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Monthly Archives: March 2013

Can you let it slide?

09 Mar

Can you let it slide?

Luke 6:27-31     “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. 31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

This section of my study Bible is title “Rules of the Kingdom Life”, (Luke 6:27-38). It seems as though there could be many titles for this section, but they all would go against how this world operates. We are living in a self based society, a society that believes the world revolves around us, and all that we feel is entitled to us. The generation behind mine has even be labeled the “Entitlement Generation.” We are told that we are to look out for ourselves because no one else will do so; that would seem to be self-explanatory if the moto is oneself. It is in all aspects of our lives, doing whatever benefits self, and integrity and love for our fellow man have come as a cost.

Christ’s instructions to his disciples here came at a time of persecution. Christ warns them that they will be hated for their faith, and they will find trouble because of it. John 15:18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. They must come to understand that trouble will find them in many ways as He gives them examples of in this scripture. But they must come to expect this trouble, and in that expectation they should come to not lash out, but seek to humbly glorify Christ through it. Show the world what they do not expect; show the world they have something inside them, a free grace that all may possess. These examples that come in the face of adversities are ways to live your faith; to show His light to a dark world.

This scripture is as applicable today as it was over 2000 years ago. We here may not face the persecutions that the early believers did, but the society here is just as far from Christ. There are those believers in parts of the world that still place their lives on the line as a result of following Christ. They are facing the persecutions just as in the time of Christ. Is it too much to ask for us to forgive as we have been forgiven? Have you ever searched your soul with that thought? We are told throughout scripture to forgive those who wrong us. We are told by this we will be measured. Luke 6:37 “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. In this faces of adversity, in these times our self screams out that we have been wronged, in the humble heart set in God’s grace, extend grace to that as the example of what you have already received.

 
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Posted by on March 9, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

Dare to be different (Jesus Freak #2)

08 Mar

Dare to be different (Jesus Freak #2)

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

All through history you find those that deny the power of God, even denying that there is a God. There is theology wrapped up in those that believe, and those that deny. Those who believe are considered the “elect”, and those that deny are not. Therein lies a basis for deep doctrinal argument on the biggest topic of Predestination. That is not a topic for a morning devotional. Paul was writing to a church troubled and divided. The church was claiming to be followers of different leaders, and taking their eyes off Christ. They were placing their trust in the wisdom of men, and not the power of God. This today even happens when we place more hope in the man delivering the message, and not the message itself. The message of the cross is the Gospel itself.

Those who deny the power of God are simply placing more faith in themselves than they are the Creator of the universe. They believe their own wisdom is so great, they have figured it all out. They believe that only the ignorant believe in God; how dumb we must be for placing our faith in an unknown God. Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. The proof of God is all around us in creation; the evolution ideal takes more faith to believe in that the ideal of a supreme being. The pride in ones wisdom, is the road paved to eternal damnation. That pride will lead you down a path of destruction without the humbling of your heart, and the realization that you don’t have it all figured out.

Do you smile at the opportunities to share your faith, or do you withdraw for the fear of ridicule? That is a small victory for Satan every time you withdraw. You should never be ashamed of sharing your faith, most likely that urge you feel is because the Holy Spirit is wanting to use you to encourage that person who stands before you. Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.You don’t want to miss that opportunity; it is a step closer to God for you, and most likely them too. You will experience God in your life, and see the fruit of His work through your life. If your message comes with ridicule for your faith, smile and shake the dust off your feet. God has prepared your heart, but maybe not theirs yet. John 15:18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Dare to be different from all those out there who say they believe, yet there is no evidence in their lives. Share your faith whenever possible, and let God perform the increase.

 
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Posted by on March 8, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Daily nourishment & directions

07 Mar

Daily nourishment & directions

Ezekiel 3:1 -3   Moreover He said to me, “Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” 2 So I opened my mouth, and He caused me to eat that scroll. 3 And He said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly, and fill your stomach with this scroll that I give you.” So I ate, and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness.

Ezekiel, the great prophet of God was being called by God to deliver the message from Him to Israel; a message that God told him that some would hear, and some would not. He told Ezekiel not to be afraid, for He was with him. As God opened the scroll before him it was printed on both sides. 10 Then He spread it before me; and there was writing on the inside and on the outside, and written on it were lamentations and mourning and woe. God was full of sorrow for how Israel had become a rebellious nation. God commanded Ezekiel to eat the scroll, to feed on the words that God was giving him. These words would become the message that God would speak through him to his people. The words were planted in his heart.

