I Am Christian - Finale

 

1 Corinthians 12:28

And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, 

diversities of tongues.

    I am Christian and I am the body of Christ. With the help and guidance of The Holy Spirit, I am able to do the things which God has called me to do. I have been anointed with oil and fire, that I might proclaim with boldness and fearlessness The Word of God in all aspects of my being. 

    I am prophets who speak The Word of God which is to come. I warn of the coming judgment on the unrepentant souls. I speak the divine will of God in regards to current events. I interpret The Word of God that those who do not understand may hear and learn. 

    I am teachers of The Word of God. I explain The Word of God from my depth of knowledge and understanding to anyone who wants to hear and learn. I am Sunday School teachers. I am adult learning teachers. I teach The Word with both my words and my actions. In whatever setting I find myself I teach. As Philip taught the Ethiopian when The Spirit of God brought them together: Acts 8:26-40. 

    I am miracle workers and healings. I have the ability through God's power to heal the sick, the wounded and the dying. The deaf hear, the blind see, the lame walk, the mentally tormented are delivered and the addict restored. In my own self I cannot do this: it is God working through me. 

    I am helpers. Within the church there are many things that need to be done. As in Acts 6:1-7, when seven certain men were chosen to care for the needs of the growing church. 

    I am administrations. I have the divine gift of being able to organize, run and maintain the business end of the church. I am inclined to be mathematical (choosing where to use the tithes and offerings coming into the church coffers) and methodical (a place for everything and everything in its place). 

    I have diversities of tongues. I speak many languages and dialects that I might spread the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ to all nations, ethnicities, cultures and subcultures. This power is divinely gifted to whomever God chooses to give it to within the body of Christ. 

    I am Christian and I am the body of Christ. I am called to first obey The Word of God, and second, to serve with and in The Word of God. To serve Him with grace, integrity (honorably and ethically), divine wisdom, and in the love of God without which I am just a clanging cymbal (1 Corinthians 13:1). 

    I am the body of Christ and I am here to serve God. Romans 12:1-13. 

    

VOICE OF TRUTH - Casting Crowns 

WHOM SHALL I FEAR - Chris Tomlin 

IF WE ARE THE BODY - Casting Crowns

    

Statements of Faith - Washed In The Blood

 

1 Corinthians 6:11

And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in The Name of The Lord Jesus Christ and by The Spirit of our God. 

Hebrews 9:13-14

For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean,  how much more will the blood of Christ, who through The eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!

THE REPENTANT HEART

Psalm 51:1-3

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after his adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions.

Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

    The commandments of God revealed the impossibleness of being saved through the law and that a Savior from God was needed to bring us into a right relationship with God. This Savior from God came to this earth and showed us the Way back into God's grace and mercy. His Name is Jesus Christ and He is God's only begotten Son (John 3:16). 

    God took His Word and wrapped it in the fragility of flesh (John 1:14) and through the power of His Holy Spirit, God placed His Word in Mary's womb (Luke 1:35). His Name, Jesus, means "He shall save His people" (Matthew 1:21, Luke 1:31). 

    Not, however, through the conquering Kingship God's people were expecting. God's plan of salvation was to send His perfect Lamb to be the atoning sacrifice which would be the "once and for all" salvation of God's people. No longer would animal sacrifices be necessary. For when God's Lamb died, the veils to the holy of holies was ripped open wide and now all had access to God through Christ; but only through Christ Jesus. For "There is no other Name under heaven by which men must be saved." (Acts 4:12). 

    My sins have been washed in the blood of The Lamb of God and I am forgiven! Come to the cross and see The Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world! 

ARE YOU WASHED IN THE BLOOD? 

NO OTHER NAME BUT JESUS  

AT THE CROSS  

I Am The Body of Christ - Part One - Apostles

 

1 Corinthians 12:12, 13

The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

Romans 12:4, 5

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function, so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another. 

   I am Christian and I am the body of Christ. I have been broken and poured out. I became a part of the body of Christ when I believed on The Name of The Only Begotten Son of God for my salvation. 

    My body is His. It is comprised of apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles. People with gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:28). 

    Apostles build churches from the ground up: first we share the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ with the people we meet in the cities in which we live. As Paul wrote, "We preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." (1 Corinthians 1:23, 24). 

    An apostle is humble (1 Corinthians 15:9). Apostles are messengers, envoys, delegates, one commissioned by another to represent him in some way, especially a man sent out by Jesus Christ Himself to preach the Gospel.  "To commission, send forth";  focusing back on the authority (commissioning) of the sender(Strong's #652). 

