This will be a two part message, first I would like to present a simple teaching on spiritual warfare. I remember challenging our old congregation to pray a simple prayer "Lord show me to others as I truly am!" Some congregation members could not pray it as they knew their walk with the Lord was as phony as a $3 bill. My belief is that our lives should be transparent for all to see. When someone asks me about my past I share it as it was but, reminding them that the person they see today is not that person, thanks to the life changing power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I realize not many are willing to reveal their past or even their present flaws because our carnal nature would choose to hide those things we don't want others to see or know about. HELLO people let us not forget God sees all & knows all. What is hidden in darkness will eventually come to the light, WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT! Honesty & integrity unique virtues in this day & age but also spiritual weapons, even though truth often hurts, but only for the moment, it will win out in the long run.
The moment is that instance were something interrupts our normal life. It could be an accident, a sickness or words some person speaks, whatever. Our reaction at that moment rises up from deep within us. In other words what we have put in us through reading, watching or listening to will formulate our response to whatever has transpired. If you choose to focus on what the media & parts of the church telling us, fear will rule your life. A simple checklist of what you are feeding into your soul is the new testament perspective on prophesy, it will exhort you (lift you up,) edify (teach you) or comfort you (1 Corinthians 14:3.)
"Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" Not a comfortable scripture to ponder, especially after you have just lost it & you are totally ashamed of what had come out of your big mouth. The first thing we have to do is ask God to forgive us & PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE Holy Spirit help me not to lose it again. If we do not do that odds are we will sink lower & lower + be filled with self loathing & condemnation (neither of which are from God!) Do not be so foolish as to think you or anyone else has arrived at some spiritual sainthood. We are all a work in progress, IF we will allow the potter to continue to mold us into a useful vessel for the Lord.
What shows up in the moment is possibly frustration or anger from the frustration, unforgiveness, bitterness, to name but a few of the negatives that can so easily rise up. There can be many reasons for these wrong thoughts but guaranteed they are something rooted in your past or something you have been inputting into your soul. The Bible refers to these thoughts as a stronghold of the mind. It may have been words spoken over us again & again, these are curse words. Many times a person tries & tries but never seems to succeed, it doesn't take long before you start to believe you're a failure. If you are a born again believer YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE! But if you do not learn how to defuse these wrong thoughts you start to expect those negatives & actually believe you deserve them just because of who you are, sad eh! Another reason is you feel you were born on the wrong side of the tracks or within a disfunctional family. Naturally the next step is to bow down to the plum syndrome (poor little unloved me) which will guarantee you a big old pity party.
What we have to do is take these curse words from our past to the foot of the cross. It could be your relationships, marriage or past marriages, manipulative controlling family members or friends, past failures to the foot of the cross. Remember it is not the person (flesh & blood) we battle but the spirit that is driving them. Ask Gods forgiveness for any mistakes you have made, any & all sin, for even believing the lies of the devil & plead the blood of Jesus over the foul root that has held you in bondage. Believe you are free once & for all & start to praise Him for His deliverance as He is worthy of all our praise.
The next time that negative thought tries to rise up rebuke it, GET OUT IN JESUS NAME. Devil you are a liar I am a child of God, He has given me the power to become an overcomer, more than a conqueror. Trust in the Lord & lean not on your understanding. the devil is real & he has power, but Jesus is the highest name in heaven, on the earth & under the earth! He is all powerful & like the old hymn is titled we have Victory in Jesus! As God proves Himself to us it is now our duty to reach out & help others around us.
We are to be people of compassion, that is someone who sees a need & then steps out to meet that need in other lives. It is not up to us to judge them for the state they are in but to help lift them out of that pit. Do not sit & pick them apart or try to figure out why they are the way they are, just love them for who they are. The love of God within us should compel us to find a way to be an encouragement rather than a discouragement to them. Lift them up rather than tear them down through our words. As Christians everything starts with prayer & a smile is a excellent followup.
Everything comes down to what we have been putting on the inside. That is what will dictate what comes out in the moment & if we will be equipped to meet the need whether in our own life or someone else's. For me the Word of God is the positive I choose to put in. One scripture that God has prompted me to memorize is Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. This also is spiritual warfare. When I was in public school we had to memorize stuff but now I choose to do so to make myself not only a better person but useful to God in reaching out & helping my fellowman.
Can you but imagine what an impact we the church would have on the world around us in 2012 if we put this simple message into practice. Food for thought!
