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INSTRUMENTS OF PRAISE

Ephesians 1:14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him. A man of God illustrated instruments of worship as instruments that respond to breath and touch, that is, we make music by either touching them (piano, other string instruments, drums etc) or blowing into them (trumpet, saxophone etc). When we look at our creation, the bible records that God made us the same way: Genesis 2:7 Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person. Yes by touch and breath. What a great illustration of our very purpose. This purpose was fully revealed in Christ Jesus, who paid the price that we will be God's praise again. Ephesians 1:5&6 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, ...

UNDERSTANDING FAITH, GRACE & LAW

Philippians 1:11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God. Many a modern day teacher of grace would feel that when another talks about precepts for living, they refer to walking under the law. Sometimes they accuse you of mixing the message of grace with the law, like an unsteady tide. However this is not the truth! First it is established that everyone who comes to the Heavenly Father, comes by faith in the finished work of the Messiah, Christ Jesus. It is not of works, thus no one can boost, but by grace through our faith. I love the way, the New Living Translation explained it: Ephesians 2:8-9(NLT) God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. Now let us look at the very next verse: Ephesians 2:10(NLT) For ...

He said, COME!

Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. Are you worried or troubled? When we feel that we have not gotten what we deserve, when our mind seems to forget all that we have or have been privileged to become. Instead our mind wants to dwell on what we have not yet gotten, or what seems to be delayed or that we feel that God has not been fair to us. We ought to remember that we are presently one(1) person out of more than eight billion (8,000,000,000), who are presently living on earth, not counting the innumerable who have gone ahead of us, and more who are yet to come. Yet the Heavenly cares for each one of us, to the extent that those who believe in Him have the very hairs on their head numbered that one does not fall without Him knowing. However the power of will(the power of choice) is one attribute of man that makes us godlike, and empowers us to decide if we do well or if we fail. It is that which makes us able to decide...

STAY CONNECTED TO GOD

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name: So very popular a scripture, it is unlikely that one would have received the message of salvation without this verse. However, do we know the impact of this verse, do we know the consciousness of being adopted as God's children? Isaiah 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near [me] with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: The relationship God has with us is that of Father to son, yes for every believer. This is why at the new birth God comes to live in us by His Holy Spirit. Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. This privilege ought to be for all believers. . . ALL?! That is, you believe, you are a s...

SEASON TO SEASON

Ecclesiastes 7:8(NLT) Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride. Planet earth keeps moving, thus everything in it is moving - "time". This is why at the beginning of a thing we could be so excited. However it will always come to an end. How long does our excitement last? The wisdom in all, is that when the time for that season elapses, we ought to have become better and moved to a better place! Could we illustrate with our education system: Exciting when we began our primary education, however in five to six years we move away from that season, we are now talking of our secondary education. This initiates a new excitement. In another five to six years this season is over. We move to another season, four to seven years in a higher institution, always starting with a period of excitement, then we see the work to be done in that phase. The season continues, a year or two of national service. Then a new job, with its initial excitement. We could go from job...

STAY FOCUSED

Philippians 3:20&21 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. Philippians 3:21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control. This is a truth we must never ignore, our body as it is now continues to decay, however we are going to receive a new body. It is the ignorance of this that makes many lay their treasures on earth alone and when it is time for eternity they find that they have empty files! Now we must know for sure that there are many distractions here on earth to keep us from investing in our eternal rest. Some are things we must do, some are not necessary, no matter what category they fall in, all can become great distractions. However...

YES, THERE IS AN AFTERLIFE

Titus 2:11-13 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. Of course there is an afterlife, life is more than we see it. We are more than this, not just mere dust, yes, our time here will pass away but our souls and spirits will remain, to go to glory and joy or to torment. This is why we follow Christ for He is the resurrection and the life. He said where He is, is where we will be also. Glory! John 14:3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.  Knowing that Christ will return to make us like Himself, free from the world's troubles and our pains, we live in expectation of Him. Not in idleness, for He did not call us ...