NCarolinian

I am teaching today on developing the mindset and lifestyle, as Christians, to overflow into the lives of others what God has freely and abundantly given and blessed you with. Many believers have no issue with receiving and unfortunately that's where the blessing stops, they have no outlet for pouring into the lives of others. Being a citizen of The Kingdom of God, being a Disciple of Christ and Child of the Living God is spelled out several times in Scripture in this regard - "freely you have received, now freely give." (Matt. 10:5-8) Matthew 13:31-32 cites Jesus telling about the smallest of its kind of seed, the mustard seed. When this seed is planted and is nurtured to full health - the smallest seed becomes one of the greatest trees in the area, providing shade, shelter and security for birds and other wildlife. If a seed, not being human, can be given or planted, then give back through what it becomes - how much more can God bless His own and His own should reflect...

“If we do not believe in decent behavior, why should we be so anxious to make excuses for not having behaved decently? The truth is, we believe in decency so much – we feel the Rule of Law pressing on us so – that we cannot bear to face the fact that we are breaking it and consequently we try to shift the responsibility.” “These, then, are the two points I wanted to make. First, that human beings, all over the earth, have this curious idea that they ought to behave in a certain way and cannot really get rid of it. Secondly, that they do not in fact behave in that way. They know the Law of Nature; they break it.” (p.21, Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis) Within the human is what many old time scholars used to call The Law of Nature. This term was updated to The Law of Human Nature to reflect a moral compass that directs humanity’s decisions on right and wrong. If anyone studied the world civilizations of history, the shared common moral compass; an agreed upon standard of decent behavior fo...

There are many times I have found myself in the middle of a serious problem that I wished and prayed would either vanish or conveniently find its solution immediately. While that satisfaction would alleviate my burden and allow me to continue with my life, there are some productive outcomes that result from embracing our challenges. I have felt and seen in the lives of others the truth that if we don't firmly grasp our issues, they will not only firmly clinch us, they will likely dominate us. So, tackle the situation before it tackles you - if you can. If the circumstances took you by surprise, then respond don't react to the invader. Reacting is a sudden, knee-jerk, immediate action done due to some stimuli. Responding is the deliberate acknowledging of what is happening and planning of the necessary reply. I never said this was going to be easy and it often is not, especially in a heated and difficult situation. Although I do not wish problems on anybody, the more problems yo...

I've heard many times from the pulpit - "You cannot out-give God." While this is true and many of us would try to out-give God for honorable reasons, Christians need to understand the idea of being filled up with God before pouring out God to others. If resting in God's presence and allowing Him to minister to you does not happen, then whatever believers do is under their own strength.  Some people have a hard time with receiving anything from anybody, especially God. However, from the beginning, if we desire to be part of God's Family, there must be a reception of God's gift of love - Christ Jesus. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16 Look at the ways Jesus loved us - He taught us His new way of Kingdom living, lived the perfect life we could not live, sacrificed His perfect life for ours as the redeeming substitute for our fallen relationship...

Salvation through Christ Jesus is, according to Jesus, the Only Way humanity and creation are made right with God ( John 14:6 ). Plus one's default, eternal destination is re-routed from Hell to Heaven ( Colossians 1:13 ).   In addition to providing the Christian's eternal pardon, Christ also provides empowerment. The believer's acceptance of salvation through Christ declares - "I am going about life wrong. I could never live the perfect life. Jesus you lived the life I could not live and died the death I could not die. I will live for you King Jesus." Therefore, salvation should spur or ignite the believer to words and actions that would continue to spread His compassionate salvation. To do this, the Holy Spirit has been promised to those who ask for Him to reside within.  The Holy Spirit living within the believer, acting as Advocate, Comforter and Counselor is necessary for the believer to have a more personal connection with the Lord and be empowered to perfor...

Concerning the details of God and most of the situations in my life - why does God prefer hindsight as the assistant instructor? In a relationship there is two-way communication. Most of the time in life-situations, where I believe I am being taught something - the communication from God seems to stop and I have to wait for the hindsight to arrive. I read God's Word, listen to Godly teaching and try to discern what the Holy Spirit is instructing me. But as a person limited in time and space, when God does not follow-up with actions in a timely manner my faith fails and God is viewed as not the same today, yesterday or forever. I acknowledge God has the right to apply the God Disclaimer - when He deems action appropriate to take, He will take it. In the meantime, as I study His Word, should not God's operation of His favor, protection, healing and so forth align where I can at least grasp and understand His unchanging nature and preference on timing? I still will trust God, I ha...

I would think the main reason any Christian would list for the purpose of Christ's first visit would be to seek and save the lost. This is clearly supported by Jesus according to John 3:16 . However, there were two other goals during His life-mission - (1) to destroy the works of the devil (1 Jn. 3:8) and (2) proclaim the good news of His kingdom (Matt. 4:23) .  I hear many sermons and teachings on Salvation and the victory we have through Christ over the devil. But in addition to the securing of our eternal destination and triumph over the enemy of our souls -  Kingdom living is what we do in the meantime and He brought a better lifestyle from Heaven to live.  Christ came as The King to bring His Kingdom. Some things that I think comprise a kingdom are - the king, servants, citizens, royalty, rules, relationships, lifestyles, economy and a military as a good start. Allow me to take you through a paraphrased history of God's kingdom. Before any kingdom or created thing t...