Friday, 30 December 2011
Tuesday, 20 December 2011
The Day That Love Was Born
December 25 is the day the Christian Church celebrates the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. The gift God gave mankind, His own precious son was the supreme act of love. It would have been far easier, less painful to have chose to come Himself, but instead He gave up His only begotten Son. Jesus left His rightful place in Glory knowing He would be crucified. By Jesus selfless act of obedience He allowed His love to open the door for mankind to receive forgiveness for their sin & come into a personal relationship with their creator.
God Himself saw the necessity of a sacrifice that would be all inclusive, the Sacrificial Lamb! But the lamb had to be perfect, unspotted, which meant in a spiritual sense, uncontaminated by sin. For this to take place He would have to be tempted & tested by sin itself & found sinless. Jesus came through with flying colors, tried tested & true!
As we learn in John 3:17 Jesus did not come to condemn the people of the world but to save them from themselves & sin. He totally disregarded their ethnic, religious or sordid backgrounds. This could only be possible from someone who has a love foreign to this world, unconditional. By this act of love He has forgiven us our sins, no matter how horrendous they were or undeserved we may be, or feel we are. All we have to do is ask Gods forgiveness in Jesus name & the slate is wiped clean as if we had never committed them (l John l:9 forgiveness & Romans 5:1 justification) Too good to be true you say, agape love I say!
The love this world knows is perverted beyond comprehension in comparison to Gods love. It is self-centered & only sees through the eyes of lust, rather than compassion. What this world refers to as love is actually focuses on sex, materialism & power. Sex has been turned into a dirty word, while even the sacredness of marriage has been stained & tarnished & opened to make way for what God refers to as abomination, homosexuality. Materialism is a big word, I believe it to be the reason for every war, you know like the war in Iraq, which in all likelihood have nothing to do with anything but OIL. And the root cause of every war is the rule of supremacy "we want to be numero uno! Sorry for this rant in the midst of my Christmas message.
Each time someone receives Jesus into their lives His love explodes in their heart. It is as if the life that life itself had molded them into is shattered & a new person filled with Gods love & compassion starts to be transformed into what God calls a NEW CREATION. Gods love is needed today more than ever before. His love looks beyond faults & differences to see the needs. His compassion within us compels us to do something to offset those needs.
Gods gift to mankind His love, truly is the gift that keeps on giving. The love God has placed within a believers heart is FOR-GIVING! He has forgiven us our sins, does not hold our past against us, does not focus on our mistakes or family history but only looks upon our heart & what motivates it. Christmas comes but once a year but Jesus wants us to share His gift of love numerous times each & every day to all those we come into contact with. As we help to meet the needs of our fellowman they see a Christ-like-ness within us & they in turn are drawn unto Him, praise the Lord!
Merry Christmas!
Ken Gorham a servant of the Lord
God Himself saw the necessity of a sacrifice that would be all inclusive, the Sacrificial Lamb! But the lamb had to be perfect, unspotted, which meant in a spiritual sense, uncontaminated by sin. For this to take place He would have to be tempted & tested by sin itself & found sinless. Jesus came through with flying colors, tried tested & true!
As we learn in John 3:17 Jesus did not come to condemn the people of the world but to save them from themselves & sin. He totally disregarded their ethnic, religious or sordid backgrounds. This could only be possible from someone who has a love foreign to this world, unconditional. By this act of love He has forgiven us our sins, no matter how horrendous they were or undeserved we may be, or feel we are. All we have to do is ask Gods forgiveness in Jesus name & the slate is wiped clean as if we had never committed them (l John l:9 forgiveness & Romans 5:1 justification) Too good to be true you say, agape love I say!
The love this world knows is perverted beyond comprehension in comparison to Gods love. It is self-centered & only sees through the eyes of lust, rather than compassion. What this world refers to as love is actually focuses on sex, materialism & power. Sex has been turned into a dirty word, while even the sacredness of marriage has been stained & tarnished & opened to make way for what God refers to as abomination, homosexuality. Materialism is a big word, I believe it to be the reason for every war, you know like the war in Iraq, which in all likelihood have nothing to do with anything but OIL. And the root cause of every war is the rule of supremacy "we want to be numero uno! Sorry for this rant in the midst of my Christmas message.
Each time someone receives Jesus into their lives His love explodes in their heart. It is as if the life that life itself had molded them into is shattered & a new person filled with Gods love & compassion starts to be transformed into what God calls a NEW CREATION. Gods love is needed today more than ever before. His love looks beyond faults & differences to see the needs. His compassion within us compels us to do something to offset those needs.
Gods gift to mankind His love, truly is the gift that keeps on giving. The love God has placed within a believers heart is FOR-GIVING! He has forgiven us our sins, does not hold our past against us, does not focus on our mistakes or family history but only looks upon our heart & what motivates it. Christmas comes but once a year but Jesus wants us to share His gift of love numerous times each & every day to all those we come into contact with. As we help to meet the needs of our fellowman they see a Christ-like-ness within us & they in turn are drawn unto Him, praise the Lord!
