has sent Jesus Christ to be mankind's Master Teacher in Making Faith investments in the Kingdom of God.

Mark 4:13-15 (ERV)
13 Then Jesus said to the followers, “Do you understand this story? If you don’t, how will you understand any story?

☆ Jesus is saying that this teaching is key to understanding all the teachings concerning the Kingdom of God.

14 The farmer is like someone who plants God’s teaching in people.

☆ The farmer must be very knowledgeable of the seed that is being planted to have the assured desired results.

15 Sometimes the teaching falls on the path. That is like some people who hear the teaching of God. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the teaching that was planted in them.

" The Path of life"
What does path of life mean?
One's path through life, as determined by the decisions one makes.

☆ Our decisions for living life must be governed by our Faith in God's teachings.

2 Timothy 4:3 (Amp)
For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine and accurate instruction [that challenges them with God’s truth]; but wanting to have their ears tickled [with something pleasing], they will accumulate for themselves [many] teachers [one after another, chosen] to satisfy their own desires and to support the errors they hold,

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (Amp)
5 Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart And do not rely on your own insight or understanding.
6 In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].

Footnotes…..
Proverbs 3:6 One of the ancient rabbis said that all the essence of the Torah (Law) depends on this verse.

☆ We must be willing to trust what "The Lord Says'' at all times in every generation.

Psalm 32:8 (NLT)
The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.

Psalm 91:14 (NLT)
The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.

Psalm 1:6 (NLT)
For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

☆ Jesus Christ is the only Savior that can legally bring mankind back to God.

7/17/22

15 Sometimes the teaching falls on the path. That is like some people who hear the teaching of God. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the teaching that was planted in them.

Satan desires to take away the Truth (God's teaching) from mankind.

2 Corinthians 4:4 (NLT)
Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

Satan desires to keep us confused about the importance of valuing God's Word (teachings).

Why?

Because within God's teachings, we can know more about His character, His teachings, and His will.

The Power that God has invested in His Word is what satan has blinded our understanding from.

The Bible is not just a book that you read and forget about.

There is transforming power in the Word of God that gives our lives purpose.

Hebrews 4:12 (AmpC)
For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.

Sifting meaning…
To conduct a careful examination of some substance or group in order to isolate or remove.

The power of God’s Word lives in the Truth that it is Eternally alive.

It’s active and effective.

1. God’s Word sustains us.

Matthew 4:4 (AmpC)
But He replied, It has been written, Man shall not live and be upheld and sustained by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

Humans need food and water to sustain ourselves physically every day.

But our spirit doesn’t need food and water.

It needs God’s Word because God is Spirit.

We are supported by His Word in this world.

2. The Word of God purifies us.

Proverbs 30:5 (AmpC)Every word of God is tried and purified; He is a shield to those who trust and take refuge in Him.

7/24/22

In this series of Making Faith Investments, we will be exploring the subject of " Understanding the Teachings of Jesus Christ.”

Mark 4:13-15 (ERV)
13 Then Jesus said to the followers, “Do you understand this story? If you don’t, how will you understand any story?
14 The farmer is like someone who plants God’s teaching in people.
15 Sometimes the teaching falls on the path. That is like some people who hear the teaching of God. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the teaching that was planted in them.

Satan plans are to keep mankind's mind blinded so that we cannot reason with God and believe in Him.

Satan has confused our belief system concerning the importance of valuing God's Word (teachings).

Why?

Because within God's teachings, we can know more about His will and purpose for our lives.

1. God’s Word sustains us.

Matthew 4:4 (AmpC)
But He replied, It has been written, Man shall not live and be upheld and sustained by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

As Humans we need food and water to sustain ourselves physically every day.
But our spirit doesn’t need food and water. It needs God’s Word because God is Spirit.

John 6:63 (Amp)
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh conveys no benefit [it is of no account]. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life [providing eternal life].

2. The teachings of God Word strengthens our reasoning with Him.

The importance of the Word of God is that as we depend on it and read it daily, we form an unbreakable bond with God.

We understand what He wants us to do, His will and our purpose in life.

The Lord is close to us when we call upon His name in truth.

Psalm 145:18 (NLT)
The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.

(Amp) The Lord is near to all who call on Him,
To all who call on Him in truth (without guile).

3. The importance of the Word of God is that it shows us His will.

By obeying what the Lord says in His Word, we can keep ourselves pure.

Psalm 119:9 (NLT)
How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word.

Meditating on the teachings of Scripture will cause us to prosper spiritually and bring blessings and true success in life.

Joshua 1:8 (NLT)
Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

James 1:25 (NLT)But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

7/31/22

In this series of Making Faith Investments, we will be exploring the subject of " Understanding the Teachings of Jesus Christ.”

Mark 4:13-17 (ERV)
13 Then Jesus said to the followers, “Do you understand this story? If you don’t, how will you understand any story?
14 The farmer is like someone who plants God’s teaching in people.
15 Sometimes the teaching falls on the path. That is like some people who hear the teaching of God. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the teaching that was planted in them.
16 “Other people are like the seed planted on rocky ground. They hear the teaching, and they quickly and gladly accept it.
17 But they don’t allow it to go deep into their lives. They keep it only a short time. As soon as trouble or persecution comes because of the teaching they accepted, they give up.

To guard ourselves from trouble and persecution we must be willing to develop a "Deep-Seated Mindset of having faith in God's Teachings.

Words that are associated with Deep-Seated
well established, settled, firm, ingrained, entrenched, unshakeable, irremovable, dyed-in-the-wool, built-in, inbuilt, radical, secure. persistent, long-lasting, abiding, lingering.

☆ Keeping God's Teaching deep within…

Psalm 84:2 (CEV)
Deep in my heart I long for your temple,
and with all that I am I sing joyful songs to you.

Psalm 84:4-5 (CEV)
4 You bless everyone who lives in your house, and they sing your praises.
5 You bless all who depend on you for their strength and all who deeply desire to visit your temple.

Psalm 119:2 (CEV)
You bless all those who follow your commands
from deep in their hearts.

Psalm 119:97 (CEV)
I deeply love your Law! I think about it all day.

John 7:37-39 (CEV)
37 On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and shouted, “If you are thirsty, come to me and drink!
38 Have faith in me, and you will have life-giving water flowing from deep inside you, just as the Scriptures say.”
39 Jesus was talking about the Holy Spirit, who would be given to everyone that had faith in him. The Spirit had not yet been given to anyone, since Jesus had not yet been given his full glory.

Ephesians 3:17 (CEV)
And that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. Stand firm and be deeply rooted in his love.

Colossians 1:23 (CEV)But you must stay deeply rooted and firm in your faith. You must not give up the hope you received when you heard the good news. It was preached to everyone on earth, and I myself have become a servant of this message.

Questions To Consider

The Church that you are a member of--how are you helping it to grow?!

7/31/22

In this series of Making Faith Investments, we will be exploring the subject of " Understanding the Teachings of Jesus Christ.”

To guard ourselves from trouble and persecution, we must be willing to develop a "Deep-Seated Mindset of having faith in God's Teachings."

Words that are associated with Deep-Seated…

well established, settled, firm, ingrained, entrenched, unshakeable, irremovable, dyed-in-the-wool, built-in, inbuilt, radical, secure. persistent, long-lasting, abiding and lingering.

☆ How to become and stay well established in our faith in God's teachings?

Psalm 37:23-24 (Amp)
23 The steps of a [good and righteous] man are directed and established by the Lord, And He delights in his way [and blesses his path].
24 When he falls, he will not be hurled down,
Because the Lord is the One who holds his hand and sustains him.

When we are in a Righteous relationship with God, it becomes easy to have faith in Him to sustain us.

We must be willing to believe and ask God to establish us in "His Word."

Psalm 119:133 (Amp)
Establish my footsteps in [the way of] Your word;
Do not let any human weakness have power over me [causing me to be separated from You].

Proverbs 16:9 (Amp)
A man’s mind plans his way [as he journeys through life], But the Lord directs his steps and establishes them.

Colossians 2:7 (Amp)
Having been deeply rooted [in Him] and now being continually built up in Him and [becoming increasingly more] established [a]in your faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing in it with gratitude.

1 Peter 5:8-9 (Amp)8 Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour. 9 But resist him, be firm in your faith [against his attack—rooted, established, immovable], knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being experienced by your brothers and sisters throughout the world. [You do not suffer alone.]

8/14/22

Making Faith Investments in Understanding…
"The Uniqueness and Power of the Holy Spirit"

☆ The Holy Spirit has a very distinct purpose in helping mankind enter into the place of having a profitable relationship with God.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

☆ Living in Christ Jesus Teachings…

John 14:16-18 (NLT)
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate (Comforter, Encourager) who will never leave you.
17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.
18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.

☆ The Holy Spirit develops our spiritual mind.

Romans 8:5-6 (NLT)
5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.
6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

Romans 8:8-9 (LB)
8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their old sinful selves, bent on following their old evil desires, can never please God.
9 But you are not like that. You are controlled by your new nature if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that if anyone doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ living in him, he is not a Christian at all.)

☆ The Holy Spirit produces God's Unique Character in the Born-again believers’ lives.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

☆ And His Distinctness will Remain in us.

John 15:10-12 (NLT)10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.

8/21/22

Making Faith Investments in Understanding…
"The Uniqueness and Power of the Holy Spirit"

☆ The Holy Spirit has a very distinct purpose in helping mankind enter into the place of having a profitable relationship with God.

John 16:8-11 (Amp)
8 And He, when He comes, will convict the world about [the guilt of] sin [and the need for a Savior], and about righteousness, and about judgment:
9 about sin [and the true nature of it], because they do not believe in Me [and My message];
10 about righteousness [personal integrity and godly character], because I am going to My Father and you will no longer see Me;
11 about judgment [the certainty of it], because the ruler of this world (Satan) has been judged and condemned.

☆ The world’s sin is unbelief in me, but there is righteousness available for everyone that repents and invest their Faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ.

☆ The Holy Spirit gives us the comfort of being confident that God is with us.

☆ The Holy Spirit will be with us exactly like He was with Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry.

Acts 10:38 (CEV)

God gave the Holy Spirit and power to Jesus from Nazareth. He was with Jesus, as he went around doing good and healing everyone who was under the power of the devil.

☆ The Holy Spirit is mankind's only source of Truth.

John 14:17 (NLT)
He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.

John 15:26 (LB)“But I will send you the Comforter—the Holy Spirit, the source of all truth. He will come to you from the Father and will tell you all about me.

8/28/22

Making Faith Investments in Understanding…
"The Uniqueness and Power of the Holy Spirit".

☆ The Holy Spirit has a very distinct purpose in helping mankind enter into the place of having a profitable relationship with God.

Relationship meaning the way in which two or more people or groups regard and behave toward each other.

☆ The Holy Spirit helps us to regard God in our relationship with Him.

Psalm 66:18-19 (Amp)
18 If I regard sin and baseness in my heart [that is, if I know it is there and do nothing about it], The Lord will not hear [me];
19 But certainly God has heard [me];
He has given heed to the voice of my prayer.

☆ Jesus Christ was sent to reconnect all of mankind back into perfect harmony with God's kingdom and purpose of life.

John 14:16-18 (Amp)
16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever—
17 the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive [and take to its heart] because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He (the Holy Spirit) remains with you continually and will be in you.
18 “I will not leave you as orphans [comfortless, bereaved, and helpless]; I will come [back] to you.

☆ The Holy Spirit teaches the Born-again believers to remember and value our relationship with God.

☆ The Holy Spirit has been given the distinct Role of being the Born-again believers Helper who is a permanent Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener and Standby.

☆ The Holy Spirit keeps us focused and established in the truth that is vital to the success of this God centered relationship.

☆ The Body of Christ (Christ’s Church) is composed of people that have allowed the Holy Spirit to convince and convict them of their need to have faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.

John 16:8 (Amp)And He, when He comes, will convict the world about [the guilt of] sin [and the need for a Savior], and about righteousness, and about judgment:

9/4/22

Making Faith Investments in Understanding…
"The Uniqueness and Power of the Holy Spirit".

☆ The Holy Spirit has a very distinct purpose in helping mankind enter into the place of having a profitable relationship with God.

Relationship meaning the way in which two or more people or groups regard and behave toward each other.

☆ The Holy Spirit Is the Ultimate Author of Scripture and empowers us to maintain our relationship with God through scriptures.

2 Timothy 3:16 (Amp)
All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage];

☆ The Holy Spirit exposes us to the mind of God,that we may speak on His behalf.

2 Peter 1:21 (Amp)
for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

The Holy Spirit Revealed the Truth to the Writers of Scripture.

☆ The Holy Spirit is the One who reveals the truth about God to humanity.

John 16:8 (Amp)
And He, when He comes, will convict the world about [the guilt of] sin [and the need for a Savior], and about righteousness, and about judgment:

Ephesians 1:13 (Amp)In Him, you also, when you heard the word of truth, the good news of your salvation, and [as a result] believed in Him, were stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit [the One promised by Christ] as owned and protected [by God].

9/11/22

Making Faith Investments in Understanding…
"The Uniqueness and Power of the Holy Spirit".

The Holy Spirit provides mankind with the Uniqueness and Power of God's peace.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV)
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Isaiah 26:3 (Amp)
“You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both inclination and character],
Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation].

Matthew 8:25-27 (Amp)
25 And the disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Lord, save us, we are going to die!”
26 He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was [at once] a great and wonderful calm [a perfect peacefulness].
27 The men wondered in amazement, saying, “What kind of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”

☆ The Holy Spirit Helps us to live in Jesus Christ's Perfect Peace.

John 14:26-27 (Amp)
26 But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you.
27 Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]

9/18/22

Making Faith Investments in Understanding…
"The Uniqueness and Power of the Holy Spirit.”

The Holy Spirit provides mankind with the Uniqueness and Power of God's peace.

☆ Charles, l have invested My Peaceful future in you.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV)For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

The Hebrew word translated as peace is shalom (shaw-lome’), and according to Strong’s concordance, it means completeness, soundness, and welfare.

☆ The Holy Spirit works in the Born-again believers to have our minds free from fear, anxiety, depression and oppression. We have been given a sound mind filled with God's peace.

2 Timothy 1:7 (Amp)
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].

☆ As Born-again believers, we must allow The Holy Spirit to begin God's unique and powerful finished work of Jesus Christ in and through us.

Ephesians 1:22-23 (Amp)
22 And He [a]put all things [in every realm] in subjection under Christ’s feet, and [b]appointed Him as [supreme and authoritative] head over all things in the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills and completes all things in all [believers].

Matthew 5:48(Amp)

You, therefore, will be perfect [growing into spiritual maturity both in mind and character, actively integrating godly values into your daily life], as your heavenly Father is perfect.

9/25/22

Making Faith Investments in Understanding…
"The Uniqueness and Power of the Holy Spirit.”

☆ The Holy Spirit provides mankind with the Uniqueness and Power of God's peace.

☆ Charles, l have invested My Peaceful future in you.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV)
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

☆ The Holy Spirit works in the Born-again believers to keep our minds free from fear, anxiety, depression and oppression. We have been given a sound mind filled with God's peace.

