Sow Seeds Of Righteousness

James 3:18

..The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Being that this is year is relatively new and believers are encouraged to make a renewed commitment to Sow Seeds of Righteousness. This can and will be accomplished by having the mind of Christ while employing and using the wisdom of God. This is because true wisdom comes from God. Believers are encouraged to seek and use godly wisdom in all that we do.

 Having godly wisdom and His peace we as believers seek peace in every trying situation. Having a peaceful heart is allowing the peace of God to rule our hearts; in doing so believers are emulating God's peace and when the world sees peace, then it will have a positive affect.

It is noteworthy to say that as believers we sow seeds of righteousness which replaces bitterness, envy, strife, self interest and selfish ambitious (v.14), instead promotes the unity of peace as there is one Lord, one faith and one baptism operating in the Spirit of God,  which is in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4: 3-5).

There is no righteousness other than that of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and all believers are the righteous of Him. Christ took our unrighteous to the cross with Him and brought us forth in righteous on Resurrection (Sunday) morning. Thank God He did.

 That said, all believers are the righteous of Christ and are to present our bodies as sacrifices of righteous (Romans 12:1).

Comments are welcomed.

Author's contacts

white3285@sbcglobal.net

http://willie-writing.blogspot.com

www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com

A City In Crisis; A Nation At The Crossroad

Isaiah 1:1-20

Your country is desolate, your cities are burnt with fire; your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate as overthrown by strangers.

In light of the crisis that is occurring in Flint and Detroit, I kept pondering what message I could bring this morning that would shed some light on our cities and this nation as a whole as well as a need for a spiritual restoration because overall this nation have rebelled against God.

In our mid-week Bible study my pastor, Rev. Dr. Oscar W. King, III provided the scripture text that is appropriate for today's message in that the selected verses speaks to the conditions that is being manifested in our cities in different formats whether it is a water crisis, deplorable school buildings with overcrowded classes, murder and mayhem in our streets daily.

How did this country get in this predicament? Several reasons can be cited that contributed these conditions, and they are (a) replacing our Christian principles with those of the world, such as taking God out of our schools through prayer and daily devotion time, the destruction of marriage and family institutions as established by God, (b) the church, school and home have moved from being on the same page in contributing the raising of our children. (c) Genuine love and care for one another, and (d) electing godly officials who has our well-being at hand.

What must the citizens do? First, we must make God first in our lives; treat everyone as we want to be treated regardless of color, social status, and religious persuasion. Second, we must know who we are electing to represent us. They must hold our views as they are speaking for and serving us. Therefore, all citizens' well-being must be first instead of self interest.  Most of our elected officials have failed us and have proven to be untrustworthy. They bicker back and fort because of party affiliation ideologies which adds no value to moving this country forward and or making sure their constituents are well cared for.

Reflect with me when former President Bill Clinton pleaded with Congress to allocate funds to repair our infrastructure and they failed to do so. This state has crumpling roads; will it take another crisis before something is done?

Join with me in praying for a healing of this nation (2 Chronicles 7:14) and God move these strangers from our land (v.7). I know God has remnants (v.9) who have committed themselves to doing the right thing, and then our cities and this nation will once again flourish as a fresh planted garden.

Faint not help is on the way.

Your comments are welcomed

Author's contacts

white3285@sbcglobal.net

http://willie-writing.blogspot.com

www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com

The Greatness Of God

1 John 4:4

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them because greater is He that in you than he that is in the world.

Our scripture text speaks to the greatness of God over the rulers of this world. What this means is that God the Holy Spirit lives in every believers and through His indwelling Spirit believers can and will overcome the evils of this world.

Let's be reminded that God is the creator of everything both seen and unseen, which includes Satan. God will never be defeated by Satan and the evils of this world. That said, there is nothing that God cannot do as there is no failure in Him; therefore, with His Spirit living inside we are more than conquerors. This is because Christ soundly defeated all at the cross. Therefore, fear not; stand bold and strong in the Lord because greater is He that is in you than he that is in this world (1John4:4). Satan and all evilness will soon come to naught.

Armed with the indwelling Holy Spirit and God's body armor believers can face the world in confidence as we stand firm on the truth of God's Word while witnessing Christ in Satan's strongholds.

God's greatness is demonstrated in His provisional care providing for all our needs whether physical or spiritual. Man needed a Savor; Christ came suffered bled and died for our sins and rose for our justifications giving all who believe eternal life.

There is no greater god than the God of this universe.

Comments are welcomed.

Author's contacts

white3285@sbcglobal.net

http://willie-writing.blogspot.com

www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com

A Rededication To God

Ezra 6:13-22
   
And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy.

I am being led by the Holy Spirit to continue a discussion on the general subject of believers rededicating themselves to God and encouraging the unbeliever to give him or herself to the Lord. This is because of the many signs and wonders as well all manner of evil that is occurring in today's society. This tells me and many others that we are living in the last days as depicted in the book of Revelation. God is displaying His displeasure with man through nature.

What must we do? We are encouraged to rededicate ourselves unto the Lord, through constant prayer, remain steadfast in our faith to Christ while having an enduring spirit of perseverance as God is faithful to us. This is evidenced by His daily grace and mercy, which endures forever. He provides for all our needs (Philippians 4:19) and we can call Him anytime and never get a busy signal. In the time of trouble, He is there walking beside us and sometimes will pick us up and carry us though those dark valley days (Psalm 23:4).

That said, who would fail to commit him or herself to the Almighty God?

