Uplifting Insights

Saturday, June 27, 2015

Standing Firm On Your Faith

Acts 4:13-22

And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.

Peter and John were brought before the Jewish council for preaching Christ and healing a lame man and the man gave testimony to the power of God. The council commanded Peter and John not to preach the name of Jesus any more; our scripture text provides their answer.

The question now becomes, how will you stand on your faith if you were commanded not to preach in the name of Jesus? Will you obey God or man? Your answer is a confession of your faith and commitment to God and obeying the great commission given by Christ Himself. For me I will preach and teach Christ regardless of what man say because the God in me is greater than the god of this world.

It is noteworthy to say that Christianity is under attack in many parts of the world and in some small form in this country as well, but for us true believers I encourage you to stand firm on your faith. God promised never to leave nor forsake His own and that remains true today as it was when God made the promise; therefore, stand on His word.

Standing firm on your faith is a testament to your faith in God.

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Thursday, June 25, 2015

Evidence Of Faith By Works

James 2:17-26

Even so faith, if is hath not works is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, thou hast faith, and I have works; shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

What is our scripture text saying? Quite simple, faith without works is dead, but our works is evidence of our faith, because Christ said that faith the size of a mustard seed and we could move mountains. From Jesus' statement it requires only a small amount of faith to do great things working for the Lord for the world to see Christ manifested in our works. Peter and John exhibited this faith when they healed the lame man found at the gate as they went in the temple to pray. The man's faith in them believing they could heal him was important in his healing.

The question now becomes, who was James directing his comments to? James was speaking all those in the church who has professed Christ and feels that faith is a stand alone action, but James says otherwise. We as believers maintain our faith by the grace of God the Father, the indwelling Holy Spirit, and the constant intercession of Christ on our behalf (Hebrews 7:25). The Godhead working together with our yielding control to Him allows us to be receptive to the Holy Spirit's leading, and in doing so we maintain our faith, which grows stronger and our works become more effective.

Faith and works goes together.

Comments are welcome.

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White3285@sbcglobal.net

Saturday, June 20, 2015

Wearing The Breastplate Of Faith

1 Thessalonians 5:8

...Let us who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.

The Apostle Paul is providing encouraging words to the Christians at Thessalonica regarding their faith in the Lord as they were to continue in their steadfast faith. Paul's encouragement was for them to be sober, which is to be wise in their everyday coming and goings, because Satan's mission to destroy Christ's church and His people. Paul's words of encouragement apply today to all believers.

Paul used the analogy of a soldier's protective armor to describe Christians' wardrobe in our spiritual warfare, which all Christians are engaged in. A breastplate is a covering that is used to protect the soldier's front and the helmet is a head covering, which in this scenario is our assured hope of salvation. Ephesians 6:11-18 outlines the complete body armor God has dressed His warriors in.

A breastplate of faith is that believers are to hold dear to their hearts and soul the belief that yes Christ is God's Son who died on the cross for the sins of the world and in doing so provided salvation to all who believe. A breastplate of faith is a spiritual faith one that sees God as if seeing Him with the natural eye. His Spirit connects to our spirit thereby giving all believers the faith to see things as He does.

Wear the breastplate of faith as God the Holy Spirit resides within providing the protection we need.

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Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Christ's Lit Candles

Matthew 5:14-16

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; nor it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Our lesson texts makes a profound statement as it relates to believers being individual lit candles and the church as the city that is set on a hill shinning the light of Christ for the world to see. What these verses are really saying is that if we as believers profess to be Christians, then we are to live godly lives before men, which includes this sinful world. This is because believers are a set aside people glorifying God manifesting His righteousness, serving Him in total devotion as well as witnessing to the world about His goodness.
Believers are to present their bodies as instruments of righteousness as a testament to His love, grace and mercy. Romans 12:1 explain how believers as lit candles are to live. Believers remain in close fellowship with God through daily prayer, Bible reading and meditating on His word while asking for divine understanding of the Word. The closer we as believers draw to God the closer He will draw to us.
A close relationship with God causes our lights shines brighter dispelling the darkness that surrounds us.
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Author's contacts:
Dr. Willie White
white3285@sbcglobal.net
http://willie-writing.blogspot.com
www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com

Friday, June 12, 2015

Ambassadors For Christ

2 Corinthians 5:20

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

If we define the term ambassador, it means representing someone else or ones country. That said, for our discussion purpose we will look as believers being ambassadors for Christ being that we have been set apart from this world while we remain in this world. As ambassadors for Christ we are to spread the word through preaching, teaching, and witnessing Christ the world over. Christ Himself commissioned all believers to go forth into all the world and preach, teach and baptize in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19-20). In commissioning believers, He promised to be with us and He is faithful to His Word. That said, believers are to obey the great commission as we will be empowered with power from the Holy Spirit.

Our lesson text describes Paul being a great ambassador for Christ as he traveled throughout Asia Minor establishing churches while preaching and teaching Christ. Regardless of Paul's situation he continued to preach Christ. Paul took no thought for his life, because he felt that being absent from the body he would be present in the Lord; therefore, Paul is a model ambassador for believers for all generations.

Be an ambassador for Christ wherever we go; in doing so we are doing kingdom's work.

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Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Walk Worthy Of Your Calling

I Thessalonians 2:12

...Ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto His kingdom and glory.

If the question was raised, why must believers walk worthy of our calling? We walk worthy of our calling because God the Father chose us instead of believers choosing God to become members of His holy nation of people. Also, consider where man is in the order of creation compared to all of God's other creations, man is the one creation with God's Spirit dwells in us. He breathed the breath of life into man and he became a living soul. This was so that man could respond to God in love and in fellowship. God is love.

Consider the price that was paid in God's plan of redemption. He gave His best and our Redeemer gave His life; therefore, He is worthy of our honoring Him with our total being while presenting our bodies as instruments of righteousness. Being the elect and called of God means that God knew from the beginning of time who He would call as His elect; therefore, all believers were predestinate before time began.

We walk worthy of our calling because God the Father has given every believer a specific gift to be used in the furtherance of His kingdom. Each gift is important as it was given to edify the body of Christ-the church.

Believers, we are called for a purpose; therefore, walk worthy of your calling.

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