☆ Being free from fear:

☆ Being free from anxiety:

1 Peter 5:7 (Amp)
Casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].

☆ Being free from depression:

Isaiah 60:1 (Amp)
“Arise [from spiritual depression to a new life], shine [be radiant with the glory and brilliance of the Lord]; for your light has come, And the glory and brilliance of the Lord has risen upon you.

☆ Being free from oppression:

Psalm 146:5-7 (CEV)
5 The Lord God of Jacob blesses everyone who trusts him and depends on him.
6 God made heaven and earth; he created the sea
and everything else. God always keeps his word.
7 He gives justice to the poor and food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free.

☆ The Lord who is our peace has Freed us in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8: 1-2 (NLT)
1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.

Jesus Christ has silenced the voice of our adversary, satan.

10/2/22

Making Faith Investments in Understanding…"The Uniqueness and Power of the Holy Spirit.”

☆ The Holy Spirit provides mankind with the Uniqueness and Power of God's peace.

☆ Charles, l have invested My Peaceful future in you.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV)
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

☆ The Holy Spirit works in the Born-again believers to keep our minds free from fear, anxiety, depression and oppression. We have been given a sound mind filled with God's peace.

Psalm 62:5-6 (CEV)
5 Only God gives inward peace, and I depend on him.

☆ If we want inward peace, we must be willing to depend upon God and Him only for His Peace.

6 God alone is the mighty rock that keeps me safe, and he is the fortress where I feel secure.

☆ Only God's peace gives us the assurance of keeping us safe and secure!!!

☆ God's Inward Peace:

Philippians 4:6-7 (CEV)
6 Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God.
7 Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.

☆ Belonging to Jesus Christ gives us access to God's inward peace.

Romans 8:1-2(CEV)

1 If you belong to Christ Jesus, you won't be punished.
2 The Holy Spirit will give you life that comes from Christ Jesus and will set you[a] free from sin and death.

Romans 8:9 (CEV)
You are no longer ruled by your desires, but by God's Spirit, who lives in you. People who don't have the Spirit of Christ in them don't belong to him.

10/16/22

Making Faith Investments in "Being a Disciple of Jesus Christ.”

In this teaching series, we are investing study time into 12 vital Truths that every Disciple of Jesus Christ must have "Accurate Biblical Knowledge" in order to successfully make other disciples.

☆ Why should I be willing to allow Jesus Christ to become the Lord of my life?

1. He is the Only Way to God!

Many people say that there are many paths to God. But our Lord's words are clear that this is a lie:

John 14:6 (Amp)
Jesus said to him, “I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Jesus is teaching us that there are no alternate ways to having a relationship with God as our Father.

2. He is the Source of Life

John 1:1-4 (Amp)
1 In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and [b]the Word was God Himself.
2 He was [continually existing] in the beginning [co-eternally] with God.
3 All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him not even one thing was made that has come into being.
4 In Him was life [and the power to bestow life], and the life was the Light of men.

☆ According to the following Scripture, all things were made through and for Jesus as the living Word of God.

3. He is the Source of Truth

John 8:31-32 (Amp)
31 So Jesus was saying to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word [continually obeying My teachings and living in accordance with them, then] you are truly My disciples.
32 And you will know the truth [regarding salvation], and the truth will set you free [from the penalty of sin].”

This world is filled with misinformation meant to distract and deceive. But God is not the author of confusion. In the Bible, we learn the way to clarity:

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

☆ Jesus Christ welcomes His disciples to come to Him for wisdom:

James 1:5 (Amp)
5 If any of you lacks wisdom [to guide him through a decision or circumstance], he is to ask of [our benevolent] God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and it will be given to him.

Because we do not know everything, then it makes sense to seek wisdom from the One who does!

☆ But this we Do know…

Ephesians 1:17-21 (NLT)
17 asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom[a] and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. 18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. 21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come.

10/23/22

Making Faith Investments in "Being a Disciple of Jesus Christ.”

In this teaching series, we are investing study time into 12 vital Truths that every Disciple of Jesus Christ must have "Accurate Biblical Knowledge" of in order to successfully make other disciples.

He is the Source of Life's Light:

John 8:12 (Amp)
Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, “I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

Following Jesus will provide us with two promises.

☆ Promise # 1
His followers will never walk in darkness which is a reference to the assurance of salvation that we enjoy.
As true followers of the Light, we will never follow the ways of sin, never live in a state of continually sinning.

1 John 1:5-7 (Amp)
5 This is the message [of God’s promised revelation] which we have heard from Him and now announce to you, that God is Light [He is holy, His message is truthful, He is perfect in righteousness], and in Him there is no darkness at all [no sin, no wickedness, no imperfection].
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness [of sin], we lie and do not practice the truth;
7 but if we [really] walk in the Light [that is, live each and every day in conformity with the precepts of God], as He Himself is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another [He with us, and we with Him], and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin [by erasing the stain of sin, keeping us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations].

We repent of our sin in order to stay close to the Light of the world.

☆ Promise #2 We will reflect the Light of Life.
Just as He came as the Light of the world, He commands us to be “lights,” as well.

Matthew 5:14-16 (Amp)
14 “You are the light of [Christ to] the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
15 Nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven.

2022 CONFERENCE…

Making Faith investments in being a Disciple of Jesus Christ.

☆ Discovering who Jesus Christ is, is the key purpose of discipleship.

It is designed to help the Born-again believers to understand who Jesus is and how you can be like Him.

Why is it necessary to Make Faith investments into discipleship?

Because people need to know Jesus personally.

Jesus commanded His disciples to make disciples of all nations so that others could know Him.

To grow into maturity and experience being transformed into the person of Jesus Christ, who we are created to be like.

Discipleship is also necessary for people to get sound doctrine, love God and others, raise leaders and create disciple-making movements all over the world.

Discipleship includes not only studying God’s Word but living a life of faith in Jesus Christ and walking in obedience to God.

Entering into discipleship is a life-long committed process. Without Jesus, you cannot know how to be a disciple, get discipled or disciple others.

1. He is the Only Way to God!

John 14:6 (AMP) Jesus is Teaching His Disciples

Jesus said, “I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Jesus is teaching us that there are no alternate ways to having a relationship with God as our Father.
Jesus Christ is the "only way possible to have and keep an eternal relationship with God.”

2. He is the Source of Truth!

This world is filled with misinformation meant to distract and deceive, but God is not the author of confusion. In the Bible, we learn the way to clarity:

John 8:31-32 (AMP) 31 So Jesus was saying to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word [continually obeying My teachings and living in accordance with them, then] you are truly My disciples.
32 And you will know the truth [regarding salvation], and the truth will set you free [from the penalty of sin].”

John 6:35 (AmpC)Jesus replied, I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to Me will never be hungry, and he who believes in and cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me will never thirst any more (at any time).

11/13/22

Jesus Christ is "The Bread of Life."

Mankind allowed satan to deceive and confuse them concerning God being their only source and sustainer for life.

Genesis 3:19 (Amp)
“By the sweat of your face You will eat bread Until you return to the ground, For from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return.”

Deuteronomy 8:3 (Amp)
He humbled you and allowed you to be hungry and fed you with manna, [a substance] which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, so that He might make you understand [by personal experience] that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.

Deuteronomy 16:3 (Amp)
You shall not eat leavened bread with it; instead, for seven days you shall eat the Passover with unleavened bread, the bread of affliction (for you left the land of Egypt in haste); [do this] so that all the days of your life you may remember [thoughtfully] the day when you came out of the land of Egypt.

Because yeast ferments and spreads throughout the dough, it was used symbolically to represent the spread of sin.

☆ God has sent Jesus Christ to take away the sweat of sin in our lives.

John 6:48-54 (Amp)
48 I am the Bread of Life [the Living Bread which gives and sustains life].
49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.
50 This is the Bread that comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.
51 I am the Living Bread that came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this Bread [believes in Me, accepts Me as Savior], he will live forever. And the Bread that I will give for the life of the world is My flesh (body).”
52 Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?”
53 And Jesus said to them, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood [unless you believe in Me as Savior and believe in the saving power of My blood which will be shed for you], you do not have life in yourselves.
54 The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood [believes in Me, accepts Me as Savior] has eternal life [that is, now possesses it], and I will raise him up [from the dead] on the last day.

Matthew 4:3-4 (Amp)
3 And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
4 But Jesus replied, “It is written and forever remains written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.”

Luke 22:44 (NLT)He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.

11/20/22

Jesus Christ is "The Bread of Life."

Jesus Christ is the living Bread that gives and sustains the New Life that mankind is so desperately in need of.

☆ The Bread of Life that sustains New Life in Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Colossians 3:11 (NLT)
In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free.

Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

☆ Christ Jesus lives His life in and through all Born-again believers so that God may be Glorified.

In our New Life in Christ, we are sustained with heavenly Bread daily.

Matthew 6:9-13 NKJV)
9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Praying gives us access to our Daily Bread that our New Life is nourished by:

1. We live in our Heavenly Father's forgiveness and His power to forgive others.
2. We are delivered from satan’s influences and power.
3. We are given legal access to enjoy our Heavenly Father's Power and Glory forever.

☆ Let's Pray. Heavenly Father, we Thank you for feeding us Your Bread of Heavenly Life today and everyday in Jesus name Amen.

11/27/22

Making Faith investments in understanding Who Jesus Christ is:
"The Bread of Life."

Jesus Christ is refocusing our understanding of living in God's provisions.

Bread from Heaven that will sustain our heavenly life.

John 6:32-34 (Amp)
32 Then Jesus said to them, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven.
33 For the Bread of God is He who comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.”
34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.”

☆ It is God's Bread out of heaven that will sustain our heavenly lifestyles.

☆ Jesus Christ is God's Bread of Truth for mankind and provides us with the realities of the kingdom of heaven.

John 6:35 (Amp)
Jesus replied to them, “I am the Bread of Life. The one who comes to Me will never be hungry, and the one who believes in Me [as Savior] will never be thirsty [for that one will be sustained spiritually].

☆ Our Born-again spirits become hungry for the Bread of heaven that sustains spiritual nourishment now and forever.

Nourishment means the food or other substances necessary for growth, health and good condition.

The Bread of life is key for our Spiritual growth.

Ephesians 4:12-14 (CEV)
12 so his people would learn to serve and his body would grow strong.
13 This will continue until we are united by our faith and by our understanding of the Son of God. Then we will be mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like him.
14 We must stop acting like children. We must not let deceitful people trick us by their false teachings, which are like winds that toss us around from place to place.

Colossians 1:10 (Amp)
So that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord [displaying admirable character, moral courage, and personal integrity], to [fully] please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing in the knowledge of God [with deeper faith, clearer insight and fervent love for His precepts]

2 Peter 1:7-8 (Amp)
7 and in your godliness, brotherly affection, and in your brotherly affection, [develop Christian] love [that is, learn to unselfishly seek the best for others and to do things for their benefit].
8 For as these qualities are yours and are increasing [in you as you grow toward spiritual maturity], they will keep you from being useless and unproductive in regard to the true knowledge and greater understanding of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 3:18 (Amp)But grow [spiritually mature] in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory (honor, majesty, splendor), both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

12/4/22

Making Faith Investments in "Being a Disciple of Jesus Christ.”

John 6:67-69 (NLT)

67 Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”
68 Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.
69 We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.

In this teaching, we will be Making Faith Investments into understanding 5 new behavioral practices that will establish our belief in Jesus Christ.

1. Follow Jesus:

Mark 1:16-18 (NLT)
16 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living.
17 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”
18 And they left their nets at once and followed him.

2. Learn from Jesus:

Matthew 11:29 (AMP)
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me [following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls.

3. Continually obey His teaching:

John 8:31-32 (AMP)
The Truth Will Make You Free
31 So Jesus was saying to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word [continually obeying My teachings and living in accordance with them, then] you are truly My disciples.
32 And you will know the truth [regarding salvation], and the truth will set you free [from the penalty of sin].”

4. Give the love that Jesus has given us to our neighbors:

John 13:34-35 (AMP)
34 I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too are to love one another.
35 By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one another.”

Footnotes:
John 13:34 The key to understanding this and other statements about love is to know that this love (the Greek word agape) is not so much a matter of emotion as it is of doing things for the benefit of another person, that is, having an unselfish concern for another and a willingness to seek the best for another.

5. We bear much fruit through Christ and by the power of His Spirit:

John 15:5-8 (AMP)
5 I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken off] branch, and withers and dies; and they gather such branches and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If you remain in Me and My words remain in you [that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart], ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.
8 My Father is glorified and honored by this, when you bear much fruit, and prove yourselves to be My [true] disciples.

Jesus Christ is Teaching us a key truth in understanding the nature of His relationship with us who commit to being His disciples.

Galatians 5:22-23 (AMP)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Father God, thank you for letting us become disciples.
As disciples, please help us to be fruitful and to always give you the glory. In Jesus' name we pray.

12/4/22

Making Faith Investments in "Being a Disciple of Jesus Christ.”

In this teaching, we will be Making Faith Investments into understanding 5 new behavioral practices that will establish our belief in Jesus Christ.

Follow Jesus:
Mark 1:16-18 (NLT)

Learn from Jesus:
Matthew 11:29 (AMP)

Continually obey His teaching:
John 8:31-32 (AMP)

Give the love that Jesus has given us to our neighbors:
John 13:34-35 (AMP)

We bear much fruit through Christ and by the power of His Spirit:
* Jesus Is the Vine—Followers Are Branches

John 15:1-8 (AMP)

1 "I am the true Vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.

2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that continues to bear fruit, He [repeatedly] prunes, so that it will bear more fruit [even richer and finer fruit].

☆ The vine is what gives life to the branches, making them capable of bearing fruit that remains.

3 You are already clean because of the word which I have given you [the teachings which I have discussed with you]. 4 Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me.

☆We must remain in Christ's teachings to bear much Fruit.

Remain means to continue to possess a particular quality or fulfill a particular role.

5 I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken off] branch, and withers and dies; and they gather such branches and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

☆ When we bear much fruit, we glorify and honor Father God and prove to be true disciples of Jesus Christ.

7 If you remain in Me and My words remain in you [that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart], ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.
8 My Father is glorified and honored by this, when you bear much fruit, and prove yourselves to be My [true] disciples.

Being Jesus Christ’s true disciples requires us to remain in Him.

12/18/22

Making Faith Investments in "Being a Disciple of Jesus Christ.”

In this teaching, we will be Making Faith Investments into understanding The Key to bearing much fruit as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

John 15:4 (Amp)
Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me.

Some interesting facts about our natural fruit.

One of the main functions of a fruit is to spread the seeds and allow the plant to reproduce.

☆ Jesus Christ is The True Vine (The Plant).

John 15:1 (AMP)
"I am the true Vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.

☆ The Born-again disciples' purpose is to bear fruit and spread the seed.

John 15:5 (Amp)
I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.

☆ Remain means to continue to possess a particular quality or fulfill a particular role.

Matthew 28:19-20 (Amp)
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.”

We are to acknowledge and allow the Holy Spirit to teach us to be Christ branches; perpetually revealing His nature and character to everyone that is living in satan’s kingdom of darkness.