You do not have to stand before the Creator and eat a scroll to feed on the Word of God. We are fortunate enough to have both the history of time before Christ, the life of Christ, and the message of Christ, all at our fingertips. God has given us his holy Word to enable us to pursue all that he has intended for us to have for our time here. The guidebook of how to live a life pleasing to Him for our short journey here. We are but pilgrims on the way to the Promised Land, and the Bible is the map for the journey. Hebrews 11:16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. Have you at some point in your life spent so much time with the map that you have it memorized? Are you sure you know the path that leads to heaven?

Every day you awake to the same routines: Eat breakfast and fly out the door to work or the duties of the day. It is ingrained in us to not miss breakfast, for it is the most important meal of the day. It gives us the energy to accomplish the tasks and withstand the trials of the day. More importantly is the nourishment and direction found in daily mornings with God. 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. You will miss daily encounters with God if you do not dwell there. The same scriptures you read will speak directly into situations of the day; you may hear them again from peers or other media; you will see the strength of that scripture in a situation you face when the Spirit reminds you of what you recently read. This is what you have been missing by not feeding on God’s Word every single day.

 
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Posted by on March 7, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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My hope is better than your BMW

06 Mar

My hope is better than your BMW

Ecclesiastes 2:10-11    I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. 11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.(NIV)

Ecclesiastes would be probably the least likely popular book in the Bible in the area I live in. Northern Mecklenburg county is an area of excess; lake living, big money homes, cars, and toys. People are so focused on themselves and the rewards they feel entitled to, I doubt their hearts would care for the words of wisdom found in this book. I too fell into that trap; I lived with the motto of who dies with the most toys wins. I sought it all, borrowed to pay for it all, and am still trying to pay for my mistakes. I thought happiness was found in material possessions like many of you. There are sadly men in God’s pulpits these days preaching that God wants you to have them. Joy is not found in anything made by mans hands or gains.

Ecclesiastes is the book by the wisest man who ever lived, Solomon. It is the book at the point in his life that he “gets it”. He was given his wisdom and his wealth by God. He took those gifts and ran from God grabbing all that he could to make him happy. He built a great temple, great homes, fortified cities, male and female servants, endless treasures……all kinds of stuff made by mans hands and gains. Through his wisdom in this book he came to realize all his hard work would be left to somebody who had done nothing to earn it; he could take nothing with him into eternity. 21 For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; yet he must leave his heritage to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. He had worked so hard to obtain; yet it is all gone in a breath of life; Vanity here is described as that fleeting moment.

There is only one way that you can find happiness, one secure investment that will reap guaranteed rewards. Place your hope in eternal treasures, and invest your life in the rewards of investing your hope in Jesus Christ in others. You will leave behind a legacy of eternal rewards for endless generations to come. You will gain a joy that no monetary possession can provide. You will gain a peace that the world cannot reclaim. You will gain a freedom in your soul that carries no price, but pays in endless eternal riches. You will come to see the simple things in life as gifts from God. Solomon grasps the idea of the gains found in the simple pleasures, the simple gifts from God. 26 For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting, that he may give to him who is good before God. The closer you draw to God, the more you realize what matters on a worldly scale, does not matter on the eternal one. The seemingly lowly here, are in truth great gifts from God.

 
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Posted by on March 6, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Fact Check them

05 Mar

Fact Check them

2 Corinthians 11:3 -4   But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted–you may well put up with it!

The apostle Paul was getting slammed by false teachers in Corinth. He had visited there, spread the Good News of Jesus Christ, and the early church was started. He had written an earlier letter to encourage them, strengthen them, and help with necessary disciplinary actions within the church. He had promised to return to Corinth. In his absence, there were those in the church who began to slam Paul and his ministry. The lied about many things, all to discredit Paul’s ministry and hurt the cause of Christ. Satan had infiltrated the church. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

We all must come to realize there are most likely more false teachers today; Satan’s captains disguised as angels of light. They flood our airways in all the media outlets, they are with us every Sunday at our churches. They preach soft gospels of prosperity and earthly riches that God wants you to have; to name it and claim it. Christ told the rich young ruler to sell all he had and give it to the poor. Luke 18:22 So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” When Christ was gathering his disciples, his call was not that of a two week notice; it was one of leaving all you have to follow Him, and reap the eternal reward. Matthew 16:24 24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. Nowhere in the Bible does he tell us to grab all we can for our short time here. We are told to live for the hope of eternal paradise. In that hope is the eternal peace that is a treasure the world cannot possess or steal from us.

