Win With God

In The Building But Not In The Body (Message #10)

We who call ourselves Christians must not be guilty of not living our lives for Christ. Those who claim to have been born again have become members of God’s family and while membership has privileges, there are responsibilities. Our lives should produce the fruit of the Spirit, those characteristics of God, namely, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith-fulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).

Our lives should no longer reflect the acts of the sinful nature, namely, “sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealously, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy, drunkenness, orgies, and the like” (Galatians 5:19-21). God warns, “those who live like this will not inherit the Kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:21).

Our lives should show change; and our lifestyle should be distinguishable from the world or those who do no profess to have given their life to Christ. The Church is not some place we go; the Church is who we are. The Church is the Body of Christ and Christ is returning for a Body(Church) “that is radiant, without stain, wrinkle, or any blemish; a Church that is holy and blameless” (Ephesians 5:27).

There are many gathering places and congregations, but there is only one body and that body must be holy. “In view of God’s mercy, offer your body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual (reasonable, satisfactory) act of service” (Romans 12:1). In other words, if you will not do anything else, at least do this. “Do you not realize your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, Who is in you, Whom you have received from God? You are not your own. You were bought at a price; therefore honor God with your body” (I Corinthians 6:19).

The body of Christ (Church) should be atmosphere changers; situations should improve just because we showed up. The body of Christ (Church) should be answers to questions; the body of Christ (Church) should be solutions to problems. If we do not present ourselves as living sacrifices holy and acceptable to God and do the work He has assigned us to do, we may be in the building, but we are not in the body.

LIFE IS THE PERIOD OF TIME WE SPEND ON EARTH

TO DECIDE WHERE WE WILL SPEND ETERNITY

God Is Not Fair (Message #13)

To be fair is to exhibit no bias, to be rational or impartial. Well, that’s not God! He is bias and His preference is you. "For I know the plans I have for you, [declares the Lord], plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

God is not Rational; God is Radical. His thoughts, His behavior, His persistence, are not reasonable, are not sensible, are not levelheaded when it comes to His children. He’s so uncompromising and extreme about His family that He was willing to take on the form of a man and be slandered, beaten, ridiculed, degraded, nailed to the cross, and pierced in his side. God through Jesus endured it all to reconcile the world to Himself (John 1:1-15, John 18-20).

God is not impartial; He does have favorites. “The Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless” (Psalm 84:11).

Fair would suggest you get what you deserve, what is coming to you. It is true that you reap what you sow, that what goes around comes around, and that there is a law of reciprocity, but you still do not get what should/would come to you if life was fair. Do you really want justice?

Justice said kill them because “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23) and “the soul who sins is the one who will die” (Ezekiel 18:4).

But Mercy interrupted and said let them live because if they confess with their mouths and believe in their hearts, we can save them (Romans 10:9-10).

Then Grace shouted don’t just let them live, make them co-heirs with Jesus (Romans 8:17). If we can save them then they can be a part of the family and their Big Brother will be more than happy to share the kingdom with them. Daddy I thank you for not being fair.

So, the next time you choose to be irritated because “life is not fair,” STOP, then thank God it’s not.

JUSTICE:WHEN YOU GET WHAT YOU DESERVE

MERCY:WHEN YOU DON’T GET WHAT YOU DESERVE

GRACE:WHEN YOU GET WHAT YOU DON’T DESERVE

THE devil GOES TO CHURCH (Message #21)

The devil goes to church and he is invited. he goes to see if the house is really united.

The devil goes to church and enjoys the view. he delights in those who don’t speak to you.

The devil goes to church to search the pulpit. When he does, will he find his next puppet?

The devil goes to church and who are his escorts? Could it be the ones in the short tight skirts?

The devil goes to church and he is waiting for you. he wants to see your praise after getting out of the wrong bed where he just left you.

The devil goes to church; how long will he stay? Do you have spiritual weaponry to drive him away?

The devil goes to church; he may sit on your pew. The devil goes to church; was he invited by you?

GOD IS ANGRY and HE WANTS HIS HOUSE SET IN ORDER