Uplifting Insights

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Sanctified In Christ

I Peter 1:2

Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ; Grace unto you and peace, be multiplied.

Today's scripture text is part of Peter's greeting to his audience authenticating his authority in which to greet them and his calling was ordained by God who has called all believers to be apart of His holy family. God knew before the beginning of time who He would call and who would answer the call of believing in the atoning work of His Son Jesus Christ while accepting Him as Lord and Savior. In doing so all believers are sanctified or consecrated in Christ to a life of righteousness. It was by God's grace that He did what He did to establish an intimate relationship with man as this relationship was broken with the disobedience of Adam.

Now let us look at sanctification from a believer's perspective, which are (a) sanctification means that all believers can and will love God with all thine heart, soul and mind. (b) Believers are made free from sin through Jesus' blood as all died to sin with Him and was raised with Him to a life of righteousness. (c) Believers have the ability through the Holy Spirit to live in obedience to God. (d) Believers have the ability to keep His commandments. (e) Believers through the indwelling Holy Spirit will overcome this world as Christ overcame the world and we have victory over sin.

Being sanctified in Christ carries countless blessings.

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http://willie-writing.blogspot.comn

Friday, May 24, 2013

God's Divine Plan For Man

Psalm 25:12

What man is he that feareth the Lord? Him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.

If the question was raised, What was God's divine plan for man? Man was created to be in fellowship with God, fear the Lord in reverence and in doing so God will teach man the ways of truth, righteousness and holy living. God's divine for man was for man to walk in the ways of God and His wisdom will guide believers in following God's truths.

Man was created in the image and likeness of God. Man was given a will and the freedom to choose to accept or reject God's spiritual invitation of salvation as it is God's desire that all men be saved and spend eternity with Him as the broken fellowship will have been restored that was broken when Adam disobeyed God and sin entered the human race. When man was created God breathed the breath of life into man and he became a living soul with a body, mind and a soul. Man was created to have dominion over all God's other creations and he was to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28).

Scripture paints a clear picture of God's divine plan for man from the lives of such notables as Adam the father of humanity, Abraham, the father of many nations, Joseph as it was though God's plan an entire nation was saved. The nation of

Israel

is God's chosen people to show the world His love, devotion, care, grace and mercy. The apostle Paul carried the gospel of Christ to many and suffered greatly for doing so. God's Son Jesus Christ who died for the sins of the world. God's plan remains in effect for you and I today, which is to accept the atoning work of His Son Jesus, serve, worship, praise Him and be in fellowship with Him.

God's divine plan for humanity is to be His chosen nation of holy priests and live forever with Him.

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Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Praise God For His Trustworthiness

Psalm 34:1-4

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

On Friday's discussion our focus was "Confidence In The Lord", but today's focus is offering praises to God for His trustworthiness and rightly so given that God is the creator and sustainer of all that exist. God has proven Himself to be trustworthy and is worthy of all praises, honor and glory and for this we should continually offer praises to Him. I say like the psalmist, come let us magnify the Lord and lift His holy name above all others.

When trouble rises God is our deliverer. When we cry out to God He hears and answers. It is through His grace we are saved. There is no need too great for God and no well too deep that His extended arm of mercy can't reach. If you need a doctor call Jesus as He is the Balaam in Gilgal who is healing. If you need a lawyer call Jesus. His love extends to the far reaches of the universe as it is inescapable.

Let us shout glory to His name for He is worthy. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah to His name.

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Friday, May 17, 2013

Confidence In God

Psalm 27:1, 14

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heat; wait, I say, on the Lord.

Today's scripture texts make a profound statement regarding our confidence in the Lord and why such confidence exists. Reflect on who God is and the answers provided to the thought provoking questions. The answer is, believers are to fear no one and is afraid of nothing because Isaiah 54:17 states that no weapon formed against His people shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against His people in judgment shall be condemned. God said it that settles it! Therefore, be of good courage and wait on the Lord (v. 14).

As we reflect further, it is God who directs our paths and He provides for all our needs as stated in Psalm 23:1-6 and Philippians 4:19. He gave His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to be the Savior of the world through His death, burial and resurrection. What love!

Regardless of any question that maybe raised regarding confidence in the Lord the answer is and always will be God as He is our all in all.

Confidence in the Lord is a sure thing.

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www.shepherdministries.info.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

In The Presence Of God Through Prayer

Psalm 145:18

The Lord is neigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth.

What a blessing it is to be in the presence of the Lord through prayer as prayers are the believer's communication with God. An active prayer life in the lives of believers is one where the believer's faith is activated and the sincerity of the prayer's heart is poured out to God. Heart-felt prayers are answered by God as they are effective and powerful.

Being in the presence of God through prayer, God and the believer establishes an intimacy where the believer get to know God on a personal basic and is assured of deliverance in the time of trouble as well as being given the desires of his or her heart (v. 19).

These questions come to mind, What would you give to be in the presence of God? How often do you pray and do you believe there is power in prayer? Do you believe that through prayer a close relationship is established between you and God? Do you believe that prayer is part of this spiritual warfare that believers are engaged in with Satan and his army?

Let me say that prayer is an active part of the conflict and when Satan sees believers praying he becomes afraid because he knows that the believer and God is on one accord and God's power is released through prayer.

Pray and stay in the presence of God.

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Friday, May 10, 2013

A Mother's Love

I Kings 3:25-27

Happy Mother's Day;

All;

Ladies, you are a priceless commodity as your love is endless.

Men, love your mother and wives as wives are the mother of your children. A Christian virtuous woman is more precious that rubies or gold.

There is no love like a Mother's love.

Willie White

Shepherd Ministries

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

God's Love

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

May being the month associated with Mother's Day and love; when you compare a mother's love for her children to Jesus Christ giving His life for the sins of the world we see a never ending love on display. During child-birth the mother's life hangs in the balance to bring forth a new life into the world. God gave His only Son to become the sacrificial Lamb to atone the sins of the world; just as a mother's love never ends neither does God's love.

God's love is inescapable and when believers encounters trouble God is present, just as a mother's love will take her to the ends of the earth to be near her child when trouble rises. God loved all humanity when we didn't love Him back. God never withdrew His love and never will. God extends His love so that all who believe in His Son Jesus will spend eternity with Him.

There is no greater love than the love of God and His Son our Savior; therefore, all believers are compelled to express love to God first then to one another. God expresses His love to all humanity daily in the things He does that mankind take for granted. Such as the air that we breathe, the sunshine that He sends daily to warm the earth to habitable temperatures and provides for our daily needs spiritual and physical.

There is no love like God's love.

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Friday, May 3, 2013

Be A Witness

John 4:27-42

The woman then left her water pot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? Then they went out of the city, and came unto Him.

The setting for today's topical discussion is a meeting Jesus had with the Samarian woman at the well of Samaria and a conversation ensued. After Jesus had outlined the woman's life history to her she went into town and called the men sharing with them her conversation with Jesus. They went to meet Jesus and after their conversation with Jesus many believed Him to be the promised Messiah just as the woman had believed on Him.

What does this setting say about witnessing Christ with a personal testimony? It says there is power in one's testimony and in the Word of God just as there is saving power in the name of Jesus. The name of Jesus is the most powerful name both in heaven and in the earth. It is the only name by which men are saved. The other fact in this setting is that Jesus was unrecognized as the promised Messiah until He identified Himself to the woman as the Messiah. If you met Jesus would recognized Him? As a follower of Jesus you have met Him, if so what is your testimony? After meeting Jesus is your lifestyle witnessing Christ?

Witness Christ others are waiting to meet Him.

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