Luke 4:1-13 Resist And Rebuke

Luke 4: Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 being tempted by the devil for forty days. During those days He ate nothing. And when they were ended, He was hungry.

3 The devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.”

5 The devil, taking Him up onto a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, “I will give You all this power and their glory, for it has been delivered to me. And I give it to whomever I will. 7 If You, then, will worship me, all will be Yours.”

8 And Jesus answered him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.’”

9 He brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. 10 For it is written:‘He shall give His angels charge concerning you, to preserve you,’ 11 and ‘In their hands they shall hold you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.”

12 Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.”

13 When the devil had ended all the temptations, he departed from Him until another time.

None of us are not immune from satan's attacks against us. We are all vulnerable!Satan is the author of temptation. We see where he began with our first parents, Adam and Eve in the garden and guess what? We too are not exempt from his traps he daily sets.

Temptation does not come from God but from satan. James 1:13-15- Don’t blame God when you are tempted! God cannot be tempted by evil, and he doesn’t use evil to tempt others. 14 We are tempted by our own desires that drag us off and trap us. 15 Our desires make us sin, and when sin is finished with us, it leaves us dead.

Jesus response to satan's temptation against Him was met with "REJECTION AND REBUKE" on every level and at every opportunity. Jesus used His power and authority over satan which is the "Word of God."

When we resist satan, he flees for a while and then comes back? When he came back to Jesus, he met resistance and rebuke again and  again, even to the point of Jesus calling him out for who he was.

What is my point? Every time satan shows up in your life to tempt you to do wrong, RESIST AND REBUKE and every time he will flee.

RESIST AND REBUKE!

God bless.

Debra

I do not own this video nor do I claim ownership of it.

08/21/2017 Solar Eclipse

THE SOLAR ECLIPSE

Today, as my coworkers and I watched and waited for the solar eclipse that we eventually never got to see, I was taking pictures of the sky as it began to darken.

As I held the camera up to take a few pictures of the sky, I saw in the cloud, a face of a "LION" that is pictured here.

Look closely and you will see it.

The Solar Eclipse is a work of God's Power and His Majesty.

Who would have thought that I would see such beauty in the midst of rain and dark clouds as the sky turns from daylight to dark around 2:45pm today.

I said out loud to a few of my coworkers as I showed them the picture "do you see the Lion" here and they never answered.

Within my minds thoughts, I said to myself "they think I am trying to make something there that was not" because they did not even look for more than a second or two.

This picture is undeniable proof of what the Holy Spirit showed me and what I saw. 

WOW! LOOK AT OUR GOD! HE IS THE LION OF JUDAH!

Who could make the moon cover the sun in the midst of the day and turn day into darkness and back to day? NO BODY BUT GOD!

GOD IS SHOWING HIMSELF GREAT AND MIGHTY TO THE WORLD! HE IS ASSURING MAN THAT THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT HE ALONE IS GOD!

It's amazing at the things that God reveals to us on a daily basis.

Only if we would take the time to be still and see the glory of our God is when we will truly see the miracles of every day life.

WOW!!

I do not own this picture not do I claim ownership of it.

Psalm 100:1-6 Grateful Praise

Psalm 100:1-6 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth! 2     Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. 3 Know that the Lord, He is God;  it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.

4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise;  be thankful to Him, and bless His name. 5 For the Lord is good; His mercy endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.

This text is a call for all of creation to joyfully praise the Lord our God.

We are exhorted to sing praise to our God from the depth of our souls. A sound that is louder than the one you always do when you go to the sports game or when you watch your favorite game one on t.v.

In the words of my Pastor, Rev. Isaac J. Holt Jr.  "If God had not awaken you this morning in your right mind, your shoes would have been put on your head instead of your feet."

WE HAVE A REASON TO GIVE GOD THE PRIASE!!!.

God has given us His recipe for pure praise and worship to Him from our heart. No other way is acceptable.  Let's listen to God's ONLY acceptable way of praise and worship to Him.

What kind of praise are you offering to God? Are you willing to change the way you have been praising if you have not been following God's recipe He gave you in this text?