 Your comments are welcomed.
Author's contacts
Dr. Willie White Good Shepherd Writing and Publishing LLC
 http://willie-writing.blogspot.com
 white3285@sbcglobal.net

A Soldier For Christ

2 Timothy 2:3

Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier for Jesus Christ.

In keeping with a rededication to Christ and His message, I was led by the Holy Spirit to take a fresh look at believers being soldiers for Christ by using Paul's message to Timothy where the Apostle Paul was reminding Timothy that he was a soldier in Christ's army and that he was to remain steadfast because he like Paul himself and all others in the ministry will face hardships. Timothy and all ministers of the gospel of Christ of all generations must be willing to suffer trials and tribulations because we are engaged in a spiritual warfare where Satan and his army will try to defeat Christ's army of soldiers.

What must Christ's soldiers do? They must be willing to sacrifice self as we stand firm on the truth of God's Word while fearing nothing because Satan is a defeated foe. As a soldier for Christ we are prepared for battle as outlined in Ephesians 6:11-18.

Believers, we are more than conquerors as we fight the good fight and endure until the end the Christian race. Believers, this spiritual warfare isn't one for the faint of heart, but instead one where heart-felt devotion to our Lord and Savior takes center stage; one of patience as we sow the seed of God's Word through our witnessing Christ in a lost world. With our sword the Bible in our hand we take the fight to Satan in his strongholds'; God being with us through His Spirit victory is our.

As good soldiers spreading the gospel message of Christ and each time one come to Christ is another victory won and another added to God's holy nation of peculiar people (1 Peter 2:9).

Soldiers for Christ have a crown of righteousness waiting.

We welcome your comments

Author's contacts

white3285@sbcglobal.net

http://willie-writing.blogspot.com

www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com

Believers The Salt Of The Earth

Matthew 5:13

Ye are the salt of the earth; but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Jesus Christ is providing parabolic teaching to His disciples as it relates to spreading the gospel message of salvation to a lost world. Christ uses a common household product to make His point of believers the salt of the earth.

Salt as a seasoning commodity adds flavor to our food for better taste when applied. As believers witness Christ to a lost world with truth, grace and through the power of the Holy Spirit then the word becomes a seasoning as a delicious meal. The Holy Spirit convicts the hearts of the hearers so they too will come to Christ adding to His church and God's kingdom.

The more the world is seasoned with God's Word it becomes a place of peace, where truth abides and honesty prevails that leaves no room for corruption. Brotherly love is an example of believers seasoning with salt. This is because love conquerors all. It conquered death, hell and the grave.

Abiding in God's Word believers season this world with salt and is less likely to be trampled under the foot by an ungodly society.

Believers, we are the salt of the earth left here to shine bright the light of Christ and His righteousness; therefore, keep seasoning the world is waiting.

Comments are welcomed.

Author's contacts

white3285@sbcglobal.net

http://willie-writing.blogspot.com

www.goodshpeherdwritingandpublishing.com

The Seven Candlesticks

Revelation 1:20

The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in My right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

The setting for today's discussion is Christ explaining to John the meaning of the seven candlesticks. Christ's message was directed to the seven churches in western Asia Minor in the first-century and revealed what Christ revered and valued in His churches. There would consequences to the church or churches that disobeyed His commandments and became spiritually decayed. Christ rewarded the church and individuals that remained spiritually vigilant and faithful to Him and His Word. His moral standards are what both churches and individuals will be judged.

The question now becomes, how does Christ reward churches that remain faithful and loyal to Him and His Word? The reward is that they will be spared the trials that will come upon the earth in the end times (Revelation 3:10). The faithful church will have eternal life and the church will receive Christ's love, presence and an intimate fellowship with Him. The church that fail in its mission of remaining pure and become lukewarm by diminishing in its faith will be condemned and punished by being removed from their place in God's kingdom.

The question now becomes how does the church become lukewarm? Churches become lukewarm by tolerating immorality in any form and by substituting outward success for purity, righteousness and spiritual wisdom (Revelation 3:18). Churches can avoid becoming spiritually dead and the oncoming judgment by remaining steadfast to God's Word as revealed in scripture, calling out sin while constantly reexamining itself spiritual purity and righteousness. If a church and or individual become spiritually lukewarm it is to repent immediately.

The seven candlesticks are the seven churches. Which church are you, a lukewarm church or one that is spiritually on fire for Christ.

Comments are welcomed

Author's contacts

white3285@sbcglobal.net

http://willie-writing.blogspot.com

www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com.

Lit Candles

Happy New Year!

Matthew 5:15

..Do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

As we begin this New Year I was led by the Holy Spirit to talk about a renewed commitment to Christ by being a shinning light in a sin darkened world reflecting the light of His glory.  Believers, we are the lit candles spoken of in our scripture text and we manifest the light, love and compassion of Christ through our good works.

The question now becomes, how do we manifest Christ through our works? This is accomplished through our witnessing Christ whenever and wherever knowing that we are equipped with God's body armor (Ephesians 6:11-18). With our sword and shield we take the fight to Satan as we stand firm on the truth of God's regardless of society's norms. As lit candles, we show love to all with the compassion of Christ as He made no difference to those He helped. We manifest the love of God by making Him first in our lives and giving of our time in service to Him and worship of Him, which is to be done in spirit and in truth (John4:24).

We close today's discussion with these questions, how bright is my light shinning? Can the world see Christ in me? As a lit candle for Christ is my lifestyle lighting the way for others?

Believers, we are the lit candles in this world; therefore, let's let our light shine brightly for Christ because we are His workers.

Comments are welcomed

Author's contact

white3285@sbcglobal.net

http://willie-writing.blogspot.com

www.goodshpeherdwritingandpublishing.com