A New Walk

Ephesians 4:17

 

17This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,

 

The NKJV Study Bible translates the verse as, "The Ephesians were admonished to avoid the lifestyle typical of unbelieving Gentiles all around them. This lifestyle was characterized by "futility", being empty and without purpose."

 

How many are wandering around without purpose right now? How many think they are content with they way the world lives but do things to themselves to force some kind of feeling, any kind of feeling just so they know they are still physically alive? Oh it's real.

 

Over the last 24 hours the Lord has been reminding me about the miracles, signs and wonders in the New Testament books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and that many people, including some who claim to be followers of Christ or "believe in God," do not believe can happen today or have happened today. God was taking me through the times I said "yes" to Him starting from my baptism in October 1991 and then the dream I had in November 1991 that I didn't know then would have to do with my part of my purpose and my second book. God was taking me through the first time I finally said that I would be His evangelist in December 2007. He also took me through SOME of the times when I attempted to take back that yes and live as the world lived but He came to collect on that yes. I went back on a vow not to have sex outside of marriage and three months later, I was being told by doctors that I had 48 hours to live and maybe a year at most with the treatment I was started on. But when I was willing to say yes again and listen to God, He reversed it all. One misstep of His directions to get healed would've cost me my life. He took me through the times where I have experienced some of His miracles signs and wonders, not just in my life but in the lives of other believers around me. As I grew more in my walk with Christ I began to experience what is known as the mercy gift being able to physically feel the pain, hurt, happiness, joy, love, peace of those around that God allows. I began to experience the gift of discernment whereby knowing the difference between good and evil.  For the first time when my cousin was in the hospital God allowed me to feel her spirit slipping/transitioning and the frantic run to the hospital my mom and I made. I anointed her with oil and sang songs of praise to God and encouragement to her. I learned after her death that what my pastor and assistant pastor told me was true, that I had to be a light for her and that the book, Get Your JOY In The Morning connected the dots for her regarding who God is and what He desires from us. I recall seeing my pastor tear pedals from a flower not looking, only to be called up to witness what God had done. The pink pedals were in the shape of a heart with blood coming out representing Christ's heart. I met a man, Arnold Harvey II whom I would mentor as an author who first gave his life to Christ in a pool of blood to die multiple times but God brought him back. Proof that God has the final say when life ends no matter who is on the other side of a gun, knife, etc. I know people can hear while in a coma. My late step dad, not only heard me in the induced coma he was in but I saw tears at words I said and I had never seen him cry before. I witnessed the soles of the shoes of both my pastor and assistant pastor disintegrate from the fire of God in them. I witnessed several people in my church get healed by the Lord and leave doctors in amazement. I have witnessed prophesies from the Lord come to pass. I have witnessed people finding their purpose, including myself, out of their obedience and willingness to hear and grow closer to God through Jesus Christ.

 

I serve the Lord whole heartily in a NEW walk because NO ONE can tell me that He does not exist. NO ONE can tell me that the miracles of the Bible are non existent. NO ONE can tell me now that living in the futility of the world is better than what I have in Him. Do you really believe that what you have is better than Christ? Better than the almighty God who has the power to give and take life? Are you tired of feeling empty and trying to create situations just so you can see if you still have a pulse? Do you know Christ as your Lord and Savior? Do you want to know Him? As the group, forever JONES sings in their song, "You Can Do Anything," referring to Jesus, He really can.

You Are a Walking Advertisement

1Timothy 4:12

 

12Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

 

Let me just share with you tonight that my plan was to work on something else but when God said I had to write the enemy REALLY did not want you to receive this message. The attempt was to lock me out of my email. So you know this will be "life changing" for someone.  The day that God had me send out the message "The Blind Will Fall" I had several living examples in front me through out the day of people who fell away from the church because the conduct of those in church did not reflect what they were teaching and who they professed to be. This is a VERY serious subject. This week I met a woman who was so damaged by someone's conduct in church that I just wanted to hug her and cry. It hurt my heart so bad. This is not a test of the emergency broadcast system. This is real. 