If you are not following God's recipe for true praise and worship to Him, why not?  

How long will you halt between 2 opinions? God on Sunday and the world Monday through Saturday. How long?

Grateful praise! Is this what you are offering up to the Lord your God on today?

Remember, no other recipe is acceptable for true praise and worship to the Father than what He has written in His Word.

God bless.

Debra

I do not own this video nor do I claim ownership of it.

Proverbs 15:3 God's Eyes Are Everywhere

Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.

Foreknowledge-prognósis in the greek. Previous determination, forethought, foreknowledge.

Does God really knows all and have foreknowledge of all things? This is the question that is at the forefront of the mind of the doubters, unbelievers and evildoers. The Answer is a resounding "YES"!

What is the man named Solomon whom God describes as the wisest among mankind is trying to tell us here in this text?

He is saying to us that everything about us is foreknown by God.

Our every thoughts, the words of our mouth before we speak them, the issues of our heart, the hairs on our head, the number of our days here on earth, who are parents were going to be, what our race would be, what family we would be in, our daily choices to obey or disobey Him, the good, bad, ugly, evil, our habits and ways, the color of our eyes, our hair, etc are all known beforehand by God.

Throughout scripture we can find where God's word talks about God's foreknowledge of mankind. On and on with one identifying factor after another, we can clearly see evidence of the Sovereignty of God and His full foreknowledge of everything about humanity and the universe as a whole.

We are reminded in the Word of God that everything belongs to God. Psalm 24:1-2 The earth belongs to the Lord, and its fullness, the world, and those who dwell in it. 2 For He has founded it on the seas, and established it on the floods.

If God is the maker and creator of all and it all belongs to Him, that tells me He knows everything about everything he created or ever will be created.

NOTHING is hidden from God. Be it good or evil. That is why we are told in scripture to fret not ourselves of evildoers for God sees their every thought and every act against His people too, therefore, He will reward them accordingly.

Yes, God sees and knows everything! Every secret, every tear drop, every pain, every heartache, every joyful experience, every laughter, every sorrow, etc are under God's eye view.

God's eyes are everywhere. There is no place we can go where God is not.  

In your spare time read Psalm 139 in it's entirety. We will now look at vs#1-4 Lord, You have searched me and known me. 2 You know when I sit down and when I get up; You understand my thought from far off. 3 You search my path and my lying down and are aware of all my ways. 4 For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it fully.

The Psalmist just declared the Sovereignty of God to us. God is ever present!

The eyes of the Lord roams throughout the earth. Nothing can penetrate His light for even darkness is light in His presence.

Psalm 139:12 even the darkness is not dark to You, but the night shines as the day, for the darkness is like light to You. 

NOTHING IS HIDDEN FROM GOD, BE IT GOOD OR EVIL!

The eyes of the Lord is everywhere throughout the universe. Nothing passes Him by without His foreknowledge of it.

Remember, God's eyes are everywhere. God has spoken, therefore, we are all without excuse and we ALL will give an account for the life we choose to live, be it good or evil.

The Lord's eyes are on the sparrow and I know He watches me.

God bless.

Debra

I do not own this video nor do I claim ownership of it.

Matthew 6:33 God First

Matthew 6:33-But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be given to you.

 Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount said to "seek" God first. Make God and the things of God a priority in our lives.

The first thing that we should seek is "salvation" (the saving of our souls) because it is of greater value than anything in the world, including all the world's riches.

We are to seek first, the rule and reign of God on the throne of our hearts. Seek Him through our obedience to Him as our God and what He commands of us in sharing and spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ as His witness in the earth.

Our "SOUL" is the only thing that will last forever. It will spend eternity either with God or without God. The choice is ours!

Our future destination depends on where our priority lies. Is it in God or in the world and all it's pleasures is the question we all have to answer on daily?

GOD FIRST!  Example: Should I stay home and watch the sports game tonight or should I go to bible study instead?

Every thing we see now, will one day be no more, but those who put God first by putting their faith, trust and hope in Him as a priority in their lives, shall have eternal life with God.

