This week leading up to Easter Sunday, as many of you who are followers of Jesus know, we recognize and remember God's ultimate sacrifice. He sent His One and only Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins, so that we may have the opportunity to accept Him and spend eternity with Him in heaven. I truly believe that this week is a special time for us as believers to take special action steps to furthering our personal relationships with Jesus Christ. We need to remember to acknowledge Jesus Christ in our relationship with Him. (See V*1). How can we expect Jesus Christ to acknowledge us before His Father in heaven if we make the mistake of denying Him before men? We need to remember to keep God in the 1st place spot of our lives, because when we do that everything else falls into place and works out for good to those that put their trust in Him and obey His commands. (See V*2).
I would venture to say that all of us have some set of weaknesses to overcome. For one it may be some addiction such as alcoholism, pornography, or even compulsive gambling. For another it may be seeking material possessions over God's will, lying, stealing, or another general disobedience to God's commands. Overall all of us fall victim to at least one of these sorts of sin at various points in our lives. We all fall short of perfection and we need to remind ourselves that without God's mercy we would be in dire trouble. In the midst of our habitual sins, we need to try to grasp the depth of God's sacrifice for us and remind ourselves that our Creator doesn't want us to live in this fashion.
Believe it or not God has great plans for each and every one of us. He wants to prosper us not to harm us, and He wants to give us a bright future if we are willing to simply submit to His will. (See V*3). He knows without a shadow of a doubt what is best for us, and how to lead us to use our gifts and talents to fulfill His ultimate plan.
Throughout God's word we find excellent examples of individuals who put their faith in Him and everything working out to their overall benefit according to God's plans. One of these people was Job who put his faith in Jesus Christ in the midst of unfathomably bleak and difficult circumstances and at his lowest points still did not reject God. In fact God ultimately restored Job and blessed the latter part of his life even more than the earlier part. (See V*4). Overall Job lived another 140 years after the trials and tribulations he went through and was able to see his children and their children to the 4th generation before he died. (See V*5). Not only was Job a prosperous man here on earth, I am certain that his true reward was to be attained in heaven. Job should be an inspiration to all of us that no matter how bad things may seem at a current moment, if we continue to trust God, He has the authority and power to restore us to greater heights than ever before.
Sometimes we face circumstances in which we are incapable of doing anything, they are beyond our control. In these cases, I believe, that it is best for us to prayerfully ask God to resolve our issues in His timing and according to His plan. When you do this God will move mountains in your favor and reposition you to where He calls you to be. We need to remember that trials are an important part of maturing in faith and we should be joyous when we are in the midst of such difficulty, however difficult it may be. (See V*6). We also should never think that we are being tempted by God, for His word tells us that God is not tempted by evil and He Himself doesn't tempt anyone. (See V*7).
I hope you will all take time this week to acknowledge Jesus Christ and reflect on His Words. May God bless you all with His supernatural favor, peace, and of course His divine [and unconditional] love!
Victor Nunez
Biblical References:
V*1- “Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge Me before men, I will also acknowledge him before My Father in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in heaven.†Matthew 10:32-33 (HCSB)
V*2- “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.†Romans 8:28 (HCSB)
V*3- “For I know the plans I have for you- [this is] the Lord's declaration- “plans for [your] welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.†Jeremiah 29:11 (HCSB)
V*4- “So the Lord blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the earlier. He owned 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. 13 He also had seven sons and three daughters. Job 42:12-13 (HCSB)
V*5- “Job lived 140 years after this and saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. 17 Then Job died, old and full of days. Job 42:16-17 (HCSB)
V*6- Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2 (HCSB)
V*7- “No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God.†For God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself doesn't tempt anyone. 14 But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires. 15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death. James 1:13-15 (HCSB)
Humble Yourself, Flee Temptation, & Focus on God!
3/30/2009 by Victor Nunez
When I accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior I was around 5-6 years old. I realize that this was a huge blessing and I thank God for giving me such a valuable opportunity to grow up in an environment where I was able to learn about His word and accept it in faith. At this young age although I am certain that I had faith and understanding enough to accept Jesus, I surely did not have spiritual maturity or profound biblical knowledge other than the basics. I believe this is why God suggests in His word that we humble ourselves as small children if we are to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. (See V*1).
When we study the Word of God and truly desire to grasp wisdom and knowledge from it, I think we derive the most when we humble ourselves as a small child would. This doesn't mean we can't look into matters closely or examine the situation with all the tools that God has blessed us with, but it does mean that we should prayerfully and reverently examine it in order to maximize it's impact on our lives.
I would love to obey God, and hope I do, in the way that a small child tends to obey his parents. A small child usually doesn't question his parents instruction, but rather faithfully heeds it and obeys (typically for the better). We need to realize that we have to rely on Him and trust Him in the midst of all circumstances, not only in good times. God is absolutely perfect (omnipotent and omniscient) and I am confident He above all others has our best interests at heart. This essentially means that when we obey God we can't go wrong. I believe that although we only need to accept Jesus Christ into our hearts one time to be saved, as believers we should continually pray and submit to God's will over our own selfish desires. Instead of continually submitting ourselves to our own feelings, emotions, and fleshly desires we need to flee and resist these sorts of temptations. (See V*2). This verse means that in the midst of any sort of temptation, even when it seems insurmountable, God is there with us to provide for us “a way of escapeâ€. This may not mean literally running away from the sin itself, but I don't doubt that it could mean exactly that in some situations.
