Eye Hath Not Seen, Nor Ear Heard

1 Corinthians was is written by the Apostle Paul to the Corinthian church to identify the problems in the church, to offer solutions, and to teach believers how to live for Christ in a corrupt society. It was written about A.D. 55 near the end of Paul's three year ministry in Ephesus, during his third missionary journey.  Corinth was a major cosmopolitan city, a seaport and major trade center, the most important city in Achaia.  It was filled with idolatry, immorality, and largely made up of Gentiles. (Life Application Bible Vital Statistics)

Paul was straightforward with the church in Corinth.  They had fallen into disorder and divisiveness in his absence.  They were rallying around certain leaders which led to intellectual pride and division in the church.  They had uncorrected sexual sin and had become indifferent to immorality.  People were taking the Lord's Supper without confessing their sins.  Paul had to address the state of the church, answer questions, and solve problems with a Christian approach.  

Paul shared a simple message with the people in 1 Cor. 2, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and guide him in what to say.  He did not use big words or "excellence of speech" but he was "determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified".  His confidence was not in his own speech, but in the "demonstration of the Spirit and of power", not man's wisdom. 

Paul had spiritual wisdom, the wisdom of God, the hidden wisdom of God.  God revealed Himself to mankind through Jesus Christ, His life, death, burial, and resurrection.  Had the rulers of that time known, they would not have crucified the very Lord from Glory.  Jesus was rejected, which was foretold in Isaiah 53 and Zechariah 12:10-11.  

The scripture says that it was written in Isaiah 64:4 (New Living Translation), "For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye hath seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for Him!"  We haven't heard or seen what God has prepared for us, those that love Him.  We can't even imaging all that He has in store for us.  He has so much in store for us here on earth and throughout eternity.  

We have a blessed hope that "If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31. God has an amazing future planned for us Jer. 29:11-13. It does not mean that it will be without trials and tribulations, because it will. James tells us to think it not strange, when trial come... But we haven't seen or heard what God has in store for us. We have to keep moving forward, endure hardship, and don't give up!!

There's a breakthrough just around the bend. This is not all there is to our hope. God will reveal things to you through His Spirit. If you have received the Spirit of God, then you can be guided by the Spirit of God and know God's perspective on a matter. We cannot understand spiritual truths without the Spirit of God. We need the Holy Spirit's guidance and wisdom.

It is time that we seek the Kingdom of God and all of His righteousness. We must hunger and thirst after righteousness. As we diligently seek God, He will reveal more of Himself to us. Our eyes will see things and our ears hear things from God as we draw closer to Him. He will reveal Himself to and work for those that wait for Him.

I know man has a great imagination but it pales in comparison to what God has in store for those that love Him. Amen!

Be blessed.

New Mercies Every Morning

Lamentations 3: 22-24

22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning;  Great is Your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!”

Every morning that I wake up, it is a new day. It is a day that I was not promised but the mercy of God allowed me to wake up and get up out of my bed.  The problems or the issues from the previous day may remain but I was not consumed in them or by them.  God had mercy on me and gave me the miracle of a new day. 

Jeremiah saw a ray of hope regardless of all the sin that surrounded him.  He knew that God's compassion did not fail.  It is said that "compassion is love in action" (Life Application Bible, NKJV) God's love for us looks beyond our sins, failures, and inabilities.  He loves us more than we could ever imagine.  He will help us and have compassion on us.  He promises to forgive us of our sins as we repent and ask for forgiveness. 

God is so faithful to respond and forgive.  He is true to His Word.  Each day is full of "millions of miracle".  Waking up, miracle.  Being able to get out of bed and care for myself, miracle.  Breathing, miracle... You get it, our every day is filled with so many miracles.  God is so loving and faithful.  Even in the trouble, trials, cloudy days, God is still with us and faithful.  

Webster says that faithful means remaining loyal and steadfast; true to facts or the original. "The original Hebrew word (hesed) translated as "steadfast love," is a very important Old Testament term that speaks of the faithful, loyal, constant goodness and love that God shows to his people. This is the Lord's covenantal love, describing God’s act of loving his people. The Lord has an inexhaustible supply of love for his children." (Learn Religions - https://www.learnreligions.com)

Jeremiah could hope in God because he knew that His love and faithfulness was sure.  We too can trust that God's Word is true and He will be with us.  He will help us because He loves us and shows us new mercies daily.  He is with us and for us.  We can rest assure that He knows where we are and what we are going through.  He is working it all for our good.  It may not feel good, but it is working for our good. 