    We preach Christ, not ourselves, not a gospel of prosperity nor a gospel of self-sufficiency. We preach Christ crucified. Tortured, mocked, stripped of His garments, beard plucked out, face smashed, thorns forced into His precious head and nails hammered into His feet and His hands. Christ on the cross stained with His blood, mocked as He died. Speaking love and forgiveness to the ones who put Him there. Broken in body, but not bone. Strips of flesh dangling off His body of suffering. In front of His mother, whose heart was breaking at the sight of her firstborn Son's death. 

    But in death He did not remain, for Christ Jesus conquered death, hell and the grave now and forevermore! He rose from the dead and walked out of the grave with a new body.The same Jesus. The same voice. The same love, mercy and forgiveness. But a new and glorious body. The firstfruits of the resurrection, meaning He was the first to rise from the dead in such a way. 

     We are apostles and we are here in this body of Christ to tell you about our Jesus, The Christ, for Whom we are named. We are not worthy to be called apostles, yet calle us He did and still does. But when our heavenly Father sends His only begotten Son to bring His church home with Him, we will leave. And then .....

    What will you do with this Jesus and His message of salvation?

WALK WITH YOU    Michael Bethany

HOPE HAS A NAME River Valley Worship

SONG OF MOSES  Isaac Tarter

THERE IS ONE GOSPEL CityAlight 

TELL ME THE STORY OF JESUS Songs and Everlasting Joy

I Am Christian's Soul - Part Two

 

    I am Christian's soul. My soul is comprised of my heart, my mind, my strength. These three things are so intertwined it is impossible to separate them. What and how I think takes place in my mind. Then my thoughts travel to my heart, where I may ponder them and consider my next action regarding my thoughts. How I put my thoughts into action comes from my attitude towards what I am thinking about. 

    My soul has a price, it has value. Because I have been purchased by the blood of The Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, my soul belongs to Him. This redemptive process began when I believed on The Name of The Lord for my salvation. Now I am in the holiness stage where The Holy Spirit of God is making me holy, for without this holiness from God, I could not be with God. For He demands holiness from His people. 

    My 💙 is filled with the love of God, the agape kind of love, which is unconditional. No requirements are there to this love. When God loves us, He loves all of us. That's why He sent His Son, His Word, to us: that Jesus would Redeem us through His death and give us new life through His resurrection. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

    My 💙 contains my faith. My faith has come from hearing The Word of God in all its fulness and truth and applying it to my everyday way of life. When I waken, I thank Him for a new day and I praise Him for Who He Is. As I move through my day, He is with me by His Spirit, encouraging me in His Word and the music He provides to me.

    My 💙 is the seat of my emotions. I have known joy and I have known sorrow. I love, but I cannot hate. Compassion and mercy flow through me. I have both sympathy and empathy within me. A sympathetic heart commiserates with the unknown trials a person goes through. An empathetic heart, having gone through various trials, knows the value of the words spoken or unspoken in those given situations. 

    I am Christian and this is my heart. 

My 🤔 is sound and sober. Though a million thoughts may race through me at any given moment, the only thoughts that matter are the ones that stay. Memories live here briefly. Most remain in the heart. Some fade away with time. 

    Because I have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16), I am clear-minded and can see with clarity. No longer do I live in a rose-colored world, nor do I bury my head in the sand. I read and I watch. I am alert and aware of the events going on around me. But I am not afraid for God The Lord is with me. I live in anticipation of the soon and coming King, for I see prophecies being fulfilled before my eyes and I hear of great and mighty things happening not just in faraway places but right here up close and personal. 

    My 🤔 is focused on the job at hand, this field work which I have been given to do. Though some days I struggle, with The Lord so close to me, I am able to perform the task given. I never work alone. The Lord has given me many tasks in His Word. There are times when I can get more than one done at a time. Some of my tasks are woven into each other and are unbreakable. 

    His Word says to "seek first the kingdom of God", which means I need to know God first before I can go looking for His kingdom or even begin to increase His kingdom, advancing His cause across the regions. Knowing God:  Acts 17:24 "The God who made the world and everything in it is The Lord of heaven and earth, and does not live in temples made by hands." Know The Lord: Hebrews 8:11 "No longer will each one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, 'Know The Lord,' because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest."

    I am Christian and this is my mind.

    My strength, my attitude, is how I perceive that which is spoken to me and by me; it is how I process the things which I have heard and seen with my heart and my mind. I can live in despair and doubt or I can live in hope and faith. I choose to live in hope and faith. I choose to persevere and move forward regardless of the pain of movement or the knowledge that what lies ahead could be dangerous and life-threatening.

     My life does not belong to me, therefore nothing should stop me from pursuing the righteousness of Christ that I may obtain the crowns which He has for me; only to lay these crowns at His feet. For everything I have has been received from Him and it is only fit and due that I give it all back to Him. Attitude: Acts 20:24  "But I do not consider my life as something of value or dear to me, so that I may [with joy] finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify faithfully of the good news of God’s [precious, undeserved] grace [which makes us free of the guilt of sin and grants us eternal life]."