There are a few strategies I try to incorporate into resisting the temptation to sin. We first need to acknowledge that we all struggle with sin at some point or another and require God's help in overcoming it. If you believe that you can resist temptation by your own “will-power†without His help, I can tell you with certainty this will not work in the long-run. You may or may not have a few short-term victories, but the truth is without acknowledging the need for Jesus to deliver us from the temptations that lead to sin we are ultimately missing the point. Once you acknowledge that you need God and shift your focus from the temptation itself to God's supernatural provision, we have tapped in to the only true solution for overcoming these struggles. I think we truly delight God when we take these moments of weakness in the face of adversity or temptation and use them to praise Him. Whether it be finding comfort in His word or actually praising Him with your lips as you listen to music, everyone should have this kind of “counter-strategy†in order to overcome these kinds of obstacles. Always remember that we are more than victorious through Christ who gives us strength. (See V*3). In other words we are more than conquerors in Jesus Christ.
God gives us the tools [His word, provision, and strength] we simply need to use them and bring Him the glory. Ultimately we should not grow weary in leading a righteous lifestyle, for in due time we will reap the harvest. (See V*4). Keep faithful and true to God in obedience and faith and He will reward you in this life, in heaven, or even in both.
Take care, and God bless!
Victor Nunez
Biblical References:
V*1- “At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?†2 Then He called a child to Him and had him stand among them. 3 “I assure you,†He said, “unless you are converted and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one child like this in My name welcomes Me.†Matthew 18:1-5 (HCSB)
V*2- “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape, so that you are able to bear it.†1 Corinthians 10:13 (HCSB)
V*3- “No, in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us.†Romans 8:37 (HCSB)
V*4- “Brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.†2 Thessalonians 3:13 (HCSB)
God will give you your heart's desires
3/29/2009 by Jim Sager
Psalm 37:3-4 Trust in the LORD and do good; live in the land and be safe. Seek your happiness in the LORD;and he will give you your heart's desire.
I can't think of a better passage in the Bible to grab my attention. God is real. I assure you of this. The Bible is legit and I assure you of this too. This passage is true. Anything that you want that isn't directly sinful, God can grant to you. God is better than a genie. A genie will grant you wishes, but typically there is a limit to them, and sometimes your wish can get you in trouble. God is better because he'll grant your desire down to your core. You will get a better reality than your imagination can perceive. The caveat is that you need to do good and trust in God. If you put your all in God, he'll give you all the desires of your heart.
I think it is ok to pray for yourself on occassion. Just make sure you tell God when you pray for yourself that your prayers for others is more important. If you don't know good prayers for others, we have a global prayer in our contact page. Read over that and add to it in your own prayers if you have more things you want changed in this world. If God knows your prayers for yourself are not as important as prayers for other people's well being, I'm sure he'll give the proper weight to them. If you have your prayers set up, pray for others now. Once you have finished, examine your heart. Is your heart's desires positive and healthy, or are they negative and sinful. Once you figured out how to get your heart aligned towards God, pray your heart's desires to him. He'll listen, and likely someday it will happen. Just remember that from now on that you always have to do the right thing. Trust in God over yourself, and you will have great rewards.
I think the Holy Spirit told me this when praying to get a wife.
3/28/2009 by Jim Sager
Matthew 7:14 "But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
I've been praying to God for quite some time what qualities I want in a wife. For some reason when I was earlier in my walk, I thought I could marry a non-Christian. I figured, hey, as long
as she is attractive and has inner beauty, she should be fine by me. Eventually during my walk I realized that I want to pray hard about my children before they're born. The way I came into this was Hannah prayed for children when she was physically unable to have children, and I want to have children even though I do not have a wife. Hannah told the LORD that if she can have children, she'd dedicate the first born to him. I prayed to God,"If God will let me have children, I will dedicate them all to the LORD." I also prayed to be blessed like Abraham. I don't think there is anything wrong with these prayers. They aren't even selfish because you're praying to God that you can raise kids that will be loyal to God.
So if I am going to be raising kids that are Christian there is no way I want a non-Christian wife because she may not impart the same values on our kids. I came to the realization that having a wife that is not a Christian is impossible for me. The most important thing my wife must have is a love for God. I realized that God wants us to behave in a certain graceful and kind manner when we obey him. I realized that my wife should have many of the inner qualities that I want by just being a good Christian. I won't lie and I do pray that my wife is beautiful too. I want God to make for me a great woman to be my wife. I don't deserve a great woman for my wife, but that won't stop me from praying about it. I even think God may be willing to fulfil my prayers.
If you're looking for your spouse in the world, it is large and open. There are too many places you can go to seek a spouse. You can go to the beach, you can go to a bar, or you can just randomly wander around hoping to find a diamond laying in the open that no one decided to pick up. It is a very difficult proposition, so some people resort to "playing the game" to get the most optimal partner or even devious plans. Lets not go into all the dark things you can do to stack the odds in your favor. Let us look at how God wants us to do it.