Seek not the things of this world for they are perishable!

Matthew 6:19-20-"Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Does this mean that we should neglect our daily duties and responsibilities? ABSOLUTELY NOT!

We are told in scripture to renew our mind and way of thinking through the washing of our minds with the Word of God. When our minds change, our priorities and actions will follow.

Let's listen to Romans 12:2-Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

When we put God and His business "FIRST" He promises to supply all our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

God's promise to those who put Him and His Kingdom first have not need to worry for they can rest assured that God will do just what He says when He says that He will supply all their needs.  

Take Heed for our life now and in eternity depends upon "GOD FIRST" in our lives or not.

Know this one thing! You will NEVER go wrong by putting "GOD FIRST" in your life.

Deny self priorities, pick up your cross and follow Christ!

GOD FIRST!

God bless.

Debra

Job 14:1-2 TROUBLE

Job 14:1-2 Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble. 2-He comes forth like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and does not continue.

Job reminds us on today that life here on earth is full of trouble. Did you hear that? Life is not trouble free, but full of them!

Trouble! Have you ever heard of it? Has it ever visited you? Do you know anything about it? Trouble is no respecter of person.

People of God, if you get nothing else, get this ! We WILL suffer! Just because we are God's people does not make us immune from the hardship, struggles, test and painful issues of life.

The good news in our suffering is God has not left us. He promises to be with us always, even unto the end. Remember the story of the 3 Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace? God was there! He is with us! Trust Him on today people of God, regardless of what you may have to suffer for the sake of Christ.

God's goal is to make us into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ and unfortunately, pain and suffering is one of the vehicles he uses to drive us on that route

The Apostle Paul reminds us also that we will suffer some things as the people of God. Let's listen to him in 2 Timothy 3:12-Yes, and all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

The key is to trust God. Had Job not trusted God before his storms he would have never been able to say "though He slay me, yet will I trust Him."

God promises to be our very present help in trouble. God is our hiding place. Yes, He is our refuge in life's storm. Run to Him for cover for He will shield and protect you.

Look no further for God is your hiding place!

God bless.

Debra

I do not own this video nor do I claim ownership of it.

James 1:8 UNSTABLE

James 1:8 A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Double minded=dipsuchos in the greek. It means of two minds, double minded, wavering, of two souls, of two selves.  Divided in interest namely, between God and the world.

A double-minded Christian is always being torn in two directions. God and self.

In this text, the Apostle James describes a double minded man as being unstable in all that he does.

To be double-minded is to go back and forth in our thinking and in our faith. We may start out with strong faith and confidence in God, but as time goes by and difficult circumstances, test and trials of life comes to us and bring with it no quick solution or relief on our time clocks, we begin to doubt that God will do what He has promised. 

How can we as the people of God be protected and delivered from being unstable and double minded? There are many ways in the word of God, therefore, I will name a few.

(1) It starts with knowing that wisdom begins and ends with God. Reverencing Him, His power and authority over us and the universe.

Believe it or not, but the Word of God is the only stability on which we can count on and live by in these perilous, deceptive and evil days that are upon us.

Dealing with doubt and an unstable mind? Need spiritual stability? Open your bible and see what the Word of God has to say. The word of God is indeed the only road map to true wisdom, understanding, and a stable mind.

God bless.

Debra

I do not own this video nor do I claim ownership of it.

Proverbs 10:18 Watch Your Words

Proverbs 10:18 He who hides hatred has lying lips, and he who spreads slander is a fool.

The writer of this text tells us how to identify hatred and those who are carriers of it.

First, he tells us that hatred comes from lying lips and it is spread by those who are considered to be fools and not wise.

We are not born to hate, it is taught. We were made in God's image. God is love!

Matthew 5:18 But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a man.

People of God, be very careful of what you receive in your mind's thoughts for they eventually take root in our hearts and are revealed in the things we say, do, how we act, how we view others and how we treat those that are different from us.

Watch what you allow your ears to hear, your eyes to see, the thoughts you allow in your mind and the words that you allow to come out of your mouth.

Throughout scripture we are warned about the pain and results of hatred. 