Christ-like fruit can only be produced in us through the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

12/25/22

“Making Faith Investments in "Being a Disciple of Jesus Christ.”

In this teaching, we will be Making Faith Investments into understanding The Key to bearing much fruit as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

John 15:1-2 (AMP)
1 "I am the true Vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that continues to bear fruit, He [repeatedly] prunes, so that it will bear more fruit [even richer and finer fruit].

Cultivate means:
To protect and encourage the growth of being a disciple of Jesus Christ.
To cause to grow by special attention or by studying, advancing, developing, practicing, or publicizing.
To improve by labor, care, or study.

Understanding How God will protect and encourage our growth in Jesus Christ.

☆ God will protect.

Psalm 18:2 (NLT)
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
My God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.

Psalm 18:30 (NLT)
God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.

Psalm 91:4 (NLT)
He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

☆ We must be willing to do what it takes to grow.

1 Peter 2:1-2 (NLT)
1 So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. 2 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,

☆ God will keep us encouraged.

Romans 15:4-6 (Amp)4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope and overflow with confidence in His promises. 5 Now may the God who gives endurance and who supplies encouragement grant that you be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify and praise and honor the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1/8/23

“Making Faith Investments in "Being a Disciple of Jesus Christ.”

Jesus Christ has given us three major teachings to focus on. They are The Kingdom of God; Having Faith in God; and, Studying the teachings of Jesus Christ so that we may be His Disciples that make disciples.

God is speaking to me to be mindful that there will be no greater or lesser approaches to understanding this Teaching. God has designed it to manifest His Seamless Understanding of eternal love for mankind.

For now, let us put our focus on “Understanding The Kingdom of God.”

Mark's Gospel provides us with insight that Jesus is the Messiah and Son of God, whose death and resurrection paid the penalty for our sins and achieved victory over Satan, sin, and death.
With this joyful truth comes the call to all believers to be disciples.

Mark 1:14-15 (Amp)
14 Now after John [the Baptist] was arrested and taken into custody, Jesus went to Galilee, preaching the good news of [the kingdom of] God,
15 and saying, “The [appointed period of] time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life] and believe [with a deep, abiding trust] in the good news [regarding salvation].”

We must repent to comprehend the Goodness of the Kingdom of God.

Mark 4:11-12 (Amp)
He said to them, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you [who have teachable hearts], but those who are outside [the unbelievers, the spiritually blind] get everything in parables,
12 so that they will continually look but not see, and they will continually hear but not understand, otherwise they might turn [from their rejection of the truth] and be forgiven.”

Matthew 6:33 (NLT)
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Matthew 16:18-19 (CEV)
18 So I will call you Peter, which means “a rock.” On this rock I will build my church, and death itself will not have any power over it.
19 I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and God in heaven will allow whatever you allow on earth. But he will not allow anything you don't allow.

1/15/23

“Making Faith Investments in "Being a Disciple of Jesus Christ.”

The Kingdom of God…

We must repent to comprehend the Goodness of the Kingdom of God.

☆ The Kingdom of God is hidden to the unteachable.

We must live righteously before God and mankind.

Matthew 6:33 (NLT)
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Acts 1:1-4 (Amp)
1 The first account I made, Theophilus, was [a continuous report] about all the things that Jesus began to do and to teach
2 until the day when He ascended to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given instruction to the apostles (special messengers) whom He had chosen.
3 To these [men] He also showed Himself alive after His suffering [in Gethsemane and on the cross], by [a series of] many infallible proofs and unquestionable demonstrations, appearing to them over a period of forty days and talking to them about the things concerning the kingdom of God.
4 While being together and eating with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Of which,” He said, “you have heard Me speak.

Footnotes
Acts 1:1 Luke is referring to his gospel.
The gospel tells us what Jesus began to do and teach,
The book of Acts tells what He continued to do and teach by His Holy Spirit operating in and through His Born-again disciples.

Jesus Christ’s disciples are different from other disciples because they are Born-again.

1 John 3:9 (CEV)
God's children cannot keep on being sinful. His life-giving power lives in them and makes them his children, so they cannot keep on sinning.

1 John 3:9
Amplified Bible
9 No one who is born of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, because [a]God’s seed [His principle of life, the essence of His righteous character] remains [permanently] in him [who is born again—who is reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose]; and he [who is born again] cannot habitually [live a life characterized by] sin, because he is born of God and longs to please Him.

1/22/23

“Making Faith Investments in "Being a Disciple of Jesus Christ.”

Jesus Christ has given us three major teachings to focus on;

1. The Kingdom of God.
2. Having Faith in God.
3. Studying the teachings of Jesus Christ that we may be His Disciples that make disciples.

The Kingdom of God must be taught and understood.

Matthew 4:17 (AMP)
From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life], for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Jesus Christ is calling all of mankind to repent and begin to understand God's purpose for our lives.

Repentance means changing your inner self—your old way of thinking, regretting past sins, living your life in a way that proves repentance.

Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV)
For as he thinks in his heart, so is he………

The word “heart,” when viewed in Holy Scriptures, can be referred to as spirit. With that being understood, we must think according to our Born-again spirit. Remember, Jesus taught Nicodemus the following:

John 3:3 (AMP)
Jesus answered him, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless a person is born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified], he cannot [ever] see and experience the kingdom of God.”

In this scripture, Jesus Christ is revealing to mankind that there is only one way that any person can ever see and experience the Kingdom of God. Our thinking must be rooted and grounded in the reality of being “reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified” and our faith must be in Jesus Christ and Him only.

Repentance empowers us to live free from our old way of thinking.

Romans 12:2 (NLT)Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

1/29/23

“Making Faith Investments in "Being a Disciple of Jesus Christ.”

Jesus Christ has given us three major teachings to focus on:

1. The Kingdom of God.
2. Having Faith in God.
3. Studying the teachings of Jesus Christ that we may be His Disciples that make disciples.

The Kingdom of God must be taught and understood.

☆ God's teachings will challenge us to think differently from our old way of thinking.

John 6:45-47 (NLT)
45 As it is written in the Scriptures,‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.
46 (Not that anyone has ever seen the Father; only I, who was sent from God, have seen him.)
47 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life.

John 6:45-47 (AMP)
45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they will all be taught of God.’ Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father, comes to Me.
46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He [who was with the Father and] who is from God; He [alone] has seen the Father.
47 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, he who believes [in Me as Savior—whoever adheres to, trusts in, relies on, and has faith in Me—already] has eternal life [that is, now possesses it].

Jesus Christ is paraphrasing an Old Testament passage.

Isaiah 54:13 (AMP)
“And all your [spiritual] sons will be disciples [of the Lord], And great will be the well-being of your sons.
(well-being or success)

Isaiah 54:13 (GNT)
“I myself will teach your people and give them prosperity and peace.

We have assembled ourselves together today to be taught by God.

John 6:45 (Amp) It is written in the prophets, ‘And they will all be taught of God.’ Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father, comes to Me.

How do we get to a place where we are experiencing God teaching us, listening and learning from Him as our Father?

Proverbs 5:7 (CEV)
My son, listen to me and do everything I say.

We must be Born-again.

1 John 3:9 (Amp)
No one who is born of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, because God’s seed [His principle of life, the essence of His righteous character] remains [permanently] in him [who is born again—who is reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose]; and he [who is born again] cannot habitually [live a life characterized by] sin, because he is born of God and longs to please Him.

Footnotes…..

1 John 3:9 I.e. in human terms, God’s seed is like a divine “genetic code” which is passed on to His children and produces in them the desire to live in a way which pleases Him.

Jeremiah 3:19 (CEV)
I have always wanted to treat you as my children and give you the best land, the most beautiful on earth. I wanted you to call me “Father” and not turn from me.

2/5/23

“Making Faith Investments in "Being a Disciple of Jesus Christ.”

Jesus Christ has given us three major teachings to focus on:

1. The Kingdom of God.
2. Having Faith in God.
3. Studying the teachings of Jesus Christ that we may be His Disciples that make disciples.

The Kingdom of God must be taught and understood.

☆ God's teachings will challenge us to think differently from our old way of thinking.

John 6:45 (NLT)
As it is written in the Scriptures,‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.

Let these scriptures enlighten our understanding to listening and learning from God as being our Father.

Jeremiah 3:19 (CEV)
I have always wanted to treat you as my children and give you the best land, the most beautiful on earth. I wanted you to call me “Father” and not turn from me.

Proverbs 5:7 (CEV)
My son, listen to me and do everything I say.

How do we get to a place where we are experiencing God teaching us; and, we are listening and learning from Him as our Father?

We must be Born-again.

John 3:7 (Amp)
Do not be surprised that I have told you, ‘You must be born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified].’

1 Peter 1:23 (Amp)
23 For you have been born again [that is, reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] not of seed which is perishable but [from that which is] imperishable and immortal, that is, through the living and everlasting word of God.

Footnotes…..
1 John 3:9 I.e. in human terms, God’s seed is like a divine “genetic code” which is passed on to His children and produces in them the desire to live in a way which pleases Him.

Luke 8:11 (NLT)
“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word.

God's seed is the Word of God that we receive from listening and learning which gives us understanding concerning the Kingdom of God.

2/12/23

“Making Faith Investments in "Being a Disciple of Jesus Christ.”

Biblical Keys that allow God to treat mankind as His Children and have access to His Kingdom.
God is the creator of everything.

Jeremiah 3:19 (CEV)
I have always wanted to treat you as my children and give you the best land, the most beautiful on earth. I wanted you to call me “Father” and not turn from me.

Do you believe that when you hear and study the Holy Word of God that God is speaking to you personally?

Proverbs 5:7 (CEV)
My son, listen to me and do everything I say.

How do we get to a place where we are experiencing God teaching us; and, we are listening and learning from Him as our Father?

Key takeaway: #1
We must Repent.

Jesus Christ is calling all of mankind to repent and begin to understand God's purpose for our lives.

Repentance means changing your inner self—your old way of thinking, regretting past sins, living your life in a way that proves repentance.

Acts 2:37-38 (Amp)
The Ingathering
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart [with remorse and anxiety], and they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what are we to do?”
38 And Peter said to them, “Repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways, accept and follow Jesus as the Messiah] and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ because of the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Key takeaway #2 Born-again.

John 3:7 (Amp)
Do not be surprised that I have told you, ‘You must be born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified].’

Footnotes…..

1 John 3:9 I.e. in human terms, God’s seed is like a divine “genetic code” which is passed on to His children and produces in them the desire to live in a way which pleases Him.

2/19/23

“Making Faith Investments in "Being a Disciple of Jesus Christ.”

John 8:38-45 (Amp)
38 I tell the things that I have seen at My Father’s side [in His very presence]; so you also do the things that you heard from your father.”
39 They answered, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you are [truly] Abraham’s children, then do the works of Abraham and follow his example.
40 But as it is, you want to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God. This is not the way Abraham acted.
41 You are doing the works of your [own] father.” They said to Him, “We are not illegitimate children; we have one [spiritual] Father: God.”
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father [but He is not], you would love and recognize Me, for I came from God [out of His very presence] and have arrived here. For I have not even come on My own initiative [as self-appointed], but He [is the One who] sent Me.
43 Why do you misunderstand what I am saying? It is because [your spiritual ears are deaf and] you are unable to hear [the truth of] My word.
44 You are of your father the devil, and it is your will to practice the desires [which are characteristic] of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks what is natural to him, for he is a liar and the father of lies and half-truths.
45 But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me [and continue in your unbelief].

These are very “religious,” Jews rejecting Jesus Christ and He identified them as children of the devil.

Why?
Because they opposed and rejected Him rather than receiving and loving Him.

We will be learning in this teaching that how we respond to Jesus Christ determines, if we continue to have Satan as our “father,” or if we become children of God, the Father, through faith in Jesus Christ.

1 John 3:9-10 (Amp)
9 No one who is born of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, because God’s seed [His principle of life, the essence of His righteous character] remains [permanently] in him [who is born again—who is reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose]; and he [who is born again] cannot habitually [live a life characterized by] sin, because he is born of God and longs to please Him.
10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are clearly identified: anyone who does not practice righteousness [who does not seek God’s will in thought, action, and purpose] is not of God, nor is the one who does not [unselfishly] love his [believing] brother.

Here is further light on this distinction.

Key takeaway:
John points out the fact that the children of the devil “do not practice righteousness.”

Just as Jesus had said, John clearly identifies all people as either “children of God” or “children of the devil.”

Acts 13:9-10 Amplified Bible
9 But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit and led by Him, looked steadily at Elymas,
10 and said, “You [Elymas] who are full of every [kind of] deceit, and every [kind of] fraud, you son of the devil, enemy of everything that is right and good, will you never stop perverting the straight paths of the Lord?
The unrepented wickedness of Satan would be manifested in the lives of his spiritual children.
As the old saying goes, “like father, like son.”Matthew 13:37-39 (Amp)
37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man,
38 and the field is the world; and [as for] the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the weeds are the sons of the evil one;
39 And the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels.

This means that on Earth, good and bad people will grow and live together.

God's children and Satan's children will grow and live together on earth.

2/26/23

Making Faith Investment in ….
Understanding Jesus Christ teachings of being His disciples.

how God being our "Spiritual Father" relates to us in being disciples of Christ Jesus.

John 6:45(AMP)
It is written in the prophets, ‘And they will all be taught of God.’ Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father, comes to Me.

Jesus is teaching from an O.T. teaching to provide understanding for generations of Born again, Spirit filled, faithful disciples of His.

Isaiah 54:13 (AMP)
“And all your [spiritual] sons will be disciples [of the Lord], And great will be the well-being of your sons.
(well-being or success)

Discipleship is necessary for us to grow into maturity and transform more into the person He has created you to be. That person is Jesus Christ.

Grow into maturity.

1 Peter 2:1-2 (NLT)
1So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. 2 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,

Romans 12:1-2 (NLT)
1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

3/5/23

Making Faith Investment in ….
Understanding The key purpose of discipleship.

It is to help the "Born-again Believers to understand who Jesus is and how we can be like Him.

Jesus modeled discipleship over 2,000 years ago. He had anywhere from 4 to 120 disciples at different points in the Bible. These disciples followed Him anywhere and listened to all of His teachings.

All that Jesus taught led to Himself and His Father.

John 14:1-6 (CEV)
1 Jesus said to his disciples, “Don't be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me.
2 There are many rooms in my Father's house. I wouldn't tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there to prepare a place for each of you.
3 After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together.
4 You know the way to where I am going.”
5 Thomas said, “Lord, we don't even know where you are going! How can we know the way?”
6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life!” Jesus answered. “Without me, no one can go to the Father.

Jesus Christ's teachings delivers us from the spirit of worry and fear.

Matthew 6:31-34 (CEV)
31 Don't worry and ask yourselves, “Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?”
32 Only people who don't know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows you need all of these.
33 But more than anything else, put God's work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.
34 Don't worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself. You have enough to worry about today.

Philippians 4:6. (CEV)Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God.

3/12/23

Making Faith Investment in ….

Understanding The key purpose of discipleship.

The key principle of discipleship centers around the reality of Born-again Believers being like Jesus Christ.