If we want to seek our soul mate, we should first seek God! When you become mature in the faith of Christianity, you become a better person who is more worthy of a great spouse. You may have heard that when God is pleased with you, he'll grant your desires. How do you find your spouse though? You may think,"With all the work of serving God, I may have no time to seek a spouse." The reality is that the more you serve God, the closer you are to finding your wife. Let us read the Bible quote once more.
Matthew 7:14 "But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
When you typically read this passage, many people think to themselves,"If I want to find life, I really have to get in line with God's desires for me." We know that Jesus forgives sin and that everyone who believes in Jesus makes it to Heaven, but we're called to holy living. We should try our very best to serve God and be on the narrow road. Some people view this as a negative because it is so much work, but I'm going to explain to you how this is a very big positive. If the road is narrow and few find it, won't many who travel it also meet each other on it since there are few people on it? This means,"If you are following the road to life, and your spouse is following the road to life, there is a higher likelyhood that you'll find each other." So instead of conforming to the world to help your chances of finding a wife, conform to God and you'll be closer to finding your spouse. And of course, God can make things happen for you. I pray that if you seek to renew your fellowship with God and walk the narrow road that leads to life that you too can find your future spouse. Amen.
Controlling Your Tongue!
3/26/2009 by Victor Nunez
It is not an easy task for some of us to restrain our mouths. It is advised by God's word to do so in Proverbs 21:23 which tells us that whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble. (See V*1). This verse particularly rings true in the area of delicate situations such as when we are angry about something or feel offended in some manner. Instead of taking in the statements that we are told and casually thinking through our answers we lash out immediately and fire back with our response right away. We should make it a habit to make sure we separate ourselves from our emotional instability prior to responding. This doesn't mean that every time we react quickly we'll be wrong in what we say, but I would think that this seemingly small mistake could lead to disastrous consequences. It is better to hold our tongues than to say something ignorant, disrespectful, or simply unnecessary.
The truth is some of us talk like it is going out of style. A lot of us enjoy hearing ourselves speak or for one reason or another like to give hand out our opinions and criticisms frequently. Instead of carefully contemplating what we say, even in the midst of a particularly sensitive situation, we lack self-restraint. It tells us in Proverbs 10:19 that when many words are present sin is not absent. (See V*2). This implies that when we talk too much, especially without thinking things through carefully, we are on the verge of sinning with our tongues. I truly believe that we will be accountable for our tongue on judgment day when God judges us. This should not be a reason to worry, but rather to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in our thoughts and words. When we do this and follow the advice in God's word on the matter as well, we are certainly headed in the right direction. How many times have each of us said something we wish we could immediately take back and rewind the hands of time just a couple of minutes prior to the comment? I know I have felt that way at least a few times in my life.
In the book of James we discover even more advice along the lines of controlling our tongues. In James 1:19 for example we are told as brothers and sisters in Christ to understand that everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. We are also reminded in James 1:20 that man's anger does not accomplish God's righteousness. (See V*3). This is a huge chunk of insight to absorb when you think about what a statement it really is. Even our greatest ideals of executing justice pale in comparison to God's justice and righteousness. This reminds me that we need to be particularly careful to pass judgment on someone's actions within the confines of our anger.
For those of us that choose to teach the Word of God we are warned in James 3:1-2 that we will be subject to a stricter judgment. (See V*4). I do believe that on the bright side, those who do share God's word with others and teach it will not only be subject to a stricter judgment, but also the heavenly rewards that accompany this lifestyle. This is why I pray that through my writing about scripture I deliver the message according to God's will and not my own. I also regularly re-evaluate what I have written and hopefully if there is anything taken out of context or misinterpreted in any way I will discover it in a timely manner.
God bless you, and as always we appreciate any feedback about the blogs, articles, or general suggestions sent to: [email protected]
Victor Nunez
V*1- "The one who guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble."Proverbs 21:23 (HCSB)
V*2- "When there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but the one who controls his lips is wise." Proverbs 10:19 (HCSB)
V*3- "My dearly loved brothers, understand this: everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, 20 for man's anger does not accomplish God's righteousness. James 1:19-20 (HCSB)
V*4- "Not many should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment; 2 for we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a mature man who is also able to control his whole body.
God loves us more than our deepest love for anyone.
3/25/2009 by Jim Sager
Psalm 36:5 Lord, your constant love reaches the heavens; your faithfulness extends to the skies. 6 Your righteousness is towering like the mountains; your justice is like the depths of the sea. People and animals are in your care. 7 How precious, O God, is your constant love! We find protection under the shadow of your wings. 8 We feast on the abundant food you provide; you let us drink from the river of your goodness. 9 You are the source of all life, and because of your light we see the light. 10 Continue to love those who know you and to do good to those
God's love for us is great. God's righteousness is great. God's justice is great. God protecs us. God feeds us. God provides life. God is the source of light. To turn from God is to fall, and to approach God is to rise. If God isn't on your mind all day long, you may forget that it is good to obey him. It is ok to think about God all day long. It may be obsessive, but that is the thing that worship is made up of. Some people think it is scary to go down the slippery slope of religion and end up as a religious zealot. The truth is that it is not a slope, it is a path, and it isn't easy to follow. Yes, it is possible to be full of enthusiasm and passion, but lack knowledge and end up doing more bad than good as a zealot.
