Believers Travel Paths Of Righteousness

Psalm 23:3

He restoreth my soul; He leatheth me in the paths of righteousness for His name shake.

Today's lesson text solidifies the fact that when we as believers become discouraged there is the Lord God our Good Shepherd ready with out stretched arms to revives and re-energize our very souls as only He can. It is God's unmerited favor that provides the help we need whenever needed. Isn't that just like God?

It is by God's unmerited favor that leads us in the paths of righteousness that leads to holy living. This is accomplished through His written Word which is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our paths (Psalm 119:105). 2 Timothy 3:16-17 outlines the purpose of scriptures all of which is for our benefit.

That said, believers living holy is a testament to God's desire for His children to look like Him as He is righteous and holy. He went to great lengths to make this happen; He gave His Son; He left His Word and He has His spokespersons rightly diving the Word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). There is no excuse for believers and humanity as a whole failing to walk the road of righteousness as the way have been paved for us.

Believers we are well equipped to walk in the righteousness of God; therefore, walk therein.

He Gives New Life

Ephesians 4:23-25

..Be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Today's message is taken from this month's monthly devotion where the theme is Christ and His works in the live of mankind and especially believers; today's focus is Jesus giving new life to believers in that we are created in the newness of God which is righteousness and true holiness. This is because beside the righteousness and holiness of God there is none.

That said, in this new life, we as believers have a renewed mind one that has been transformed from this world and it values an is no longer controlled by sin and Satan who is the ruler of the darkness of this world. We as believers lack the old desire for lying speeches, unkind, gestures and deeds, an unforgiving spirit and have put the new life of love, grace, forgiving and helping others when the need arises. Where anger once ruled the old man has been replace with longsuffering, joy and patience. In other words, new creatures in Christ manifest the fruit of the Spirit as recorded in Galatians 5:22-23.

Living in the new life of Christ, we manifest the holiness of Christ our Savior. In doing so we are residents of the city that is set on the hill giving light to a lost world.

Accept the new life that Christ offers and enjoy the many blessings therein.

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white3285@sbcglobal.net

http://willie-writing.blogspot.com

www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com

Jesus Sanctified Us

1 Corinthians 1:2

Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.

The term sanctify is defined by both the student Bible Dictionary and Merriam-Webster Dictionary as to be set apart, to consecrate, to make free from sin and the Bible adds to make holy. I and all other believers who have the understanding of Christ's atoning work is delivering believers from sin. That said, Paul was reminding believers at Corinth what it means to be sanctified by Christ and it is Christ who sanctifies all believers.

Sanctification is the spiritual separation from sin and all ungodliness and the sanctified have committed themselves to total obedience to God's holy laws and commandments.

All believers receives sanctification by faith in God and being in union with Christ's death, burial and resurrection (John 15:4-10; Romans 6:1-11; 1 Corinthians 1:30). Also, Christ's shed blood played an important part in the sanctification process.

Christ sanctified us to be in union with Him and fellow believers as they devote themselves to prayer, praise and worship while studying and obeying God's Word.

Believers, we are sanctified by Christ to become part of His royal family of priests and holy nation of people.

Christ is our sanctifier and in doing so we have a new life.

 Comments are welcomed

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www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com

"Another Comforter"

John 14:16

...I will pray to the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever.

If the question was raised, Who is the other Comforter that Jesus is speaking of in this passage of scripture? The Comforter in this passage is the Holy Spirit who is third person in the Godhead. The Holy Spirit would come and take up residence in all believers to perform duties as helper, teacher, guide, and strength when needed. The Comforter is to comfort in difficult situations (v.18) as well as He would intercede for them in prayer (Romans 8:26-27). He would be a friend just as Jesus called His disciples His friends. Just as the Comforter came after Jesus returned to heaven He remains here in the earth today as He resides in every believer.

The Comforter/Holy Spirit is our spiritual compass guiding our way to heaven as we navigate the heavenly road and the Bible is our road-map.

Jesus asking the Father to send the Comforter speaks to His all provisional care this is so that all our needs are met regardless of the need or situation. We also see the Godhead working in unison caring for His prize creation-man. We can thank our Savior for leaving His Spirit to dwell in us as we are His temples and the dwelling place of a holy God who is holy and righteous; therefore, we must be holy.

The Holy Spirit is our Comforter.

Comments are welcomed.

