Eph 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

What Power works in you?

The answer to this question is so important that it can save lives.  It is amazing power that is made available to who so ever will. It is exceedingly abundantly above all.

Stop a moment!

What is up with all these adjectives lined up in one sentence? Isn’t just one of those good enough?  Well apparently not to the writer of those words, it was necessary to answer the question that I have asked at the beginning of this paragraph, what power works in you?

It is Exceedingly = extremely, to a great degree, extraordinary. Did you catch that? It is “Extreme to a great degree, way past ordinary, which makes it extraordinary.” That is just the first adjective used, look at the next:

Abundantly = very plentiful; more than sufficient; ample.  So 1+1=2!! Watch what happens when we add them together.

It is extreme to a great degree, way past ordinary, very plentiful and ample so that it is more than sufficient. Sounds pretty good so far, doesn’t it?

Check the next Above = higher than, beyond, superior and All = If I cut the pie into 4 pieces then eat every piece and leave you absolutely nothing, than I have had it ALL.

Here it is put ALL together!!!!!!

It is extreme to a degree, way past ordinary, very plentiful and ample so that it is more sufficient, higher than, beyond and superior to absolutely all you could ever ask or think.

This is the answer to the question above. The power that works in you is God’s grace that gives you the ability to have what is expressed above in the combined meaning of all those adjectives.

            NOW APPLY THAT TO YOUR LIFE

How do you measure up to that?  Is that How real God and His power is in your everyday life? The real question is;

WHY NOT??????????

THE ANSWER Is:   We have believeD a LIE!!!!!!!!!!!

The Lie we believe is unique to our circumstances and situations, but it is the same in its base intent. It always challenges the power of God!! It makes situations, circumstances, and experiences greater than the Power that God has revealed in His Word.

God is Real and He is Alive!!!!!!                                                                                                             That’s Right >>>He is Alive

AND WORKING IN YOU!

The ordinary Christian should be filled with so much power that people see Jesus working in and through them. Jesus said; Joh 14:12 ¶ “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater [works] than these he will do, because I go to My Father.

That’s is enough for you to think about for awhile (to be continued)

Eph 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: 3. “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

It is amazing to me how so many people really have no concept of what this scripture means. First of all, the society that we are in is increasingly growing more and more secular humanistic in their worldview.

Secular humanism is defined as: ” belief in human-based morality; a system of thought that is based on the values, characteristics, and behavior that are believed to be best in human beings, rather than on any supernatural authority.” (Encarta Dictionary)

Secular humanists believe that the founding fathers of America set up a government that was to be totally secular and humanistic. This is totally unsupported to anyone who is familiar with the history of our founding fathers. In Noah Webster’s 1828, “American Dictionary of the English Language “, you cannot even find the word humanism, which is evidence that humanism was not what the founding fathers meant when they used the word secular. Even though, when it is used today by professors, teachers, atheists and socialist they drop the word humanism and just say secular. Secular to the people living in 1828 and before, could not have been understood by the people of that time to mean what it means today when the word to define it was not in its primary dictionary, “American Dictionary of the English Language “.

The humanistic world view has robbed our current culture of blessings that God had designed for stable family life by having honor for one’s father and mother.  It is now even challenging the very concept of family by introducing alternative parent scenarios, like mother and mother, and father and father. It is not to say that those who belong to one of these parental combinations, are not able to be parents, they are not included in this verse, which is a commandment with a promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” The promise is specific to those who obey and honor their father and mother.  The key is honor.

What does honor mean?

1. Esteem somebody or something: to have or show great respect and admiration for somebody or something
2. Exalt somebody: to recognize somebody publicly or elevate somebody’s status officially, usually by giving that person a title or an award
3. Pay tribute to somebody: to publicly praise somebody who has died and pay respects to him or her (Encarta Dictionary)

We have forgotten what it means to honor those who have given us life. When we learn to esteem our father and mother, we learn how to respect not just them but others who are older.  In a society that is youth-motivated we have devalued the elderly and by doing so contributed to the destruction of the core of all society the family unit. It is so sad to realize that many in the Church have grown up with an extended family, step fathers, step mothers and step brothers and sisters.

No matter what situation you are in, the concept of honor and obedience to our parents is still valuable and I believe profitable to those who practice it. Honor is not earned but it is given because of the position in which the parent or elderly hold. Father and mother are not just titles but vital positions of authority in the family and worthy of respect.

As Christians we should learn to honor and respect not just our parents but other Christians as well. The apostle Paul instructed the Church in Phillipi  to love one another. The Amplified version reads:

Php 2:3 Do nothing from factional motives <through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends> or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself <thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves.