Since Christians believe in the ever-present, all-knowing, all-powerful God - submitting a request to God is knowing this and surrendering to His Lordship, especially concerning the timing of one's request. I recognize giving up all that you are and have to someone else's plan, even if the other plan is God's, is against our selfishness. This is a huge part of our fallen nature that God is continually trying to change in the believer. Christian's desire what we want, when we want it, how we want it - treating God like a genie sometimes. However, Christ Jesus has visited this world and not only redeemed those who would accept His gift of salvation, but secured healing and the answer for all areas of our lives through His life, sacrifice and resurrection. Now, even though believers have the assurance of that same resurrection power and spirit living within them, the Christian must still trust God in the timing of His promises. There have been times in my life when I have ...

One mountaintop in life, one success is not enough for full development or satisfaction. Therefore, we must live and look toward the next mountaintop, the next goal, the following glory. However, our expectation should be the Valley or No-Man's Land in between to be our vehicle, not our hindrance, to the next Glory. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (King James Version) The New International Version reads,  "And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." Notice that the next glory compared to the  Mountaintop you are presently celebrating is promised to be higher or increased - "with ever-increasing glory" . Therefore some call the time that justifies that higher mounta...

I have always wanted to be someone with the right words at the right time for someone going through a tough season of life. Proverbs 15:23 says it like this - "A person finds joy in giving an apt reply—and how good is a timely word!" Many times I ask God - What should I say here God? What should I do at this point Lord? How should I be thinking about this King Jesus? These are all awesome questions that I do not ask enough concerning my own life. The inquiries require me to pause long enough for me to receive inspiration from the Holy Spirit on God's leading. And in this world of instant this and that, pausing is difficult. When I examine the instance when Solomon sought God out for wisdom in governing God's people instead of fame, riches and defeat over his enemies - I always want to pat Solomon on the back. God not only granted his request for wisdom, but gave Solomon wisdom greater than that of anyone known. But wait! There's more! God granted Solomon the thi...

Jesus laughed. This sentence is found nowhere in Scripture. "Jesus wept." is found in John 11:35 and is the shortest verse in the Bible. Besides this being the shortest verse in Scripture, we can be well assured that Jesus experienced all emotions, including laughter or light-heartedness and joy.  The depiction many receive of Jesus is from Isaiah 53:2-3 ..... "He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem." This portrait of Jesus is justified because His mission was a serious and critical one, plus He was all about His Father's business. " Traditionally, paintings of Jesus have tended toward melancholy portrayals of a somber, glum Savior. It is true that Jesus became our Sin-bearer (1 Peter 2:24) and that He “was despised and ...

The day of The Sermon on the Mount was a huge day in the life and ministry of Jesus. The Be-Attitudes as they have been deemed, that lead off Christ's teaching, are just that - the lead off. There are two additional chapters, Matthew 6 and 7, where Jesus instructs on topics such as being salt and light to the world, Him being the fulfillment of the Law, God's view on murder, adultery, divorce, oaths, taking an eye for an eye, loving your enemies, giving to the needy, prayer, fasting, treasures in heaven, not worrying, judging others, the art of seeking God, the narrow and wide gates, true and false prophets, true and false disciples, plus the wise and foolish builders. Jesus did not stop at His speech either. Immediately following His teaching, He came down the mount and began His healing ministry to those in need. What a day for Him and them! However, when focusing in on the Be-Attitudes we find that those instructions are a good and strong start to what Jesus had to communica...

If you purchase something, you are agreeing the Value or Worth placed upon the thing is what is willing to be surrendered to attain it.  I submit to you then that, you would  have to experience something or someone far greater in value in order to consider gifting that earlier, obtained  something. Said another way - have you ever purchased an extremely high quality and expensive product that was meant for yourself but then the exact person that could use your purchase came to mind?   Remember the sisters of Mary and Martha and their brother Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead? Well, I take you back in time, specifically to John 12:1-8 , after Jesus had raised Lazarus, to the house of the siblings. They were holding a dinner in honor of Jesus. As Martha served and Lazarus reclined at the table, Mary took a pound, a pint or half a liter of some of the most expensive perfume of the day and poured it all on the feet of Jesus. Then Mary proceeded to take her ow...

Humanity would be in a mess if Christ only came for one type of person - the rich, the educated, the popular, the political savvy, the religious minded and so forth.  When you examine the life of Jesus, the Son of God - one might think that because He is the Only Son of God that He would receive a more royal and fanfare welcome into this world than a birth in a manger in a stable. However, His first visitation was prophesied to arrive this way. He was also foretold not to be anything to behold and associated with suffering and pain. The prophet Isaiah said it this way many years before Christ came on the scene -  "He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem." - Isa. 53:2-3 In addition to Christ's lowly arrival and His unattractive appearance ...

I get in the way of the Lord's favor and plan sometimes. Thank God, He does not close off access to Himself because of my dumb decisions. In fact, 1 John 1:9 states to believers -  "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." John is speaking to believers here ( 1 Jn. 5:13 ), of a relational confessing of sin - a making things right within a personal relationship with God through Christ.  " All of our sins are forgiven 'positionally' the moment we receive Christ as Savior. This positional forgiveness guarantees our salvation and promise of an eternal home in heaven. When we stand before God after death, God will not deny us entrance into heaven because of our sins. That is positional forgiveness. The concept of relational forgiveness is based on the fact that when we sin, we offend God and grieve His Spirit ( Ephesians 4:30 ). While God has ultimately forgiven us of the sins we commit...