    My strength, my attitude is my will: it is the "I want", the "I have to have it" and "I need" of a person's desire. I am Christian and I have surrendered my will to God's will. For I have learned, and am still learning, that Father knows best. Therefore, what I want is what God wants: that all people everywhere should be saved. Having surrendered my will to His has changed my prayer life. His strength is my joy and my salvation. 

    I am Christian's soul and I am constantly being attacked by Satan and the little darts he throws in my direction. My shield of faith must always be raised to block them. So I will stand firm on The Word of God and I will be His steadfast servant. For I have armed myself with The Word of God, The Love of God and The Hope of My Salvation. I am strong in The Lord and in the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10); I am fearless. Yet the enemies of my soul should live in fear of what Christ is doing through me and in me. 

    I am Christian's soul and I live in Christ Who lives in me. 

JESUS HAVE IT ALL - Jeremy Riddle
MAKE ROOM - Community Music

LIVING FOR JESUS 

Jesus Is Lord

 1 Corinthians 12:3

Therefore I want you to know that no one speaking by the [power and influence of the] Spirit of God can say, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is [my] Lord,” except by [the power and influence of] The Holy Spirit. 

Exodus 17:15

And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah Nissi. (The LORD My Banner). 

1 John 4:2-3

By this you will know The Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and which is already in the world at this time. 

Romans 10:9-10, 13

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him out from the dead, you will be saved. For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved. ~ For whosoever shall call upon The Name of The Lord shall be saved. 

    Why is this designation as LORD become so important even in this day and age? To be someone's Lord is to have the rule and mastery over them, as well as the protection and guardianship. To have Lordship is to have the governorship, as Isaiah wrote in  Isaiah 9:6 "...and the government shall be upon His shoulders...". Within His government He is the fulfillment of The Law (Matthew 5:17) and His Law is Love (Romans 13:10). 

    Who declared Jesus Christ Lord to begin with? His Father, Almighty God, gave His only begotten Son Lordship for a time (Psalm 110:1; Mark 12:36; 1 Corinthians 15:24-25). It is His Lordship we desire when we come to Him in faith, believing Him to be God's only begotten Son.       We come in faith with repentant hearts when we need to confess our sins. We come in faith believing that He not only hears the cries of our hearts but longs for us to hear the cry of His heart. We come to Christ as friend to Friend, meeting at the altar which we have set up for Him. Altars can be built anywhere. If that is not possible for you where you are, remember: when we clasp our fingers together, that is our altar, for prayer is where we meet God.

    The altars of the Old Testament were at times set up after the meeting had taken place as a remembrance of that meeting between God and man. As Moses had set up the altar in Exodus 17:15, one of our key verses for today. Moses named his altar THE LORD MY BANNER. Abraham built an altar, too. Genesis 22:1-19. Abraham and his son Isaac walked up a mountain carrying the tools and equipment needed to build the altar and lay the sacrifice. Abraham named his altar THE LORD PROVIDES. 

    We have named our altars, too. We may travel hither and yon, but the memory of where we were when we spoke with God and God revealed Himself to us is our Remembrance. There was a time when my kids were little that we had just enough money coming in to pay the rent and the utilities. But we had no money for food. So we sat together in the kitchen, held hands and prayed for God to bring us something to eat. No sooner had we said Amen than there was a knock on the door. On the porch were some a couple of friends, each with their arms full of groceries. God already knew our need and had prepared in advance to answer our prayers of faith. THE LORD PROVIDES. 

    Therefore with full confidence I may say, as Moses said, THE LORD IS MY BANNER. I will wave His Name across the plains, the mountains, the oceans, the valleys and the lakes. I will carry His Name into battle each time I declare that He Is Lord, for Christ is not just Lord, He is MY LORD. I declare in my heart, in my home, in my family, in my church, in my neighborhood, in my city, in my state, in my country, and beyond, that wherever The LORD leads me, I will go, because He goes with me. 

    JESUS IS LORD. 

JESUS IS  LIFE

LORD OF ALL 

Give Thanks With A Grateful Heart

 

Romans 7:25

2 Corinthians 9:15

Romans 6:17

1 Corinthians 15:57

Ezra 3:11

Revelation 4:9

Revelation 7:12

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Colossians 4:2,3

Psalm 139:14

Psalm 57:9

Psalm 108:3

Psalm 145:10

1 Chronicles 16:8

1 Chronicles 16:34

Psalm 105:1

Psalm 107:1

Psalm 118:1

Psalm 136

Psalm 100:4

These are the verses I came up with to fill my board. What verses have you found in addition to these?