Paul could have lived a life of exceeding any of today’s rich pastors. He could have used his testimony of Christ visiting him on the Damascus road, to his visit to Christ in heaven, (2 Corinthians 12:1-6), all to draw the attention and glory to himself. His understanding and love for Christ kept him humble and persecuted. This gave him a ministry that only glorified Christ and showed the power of Christ that was so evident in his life. When you hear a pastor speak something that either stirs your heart, or stirs a question in your soul, pray and go to God’s Word to find the answer. 2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. Don’t just blindly take their word for it; let God show you the truth himself in His Word.

 
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Posted by on March 5, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Tunnel vision

04 Mar

Tunnel vision

2 Timothy 2:14-15   Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The apostle Paul was encouraging Timothy of how to keep focused; of how to not waste his energies on some of the false profits in that day. Some things are just considered babble, and not even worthy of Timothy taking the time to respond. Paul is pressing Timothy to focus on the Gospel, and the defense of it, but to not spend his time addressing the matters that truly do not matter at all. Focus on his ministry and make sure that it always has substance that benefits the hearers. Do not waste his time and energy on things that truly did not make a difference.

“Rightly divided” is only found here in the New Testament. It means to “cut straight”, like a straight path, or keeping a straight course. Paul is charging Timothy to not let the distractions take his eyes off his ministry. Satan loves to provide the distractions. When you begin to pursue God in his Word and prayer, it is no coincidence that phones ring, something seemingly important arises, you remember a “to do” that hasn’t gotten done, anything and everything to take your eyes off spending time with God. Satan knows the power that comes in a heart truly seeking God; a heart focused on serving God and becoming a disciple for Him. Satan wants to give you every reason, even seemingly good reasons to not come to abide.

A heart for Him is a heart that feels his power in the Word that is given to us. The more time you spend in the Bible, the more the Holy Spirit reveals it too you. 1 Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. With this time cultured in the Bible comes an understanding that brings about a light in your heart that others begin to see. This light is the light of Christ that lives in you, and He begins to use you to teach what He has shown you in his Word. The more time you spend there, the more you live a life focused there, the more you become like Him. Stay rooted in God’s Word and begin to strive to be the best disciple you can be for Him. You will begin to see the distractions for what they are, and your heart will be less bent to respond to them.

 
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Posted by on March 4, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Whoa….did I do that?

03 Mar

Whoa….did I do that?

1 John 1:8-10   If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

I was talking yesterday with someone and they shared how some people they know think they are not sinners. Before I even knew it I had spouted off a paraphrase of this scripture. I guess I don’t get it; how could anyone believe they do not sin? That would be a pride so lofty they would likely consider themselves heavenly; yet were captive of the demon below. Is that belief truly out there? Denial of God, denial of Christ, many other roads of religion; but is there a sect of humanity that elevates themselves to that level? Even when I was my farthest from God in a life steep in sin, I had that conviction; knowing I was doing wrong, but denying it’s impact.

When you begin to research this epistle of John, you read of the blends of religions that were steering people away from the Gospel of Christ. There were blended cultures that divided God; divided Christ life, and death. They did not believe that a holy God could create matter; they did not believe Christ truly died on the cross; they did not believe that Christ was fully God and fully man. John was an eyewitness to this and he testifies of it. 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us. The apostle John and Christ did have a special relationship; John was the apostle whom Christ loved. John was always close to Christ in His most intimate moments.

There must come a point in your life you feel these sin convictions. These convictions should lead to Salvation, but the repentance does not stop there. We are still living lives as sinners, but we are living lives assured of our salvation in our faith in the power of the atoning sacrifice at the Cross. We should feel guilt immediately upon sin that steers us to confess that sin. Matthew Henry pens the repentant life so well: “The Christian life is a life of continued repentance, humiliation for and the mortification of sin, of continual faith in, thankfulness for, and love to the Redeemer, and hopeful joyfully expectation of a day of glorious redemption, in which the believer shall be fully and finally acquitted, and sin abolished forever.” YES! Come Lord Jesus and rescue us from this body of sin. Revelation 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.”
Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

 
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Posted by on March 3, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Thank you for 500

02 Mar

Thank you for 500

Matthew 6:33 Seek Ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.