As Born-again believers, we must understand who Jesus is and how we are to be like Him.

☆ We must be willing to follow Jesus Christ.

Matthew 4:18-19 (AmpC)
18 As He was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He noticed two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother, throwing a dragnet into the sea, for they were fishermen.
19 And He said to them, Come after Me [as disciples—letting Me be your Guide], follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men!

☆ Jesus Christ gives His disciples power and authority.

Matthew 10:1 (AmpC)
1 And Jesus summoned to Him His twelve disciples and gave them power and authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out, and to cure all kinds of disease and all kinds of weakness and infirmity.

Disciples of Jesus Christ are Loving and Obedient followers.

John 14:15 (AmpC)
15 If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands.

John 14:21 (AmpC)
21 The person who has My commands and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I [too] will love him and will show (reveal, manifest) Myself to him. [I will let Myself be clearly seen by him and make Myself real to him.]

3/19/23

Making Faith Investment in ….
Understanding The key purpose of discipleship.

Jesus Christ has given us three major teachings to focus on:

The Kingdom of God.

Having Faith in God.

Studying the teachings of Jesus Christ that we may be His Disciples that make disciples.

☆ There is only one way of having a relationship with God as our Heavenly Father.

This relationship must be founded on the teachings of Jesus Christ.

John 14:6 (AmpC)
Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.

Mark 11:22 (Amp)
Jesus replied, “Have faith in God [constantly].

John 10:30 (AmpC)
I and the Father are One.

John 17:11 (AmpC)
And [now] I am no more in the world, but these are [still] in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep in Your Name [in the knowledge of Yourself] those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We [are one].

Jesus Christ is our only way of having faith in God.

Romans 10:9-10 (Amp)
9 because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation.

3/26/23

“Making Faith Investments” in Understanding The key purpose of discipleship.

Having Faith in God requires that we have an intimate relationship with Him.

☆ This relationship must be founded on the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Having Faith in God requires us to get a biblical understanding of God's Love for us.

John 3:16 (AmpC)
For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.

God's love for mankind is unmatched by any other love entanglements.

Romans 5:8 (NLT)
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

It is because God's Love for us is unparalleled and unequaled to any relationship that we have and may experience.

God's Love is just that–“God's Love.”

Romans 8:28 (CEV)
We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him.They are the ones God has chosen for his purpose,

Footnotes for this scripture.

We can say:
“God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him;” or “All things work for the good of everyone who loves God;” or “God's Spirit always works for the good of everyone who loves God.”

☆ As His disciples, our love for God must be rooted and grounded in Jesus Christ's love that is in us.

John 14:15 (AmpC)
If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands.

John 14:21-23 (AmpC)
21 The person who has My commands and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I [too] will love him and will show (reveal, manifest) Myself to him. [I will let Myself be clearly seen by him and make Myself real to him.]

22 Judas, not Iscariot, asked Him, Lord, how is it that You will reveal Yourself [make Yourself real] to us and not to the world?

23 Jesus answered, If a person [really] loves Me, he will keep My word [obey My teaching]; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home (abode, special dwelling place) with him.

4/2/23

“Making Faith Investments” in Understanding God's key purpose in discipleship.

Discipleship requires that we have an intimate relationship with God through our faith in Jesus Christ only.

☆ This relationship must be founded on Jesus Christ’s teachings exclusively.

Having Faith in God requires us to get a biblical understanding of God's Love for us and remain there.

God's love for us is greater than any other relationship that we will ever experience.

Romans 5:8 (NLT)
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

It is because God's Love for us is unparalleled and unequaled to any relationship that we have and may experience.

1 John 3:1-5 (AmpC)
See what [an incredible] quality of love the Father has given (shown, bestowed on) us, that we should [be permitted to] be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are! The reason that the world does not know (recognize, acknowledge) us is that it does not know (recognize, acknowledge) Him.

2 Beloved, we are [even here and] now God’s children; it is not yet disclosed (made clear) what we shall be [hereafter], but we know that when He comes and is manifested, we shall [as God’s children] resemble and be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He [really] is.

3 And everyone who has this hope [resting] on Him cleanses (purifies) himself just as He is pure (chaste, undefiled, guiltless).

4 Everyone who commits (practices) sin is guilty of lawlessness; for [that is what] sin is, lawlessness (the breaking, violating of God’s law by transgression or neglect—being unrestrained and unregulated by His commands and His will).

5 You know that He appeared in visible form and became Man to take away [upon Himself] sins, and in Him there is no sin [essentially and forever].

6 No one who abides in Him [who lives and remains in communion with and in obedience to Him—deliberately, knowingly, and [f]habitually] commits (practices) sin. No one who [habitually] sins has either seen or known Him [recognized, perceived, or understood Him, or has had an experiential acquaintance with Him].

(TPT) of this 6 verse… But the one who continues sinning hasn’t seen him with discernment or known him by intimate experience.

Discipleship requires an intimate Relationship with God through obedient Faith in Christ.

4/9/23

“Making Faith Investments in Understanding God's Spirit of Resurrection.”

☆ God's Resurrection raises us up into living a "New Life in Him through being Born-again in Christ.

John 5:29 (AmpC)
And they shall come out—those who have practiced doing good [will come out] to the resurrection of [new] life, and those who have done evil will be raised for judgment [raised to meet their sentence].

☆ Jesus Christ is God's voice that speaks the Spirit of God Resurrection life in us.

John 5:25 (AmpC)
Believe Me when I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the time is coming and is here now when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear it shall live.

Romans 5:10 (AmpC)
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more [certain], now that we are reconciled, that we shall be saved (daily delivered from sin’s dominion) through His [resurrection] life.

Being Reconciled to God through our faith in Jesus Christ, is our first level of understanding God's Spirit of Resurrection living in us.

Romans 8:11 (TPT)
Yes, God raised Jesus to life! And since God’s Spirit of Resurrection lives in you, he will also raise your dying body to life by the same Spirit that breathes life into you!

Romans 6:5-6 (AmpC)
5 For if we have become one with Him by sharing a death like His, we shall also be [one with Him in sharing] His resurrection [by a new life lived for God].

☆ God's Resurrection plan is for us to live a New life in Christ !!!

6 We know that our old (unrenewed) self was nailed to the cross with Him in order that [our] body [which is the instrument] of sin might be made ineffective and inactive for evil, that we might no longer be the slaves of sin.

☆ Our old way of living is (disobedient, unfaithful and rebellious).

Philippians 3:10 (AmpC)
[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]

4/16/23

“Making Faith Investments in Understanding The Crucified and Resurrected Jesus Christ."

As we invest in this Teaching, we will gain a profitable understanding of "Living a Crucified and Resurrected life in Christ.”

The Crucified Life in Jesus Christ.
Why was Jesus Christ Crucified?

1. Jesus Christ was crucified according to the Lord's Good Plan.

Isaiah 53:10-12 (NLT)
10 But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.
11 When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins.
12 I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death.

He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.

2. God's plan of Christ being crucified made it possible to be counted Righteous with God.

☆ God's Good plan is always revealed in Scriptures.

God's plan is always Good and provides us with foundational understanding of Truth.

Revelation 13:8 (NKJV)
All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

3. Jesus Reveals that He will be crucified to His disciples.

Matthew 26:1-4 (NLT)
1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples,
2 “As you know, Passover begins in two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”
3 At that same time the leading priests and elders were meeting at the residence of Caiaphas, the high priest,
4 plotting how to capture Jesus secretly and kill him.

4. There is Good News in being crucified with Christ.

Galatians 2:20 (TPT)
“My old identity has been co-crucified with The Messiah and no longer lives; for the nails of his cross crucified me with him. And now the essence of this new life is no longer mine, for the Anointed One lives his life through me—we live in union as one! My new life is empowered by the faith of the Son of God who loves me so much that he gave himself for me, and dispenses his life into mine!

● Our old identity has been crucified with Christ.
● We live in union as one with Christ!
● We are empowered by the faith of Jesus Christ.

5. Our Crucified life in Christ has set us free from the power of sin.

Romans 6:6-8 (NLT)6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. 8 And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him.

4/23/23

Making Faith Investments in"Possessing a Profitable Understanding of Living a Crucified and Resurrected Life in Christ.”

God has given us His plan for "Possessing a Profitable Understanding of Living a Crucified and Resurrected Life in Christ.”

☆God's understanding of what is profitable:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV)
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God (disciples of Christ) may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The Bible was written by faithful followers who allowed God to divinely inspire them to reveal Himself to mankind.

The Bible is profitable, meaning it is beneficial or useful in allowing the disciples of Christ to Understand how to live a Crucified and

Resurrected Life in Christ.

》 The word profitable《
comes from a root word that has the idea of heaping up or accumulating something that will give you a benefit or an advantage.

God’s Word is profitable in four areas of life:
1. Doctrine (what is right).
2. Reproof (what is not right).
3. Correction (how to get right with God).
4. Instruction in righteousness (how to stay right with God).
They are uniquely designed and inspired to build upon each other, equipping us to understand and live a faithful crucified and resurrected life in Christ. The more you study and obey, the more profitable we become.

“Possessing a profitable understanding of living a crucified and resurrected life in Christ.”

Isaiah 53:10-12 (CEV)
10 The Lord decided his servant would suffer as a sacrifice to take away the sin and guilt of others. Now the servant will live to see his own descendants. He did everything the Lord had planned.

Jesus Christ was sent by God to suffer and be crucified to take away the sin and guilt of mankind.

What is sin and guilt?

It is missing God's marked plan for mankind to live in His image and likeness. Genesis 1:26-28
●We must recognize that sin seeks to dominate our life.
● Sin doesn’t come in to be nice. Sin comes in to take control.
● Sin is a relentless master that looks to deceive and direct every aspect of a person’s life.

☆Jesus Christ has set us free from the power of sin.

Romans 6:6-8 (NLT)
6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.
8 And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him.

☆Jesus Christ was Crucified and Resurrected so that we can give our lives completely to God.

Romans 6:12-14 (NLT)
12 Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.
13 Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.
14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

4/30/23

Making Faith Investments in"Possessing a Profitable Understanding of Living a Crucified and Resurrected Life in Christ.”

● Possessing meaning to have ownership and control of something.

● God has given us His plan for "Possessing a Profitable Understanding of Living a Crucified and Resurrected Life in Christ.”

●Possessing a Profitable Understanding..

■ God Word empowers us to be profitable in four areas of our lives.

1. Doctrine (what is right).
2. Reproof (what is not right).
3. Correction (how to get right with God).
4. Instruction in righteousness (how to stay right with God).

■ Doctrines are established through teachings that we study and obey.

Today, when we repent and ask Jesus Christ to come and live his life in us, we can live in the expectation that sin no longer dominates our lives because now we are living a crucified and resurrected life in Christ Jesus.

■ Job is a type and shadow of living a crucified and resurrected life in Christ.

Job 22:21-23 (Amp)
21 “Now yield and submit yourself to Him [agree with God and be conformed to His will] and be at peace; In this way [you will prosper and great] good will come to you.
22 “Please receive the law and instruction from His mouth And establish His words in your heart and keep them.
23 “If you return to the Almighty [and submit and humble yourself before Him], you will be built up [and restored]; If you remove unrighteousness far from your tents,

■ The Crucified and Resurrected life that we live is Seated and Determined in our Faith in Christ.

John 16:32-33 (CEV)
32 The time will come and is already here when all of you will be scattered. Each of you will go back home and leave me by myself. But the Father will be with me, and I won't be alone.
33 I have told you this, so that you might have peace in your hearts because of me. While you are in the world, you will have to suffer. But cheer up! I have defeated the world.

Galatians 2:20 (CEV)I have died, but Christ lives in me. And I now live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave his life for me.

5/7/23

Making faith investments in understanding "Who is your Creator?"

Who is your Creator?

Ecclesiastes 12:1 (AmpC)
12 Remember [earnestly] also your Creator [that you are not your own, but His property now] in the days of your youth, before the evil days come or the years draw near when you will say [of physical pleasures], I have no enjoyment in them—

The Word remember can be understood to mean to have in or be able to bring to one's mind; an awareness of (someone or something that one has seen, known, or experienced in the past).

Even today, understanding our origin remains our deepest need of being satisfied while living.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (Amp)
He has made everything beautiful and appropriate in its time. He has also planted eternity [a sense of divine purpose] in the human heart [a mysterious longing which nothing under the sun can satisfy, except God]—yet man cannot find out (comprehend, grasp) what God has done (His overall plan) from the beginning to the end.

God has planted His divine purpose in us so that we may understand His purpose and will. It is to satisfy our need to know "Who is your creator?”

The Word of God provides us with the evidence of who created us, but this kind of evidence must be understood by faith.

Hebrews 11:3 (Amp)
By faith [that is, with an inherent trust and enduring confidence in the power, wisdom and goodness of God] we understand that the worlds (universe, ages) were framed and created [formed, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose] by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.

This is mankind's biblical evidence for getting a faithful understanding of "Who is your Creator?”

Genesis 1:26-28 (Amp)
26 Then God said, “Let Us (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) make man in Our image, according to Our likeness [not physical, but a spiritual personality and moral likeness]; and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the cattle, and over the entire earth, and over everything that creeps and crawls on the earth.”
27 So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them.
28 And God blessed them [granting them certain authority] and said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subjugate it [putting it under your power]; and rule over (dominate) the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and every living thing that moves upon the earth.”

Ephesians 2:10 (AmpC)
For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), [a]recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].

5/14/23

Making faith investments in understanding "Who is your Creator?"

Who is your Creator?

This is mankind's biblical evidence for getting a faithful understanding of "Who is your Creator and what was His purpose in creating us.

Ecclesiastes 12:1 (AmpC)
Remember [earnestly] also your Creator [that you are not your own, but His property now] in the days of your youth, before the evil days come or the years draw near when you will say [of physical pleasures], I have no enjoyment in them—

We must be willing to "Realize Now" our need for God.

The Word remember can be understood to mean to have in or be able to bring to one's mind; an awareness of (someone or something that one has seen, known, or experienced in the past).

An awareness means to have concern about and well-informed interest in a particular situation or development.

Even today, understanding our origin remains our deepest need of awareness of our purpose in life.

God has planted His divine purpose in us so that we may understand His purpose and will. It is to satisfy our need to know "Who is your creator?”

Meanings of the word Satisfy:

● To supply fully what is necessary and demanded to fulfill one's greatest needs.

Psalm 22:26 (AmpC)
The poor and afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; they shall praise the Lord—they who [diligently] seek for, inquire of and for Him, and require Him [as their greatest need]. May your hearts be quickened now and forever!

● To address all our concerns about God being mindful of caring for and about us.

1 Peter 5:7-8 (AmpC)
7 Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
8 Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.

● God reveals the purposes we must choose from to obtain a Rich and Satisfying Life.

John 10:10 (NLT)
The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

5/21/23

Making faith investments in understanding "Who is our Creator?"

Who is our Creator?

Mankind is constantly seeking for the evidence of our origin and purpose that we obtain clarity of understanding in our lives.