Be encouraged, God is not unaware of your situation or circumstances.  Take it to Him in prayer and trust that He is faithful and compassionate.  Thank Him for all the millions of miracles and mercies that you can think of daily.  He is a Wonderful God and an Awesome Father.  

Be blessed. 

Old Things Have Passed Away;
Behold All Things Have Become New

This month we are focusing on a new beginning. This scripture falls in line with the new, in that old things are passed away and all things are new. But what exactly was the Apostle Paul writing about in this chapter when he wrote these verses? Would we cross into a new year and everything reset and we start over?

Paul writes to the church in Corinth in 2 Cor. 5. He starts out assuring them of the heavenly body that we have if our earthly house (our body) is destroyed. He tells them that while here in this body we are absent from the Lord but we will have heavenly bodies for our eternal life.

Paul and his companions did all things to honor God. They did it not only because they had the "fear of the Lord" but because His great love for them caused them to want to please Him. Jesus had given His life for them and all mankind. Such love caused them to want to preach and live a life that was pleasing to Him. They had received His best, the Comforter, the Holy Spirit.

It is still true today. Jesus died and promised to endow us with power, the Holy Spirit. When we receive Him, we are given the Holy Spirit which brings new life. We are not the same anymore.

We have put on a new man/woman. We are re-created (a new creation) in Christ Jesus. We are now under the leading of the Holy Spirit. It is not like "turning over a new leaf" or New Year’s resolutions, it is a transformation.

That does not mean that you wake up and every old habit, problem, or desire immediately has fallen off of you or changed. God is able to do it, and does for some. But others have to surrender those things to the Lord and allow the Holy Spirit to change those desires, thoughts, habits, etc. We have to surrender them daily.

We are under a new order with Christ and a new covenant. This is not superficial but supernatural, a new way of looking at all things under Christ's authority. We have been forgiven and set free. We have to be renewed in our minds and changed from the inside out. We are no longer enemies of God but His beloved children. We have been made right with God.

God did it through sacrificing His Son, Jesus. Jesus shed His blood as an atonement for our sins. When we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, we are reconciled to God and under His authority. We are free, our sins are forgiven and we are walking in the newness of life. We have been made new and have a new beginning.

Thank God for all that He has done for us. We can let go of all those things that we did to please ourselves and live to please God. We can let go of those things that held us back or weigh us down, and walk in the newness of this life that Jesus died to give us.  

In John 10:10, Jesus says "10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."  We don't have to allow the enemy to steal, kill, and destroy us. We can look to and depend of our Helper (the Holy Spirit) to teach us how to pray, wield the sword of the Spirit (the Word of God), and fight the good fight of faith.

So let's walk in the new and abundant life that Jesus died to give us.  Be blessed. 

Pressing Toward the Goal

Phil. 3:13-14

13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

We made it into the New Year - 2023.  To God be the Glory!!  We didn't make it on our own but by the grace of God that He allowed us to see a new year.  I don't know about you but I am grateful.  

We ended 2022 with this scripture and highlighted the fact that we are "forgetting those things which are behind us".  We are beginning this New Year highlighting that we are "reaching forward to those things which are ahead."  God has so much ahead of us.  He spoke to me concerning new beginnings, "old things are passed away, all things become new." (2 Cor. 5:17)  This year," I am going to put the past behind me, and press toward the things that God has planned for me.  He has a purpose for this year and that is the goal to which I want to press toward. 

The Life Application Bible states that "Paul said that his goal was to know Christ, to be like Christ, and to be all Christ had in mind for him.  This goal took all of Paul's energies.  This is a helpful example for us. We should not let anything take our eyes off our goal - knowing Christ.  With the single-mindedness of an athlete in training, we must lay aside everything harmful and forsake anything that may distract us from being effective Christians. What is holding you back?"  

We are not called to be perfect but to mature.  We must press on in the Holy Spirit's power so that Christ can reveal to us the discrepancies between what and who we are and what and who we are to be.  We must act on the guidance of the Holy Spirit and those He has placed in places of authority over our lives.  We have so much to learn.  We must pursue Christlikeness and not copy the world. (Life Application Bible)

So, let us seek God and His plan for our lives this year.  Let us hear His voice and follow His directions. We can let go of the past (any guilt, shame, and condemnation) and look forward to what God will help us become in this year.  

Happy New Year!! Be blessed.  