Hatred that is harbored (secretly kept in the hearts and minds) not only hurts the one who harbors it, but also those innocent victims who it is spewed out against through slander.

The book of proverbs has a lot to say about the words that comes out of our mouth and the thoughts that are kept in secret in our minds and hearts that eventually manifest itself in our words and actions towards others.

One thing we are to always remember before we speak. Proverbs 15:1-A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. Words are important!

Jesus said, “By your words you will be condemned and by your words you will be justified.”

Proverbs 18:21-  Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Life is filled with choices and every choice has consequences. 

People of God, watch your words for once they are spoken, they can not be taken back. They can either help or hurt, heal or destroy, encourage or discourage, curse or bless. The choice is ours!

What are you speaking? Who is benefiting from what comes out of your mouth? Are you speaking life or death?

If you have been secretly harboring hate in your heart against others, please ask God to speak to your heart.

Proverbs 15:7 says, “The lips of the wise spread knowledge.” What comes out of a righteous man? Wisdom. What comes out of a wise man? Knowledge. These two things ought to be coming out of our mouth all the time.

Watch our words!

God bless.

Debra 

John 15:20 Servant Not Greater Than The Master

John 15:20-Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My words, they will keep yours also.

Remember= mnémoneuó in the greek. It means to call to mind, to make mention of, to recall by memory, remember, mindful of.

On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus, after having washed His disciples feet, brought these profound words of wisdom to their remembrance when He said to them"you are not greater than Me. If they persecuted Me, the same they will do to you."

Jesus hoped to comfort the disciples with the knowledge that the world’s hatred was first directed toward Him.

Jesus came from heaven to earth to save them that are lost and in all His teaching, preaching, miracles, healing, etc., many still choose not to receive Him, but instead reject, oppose and persecute Him, even unto death.

Jesus did not allow the people's attitudes, remarks, lies, conspiracy, rejection of Him, evil towards Him, denial of who He was or anything else, stopped Him from the mission in which He came. He profoundly declared these words in John 9:4- I must work the works of him that has sent me while it is day. The night is coming, when no one can work.

Jesus says the world hates us because God chose us out of the world, out of darkness into His marvelous light.

John 15:19- If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

I am going to leave you with a few words from the song by Nodes Of Ranvier called "Purpose In Pain".

Sometimes hope dwells in the darkness waiting to be found.

With bitter tears we fight through days that do not seem to end. But finding purpose in the pain will shatter doubt and help you persevere.

Reaching beyond all the wreckage we see, together we'll find what we truly believe.

Crawl through the ashes of our past mistakes. Emerge, so much stronger, refined by the flames.

Our faith is tested everyday.

The serpent wants us to betray and turn our backs on everything in Christ that gave our lives true meaning. And though this voice is loud and clear He'll never take what we hold dear for the truth will always light the way.

It’s time to hold true to the Word of God and as the saints of old would say "hold to God's unchanging hands". There is light at the end of the tunnel.

When our journey on this side of suffering and persecution is over, we will indeed hear the Master say "well done, thy good and faithful servant."

REMEMBER: THE SERVANT IS NOT GREATER THAN THE MASTER!

God bless and I love you all.

Debra

I do not own this video nor do I claim ownership of it.

Luke 6:27-28 Enemies

Luke 6:27-28 But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.

Enemies! Does anyone other than me have them? Yes, we all have them.

Who are our enemies? Many of them are people we know. Those that have allowed the spirit of the adversary to live in them. Those who are or have been in close relations with us and have turned against us for one reason or another. 

Jesus says to love my enemies. WHAT???? Love those who have wrong me, lied on me, falsely accused me, scandalize my name, betrayed me, offended me, intentionally hurt me and said all manner of evil against me? Love them? NO WAY!

Is Jesus sure about what He is saying when He tell us to "love our "enemies"? Is this really what He is saying and what He meant when He said this?

Is this your response to Jesus command to love your enemies?

Love my enemies??? What??? Yes! Jesus says "YES" we must love our enemies!

God has spoken so let the people of God say "AMEN.”

God bless you all.

Debra