This is mankind's biblical evidence for getting a faithful understanding of "Who is our Creator?” and what was His purpose in creating us.

What is Biblical Evidence?

1. It is God inspired evidence.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV)
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2. It is the evidence that fully supports our understanding of having faith in God.

3. Biblical Evidence provides detailed knowledge of God's creation and purpose for mankind.

God has planted His divine purpose in us so that we may understand His purpose and will. It is to satisfy our need to know "Who is our creator?”

Meanings of the word Satisfy:

● To supply fully what is necessary and demanded to fulfill one's greatest needs.

● To address all our concerns about God being mindful of caring for and about us.

1 Peter 5:7-8 (AmpC)
7 Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.8 Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.

6/4/23

Making faith investments in "Being Faith Ready."

● The word “ready” means to be in a suitable state for an activity.

For this Teaching, we will be focusing on the persistence of being actively involved in Living the Life of Faith in Christ.

What is Faith?

Faith is a must-have to connect with the realities of God.

● Mankind is being constantly challenged by satan, relating to understanding the reality of God.

●The realities of God will remain hidden from us until we access them by Faith in Jesus Christ to reveal God to us.

1. Praying and never giving up will keep us in a suitable state of "Being Faith Ready.”

Luke 18:1-8 (CEV)
1Jesus told his disciples a story about how they should keep on praying and never give up:
2 In a town there was once a judge who didn't fear God or care about people.
3 In that same town there was a widow who kept going to the judge and saying, “Make sure that I get fair treatment in court.”
4 For a while the judge refused to do anything. Finally, he said to himself, “Even though I don't fear God or care about people,
5 I will help this widow because she keeps on bothering me. If I don't help her, she will wear me out.”
2. We must be persistent in our prayers to maintain our Faith Readiness.

6 The Lord said:Think about what that crooked judge said.
7 Won't God protect his chosen ones who pray to him day and night? Won't he be concerned for them?
8 He will surely hurry and help them. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find on this earth anyone with faith?

3. This is who God is and we can Make investments of Faith in Him.

Psalm 18:46 (TLB)
God is alive! Praise him who is the great rock of protection.

Psalm 62:7 (TLB)
My protection and success come from God alone. He is my refuge, a Rock where no enemy can reach me.

Proverbs 19:23 (TLB)
Reverence for God gives life, happiness, and protection from harm.

Proverbs 30:5 (TLB)
Every word of God proves true. He defends all who come to him for protection.

Ephesians 6:13-15 (ERV)
13 That is why you need to get God’s full armor. Then on the day of evil, you will be able to stand strong. And when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing.14 So stand strong with the belt of truth tied around your waist, and on your chest wear the protection of right living. 15 On your feet wear the Good News of peace to help you stand strong.

6/25/23

Making Faith Investments in "Being Faith Determined.”

How Faith Determined are you willing to leave here, today, with living your life Transformed by hearing the message about Jesus Christ?

Key takeaway #1
Determined Faith begins with hearing and accepting the message about Christ.

Romans 10:17 (CEV)

No one can have faith without hearing the message about Christ.

Key takeaway #2

God is not a respecter of persons. He only accepts people that have faith in Jesus Christ.

Romans 3:22-24 (CEV)
22 God treats everyone alike. He accepts people only because they have faith in Jesus Christ.
23 All of us have sinned and fallen short of God's glory.
24 But God treats us much better than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins.

Key takeaway #3…
We must be determined that our Faith in Christ has placed us in Righteous standing with God.

Galatians 2:16 (Amp)
16 Yet we know that a man is not justified [and placed in right standing with God] by works of the Law, but [only] through faith in [God’s beloved Son,] Christ Jesus. And even we [as Jews] have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law. By observing the Law no one will ever be justified [declared free of the guilt of sin and its penalty].

Key takeaway #4…
Determined Faith will only assist and confirm God's perfect will for our lives.

Romans 12:2 (Amp)
And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].

Our Faith in Christ demands that our relationship with Him is taken seriously and fully supported by Determined Faith.

Hebrews 11:6 (NLT)And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

5/7/23

Making Faith Investments in"Possessing a Profitable Understanding of Living a Crucified and Resurrected Life in Christ.”

Charles with a Crucified and Resurrected life in Christ l have given you My Strength to endure.

● Possessing meaning to have ownership and control of something.

● God has given us His plan for "Possessing a Profitable Understanding of Living a Crucified and Resurrected Life in Christ.”

●Possessing a Profitable Understanding..

■ God Word empowers us to be profitable in four areas of our lives.

1. Doctrine (what is right).
2. Reproof (what is not right).
3. Correction (how to get right with God).
4. Instruction in righteousness (how to stay right with God).

■ Doctrines are established through teachings that we study and obey.

■ Job is a type and shadow of living a crucified and resurrected life in Christ.

■ The Crucified and Resurrected life that we live is Seated and Determined in our Faith in Christ.

Galatians 2:20 (CEV)I have died, but Christ lives in me. And I now live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave his life for me.

7/16/23

Making Faith Investments in Understanding the Ten Spiritual Laws that govern Prayer.

We will be investigating Ten Spiritual laws that govern prayer. This is to assist us in communicating with our Father God in confidence.

Psalm 119:111 (NLT)
111 Your laws are my treasure; they are my heart’s delight.

Luke 18:1 (NLT)
One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.

1. Our prayers must be offered on the foundation of faith in the"Blood of Jesus Christ.”

Hebrews 9:11-14 (NLT)
11 So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world.
12 With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever.
13 Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity.
14 Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living

God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.

2. The law of Boldness.

Hebrews 4:16 (NLT)
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Hebrews 10:19-22 (NLT)
19 And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus.
20 By his death Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.
21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house,
22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

3. The law of Righteousness.

2 Corinthians 5:21(NLT) For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

7/23/23

Making Faith Investments in Understanding the Ten Spiritual Laws that govern Prayer.
We will be investigating Ten Spiritual laws that govern prayer. This is to assist us in communicating with our Father God in confidence.

God's Laws help us to avoid spiritual and natural conflicts in our relationship with our Father God.

Jeremiah 33:3 (NKJV)
Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’

CEV
Ask me, and I will tell you things that you don't know and can't find out.

God's knowledge, wisdom and understanding can not be stumbled upon. It must be Asked for and valued.

How we value God's counsel is revealed in our obedience to Him. Yes, prayer allows us to experience God's counsel to us.

Psalm 119:111 (NLT)
111 Your laws are my treasure; they are my heart’s delight.

Luke 18:1 (NLT)
One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.

1.The Law of Repentance.

Repentance is the law that satan does not want us to keep activated in our prayer life.
That’s because when we repent and acknowledge Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, our thinking begins to change.

Acts 3:19 (AMP)
So repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins] and return [to God—seek His purpose for your life], so that your sins may be wiped away [blotted out, completely erased], so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord [restoring you like a cool wind on a hot day];

Because we have repented, we have been given the liberty to pray and be free of all our past sins.

Repentance empowers us to be in the presence of God and get refreshed.

Job 15:6 (Amp)
“Your own mouth condemns you, and not I;
Yes, your own lips testify against you.

2. The Law of the Blood of Jesus Christ.

Our prayers must be offered on the foundation of faith in the"Blood of Jesus Christ.”

Hebrews 9:11-14 (NLT)
11 So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world.
12 With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever.
13 Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity.
14 Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.

•The cleansing power of the blood of Jesus Christ is vital to our approach to God.
• Christ's blood has purged us from having a sin consciousness and given us access into the Holy of Holies in Heaven.

3. The law of Boldness.

Hebrews 4:16 (NLT)
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

We can pray with boldness and confidence every time we pray because it is based upon God's mercy and grace toward us in Christ.

The throne that Born-again believers approach in heaven is the throne of our Father's grace and mercy.

4. The law of Righteousness.

2 Corinthians 5:21(NLT) For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

Our Faith in Christ allows us to pray and be in standing with God to receive what we are asking for.

1 Corinthians 1:30 (NLT) God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.God's Righteousness is a free gift from Him. It is paid for by the shed blood of Jesus Christ and must be received by faith.

8/13/23

Making Faith Investments in Understanding the Ten Spiritual Laws that govern Prayer.

"The law of the "Integrity of God's Word.”

☆ Truth is always associated with integrity.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

God chose to create us. He made no mistakes concerning our creation because He created us in His image and likeness and gave us Dominion over all the earthly kingdom.

* God created us with a unique plan in mind. Scripture tells us that God, not only created us, but has a plan for us and gives us hope and a future.

The Faithfulness of God's Word is based upon His Integrity.

Deuteronomy 7:9 (AMP)
Therefore know [without any doubt] and understand that the Lord your God, He is God the faithful God, who is keeping His covenant and His [steadfast] lovingkindness to a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;

While we are praying (meditating) with our Heavenly Father and studying Deuteronomy 7:9, we must be willing to believe that God is intentionally inspiring us. That way, all doubt (double mindedness) will be eliminated from our thinking and understanding which satan desires to use against us to cause confusion in our spirits.

Psalm 119:112-114 (AMP)
112 I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes Forever, even to the end.
113 I hate those who are double-minded, But I love and treasure Your law.
114 You are my hiding place and my shield; I wait for Your word.

Psalm 100:4-5 (AMP)
4 Enter His gates with a song of thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, bless and praise His name.
5 For the Lord is good;
His mercy and lovingkindness are everlasting, His faithfulness [endures] to all generations.

James 1:7-9 (AMP)
7 For such a person ought not to think or expect that he will receive anything [at all] from the Lord,
8 being a double-minded man, unstable and restless in all his ways [in everything he thinks, feels, or decides].
9 Let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his high position [as a born-again believer, called to the true riches and to be an heir of God];

James 4:8-10 (AMP)8 Come close to God [with a contrite heart] and He will come close to you.Wash your hands, you sinners; and purify your [unfaithful] hearts, you double-minded [people]. 9 Be miserable and grieve and weep [over your sin]. Let your [foolish] laughter be turned to mourning and your [reckless] joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves [with an attitude of repentance and insignificance] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up, He will give you purpose].

8/27/23
Making Faith Investments in Understanding the Ten Spiritual Laws that govern Prayer.

1. God is anticipating hearing our voices in morning prayers with Him.

Psalm 5:3 (NLT)
Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord.
Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.

2. God is looking forward to us utilizing His grace in answering our prayers.

Psalm 6:9 (AMP)
The Lord has heard my supplication [my plea for grace]; The Lord receives my prayer.

3. God has authorized prayer for us to realize that His presence is our greatest need.

Psalm 27:8 (AMP)
When You said, “Seek My face [in prayer, require My presence as your greatest need],” my heart said to You,“Your face, O Lord, I will seek [on the authority of Your word].”

4. God's high hopes in prayer for us is to be glad as we go to His House to pray.

Psalm 122:1 (AMP)
I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

5. God's desire for us is to approach Him in prayer with confident faith that we are asking Him for what He wants us to have.

Mark 11:24 (AMP)
For this reason I am telling you, whatever things you ask for in prayer [in accordance with God’s will], believe [with confident trust] that you have received them, and they will be given to you.
6. God is expecting us to forecast into our prayer life persistent devotion with an attitude of thanksgiving.

Colossians 4:2 (AMP)
Be persistent and devoted to prayer, being alert and focused in your prayer life with an attitude of thanksgiving.

7. We forecast the outcome of our prayers based upon our knowledge of God's will for us in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:17-22 (AMP)17 be unceasing and persistent in prayer; 18 In every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

9/3/23

Making Faith Investments in Understanding the Ten Spiritual Laws that govern Prayer.

What are you willing to talk with God about?

Praying is being in a conversation with God.

Are you willing to get into a conversation with God about His thoughts and plans for you?

God's thoughts are key to getting our prayers answered.

Psalm 10:4 (AMP)
The wicked, in the haughtiness of his face, will not seek nor inquire for Him; All his thoughts are, “There is no God [so there is no accountability or punishment].”

Proverbs 15:26 (AMP)
Evil plans and thoughts of the wicked are exceedingly vile and offensive to the Lord, But pure words are pleasant words to Him.

Isaiah 55:7-8 (NLT)
7 Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.
8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.

Let's talk with God about His plans and thoughts for us.

Jeremiah 29:11 (AMP)
For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Faith in Christ will guard His plans for us.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

9/24/23

Making Faith Investments in understanding our New Life in Christ.

This Teaching is designed to encourage and strengthen everyone with accurate biblical knowledge who desires by faith to become a Born-again believer with a New life in Christ that is governed by the power of the Holy Spirit.

When we become a Born-again Christian, we begin our New life in Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (LB)
When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun!
We must have confidence that God has recreated a brand New person inside of us.

Our New life in Christ must have faith that pleases God.

2 Corinthians 5:7 (AMP)
for we walk by faith, not by sight [living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises]—

Hebrews 11:6 (GNT)
No one can please God without faith, for whoever comes to God must have faith that God exists and rewards those who seek him.

☆ How do we access Encouragement and Strength into our New life in Christ?

God's encouragement and Strength comes to us through our prayers and dependence on the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 138:3 (NLT)
As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength.

We are encouraged to believe and receive the Holy Spirit and the evidence that He gives us.

John 7:38-39 (AMP)
38 He who believes in Me [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Me], as the Scripture has said, ‘From his innermost being will flow continually rivers of living water.’” 39 But He was speaking of the [Holy] Spirit, whom those who believed in Him [as Savior] were to receive afterward. The Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified (raised to honor).

Luke 11:13 (AMP)
If you, then, being evil [that is, sinful by nature], know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask and continue to ask Him!”

Acts 2:1-4 (NLT)
1 On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

1 Corinthians 14:4 (NLT) A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally,...

5/5/24

M.F.I. Spiritual Growth.

After being Born-again and submitting our lives to having faith in Jesus Christ, we must further our faith investments in God's plan of “Spiritual Growth” for us to be developed in.

1. God's Truth is vital to our spiritual growth.

Proverbs 23:23 (CEV)

Invest in truth and wisdom, discipline and good sense, and don't part with them.

The book of Proverbs uses these terms in characteristic ways:

"Truth" is that which accurately describes reality; it is something factual.

"Wisdom" is a capacity to act according to truthful information.

"Instruction" is the general practice of acquiring knowledge and wisdom, usually by learning from a more experienced person.

"Understanding" suggests someone experienced enough in their wisdom to teach those principles to others.

Proverbs 1:7 (AMP)
The [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; But arrogant fools despise [skillful and godly] wisdom and instruction and self-discipline.

Footnotes:
In Proverbs various kinds of fools are discussed.
• Those who are closed-minded, over-confident, and reject instruction and correction—the unteachable.
• Those who lack spiritual insight—the spiritually blind.
• Those who are flippant, hardened, and who deliberately and arrogantly choose to reject God and His wisdom.

2. God has made “His qualities of Truth and Wisdom” available, free for everyone.

Isaiah 55:1 (AMP)
“Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters;
And you who have no money come, buy grain and eat.
Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost [simply accept it as a gift from God].

James 1:5 (AMP)
If any of you lacks wisdom [to guide him through a decision or circumstance], he is to ask of [our benevolent] God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and it will be given to him.