Merry Christmas!
Ken Gorham a servant of the Lord
Friday, 9 December 2011
Three Christmas Nuggets
I want to look at three different Christmas nuggets & how they line up according to the Bible. The first one I will be looking at is Merry Xmas. Oh boy, oh boy I can still remember how that ticked me off when I was a new believer. My statement was nobody but nobody is ever going to take Christ out of Christmas. Many a Christian find their blood pressure rising when we see this saying in one store window after another. Let us go to one of my favorite reference books Websters Dictionary for an answer. Websters defines Xmas as, the X is the Greek letter for the Christos, the Christ & the word Xmas originated in the early 1600's. Oops, guess we allowed ourselves to get more than a tad carried away before checking out what we were getting so stewed up about.
As Christians we know Jesus is the way, the truth & the life & accept the Bible as the standard we are to live by. Then why is it such a large percentage of the Christian church continue a tradition that is a falsehood? The common nativity scene has the baby Jesus with His mother Mary & Joseph , the shepherds & the wise men from the east gathered around the manger. In Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger , because there was no room for them in the Inn. In Luke 2:16 And the shepherds went with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. OK this obviously lines up with the traditional nativity scene but let us now look at the wise men from the east In Matthew 2:11 And when they (the wise men) had come into the house they saw the young child with Mary His mother, and they opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. (King James translation) Key words being HOUSE and the YOUNG CHILD, totally different then the baby in the manger. This passage of scripture is further explained in Matthew 2:16 Herod was furious when he learned that the astrologers had disobeyed him. Sending soldiers to Bethlehem, he ordered them to kill every baby boy two years old and under, both in the town & in the nearby farms, for the astrologers (wise men) had told him the star first appeared to them two years before. (Living translation) After reading these scriptures it is obvious that the wise men (astrologers) were not present at the manger scene, thus not Biblical.
My son Jedediah gave me the third tidbit I want to look at the announcement given by the heavenly host at the birth of the Savior Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (King James Version) now let us look at the Living same verse Glory to God in the highest heaven, they sang peace on earth for all those pleasing Him. One of our most common sayings at Christmas time is "peace on earth & goodwill to men," yet is it in agreement with the Bible? I don't think so!
In my NKJ study bible this verse is explained as "the promise of peace & goodwill would come to those who welcome God's only Son." The Matthew Henry Commentary says If God be at peace with us, all peace results from it. All the good we have, or hope, is owing to God's goodwill; & if we have the comfort of it, He must have the glory of it.
The Anti-Christ spirit has been on the earth since the time of the Bible, possibly from the garden of Eden. It runs hand in hand with the lawlessness we see so rampant in the earth today. I recently received an e-mail in regards to the "Religion of Peace Demonstration" in England. Here are some of the signs carried by extreme members of the Islam. Europe take a lesson from 911, behead who insult Islam, butcher those who mock Islam, Islam will dominate the world are but a few. Hello that is not peace!
In Matthew 10:34 Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. This is the sword of the Spirit Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living & powerful & sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even to the division of soul & spirit, and of joints & marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts & intents of the heart. Conviction comes upon us when we hear or read the word of God & we then have the opportunity to change accordingly. But until His revelation comes upon us the Bible appears to be total nonsense.
Matthew 10:35 "For I come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter in law against her mother in law. Matthew 10:36 and a mans enemies will be those of his own household. Again Peace on Earth Goodwill to Men? Studying out 35 & 36 you will find Christ has to be first & foremost in our lives. Many a child has been born into Christian homes to become an idol. I have met people who worship their spouse or parent. Yes we love our family members but this love can not surpass our love of our Savior! Again it brings us back to picking up our own cross & living the Christ-like rather than the self-centered life of this world.
There are also many instances were a person receives Christ into their life & all those around them seemingly fall away. With some extreme religions when one of their own receive Christ they are considered dead & in some instances they will even hold their funeral. Yet Christ does bring peace into his followers lives by reading His Word, through our prayer life, in our times of praise & worship & the privilege of fellowshipping with Him & sharing Him with those around us (evangelism). If we have loved ones & friends unsaved they have to be targets of our prayers. Even though they may not be believers at present doesn't negate their being Christians in the future. Can you see how that brings peace into our lives? And the glorious promise for each of His followers of eternity in glory, Praise God!