GIVE THANKS

A Crucified Life - - Is Yoked With Christ

 

2 Corinthians 6:14

Do  not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2086

Unequally Yoked: yoked differently

From the Greek word 'heterozugeó' (pronounced het-er-od-zoog-eh'-o): different kinds of people joined together but unevenly matched. Used to describe Christians who join themselves together with others whose belief is not the same as their own; whose values/ethics/morals do not line up with the Word of God and run contrary to God's kingdom. 

    A yoke is used to join two together. In the farmer's field it is used to join two strong animals together. Deuteronomy 22:10 "Do not plow with an ox and a donkey yoked together." Why? Donkeys are not known for being willing participants in heavy labor. So the ox would end up doing all the work. They would be unequally yoked together. 

    The same happens in the church. Though Paul was able to found a strong, thriving church in Corinth, this city already had a reputation for unrighteousness, for wickedness. Their evil deeds were so common practice that it seemed normal. 

    1 Corinthians 6:9-11 

    Around half a million people lived in this seaport community. Immorality was normal. A moral lifestyle lived according to God's Word was strange, peculiar. The two could not and should not join together in God's places of worship. 

    As the adage goes, "One good apple spoils the rest". The good apples cannot, nor will they ever be able to, produce good from bad. Bad apples will always make the good around them just as bad and sometimes worse than the bad apple is. 

    This is happening now in too many churches across the world. Sin is not being recognized as sin. Sin is flaunting itself and changing the written Word of God, leaving out the warnings and judgments of God. This, too, is sin. It is not the church's job to changed the Word; it is the Word's work to change the believer!

    Idolatry is idol worship. It is not God worship. Prostitution is sharing your body for money. Temple prostitution was perfectly legal and normal. But not in God's house. Gambling on professional athletic events was normal. Everything we have is from God. So to throw away perfectly good money on imperfect activities is not an act a Christ-follower does. 

    The people who came to this port to trade came from all over the world and some took up residence in Corinth. It became a melting pot of cultures and religions. Merchants, sailors, slaves (both free and not free). Having different backgrounds they all learned to live together in their sin.

    When you're living in the dark, you're not aware it's dark until a light shines into your darkness and reveals where you are. The gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ is the Light which shines in the darkness of men's souls revealing sin. 

    Along comes Paul who shares the gospel with many of them. They get saved and baptized and the church begins and grows. They used to be like the city around them, but now (1 Corinthians 6:11) they are washed in the blood of Christ, sanctified by the Holy Spirit, justified in Christ' Name and the Spirit. 

    They are set apart, different, on purpose. If they were to allow the wickedness of the city around them to influence them in any way in their church, they would have lost their purpose, their way. Sometimes it is difficult to live different. But with Christ living in us and the Holy Spirit of God's direction it is not only possible, but preferable.

    After all, what would people think? What if my family stops talking to me? What if my friends no longer want to associate with me? It is a decision each of us must make when we are on the brink of making that choice: Follow Christ as He bids us follow Him or stay in our comfort zone? 

    When we are yoked with Christ, the burden is light. He says so Himself. Matthew 11:29-30 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” 

     We who believe enjoy being joined together with Christ. We did not enjoy being yoked together with sin. We saw the joy others had in Christ and wanted that for ourselves. And we sought after Him and surrendered ourselves to Him. 

     We are the bride and Christ is our bridegroom. Know you not that the bridegroom is returning for His bride? Sooner than you think. 

YOKED WITH CHRIST

Saved by Love - Kathryn Scott

Your Word - Awakening Music

There Is One Gospel - City Alight

The Power of The Cross - Casting Crowns

By Your Spirit - Influence Music & Kim Walker-Smith

    

A Crucified Life - - Enriches Others

 

2 Corinthians 6:10

As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 

Rich: to cause to abound, enrich

From the Greek word 'ploutizó' (pronounced ploo-tid'-zo): to bring fullness, to bring abundance.

    This is not a monetary wealth which the believer blesses others with, nor is it meant to be. This is a wealth far greater than mere money.

    From Acts 3:1-10 we read of the lame man who became whole, complete when he received from Peter and John a perfect healing, which not only healed his feet and ankles, but his hungry soul. Acts 3:6 "But Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!” Acts 3:16 "By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know has been made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him that has given him this complete healing in your presence."

    In John 4:1-26, the woman at the well got more than water. She came to the community well to gather water for herself. But after meeting and speaking with Jesus, she received the Living Water and ran back to her neighborhood, telling everyone that she had met the Messiah. Her enthusiasm caused all who heard her voice to come near to her and run to the well themselves.

    Have you met Jesus? Have you spoken with Him? And, having done so, have you run to preach the Good News to your community? your neighbors? Come, let us tell everyone we meet and all whom we know, the Lord is near, for I have seen Him! 