Psalm 111:10 (AMP)
The [reverent] fear of the Lord is the beginning (the prerequisite, the absolute essential, the alphabet) of wisdom; A good understanding and a teachable heart are possessed by all those who do the will of the Lord;
His praise endures forever.

John 17:17 (AMP)
Sanctify them in the truth [set them apart for Your purposes, make them holy]; Your word is truth.

Colossians 1:9-10 (AMP)9 For this reason, since the day we heard about it, we have not stopped praying for you, asking [specifically] that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [with insight into His purposes], and in understanding [of spiritual things], 10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord [displaying admirable character, moral courage, and personal integrity], to [fully] please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing in the knowledge of God [with deeper faith, clearer insight and fervent love for His precepts];

5/12/24

M.F.I. Spiritual Growth.

After being Born-again and submitting our lives to having faith in Jesus Christ, we begin investing into our “Spiritual Growth” development.

Proverbs 23:23 (CEV)
Invest in truth and wisdom, discipline and good sense, and don't part with them.

As Born-again Believers, we must seek to gain knowledge of God's Truth and Wisdom.

• To achieve this, we must recognize God's Truth and Wisdom.

Proverbs 2:10-13 (TLB)
10 For wisdom and truth will enter the very center of your being, filling your life with joy.
11-13 You will be given the sense to stay away from evil men who want you to be their partners in crime—men who turn from God’s ways to walk down dark and evil paths

1. God's Truth and Wisdom will fill our life with His Joy.

• Accurate Biblical Truth provides us with only one realization of Truth and God has chosen to reveal it in and through Jesus Christ.

John 14:6 (AMP)
Jesus said to him, “I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

2. Jesus Christ is the Born-again Believers’
*Only Way to God.
*The reality of God.
*Only Way of experiencing a relationship with God.

• Jesus Christ is the truth that sets us free.

John 8:32 (AMP)
And you will know the truth [regarding salvation], and the truth will set you free [from the penalty of sin].”

3. Only the Truth and Wisdom that we know about Jesus Christ can set us free from the penalty of sin.

John 3:16-18 (AMP)
16 “For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge and condemn the world [that is, to initiate the final judgment of the world], but that the world might be saved through Him.
18 Whoever believes and has decided to trust in Him [as personal Savior and Lord] is not judged [for this one, there is no judgment, no rejection, no condemnation]; but the one who does not believe [and has decided to reject Him as personal Savior and Lord] is judged already [that one has been convicted and sentenced], because he has not believed and trusted in the name of the [One and] only begotten Son of God [the One who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, the One who alone can save him].

Footnotes:
John 3:16
Jesus, God’s only Son, the One who is truly unique, the only one of His kind.

John 3:18 The Greek refers to an unsaved person who has made the decision not to believe in the Son, Jesus Christ, that is, not to accept the salvation offered by the Son and commit to follow Him.
Such a person stands condemned by God unless he changes his mind.

4. Truth and Wisdom instructs us to Repent and our old way of thinking.

Acts 2:38 (Amp)
And Peter said to them, “Repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways, accept and follow Jesus as the Messiah] and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ because of the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 1:30 (Amp)
But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God [revealing His plan of salvation], and righteousness [making us acceptable to God], and sanctification [making us holy and setting us apart for God], and redemption [providing our ransom from the penalty for sin],

5/19/24

M.F.I. Spiritual Growth.

After being Born-again and submitting our lives to having faith in Jesus Christ, we must begin to invest into our “ Thinking concerning Spiritual Growth” development.

Proverbs 23:23 (CEV)
Invest in truth and wisdom, discipline and good sense, and don't part with them.

As Born-again Believers, we must seek to gain knowledge of God's Truth and Wisdom.

• To achieve this, we must recognize God's Truth and Wisdom.

• Understanding God’s Knowledge,Wisdom and Truth will set us free,guard and protect us from criminal thinking that leads us into criminal behaviors.

Numbers 5:5-7 (CEV)
5 The Lord told Moses…
6 to say to the community of Israel: If any of you commit a crime against someone, you have sinned against me.
7 You must confess your guilt and pay the victim in full for whatever damage has been done, plus a fine of 20 percent.

Proverbs 1:19 (CEV)
19 The wealth you get from crime robs you of your life.

John 10:10 (NLT)
The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.
My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

John 8:32 (AMP)
And you will know the truth [regarding salvation], and the truth will set you free [from the penalty of sin].”

• We must seek for The Knowledge of God's Wisdom and Truth and be willing to invest them personally into our way of Thinking.

Romans 12:2 (NLT)
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

God’s Truth is this…

• Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world.
This world system is governed by satan’s evil criminal mindset.

• Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.

Romans 6:1-3 (TLB)
1 Well then, shall we keep on sinning so that God can keep on showing us more and more kindness and forgiveness?
2-3 Of course not! Should we keep on sinning when we don’t have to? For sin’s power over us was broken when we became Christians and were baptized to become a part of Jesus Christ; through his death the power of your sinful nature was shattered.

• We can learn to live free from being a spiritual criminal.

Hosea 14:9 (Amp)Whoever is [spiritually] wise, let him understand these things; Whoever is [spiritually] discerning and understanding, let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right, And the righteous will walk in them,But transgressors will stumble and fall in them.

06/02/24

M.F.I. Spiritual Growth.

By measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

The word Standard means a level of quality or attainment.

Proverbs 11:19 (AMP)
He who is steadfast in righteousness attains life,
But he who pursues evil attains his own death.

Ephesians 4:11-14 (NLT)
11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.

• We must acknowledge the gifts that Christ has given us as members of the body of Christ.

12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

• These leadership gifts must stay focused on the responsibility that Christ has given them.

13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

• Jesus Christ is our only standard of possessing unity in our faith, our faith must be in Him.

Hebrews 12:1-2 (AMP)
12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us,
2 [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].

Footnotes:
Hebrews 12:1 The great cloud of witnesses are those that were willing to invest their lives in the “Faithful of Christ Standards”.
Hebrews 12:2 Sometimes the public shame of the cross is overlooked when one thinks of the pain and agony inflicted by it, but in the Roman Empire crucifixion was a shameful and disgraceful way to die, a form of capital punishment from which Roman citizens were exempt; and in Roman comedy it was used in a curse: “Go to a bad cross!”

• Our Faith in Jesus Christ empowers us to opt out of the spirit of immaturity.

14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.

John 17:20-23 (AMP)
20 “I do not pray for these alone [it is not for their sake only that I make this request], but also for [all] those who [will ever] believe and trust in Me through their message,
21 that they all may be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe [without any doubt] that You sent Me.
22 I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one, just as We are one;
23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected and completed into one, so that the world may know [without any doubt] that You sent Me, and [that You] have loved them, just as You have loved Me.

• We attain every kind of endurance and patience with our Joy being in Christ.

Colossians 1:10-12 (AMP)10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord [displaying admirable character, moral courage, and personal integrity], to [fully] please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing in the knowledge of God [with deeper faith, clearer insight and fervent love for His precepts]; 11 [we pray that you may be] strengthened and invigorated with all power, according to His glorious might, to attain every kind of endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints (God’s people) in the Light.

06/16/24

M.F.I. in Christ’s Standards for our Spiritual Growth and Maturity.

The meaning of STANDARD OF LIVING is the necessities, comforts, and luxuries enjoyed or aspired to by an individual or group.

1. Let's look at Jesus Christ versus satan’s desired Standard of Life for mankind.

John 10:10 (NLT)
The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

John 10:10 (AMP)
The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].

2. Living in Christ’s Standards requires us to be diligent.

2 John 8-9 (NLT)
8 Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward.
9 Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son.

3. It is Standard Biblical knowledge that a person can not have faith in God without
hearing the message of Christ.

John 14:5-7 (AMP)
5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going; so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
7 If you had [really] known Me, you would also have known My Father. From now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

Romans 10:17 (CEV)

No one can have faith without hearing the message about Christ.

4. We must invest our faith in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 3:17-18 (AMP)
17 Therefore, [let me warn you] beloved, knowing these things beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men [who distort doctrine] and fall from your own steadfastness [of mind, knowledge, truth, and faith],
18 but grow [spiritually mature] in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory (honor, majesty, splendor), both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

5. When we keep our focus on Jesus, it brings our faith to maturity.

Hebrews 12: 2 (AMP)[looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity],

06/23/24

M.F.I. in “The Teachings of Jesus Christ.”

2 John 9 (NLT)
Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son.

• Jesus teaches His Disciples to not allow their hearts (spirits) to be troubled.

John 14:1 (AMP)
“Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid, cowardly). Believe [confidently] in God and trust in Him, [have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and] believe also in Me.

As disciples of Christ, we can determine the standard of our hearts.

1. “Believe [confidently] in God and trust in Him,”

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

2. If we treasure Christ's teachings in our hearts, our confidence will be centered there.

Matthew 6:21 (AMP)
For where your treasure is, there your heart [your wishes, your desires; that on which your life centers] will be also.

3. The teachings of Christ promote godly lifestyles.

1 Timothy 6:3 (NLT)
Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life.

4. Listening with the intent to gain knowledge and understanding of Christ’s teachings,
will guard our hearts from the troubles of this world system.

Matthew 13:12 (NLT)
To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.

Psalm 34:6 (NLT)
In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; He saved me from all my troubles.

Psalm 34:17 (AMP)
When the righteous cry [for help], the Lord hears
And rescues them from all their distress and troubles.

Psalm 34:19 (NLT)The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.

06/30/24

M.F.I. in “The Teachings of Jesus Christ.”

The purpose of “The Teachings of Jesus Christ is to equip the Born-again Believers for a complete New Life in Him.

2 John 9 (NLT)
Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son.

~ Only Christ's teachings can help us to realize how much we need Him in order to know and have a relationship with God.

John 1:12 (Amp)
But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the right [the authority, the privilege] to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name—

~Jesus is teaching us why God sent Him.

John 6:38 (Amp)
For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me.

• Jesus said to Thomas, one of His Disciples…

John 14:6 (Amp)
Jesus said to him, “I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

~ Knowing Jesus is the only way to know God as being Your Heavenly Father.

Jesus teaches that “no one comes to the Father but through Me.

~ Through indicates a direct interrupted passage to “God The Father.”

John 8:19 (Amp)
Then the Pharisees said to Him, “Where is this Father of Yours?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also.”

~ We are rewarded for listening to Jesus Christ Teachings.

~ Jesus Christ is teaching us that it is important That we Love “The Lord your God with all”.

Matthew 22:35-39 (NLT)
35 One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question:
36 “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”
37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’
38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (Amp)
4 “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.
5 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.

~ We can only love “The Lord our God” by allowing Christ to be our source of strength.

Psalm 29:11 (NLT)
The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace.

Philippians 4:13 (NLT)
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

7/14/24

Making Faith Investments in Understanding The Trademark of Jesus Christ’s Ministry.

A trademark identifies goods or services as being from a particular source.

Remember, God is the source of all that we need in this temporal and Eternal Life.

Let's get a clear Biblical understanding of why Jesus Christ was sent by God.

(1). John 10:10 (NLT)
The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

(2). 1 John 3:8 (AMP)
The one who practices sin [separating himself from God, and offending Him by acts of disobedience, indifference, or rebellion] is of the devil [and takes his inner character and moral values from him, not God]; for the devil has sinned and violated God’s law from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.

We will be making biblical identification of Jesus Christ’s Ministry of Healing.

Jesus healed hundreds, if not thousands, of people. Contrary to those who say that Jesus healed only a few dozen, the gospels indicate that he healed multitudes. Healing was a common trademark of his earthly ministry. Healing was not a secondary or subsidiary activity for him.

(3). Psalm 30:1-3 (NLT)
1 I will exalt you, Lord, for you rescued me.You refused to let my enemies triumph over me.
2 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you restored my health.
3 You brought me up from the grave, O Lord. You kept me from falling into the pit of death.

This is a song for the dedication of the Temple. I believe that God is revealing to us our need to dedicate our temples(bodies) so we will experience Christ’s Trademark of Restored Health.

(4). Matthew 4:23-24 (AMP)
23 And He went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news (gospel) of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people [demonstrating and revealing that He was indeed the promised Messiah].
24 So the news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were sick, those suffering with various diseases and pains, those under the power of demons, and epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them.

Jesus Christ is God's Anointed One to do good and healing all who are oppressed by the devil.

(5). Acts 10:38 (AMP)
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with great power; and He went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.

Satan, who is the god of this world, plans to stop mankind from making faith withdrawals concerning The Teachings of Jesus Christ.

(6). 2 Corinthians 4:4 (NLT)
Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

(7). 1 John 3:8 (AMP)The one who practices sin [separating himself from God, and offending Him by acts of disobedience, indifference, or rebellion] is of the devil [and takes his inner character and moral values from him, not God]; for the devil has sinned and violated God’s law from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.

7/21/24

Making Faith Investments in Understanding The Trademark of Jesus Christ’s Ministry.

A trademark identifies goods or services as being from a particular source.

Goods and services are necessary to sustain life. Goods include things like food, clothing, and shelter.

John 6:33-36 (AMP)
33 For the Bread of God is He who comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.”
34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.”
35 Jesus replied to them, “I am the Bread of Life. The one who comes to Me will never be hungry, and the one who believes in Me [as Savior] will never be thirsty [for that one will be sustained spiritually].
36 But as I told you, you have seen Me and still you do not believe.

Footnotes:

John 6:35 Jesus is declaring His deity and His relationship to mankind as Savior and sustainer of Life.

The reason why people do not believe is revealed in Scripture.

Remember, God is the source of all that we need in this temporal and Eternal Life.

Matthew 6:31-33 (NLT)
31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

God is committed to sustain our life in Christ.

Philippians 4:19 (AMP)
And my God will liberally supply (fill until full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 11:28 (AMP)
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation].

Acts 10:38 (AMP)How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with great power; and He went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.

7/28/24

Making Faith investments in The Pursuit of God’s Wisdom in Christ.

The Bible Reveals Jesus as greater than all who ever lived before Him and all who will ever come behind Him.

Remember, we can only obtain God's Wisdom in Christ through studying Christ Jesus’ Greatness in our lives.

Paul is teaching the Church of Colossians that in no uncertain terms, the doctrine of the Supremacy of Christ is revealed “in everything that God has created through and for Jesus Christ.”

Colossians 1:2-6 (AMP)
2 To the saints and faithful believers in Christ [who are] at Colossae: Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father.

3 We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, as we pray always for you,

4 for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus [how you lean on Him with absolute confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness], and of the [unselfish] love which you have for all the saints (God’s people);

5 because of the [confident] hope [of experiencing that] which is reserved and waiting for you in heaven. You previously heard of this hope in the message of truth, the gospel [regarding salvation]

6 which has come to you. Indeed, just as in the whole world the gospel is constantly bearing fruit and spreading [by God’s power], just as it has been doing among you ever since the day you first heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth [becoming thoroughly and deeply acquainted with it].

1. Only in our knowledge of Christ can we begin our Relationship with God as our Father.

Colossians 1:18 (AMP)
He is also the head [the life-source and leader] of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will occupy the first place [He will stand supreme and be preeminent] in everything.