Proverbs 19:2 Enthusiasm without knowledge is not good; impatience will get you into trouble.
But a zealot with knowledge of doing right can be a powerful force in God's army. The thing I encourage most of our readers to do is to work hard in whatever they're good at in order to make as much money as they can, then someday donating their excess money to starving children and poor people possibly through an organization. If you think of it on a cosmic scale, which is more important,"Living a life of luxury" or,"Living an economical lifestyle and giving all your excess to starving kids." The difference is your drive. The drive needs to come from God. Where a person living a life of luxury works hard to satisfy their desires. A person living a life for others needs to realize that God will reward them in Heaven.
Nothing we can get on Earth can compare to Heavenly pleasures and happiness. I think it is important to strive for as much happiness you can achieve in Heaven as that is where we'll be spending all our time. Time on Earth passes quickly, and it seems like it passes faster the older we get. This is fine because Earthly life isn't the end for us. There is no worries to be had in dying. What we should worry about is our own drive and how we can push ourselves to excel when we're not receiving anything immediately to satisfy ourselves.
Psalm 34: 1 I will always thank the Lord; I will never stop praising him. 2 I will praise him for what he has done; may all who are oppressed listen and be glad! 3 Proclaim with me the Lord's greatness; let us praise his name together! 4 I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me; he freed me from all my fears. 5 The oppressed look to him and are glad; they will never be disappointed. 6 The helpless call to him, and he answers; he saves them from all their troubles. 7 His angel guards those who honor the Lord and rescues them from danger. 8 Find out for yourself how good the Lord is. Happy are those who find safety with him. 9 Honor the Lord, all his people; those who obey him have all they need. 10 Even lions go hungry for lack of food, but those who obey the Lord lack nothing good. 11 Come, my young friends, and listen to me, and I will teach you to honor the Lord. 12 Would you like to enjoy life? Do you want long life and happiness? 13 Then keep from speaking evil and from telling lies. 14 Turn away from evil and do good; strive for peace with all your heart. 15 The Lord watches over the righteous and listens to their cries; 16 but he opposes those who do evil, so that when they die, they are soon forgotten. 17 The righteous call to the Lord, and he listens; he rescues them from all their troubles. 18 The Lord is near to those who are discouraged; he saves those who have lost all hope. 19 Good people suffer many troubles, but the Lord saves them from them all; 20 the Lord preserves them completely; not one of their bones is broken. 21 Evil will kill the wicked; those who hate the righteous will be punished. 22 The Lord will save his people; those who go to him for protection will be spared.
It is good to always thank the Lord. He made us. He saved us from hell. He loves us and wants to see us happy. He is worthy of infinite praise. And that is what I plan on giving him. I plan on giving God thanks and praise throughout Eternity. Honor God because he is good. God provides good things for those who love and honor him in this world and the next. God deserves honor if he wasn't so generous with his gifts because he defeats evil and lets good live in peace.
Would you like to enjoy life? Do you want long life and happiness? 13 Then keep from speaking evil and from telling lies. 14 Turn away from evil and do good; strive for peace with all your heart.
This is God's word! This isn't some new age gimmick. If you stop sinning and seek to do good in order to please God, God will rapidly come to your help. Sometimes God puts you through some pretty extreme tests. Lets say you promise to God that you'll always be honest. That same day at the grocery store they may hand you back for twenty dollar bills instead of for ones. You gotta be honest no matter how much money or other goods you get. You gotta tell the truth no matter how much an easy lie could get you out of a situation. If you refine your actions to be pleasing to God at all times, you will gain more things that you desire than if you were ruler of the world. I'm not saying to do good and good things will happen to you. It sometimes works out like that. But for some people, you may do good and only meet with suffering, and your reward doesn't happen until you get to Heaven, but it could be a great reward.
Always be honest, even when it is to a loss.
3/22/2009 by Jim Sager
Psalm 37:1 Don't be worried on account of the wicked; don't be jealous of those who do wrong. 2 They will soon disappear like grass that dries up; they will die like plants that wither. 3 Trust in the Lord and do good; live in the land and be safe. 4 Seek your happiness in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desire. 5 Give yourself to the Lord; trust in him, and he will help you; 6 he will make your righteousness shine like the noonday sun
It is sometimes possible to make a buck dishonestly and easily. Even if the opporunity arises, we're never to be dishonest. We know that God will help us find our hearts desires if we stay honest. If we're happy just knowing God and doing what he wants, we'll have a great destiny. It will be far better than the best condition we could be in if nothing went wrong doing things dishonestly.
Keep your worship pure.
