National Prayer Day 2014

I’m fairly disappointed in myself because I haven’t wrote a blog posting in over a year. I could give a thousand excuses as to why but I won’t. Word World War falls within my aspirations to build up my knowledge of God’s word and help you do the same.

Needless to say, no matter how busy we become with our lives, we should always make it a priority to develop a genuine love for and a relationship with God. Undoubtedly, it’s important to allow God the opportunity to hear from us and likewise, to hear from him.

This dialogue is what we call prayer! Prayer is our biggest weapon against the enemy. Prayer strengthens our faith. It increases our self-confidence and our confidence in God’s power. Prayer relieves the anxiety we can acquire from our demanding lives! And as the famous saying goes, prayer changes things.

Today, Thursday, May 1, 2014 is actually National Prayer Day and in light of this I would like to share with you The Five Fingers of Prayer and five of my favorite Bible verses that encourage prayer.

Prayer is a selfless act. Of course we want to communicate to God our needs and wants but as believers we have an obligation to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ. A long time ago one of my Sunday school teachers, Mrs. Yarber taught us The Five Fingers of Prayer!

1. Thumb, the closest finger to us represents the people closest to us: family, friends, spouse, children and even our neighbors, co-workers and people we interact with on a daily basis
2. Pointing/Index finger refers to the people who lead and “point” us in the right direction: school teachers, mentors and role models, work managers, etc.
3. Middle finger, our tallest finger symbolizes those in high positions: church leaders and government officials. They especially need our prayers so that God will move their hearts to act with integrity as the impact (and even affect) the lives of many.
4. Ring finger, our weakest finger denotes we should pray for those who are weak: be it the sick and shut in, those in mourning, weak in the flesh, in pain or in trouble
5. Pinky, the farthest from us represents are ourselves: again prayer is a selfless act and it takes humility to be concerned about others just as we are concerned about ourselves.

As we observe National Prayer Day today, remember these five things! Be encouraged to include these aspects in your daily prayers as well. As you do, consider these five Bible verses. By the way, these are all in the Amplified version.

Proverbs 3:5-6

⁵ Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.

⁶ In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.

2 Chronicles 7:14

¹⁴ If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

Romans 8:26

²⁶ So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance.

Matthew 6:9-13 (The Lord’s Prayer)

⁹ Pray, therefore, like this: Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed (kept holy) 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 also have forgiven (^[e]left, remitted, and let go of the debts, and have ^[f]given up resentment against) our debtors.

¹³ And lead (bring) us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Proverbs 15:29

²⁹ The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the [consistently] righteous (the upright, in right standing with Him).

Peace and Blessings

NOW OR NEVER: NEW YEARS 2013 RESOLUTIONS

First and foremost, Happy New Years to everyone! It’s an honor and a blessing to write a new blog post, the first post of the year. I regretfully haven’t posted in a while as the past few months have been hectic in between school and work. But as I will discuss in today’s post, it was either now or never.

As we enter a New Year, many people are making New Year’s resolutions, a list of changes they want to make, habits they wish kick and a plan they have to begin getting the most out of life. Many people who have made lists in past years can tell you they changed for a while but some fell back into their old ways. This is an unfortunate thing for them, but it’s even more unfortunate when you tell people you made a list only for them to respond with how you won’t achieve anything on your list and by making one, you’re just wasting your time. If someone desires to change, who are we are to discourage them? And as believers of Christ, is it godly for us to respond in such manner?

New Year or not, when is the best time to make a change—now or never?

To answer this question, there are three points of discussion to consider.

1.       When will you die and depart this Earth?

If you had the ability to know when you or others would die, ohh how rich you would be! But just as Matthew 24:35-36  tells us no man knows the hour when Christ will return and Earth will end (contrary to the people who ranted that 12/21/12 was the last day of the world because it was the last day of the Mayan calendar), nor does anyone know when they will personally leave and depart the Earth. For this purpose, wouldn’t it be wise to begin making changes in our life that not only helps us improve ourselves before we die or before Christ returns, but help us help others improve their lives as well?

Change NOW as tomorrow may NEVER come.

2.       Why do we even decide to make changes in our life to begin with?

Generally speaking, for any situation where we make changes, we do so because we realize that the old way wasn’t working. We make changes because we see a new way of doing things that can bring about the most desirable results. In the cliché sense, we change for the better because better is always good. Right?

