Judas--Wasted potential.

For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take. (Acts 1:20)

Greetings. The word for today is–Don’t waste the potential that’s inside of you. God has given you gifts, skills, and talents. You may ask—What are my gifts? The answer is in God’s word.

The word of God tells us that we have a treasure inside of us. (2 Cor. 4:7) This is good news. When we were born into this world, we carried gifts, skills, and abilities to the table.  Those gifts were enhanced and more were added to us at the new birth. Some who may be reading this may not even realize the precious gift that God has given inside of us.

As we study the life of Judas, he had a couple of gifts in three areas. First, He was talented in administrative duties. Second, he was good in the area of numbers, causing him to be the treasurer of the disciples. Third, he had a talent for business and knew how to close business deals.  

The question to ask is what happened to this talented apostle? He was part of the 12 disciples and was entrusted with the power of God. (Matt 10:1) Somewhere along the line, he got sidetracked. His love for money was his weakness. God had given him many opportunities to repent, but he kept hardening his heart. As we read on, we are going to see how his hardness caused him to lose everything and abort his God-given destiny.   

                                                Your gifts and destiny

Judas forsook his future with God. He was called to be a Bishop and his purpose was to help transform the whole world for the Lord. (Acts 1:20) God could have used his gifts to draw important people to him. ( Prov 18:16) Sadly, this was not to be. Judas fell and his love of money caused him to betray his messiah.

What does this tell us? We have a God-given destiny to fulfill. Don’t abort your future destiny with God. God has put inside of us gifts to help you and others in life. For example, we can see the gift of creating businesses. A gift in that area can help you and your family. It can, also, provide jobs for others. 

Another example is the gift in the area of science and technology. This gift can bring answers to life’s toughest problems. Your gift can be creative and, even, help save lives. All of you reading this post on my blog have a gift. Do you know what it is? God wants to show us our hidden treasures and use us for his glory. 

Prayer–Thank you, Lord, for speaking to me. Lord, show me my gifts, skills, and talents. Help me to use it for your glory. Help me to use it to provide for our needs, family and even bless all the people surrounding me. Help me to pour out all that you have invested in me. Use me as a willing vessel to bring honor and glory to you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Know your calling....

Stay within your calling.

"And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the Lord, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the Lord God.

 Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the Lord, from beside the incense altar.

And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the Lord had smitten him."

                                     (2 Chronicles 26:18-20)

                        The word for today is find your calling and stay in it. We, all, have a calling and assignment in our lives. As we study 2 Chronicles 26:18-20, we see an example of entering into the wrong calling. King Uzziah was a great king who was used of God in a mighty way. His calling was to be a King and use his leadership skills to bless Israel but something happened along the way. He, got sidetracked. I, personally, believe that he, probably, observed the Aaronic priesthood and their ways of worship. 

                             This, most likely, fascinated him. He, probably, felt like he should bring the censer to burn incense unto the Lord. His intentions might have been good but he forgot that this privilege was given to the descendents of Aaron, who were called to the priesthood. After a while, he took upon himself the duties of the priesthood. The priests, observing this, stood in his way. They tried to prevent the King from making the greatest mistake of his life.  Seeing this, pride rose up in King Uzziah's heart and he become angry. Suddenly, something happened---leprosy started to form in his forehead. 

                            How does that applies to us? Brethren, if you feel a calling for ministry, do not, just, jump in and do it. Our feelings can trick us much like King Uzziah. Our soul (Mind, will and emotions) need to fall in line with the word. (Heb 4:12) Hebrews 4:12 clearly tells us that God's word is like a sword and it separates soul and spirit. In other words, it is the final authority. 

                                 Next, confirm your calling with the church leadership. Finding a good church and Pastor is important because it keeps us from error. The word says that in the multitude of counsellors, there is safety. Do not take it upon yourself to start a ministry without taking the time to wait and confirming your calling. Take heed of what happened to King Uzziah. 

                                 Another way to confirm your calling is through the gifts that God has given you. Whether it be natural,spiritual or both, you have been endowed with special gifts,talents and skills to fulfill your calling. Once you enter into your calling and domain, you cannot help but excel.  Some people are like a fish out of water. They think because they have a desire to sing, they should sing in the choir but upon hearing them, it is plain that they do not have the gift to sing. Where he leads, he provides. 