Wow! Could we really learn to love one another in such a way?  Not looking out for just for me, respecting others more highly than we do ourselves. Are you honoring your father and mother? Are you living the kind of Christian life where you consider others more valuable than yourself? If not we can always turn to Jesus and ask Him to help us; “Let us therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Have a great day!

2 Peter 1: ²⁰ Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding,²¹ or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.(New Living Translation)
The Word of God always has something to say about whatever you are going through at any moment and in any place. It is by His Word that He is able to be ever-present with us, where ever we may go in this world. The prophet Jeremiah wrote about a time when God would make a new covenant with His people, the house of Israel.
Jer 31:33 “But this [is] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”We must understand that this Word is intended for the Jewish people, whom God himself had chosen.(Ex.6:7 )So the fact that this promise or covenant is to the Jewish people, then does it exclude the Gentiles (all other people who are not Jewish)? Yes,  all Gentiles are excluded from the promises and covenants of God because they are only intended for God’s people.Can a Gentile ever be included in the covenants and promises of God?Eph 2:11 ¶ Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh——who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands——12  that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

Yes, the apostle Paul said that they were, once Gentiles, indicating that they are something different now. Well the next verse tells us:

¹³ But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

Through Jesus Gentiles can be partakers of the covenants and promises of God. Paul wrote concerning this subject to the Corinthians that “ .. all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen,”.  When Gentiles accept Jesus as their Savior they automatically become God’s chosen people. Not by any works they have done, but by simply relying on Him through faith. ” For by grace you have been saved through faith and not of yourself, for it is the gift from God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

The marvelous thing about being a believer in Jesus is that He promised He would never leave or forsake us. So no matter where you may find yourself, or in whatever circumstance you may experience, God will never forsake you. Why? Because He said So.  Let the Word of God speak to you in whatever circumstance or situation you are in, and watch God work. He will bring you through any and everything by the power of His Word that Speaks. So stop relying on yourself and start relying on Him and what He says, then you will find yourself becoming more at ease and rest in His love for you.

Have a great day!!

Right Click of Pop-Out Player (in new window/tab)

Let the music play in other window/tab then read.

1 John1:3-4  that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

4  And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

John is writing to believers about the things in which he had been ”Intimately Acquainted” (read blog by same name). He was revealing to them the things that he had seen and heard so they could have fellowship together. Before we delve into this subject any deeper, let’s take a look at some definitions of the word fellowship.

It comes from a Greek word koinonia (Strong’s Concordance #2842) which means: fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation, intercourse.

Encarta Dictionary’s definition of

Fellowship: sharing of experiences (a sharing of common interests, goals, experiences, or views) companionship.

Association: group (a group of people or organizations joined together for a purpose); connection; coming together (coming together and social interaction between people).

Community: a unified body of individuals; joint ownership or participation <community of goods> b: common character : likeness community of interests> c: social activity : fellowship d: a social state or condition (Webster’s Online).

Communion: intimacy (a feeling of emotional or spiritual closeness), connection.

Joint participation.

Intercourse: mutual dealing (exchanges between people or groups, especially conversation or social activity)

The fellowship that John is talking about is more than a group of people getting together simply listening to music. Fellowship is a group of people sharing experiences with a common goal of intimately caring and sharing with one anther.  Paul puts it this way in Philippians 2: 2-4 “then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” This is the kind of fellowship we need in America today. It was this kind of fellowship that made the early church grow powerfully. The same kind of fellowship they experience today in persecuted countries around the world.

The sharing of the gospel was to bring us together not separate us. So many things divide us from truly fellowshipping with one another, which ultimately separates us from fellowshipping with God; because John wrote …and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. I believe that is why so many Christians become unhappy, angry and disillusioned. Maybe this is one of the reason’s for a young Christian girl named Lula’s wrote a blog entitled, “Why Are Christians so Angry?” I believe this is the reason when you read the next verse;  And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

Is your Joy Full?

Maybe you need to stop looking out for only your interests and begin to look out for others??

Maybe you need to start considering others to be better than you, or just consider them before you consider yourself???

Only the Lord can give you the answer’s to the question of whether or not your joy is full. Full means to fill until it overflows. The only way to get full is to share with others what God has given and revealed to you. It is more blessed to give than it is to receive.

So I dare you to look for someone to bless with the Good News that God has given to you.

Be Blessed

John 1:1-2 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 is writing about his intimate knowledge of the Word of Life. Joh 1:1,14 “ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” 1Jo. 1: 14”And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, as the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

This Word of which John had written earlier was the very incarnation of God. A living, breathing person who embodied “all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Col 2:9 NKJV) which John developed an intimate relationship.

He had heard the physical incarnation of God speak the Words of Life. He had seen the miraculous effects of that Word with his very own eyes. He had looked upon that Life in absolute amazement time and time again. Hands that had handled the Word from the beginning of his relationship, to the time he took His lifeless body down from the cross; the time in ecstatic joy he held that Living Word in the upper room after the resurrection, and the last time before He was taken into heaven.