Well as believers in Christ, we must know that the changes we make in our life must be motivated by God.  Change is not only for good but it can also be for excellent when that change is helping us to honor God more and bring glory to his kingdom.

1 Corinthians 15:58 The Amplified Version reads “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm (steadfast), immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord [always being superior, excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord], knowing and being continually aware that your labor in the Lord is not futile [it is never wasted or to no purpose].”

Steadfast, according to Merriam-Webster, means to be firm in belief, have determination, or adhere and be loyal to something. When this verse commands us to be steadfast, it declares that we be determined in living for Christ, regardless of what others are doing or not doing. Everything we do, therefore including the changes we wish to make, serves a purpose. Again as believers, our purpose and our changes are to be motivated with God in mind.

3.  Doesn’t God, the creator of the universe, have the power to help us accomplish anything?

Philippians 4:13 King James Version says “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me”. Not just some, or a few things, or minor things, but all things, even the most unimaginable things, God can give us the strength to endure and accomplish the desires of heart that work toward the building of his kingdom. God holds all power and his design ensures that all things work together for the good. To receive this strength, we must first believe that God holds our strength to change. Secondly we must ask to receive it our strength and finally we must wait patiently for what God has in mind regarding our change. Change we like to think is for the good. But it’s God’s change that works best.

In closing, look at Philippians 2:14-15 (Amplified Version)

14 Do all things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining [against God] and questioning and doubting [among yourselves],

15 That you may show yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish (faultless, unrebukable) in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation [spiritually perverted and perverse], among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark] world,

If you decide to make a change for the New Year, I encourage you and support you. Whatever your change, big or small, God is looking for you as a believer to demonstrate to unbelievers the joy and victory they can have in all aspects of life.

Take heed to Philippians 2:14-15 and don’t find reasons why you can’t make a change. Instead, ask God to strengthen you and see you through. Most importantly ask God to help you use the changes you’re making to cross benefit his kingdom.

For example, I am asking God to help me read and understand scripture better, but I am also asking him to help me tell others what I read in a way that they can understand and apply to their lives as well.

Be Blessed. And #StayPrayedUpPeople

When will you change?

Never Lose Your Accreditation for Imposition

Today’s entry is a poem “Never Lose Your Accreditation for Imposition” I became inspired to write during my church’s 4^th Annual Night of Poetry.

Initially I came to the event empty handed, but after hearing so many inspirational pieces, I decided to break out my pen during the event and write a poem myself.

I begin to reflect on recent thoughts on the status of my spirituality: growing up in the church, going off to college and falling off into worldly activities, and now reaching a point where I realize my life isn’t pleasant when God isn’t in the center. “Never Lose Your Accreditation for Imposition” expresses this reflection clearly.

Accreditation means to PROVIDE or SEND with credentials; designate officially. This is God.

Imposition means something IMPOSED as a BURDEN or DUTY. This is Satan.

Imposition also means the opposite of position, just as the opposite of improper means proper.

When you’re not in the position God wants you to be, you’re also not in the position to receive the directions and/or the officially, designated blessings he has for you. God’s plan is ALWAYS greater than ours, and especially greater than Satan’s.

Never Lose Your Accreditation

for Imposition

I’m caught up in a few situations

Being mislead by a number of temptations

I’m trying to hold on to those great expectations

So I’m looking for some sort of divine revelation

Because I’m in need of some healing and restoration

I did some personal mediation

And I came to the realization

It’s time for some self-check evaluation

If I’m going to reach this spiritual elevation

I read about during weekly Bible education

I lost a little motivation

But now I’m full of dedication

Aiming to unveil this manifestation

With goals of receiving salvation

A few months ago, my mode resembled aviation

I was moving fast and spinning in heavy rotation

Involved in some unequally yoked integration

And to think, I just made an adaption

To avoid explanation and just blend in, that’s called dissimulation

But again during my personal meditation

I had some medulla oblongata stimulation

And as I think about it Heaven is the only eternal place that offers you an invitation