    1 Corinthians 1:4-6

I always thank my God for you because of the grace He has given you in Christ Jesus. For in Him you have been enriched in every way, in all speech and all knowledge, because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.

    In Christ we are enriched in every way. 1 Corinthians 1:7 tells us that we lack nothing. And verse 8 reminds us that Christ is our Sustainer -- our Security, our Guarantee -- that we will be blameless in the day of the Lord. We are, indeed, quite rich and as His followers, we encourage everyone to receive Christ and live in His, as well.

    The psalmist wrote, in Psalm 19:14, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my Strength, and my Redeemer." 

    Our words have power, for in the tongue is the power of life and the power of death (Proverbs 18:21). Therefore, we need to watch what we say and how we say it. I would that my words would be healing words, encouraging words, strengthening words; words to raise you up and not bring you down. Words to give you life and not death. 

    I am accountable to God for not only the words/Word I speak to you, but for my thoughts toward you. The psalmist included that in his prayer, too: the meditation of my heart. My thoughts must be pleasing to God. Knowing I am speaking with many brothers and sisters in Christ, let me remind you that your thoughts must be acceptable to God, as well. 

    These are encouraging words, calling you into His presence to seek His face and believe His Word; that your bodies and minds, too, might receive from God what He has prepared for you today. 

    Do you require healing? Turn your face to the Healer and raise your hands in faith believing that you will receive. Do you require saving? Turn your face to the Savior and ask that you may receive. And be baptized into Him. 

    Are you seeking love? God is Love. Turn your hearts to God in prayer and in His Word that you may receive His Love into you, and that you would learn His Way and His Will, in order that you could Love yourself and others with His Love. 

    Whatever it is you are looking to receive, God is ready to give it to you. By faith in the Name of Jesus Christ, they who desire to please God must first turn to God in Christ, before they can receive the gift(s) which God has prepared for them for that day.

ENRICHING OTHERS 

O Come To The Altar - Elevation Worship

The Well - Casting Crowns

The Gospel - Ryan Stevenson

Jesus, Friend of Sinners - Casting Crowns

All My Hope - Crowder

Able - Ryan Stevenson

Walking Free - Micah Tyler

Rescue Story - Zach Williams

Mended - Matthew West

Maybe Midnight - tobyMac

Priceless - 4 King & Country

Fill My Cup - Andrew Ripp

  

Heart & Soul - - The Generous Heart

 

2 Corinthians 9:7

Each one should give what he has decided to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.

#Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 318

Compulsion: necessity

From the Greek word 'anagké (pronounced an-ang-kay') which translates "strong force needed to accomplish something typically brought on by great pain or distress". 

["In classical Greek many words take their stem from anank-. The verb anankazō denotes the outward influence or pressure exerted by someone upon another.]

    The generous heart cannot be sincerely generous unless The Lord Jesus Christ is there, filling our hearts with HImself, directing our steps on His path with His Holy Spirit. We ourselves must be filled before we can begin to fill the needs in other's hearts and lives.

    We must be cheerfully generous with our time given to The Lord, given to one another in His church and given to those we minister to in the good works of service to The Lord. If we feel like we are being forced to spend our time where we do not want to, yet we participate in the above activities, we are not giving cheerfully. In fact, we are not giving at all, for that heart isn't even filled with the Love of God through Christ.

    First we must make the decision to Love The Lord our God with all our hearts, with all our souls and with all our minds (Matthew 22:37). With everything that is within us (Psalm 103:1; Psalm 63:1). Secondly, we endeavor to be so filled with the Love of God in Christ Jesus that it spills, splashes and overflows onto and into the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ that they would be blessed. 

    Thirdly, we cheerfully give of our blessings to those who are downtrodden, overwhelmed, hopeless. We give of our blessings to the widow, the orphans, the foreigner in our gates (Deuteronomy 14:29; James 1:27).

    The generous heart explodes with Love. Just one drop of Love in our hearts is multiplied by God's hands until we feel like we're ready to bust wide open. Bits of Love fall on everyone we interact with and on they who are blessed by our prayers, when prayer is all we have to give.  

    

GENEROSITY TOWARDS THE LORD

    Wherever the Scripture reads "Bless The LORD", it is a cry from the heart to be grateful, thankful and worshipful towards The LORD our GOD. To give thanks with a grateful heart, with such joy that the words and the songs pour out of us whenever we open our mouths. 

    We have much to be thankful to God for. His plan of salvation was fulfilled in the sacrificial death of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. And we who believe BLESS GOD with all that is within us. We bless Him from our hearts and not just our lips. We bless Him with the works of our hands. We bless Him with the places we walk in. 

