Believers Blessed By God (June 9, 2011)

Luke 24:50; Deuteronomy 28:12

And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lift up his hand, and blessed them (24:50). The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow (28:12).

Our scripture text outlines blessings promised by God for His people, and they are:
a) Believers receive a divine gift from God, which cause our work to success (Deuteronomy 28:12). This implies the all sufficiency in God as "He supplies all our needs according to His richness in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).

b) God is always present with us (Genesis 26:3) through the Holy Spirit as He dwells in us to lead, guide, protect and to teach us all things. This promise was made to Abraham and passed on to Isaac and to other nations/generations that obey God's commands and live for Him.

c) Believers receive strength, power and help to do His work (Ephesians 3:16; Colossians 1:11). What this means is that our inner man is strengthened by God's Spirit as the two (God and man) aligns and believers operate under the direction and influence of the Holy Spirit.

d) Lastly, God is working through us to produce good works (Philippians 2:13). It is God's grace that is at work in the lives of believers creating the desire and power to do the will of God. This scripture authenticates receiving power from God through the Holy Spirit.

All humanity is blessed, but believers have a double portion of blessing from God as we are His children. Believers have salvation, sanctification and power to serve (2 Thessalonians 2:13-17).

Comments are welcome
Author's contact
wwhite@goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com
http://willie-writing.blogspot.com

A Life of Plenty (June 7, 20110)

John 10:10

The thief cometh not, but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life; and that they might have it more abundantly.

If we were to define the word "abundantly" it means to abound which is to say having a plenty of something or to abound in something, which again is to overflow with something 1 Thessalonians 3:12; Proverbs 28:20).

Our lesson study focus is on having life more abundantly, which is living life in its fullness, not referring to material possessions, but a full life in Christ Jesus. All believers have an abundance of His love, grace and mercy, which overflows our cup daily. It is a blessing to have a good shepherd (v 10) that gave His life for His sheep (humanity) and then lead us to an abundant life one where we will spend eternity with Him.

Let me just say that no one can have this abundant life neither will one know and or experience the fullness of life apart from Jesus Christ our Savior and His indwelling-Spirit (John 10:14-15; Romans 8:1-2, 9-11). Who else but Christ would lay down His life for sinful man? Who else can, will and does provide for all humanity's needs? Only the good shepherd Jesus Christ (v 11).

With that being said, the question now becomes, What must one do to have an abundant life? Accept Jesus Christ as his or her personal Savior. He is more than enough.
Comments are welcome
Author's contact
wwhite@goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com
http://willie-writing.blogspot.com/

Count It All Joy

James 1:2-3

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that they trying of your faith worketh patience; But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire wanting nothing.

This discussion is to provide encouragement when we encounter adverse situations as our scripture text provides the reason for counting all situations as joy. Our scripture text outlines two characteristics that are important in our faith walk with Jesus, and they are faith and patience. Faith is the key component to our accepting Jesus as our personal Savior and patience is essential because nothing happens overnight. Yes, we live in a microwave society where everything is instant, but it doesn't work that way with God. He moves in His time not man. Patience is a virtue. Ask for patience as it works perfection in the lives of all believers.

We are joyous when things are well with us, then why not rejoice when adversity come upon us. Adversities maybe God's permissive will to prune all unnecessary weights of hindrance that impedes our faith growth in Him as this maybe the results of Him calling you to service and the called has rejected His call. Whatever the situation is ask God for wisdom and understanding of the situation, and then grow from the situation.

Another school of thought on counting it all joy is that our Savior Jesus Christ suffered, then why not you and I? Christ told His followers that they would suffer because the world hated Him and it would hate His followers as well. We have the assurance that Christ conquerored all and we are conquerors in Him; therefore, don't worry or fret when adversities arise just count it all joy.