Yet its people dying literally for Hell initiation

But understand that I no longer accept these limitations

Bound in fear and living in frustration

Now looking back, Satan is the center of the causation

Sadly, our generation is slowly becoming victim of secular cultivation

Physically full, but emotionally there’s no satisfaction

Mentally unstable, and spiritually experiencing starvation

But through God’s glorification

We can experience supplication

But with divination by way of Satan

We fall as executors of inconsideration, For God

And we walk in advocation for everything else, with God being the exception

But in reality, we have an imperception

Because what we are perceiving is Satan in deception

He too can appear as sophistication

Cause the Devil wears Prada and every clothing expression you can mention

But its time out for detention

There’s no more recession

Class is in session

We might not can reach perfection

But through faith in our unseen God we have redemption

And through Satan, we only get eternal condemnation

It’s time for some conversation

With God and not just your imagination

God is real with Jesus as him in incarnation

With that I give my salutation

And I pray for your progression

 

Never Lose Your Accreditation for Imposition

God is 3-in-1

God is 3-in-1

Today’s post will focus on the Holy Trinity. The Holy Trinity states that the Father (God), the Son (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit all exist as 3-in-1. Tri- is a prefix meaning 3 and unity means to combine all parts into one—three Holy parts working to accomplish one mission.

I’ve learned many Christians are confused as to how God can exist in three different forms and where in the Bible are there scriptures that explain how the roles interlink with one another.

As a result, I would like to summarize some of the lessons we can learn in reading John 14, what the concept of the Holy Trinity is all about and ultimately why the Holy Spirit is important to the faith of any believer of God.

John 14 Summary and Lessons

In verses 1-4, Jesus provides words of comfort to his 12 disciples before his crucifixion. He tells them not to have troubled hearts because he is preparing a place for them. Since they have followed him the last few years and heard his teachings and witnessed his miracles, they have learned THE WAY. But in confusion, Thomas, one of his disciples, asks how can they know THE WAY when they don’t even know WHERE Jesus is going (verse 5).

Jesus responds in verses 6 and 7, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” Still in confusion, Phillip, another disciple says in verse 8 “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us”.

Jesus asks Phillip and the other disciples do they not believe after seeing Jesus all this time that they haven’t saw God as well (verse 9). Is God not living within him (verse 10)? Was the evidence of the works Jesus performed not enough to say Jesus was God’s presence in human form (verse 11). From here, he promises the presence of the Holy Spirit to all those who in walk in obedience and show they love God by following his commandments (verses 15-21).

Lastly, Jesus tells what to include in each of our prayers (verse 13) and he informs us Satan, referred to as the prince of this world, is coming to gain power of the world, to discredit that Jesus is faithful to God and to discourage believers. However, he will not be victorious over Jesus because Jesus does what God tells him (verses 29-31) and so should we if we are believers and lovers of God as well.

The Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit

Does the Holy Trinity mean God is really three entirely different Gods? No, he’s one God that exists in three forms! But how?

God exists as a divine and holy/or sacred being. His nature is so divine and royal that his presence overwhelms us like no other. In fact, scripture tells us in Exodus 33:12-21 (specifically v. 21) that his face is so bright with glory and holiness that if we saw Him with our bare eyes we would die. Looking at God would be like standing face to face with the sun because of the level of power and holiness God has.

Jesus came to Earth as the human representation of what God would look like and act like if we could actually recognize without dying because at this point, sinning has unfortunately become a huge part of the human existence.

Adam and Eve were the world’s first sinners after they ate from the tree of good and evil (Genesis 3:6-7) after God told already warned them would surely die (Genesis 1:17). Originally God never planned for humans to die so now he had to create a plan that would give people a second chance at receiving eternal life again because Romans 6:23 tell us “For the wages (price) of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”.

Before Jesus died on the cross, God accepted animal sacrifices made daily from people and requests made by the high priest on the Day of Atonement done once a year. Sacrificing, or killing an animal and laying it on the altar, was a way of saying to God “Hey God, I have sinned and I want forgiveness. To show I’m serious, I give this animal (that I could have ate or sold to someone else for money) to you instead. Please accept my offering and forgive me of my sins. And I will do better here on out.”

But later we learn that God knew the blood of animals could no longer permanently wash away the sins of the people. So he sent Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice for all people who have ever sinned. Jesus’ blood was perfect because he had never sinned and therefore he was pure and pleasing to God because he was God in the human form, thus explaining why virgin Mary was not impregnated by Joseph because God was his father.

As for the Holy Spirit, that’s what we’ll discuss today. The Holy Spirit is the unseen presence of God we feel here on Earth that stems from God and Jesus who now rest in heaven.

That’s why scripture tells “Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen”—Hebrew 11:1 . The Holy Spirit is promised to everyone who believes Jesus died for our sins and hopes/has faith in God and his power to change their situations even though they’ve never seen God.