3/21/2009 by Jim Sager
Psalm 33 1-3 All you that are righteous, shout for joy for what the LORD has done; praise him, all you that obey him. Give thanks to the LORD with harps, sing to him with stringed instruments. Sing a new song to him, play the harp with skill, and shout for joy
I think that not only are we to partake in worship music, but we should also pay attention to the lyrics of other music that we listen to. If music is praising worship of evil, material goods, or people, we should probably not be listening to it. It is ok to be a fan of another person, but we should never let it get to the point of worship unless we're worshipping Jesus. It taints your worship if you worship many things. By keeping your worship to God and God only, you show him that your worship is not useless.
In the Simpsons episode where Mrs. Krabople is going to marry Seymor Skinner, Otto the bus driver gives her praise. Otto: "Mrs. K, you look awesome!" Mrs K."Thank you, Otto." Otto:"That rock looks awesome! My hands look awesome!" They were implying that the guy was on drugs and thought everything looks awesome, so his original compliment really wasn't a compliment at all. In the same way, if you worship many things other than just God, your worship is really dilluted because you indirectly bring God down to the level of the other things you worship.
Put on God's Armor; Overcome Sin
3/21/2009 by Victor Nunez
Each day that I wake up in the morning, I typically thank God for another day of life among other blessings, request His unmerited favor, and ask Him to put on me His full armor. (See V*1). I ask Him to put on me the Helmet of Salvation, The Sword of the Spirit, The Breastplate of Righteousness and Approval, The Girdle of Truth (belt), and Sandals of The Gospel of Peace. I know that when I put on God's full armor in prayer that God provides me with His supernatural protection and guidance. God's full armor helps me to be vigilant and on guard against the trickery of the Devil. I also know that when I do this I am ready to be more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ who gives me the strength. We need to remember that God is on our side at all times, even in the midst of seemingly insurmountable odds or peril, and His protection is available to us. Furthermore, there is nothing that can separate us from God's love. The Bible specifies this truth in Romans 8:35-39. (See V*2).
The Bible tells us in Galatians that we are to walk by the Spirit so that we may avoid the desires of the flesh. (See V*3). It also gives us some examples of what the works of the flesh are and what the fruits of the Spirit are. In Matthew we are also told that we can recognize one another by the fruit's of our labor. (See V*4).
Although sinful behavior may cause some temporary barriers to our communication with God, when we put on God's full armor and walk in the Holy Spirit, there is no need to worry. He helps us to overcome the temptations of sin that we face, and assists us in avoiding the wrong paths that lead us into the transgressions that we struggle with the most.
Even if we do somehow stumble into sin, which happens to all of us from time to time, His forgiveness and mercy will always be available to us. When we truly seek His forgiveness in the name of Jesus Christ, repent of our sins, and ask Him to wash away all the guilt associated with our sins, God hears our prayers.
I pray that you all put on God's full armor and boldly request His unmerited favor in your lives. May God bless you all with the supernatural protection and guidance only He can truly provide.
-Victor Nunez
Biblical References:
V*1- "Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. 12 For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. 13 This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 14 Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, 15 and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. 16 In every situation take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able to extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God's word." Ephesians 6:10-17 (HCSB)
V*2- "Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or anguish or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: Because of You we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. 37 No, in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord! Romans 8:35-39 (HCSB)
V*3- "I say then walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don't do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar, about which I tell you in advance- as I told you before- that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit. 26 We must not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:16-25 (HCSB)
V*4- "A good tree can't produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that doesn't produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So you'll recognize them by their fruit." Matthew 7:18-20 (HCSB)
Hebrews 10:19 We have, then, my friends, complete freedom to go into the Most Holy Place by means of the death of Jesus. 20 He opened for us a new way, a living way, through the curtain - that is, through his own body. 21 We have a great priest in charge of the house of God. 22 So let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith, with hearts that have been purified from a guilty conscience and with bodies washed with clean water. 23 Let us hold on firmly to the hope we profess, because we can trust God to keep his promise. 24 Let us be concerned for one another, to help one another to show love and to do good. 25 Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more, since you see that the Day of the Lord is coming nearer.
Jesus saved us from Hell and brings us to Heaven. We may have good days on Earth, but they won't be anything like the time we spend with the LORD. As the scripture says that one day with the LORD is better than a thousand elsewhere. We should try and get ourselves in a livable situation then seek to help others. This is contrasted with secular thinking of trying to hoard as much money as you can for yourself. It all comes down with how much faith you have if you will live for this life or the next.
Luke12:32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the Kingdom. 33 Sell all your belongings and give the money to the poor. Provide for yourselves purses that don't wear out, and save your riches in heaven, where they will never decrease, because no thief can get to them, and no moth can destroy them. 34 For your heart will always be where your riches are.
Your time on Earth should be spent working to help the poor and spreading the knowledge of Christianity. If you help out people who are starving to death, you will receive great rewards in Heaven. It takes faith to switch from self gratification to helping others for a reward in Heaven. As such, it can be a determining factor between someone who is new in their walk and someone who is more mature in faith. Know God is real. I assure you. I hope your faith gets to its maximum strength.