We are not talking about a casual relationship with Jesus. John had walked, talked with Him and laid his head on His chest. He watched Him heal the sick, raise the dead, open the blind eyes, and make the leper whole.

When he declared to us the Word of Life it was from a life long interaction with the Incarnate One with whom he had lived. Not just in the three years of His ministry, but in the fifty some odd years that he intimately became acquainted with Jesus as he testified to the world of His unfailing love. It was this love that strengthened him as he endured years of persecution and isolation. It was his understanding of this Word of Life that sustained all the days of his life.

Do you know Him!?
Is Jesus the most important relationship you have?
Have you lost that intimate passion for Him?
If you have than take some time to get alone with Him and ask Him to give you more passion for His Word that brings Life.
Have a great Day!

1 Corinthians 15:33 (New Living Translation)
33 Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.”
Don’t be fooled into thinking that you can hang out with friends who don’t know Jesus.  I have seen so many people fall into that trap. They said “That will never happen to me!!”  “I’m to strong of a Christian!” “I would never do that!”

The problem with hanging with people that don’t love Jesus like you do is that the change in you is so slow that you don’t notice the compromise that takes place. You see, lifestyle in a way teaches as much as preaching. Do you remember Paul telling the Corinthians in his second letter, chapter

3:2  The only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves. Your lives are a letter written in our hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. NLT
Whether you realize it or not when you are with them and doing what they do, their lives are preaching worldliness to you. Add all the conversations that go on, whether through e-mail, text message or phone.

You know that gossiping about others is not right, but you slowly start doing it, ignoring the scream of the Spirit in your heart, until that scream becomes a distant noise that eventually fades away.

With the compromise that is slowing creeping into your life, you don’t realize the shows that you start to watch on TV. Whether you are aware of it or not the themes of those shows are preaching to you. Before you know it, you are doing the very things that you swore you would never do. When you go to church you put on that fake smile and say that everything is going great with your walk with the Lord.

The danger of being in this place, is you become open to false teachers or teachings. Peter warned about this in

1Pe. 2: 18-19
18 They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception. 19 They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you. NLT

The only solution is to make a bold step and turn from those who would lead you astray. Stop hanging out with them and get serious for God again. It is called repentance.
“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”(Heb. 4:16) NLT

With the help of his grace you will be able to start finding friends that believe like you and your walk with God will become even stronger.

Have a Great Day!!!

Recommended song with this devotional
Casting Crowns “Slow Fade”

Things are beginning to get really interesting in politics, and we His people need to seriously start praying for the elections in November. Remember what is written in Dan. 2:20 Daniel answered and said:

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His.
21 And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding.

God removes and raises up kings!

Father, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. You raise up a President that will do your will for this nation.

Verse 22 tell us that:

” He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him.”

Reveal the hidden things in darkness in all the Candidates so that we your people will know how to vote! We ask for this in Jesus mighty name. Amen.

Eph 4:29 Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (Gods favor) to those who hear it.

Benefits of Life Giving Words:

Bring wisdom (Pr. 10:31) Whether we realize it or not we are telling people what we know by what we say. What kind of wisdom, or lack of it, are you giving people when you talk to them? Our text Eph. 4:29 tell us that our speech should be a blessing to people. You have learned so much in your walk with God, so why not let the wisdom of your life come out your mouth.

Know what is acceptable (Pr. 10:32) The lips of the righteous know what to say that is acceptable and pleasing to those around them. Your words should be pleasant to those who hear you speak. You know, there is nothing as pleasing as hearing a song that is excellently performed. That is how powerful our speech should be to those we influence everyday.

Deliver from trouble (Pr 12:13) The righteous escape trouble because they have learned wisdom from God not to say everything that just might pop into their heads. The wicked, through anger, conceit, deceit or rashness say things that trap them and many times get them into trouble. Are you finding yourself in trouble because of the things you have said? If so, then you need to do a Bible study on the words of your mouth or come back to this site to read the other parts to Life Giving Words (part 2 & 3).

Use knowledge correctly(Pr. 15:2) Do you know that you can say the right thing and it can be wrong? You can say it to the wrong people or to the right person at the wrong time. The wisdom we can obtain from God (Jam. 1:5) will give us the right words to the right people at the right time.

Refreshes(Pr. 15:3-4) A wholesome or gentle tongue can be like a cool refreshing spring of water on a hot summer day. Not only can life giving words bring refreshing they can also bring healing. I remember an instance when my daughter was just 5 yrs old and she spoke such gentle words that healed my soul. I was 29 years old and my father had just died of a heart attack. The shock of his death was overwhelming, until I looked into my daughters smiling eyes and heard her say “Daddy, it’s going to be okay”. For some reason those gentle, simple, reassuring words poured over me like cool water. Look for opportunities where your words can refresh someone, like my daughter did for me that day.