The Holy Spirit (also called God’s spirit and represented any time you see the Dove bird, symbolizing purity and water such as baptism) is mentioned way before you get to John 14 in the Bible, but it’s not until John 14 that Jesus explains how the roles all intertwine and why the Holy Spirit is important to any believer.

Later in John 16:5-8 KJV, Jesus tells us why he must go back to heaven. For one Jesus couldn’t physically (in his human form) be present everywhere in the world at the same time, but the Holy Spirit of God can.

⁵ But now I go away to Him who sent me, and none of you asks Me, “Where are you going?” ⁶ But because I have said these things to you you, sorrow has filled your heart. ⁷ Nevertheless I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away; the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. ⁸ And when he has come, he will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.

The Significance of the Holy Spirit

Let’s first take a look at John 14:15-21, New International Version and then I’ll explain the significance in case you still can’t figure it out!

¹⁵ “If you love me, keep my commands. ¹⁶ And I will ask the Father and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—¹⁷ the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. ¹⁹ Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. ²⁰ On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am you. ²¹ Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

Explanation (the bolded words tell you the main points cause ya’ll know I like to explain stuff lol)

¹⁵ simply put, obedience is so important to God. Obedience shows our love for Him, how thankful we are and how serious we are about going to heaven. It’s important we strive to follow all, and not just some of his commandments.

¹⁶ an advocate is a noun that means “a person who pleads for the cause of another in a court of law”. Jesus must go back to Heaven, but the Spirit of Truth, something I’ve talked about in the last two blogs, will guide us forever. When we seek the Spirit of Truth through reading our Bible and through praying to God, we will have a permanent advocate that defends for our sins that we should be punished for (but won’t) during the ultimate day of judgment.

¹⁷ John 18:32 Jesus tells Pilate, the Roman governor who had the last say so in having him killed “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.” From here and John 14:17, God shows us he doesn’t appreciate people who focus on things in the world more than they do God. When you spend time with God and search after the Holy Spirit, you will know him because the Spirit walks with you and in you. When you spend time things in the world, then you won’t recognize the presence of God’s Spirit. And without the presence of the Holy Spirit, you invite the Devil’s Spirit to come on in and eat at your spirit.

^18-19 As modern believers, we have never seen the face of Jesus but regardless of this fact, he promises that if we seek after his presence, he won’t leave us fatherless. God is our heavenly father and the Spirit (which is God’s unseen presence) will be our company here on Earth. One day, all will live to see Jesus on the Day of Judgment, but those who are of the world will not live because they will be sent to hell.

²⁰ For those who get to live and stay in Heaven will finally be able to see the face of God and realize that Jesus deeply reflects God in both image and works.

²¹ This verse restates verse 15 so again we see how important obedience is to God. Those who obey will get to see Jesus’ face and live forever as mentioned in verse 19

1. Seek God’s presence through prayer and reading the Bible and you will receive it.

2. John 14:13 tells us when we pray to say “In Jesus name we pray” so that God will always be glorified for sending us a Savior.

3. Show you love God by staying focused on him and following his commands. Remember the Holy Spirit will help guide you to understand the Bible (John 14:26), give you peace and not fear, and most of it all  it will offer great things no one or anything in the world can offer you (verse 27).

Look For Truth, Find Truth

Visual Learner?

Checkout this blog in a video version here on YouTube!

“When you look for trouble, you find trouble” is a popular saying most have heard! Most people don’t go looking for trouble or problems, but when we look at our lives, sometimes our own behaviors create the very own issues we’re dealing with.

Police look for trouble and they always find it!

As we develop and desire to mature in our spiritual relationship with God, we must make it a priority to obey God’s word and not participate in things that God would disapprove and that would only add more problems to our life. The only way to know what pleases God and what displeases him is to seek truth found in the word, or the Holy Bible. Just as when we look for trouble, when we look for God’s truth, we will surely find it.

Today, Word World War will continue examining John, chapter 8 and introduce a series of questions that come along when seeking truth. How we answer these questions will guide us in establishing the relationship we want with God.

In all, I will provide three things:

1.     summary of chapter 8 because it has 59 verses total so I can’t go in and explain everything

2.     10 questions we need to consider answering when we read chapter 8

3.     a word search puzzle that contains 25 words for you to find and then define what they mean to you and your relationship with Christ.