    We bless God when we bless each other out of the generosity of our hearts. Not because we have to but because we want to. No one forces me to pay my tithes: I tithe out of my income because I want to. No one forces me to support missionaries: I give offerings because I want to. I want to see my church and my pastor blessed. I want to see the Lord be a blessing in the countries in which our missionaries are stationed.   

GENEROSITY TOWARDS EACH OTHER IN CHRIST

   We give to each other deliberately, with purpose and good intent. We desire only the best for each other. In our desire to see our brothers and sisters in Christ grow in the Lord and come to maturity in Christ, we give of ourselves to their service. We are seeking to raise them up with words of mercy (remembering that we too were once young in the Word) with words of  understanding, with compassion, with our presence and silence in times of sorrow or distress. 

    We give to each other out of the overflow of our pantries, feeding the body as well as the soul. Unintentional hunger in the body tends to override the hearing of the Word. If we can help someone in need, then we help. If we can't, we pray that the Lord sends someone who can help. We all work together. It's called hospitality.

     Deuteronomy 23:20

You may charge a foreigner interest, but not your brother, so that the LORD your God may bless you in everything to which you put your hand in the land that you are entering to possess. 

      1 Peter 3:8

Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble.

    3 John 1:5-6

Beloved, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, and especially since they are strangers to you. 

They have testified to the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.

GENEROSITY TOWARDS THE POOR

    There will always be folks poorer than ourselves. Deuteronomy 15:11 "For there will never cease to be poor in the land; that is why I am commanding you to open wide your hand to your brother and to the poor and needy in your land."

    As Christ's followers, we extend God's love with lovingkindness and grace. Once I was poor and someone extended their generosity into my heart. And I saw Love in action. A Love that I wanted to know more about. Though occasionally I wandered down the wrong path looking for that Love, eventually, I was led to a church where I saw the Holy Spirit in action, actively being sought and found. And I wanted that, too. 

    But it started with recognizing I was just a poor wretch without Jesus Christ living in my heart and my life. So I share Him and His Love everywhere I go. I share Him through socks. I share Him through turkey. I share Him through cake. I share Him through sandwiches. I share Christ and the Love of God through my Bing searches (supports my fave mission). 

    I give of my prayers to the poor. I ask God to bless them, and many others, with clean water, good food, clothes to wear, shoes on their feet and shelter. I ask God to bless all who are imprisoned with strength and faith that does not waver. I ask God to bless the persecutors, the tormentors, the mockers and the slayers: to break their hearts for Him, to open their eyes to see, to turn to Him. I ask God to bind their wounds, heal their diseases and raise their dead for His glory and honor and the increase of His kingdom. 

    I ask God to strengthen His people where they stand: in prison and out of prison; to make strong those who are attacked and brought down by the haters of righteousness. To give them the Bibles they need in prison, in their homes. To empower them with His Holy Spirit. That the Spirit would be poured out upon all who seek Him and who desire to live righteous and holy lives. 

    I ask all these things in Jesus' name, according to His perfect Will and Purpose. I am a friend of God. And I want you to be God's friend, too.

    Psalm 41:1

Blessed is he who cares for the poor; the LORD will deliver him in the day of trouble.

    Proverbs 22:9

A generous man will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.

    John 12:8

"The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me."

WINDS OF WORSHIP ALBUM (what I listened to while I studied)

Heart & Soul - - Anointed By God

 

1 John 2:20

But you have an unction from the Holy One, and you know all things.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 5545

Unction: anointing

From the Greek word 'chrisma' (pronounced khris'-mah) (from 5548 /xríō, "anoint with oil") . Referring to the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit, guiding the receptive believer into the fullness of God's preferred-will. [This anointing functions through faith (4102 /pístis), i.e. God inwardly persuading the believer of His preferences.]  

    The Holy Spirit is that unction, that unguent, poured out on the Christians. He is represented in Scripture as Wind (1 Chronicles 14:15; Acts 2:2), Breath of God (John 20:22), Dove (John 1:32), Rain (Hosea 6:3; James 5:7), Fire (Acts 2:3) and Oil (1 John 2:20).

    The Spirit is the Oil of Joy: exuberant joy, wild joy, delight (Hebrews 1:9). God anoints us (2 Corinthians 1:21-22) with His Holy Spirit to accomplish the work He has set forth for His people to do (Luke 4:18-21, referring to Christ's anointing) and Acts 2:8, power to witness). The Holy Spirit is only given to God's people, none other are qualified to receive Him. 

   Having been born anew, experienced a new birth through the power of God's Holy Spirit and through the water, we are privileged to live our lives through Him, in Him and with Him. To serve God is one of the greatest honors we will ever know. The first greatest honor He bestowed on us was the gift of salvation through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. We are covered with His righteousness by placing our faith in Him. 