Our Lord

Romans 14:7-9

For none of us liveth to himself and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord; whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

The focus of today's topical discussion is Christ as our Lord and rightly so being He died for the sins of this world and all who believe died with Him. As stated in our scripture text we belong to the Lord because we as believers have been bought with a price-Christ's shed blood.

Christ is our all sustaining force as He is the essence of our being from the beginning to the end of our lives. Believers, we belong to the Lord as His Spirit dwells in us. He breathed the breath of live into man and he became a living soul.

Reflect on Christ's atoning work in redeeming us from sin and Satan bridging the spiritual divide that was caused by sin. Through His redemptive works we are now adopted sons of God the Father and no longer alienated from our creator. It was through Jesus' atoning work we now have a right standing with God the Father and when He looks at man He sees the righteousness of His Son Jesus Christ.

That said, Jesus Christ is the only one worthy to be our Lord because of who He is and what He has done and continues to do in the lives of mankind.

Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

Comments are welcome

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white3285@sbcglobal.net

http://willie-writing.blogspot.com

www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com

A Call to Worship

Psalm 95:1-8

O come, let us sing unto the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our Salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

Several months ago my message was A Call to Worship; therefore, today the Holy Spirit led me to reissue the call not that many are failing to worship, but believing in holy faith that God has a message He wants someone to hear and I am being used as the messenger to say "what thus said the Lord."

That said, the Lord our God is worthy of all praises, honor and glory and must be worshiped in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24). We praise Him because He is the joy of our salvation, our refuge, our Hightower and a very present help in times of trouble. He is Lord of all, the creator and sustainer of all. He sees all, can do all, knows and is everywhere. He is essence of our being from the beginning to the end. Who wouldn't worship a God like our God?

His Spirit lives in every believer and when the saints gather together in a place of worship His presence is felt. He touches us every morning with His finger of love and overflows us with His Spirit-the Holy Spirit; nothing but love.

Given the magnitude of God's awesome sovereign powers, come let us continue worshipping the Lord our God with our total being, for the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods (v.3).

Comments are welcome

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white3285@sbcglobal.net

http://willie-writing.blogspot.com

www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com

Grace Of Goodness And Mercy

Psalm 23:6

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the day of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Let's begin today's discussion by posing a thought provoking question; what does God's goodness and mercy means to you? Let me answer by saying what God's goodness and mercy means to me; first, it assures me of His love for me and He is faithful to His promises all of which is kept. Second, it means He is present with me during this life's pilgrimage as His Spirit dwells within me and His protective angels enfolds me. Third, He is the good shepherd providing for all my needs and when trouble rises He works out the situation for my good. Fourth, His goodness and mercy means He is faithful to forgive. Fifth, goodness and mercy means His mercy took the place of justice to restore my broken fellowship and in doing so I will spend eternity with Him and will serve Him forever. Sixth, I feel His ever present Spirit-the Holy Spirit daily as He overflows me with His agape love. Seven, He is my life giving water and bread and I thank Him.

God's goodness and mercy means I and other believers have a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Comments welcome

Author's contacts

white3285@sbcglobal.net

http://willie-writing.blogspot.com

www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com

Fasting For A Purpose

Esther 4:16; Joel 1:14

Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God and cry unto the Lord.

Reading our scripture texts there is a cry for the nation to come together in prayer and fasting unto the Lord. This cry was necessary because of the sinful conditions of the nation. Today, sinful conditions are at a fever pitch and is running rampant everywhere; so what is needed? Is a national time of fasting and prayer unto the Lord to curtail the sinful conditions that is being witnessed is needed? Does this include our leaders on all levels? Why not?

It is noteworthy to say, many of us believers fast and pray regularly as fasting is a spiritual cleansing. Fasting is a cleansing process that cleanses our bodies; minds and spirits of the uncleanness that tends to infiltrate our lives and can cloud our focus. Prayer is our communication with God and through prayer and fasting in faith that God will bring about a change. With this change God and His righteousness becomes the nations' focus. Through fasting and prayer we gain a renewed strength and the weight of the sinful conditions are lifted.

Fasting is a good thing; Christ fasted, He prayed constantly and on the day of Pentecost believers were on one accord in prayer (Acts 1:14; 2:1).

Fast and pray; God hears, He answers and moves in a mighty way.

Comments are welcome

Author's contacts:

white3285@sbcglobal.net

http://willie-writing.blogspot.com

www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com