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Summary

Click here to the read the New International Version (a very easy to read and understand version) of John, chapter 8 for yourself or read the summary below.

Jesus is at the Mount of Olives, his place away from the city to spend time with God (verse 1). The Pharisees (the group later responsible for hanging him on the cross) approach and ask him how they should punish a woman who had been caught in the act cheating on her husband—stone her to death or let her go as they imagine a “Lord and Savior” would do (verse 3-6).

He told the Pharisees if any one of them had never sinned then they could throw the first stone to stone her to death (verse 7). Of course, no one could say they had never sinned so the men quickly vanished and Jesus told the woman he would not stone her but that she must leave this lifestyle of cheating (verse 11).

Later Jesus tells the Pharisees he is the light of the world and whoever follows him will have eternal life (verse 12). But they reject him and his testimony because by law it requires one other witness besides the person making the claim (verse 13) and so Jesus says that God is his witness (verse 18) and anyone that refuses Jesus and his father will die in their sin (verse 24).

Lastly, Jesus speaks with the descendents of Abraham who are the chosen people/children of God who also reject Jesus and his testimony of being God in the flesh (verse 41). Abraham’s descendents who claim to be children of God desire to kill Jesus and so, Jesus tells him they are acting as children of Satan (verse 43-45). In all Jesus tells the people he is not looking to be praised for being a Savior (verse 50), that’s not his purpose. His purpose is to save!

Ten Questions

As I read John, chapter 8 and saw how Jesus was focused on spreading the true gospel, I wrote down ten questions to help me model my actions after Jesus and build my relationship with Christ.

1.  (John 8:6) They were using this question (how to punish the woman) as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

a.  Has someone ever challenged your faith in God?

b.  How do you handle people that make false accusations against you? Are you using a Godly approach?

c.   Know that Satan in Hebrew means accuser. He is also the father of lies (John 8:44)

2.  (John 8:12) “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

a.   Are you walking the path Christians are to walk?

b.  Have you ever tried looking for something in the dark? Did you find it? Did you bump into something or hit your toe? Did you have to turn on the light eventually after you couldn’t find it?

c.   When in sin you will bump into something all the time, but turn the light on and turn to God.

3.   (John 8:14) Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going”.

a.       If you died today, where would your final destination be?

b.      Have you mapped out the directions you need to take in life to reach this destination?

4.   (John 8:18) “I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me?”

a. Have you testified to someone lately about the goodness of Jesus and how to receive salvation?

b. The words you speak every day, would God approve them and be a witness to your words?

5.    (John 8:24) “I told you that you would die in your sins; If you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins”.

a.  Are there some sins you commit every day?

b. What are you doing to turn from sin and be obedient to God?

c.  Did you know they are different parts of hell according to the different sins committed? For example, a person that lies habitually will constantly have their tongue ripped out when in hell.

This video explains that different levels exist.

6.  (John 8:29) “The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him”.

a. Who are you working to please: God or Satan?

b.  Are you always and not sometimes working to please God in all you do?

c.  You cannot serve two masters. Cross reference with Matthew 6:24 and Romans 6:16.

7.   (John 8:43-44) “Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

a.  Are you hearing God’s language? Or is the Satan’s language louder?

b. What language are you speaking? The word of God or words from the world?

8. (John 8:45) “Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me”.

a. Why does our society reject the truth and people doing positive things?

b. Do we reject truth because it’s hard to admit we’re wrong, and someone else was right?

c. Are you willing to change/give up your life and your interests to adopt the interests of God?

9.  (John 8:50) “I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge.”

a.  When you witness, is it for God to receive the glory or for others to see you as holier than thou person?

b.  If Jesus tells us that even he can’t judge people, how can we judge people? God is the only judge

10.   (John 8:58-59) “Very truly I tell you”, Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.”

a.       People say truth hurts, but does it really?

b.      Does truth only hurt when you reject it?

c.       Are you going to hurt people who reject the truth of Jesus Christ?

Word Search Puzzle

Click here to complete the wordsearch puzzle that contains 25 words. Find the words and then define what these words mean to you personally. Don’t look up the definitions.  On your own, decide what they mean to you and allow it to help you evaluate how you view your relationship with Christ right now, and where you want it to be this day forward.

Goals for this week

1.    Read John, chapter 8 in its entirety

2.     Answer these ten questions and map out your spiritual journey

3.    Complete the crossword puzzle and define what these words me to you and your Christianity

View this blog in video below!