A step towards Christ like living

Zechariah  8:16 These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:  8:17 And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.

Jesus taught these doctrines to all people.  Why did the Jewish people then and now rebuke Him as the savior? The answer lies in their distance from the Jehovah they claimed to know, love and serve. The devil infiltrated the Jews to the point of corruption of the high priest and the community.  The author of life was going to suffer greatly to show us how we are to act as His people. 

If the Jews in their entirety had practiced what Zechariah preached above, then the presence of the Lord amongst the would have been received in an extremely positive manner.  The same holds true to people today. Practice the portion of Zechariah above in our everyday lives and we will soon see what Christ faced as well as peace amongst those who gold true to this teaching.  It's time to challenge the hold the enemy has on our society! Through the Holy Spirit, God empowers us to do just that! In the name of Jesus and by this teaching of Zechariah, let's work together to rid ourselves of the enemy.  Praising God all the way.

Be slow to speak

James 1:19-20- "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God." Better hearing and slow speech will reduce anger and save lives. Reflect righteousness, slow down.....🙏🏽

If more people took the time to practice this simplest of commands, there would be less funerals due to violence and such.  There would be less fighting amongst spouses,  siblings and families.  But in order for others to practice it, we must grounded in this as teachers. Practicing and honing out craft.  We must lead by example first. Praise God for the ultimate example in Christ!

Being slow to Wrath gives us the opportunity to show the love and the good nature of Christ. Being slow to wrath saves lives. What are we are slow to Wrath, it gives us a chance to hear the person that we may have been hurt by. By hearing I mean understanding their perspective on the situation and it gives us an opportunity to open dialogue and to work the situation out without resorting to violence or other means that are ungodly to resolve the issue.

Put pride aside. Pride is often the number one reason that wrath comes about because our pride has been hurt. When you put pride aside it further gives us a chance to truly understand what is going on around this versus Reacting first and asking questions later.

It's time to change our ways. It's time to start living out the actions and the nature of Christ in our everyday lives. We can start by not being quick to anger, not being quick to accuse others without facts, and so on. We must be quick to encourage each other. We must be diligent and our efforts to uplift each other. We must wholeheartedly buy into the true person of Christ and reflect that to everyone in our daily lives without exception.

The courage and faith of Stephen

Acts 7

51 “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— 53 you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”

The Stoning of Stephen54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

How many of us have the courage of Stephen? He was so faithful to Jesus Christ that he proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah until his death. In Chapter 7 of the book of Acts, Steven welcomed the Holy Spirit and let God work in him all the way to the point of stoning. He did not run from it, like Jesus did not run from the cross. The Holy Spirit used him to convict the Sanhedrin of horrendous crime of killing our Lord and Savior.

Stephen died an innocent man, found guilty of the crime of blasphemy because he placed blame on the Jewish leaders.  He told them truthfully that throughout history they refused the leadership of God because they were corrupted by the devil in so many words.  Stephen, like Moses and the prophets before him pleaded with the people to follow God, and they died a sinner's death. Very Christ-like, huh? Mark 9:12 states, Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected?

Do you have the courage and faith to tell the truth about the enemy while ataring at death? Will you serve God? Do you have faith that despite threat or action against you, Jehovah Nisi will be glorified through you? 1 Peter 3:14 says, But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”

Search yourselves deeply as you read and pray on this. Do we as the Church have what it takes to stand up for God?  While doing remember these three pieces of Scripture: James 5:9-11 (NIV)

9 Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!  10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

Luke 9:22-24 (NIV)

22 And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.

Mark 8:34-36 (NIV)

The Way of the Cross
34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?

Aa for mine and me, we WILL serve the Lord!

Follow God

Who has the courage and passion for Christ to take up their cross and follow Him? Its a tough question.  What does it mean? To me, it means put down the concerns of this life and pursue God with every fiber of your existence. Does this mean quit work or something? For most of us no.  But it means kill the sinful live we are currently enveloped in and begin the path to righteousness and salvation. It means to be a warrior for His cause and never stop.  It isn'teasy. Their will be suffering, i.e. Peter, Paul, Stephen and modern day people who sacrifice for God up to death.   Be like the end of Psalm 27 when we finally take up our crosses, be of good courage, and He will strengthen our hearts. What I say on the Lord. 

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.

Luke 9:23-24 NIV

The enemy's plan

We wander through life, at times good and doing good things. At other points, not so much.  Instead of wandering at all, seek out our purpose.  That purpose is ultimately to do the work of and glorify God.  Simultaneously, we must understand the enemy's plan against us so that we don't wander away from God in any way. His plan is subtle and seemingly  nice. But, when you are locked within his clutches, fighting against an intangible enemy, you will begin to wonder, how did this happen? How did I get here? Why me? Has God forsaken me? Why are you allowing this to happen God?

Jesus was tested at his weakest point, during a 40 day and night gastinf period. The devil tried three methods of temptation to derail Him from His purpose: promise of wealth and fame, make food for yourself, and if God loves you, theow yourself off the cliff to see if the angels will catch you.  All approaches were subtle in delivery but death was the result of them all.

Matthew 4New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness
4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a] by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[b]”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
    and they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c]”
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’[e]”

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

We must know that we are under the same fire and duress that Jesus was at this time.  The devil's plan is to stop us from glorifying God and joining the heavenly Father. Misery loves company, and the enemy wants all of us to join his ill-fated party.  He wants the people of God most.  That is no secret, and the reason why God is glorified when ee are tested and remain true to Jehovah Nisi throughout our period of tribulations.

Somw will fall for one of these methods, its sadly inevitable. Reason being is lack of faith and lack of strength in that faith we have. When trials come upon us, instinct says run. God say in your weakness i am stronger. 

Paul writes, 1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 
Galatians 6:1 [ Doing Good to All ] Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

Take time to know your enemy.  Study them and become well versed in his plot for our demise. He came for Christ, he will definitely come for us.  Whether subtly disguised or utterly direct, his ploy will cause a void between us and the Author of Life.  That is how we wouls be doomed to eternal death.

Father, please continue to order our steps despite our best efforts to wander. Paul said of you in his time of trial that your grace and mercy are sufficient. We know the same is true for us.  Help us YahWeh to grow closer and more intimate with You. Help us to discern that which is of you and of the enemy in our lives. Please Father make your path for us light up brighter than 10,000 suns so it is clear where to go.  Any evil that befalls us, is not of you. In James, you said, James 1:13-15New International Version (NIV)

13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Let us not fall into the hands and clutches of Death broken for us by the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. Forgive us Father for we are not worthyof the goodness you give us.  Butwe thank You for your grace and mercy bestowed.  We love you, Amen