Entitlement Mentality: Worldly and Spiritually

James 4:6-But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

The entitlement mentality is rampant in our culture. It says, "I deserve better. I deserve more. I deserve it all. People should take care of me. I'm entitled to more than I'm getting." Many different areas of life can bring on a entitlement mentality.

Position of status- A job title that is above another doesn't make you a God.

Education level- A higher degree in a certain field of study does not make you more intelligent than all others. A degree in one field does not transcend to all corners of life.

Notoriety- Being famous or a spouse of someone famous does not elevate you above others. Because you think you're more special than others does not entitle you to what you want when you want it.

You may have put more time in your education, job level, or life and made different decisions along that path; But you were not created in any higher of magnitude than the one that has made different life choices.

Entitlement encompasses two attitudes: (1) I am exempt from responsibility, and (2) I am owed special treatment. In other words, I don’t have to carry my own burdens, and I should be treated differently.

Entitlement is discussed in the bible on many different occasions. Naaman was a respected commander of a powerful army, a strong soldier, well regarded by his superiors and yet, had leprosy. At this time, there was no known cure for this disease. One of his servants told him where he could go to be healed. So Naaman went to Elisha with his horses and chariots. Elisha told him that if he washed in the Jordan River seven times, he would be cleansed.
Here’s where we see Naaman’s entitlement: “But Naaman went away angry and said, ‘I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy’” (2 Kings 5:11).

Naaman presents both of these characteristics in his response. First, in Naaman’s mind, he was owed special treatment or at least a proper acknowledgment. Second, Naaman felt that he should be exempt from responsibility. He didn’t want the responsibility to follow orders by washing in the river.
We all have a Naaman in our lives. Perhaps it’s a co-worker, family member or friend who wants you to wave a hand over their situation and fix their problems. Maybe you have a son or daughter that, despite your best parental efforts, has chosen a path of laziness. They feel they deserve special treatment with no responsibility.
Here’s what you need to remember: Change happens in the presence of compassion. Before you look at that Naaman in your life and pretentiously point out all their failings, remember that you have been a Naaman. The Bible says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)

You may receive your reward here on earth but be very careful of how you use that. One day you will make account for that gift and judged on how it was used.

Luke 17:5-10- The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you. "Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'"

If we aren't careful, this entitlement mentality even invades our relationship with God. We begin to feel that we deserve something from God. That he owes us something!

Nothing could be further from the truth. In reality, what we deserve is death. That's a tough pill to swallow, but the Bible is clear about that.  "The wages of sin is death" says the apostle Paul. What God owes us in wages is death! The good news is that he doesn't give us what we deserve. Instead, in mercy he gives us life!

He gives us eternity and freedom and forgiveness and hope and love and truth. God is SO good!

Our response to all this grace can't be, "Well, what else are you going to do for me, God." (Though he does so much for us everyday.) Rather our response should be, "What can I do for you, God? How can I serve and follow you today?" We are his servants. Not vice versa.

These last to posts are not made out of anger. They are made out of pain. Both personal and the pain of seeing it happen to so many others. Stop the hate, greed, the gossiping, the belittling of those you have less or don't fit your mold!  Most of the people who read this blog will not fit into these categories. But I can guarantee you know others like this that need prayers.

Romans 12:3- For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

Luke 14:11- For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

For those who read all the way through, here's a good video on entitlement.

May You Be Blessed With Peace And Understanding

Perception:Visual or Reality

1 Samuel 16:7 But Jehovah said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him: for Jehovah seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but Jehovah looketh on the heart.

This is something that bugs me on a daily basis. Sometimes multiple times a day. "Oh they look a certain way so they must be those kind of people". Or "He doesn't smile 24/7 and talk to everyone that walks past so they must be antisocial and have an attitude."

 The only mold we have in common is the human race. That is how we were created, and this is how we should perceive one another. Yet I see it day in and day out.

 People are quick to cry fairness and equality; but if someone doesn't fit the mold of what they think equal is, then they're just pushed to the wayside.

