NCarolinian

The lesson of Temptation in our life is one in recognition and then avoidance. There are other words we can use in our vocabulary that denote a more positive meaning of the consideration of something - like  persuasion . But the word Temptation carries along with it the enticement and alluring of one to something forbidden. For many of us, I feel sure that we remember the first great temptation in The Garden of Eden. Because of the human failure in that temptation, other temptations would arrive on the scene quicker than one can blink. The Knowledge of Good and Evil now gave the power to individuals to persuade someone to follow God's ways or tempt people to choose a sinful or rebellious lifestyle. Many years later, the Holy Spirit would lead Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted. Let us be clear. The Holy Spirit was NOT the tempter. That role falls to Satan. The Holy Spirit had just anointed Jesus at His baptism and Christ's ministry was beginning.  However, this t...

God loves Family, Fellowship and Food. Everyone of these is portrayed as Fortified or protected in The Passover event when the families are inside eating and protected by the Lamb's blood on the doorpost. This love for a protected gathering of family and food is also seen in The Last Supper event when the disciples are inside eating that meal and protected by Father God, except the one that would betray Jesus. Now, I come to A Certain Table that my Lord is arranging. The word "table" in this verse actually means a meal. And what a glorious victory meal for believers in Christ it will be. Reminiscent of The Passover and Communion, The Table or meal will occur in the presence of - to name a few - cancer, discouragement, fear, death, the worldly spirits, fleshly desires and the devil – my enemies. The actual verse from Psalm 23:5 states unto God - "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies." Even though you may count yourself to be among tho...

In an effort to stress the importance of not worrying, Matthew 6:28-34 records Jesus speaking about clothing as one of the preoccupations that can divert people's focus away from God. Clothing is not a bad thing. In fact, it is encouraged for a number of reasons - sanitary/health just being one. But when worry enters the picture constantly and consumes you concerning how you want to portray yourself everyday, then there is an issue. Read how Jesus explains this- “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you —you of little faith?" Here are the main points - Don't worry Trust God and what He wants to clothe you in Seek Him first (verses 31-34) Notice God desires to clothe us in...

Repentance not only means to recognize your misdirection or error and turn around and go in a different direction with a different mindset, but it means to choose God's Way when you do turn around.  We all can turn around and select another direction that seems opposite to our original heading, but the key is to plot your course with The Morning Star, Christ Jesus, as your Guiding Light in life. This call to Repentance is what John the Baptist was proclaiming prior to the start of the ministry of Jesus. However, God's Guiding Light was The Law at that time. John desired people to turn away from their wicked lifestyles and follow God wholeheartedly. John's baptism was an outward and inward expression of that devoted turn or repentant heart for God's statutes and commands. However, there would be an even better Baptism which Jesus would provide that John the Baptist encouraged all to be submerged under.  “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes...

The King James Version of The Bible reads Ephesians 4:27 as - "Neither give place to the devil."  "That word 'place' in Ephesians 4:27 is from the Greek word topos . It describes a specific, marked-off location. But rather than a physical location that we use a map to identify, this 'place' may refer to a rough spot in our relationships, our finances, our thoughts, our personal habits, or to lingering areas of disobedience. Whatever it is, it’s an identifiable location that the devil seeks to find and use as an open door into our lives." ( https://renner.org/how-to-keep-the-devil-out-of-your-life/)  Another word for "place" , according to the New International Version is  foothold . " We need to be serious about our lives because the devil is always looking for a door, a window, or a crack [a foothold] — any entry point — through which he can access us. We must circumspectly look at our lives to see if there’s any area we...

What makes The Chief Cornerstone different from the remaining three corners of the foundation of one's structure? The answer is  the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation , which is analogous to our spiritual foundation, is important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure. Cornerstones are important in the building of a physical structure, but even moreso our lives. The cornerstones set the boundaries, give direction and support the load of the structure. All of the cornerstones matter in our lives, but one matters most - The Chief Cornerstone. In Scripture, Paul wrote to the believers in Ephesus and portrayed them and all future believers as living stones set as part of God's Holy Temple with Christ as The Chief Cornerstone. "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on ...

Slavery to me is forced servant-hood. It is a stronger will imposing itself over another for the benefit of the imposer. Anytime I hear the word slave or slavery - I have no good images associated with it. But then I read Scripture and I hear those words used as a passionate way to communicate Servant-hood, especially being a bonded servant to Christ. Even though the words used by Paul in his letter to the believers in Rome were interpreted "servants", the meaning of servants was bond-servant by voluntary or involuntary means. The original Greek word he used was Doulos . But Paul comes to the word and term of slavery and flips the negativity of it for me. Listen as he describes this new look in Romans 6:16-18 - "Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used t...