Forgetting Those Things That Are Behind

Phil. 3:13-14

13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have [a]apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

We have made it to the last day of the year. God has truly blessed, protected, and covered us. I woke up yesterday with a song, You Covered Me, by Donald Lawrence, featuring Hezekiah Walker. It talks about how we could have lost our minds or wanted to give up. But by the grace of God, He covered us. God covered us through trials, tribulations, and attacks on our bodies, minds, ministries, and families. God brought us through it all. Millions didn't make it to this day, but God's grace has brought us to this point.

In Phil. 3, Paul is warning the people of Judaizers - Jewish Christians that believed that the Gentiles had to follow the old Jewish laws of the Old Testament to be saved, especially circumcision. Paul states that conversion was not based on all that he had accomplished or his credentials. It was because of the coming of a Savior, Jesus Christ, his crucifixion, and resurrection. It wasn't because of who he was or what he had done.

All that Paul gained, he counted it as loss for Christ Jesus. He didn't boast in his righteousness but the righteousness of Christ which is from God by faith. It was nothing to be compared to the greatness of knowing Christ. He wanted to forget the past things - his persecuting the church and look ahead to what was before him.

We all have things that we need to forget or put behind us. The year of 2022 was filled wth good and things that we may want to just put behind us. They are all working for our good but we do not need to get stuck in the past. Yes, we may not have gotten all things accomplished that we set out to do and we may have gotten off track, but God is able to use all the setbacks as set ups for what is ahead of us.

Let us not dwell on the past but grow in the knowledge of Christ Jesus and walk closer to Him. We are getting ready to step into a new beginning, a new year. We are "pressing toward the goal of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." We are looking forward to a "fuller and more meaningful life because of our hope in Christ". (Life Application Bible)

Be blessed.

 For Unto Us a Child Is Born

Isaiah 9:6-7

6) "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

7) Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.  He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.  The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this."

It is Christmas time again and we often hear this scripture repeated.  Jesus is the child that was to be born, the Son of God.  He was born of a virgin, Mary, in a manager.  Quite different than what the Jews expected from the coming King.  Nevertheless, He was born meek and lowly in a manger.  Yet, He was the Lord of Glory, God in the flesh.  

It was foretold in Isaiah that He would be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  He is the one with all wisdom, able to give you wise counsel and steer you in the right direction.  He is Almighty!! He is the Everlasting Father, there is no end to His reign and He is indeed a loving Father.  He has no beginning or ending, He is God.  

He is God and the God of Peace.  Heb. 13:20 states "20 Now may the God of peace—who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood— 21 may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him.  All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.  He is peace and can give you the peace that passes all understanding. You will not be able to understand why you have peace in the midst of your situation or circumstance.  He will equip you with all that you need to do His will.

He is the King of the Kingdom of God (Heaven) and we are His subjects.  Of His rule and government will be no end, it is eternal.  He was born in the lineage of David and will reign on the throne forever.  He is God and yet came through the line of David to fulfill this prophecy.  

It is only the Lord Almighty that will be able to accomplish this.  He has come and will come again.  The government of God is on His shoulders, He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.  We must be ready to meet Him and be caught with Him in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  

May God bless you this Christmas season.  Remember that Christmas is about Christ, the child that was born to bring forgiveness and salvation to all mankind.  He is all that you need.  

Merry Christmas. 

 God Is My Salvation

It is December and we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.  Webster defines salvation as preservation or deliverance from harm, ruin, or loss.  In the Old Testament the word used often for salvation was a Hebrew word,"yasa [[;v"y] (to save, help in distress, rescue, deliver, set free)" (https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/salvation/) It was used to signify material deliverance, whereas salvation in the New Testament was more spiritual.   

Isaiah 12, is called a Hymn of Praise. It follows Isaiah 11 which talks of the reign of Jesse's offspring, the Messiah.  Jesus would be the fulfillment of God's promise, a descendant of David.  He would be the Righteous Judge and the faithful one. Judah was surrounded by hostile foreign powers and they needed righteousness, justice, and faithfulness.  The Messiah would rule one day and this time of peace when even hostile animals could live together in peace would come. 

This chapter was a description of the joy when Jesus comes to reign on earth.  They  would praise the Lord.  We too must praise the Lord.  The Lord is our salvation.  Jesus saves, rescues, delivers, and sets us free.  He alone perserves us.  We do not have to fear because He is indeed our strength.  We can do all things through Christ that strengthens us!!  He alone can save us.  

As we draw near to the end of another year, we should be so grateful for all that He has done for us in 2022.  He alone has kept us alive and is provided for us.  We can trust Him and He is our salvation. 

Be blessed.