 

The apostle Paul addressed Timothy who was his son in the ministry. Paul reminded young Timothy that being an elder came with responsibility. That responsibility included every aspect as Paul detailed in the scripture above. But as men and women who claim to carry the name of Christ and heritage of being God's children, whether teacher or not, whether elder or not, we are all called "to be an example in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity." Yes, everyone is a work in progress but your conduct as a follower of Christ or the lack there of, can directly hinder someone's walk in Christ especially if they are babes in Christ. Someone who has been hurt by the conduct of those who claim to be followers of Christ and carry the name can walk away and never return. They can easily be so hurt that they refuse to grow in Christ. It's heartbreaking to see trust me. But if you have ever experienced the hurt then just think if you were a babe in Christ. Would you want to follow Christ? This is real talk. Put yourself in the shoes of others and examine your conduct. Ask yourself the following questions: Would God be pleased with my conduct? Does my conduct reflect that which Christ calls me to live? Is my conduct hindering my walk and growth in Christ? Is my conduct potentially damaging to anyone else in the body of Christ? Would someone in the world want to know and follow Christ based on what I am doing and saying? Am I displaying the love of Christ? Am I walking in faith? This is not from a place of condemnation but a place of true inward reflection. If you look at it from a business perspective, you are the brand of Christ. You are a walking commercial/promotion/advertisement for the body of Christ whether you believe it or not. The minute you say you believe in God, are a Christian, recognize Christ as your Savior, a follower of Christ then you are automatically in the spotlight. No your assignment is not about pleasing man but Proverbs says that you may have favor with God and man. The word also says that your enemies will be at peace with you. How can you lead anyone else to Christ if you are unwilling to follow Christ? Even if you are not trying, remember, when Christ was on trial, everyone around noticed those who were seen with Christ. If you've been seen or associated with Christ in any way, you too are being noticed. You are part of "The Great Commission." Let your spirit and conduct be what others notice and let the love of God rest and abide in you that it draws others to Christ.

Life Changing

Luke 5:11

 

11So when they had brought there boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.

 

Jesus had just demonstrated the miracle of casting the net and catching fish after a night of the fishermen failing to catch at all. It was a life changing moment for Peter and the sons of Zebedee that made them want to leave their old lives behind and follow Jesus. I don't know what your life changing moment was but Jesus has done many miracles in my life and at each great encounter with Jesus, I left more of my old life behind. It's like a growth spurt. The growth spurts have been so dramatic over they years that for some people, it's hard for them to believe who I once was unless they actually knew me then. This weekend I watched the film, Son of God  and I cried so much my eyes were slightly swollen the next morning. Though the film is not 100% aligned with all that happened during Jesus' earthly ministry, it was enough as long as you knew the Word of God for yourself. There was a point where Jesus had knelt down to comfort the woman who was caught in sin and about to be stoned. When He said to her, "Go and sin no more," I cried, as I did with much of the film. At the point that Jesus forgives you for things you know the world wouldn't, the understanding is that you leave that part of your life behind. You leave who you were then, and let the mercy and loving kindness of Jesus stay with you so much so that you don't want to go back to who you were. Looking back, I don't miss who I was. But I love who I am now because I know it was not by my own might but by the Power of God and the Love of Jesus that I have come this far. I ask through tears of gratefulness this morning, has Jesus demonstrated who He is to you to the point that you are ready to leave your old ways behind? Has He made such a life changing impact like He did with the disciples that you are willing to walk away from what you know?

You Are Beautiful

Psalm 139:14

 

14I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.

 

King David wrote Psalm 139. Under the NKJV Study Bible the translation focuses on two major themes. One, that you and I cannot escape the presence of God, which is true. He is Omnipresent which mean He is everywhere at once. He is Jehovah Roi, the God who sees so there is no where you can go that God cannot see you. Second, "God had his eye on us before you and I were born." How is that possible? The assistant pastor at my church gave the example this way, "God said I have need of _____, and then you were formed." Jeremiah 1:5 says that God knew you before He formed you in the womb. How did God create the world? He spoke it. For each thing placed in the earth, God spoke it which means it was first a thought of His. You were a thought of His that was spoken. That's deep! You were on His mind. So how could He not love you? More than a year ago, my pastor told all of us to walk in front of a mirror each day and utter Psalm 139:14. I challenge you to know that you are beautiful to God because He thought of you enough to create you. No, He does not like your sin but that does not mean that He doesn't love you. Jesus knew the faults of every disciple that followed Him but He knew who they would become with His teachings and guidance. Who would sacrifice an innocent beloved, Jesus, to win your heart? And who would willing allow themselves to be sacrificed? That's love. David Altenor says in his song, "You are beautiful because you are God's creation." This isn't just for women but for every man and woman who has ever lived.  You are beautiful and loved because as Psalm 139:15 says, you were skillfully wrought.