Glory to God
3/15/2009 by Jim Sager
Psalm 19: 1 How clearly the sky reveals God's glory! How plainly it shows what he has done! 2 Each day announces it to the following day; each night repeats it to the next. 3 No speech or words are used, no sound is heard; 4 yet their message goes out to all the world and is heard to the ends of the earth. God made a home in the sky for the sun; 5 it comes out in the morning like a happy bridegroom, like an athlete eager to run a race. 6 It starts at one end of the sky and goes across to the other. Nothing can hide from its heat.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect; it gives new strength. The commands of the Lord are trustworthy, giving wisdom to those who lack it. 8 The laws of the Lord are right, and those who obey them are happy. The commands of the Lord are just and give understanding to the mind. 9 Reverence for the Lord is good; it will continue forever. The judgments of the Lord are just; they are always fair. 10 They are more desirable than the finest gold; they are sweeter than the purest honey. 11 They give knowledge to me, your servant; I am rewarded for obeying them. 12 None of us can see our own errors; deliver me, Lord, from hidden faults! 13 Keep me safe, also, from willful sins; don't let them rule over me. Then I shall be perfect and free from the evil of sin. 14 May my words and my thoughts be acceptable to you, O Lord, my refuge and my redeemer!
The sky does indeed show God's glory. The sky is beautiful sometimes. Sometimes it shows the rays of light peeking through the clouds too. People can ruin the landscape with buildings, but it is tough to ruin the sky. We're supposed to have reverence for the Lord and to stop sinning.
Unashamed of Jesus
3/14/2009 by Victor Nunez
If we study the book of Matthew in the Bible closely, we are privileged to observe God's character and commands in an eye opening and impacting manner. We are shown great details such as an example of how we are to model our prayers, how we should not only love our neighbors but also our enemies, how God wants us to store for ourselves heavenly treasures rather than worldly possessions, and even advised to be aware that there are many false prophets out there that come to us in sheep's clothing but are ravaging wolves on the inside.
I believe that these four messages, among others, are certainly crystal clear, but I think one of the most clear is that we are to be unashamed of Jesus. Two direct instances of this instruction occur in Matthew and Mark. (See V*1 and V*2). In these two verses we observe direct statements made from Jesus Christ Himself on the matter. We are told that if we acknowledge Him before man, He will also acknowledge us before His Father in heaven. Furthermore, we are told in Mark 8:38, that if we are ashamed of Him and His words, Jesus Christ will also be ashamed of us when He comes into the glory of His Father with the angels. Earlier on in Matthew we are also told that those who are persecuted for being righteous are blessed because the kingdom of heaven is theirs. (See V*3). To me this means that we should not be afraid of acknowledging God before man, because in the worst case scenario if we are persecuted, God in turn rewards us that much more in heaven.
Hopefully God will bless you all with a conviction to be unashamed of Jesus, He really is worthy of it and much, much more!
Victor Nunez
Biblical References:
V*1- "Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge Me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. Matthew 10:32 (HCSB)
V*2- "For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." Mark 8:38 (HCSB)
V*3- "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs." Matthew 5:10 (HCSB)
The fun starts in the next life, so buckle down now.
3/14/2009 by Jim Sager
Isaiah 65:17 The Lord says, "I am making a new earth and new heavens. The events of the past will be completely forgotten. 18 Be glad and rejoice forever in what I create. The new Jerusalem I make will be full of joy, and her people will be happy. 19 I myself will be filled with joy because of Jerusalem and her people. There will be no weeping there, no calling for help. 20 Babies will no longer die in infancy, and all people will live out their life span. Those who live to be a hundred will be considered young. To die before that would be a sign that I had punished them. 21 People will build houses and get to live in them�they will not be used by someone else. They will plant vineyards and enjoy the wine�it will not be drunk by others. Like trees, my people will live long lives. They will fully enjoy the things that they have worked for. 23 The work they do will be successful, and their children will not meet with disaster. I will bless them and their descendants for all time to come. 24 Even before they finish praying to me, I will answer their prayers. 25 Wolves and lambs will eat together; lions will eat straw, as cattle do, and snakes will no longer be dangerous. On Zion, my sacred hill, there will be nothing harmful or evil."
It is nice that after Jesus returns that God is making a new Heaven and a new Earth. Eternal Life is desirable, but how much more desirable is Eternal Life with no suffering. We're all to look forward to this time, and until then we should try and live for others as each of our faith allows.
Do you really own your stuff?
3/12/2009 by Jim Sager
Luke 20:19 The teachers of the Law and the chief priests tried to arrest Jesus on the spot, because they knew that he had told this parable against them; but they were afraid of the people. 20 So they looked for an opportunity. They bribed some men to pretend they were sincere, and they sent them to trap Jesus with questions, so that they could hand him over to the authority and power of the Roman Governor. 21 These spies said to Jesus, "Teacher, we know that what you say and teach is right. We know that you pay no attention to anyone's status, but teach the truth about God's will for people. 22 Tell us, is it against our Law for us to pay taxes to the Roman Emperor, or not?" 23 But Jesus saw through their trick and said to them, 24 "Show me a silver coin. Whose face and name are these on it?" "The Emperor's," they answered. 25 So Jesus said, "Well, then, pay to the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and pay to God what belongs to God." 26 There before the people they could not catch him in a thing, so they kept quiet, amazed at his answer.