In the words of a song I often listen to, "get out of my way don't try to block me, I am running for Jesus I going to make it to the finish line" (partial paraphrasing, artist unknown). Also, in the words of Mark Jackson a basketball sports announcer, when a player makes a great move to the basket he says, "Get out of my way I have an appointment with the rim." Tell Satan and all adversities the same, get out of my way I have an appointment with Jesus."
Comments are welcome
Author's contact
wwhite@goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com, http://willie-writing.blogspot.com

The Need For Salvation

Romans 3:23

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

Salvation has been defined numerous times, but the meaning remains the same which is being delivered from harm or danger, or bondage. For the purpose of our discussion; salvation was provided to all mankind by God's grace through faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The need for salvation is the result of sin where God the Father pronounced the whole world guilty (vv 9-19). Salvation was first offered to the Jews and they refused, then to the Gentiles and they refused as well, which resulted in the righteous judge-God giving His ruling-guilty.

With the whole world being found guilty humanity was doomed to feel the wrath of God, but in His mercifulness God gave His only Son Jesus Christ to redeem man from the clutches of sin and Satan.

Christ's atoning work on Calvary justified man before God (v. 24); therefore, when God looks at man He sees the righteousness of His Son Jesus Christ, because Christ took on man's sins and all who believe is made right with God.

What salvation depicts are God's love, grace and mercy, because mercy replaced justice-punishment. Sin spells a broken fellowship whereas salvation is a restored fellowship. Our spiritual freedom is free to all who believe, because Christ paid our sin bill.

Thank You Lord for salvation, now I am free to live holy unto You in Jesus name Amen.

Comments are welcome
Author's contact
wwhite@goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com
http://willie-writing.blogspot.com

Commissed To Spread The Gospel

Matthew 28:19-20

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

This is a powerful commission given by Christ Himself to all believers--the church as whole and individual believers as well.

If the church fails in its mission of preaching, and teaching the gospel of Christ who else will? Christ established His church for this purpose and He set an example by sending His disciples into the world to continue His gospel message. The question now becomes, How can the unsaved become saved unless he hears the Word of God from the church-believers? When the unsaved come to Christ, we are to baptize them with water through immersion in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and there is only one Lord, one baptism and one salvation. Obeying the Great Commission, believers are to make disciples of new converts so they too can make other disciples. New converts are to be taught holy living with the aid of the Holy Spirit as we are to be prime examples of holy living.

Christ promised to be with His followers always in spreading His gospel and He has remained true to His Word. His presence is felt through the Holy Spirit and regardless of any condition or situation He is there to solve problems, answer fears, anxieties and doubts.
Spread the gospel for He is with you.

Comments are welcome
Author's contact
wwhite@goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com
http://willie-writing.blogspot.com/
Today's discussion is taken from my "Heavenly Bread" devotional which is available from the author and http://www.amazon.com/

Uplifting Insights: Witness To The Righteousness Of God

Uplifting Insights: Witness To The Righteousness Of God: "Romans 3:21-22 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets. Even the righte..."

Witness To The Righteousness Of God

Romans 3:21-22

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets. Even the righteousness of God which is by faith in Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

When we speak of the "righteousness of God" we are referring to the redemptive work in regards to humanity's sin. It is God's justification which puts all believers in a right relationship with God. God's redemptive activity liberates all believers from the bondage of sin and Satan. This is because mankind lacked the ability to free him or herself from sin slave bondage. The righteousness of God comes to all who believe as a free gift through His Son Jesus Christ. It is noteworthy to say that God's righteousness is continuous and will last forever.

This free gift is salvation and the only requirement from God is to believe on His Son Jesus and accept Him as our personal Savior. Remember what is free to us was costly to God and His Son, but because of a broken fellowship and God's desire for a restored relationship His redemptive activity was executed--salvation.

How can we today witness to the righteousness of God? We do so by remembering the day we were saved by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ as we are no longer bound by sin and destined for eternal separation.

We are living testimonies to God's righteousness by our personal encounter with Jesus.

Comments are welcome
Author's contact
wwhite@goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com
http://willie-writing.blogspot.com

Today's discussion is taken from my "Heavenly Bread" devotional, which is available from the author and Amazon.com.