    The Holy Spirit is not the anointer: He is the anointing, our anointing. We are anointed with the Oil of Healing (Matthew 11:5). We are anointed with the Oil of Power to Preach the Gospel  (Isaiah 61:1. We are anointed with the Spirit of Wisdom (). 

    This anointing is for us, our children and our grandchildren; it is also conditional (Isaiah 59:20-21; Isaiah 44:3). This anointing of the Holy Spirit is the baptism of the Spirit given by Christ to His disciples, His followers (John 1:33; Acts 2:1-4). 

    God anoints His servants with His precious Holy Spirit to work in power and complete the works in Him. What are these works which only the anointing empowers? 1 Corinthians 12 outlines the different diversities of gifts in the Spirit. Whatever we do in the Spirit is not done just for ourselves but for all of us ( 1 Corinthians 12:7). 

    We are the body of Christ and the body has different functions, but all work together for the good of the body. Whether we speak of our physical bodies or our spiritual body. For in the Spirit there is one body and that is the body of Christ. As He served and suffered for us during He ministry here, we, too, now serve and suffer as His body for the benefit of each of us. 

    When one part of the body ceases to function in the way in which it was created to function, other parts of the body must step up and fill the void, if possible. We lose a limb, that limb can be replaced to some degree. But if a major organ fails, then the whole body fails. This is true in the body of Christ, as well. 

    When our hearts are not working in the way in which they should be, then we need a new heart. And God provides one. He removes the heart of stone and replaces it with a fleshy heart, a heart that can be molded and written on (Ezekiel 11:19-20; Jeremiah 32:39; 2 Corinthians 3:3). And in this new heart, God, His Christ and His Holy Spirit take up residence (John 14:23). 

    But because our hearts are unclean, this new heart, this new birth, must wash away our uncleanness, our sins, our unrighteousness. Every little nook and cranny must be dusted, cleaned and repaired that there are no breaches where the enemy of our souls can enter in.  

    Lord, let this anointing be made full in me that I might finish my race, my course with grace and humility. Guide me through the obstacles in my path on this journey You have set me on. Be my Guide, my Light, my Oil as I walk Your Word out in my life. While I long to wear the crowns of victory You have set up for me, even more so, let me see Your smiling face when You call my name to the supper table. May I be Your good and faithful servant until then. Amen. 

COME HOLY SPIRIT

Thanks Be To God - - For HIs Kingdom

 

1 CORINTHIANS 4:20

For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

1 Corinthians 2:4, 5

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 932

Kingdom: sovereignty, authority, realm; the realm in which  a king sovereignly rules

From the Greek word 'basileia' (pronounced bas-il-i'-ah). 

The word 'kingdom' refers to any location wherein a king rules with sovereign power. Whether that location is a physical location; for instance, on a map, where you can pinpoint a kingdom. Kingdoms are built and kingdoms are destroyed. Be careful who is ruling in the kingdom of your hearts. If God lives in you by the Power of Christ, the God is your King. If, however, God does not live in you, then Satan is your king. 

If we are God's servants, we wear the armor He has provided for us (Ephesians 6:10-20). Such armor makes it possible for we who are of God's kingdom to take down and overpower the kingdom of darkness, where spiritual wickedness rules (Ephesians 6:12).

If we are living righteous lives according to the righteousness of God and His Word, then the kingdom of God is, indeed, in our midst. 

Luke 17:21

Nor will people say, 'Look, here it is,' or 'There it is.' For you see, the kingdom of God is in your midst."

And what do the Scriptures say is the kingdom of God? =

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS CHRIST

1 Corinthian 1:24

But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS LIFE IN THE HOLY GHOST 

Romans 14:17

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD CANNOT BE DESTROYED BUT WILL ITSELF DESTROY 

Daniel 2:44

And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT OF THIS WORLD

John 18:36

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.”

Have you asked God to set up His kingdom in Your hearts? Have you repented of your transgressions against His laws? Are you letting His Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost direct your steps. Are you soaking in God's presence by reading and studying His Word? If we don't make time for God now, why would He make time for us later? We need God now. We need Jesus Christ now. We crave the indwelling of the Trinity within us: to feed us, to lead us, to raise us up. 

Dear God,

Thank You for sending Your only begotten Son to be my Savior; to be the King of my heart and the Lord of my life. Lord, I want Your kingdom built up in me. Take my heart to be Yours and reign in me.

O God, hear our prayer! Hear the cries of our hearts! Come, Lord Jesus, and take up residence in our hearts. We/I want to be Your people, Your children, Your servants, Your friends. I want to hear You say that I am Your friend. I long to hear Your voice say that I have been a good and faithful servant. 