Today is my 500th OneMinuteMinistry devotional. Today is different, it is more of a thank you letter than a devotional. I was headed up I-77 one day when God laid this ministries name on my heart. I shared it with a friend, and God used him to prod me on to start writing. When I searched the domain name it came back available in all domains: .com, .org, .txt. .me, and so on. A direct confirmation from God to me for what he had laid on my heart. It started with a handful of you in a news media fast for 30 days , for a January resolution in 2012. It grew into the blog/website, and an email list, that I now personally send it out to about 1,100 people every morning. I have received news that it has gotten into a very large ministries distribution recently by an incredible God orchestrated event. I stand amazed consistently at how God works.

Many of you ask how I do it; why I do it; when I do it. The answers are all found in Matthew 6:33 above. I get up very early every morning and spend time with God. I reflect on what he has shown me in my life in relation to what he shows me in His Word. I am humbled by how He has revealed Himself to me every morning. You can have it all to; there is nothing special about me. The bottom line of my ministry is to point you to spending daily time with God. We all have come to that point of wanting more, yet we never seek Him with a genuine heart. We flippantly read the Bible or pray, and feel good about going to church for an hour one day. I was that guy for most of my life, buried in the false security of religion, and would have died in it if it were not for Christ stirring my soul. All the answers you desire for your life are found once you seek God with all your heart every day. Matthew 22:37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. It will not be easy; He never promises us that; but with it will come eternal security and peace that the world cannot provide. You will gain an understanding that all the trials of life that you face are only temporary. They all can draw you closer to God, and they all will remind you of the eternal paradise that awaits you as a child of His.

Christ last words to us are known as the Great Commission. Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Nowhere in the Bible does he tell us to say a prayer, sign a card, and continue on as we were before. There should be a change in your life, a call to action in your life, you are told by Christ to make disciples. You are to share the hope that you have in Him. You are called to give the bad news of sin, followed by the Good News of Salvation in faith in Christ alone. You are to spend your life in pursuit of Him with all your heart, mind, body, and strength. This brings about a state of abiding; a state of being in Christ. This is the goal of the Father, to make you like his Son, to make you a light in a dark world. What in your life could possibly be holding you back from dedicating your life to the One who created it, sustains it, and restored it for eternity with Him?

 
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Posted by on March 2, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Spotlights

01 Mar

Spotlights

2 Corinthians 4:5-6      For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

I am a behind the scenes kinda guy. I will give my labors of love, but expect no recognition for them. Whatever I find myself doing, I try to do it to the best of my ability, and to draw glory to Christ. I want no glory in any work or ministry I perform. I have Colossians 3:23 on the side of my work truck to remind me every day: 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. The sin in me wants to puff my chest out in pride, but Christ is me is the reminder that He is the provider; I am the bondservant or slave that rests in his grace and mercy. Why would we want to draw attention to ourselves? We can provide only temporary satisfaction, while He can provide eternal hope and joy. The glory rests in His work, not ours.

Paul was defending his ministry here in Corinthians. Some of those had come to say he was being deceptive, and he took great offense in that. He understood that all he was came from Christ; he had nothing to deliver except the promise of the Gospel; in it is the completion of any temporal and eternal need. 2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God. (ESV) He knew that he had been called by God to become a minister of the Gospel, and he only wanted to point those who will hear to Christ, not to draw any glory to himself. There is no more powerful message than that delivered in Christ; the only glory in yourself is a life transformed by the knowledge of the Salvation that lies in Christ. 2 Corinthians 3:16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.  

The world we live in pushes the pride of accomplishment. From the houses, to the cars, to the salaries, to the stuff we obtain. We rest in the pride of the American dream; “I can do all things that I put my mind to.” God may allow this for a season, and he may also remove them for a reason. He may bring to you the understanding that it all flows and stops through his sovereign hands and control.  James 1:7 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.  You are called by God to be a light in a dark world that needs him. Make sure that spotlight is on Him and not you.

 
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Posted by on March 1, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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