Jesus Alpha And Omega

Revelation 21:6

And He said unto me, It is done, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the foundation of the water of life freely.

As we head into the Christmas season, I felt led by the Holy Spirit to begin a brief study of the names/titles that is associated with Jesus according to scripture. Some of the names we will be focusing on in the coming weeks in addition to Jesus as Alpha and Omega are:

(a) The Bred of life, (b) The Chief Cornerstone, (c) The Good Shepherd, (d) The Chief Shepherd, (e) the High Priest, (f) the Prophet, (g)Mediator, (h) the Word, (h) the Way, (j) the Truth, (k) life, (j) Wonderful Counselor, (l) the Son of God, (m) the Son of Man, (n) Lam of God, (o) Lord, (p) Prince of Peace, (q) the Son of God, (r) Savior, (s) God, (t) the Christ.

Looking that the above names associated with Jesus and ask this question, What do these names teach us about Jesus our Lord and Savior. It is my mission to end these discussions with a unanimous agreement that all names associated with Jesus points to Him being the Christ the incarnated Son of God.

In today's discussion our focus will be Alpha and Omega which tells us that Jesus is the beginning and ending of all things. The other point to be made on Jesus as Alpha and Omega is that He was in the beginning with God as He is God and the world was created by Him (John 1:1-3); therefore Jesus had His beginning long before His virgin birth. It is noteworthy to say that God used the spoken Word in creating everything that was created both seen and unseen (Colossian 1:16); therefore, when John presented Jesus as the eternal Word of God authenticates Genesis 1:1. It is also noteworthy to say that the Godhead, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit were present during creation as the Holy Spirit had an active role in creation as He is seen as "moving" over creation (Genesis 1:2) preserving and preparing creation for God further creative works/activities.

Let's close today's discussion by saying, Jesus was in the beginning (Alpha) and He will be present in the end (Omega) when all God's children who have dranked form the foundation of eternal life will spend eternity with our Savior.
What a blessing it is to have a God who has no beginning and no end! Glory to God!

Comments are welcome
Author's contacts
http://willie-writing/blogspot.com
white3285@sbcglobal.net
www.shepherdministries.info

Thanksgiving, Esxpressions Of Gratitude

Psalm 100: 1-5; Psalm 103:1-2

For this holiday celebration these questions come to mind, How will we express gratitude of thanks to the Lord for all He has done and continues to do in our lives? Will we come before the Lord with song of praise while acknowledging who He is and recognize that He rules over all? Will we let adversities or difficulties we maybe experiencing hinder our thanksgiving of praises to the Lord? Will we say, "in spite of all I am going to praise God for His goodness and mercy all the days of my life because "His mercy is everlasting and His truth is endureth for all generations" (v. 5)? Whether we praise God in private or public He is worthy of all praises for He is good and He never fails. God is our creator and it is God who sustains us in good and in difficult times.
Let all who has breath praise the Lord for He is worthy of all praises.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Comments are welcome
Author's contact
http://willie-writing.blogspot.com/
http://www.shepherdministries.info/
white3285@sbcglobal.net

Sing Praises To The Lord

Psalm 34:1-3
I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth…O magnify the Lord, with me, and let us exalt His name together.
As we approach the Thanksgiving season join me in singing praises to the Lord for just being who He is and His goodness. Let's magnify the Lord with praises like never before as He is worthy and because of His goodness we can shout songs of praises because we have victory. Yes we have victory because the Lord of host is mighty in battle and His wonders are to behold and they are majestic for all to see and say Yes the Lord of host is like none other. The Lord of heaven and earth is worthy to be praised!

The Lord in His goodness has dispatched His protective angels who are encamped around us protecting us when we are not aware of their presence. All who reverence the Lord He has promised to protect His own and promises God keeps. So, why not sing praises to His holy name?

Other reasons to sing praises to the Lord is that He protects us, provides an abundant life, He redeemed our souls from sin and Satan, He delivers us when we cry out to Him and hears our prayers, He is a comforter when in need and provides for all our needs. What a mighty God!