                            God wants us to offer the best that we have in us to him. So, in this day, if you do not know your calling and assignment, find out. If you do know your calling but you feel led to enter another field of ministry, take heed. Talk to God about it and avoid a costly mistake. 

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Is There hope for the United States?

                                  

                                    

                                         

"And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not." (Jonah 3:10) 

                      Yesterday, we read about how a nation turned to God. We saw how Jonah went through a series of circumstances in his life that impacted him. God, in his wisdom, manipulated those circumstances in his favor to "break" Jonah's will. In spite of this, he, still, had free will to choose. I believe that when he was in the belly of the whale, that was Jonah's last chance to say yes to God. Yes, God is merciful and full of grace, but there comes a time when grace ends and judgement comes. Jonah's decision in the belly of the whale was a death or life choice. 

                       Perhaps many reading this are saying "NO" to a calling of God in your life. It may be something as simple as telling your neighbor about Jesus. Whatever it is, don't harden your heart. It may not cause you to die, but a hardened heart will, eventually, stop hearing from God. When this happens, wrong choices will be made and you can be in the wrong place at the wrong tiime! In this day, take some time to examine your heart. Keep the flow of the Holy Spirit in your life and harden not your heart.

                       It is interesting that in the midst of testings and trials, God will dredge up what is in our hearts. When Jonah was persuaded to obey God, he preached God's message. It was a hard message, but God looked out for his prophet. It is my personal belief that when he got out of the belly's whale, he had lost his hair and was bald. As he obeyed and preached, God used this unfortunate incident to calll the people's attention. Can you imagine their reaction---"We are getting invaded by aliens!"

                       Yes, this was an invasion, a holy invasion and God was the mastermind. I believe that while Jonah preached, God was healing him on the spot which caused them to fear and experience the power of God. Friends, we may be called to preach a hard message, but let's not forget God's power in demostration! It is interesting that when the people repented, Jonah's true motive for not obeying is revealed. Look at the following verse----

                       

  " But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray thee, O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew  that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.  Therefore now, O Lord, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live." (Jonah 4:1-3)

                Notice that Jonah did forsake his calling for the following--He knew that God was a gracious God, merciful and slow to anger. In effect, he was expecting judgement. Why did he hate the Ninevites? Perhaps since they were a violent people, he remembered what they did to his nation and even to his family. (II Kings 19:36) Nineveh was the capital of Assyria. Assyria was the nation that oppressed Israel as a result of God's judgement. (II Kings 17:22-24) 

                So. you can see why Jonah acted this way. The question I want to ask is this---If there was hope for Nineveh, can there be hope for the United States? In my next devotional, I will address this subject. God bless. 

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Going the extra mile!

                                                 Image courtesy of [image creator name] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 "For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better.Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you." (Phil 1:23-24)

                        Are you willing to go the extra mile for the Lord? We go the extra mile for friends, family and even in our jobs, but are you willing to go the extra mile for Jesus? The Apostle Paul had to make a decision. While he was in prison suffering for Jesus, he was faced with a choice. A choice that had major implications and would impact future generations. 
                       The Apostle Paul wanted to go home and be with the Lord. He, probably, spent his days daydreaming about heaven. Imagine being chained in a dungeon and having rats as his companions. Imagine spending cold or hot nights in that dungeon. You could understand why he had a desire to depart. 
             In the midst of his circumstances, he decided to sacrifice his own desire to be in heaven and remain on earth for a while longer. Why? Not because of himself, but because of the love he had for his fellow brethren. Thank God, he chose the latter because we would not have had the rest of the epistles. Did you know that you can extend your life by faith? You don't have to settle for que sera, sera.
             Imagine the power to tell death---Not now, I have a job to fulfill. Yes, the Apostle Paul could have rested on his laurels. He could have said--I did what I needed to do, but no, he chose to go the extra mile! Why? The love of God constrained him to do it. Friends, that is why it is important that you understand the importance of fulfilling your calling. Each one of us has a calling. In fact, some of you may be willing to go the extra mile when you find out what you are called for. 
      Take the ministry of helps. The ministry of helps is one in which you clean the church, mop the floors and, at times, work in the kitchen serving food. It is not a job in which you are noticed, but God sees what you are doing. I have, personally, seen the brethren spend long hours into the night, making sure the church needs are met. These people are special. They are the ones who, after a church concert, are cleaning up and making sure things are in order.
        If you are faithful in the little things, the Lord will promote you. Philip was a deacon who was later promoted to evangelist. (1) The Lord used Philip in a great way and he'll do the same with you, if you are willing to go the extra mile. Are you willing to go the extra mile and spend more time in prayer for your Pastor? Are you willing to put a muzzle in your mouth and stop criticizing the Pastor? Pastors are human and make mistakes. It is so easy to criticize the Pastor, but try doing his/her job for a week or so and you will see that its hard work!
            So, friend, ask God to show you how you can go the extra mile. Let the love of Christ build up in you so that going the extra mile won't be a burden but be a joy. Remember as you give of yourself and your time, your labor of love won't be in vain. Who knows? Your actions could impact history and future generations to come. God bless. 