Disperse knowledge(Pr. 15:7) Did you know that you can’t stop a wise man of God from telling other people about what God has done for him. That is the way we as believers should be so that unbelievers could come to the knowledge of Him. Freely you have received, freely give.

Joy(Pr. 15:23) Life giving words, spoken at the right time to the right person, not only brings joy to the hearer but also brings joy to the deliverer. I am so excited for you to experience this blessing in your life. There is nothing like giving the right answer at the right time to a troubled soul.

Create Life(Pr. 18:21) I dont believe there are more powerful words than these Death and Life are in the power of the tongue. Life and Death, Blessing or Cursing, are in the power of your tongue. As Moses told the children of Israel

“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;;

I implore you to watch what you say. I know Moses was talking about choosing to obey God by choosing to keep His covenant of commandments. Even so we should heed the voice of His Word in these passages about the words of our mouths. Please choose to speak words that will bring you a harvest of blessing and life. Not just for only you but your descendants and those who love you.

Be Blessed; Pastor Frank

Ps 9:11 Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion! Declare His deeds among the people.

What is Zion?((Ps 48:2)

Physical Aspects:

Of all the hills of Jerusalem mount Zion is the tallest. It is separated by a valley from Mount Moriah, the site of Solomon’s temple, which is a 105ft lower (Eastons Revised Bible Dictionary). It was the south-eastern hill of Jerusalem that was occupied by the Jebusites up until the time of David. The tribe of Judah did not drive them out (Jos 15:63 As for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.); but when David came to Jerusalem he conquered them (2Sa 5:7 Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David).)

It is where David brought back the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and placed it in the Tabernacle which he had built for it (1Ch 15:1 David built houses for himself in the City of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched a tent for it.). Wherever the Ark of the Covenant was there would be the daily rituals at this tabernacle. It was here that David instituted elaborate and daily praise be offered to the Lord. Many of the songs and psalms sung he had written and arranged. Therefore Zion became known as a place of praise(Isa 35:10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, And come to Zion with singing, With everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.). When Solomon removed the Ark from Zion to Mt Moriah (1Ki 8:1 Now Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the chief fathers of the children of Israel, to King Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the City of David, which is Zion…cf 2Chr 3:1) it began to be used in later times as referring to Jerusalem. It is also used to refer to Gods people Israel (Ps. 87:5) and in the New Testament the Church (Heb.12:22)

Spiritual Significance:

Since it was known as a place of praise and the Lord dwelled in the praises of His people (Ps 22:3 But thou [art] holy, [O thou] that inhabitest the praises of Israel.) it became a symbol of the presence and praise of God. Zion becomes a picture of the believer and the Church by having the indwelling of the God of all creation inside them. Because it housed the Ark and the daily sacrifices were offered there it signifies the need for our own daily sacrifice to the Lord (Lu 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me ) and in the New Testament the Church cf Rm 12:1 Two-Fold Purpose

1.     Sing Praises
2.     Declare His Deeds Among the People

Be Blessed;  Pastor Frank

1Jo 1:6 if we say we are partakers together and enjoy fellowship with Him when we live and move and are walking about in darkness, we are speaking falsely and do not live and practice the Truth . 7 But if we are living and walking in the Light, as He is in the Light, we have

fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt . (AMP)

Fellowship with God and one another is the basis of being a successful Christian. The Great Commandment ((Mk 12:30-31) of love is what must compel us in our everyday life. This is what John calls walking in the light. (1Jo 2:10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.) So walking in the darkness is not loving our brother (1Jo 2:9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.) Love, then, must be the ultimate goal of every believer who wants to please God and have continual fellowship with Him. Remember that Jesus said “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” John 14:21 It is so important to love the way that God loves and not the way the world loves.

In our society today we have lost the concept of fellowship. The Greek word for fellowship is also translated communion. The word we get community from. Our society needs a restored sense of community. I believe that will only come when the Church starts to display that to one another in their meeting places (ecclesia). As we learn to love and live in community with one another than the spiritual outcome will be that it will be diffused outward to our society((2Cor 2:14-15). To accomplish this we must seriously decide that we must die to our own concept of “Self” Survival.

What I mean by “Self” Survival is seeing every circumstance and situation from the perspective of how it affects “Me”. We must detach ourselves from the infusion of secular philosophy (Individualism and Self Awareness) that has inundated our minds. This concept is the leading cause of the breakdown of community in our churches today. If we can divest our selves from Self Survival and invest in a Sense of Community, then I believe that we can seriously begin to regain our position of influencing our society. Lets let God work a Sense of Community in our lives that will affect our society today.

Be Blessed;  Pastor Frank