Footnotes:

Colossians 1:18 This refers to the entire body of born-again believers (whether past, present, or future), not a local congregation.
Colossians 1:18 Christ is the first to be resurrected with an incorruptible, immortal body. Others who were raised had to die again.

God Himself has appointed “Jesus Christ with Supreme Authority over all things to The Church.”

Ephesians 1:22 (AMP)
And He put all things [in every realm] in subjection under Christ’s feet, and appointed Him as [supreme and authoritative] head over all things in the church,

The Well-Being of the Church is so important to God that He has Ordained His Son Jesus Christ to Head Visionary of its purpose while here on earth.

Keep This in Mind:
Jesus is Greater than all creation. As the creator of all things, He would have to be.

2. Calms the raging storms and provides “Perfect Peace.”

Mark 4:39 (AMP)
And He got up and [sternly] rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still (muzzled)!” And the wind died down [as if it had grown weary] and there was [at once] a great calm [a perfect peacefulness].

3. Provides Supernatural Increase to the loaves and fish.

Mark 8:6-9 (AMP)
6 He directed the people to sit down on the ground; and taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks and broke them, and [repeatedly] gave them to His disciples to set before them, and they served the crowd.
7 They also had a few small fish; and when Jesus had blessed them [and given thanks], He ordered these [fish] to be set before them as well.
8 And the people ate and were satisfied; and they picked up seven large baskets full of the broken pieces that were left over.
9 About four thousand [men] were there [besides women and children]; and He sent them away.

4. He provides sight to the blind.

Mark 8:22-25 (AMP)
22 Then they came to Bethsaida; and some people brought a blind man to Jesus and begged Him to touch him.
23 Taking the blind man by the hand, He led him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, “Do you see anything?”
24 And he looked up and said, “I see people, but [they look] like trees, walking around.”
25 Then again Jesus laid His hands on his eyes; and the man stared intently and [his sight] was [completely] restored, and he began to see everything clearly.

5. Subdues and walks on water.

Mark 6:48-50 (AMP)
48 Seeing the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night (3:00-6:00 a.m.) He came to them, walking on the sea. And [acted as if] He intended to pass by them.
49 But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost, and cried out [in horror];
50 for they all saw Him and were shaken and terrified. But He immediately spoke with them and said, “Take courage! It is I (I Am)! Stop being afraid.”

6. “Christ himself is the Creator who made everything in heaven and earth,”

Colossians 1:16 (TLB)Christ himself is the Creator who made everything in heaven and earth, the things we can see and the things we can’t; the spirit world with its kings and kingdoms, its rulers and authorities; all were made by Christ for his own use and glory.

8/4/24

Making Faith investments in The Pursuit of God’s Wisdom in Christ.

Christ Jesus is God's Wisdom making us Holy and setting us apart for the Glory of God in us.

Leviticus 20:26 (NLT)
You must be holy because I, the Lord, am holy. I have set you apart from all other people to be my very own.

Matthew 5:48 (NLT)
But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

1 Corinthians 1:29-31 (AMP)
29 so that no one may [be able to] boast in the presence of God.
30 But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God [revealing His plan of salvation], and righteousness [making us acceptable to God], and sanctification [making us holy and setting us apart for God], and redemption [providing our ransom from the penalty for sin],
31 So then, as it is written [in Scripture], “He who boasts and glories, let him boast and glory in the Lord.”

Ephesians 1:16-18 (AMP)
16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers;
17 [I always pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may grant you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation [that gives you a deep and personal and intimate insight] into the true knowledge of Him [for we know the Father through the Son].
18 And [I pray] that the eyes of your heart [the very center and core of your being] may be enlightened [flooded with light by the Holy Spirit], so that you will know and cherish the hope [the divine guarantee, the confident expectation] to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints (God’s people),

8/11/24

Making Faith investments in The Pursuit of God’s Character.

Leviticus 20:26 (NLT)
You must be holy because I, the Lord, am holy. I have set you apart from all other people to be my very own.

Holiness is a central part of God's relationship with Born-again Believers.
Holiness is defined as being set apart from sin and evil and living a life that reflects God's character.

We must stay mindful that this is a Holy Pursuit and it must begin with being Born-again.

• The word sanctified is associated with the word holiness.

Pursuing Holiness is motivated by our love for God.

John 15:10 (AMP)
If you keep My commandments and obey My teaching, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.

Holiness means to be completely separate and sinless. The Scriptures tell us that God is sinless and cannot tolerate sin. “He is Perfect.”

Jesus is revealing to us who we must desire to be like as Born-again children of God.

Matthew 5:48 (NLT)
But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

We must be willing to live in The Father’s way and promises.

2 Samuel 22:31 (NLT)
“God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.

Remember God's way perfectly protects us, but we must look to Him for it.

Psalm 18:30 (NLT)
God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.

Psalm 18:32 (NLT)
God arms me with strength, and he makes my way perfect.

Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

We must be willing to learn God's perfect will for our lives.

8/18/24

Making Faith investments in The Pursuing of God’s
Will and Purpose for your life.

The word "pursue" in the Bible has multiple meanings, including to seek, chase, and diligently pursue something:

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (AMP)
11 For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
12 Then you will call on Me and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear [your voice] and I will listen to you.
13 Then [with a deep longing] you will seek Me and require Me [as a vital necessity] and [you will] find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Psalm 53:2 (AMP)
God has looked down from heaven upon the children of men To see if there is anyone who understands, who seeks after God [who requires Him, who longs for Him as essential to life].

From the very beginning, God has pursued us and continues His pursuit for us.

After Adam and Eve sinned, they did not run toward God; they ran away from Him, hiding among the trees of the garden.

Genesis 3:8-9 (AMP)
8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool [afternoon breeze] of the day, so the man and his wife hid and kept themselves hidden from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

(God has always had a heart of reconciliation toward mankind.)

9But the Lord God called to Adam, and said to him, “Where are you?”

Through the message of Jesus Christ, God's plan of reconciliation is available to any person that will “Believe in Him as Savior and Lord.”

John 3:16 (AMP)“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.

8/25/24

Making Faith investments in The Pursuing of God’s Plan for our lives.

We must always keep in mind that we are pursuing God's plan not ours.

God’s plan for our lives is to experience His Great love.

John 3:16 (AMP)
“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.

1 Corinthians 8:3 (AMP)
But if anyone loves God [with awe-filled reverence, obedience and gratitude], he is known by Him [as His very own and is greatly loved].

1 John 4:9 (AMP)
By this the love of God was displayed in us, in that God has sent His [One and] only begotten Son [the One who is truly unique, the only One of His kind] into the world so that we might live through Him.

This is how God operates, when it comes to mankind.

Isaiah 46:9-10 (AMP)
9 “Remember [carefully] the former things [which I did] from ages past; For I am God, and there is no one else; I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10 Declaring the end and the result from the beginning, And from ancient times the things which have not [yet] been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will do all that pleases Me and fulfills My purpose,’

God has made plans to manifest His purpose.

Romans 8:27-29 (AMP)
27 And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because the Spirit intercedes [before God] on behalf of God’s people in accordance with God’s will.
28 And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew [and loved and chose beforehand], He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son [and ultimately share in His complete sanctification], so that He would be the firstborn [the most beloved and honored] among many believers.

John 1:12 (AMP)
But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the right [the authority, the privilege] to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name—

1 John 3:1 (AMP)See what an incredible quality of love the Father has shown to us, that we would [be permitted to] be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are! For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

09/01/24

Making Faith investments in The Pursuing of God’s Purpose and Plan for our lives.

We must always keep in mind that we are pursuing God's Purpose and plan, not ours.

Romans 8:28 (NLT)
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God…

“Those who love God” how this statement is lived out through Scriptures.

First, loving God requires knowing Him, and that knowledge begins with His Word. It may sound glib, but to know Him is to love Him.

This teaching is to provide encouragement to those that are willing to “Love God with all their spirit, soul and body.”

1. To love God is to put Him first.

Mark 12:29-30 (NLT)
29 Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord.
30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’

2. This is an undivided Love for God and Him only. When we commit to this,then we won’t allow
other things to crowd in.

Psalm 73:25 (NLT)
Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth.

1 John 2:15 (NLT)
Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.

2 Timothy 4:10 (NLT)
Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia.

Keep in mind.

We cannot love this present world system and God at the same time.

Remember having a love for what the world offers will lead us astray.

3. To love God is to desire Him, to yearn for His righteousness, His Word, and His grace.

Psalm 42:1 (NLT)
As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.

4. Once we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good, we want more of Him.

Psalm 34:8 (NLT)
Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

5. If we love God, we are willing to listen and be taught by Him.

Luke 10:39 (NLT)
Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught.

6. If we love God, the psalmist’s description of the Word of God will resonate within us.

Psalm 19:9-10 (NLT)

9 Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever.
The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair.
10 They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.

This is an interesting thought someone wrote that I believe will help deepen our understanding of “Those who love God.”

Suppose a man is separated from his sweetheart and receives a letter from her. His first action will be to eagerly open the letter and pore over its contents.
His love for his beloved will naturally cause him to love her correspondence with him. The same is true with our love for God’s Word.
Because we love the Author, we love His message to us. We read it avidly and often, we hold it close, and we hide its words in our hearts.

9/15/24

Making Faith investments in God's Word.

Key Thought:
Knowing what God says about His Words is key to our Faith investments in Him.

1. Key Scripture.

Numbers 23:19 (AMP)
“God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken and will He not make it good and fulfill it?

Key Thought:
God has Blessed us with His Word of Promises.

2. Key Scripture.

1 Kings 8:56 (AMP)
“Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, in accordance with everything that He promised. Not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He spoke through Moses His servant

Key Thought:
Heaven and earth will change by the Transforming power of God's WORD.

3. Key Scripture.
Mark 13:31 (AMP)
Heaven and earth [as now known] will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

Key Thought:
Hearing and obeying God's Word will produce steadfast faith.

4. Key Scripture.
Romans 10:17 (NKJV)
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Key Thought:
The Word of God reveals the message about Christ and no one can have faith without experiencing and accepting This Message.

5. Key Scripture
Romans 10:17 (CEV)No one can have faith without hearing the message about Christ.

9/22/24

Making Faith investments in God's Word will produce Christ-like character in our lives.

Micah 7:2 (AMP)
The godly person [who is faithful and loyal to God] has perished from the earth, And there is no upright person [one with good character and moral integrity] among men.They all lie in wait to shed blood; Each hunts the other with a net.

Jesus Christ came to rescue mankind from Pershing!!!

John 3:16 (AMP)
“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.

God has given The Gospel of Jesus Christ so that we will not have to suffer satan destructive work in our lives.

Being Blessed produces godly character!!!

Matthew 5:7-9 (AMP)
7 “Blessed [content, sheltered by God’s promises] are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8 “Blessed [anticipating God’s presence, spiritually mature] are the pure in heart [those with integrity, moral courage, and godly character], for they will see God.
9 “Blessed [spiritually calm with life-joy in God’s favor] are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they will [express His character and] be called the sons of God.

We are to be daily investors of God's values in our lives!!!

Matthew 5:48 (AMP)
You, therefore, will be perfect [growing into spiritual maturity both in mind and character, actively integrating godly values into your daily life], as your heavenly Father is perfect.

We must invest God's word into our hearts to understand and experience spiritual truths!!!

Colossians 1:9-10 (AMP)
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about it, we have not stopped praying for you, asking [specifically] that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [with insight into His purposes], and in understanding [of spiritual things],
10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord [displaying admirable character, moral courage, and personal integrity], to [fully] please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing in the knowledge of God [with deeper faith, clearer insight and fervent love for His precepts];

09/29/24

Making Faith Investments.

Who is Jesus Christ?

We will be studying through Scriptures “The Full Identity of Jesus Christ.”

Identification serves as proof that a person or a thing is what it claims to be.

The Bible reveals to us that Jesus Christ is infinitely more than a prophet, a good teacher or a godly man.

Jesus said in:
John 10:30 (AMP)
“I and the Father are One [in essence and nature].”

John 17:3 (AMP)
Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true [supreme and sovereign] God, and [in the same manner know] Jesus [as the] Christ whom You have sent.

Matthew 3:16-17 (AMP)
16 After Jesus was baptized, He came up immediately out of the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he (John) saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him (Jesus),
17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased and delighted!”

This is also revealed in:

Mark 1:10-11/ Luke 3:21-22

The second occasion of God identifying Jesus Christ was on the mountain where Jesus was transfigured, and is also recorded in Matthew, Mark and Luke. On this occasion, God not only said that Jesus was his son, but also commanded the disciples who were with Jesus to listen to him:

Mark 9:2-8 (AMP)
2 Six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured (changed in form) before them [and began to shine brightly with divine and regal glory];
3 and His clothes became radiant and dazzling, intensely white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them.
4 Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were having a conversation with Jesus.
5 Peter responded and said to Jesus, “Rabbi (Master), it is good for us to be here; let us make three [sacred] tents—one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
6 For he did not [really] know what to say because they were terrified [and stunned by the miraculous sight].
7 Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and [a]a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him and obey Him!”
8 Suddenly they looked around and no longer saw anyone with them, except Jesus alone.

The Apostle Peter reaffirms this to the Church of Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:17-18 (AMP)
17 For when He was invested with honor and [the radiance of the Shekinah] glory from God the Father, such a voice as this came to Him from the [splendid] Majestic Glory [in the bright cloud that overshadowed Him, saying], “This is My Son, My Beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased and delighted”—
18 and we [actually] heard this voice made from heaven when we were together with Him on the holy mountain.

Footnotes:

2 Peter 1:17 The word “Shekinah” does not appear in Scripture, but has been used by both Christians and Jews to describe the visible divine Presence of God (the brilliant light of the divine), in such things as the burning bush, the cloud and the pillar of fire that led the Hebrews in the wilderness, and the Presence of God that rested between the cherubim over the mercy seat of the ark.

With these words God affirms the deity of Jesus and His divine essence.

We must be willing to listen and obey Scriptures that reveal to us Who Jesus Christ is.

1 Timothy 2:5 (AMP) For there is [only] one God, and [only] one Mediator between God and mankind, the Man Christ Jesus,

10/6/24

Making Faith Investments.

Knowing and Understanding Who is Jesus Christ?

We will be studying through Scriptures “The Full Identity of Jesus Christ.”

Identification serves as proof that a person or a thing is what it claims to be.

Jesus reveals himself to us in Scriptures.

The purpose of the word “reveal” is to disclose; to discover; to show; to make known something before unknown or concealed; as, to reveal secrets.

John 10:30 (AMP)
“I and the Father are One [in essence and nature].”

Jesus is God revealing Himself to mankind.

Without Jesus, we would not be able to see God.

“No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known”

John 1:18 (AMP)
No one has seen God [His essence, His divine nature] at any time; the [One and] only begotten God [that is, the unique Son] who is in the intimate presence of the Father, He has explained Him [and interpreted and revealed the awesome wonder of the Father].

Jesus is, in fact, “the exact representation and perfect imprint of His [Father’s] essence.”