I address that we should be good stewards of our money such that when we get older that we can give it away to charity and starving kids can have some more time to live. Our money is not our own though, it is the nation's that you live under. Most nations treat their money seriously so people also treat it seriously. Post WW1 Germany and today's Zimbabwe have had out of control inflation in their money. All a nation has to do to tax you is to print more money. In this way they are stealing the worth of your dollar into their own higher denomination. If you are aware this is happening, it is good to invest in the stockmarket or buy gold which will not go down in price and you won't lose your wealth. Truly the control of the money's value is done by the leaders of the nation.
Our life belongs to God. So we should use our life to glorify God. We should help other people with our time and talents instead of just our money. When we're called to love one another, Jesus obviously means we're supposed to have compassion for others.
I also like this verse because it shows how perfect Jesus is. Time and time again, people tried and trap him in his words. He not only escapes the trap, but he says something relevant. And normally the relevancy of what he says is universal and not time or place dependent.
Avoid All Extremes, Fear God!
3/11/2009 by Victor Nunez
In one of my previous articles (Article #4 Emotional Stability Part 1) I briefly discussed how vital it is that we [reverently and worshipfully] fear God. I sincerely believe, according to the Bible, that fearing God is the beginning of growing in wisdom. The scripture that says this is located in Proverbs. (See V*1). We need to understand that essentially God doesn't want us to be afraid of Him in a sense of horror or panic, but rather He wants us to be respectful of Him. Another important Proverb to remember indicates that when words are many sin is not absent. (See V*2). I think we should certainly consider these two verses, as well as the verses located in Ecclesiastes 5:1-7, carefully when we are in church or in prayer, specifically in the presence of God. (See V*3).
In V*3 the Bible implies to us that this sort of fear should be apparent in our actions towards the Lord, especially when we are in His presence. I decipher from this set of verses that we should make few vows to God, unless of course we intend on fulfilling them immediately and honoring what we say to Him right away. The verses also describe how it is unnecessary for us to bring guilt upon ourselves through our speech, and how it is absolutely not a good idea to be hasty or impulsive in speaking before God. If we carefully read this set of verses in Ecclesiastes, we clearly discover a goldmine of wisdom when it comes to being cautious in the presence of God. Furthermore, when we look at the Proverbs I specified earlier in unison with these verses in Ecclesiastes we can observe a clearer picture being painted of how God truly wants us to comport ourselves in His presence.
If we continue reading Ecclesiastes further we soon discover that we should avoid all extremes of over-righteousness, over-wickedness, and even over-wisdom. I also believe these verses indicate that we should try our best to avoid foolishness all together. (See V*4). I think most of us know it is correct not to be a wicked person and not to be foolish perhaps, the real problem lies in the execution of these two concepts. We need to develop tools with God's help in order to obey His word on this and stay away from wickedness and folly. To me these verses also indicate that we should not be over-wise to the point where we feel like we know everything. When pride seeps into our lives and we allow it to invade our thought process in a negative manner, it really is a cause for concern. This is not meant to discourage us from seeking to grow in wisdom, on the contrary verse 19 reinforces the vitality of wisdom. Finally verse 20 reminds us that we are human and are all fallible.
In truth, I think Thomas A. Edison did an excellent job in describing this situation and humbling himself in this quote: "We don't know a millionth of one percent of anything." Here was an inventor who invented so many useful devices, including the light bulb and the phonograph, and he acknowledged openly that as human beings we know relatively very little. Imagine applying this statement to what we know of the entire universe, it rings even more truthful.
As always feel free to contact us via e-mail at [email protected] . May God bless you with the desire to avoid all extremes!
-Victor Nunez
Biblical References:
V*1- "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10 (HCSB)
V*2- "When there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but the one who controls his lips is wise. Proverbs 10:19 (HCSB)
V*3- "Guard your step when you go to the house of God. Better to draw near in obedience than to offer the sacrifice as fools do, for they are ignorant and do wrong. 2 Do not be hasty to speak, and do not be impulsive to make a speech before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. 3 For dreams result from much work and a fool's voice from many words. 4 When you make a vow to God, don't delay fulfilling it, because He does not delight in fools. Fulfill what you vow. 5 Better that you do not vow than that you vow and not fulfill it. 6 Do not let your mouth bring guilt on you, and do not say in the presence of the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry with your words and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For many dreams bring futility, also many words. So, fear God." Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 (HCSB)
V*4- "In my futile life I have seen everything: there is a righteous man who perishes in spite of his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who lives long in spite of his evil. 16 Don't be excessively righteous, and don't be overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself? 17 Don't be excessively wicked, and don't be foolish. Why should you die before your time? 18 It is good that you grasp the one and do not let the other slip from your hand. For the one who fears God will end up with both of them. 19 Wisdom makes the wise man stronger than ten rulers of a city. 20 There is certainly no righteous man on the earth who does good and never sins. Ecclesiastes 7:15-20 (HCSB)
Another reason privacy is important
3/11/2009 by Jim Sager
Matthew 6:1-4 Make certain you do not perform your religious duties in public so that people will see what you do. If you do these things publicall, you will not have any reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give something to a needy person, do not make a big show of it, as the hypocrites do in the houses of worship and on the streets. They do it so that people will praise them. I assure you, they have already been paid in full. But when you help a needy person, do it in such a way that even your closest friend will nt know about it. Then it will be a private matter. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you.