 That lady you pass that looks all disheveled, it doesn't mean you talk about her with your friends like she's unkept. What if she just lost a child or spouse? What if she's been battling a toddler all night?

 Don't assume the person that doesn't smile all the time has an attitude; he could be depressed, have social anxiety, or be going thru some things. Instead of judging others we need to love and pray for each other.

Don't ever think you have to fit some preconceived image that the world puts forth. Like I tell my son, "don't be a follower always just be you." People you come in contact with will come and go as you move thru life. Some will really get to know the real you that's all locked up from the world. Most will adopt the image the world wants and shun you for not being part of it. In the end you answer for yourself. Not for what your friends did; but for the decisions you make when they decide to follow the norm.

Romans 12:16  Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

This is a letter from a girl in college to her parents:

Dear Mom and Dad: I’m sorry to be so long in writing again, but all my writing paper was lost the night the dormitory was burned down by demonstrators. I’m out of the hospital now, and the doctor says by eyesight should be back to normal sooner or later. The wonderful boy, Bill, who rescued me from the fire kindly offered to share his little apartment with me until the dorm is rebuilt. He comes from a good family, so you won’t be too surprised when I tell you we are going to get married. In fact, you always wanted a grandchild, so you will be glad to know that you will be grandparents next month. Please disregard the above practice in English composition. There was no fire, I haven’t been in the hospital, I’m not blind. I’m not pregnant, and I don’t even have a boyfriend. But I did get a "D" in French and an "F" in chemistry, and I wanted to be sure you received this news in proper perspective. Love, Mary.

Proper perspective is a very important thing to have. Sometimes if we’re not careful we can lose focus of what’s truly important.

Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

There are many verses on the evils of gossip and slander. I believe the reason for this is because of all sin, our speech is

the worst. Murder, hate, war and every conceivable evil has it's root in a spoken word.

Our daily lives are filled with enough stress and pain as it is. Why do so many people add the destruction of others to that pain? You may be angry with someone but don't verbally destroy them; lift them up in prayer and yourself in the process. I am tired of seeing all the pain and hate in our families and our world. People I beg you lift each other up! Pray for each other. Love each other. And for God's sake STOP THE HATE!

May You Be Blessed With Peace And Understanding

The Woman,The Child,and The Dragon

Revelation 12:1-2,5 "And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days."

For past centuries this chapter in the book of Revelation has been highly symbolic of past, present and future. The depiction of the pregnant woman has at large been agreed to represent either the Virgin Mary or Israel with the man child being brought forth representing Jesus Christ. However other views have emerged during Church history, notably that either the woman represented the church or that the man-child represented the church. The arguments and differing points of view have facilitated this topic.

However whatever ones view is, the consensus is that this scripture has future prophetical implications because of the location of this passage in the book of Revelation which many see as a sequential and time dependent series of events following each other.

On September 23rd, 2017, an unprecedented astronomical alignment will appear in the sky over Israel that some researchers believe will be a literal fulfillment of of Revelation 12:1-2 and Revelation 12:5. The passage describes a heavenly sign where a pregnant woman appears covered in the sun, with the moon at her feet, and crowned with 12 stars. The woman gives birth to a male child who is "caught up" to God. For centuries many had thought this was a form of allegorical symbolism, but today some researchers believe that it is more than just symbolism.

On the Hebrew day of Tishri 1 which falls from sunset on 22nd September until sunset on 23rd September 2017 the sun will be within the zodiac constellation of Virgo—“a woman clothed with the sun”.

The moon will be at the feet of Virgo—“with the moon under her feet”.

The ‘nine’ stars of the zodiac constellation Leo, plus three planets (Mercury, Venus, and Mars), will be at the head of Virgo—“on her head a crown of twelve stars”.

The planet Jupiter will be in the center of Virgo, and as the weeks pass after September 23 Jupiter will exit Virgo (after being within this vicinity for 9 months) to the east, past her feet, so to speak—“She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth”. Jupiter is the largest of the planets, the “king” of the planets, so to speak—“She gave birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod”.