Hebrews 1:3 (AMP)
The Son is the radiance and only expression of the glory of [our awesome] God [reflecting God’s Shekinah glory, the Light-being, the brilliant light of the divine], and the exact representation and perfect imprint of His [Father’s] essence, and upholding and maintaining and propelling all things [the entire physical and spiritual universe] by His powerful word [carrying the universe along to its predetermined goal].
When He [Himself and no other] had [by offering Himself on the cross as a sacrifice for sin] accomplished purification from sins and established our freedom from guilt, He sat down
[revealing His completed work] at the right hand of the Majesty on high [revealing His Divine authority],

Footnotes to Hebrews 1:3:
The word “Shekinah” does not appear in Scripture, but has been used by both Christians and Jews to describe the visible divine Presence of God, in such things as the burning bush, the cloud and the pillar of fire that led the Hebrews in the wilderness, and the Presence of God that rested between the cherubim over the mercy seat of the ark.

When we see Jesus, we see the Father.

John 14:6-9 (AMP)
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
7 If you had [really] known Me, you would also have known My Father. From now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”
8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father and then we will be satisfied.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time, and you do not know Me yet, Philip, nor recognize clearly who I am? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’

Only Jesus Christ can help us discover God as our Father who loves us.

John 3:16 (AMP)
“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Footnotes to John 3:16:
Jesus, God’s only Son, the One who is truly unique, the only one of His kind.

Please repent to God and learn to Trust Jesus Christ to be your Savior and Lord, then write your name on the line below. Thank You and Welcome to the Family of God.

John 3:16 (AMP)“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized _________________________, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that when I become a Believer and trusts in Him [as Savior] I shall not perish, but have eternal life.

10/13/24

Making Faith Investments. Knowing and Understanding Who is Jesus Christ?

Jesus is God revealing Himself to mankind.

John 10:30 (AMP)
“I and the Father are One [in essence and nature].”

“Jesus Christ” is the only one that can reveal God's Great love toward mankind,

John 3:16 (AMP)
“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Jesus Christ came with the intent of showing God's great love for us.

Romans 5:8 (NLT)
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

Jesus Christ is God being revealed.

Jesus Christ allows Born-again Believers to experience being children of God, the kingdom of God and being cleansed from our sins.

John 1:11-12 (AMP)
11 He came to that which was His own [that which belonged to Him—His world, His creation, His possession], and those who were His own [people—the Jewish nation] did not receive and welcome Him.
12 But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the right [the authority, the privilege] to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name—

Hebrews 1:3 (NLT)
The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.

10/20/24

Making Faith Investments.

Knowing and Understanding Who is Jesus Christ?

Charles I was hidden in God for an appointed time to be revealed to as many that are willing to receive and have Faith in Me.

1. Jesus Christ is the only Savior of the world that has been sent by God.

1 John 4:14 (Amp)
We [who were with Him in person] have seen and testify [as eye-witnesses] that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.

Jesus Christ is “The only Savior” that God has entrusted to Rescue, Redeem and Recreate all of mankind back into eternal Relationships with Him.

The Great Rescue…

Psalm 25:20 (Amp)
Guard my soul and rescue me; Do not let me be ashamed or disappointed, For I have taken refuge in You.

Proverbs 28:26 (Amp)
He who trusts confidently in his own heart is a [dull, thickheaded] fool, But he who walks in [skillful and godly] wisdom will be rescued.

John 3:17 (Amp)
For God did not send the Son into the world to judge and condemn the world [that is, to initiate the final judgment of the world], but that the world might be saved through Him.

Galatians 1:3-5 (Amp)
3 Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
4 who gave Himself [as a sacrifice to atone] for our sins [to save and sanctify us] so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, in accordance with the will and purpose and plan of our God and Father—
5 To Him be [ascribed all] the glory through the ages of the ages. Amen.

Colossians 1:12-14 (NLT)
12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

10/27/24

Making Faith Investments.

Knowing and Understanding Who is Jesus Christ?

Jesus spoke this to me:
Charles, I was hidden in God for an appointed time to be revealed to as many who are willing to receive and have Faith in Me.

John 1:11-12 (CEV)
11 He came into his own world, but his own nation did not welcome him.
12 Yet some people accepted him and put their faith in him. So he gave them the right to be the children of God.

Generally speaking, a lord is someone with authority, control, or power over others; to say that someone is “lord” is to consider that person a master or ruler of some kind.

In Jesus’ day, the word lord was often used as a title of respect toward earthly authorities;
The statement “Jesus is Lord” means that Jesus is God.

n John 10:30 (NLT), Jesus Christ is recorded saying “The Father and I are one.” Father being God.

1. Jesus has “all authority in heaven and on earth” because Jesus is Lord.

Matthew 28:18 (AMP)
Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.

2. Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath.

Luke 6:5 (AMP)
Jesus was saying to them, “The Son of Man (the Messiah) is Lord [even] of the Sabbath.”

3. He is “The only Sovereign and Lord.”

Jude 4 (NLT)
I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Sovereign has everything to do with power. It often describes a person who has supreme power or authority, such as a king or queen.

4. He is the Lord of lords.

Revelation 17:14 (AMP)
They will wage war against the Lamb (Christ), and the Lamb will triumph and conquer them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him and on His side are the called and chosen (elect) and faithful.”

5. Many times Jesus referred to Himself as “Lord.”

Luke 19:31 (CEV)
If anyone asks why you are doing this, just say, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ”

Footnotes: The Lord: Or “The master of the donkey.”

John 13:13 (CEV)
You call me your teacher and Lord, and you should, because that is who I am.

And when we compare the Old Testament with the New, we find several times when the “LORD” (Yahweh) of the Hebrew Bible is equated with the “Lord Jesus” by the apostles. For example:

Psalm 34:8 (AMP)
O taste and see that the Lord [our God] is good;
How blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who takes refuge in Him.

Jesus is Lord and when we surrender to His Lordship in our lives, we will experience His goodness and kindness.

1 Peter 2:3 (AMP)
if in fact you have [already] tasted the goodness and gracious kindness of the Lord.

6. All intelligent beings in the universe will acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Philippians 2:9-11 (AMP)
9 For this reason also [because He obeyed and so completely humbled Himself], God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow [in submission], of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and that every tongue will confess and openly acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord (sovereign God), to the glory of God the Father.

Footnotes:
Every knee shall bow meaning; All intelligent beings in the universe, whether saved or unsaved, whether in spirit or as mortal mankind, will acknowledge Him.

The Hebrews regarded the knees as a symbol of strength; to bend the knee is, therefore, to bend our strength before the living God, an acknowledgment of the fact that all that we are, we receive from him.

11/3/24

Making Faith Investments.

Discipleship is the foundation of Knowing and Understanding Who The Lord Jesus Christ is.

Being disciples of Christ is the starting place for making disciples.

Discipleship is the ongoing process of growing in faith as a Christ-like follower; becoming like Jesus in every area of life.

As a disciple, we are simply followers of Jesus, seeking to imitate him and Him only.

Matthew 16:24-25 (AMP)
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].
25 For whoever wishes to save his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], but whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake will find it [that is, life with Me for all eternity].

Discipleship Is a Costly investment that provides eternal life with Jesus Christ.

Luke 9:23-24 (AMP)
23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross daily [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].
24 For whoever wishes to save his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], but whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake, he is the one who will save it [from the consequences of sin and separation from God].

John 6:68-69 (AMP)
68 Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You [alone] have the words of eternal life [you are our only hope].
69 We have believed and confidently trusted, and [even more] we have come to know [by personal observation and experience] that You are the Holy One of God [the Christ, the Son of the living God].”

Matthew 28:19-20 (AMP)19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.”

11/10/24

Making Faith Investments To Be Jesus Christ Disciples.

Matthew 16:24 (AMP)
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].

Jesus Christ is teaching us that to be His disciple—His follower—spiritual discipline of self-denial is required.

The Dictionary of Bible Themes defines self-denial as “the willingness to deny oneself possessions or status, in order to grow in holiness and commitment to God.”

The words Jesus used in the original language for “deny yourself” were strong terms similar in meaning to Paul’s wording in :

Philippians 3:7-9 (AMP)
7 But whatever former things were gains to me [as I thought then], these things [once regarded as advancements in merit] I have come to consider as loss [absolutely worthless] for the sake of Christ [and the purpose which He has given my life].
8 But more than that, I count everything as a loss compared to the priceless privilege and supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord [and of growing more deeply and thoroughly acquainted with Him—a joy unequaled]. For His sake I have lost everything, and I consider it all garbage, so that I may gain Christ,
9 and may be found in Him [believing and relying on Him], not having any righteousness of my own derived from [my obedience to] the Law and its rituals, but [possessing] that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.

Denying ourselves is an essential part of our “New life in Christ.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 (AMP)
Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].

We must make a Daily Faith investment in denying ourselves, so that we may avoid denying Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

11/17/24

Making Faith Investments To Be Jesus Christ Disciples.

Discipleship is the ongoing process of growing in faith as a Christ-like follower; becoming like Jesus in every way of life.

As a disciple, we are to simply follow and learn to imitate Jesus only.

Matthew 28:19 (AMP)
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

As disciples of Jesus, we are called to follow His example and become like Him only.

Matthew 11:28-29 (AMP)
28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation].
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me [following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls.

What you will experience when you come and be His disciple.

Freedom from being weary and heavily burdened…
Weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace],

John 14:27 (AMP)
Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]

Rest:
The rest Jesus gives also entails being free from the burden of sin.

Matthew 5:4 (AMP)
“Blessed [forgiven, refreshed by God’s grace] are those who mourn [over their sins and repent], for they will be comforted [when the burden of sin is lifted].

Yoke:
Jesus asks us to come alongside Him and join him in his assignment of redemption for mankind. We must make the deliberate choice to enter into this Discipleship Relationship and to come under the yoke of Jesus.

Benefits: When we replace the weight of the world with the yoke of Jesus, then we can learn from Jesus and have rest for our souls.

11/24/24

Making Faith Investments

Living in The Truth of Jesus Christ

Luke 4:18 (AMP)
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me (the Messiah),
Because He has anointed Me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent Me to announce release (pardon, forgiveness) to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed (downtrodden, bruised, crushed by tragedy),

John 8:32 (AMP)
And you will know the truth [regarding salvation], and the truth will set you free [from the penalty of sin].”

His truth doesn’t depend on a set of circumstances. Truth is true for all people everywhere all the time, regardless of the form of government they live under.

Romans 6:18 (AMP)
And having been set free from sin, you have become the slaves of righteousness [of conformity to God’s will and purpose].

Romans 6:22 (AMP)
But now since you have been set free from sin and have become [willing] slaves to God, you have your benefit, resulting in sanctification [being made holy and set apart for God’s purpose], and the outcome [of this] is eternal life.

Romans 8:2 (AMP)For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

12/1/24

Making Faith Investments in What “The Spirit of the Lord has done.”

Luke 4:18-19 (TLB)
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

When a person repents and receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, the Spirit of the Lord takes up residence in that individual. The Spirit of the Lord has come into the world through Jesus Christ to fulfill God's plan of Redemption.

Redemption refers biblically to the work of Christ on our behalf, whereby he purchases us; he ransoms us, at the price of his own life, securing our deliverance from the bondage and condemnation of sin. The New Testament speaks of Christ’s saving work in this way frequently.

Jesus Christ has secured our deliverance from the bondage and condemnation of sin.

Escape from Bondage:
2 Corinthians 3:17 (AMP)
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [emancipation from bondage, true freedom].

There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus.
John 5:24 (AMP)
24 “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, the person who hears My word [the one who heeds My message], and believes and trusts in Him who sent Me, has (possesses now) eternal life [that is, eternal life actually begins—the believer is transformed], and does not come into judgment and condemnation, but has passed [over] from death into life.

Romans 8:1-2 (AMP)
1 Therefore there is now no condemnation [no guilty verdict, no punishment] for those who are in Christ Jesus [who believe in Him as personal Lord and Savior].
2 For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

12/8/24

Making Faith Investments in “What the Spirit of the Lord has done.”

Revelation 2:1-5(AMP)
1 “To the angel (divine messenger) of the church in Ephesus write:
“These are the words of the One who holds [firmly] the seven stars [which are the angels or messengers of the seven churches] in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands (the seven churches):

2 ‘I know your deeds and your toil, and your patient endurance, and that you cannot tolerate those who are evil, and have tested and critically appraised those who call themselves apostles (special messengers, personally chosen representatives, of Christ), and [in fact] are not, and have found them to be liars and impostors;

3 and [I know that] you [who believe] are enduring patiently and are bearing up for My name’s sake, and that you have not grown weary [of being faithful to the truth].

4 But I have this [charge] against you, that you have left your first love [you have lost the depth of love that you first had for Me].

5 So remember the heights from which you have fallen, and repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, your sinful behavior—seek God’s will] and do the works you did at first [when you first knew Me]; otherwise, I will visit you and remove your lampstand (the church, its impact) from its place—unless you repent.

Remember, the heights from which we have fallen, and repent.

Repentance is Christ's solution for restoring our deep committed relationship with Him.

Questions that we need to think about:

1. Do you remember when you realized that you needed Jesus Christ more than anything else?

2. Do you still have that same desire today?

3. How is it affecting your relationship with Jesus today?

Let's Remember that Repent is the act of changing your inner self—your old way of thinking, your sinful behavior and to diligently seek God’s will and do the works you did at first when you first knew Christ.

At the birth of the Church, Peter Boldly commands them.

Acts 2:38 (AMP)
And Peter said to them, “Repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways, accept and follow Jesus as the Messiah] and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ because of the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

We must keep ourselves dedicated to Christ.

Romans 12:1-2 (AMP)
12 Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship.
2 And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].

From the Greek word meaning “metamorphosis,” Paul refers to the process that leads to an outward, permanent change.

12/15/24

Making Faith Investments in understanding that “The Law of The Lord is Perfect.”

According to the Bible, God's Law is a perfect revelation of His Nature and Righteousness. And it exposes sin.

It's nearly impossible to calculate the exact number of laws in the United States because: Some laws are new, while others amend or repeal existing laws.

Question:
Does The Law of The Lord need any amending?

An AI response:
No, the law of the Lord does not need amending because it is perfect and unchangeable.

The Biblical Response:
Psalm 19:7-9 (AMP)
The law of the Lord is perfect (flawless), restoring and refreshing the soul; The statutes of the Lord are reliable and trustworthy, making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true, they are righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them Your servant is warned [reminded, illuminated, and instructed]; In keeping them there is great reward.

"Restoring and refreshing the soul:”
The Bible portrays the soul as the seat of a person's emotions, desires, and passions, as well as the activity of their will, character, and mind. The word "soul" is used in the Bible in a number of ways, including: To indicate desire, To refer to a personal being, To refer to a conscious self, and To refer to an emotional state.

Psalm 23:3 (AMP)
He refreshes and restores my soul (life); He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

Our Desires and passions:
Matthew 6:21 (NLT)
Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Our Will, Character and Mind:
Romans 12:2 (AMP)
And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].

The Law of The Lord is perfect because He has inspired it to be so…:
2 Timothy 3:16 (AMP)All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage];