Have You Changed? - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for other) April 2, 2024

Do you ever read, listen, or watch the testimonies of people who have encountered Christ? It is always amazing to see how an interaction with the Lord can rapidly transform a life. Drug dealers and users repent and become zealous preachers of the word. Thieves abandon their wicked ways to evangelize Christ to unbelievers. The sick receive healing and tell everyone who will listen to what Christ did for them.

This pattern of behavior isn't new. A quick peek into the Bible reveals that even in the days of old God would touch people and they would never be the same.

In the Old Testament, Naaman, a Syrian military commander, met the God of Abraham in Israel and became a believer when his leprosy was healed. Long before him, Rahab made a deal with some Israelite spies. She didn't know their God at the time, but had heard how He'd set them free from Egypt and knew she needed to be on the winning team. She helped the spies and was able to spare her entire family and others tied to them from certain death when Jericho's city wall came down.

Apostle Paul provides a key example of how God's touch can change lives in the New Testament. He was once known as Saul and was an accuser and prosecutor of Christians. However, while on his way to find Christians and have them killed, he met Jesus. That singular interaction changed the trajectory of his life. He spent some years studying and learning anew, reemerged as 'Paul', and used the rest of his days to spread the gospel. Every Christian since then has been impacted by that encounter as most of the books in the New Testament were written by him.

And here is what he had to say about himself, 1 Timothy 1:13 - Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.

That is the testimony of a man who understood the transformation he underwent. It is the statement of a man who knew that if Christ hadn't touched him, his life would have been a waste. God wants everyone to have that sort of enlightenment - to look back at the futile trajectory they were on and thank Him for the path of righteousness they now walk with Him.

Can you honestly testify the way Apostle Paul did? Can you attest to how meeting Christ changed you? Can you look at the things you did in your Before Christ (BC) days and rejoice that you are now in your After Christ (AC) era?

A true encounter with God must change a person. Abraham met God and left everything he knew for a foreign land. Jacob encountered God and walked away with a new name. The woman at the well met Christ and became a fervent follower, spreading the gospel near and far.

What about you? Has your behavior changed from your BC times now that you are in your AC days? Are there things you won't do now that you did before? If you say you are a Christian and you continue to use foul language, get drunk, be petty, gossip, and slander people, then change and the fear of God are needed. Today is the day to repent and allow the Lord to step into the driver's seat of your life. Let Him transform you for His glory and by His grace, so you can confidently point to how knowing Him is changing you.

To learn more, please consider these related messages:

1. Stubbornness

2. Grace Changes You

Don't Ignore God's Knowledge - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) March 29, 2024

For many, the Book of Revelation can seem terrifying. It speaks of a future filled with bloodshed, destruction, and unimaginable evil. Yet, that Book is also a reflection of the steadfast love of God in that He took the time to warn His people of what is to come so they could prepare.

Several things are made clear through the Book of Revelation. For instance, the Lord our God shall surely return and nobody, not even Jesus, knows exactly when that will be. Nevertheless, God was kind enough to tell us much of what will happen in the years, decades, and centuries precipitating that return. Further, the Book of Revelation illustrates that God's return to earth will be after an all-out battle with the devil. God will win that battle, banishing satan and all who align with it to the lake of sulfur.

Every self-professing Christian must confront the following question - what team do you want to be on? The winning team which God leads or the losing team, led by satan? If winning is your preference, then God's team is your obvious choice. Fortunately, He is interested and well-invested in having you pick His side. His arms are wide open to all who opt for Him instead of the devil.

Once God has extended that grace, He expects His own to make choices that allow them to maintain their place on the winning squad. These include studying His word to become familiar with Him. It also means learning to acknowledge what He does by praising Him and testifying to the great things He has done. The more we apply this approach, the more He teaches us how to live a life that pleases Him, bringing blessings to ourselves and those around us.

​Wisdom is another crucial ingredient, and maybe the most crucial of all. Book sense and street smarts will only get a person so far but the wisdom that comes from the Lord will provide the answer to every question. We therefore have to look to Him for everything and in all things. When we do so, He will kindly reveal what we need to know and ease us through events and circumstances that would derail others.