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

John 8:44

 

44You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand for truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

 

Why would Jesus say this to the Pharisees? The Pharisees said they were descendants of Abraham and that they were not born of fornication but of one father, God. The first time the Pharisees said they were descendants of Abraham, Jesus knew they were physically descendants of Abraham but they sought to kill Him because His word had no place in them. When they still didn't get it, He elaborated further. The desire to want to terminate someone's life for speaking the truth or desiring that someone would die does not fit with loving thy neighbor as thyself nor the commandment of "thou shalt not kill." The desire to plot to kill someone does not fit with what the Pharisees preached which was indeed to follow the commandments. Like the devil, the Pharisees spoke from their own resources and claimed to be the power source of their people based on their behavior. They were angry because Jesus took away their popularity and usurped their power. But if they were children of God, they would know that ALL power belongs to God. Satan or Lucifer was once the chief angel in heaven and lost his place in heaven because he wanted to be worshipped like God. As a matter of fact, he wanted to be God. And the devil is still angry because he lost his inheritance in heaven. Does not the behavior of the Pharisees match with what the devil desires? The NKJV Study Bible translates the verse as such, "They claimed God as their Father. Jesus, however, told them that they were indeed Abraham's descendants and physical progeny, But in spirit, their father was not God, but the devil.  Their behavior confirmed their parentage." Every person created in the earth was made of the image of God, therefore the physical progeny but in spirit, they choose their parentage. So no matter who a person says they are, observe their fruit as Jesus said. Observe the behavior. Actions speak louder than words.

"Ride or Die"

Hebrews 13:5

 

5Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

 

When you think of the Lord do you think of Him as your  "ride or die" friend? Do you realize that when the Lord says He will never leave you, that it means no matter, who has cast you aside that HE has not forgotten you? The Lord said that even when your family has not received you that He will care for you as said in Psalm 27:10? Do you understand that even the thief who wronged others was recognized by Jesus and accepted once he confessed his sin to Jesus believing Him to be the Son of God and asked to be remembered? Do you understand the Lord is more of a "ride or die" friend then even your closest confidant? Wikipedia gives the background of "ride or die" as a combination of the phrases "ride it out" or "die trying." The term is very popular in biker and even gang culture. Not glorifying gangs at all but the term is for illustration purposes. Interestingly enough, the verses at the beginning of chapter 13 are speaking of Christian conduct toward one another including in marriage. The term "ride or die chick" has also become popular representing that woman who is supportive of her man no matter the circumstance and has his back no matter what he steps into. But as Solomon said in Proverbs, the Lord is even closer than a brother. So if God the Father, God the Son, who is Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Spirit are "ride or die" for you, are you willing to be "ride or die" for them? Are you willing to go where God tells you to go by the direction of the Holy Spirit? Are you willing to let go of what God tells you to let go of by direction of the Holy Spirit? Are you willing to say what He desires you to say by direction of the Holy Spirit? Are you willing to be an instrument for the one who has you, loves you, forgives you even when  you don't deserve it? Are you willing to be "ride or die" for the one who is "ride or die" for you? Remember Jesus died on the cross for the remission of your sins and the world's. That's TRUE "ride or die" but Jesus didn't die trying. He died conquering and victorious over the enemy of our souls because He got up. Are you "ride or die" for God's kingdom or only when it's convenient? God is faithful to you in so many ways and provides for you. When will you be that "ride or die" for Him like you are for your "family," your "boys," or your "girls" all whom the Lord will outlast?

The Blind Will Fall

Luke 6:39

 

39And He spoke a parable to them: "Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?"

 

As a man or woman of God, if you are leading or teaching people, whether formally or informally, then you are held by God to have a greater level of responsibility.  Yes, it is true that we are ALL a work in progress, however, there are some things that you blatantly know are off. 2Peter 2:19 says "while they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption."  For example, preaching and teaching the word, yet you are having sexual intimacy with every man or woman in every state your foot steps in is deception to the people and God whether you are married or single.  This is an example of having a spirit of lust which requires deliverance. But in order to be delivered, you have to admit that you have a problem and need deliverance. There are many examples of many spirits. Remember, people usually do what you do not what you say. So as Jesus said, you are leading people to stumble but the stumble can lead people busting hell wide open. I remember meeting and hearing the preaching of a prophet from Ghana. A very dedicated man of God who saw very clearly in the Spirit of God. He spoke a word to a woman and her husband being very arrogant in his walk coming beside her was called out by the prophet for his other deeds. Now the prophet had not met them before or anything. Another example, my Nubian/dreadlocks were created as a vow to God fifteen years ago. Now with that, I am very particular as to who touches my hair because too many times I have seen what spirit(s) occupy that person that are not of God after they have touched my hair. Just because no one else is around when the deeds are done doesn't mean that God doesn't allow true men and women of God to see in the Spirit. God is Jehovah Roi, the God who sees. So attempting to teach others in the word of God yet not striving yourself to live upright before God will show. But you also leave blood on your hands. Ezekiel 33 talks about the watchman with the trumpet that fails to warn the people of danger when he sees it. Though the people doing the deeds must answer for what they've done, the one leading will also be held accountable. Jesus said that to whom much is given, much is required. You cannot lead without responsibility. You cannot lead without checking your own walk before God. You have already been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. Take hold of it by sincere repentance.