As I stated before this is NOT date setting. This is only observing the signs in the heavens that Christ said to wait and watch for. The four blood moon tetrads of 2015-16 plus the fact that they all fell on Jewish Holy days and corresponded to the Shemitah and Super Shemitah is to hard to dismiss.

If that wasn't enough this coming celestial convergence is a once in 7000 year occurrence. Plus
September 22, is the Feast of Trumpets or Jewish New Year. It is also the 70 year anniversary of the UN resolution allowing for Israel to be recognized as a state; which 70 years was considered a generation. It is also the 50th anniversary or year of Jubilee for Jerusalem and the 70th anniversary of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Wow right! Again I don't believe in date setting. I don't believe in trying to pull out future predictions from single verses of scripture. What I do believe in is watching and waiting. Christ said there would be signs in the heavens before his return, and gave descriptions of these signs. He said in
Acts 28:26-27 'GO TO THIS PEOPLE AND SAY, "YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND; AND YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE; FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, AND WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES; OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT SEE WITH THEIR EYES, AND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM."'

Luke 12:35-40-"Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit. "Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. "Blessed are those whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them. "Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those. "But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into. "You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.

John 5:28-29-"Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.

Are you ready? What will Christ say to you at his return? Will he say "Come my good and faithful servant, to your much deserved rest'? Or will he say "Depart from me for I never knew you"?

Be ready my friends, always serving, always watching, always waiting, and always being prepared for his return, 

May You Be Blessed With Peace And Understanding

Sticks And Stones

 James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life,and set on fire by hell.

"Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but words shall never hurt me."

"Sticks and Stones" is an English language children's rhyme. The rhyme persuades the child victim of name-calling to ignore the taunt, to refrain from physical retaliation, and to remain calm and good-natured.

It is reported to have appeared in The Christian Recorder of March 1862, a publication of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, where it is presented as an "old adage" in this form: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never break me.

1 Peter 3:9-11 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it

Anyone that has been a victim of bullying as I was, knows this saying is not true. Words cut like a double edged sword through your soul. As children, we learned to act as if the harsh words didn’t faze us. We became adept at denying or ignoring our hurt feelings on the outside, becoming emotionally crippled on the inside.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Our words can be filled with love, joy, happiness and blessing or they can be filled with sarcasm, unbelief, all kinds of negativity, and even hate. Words can curse and words can bless. Words can encourage and bring life. Words can discourage and bring death.

The words that you hear linger with you. Biting, stinging, hurtful words we speak to our wife, husband, or children as they leave the house in the morning can rob them all through the day.  Loving and tender words of encouragement can linger too, and keep them encouraged all through the day and bring them to victory.

Ephesians 5:4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

The same thing is true spiritually. Words, spoken words, written words, even words set to music are more powerful than we may realize. And what you hear will linger and creep into your spirit. If you are surrounding yourself with words of doubt, fear, defeat, and failure, you’re believing will start moving in that direction. So will your life spiritually and carnally.

Romans 10:17 says, Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. If I will keep hearing what God’s Word says, if I will keep reading what God’s Word says, faith is promised: Faith comes. Listen to me. Satan didn’t use some magic spell. He didn’t tie Eve to a tree and force her to eat of that tree. Man fell because of WORDS! Satan did not deny God or his power. He used words of untruthful speech to sway their thoughts.

What are we speaking ? Are we speaking our words from a well-spring of wisdom; the Bible? Are we speaking words of contention that bring destruction and a snare to our soul?

What are we giving our ears to? The Bible says if we give our ears to God’s Word faith comes. I can tell you when faith comes, victory comes. If you listen to the world doubt comes, and when doubt comes defeat comes.

Satan at no time took away Eve’s power of choice and he hasn’t taken away ours. We can choose to hear the Lord's word and be a help, and speak words of encouragement to our brothers and sisters. Or we can choose to listen to the world and give the things of the world precedence over the things of God and the lost who are watching us. We cannot choose if we live by words or not, but we can choose what words we will live by.

Jesus said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God."

What will you do with your words? Will you lift others up with loving and caring speech? Or will you  respond with hateful words, or words of gossip?