This is why we are told in Hosea 4:6 - my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.

God's knowledge will keep us from the destruction that comes upon the unwise. His knowledge is a shield not only for ourselves but those who come after us. That knowledge is in the Bible and the more we read, the more we know because He will open our minds so they receive the beautiful secrets contained within. He does not reveal these things to those who do not fear Him or lack humility in their approach to the word. For these types, the Bible's mysteries will remain hidden no matter how many times they read it.

Mysteries like those revealed in the Book of Revelation. These hidden things were given to alert believers to what is to come. That way, we can live ready for God's return and teach our descendants so that they will also end up on the winning team long after we are gone. If you are a believer, please do not reject the knowledge God has provided in the Bible. Do not ignore His instructions. Make time in your busy schedule to read the Bible regularly and not just books about God or religious issues. Go to the source material and absorb the wisdom He has given for free. God bless you.

See you at Noon EST for fellowship time, when we'll worship and pray for people together.

Faith Advances God's Work - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) March 26, 2024

When I was much younger, debates were civilized affairs. One person would express their ideas while the person on the opposing side would wait patiently to share their thoughts. Nowadays, civilized debate is all but non-existent. People argue for sport, screaming at each other on television, social media, and in person. The latter situation tends to involve course language and in some cases, physical violence. Also, nowadays, no topic is out of bounds.

The Body of Christ has sadly not escaped the changing times. Christians readily argue over all manner of topics and the resulting 'discussions' aren't always Christ-like. They run the gamut from the debate on who is an Israelite to whether churches should play secular music during service. Then some argue women should not wear pants or makeup. Others staunchly disagree on whether Jesus was white or black, ignoring that He was born in the Middle East and likely had the physical characteristics common to that region. The list of potential divisions and debatable issues is endless.

However, Christians are to focus on advancing God's kingdom here on earth. We are His ambassadors, after all. The Bible instructs us to advance God's work through faith, not arguments about myths, genealogies, and other controversial speculations (1 Timothy 1:4). We cannot forget that believers have been cautioned against "meaningless talk" (1 Timothy 1:6). Plus, we are told in 2 Timothy 2:23, "Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels".

​The Lord wants us to trust Him to guide us in our interactions with both believers and unbelievers. He wants us to submit to Him so His Holy Spirit can work through us to achieve His purposes. This could, at some point, involve a robust discussion where a Christian faces questions that challenge their worldview. If that believer is led by the Spirit, they will do so with a dose of love and peace, avoiding sharp disagreements. Faith, not the ability to argue and win, is what God desires from His ambassadors as they walk in their Kingdom Identity.

Think about it, when God called Moses to serve Him, the man worried that others wouldn't believe him (Exodus 4:1). The Lord responded by teaching him to have faith, showing him that the very shepherd's staff in his hand could be transformed through His power. Moses went forth and did God's work in the land of Egypt and elsewhere. Similarly, when Jeremiah was called to serve, he worried he was too young and nobody would listen to Him. God told Him that He'd placed His words in his mouth (Jeremiah 1:9). Therefore, all that was required from Jeremiah was faith that God would see him through. And that was exactly what happened as the prophet spoke God's word, advancing the kingdom, in the midst of stubborn people who eventually witnessed his prophecies come to pass.

God's approach was no different in the time of Jesus Christ. God's Son spoke about the kingdom to everyone who would listen. Though firm in His stance, he showed love to people and led them back to the Lord. He had faith that God would use Him as a vessel. He healed many, raised the dead, and miraculously fed thousands. These acts transformed lives for the Lord's glory and increased people's faith. They continue to have that impact today.

As we interact with others. we must remember to put our faith to work believing that the Lord will help us advance His good works on the earth. There is no need to rely upon our intelligence because God will show us how to behave and speak in a way that reflects well on His kingdom. The Royal Law also serves as a guide to treat others as we want to be treated and the more we study the word, the more we will learn how to carry ourselves. The good Lord will help us to advance His works and His kingdom through the faith we have, as we grow in Him, IJMN, Amen.