Prayer---Father, Thank you for speaking to me. Forgive me if I have been selfish. Help me to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge. Help me to grow in grace and perfect my love walk. Show me what is my calling and place in the body, so I can better serve you. In doing so, help me to go the extra mile and glorify you. In Jesus Name---AMEN! 

Scriptures: (1) Acts 6:5, Acts 8
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Is Tomorrow promised to us?

                                         My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. (Prov 3:1-2)


                                Death! It is a reality. Should the Lord tarry his coming, all of us are going to die. The question is when? Nobody likes to talk about death, but we face it every day. The death of a friend or loved one. The death of a well known personality. People are dying every day around the world, but one thing I want to address and that is about the statement---Tomorrow is not promised to us.
                          Allow me to burst your bubble and, at the same time, bring you some good news---Tomorrow can be promised to you! If you look at the above verses (Prov 3:1-2), you will find that following God's ways will lead to long life and that was under the Old covenant! The word says that we have a new covenant with new and better promises (1). So, friend, If you are a Christian and walk in the ways of the Lord, tomorrow can be promised to you!
                        Did you know that you can die before your time? That is a fact. Let's look at the verse below...
                       " Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?" (Ecc 7:17) 
            From what I read in this verse, you can die before your time. Why? Be cause wickedness and foolishness will cut years from your life. Brethren, God wants us to have a long life and serve him. In fact, living long will satisfy the Lord.(2) The other question is why do people die young? First, a lack of knowledge(3). What you don't know can kill you. Second, if you are not a Christian, tomorrow is not promised to you. You do not have a covenant with God. God is not obligated to give you long life. Third, the word says we walk by faith and not by sight.(4). The fact that a Christian dies young does not negate the word. His promises still stands. 
                   A good example to this is II Peter 3:9. God is not willing that people die and perish in their sins, but everyday people die and go to hell. The sad fact is that they don't have to. Receiving Jesus is the key(5), but God respects the human will. The same holds true for all of his promises. We have to receive the word and then act on it. Faith without works is dead.(6)
                    We have got to stop looking at God's ways as just a bingo game. People say that when your number is up, that's it! Well, allow me to disagree. When you have a calling to fulfill--You should not die before fulfilling your calling. All of us in the body have a calling to fulfill and that is a fact. Look at the verse below----

"  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints" (Eph 1:18) 

                  It is a sad fact that the majority of good, spirit-filled Christians do not know their calling. It is even sadder that a large group of them, actually, die without knowing their calling. God's wants us to know his will for our lives. Ask God to reveal his calling to your life and how to fulfill it. Pray the prayer of Ephesians over yourself everyday and I assure you---You will find your calling and place in the Lord! 
               So in this morning, know that you have a calling to fulfill. Know that until you fulfill your calling, tomorrow is indeed promised to you! I want to challenge you in this day---If you are not a Christian and you are reading this, you can enjoy life to the fullest! Write a new page in your life and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Pray the prayer in this link and step into the most exciting adventure of your life! (http://wordandgrace.blogspot.com/2012/05/sinners-prayer.html) Make Jesus the Lord of your life today while there is still time--God bless! 

Prayer: Dear Lord, Thank you for speaking to me in this day. Thank you that you want to show me your calling for my life. Lord, show me what is my calling and my inheritance in the saints. Help me to fulfill my calling and forgive me for speaking foolish things. I bind every foolish word that I have spoken and render it void and useless. I declare in this day that my tomorrow is promised and I will fulfill your calling and purposes for my life. In Jesus name---Amen! 

Scriptures--
(1) Heb 8:6
(2) Ps 91:16
(3) Hosea 4:6
(4) I Cor 5:7
(5) John 1:12
(6) James 2:20