O Father, set up Your kingdom in me: reign forever in me. Be my God and I will be Your holy nation. Move through me, through us. We are a kingdom of workers. Our legs go where you direct our feet to walk. Our mouths open to speak the words of Your heart. Our arms are raise in worship, our hands are stretched out before us in surrender to You.

In Jesus' Holy Name, I pray,

Amen

 

Kingdom Medley playlist

Thanks Be To God - - For The Resurrection

 

JESUS. Though He suffered and died, He still has the victory. He has the victory over death and the grave. 1 Corinthians 15:55 "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"

 He did that for us, ALL OF US. Not just for Israel's descendants, but for ALL PEOPLE EVERYWHERE: CHRIST died and CHRIST Lives! He walked out of the grave. Such a resurrection! He was given the keys to hell and death (Revelation 1:18). 

At the instance of His death, saints who had been long dead came out of their graves and were seen by the yet living (Matthew 27:50-53). 

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 386

Resurrection: stand up again, a raising up, rising

From the Greek word 'anastasis' (pronounced an-as'-tas-is). referring to the physical resurrection of the body. 

DEATH & THE GRAVE END

David in his day had faith to know that God would not leave his soul in the grave.

Psalm 49:15

But God will redeem my life from Sheol, for He will surely take me to Himself. Selah

Hosea, chapter 13, speaks of the coming judgment on a rebellious people, but God promises a ransom that will be paid and a redemption that will cause those whom He has redeemed to belong to Himself. Hosea 13:14

“I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. O Death, I will be your plagues! O Grave, I will be your destruction! Pity is hidden from My eyes.”

Isaiah 25:8 speaks millenia ahead of what is promised in Revelation 21:3,4.

He will swallow up death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face and remove the disgrace of His people from the whole earth. For the LORD has spoken.

Revelation 21:3,4

3. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.

4. ‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”

CHRIST IS CHANGED

Without the cross there'd be no resurrection. Christ had to suffer: Someone had to atone for sin and God chose Him. 

1 Peter 2:21

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.

1 Peter 3:18

For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit, 

Jesus was just as unrecognizable after death as He was in death. But in a different way. At His mock trial He was given the death penalty; He was beaten, His beard was plucked out of His face, a thorny crown was forcefully put on His head, He was whipped across His back in public humiliation, and even with such loss of blood He was expected to carry the heavy cross beam across His shoulders. (Isaiah 50 & 53; Matthew 27; Mark 15; Luke 22 & 23; John 19).

But AFTER the Resurrection He was given a glorified body. 

John 20:10-18, specifically verses 14 and 17.

14. When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there; but she did not recognize that it was Jesus.

17. “Do not cling to Me,” Jesus said, “for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go and tell My brothers, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’ 

1 Corinthians 15:19-22

19. If our hope in Christ is for this life alone, we are to be pitied more than all men.

20. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

21. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.

22.  For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

Acts 2:24

But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for Him to be held in its clutches.

Acts 26:23

That Christ should suffer, and that He should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

WE WILL BE CHANGED

1 Corinthians 15:51-53

51. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—

52. in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

53. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.

What preparations must be undertaken before we even reach that stage?

I.

In Matthew 4:17  Jesus called people to repentance. That hasn't changed. 

Romans 1:16,17

16. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

17. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

II.

Romans 10:8-10

8. But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:

9. that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

10. For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.

III.

Romans 3:22-23

22. And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction, 

23. for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 3:10, 18

10. As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one. 

18. “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8

But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 10:13

For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 8:1

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Dear God, My Heavenly Father,

I recognize that I have sinned against You, against Your Word. As I repent, as I turn from my wicked ways which grieve You, forgive me of all my unrighteous actions and the hurtful words I may have spoken without thinking. 

Take not Your Holy Spirit from me, but pour even more so into me that I may walk this path which You have laid out before me with dignity and integrity. May Your Light and Your Love shine through me, drawing people to You. Whether or not I see the results in my lifetime, I lift up those You have placed in my life to be strengthened in You and filled with Your Holy Spirit, that they, too, would walk in Your power to reach the goals You have set before them. 

Whatever it takes, Lord, save and fill our loved ones. Save and fill the unlovable. I was unlovable once and You loved me out of the darkness of this world into Your glorious Light. You call us to change, Lord, not just after death but here and now. 

Change me, O Lord, mold me and transform me in every way which glorifies Your name: make me holy, that I may be in Your presence forevermore. For You are a Holy God and Your Very Presence and Your Name demands a holy people. Make us Your holy people, Lord.

As we submit to Your will, O Lord, help us to stand against the enemy of our souls; help us to humble ourselves to be Your people; help us to preach/share/proclaim the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ to whomever You lead us to.

In Jesus' Lovely Name, I pray,

Amen