Praise Him! Praise Him! Praise Him! Let all who has breath praise the Lord.

Comments are welcome
Author's contact:
Http://willie-writing.blogspot.com
www.shepherdministries.info
white3285@sbcglobal.net

Thank God For His Goodness

Psalm 92:1-4

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High; To she forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night.

There are numerous reasons to be thankful to the Lord for His goodness as one can look no further than God waking us up each morning with His internal alarm clock and we have movement in our limbs and are in our right minds is enough to say "thank You God for another day." Each morning when we rise from our beds of slumber and sleep is another opportunity to tell somebody about the goodness of the Lord. He provides for all our needs both seen and unseen. God's grace is as fresh as the morning dew each morning when we rise to the dawning of a new day. It is God's grace and mercy that keeps us as we slumber and sleeps each night as the Holy Spirit has us cradled in His love of protection. Just those two are enough to sing praises to His holy name and He is worthy of even more praises given what the Lord has done in providing salvation to all only if you believe.
Thank You Lord for all that You has done and continues to do and Yes I will sing praises to You holy name.
Comments are welcome
Author's contact:
http://willie-writing.blogspot.com
www.shepherdministries.info
white3285@sbcglobal.net

Ephesians 6:18

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Oftentimes we begin an endeavor, such as a called to the ministry or even a new occupation an even starting our own business, and if we do not have a dedicated resolve when obstacles come our way we tend to give up. Just as Christians are encouraged to persevere in our Christian walk we must do likewise in our daily activities whether business, ministry or job occupations.

In every endeavor we are sure to face obstacles, but we must persevere if we are to succeed in the undertaking endeavor. Obstacles come our way for different reasons, such as being tested to see just how deep our resolve is in the endeavor. What one must do is recognize the obstacle as a test and say "I will persevere unto the end." If God has called you to the ministry or open the door to a new opportunity He wants to see if you are committed to obeying His call or grateful to His blessings. See, God knows your limits and He steps in right on time. Job remained committed to God even when his wife wanted him to give up on God. Paul persevered in spite of his many afflictions, being beaten and jailed for preaching Christ.

Let me close by encouraging all to persevere to the end because "a quitter never wins and a winner never quits" (author unknown).
Perseverance holds the key to victory.

Comments are welcome
Author's contact
http://willie-writing.blogspot.com
white3285@sbcglobal.net
www.shepherdministries.info

Seeds Falling On Good Soil

Matthew 13:23

But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some and hundredfold, some sixth, some thirty.

Today's discussion topic focuses on the different kinds of soil where God's Word (seeds) will be planted (vv. 1-22). Our discussion verse looks at the good ground where God's Word is planted and how it takes root and grows and the growth that comes forth from His Word is in the thousands and hundred of thousands. What this tells me is that God's Christian warriors are committed to preaching Christ even if it takes them to the remote parts of the world. This is obedience to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).

The other fact in this verse is that regardless of Satan's efforts the Gospel is being spread and people are coming to Christ by the thousands and the impact if being felt in numerous ways. Entire nations are hearing the Word of God and many are coming to Christ as the Word is being preached. Young children lives are being impacted by hearing and accepting God's Word and they too are joining God's kingdom. Through the preaching of the gospel of Christ, many who had no hope now live with a new found belief and hope in Christ Jesus and are accepting Him as Lord and Savior. Thanks to modern technology in aiding in spreading the gospel of Christ.

Allow me to close this discussion by encouraging all of us to stay on the wall for God because He has listeners who are eager for the gospel of Christ to be preached and they want eternal life.
Pray on, preach on and teach on because God's Word is taking root.
Comments are welcome
Author's contact
http://willie-writing.blogspot.com
white3285@sbcglobal.net
www.shepherdministries.info

Tattoos

Leviticus 19:28; 1 Corinthians 6:19

Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you; I am the Lord….What? Know ye that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own (6:19)?