Matthew 12:36  I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak.

May You Be Blessed With Peace and Understanding

May The 4th Be With You

Genesis 1:14-19 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years: and let them be for lights in the firmament of heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. And God made the two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of heaven to give light upon the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.

I admit this was a stretch at first just so I would be able to use that title. I prayed that the Father would show me the words to say about the number four. In my study he showed me some pretty amazing things concerning the number four and how it is entwined in scripture. As is all numbers, so I will spend a few posts on the amazing glory that numbers have in creation and redemption.

Three signifies Divine perfection. Now the number four is made up of three and one (3+1=4), and it denotes, therefore, and marks that which follows the revelation of God, namely, His creative works. He is known by the things that are seen. Hence the written revelation commences with the words, "In-the-beginning God CREATED." Creation is therefore the next thing—the fourth thing, and the number four always has reference to all that is created. It is emphatically the number of Creation.
It is the number of things that have a beginning, of things that are made, of material things, and matter itself. It is the number of material completeness.

The fourth day saw the material creation finished (for on the fifth and sixth days it was only the furnishing and peopling of the earth with living creatures). The sun, moon, and stars completed the work, and they were to give light upon the earth which had been created, and to rule over the day and over the night (Gen 1:14-19).

Four is the number of:  the great elements, regions of the earth, divisions of the day, seasons of the year, and the lunar phases.

In Genesis 2:10, 11, the one river of Paradise was parted, and became into four heads, and "the fourth river is Euphrates." Here, as so often elsewhere, the four is made up of 3 + 1. For three of these rivers are now unnamed, while one is still known by its original name "Euphrates."

In the next chapter (Gen 3:22-24) the cherubim are first mentioned. These are four, and they have to do with creation always. They are first seen here, guarding (Gen 2:15), the Tree of Life, and thus preserving the blessed hope of immortality for creation. They are next seen in connection with atonement, showing the only ground on which creation could hope for the end of its groaning. They are seen on the veil and on the mercy-seat, binding up the hope of creation with Him who is called "the Hope of Israel." So that there is no hope for a groaning creation apart from atonement, or apart from Christ. In the Apocalypse the same four cherubim are called "the living creatures" (Rev 4). These announce the Coming One; these sing of creation and of Him who created all things, and for whose pleasure they were created (Rev 4:11). Whenever they speak it is in connection with the earth. These call forth and announce the judgments or plagues (Rev 6) which issue on the ejection of the Usurper from the earth, and the destruction of them which destroy the earth, and in the exaltation and enthronement of Him when all the kingdoms of the world become the kingdom of our Lord and His anointed, and when the LORD God omnipotent reigneth. Wow Right!

Hence it was that these four cherubic forms were placed in the Signs of the Zodiac, and so placed that they divide it into four equal parts, thus uniting in one the twelve signs which set forth the blessed hope of a groaning creation, which waits for the Promised Seed of the woman to come and crush the serpent's head and bring in universal blessing. The fact, therefore, of the living creatures being four (and no other number) marks them as connected with Creation, and as a symbolical representation that its hope of deliverance from the curse is bound up with the blood-shedding of the coming Redeemer.

I strongly suggest reading a book called The Witness Of The Stars by E.W.Bullinger. It shows how even before we were created the message of redemption was placed in the names and alignment of the stars.

The fourth book of the Bible is Numbers. In Hebrew it is called B'Midbar, the Wilderness. The gematria of B'Midbar is 248 (4x62). It relates to the earth, which is a wilderness compared with Heaven; and to our pilgrimage through it. It tells of Meribah and striving (20:13), and records the history of the murmurings, rebellions, and wanderings.

The fourth book of the Psalms is the Book of the Wilderness. The first Psalm is the "Prayer of Moses, the man of God,"—the man of the wilderness. All the illustrations and metaphors, are drawn from the earth, and this fourth book sets forth Jehovah's counsels and purposes in relation to the earth. (See Psalms 90-106.) In the First Book of the Psalms (1-41), the fourth Psalm has to do with earth. It tells how there is nothing satisfying in it; that apart from God there can be no real prosperity in the earth.

