Saturday, May 23, 2009

I Want My Inheritance!

I just finished my third installment of the Principles of the Kingdom Series on the Eternal Word Broadcast. I am teaching about the kingdom of God, and right now I am teaching about who will receive. More specifically, I was teaching about hindrances to the kingdom.

We all know that some things that happen in our lives make it difficult to serve God the way we want to. Life's circumstances sway us from our path and purpose. But if we stop, repent, and turn around, we can be put back on the path that God has chosen for us.

In the word of God, we have precious reminders that God desires greatness for us. The scriptures the Holy Ghost gave me for tonight offer great encouragement.

"Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our Lord." 1 Corinthians 6:11

That's the good news of the passage, now here's the bad news: "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

Do any of those terms strike a nerve? If so, you better make sure you are on the right side of this equation - such were some of you. The way to change what you are into what you were is to repent and make a clean break with sin.

The Lord wants us to inherit the kingdom, to be partakers of His divine nature. Take the time today to ensure that you are on the list for inheriting the kingdom of God.

I don't know about you, but I want my inheritance! I do not want to get to the end of my journey and find out that I have been disqualified by virtue of the way I have lived my life.

Let's begin today to let the blood of the lamb of God wash our sins away and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness so that we may all be partaker's of the kingdom.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Is Your City Sin City?

As I write this, I am sitting in a great hotel room in Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada. When I was getting ready to come here, I told one of the pastors at my church that I was going to Sin City. He responded by asking, "What city is that?" His next comment was even more striking. He stated that every city is sin city nowadays.

I have been thinking about that and it is so true. It is hard to differentiate one place from another in the universal sense of sinfulness. However, we have to acknowledge that each area has its own particular wickedness that seems to prevail. For instance, here in Las Vegas, gambling is abundant. I have observed scores of people sitting motionless in front of machines that are sucking up their finances. There is a certain excitement in the bells and whistles, to be sure. I have seen high stakes tables where people wager more money than I make in a month on the draw of some cards or the toss of some dice. I have taken a look at the people and you can almost tell those that have been in this environment for a long time. There is a certain quiet desperation in their faces. I have seem more boobs and booze here than I have ever seen in my life, and I only went out one night.

This may not be the dominant spirit where you live, but do not think your area is exempt. There is something, if you really stop to look at it, that is recognizable as a territorial sin issue. In Houston, as in much of the South, religion is the ruling spirit. People are very religious and attend church faithfully without ever changing their lives by establishing a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. They follow big name preachers and wear membership in large churches as a badge of honor.

However, I did not come to bring you bad news. I came to encourage you that even though you may be living in a realm that is ruled by a demonic principality, you have weapons in the Spirit that can give you the victory.

The Word of God declares that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood. It is not the people that are the problem. Instead the Bible declares that are problem is principalities and powers, the rulers of darkness in this present world, and spiritual wickedness in high places. (See Ephesians chapter 6). There is good news for us in I John 4:4. It tells us that if we are in Christ and He is in us, He is greater in us than the one who is the ruling force in the world.

That is great news! Jesus has already overcome the enemy, no matter what it looks like. However, we must live out that victory in our daily lives. It seems difficult sometimes when we look around and see evil everywhere. But God always causes us to triumph - in every situation the people of God can be the overcomers, receiving the spoils of war.

Be encouraged to ask God to help you realize the victory that has already been given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ. He will do it!

Friday, May 1, 2009

Stay Connected

It's funny, but I just lost what I felt was a very brilliant post that I just added to another one of my blogs. What happened was I lost my internet connection. The funny thing about it is I was writing about keeping in touch with God through prayer.

Now I am over here, writing about staying connected. It is a slightly different thought, but the theme of connectedness lingers on.

As believers in Jesus Christ, we must make every effort to stay connected to Him. It is sometimes hard in our state of busyness to set aside time for Him alone, but it is vital to our progress and productivity.

The Lord Jesus Christ told us in the fifteenth chapter of John that we must abide in Him. He let us know that we will be pruned if we bring forth fruit. He also let us know that if we do not bring forth fruit, we will be cut off.

Here is the powerful statement found in John 15:4, "Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me." (HCSB).

I encourage you today to stay on the vine. I know it is tempting to try to branch out on your own. Sometimes you may feel that being connected is holding you back. But the truth is the vine supplies the nourishment you need for your dreams and visions to come to pass.

Stay connected to Christ through fellowship with Him. The true vine is more than willing to supply you with all that you need to see the purpose of God fulfilled in your life. You will bring forth fruit in abundance as the divine vinedresser prunes and dresses you for greatness.

We Need to Right What's Wrong

Hi there, my friends!  I know, I'm not a consistent blogger.  I have been working for many years to change that, but I am finding that m...