I felt led to raise some questions regarding tattoos because I see a very large segment of our population has at least one tattoo. With that being said, these questions come to mind, What are the real reasons for the tattoo? What are you advertising? Has it ever occurred that at some point it will be made public that the die used in making tattoos is harmful to the body? Has it ever occurred that the human body is beautifully and wonderfully made as God does not make junk? Do you believe that all humanity was created in the image and likeness of God and He breathed the breath of life into us and we became a living soul (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7). Being that God breathed His breath into man He lives inside of us through the Holy Spirit (Ghost) and God cannot and will not live in an unclean temple. Did you know that your body is the temple of God? (1 Corinthian 6:19). Did you know that you were bought with a price the precious blood of Jesus Christ our Lord? Therefore, our bodies are to glorify God because we belong to Him (1 Corinthians 6:20).
It is noteworthy for me to say that the above questions are designed to do the following (a) to raise awareness of ones actions, (b) for the person to weigh the consequences of his or her actions, and then (c) answer why am I doing this? Is it because it is popular or is it because Satan has clouded my judgment? Whatever the reason or the answer to the above questions, God loves you and so do I.

Comments are welcome
Author's contact
http://willie-writing.blogspot.com
white3285@sbcglobal.net
www.shepherdministries.info

Jesus And The Holy Spirit

Luke 11:13

Today's discussion focus is on Jesus and the Holy Spirit and His activities in each scenario.

First, we will answer the question, Who is the Holy Spirit. He is God in the third person and was active in creation as He is seen as "moving" (Genesis 1:2) over creation, preserving and preparing it for God's further creative activity. With that being said, the Holy Spirit and Jesus were present during creation as John 1:1 declares Jesus as the Word of God who was in the beginning with God and all things were made by Him. Two of the gospel writers explicitly declare that Jesus came to this world through the miraculous deed of God the Father and He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary (Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 1:27). Jesus is the prophesied Messiah God's Son.
Second, Old Testament prophets prophesied about the coming Messiah-Jesus that He would be empowered by the Holy Spirit. This prophecy was fulfilled during Jesus' earthly ministry.
Third, the Holy Spirit was present during Jesus' baptism. He made His appearance in the form of a dove who descended on Jesus' shoulder (Matthew 3:16-17). It was at Jesus' baptism that all members of the Godhead were present; God the Father, God the Son Jesus and God the Holy Spirit.
Fourth, the Holy Spirit was with Jesus during His stay in the wilderness while being tempted by Satan (Luke 4:1-2). The Holy Spirit empowered Jesus giving Him the power to withstand Satan's temptations.
Fifth, Jesus being both human and divine, in His humanness He was anointed by the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel to the poor, mend broken hearts, set free the captives by preaching deliverance and give sight to the blind (Luke 4:18). In Jesus' humanity, He relied on the power of the Holy Spirit who enabled Him to live a perfect sin free life.
Sixth, the Holy Spirit came as promised by Jesus after He ascended back to heaven. The Holy Spirit empowers believers to boldly witness Christ the world over (Acts 1:8; 2:1-4). On the Day of Pentecost three thousand souls were saved.
Seventh, it was through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was raised from the dead thereby vindicating Him as the true Messiah.
Eight, Jesus is near His people through the indwelling Holy Spirit who leads, guides, teaches and brings into memory all things. He also makes believers aware of Jesus' love, blessings, help, forgiveness and healing powers. Also, the Holy Spirit draws the believers' hearts closer to God through prayer and worship in Spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24).
It can be concluded then that the Holy Spirit is an active force in the lives of all humanity and has been since creation and will continue until Christ returns and establishes His earthly kingdom. The Holy Spirit convicts hearts and bring the convicted heart into the realization the need for salvation and Jesus is the on who saves all who believes.
The Holy Spirit is God in the third person.

Comments are welcome
Author's contact
http://willie-writing.blogspot.com
white3285@sbcglobal.net
www.shepherdministries.info