We may note also the fourth Psalms of the other Books of the Psalms:—Psalm 45 (the fourth of the second book), Psalm 76 (the fourth of the third book), Psalm 93 (the fourth of the fourth book), and Psalm 110 (the fourth of the fifth book). All these tell of Dominion in the earth, and they speak of the coming reign of earth's rightful King and Lord.

The Fourth Commandment is the first that refers to the earth.

The fourth clause of the Lord's Prayer is the first that mentions the earth.

I could go on and on, there is so much more correlation with the completeness of creation and the number four, but I would be writing all day. I will gladly point you in the direction of where to study this and answer any questions you have.

When you see creation and the scriptures by the numbers your eyes are fully opened to the magnificent design that went into everything the Father has done.

Wait till you see how the numbers 1,3,and 7 fit into His great design of creation.

May You Be Blessed With Peace and Understanding

Grace: Undeserved Love, Forgiveness, Life

Ephesians 2:4 – 9
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ, and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Grace is a terribly misunderstood word and defining it sufficiently is difficult. One of the best definitions for it would be God's unmerited favor.  A.W. Tozer said, “Grace is the good pleasure of God that inclines him to bestow benefits on the undeserving.”It's the absolute undeserving, unmerited, and unearned gift offered to humanity.

In a previous post I stated that parenting was God's humility training plan. But it's also and somewhat more of a way for us to try and show grace to our children. We should correct them not necessarily with a punishment that fits their disobedience, but instead with Grace.

Imagine if you will standing in a funeral home as the casket of a young man comes in. His mother, a widow behind him crying. He is her only son, and her only support. Then suddenly the mourners are interrupted by a man who hurries forward, “here let me deal with the dead, I can bring him back to life.”“All this man needs is education,” explains the man while boldly approaching the casket. And from his books of science and philosophy he attempts to teach the young man in the coffin. But in vain he watches for the flush of life to return; there is no response. Education has failed.

Another man approaches the scene, confidently proclaiming that he can bring the young man back to life, and so he begins, “Now young man, make up your mind that you are going to live. Exert your will, and choose to live – the choice is yours. You can get up if you only will”. But there is no response as the previously confident man looks upon the lifeless face of the young man. Free choice and will-power has failed.

Then another man came toward the crowd, calmly and with a sense of peace about him. For a few moments no one moves. Then the man speaks, “My friends, do you not know that what this man needs is religion? Through the knowledge of our doctrine he will be revived”. And he sat down by the coffin’s side. “Now I will reveal to the young man the precepts of the law, for if he will keep them faithfully he will live again”. “But” inquires one of the bystanders, “how can a corpse observe the laws since he cannot even hear your words? Until he is first alive, all your precepts will avail nothing”. Sorrowfully the man walks away, Religion has failed.

Then from the crowd steps the figure of One who walks with perfect confidence and composure to a scene of certain failure. A sudden hush falls on the expectant throng as he stands for a moment beside the coffin. Then He speaks, his voice calm but authoritative. “Young man, I say unto thee, arise!”
Eagerly the people draw close. Who is this? What power is there behind his simple words? What manner of man is this? But then their questions are suddenly answered. The eyelids quiver, the flush returns to the cheek; the heart throbs once more, and the young man rises to his feet.

What had happened? Jesus imparted Life. The man was dead and it was Life that he needed. This is the one great essential. Education will not do; nor will free choice or human rights; not even religion, however sincere it may be, will ever make the grade. None of the things we regard as being of value is equal to the task of restoring life.

ONLY GOD'S GRACE BEGETS LIFE!

How often do we think about grace? Consider your own life. We need not even look very far or at great and mystifying examples. For instance, how many of us parked our cars at home each day and thought of God’s grace that brought us home safely. To the majority of us grace is only a concept. An abstract idea that the pastor uses to explain certain principles from the pulpit. We understand grace, but do we know grace. Do we know him personally?