In today's day and age, it is hard to privately give. The tax man wants to know how much you give to give you rewards in tax deductions. I'm not saying that you should avoid it because it can let you give even more, but it is just hard to give these days without knowing who gave what. They trace all your transactions at the bank. So unless you gave to the charity with a mask on and in cash, it is hard to get really private.
Still, I think there is a difference between attempting to privately give and to publically make a show of it. If you try your best to be private, but it leaks out to the public that you gave, I think God will still credit you with rewards. The trick is that if anyone questions or praises you publically about it that you have to give all credit to God.
Glorify God, don't make him upset
3/10/2009 by Jim Sager
Proverbs 6:16-19 There are seven things that the LORD hates and cannot tolerate: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that kill innocent people, a mind that thinks up wicked plans, feet that hurry off to do evil, a witness who tells one lie after another, and someone who stirs up trouble among friends
I would say one of the most common sins people do is that they lie. Sometimes people lie when they think they're doing the polite thing. It isn't easy to train yourself not to lie, but it is important. God is truth. The opposite of God is Satan king of lies. Do you want to behave good and right in God's sight? Then do not lie. Do not even lie when it seemingly benefits you greatly to do so. Some people's flawed morals go like this: I won't do wrong unless I can make a lot of money doing it. This type of person wouldn't shop lift, but if they knew of a million dollars that they could steal without being caught they would. Make sure, you do right always, no matter how much it profits you, and God will reward you accordingly.
Honor God and God will care for you.
3/9/2009 by Jim Sager
Jeremiah 32:39 I will give them a single purpose in life: to honor me for all time, for their own good and the good of their descendants.40 I will make an eternal covenant with them. I will never stop doing good things for them, and I will make them fear me with all their heart, so that they will never turn away from me. 41 I will take pleasure in doing good things for them, and I will establish them permanently in this land.
God was speaking of the people returning from exile. But I think he'll let this one fall on us to. If all you want to do in life is serve God and others, he'll open a way for that. You can accomplish more for yourself by serving others than you can if you just served your own passions and desires directly. It takes faith to accept this. The more faith you have, the more you can be selfsacrificing in the servitude of others. It is a very outstanding place to be to have the favor of almighty God. God can do anything. He can make you healthier, live longer, and be kind to your family. God can do anything. When you have the favor of God, it is his pleasure to increase your pleasure.
Help spread the Good News
Posted 3/8/2009 by Jim Sager
Isaiah 61:1 The Sovereign LORD has filled me with his spirit. He has chosen me and sent me To bring good news to the poor. To heal the broken-hearted, To announce release to captives And freedom to those in prison.
I am a messenger of the Good News. I want to tell you to be good for God is good. Some people look to use all their resources to party in this life. I think before we can party, we should help everyone who's starving. God has the ability to give you eternal rewards in Heaven. We get to party all we want when we get to Heaven. Earth is merely a short period of time, less than a blink of an eye in Eternity's comparison. On Earth, people suffer, so we should be concerned with helping people that suffer because once we get to Heaven, no one will need our help anymore. It is especially important to do good things because God is watching our every action, word and thought. God does reward.
First, I would like to extend a warm welcome to those of you who came across our site! Jim and I pray that you find what you are looking for in our articles and blog entries that have been posted and will continue to flow into the site as we produce more content.
For my first entry I would like to talk about faith, and how as children of God we should go about our lives doing good works for His glory. (See V*1). These verses in Ephesians clearly explain, that it is by grace that we are saved through faith, not our own capabilities. In other words, doing good works for God may help you eventually store up heavenly treasures, but they will not be the reason for your salvation. The Bible makes it clear that we should store up for ourselves treasures in heaven rather than indulge in worldly pleasures and desires. (See V*2). As believers of Jesus Christ, our natural byproduct should be to obey His commands and do good works for His ultimate glory. We are also instructed to utilize our gifts and talents that God has personally blessed us with to produce "what is beneficial". (See V*3). We need to remember that we should not envy one another's gifts. We should simply concern ourselves with our own gifts and utilize them for His glory. The verses that follow proceed to list the different gifts that God blesses us with. These include: spreading His message of wisdom or knowledge, faith, healing, performing of miracles, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, different kinds of languages, and interpretation of languages. He also makes it clear that it is one and the same Spirit (the Holy Spirit) that is active in all these gifts. (See V*4).
Thank you for reading my article, and again welcome to our site! Please continue visiting us whenever you feel inspired to do so, and as always feel free to send comments/questions to: [email protected]
Respectfully,
Victor Nunez
V*1- "For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift- 9 not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are His creation- created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:8-10 (HCSB)
V*2- "Don't collect for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don't break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21 (HCSB)
V*3- "Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are different activities, but the same God is active in everyone and everything. 7 A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial." 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 (HCSB)
V*4- "to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit, 9 to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit, to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another, 10 the performing of miracles, to another, prophecy, to another, distinguishing between spirits, to another, different kinds of languages, to another, interpretation of languages. 11 But one and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each one as He wills." 1 Corinthians 12:8-11 (HCSB)