I am not saying we are not to be peacemakers in fact the Good Lord has instructed us in Romans 12:8 "If it is possible, as much as depends on you live peaceably with all men. As I said earlier those who are thorns in our flesh become targets of our prayers. Another scripture that comes to mind is Matthew 5:44 "love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you & pray for those who spitefully use you & persecute you."
There will never be Peace on Earth until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. You will hear of & even believe you are witnessing a universal peace but this will be a false peace.
Lots of food for thought in this one, look forward to your comments. More on Christmas in the upcoming blog.
Blessings as always
Ken Gorham a servant of the Lord
As Christians we know Jesus is the way, the truth & the life & accept the Bible as the standard we are to live by. Then why is it such a large percentage of the Christian church continue a tradition that is a falsehood? The common nativity scene has the baby Jesus with His mother Mary & Joseph , the shepherds & the wise men from the east gathered around the manger. In Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger , because there was no room for them in the Inn. In Luke 2:16 And the shepherds went with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. OK this obviously lines up with the traditional nativity scene but let us now look at the wise men from the east In Matthew 2:11 And when they (the wise men) had come into the house they saw the young child with Mary His mother, and they opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. (King James translation) Key words being HOUSE and the YOUNG CHILD, totally different then the baby in the manger. This passage of scripture is further explained in Matthew 2:16 Herod was furious when he learned that the astrologers had disobeyed him. Sending soldiers to Bethlehem, he ordered them to kill every baby boy two years old and under, both in the town & in the nearby farms, for the astrologers (wise men) had told him the star first appeared to them two years before. (Living translation) After reading these scriptures it is obvious that the wise men (astrologers) were not present at the manger scene, thus not Biblical.
My son Jedediah gave me the third tidbit I want to look at the announcement given by the heavenly host at the birth of the Savior Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (King James Version) now let us look at the Living same verse Glory to God in the highest heaven, they sang peace on earth for all those pleasing Him. One of our most common sayings at Christmas time is "peace on earth & goodwill to men," yet is it in agreement with the Bible? I don't think so!
In my NKJ study bible this verse is explained as "the promise of peace & goodwill would come to those who welcome God's only Son." The Matthew Henry Commentary says If God be at peace with us, all peace results from it. All the good we have, or hope, is owing to God's goodwill; & if we have the comfort of it, He must have the glory of it.
The Anti-Christ spirit has been on the earth since the time of the Bible, possibly from the garden of Eden. It runs hand in hand with the lawlessness we see so rampant in the earth today. I recently received an e-mail in regards to the "Religion of Peace Demonstration" in England. Here are some of the signs carried by extreme members of the Islam. Europe take a lesson from 911, behead who insult Islam, butcher those who mock Islam, Islam will dominate the world are but a few. Hello that is not peace!
In Matthew 10:34 Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. This is the sword of the Spirit Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living & powerful & sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even to the division of soul & spirit, and of joints & marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts & intents of the heart. Conviction comes upon us when we hear or read the word of God & we then have the opportunity to change accordingly. But until His revelation comes upon us the Bible appears to be total nonsense.
Matthew 10:35 "For I come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter in law against her mother in law. Matthew 10:36 and a mans enemies will be those of his own household. Again Peace on Earth Goodwill to Men? Studying out 35 & 36 you will find Christ has to be first & foremost in our lives. Many a child has been born into Christian homes to become an idol. I have met people who worship their spouse or parent. Yes we love our family members but this love can not surpass our love of our Savior! Again it brings us back to picking up our own cross & living the Christ-like rather than the self-centered life of this world.
There are also many instances were a person receives Christ into their life & all those around them seemingly fall away. With some extreme religions when one of their own receive Christ they are considered dead & in some instances they will even hold their funeral. Yet Christ does bring peace into his followers lives by reading His Word, through our prayer life, in our times of praise & worship & the privilege of fellowshipping with Him & sharing Him with those around us (evangelism). If we have loved ones & friends unsaved they have to be targets of our prayers. Even though they may not be believers at present doesn't negate their being Christians in the future. Can you see how that brings peace into our lives? And the glorious promise for each of His followers of eternity in glory, Praise God!
I am not saying we are not to be peacemakers in fact the Good Lord has instructed us in Romans 12:8 "If it is possible, as much as depends on you live peaceably with all men. As I said earlier those who are thorns in our flesh become targets of our prayers. Another scripture that comes to mind is Matthew 5:44 "love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you & pray for those who spitefully use you & persecute you."
There will never be Peace on Earth until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. You will hear of & even believe you are witnessing a universal peace but this will be a false peace.
Lots of food for thought in this one, look forward to your comments. More on Christmas in the upcoming blog.
Blessings as always
Ken Gorham a servant of the Lord
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