The Russian Czar, Alexander, used to love to disguise himself and mingle with his people to hear what they have to say. One night he visited the army camp and listened to some soldiers. While passing a tent he saw a young soldier sitting at a table with his head on his arm, sound asleep. The Czar tiptoed to the back of the chair and looked over his shoulder. There on the table before him he saw a loaded revolver. Beside the revolver was a sheet of paper with a long list of gambling debts.
After seeing the total the Czar noted a sentence below the figures saying, “who can pay so much?” Suddenly the czar understood the situation. The young officer had gambled away all he had and was about to take his own life for fear of not being able to meet his debts. Then the czar took up the pen and below the young soldiers question wrote the words “I, Alexander, Czar of Russia”. Quietly he turned away and went home. The next morning the young officer woke up and immediately took hold of the revolver when suddenly he saw writing on his letter that he had not put there. He read the words of the Czar and in amazement he dropped the revolver. At that moment a messenger came to his tent with a bag of money from the Czar. The young soldier’s debt was paid and his life was spared.

Friends, we too, have accumulated a large amount of debt. A debt so great that none of us would ever be able to pay the price. But there is good news, we don’t have to. See, just as Noah received his righteousness as a gift through grace and the young soldier his life through a gift, so too do we receive the gift of God’s grace that paid our debt for us in order that our lives might be spared.


The well-known preacher, A. T. Pierson, once said, “However poor a preacher, I can preach the gospel better than Gabriel can, because Gabriel cannot say what I can say, “I am a sinner saved by grace.”

2 Corinthians 12:8-9 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

May You Be Blessed With Peace and Understanding

Ask and Ye Shall Receive:Or Click Amen and Win Instantly

John 14:14 "If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

In a society where people want their every want and desire filled yesterday; people tend to be easily influenced by someone that seems to be able to make that happen. Those people who will twist wording and scripture around to take advantage of people when they are in a bad place.

Take the opening verse for example; when taken out of context a convincing speaker could make you think just by asking in Christ's name you can have anything you want. But when you put it together with the corresponding words of Christ it says, "Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. "If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

Whatever is asked in his name that will glorify the Father he will do it. The key word here is to glorify the Father not to fill your desire. When you need something and you pray in his name he will provide. It may not be when you want, or how you thought it would come, but he will provide.

Matthew 6:26-34 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Satan preys on you when your at your weakest. Easily manipulated, easy to control, and easy to follow a wolf. And believe me there are many wolves out there; and most are shining like a golden chalice beckoning you to come and take a sip. Christ always said the way to distinguish between a wolf and a sheep is by the fruit they produce. Some wolves are so convincing they may seem like they are doing a great good. A Pastor's focus must be walking as Christ did and helping those that can't help themselves.

I will say I am guilty of asking God to just let me win the lottery; we probably all are. Of course I said I would pay off all my family's debt and help others, but I was still thinking of a big family vacation, and yes I'm ashamed to say, my own Lego DeathStar. Even with doing some good with the money I would win, I was still focused on my wants; not my needs. 

Just as Christ told the rich man in Mark 10:21-22, And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. But his countenance fell at the saying, and he went away sorrowful: for he was one that had great possessions. 
There is enough money and resources to eradicate homelessness and poverty 100 times over. But the currency of this world is Greed and it's motto is whatever pleases self.

My point is be careful; as Christ said," Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves."

When you find yourself hurting, defeated, and alone turn to Christ. Not the God of type Amen and you will receive a blessing tomorrow. Not the God of "Send me your money and God will bless you!" Not the God of "Just ask for what you want in Jesus name and you will get it because God wouldn't want you to not be happy." 

Turn to the God of the Bible, to the God of compassion and love, to the God of forgiveness and salvation.  To the God that won't give you your every desire but will supply you with all you need.

Let Christ into your heart. Begin to walk in his footsteps and love and care for the helpless around you. Put other's needs above your own. Know that your true reward is not here; but it's in your home where Christ resides and abundantly takes care of those who show his love and light to others.

Colossians 3:17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Acts 4:12 "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."

May You Be Blessed With Peace and Understanding