SCATTERS

Luke 11:23 (NKJV) 23  He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters. 
    A man recently was challenged, "Will you stand against this evil," his reply, "I find that standing on any thing that causes me to exert my self, is against my creed." Friend, the Word of God calls us to stand against evil and the cost is often with life.
    The disciples had asked, "Teach us to pray," Jesus explained prayer and then began to unravel parables that confronted wrong thinking and traditions about prayer. First we must be persistent in seeking our Heavenly Father for the concerns of this life. Second we must seek God's will in prayer, that includes the direction of the Holy Spirit and third expect, God will answer the prayers of His people.
    Jesus then gives an example, casting out a demon that has caused an individual to become mute. Challenged by some in the group, He replied, "But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you." Luke 11:20 (NKJV) knowing Jesus has been in prayer with His Father, those watching hear Him say, "He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters." We either pray with Jesus against evil or we become partakers in it.
Heavenly Father help us to be persistent in prayer, convinced that prayer will change the land scape of sin. We look to You who has all of life in your hands, may we look upward on knees determined to see You. Amen

HIS LOVING KINDNESS

Psalm 42:8 (NKJV) 8  The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night His song shall be with me-- A prayer to the God of my life. 
  A man said, "My life is over, no one wants me around, no one really needs me!" Sad that so many sense the rejection of the world, no one to turn to, too many bridges burned or destroyed because of callus attention to others.
   The psalmist speaks of rejection and the need for fellowship with the Creator, remembering the sweet times of communion with others and worship in God's House. He deliberately cries to God, and knows the answer will come, God will and does deliver His chosen. Loving kindness all day and a sweet song of communion at night will come to those who know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Have you cried to Him today, He will hear and sooth your deepest hurts and wash away the most ugly stains.
Heavenly Father we are yours even if we do not admit it, we belong to You because we are created by You. Help us Lord to remember the days of sweet fellowship with You and forget the pain of the present. Amen

YOUR FAITH

Luke 7:50 (NKJV) 50  Then He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."
    Someone said recently, "I have done everything as a christian I know to do, this is impossible, it is no longer my problem." That friend is not the mark of the Christian, we are servants of the Most High God, every thing comes from Him, we are called to go the extra mile and give the second coat. Mark 5:40,41.
  In Luke 7 Jesus is in the house of the religious elite, a woman of the street becomes aware of the Lord's presence and enters to seek forgiveness through repentance for her sinful living. Those in the house are repulsed by the intrusion of such sinfulness, Jesus identifies their thoughts and unfolds a story of debt to a creditor. When asked who forgave more the one with little debt or the one with more, the owner of the house responded, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more." And He said to him, "You have rightly judged." Luke 7:43 (NKJV)
   We are all debtors to the creditor (God), we all owe Him our lives, why then do we live as if, He owes us? If you posses much give, if you posses little give, the One who sees the heart knows our thoughts and will reward in kind. However, if your heart betrays your thoughts and they are unkind, be prepared, there is no forgiveness of sin without repentance! May your faith in Jesus Christ save you, that you too may "Go in peace."
Heavenly Father help us to see clearly your Way. Let our thoughts show we really love those around us because, we have first loved You. May we live as those forgiven and not forgotten. Amen

HAVING DRUNK

Luke 5:39 (NKJV) And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, 'The old is better.' "
    Someone recently said, "Its my way or the highway, another intoned, "Their both your way!" Religion is necessary to retain moral and social values, Luke the Gospel writer, brings the words of Jesus to the table of morality, explaining the difference between tradition and Truth. Many want their own value of life, over the values God ordained, the religious leaders challenged the clear teachings of Jesus and the methods He introduced.
    Jesus moves quickly to cut through the hypocrisy, feasting and fasting, new patch old garment, new wine and old wine skins, are not compatible. Jesus and religion cannot mix, just as old wine is preferred over grape juice, so religion is preferred over walking with the Son of God. One makes the partaker unacceptable, while the other saves eternally. What have you chosen, Jesus the Savior or the religion of self serving?
Heavenly Father we live by your hand, we are your creation, help us to choose wisely, that those around us may see You. May our lives shine as the light that comes from above, may every desire of our hearts seek to please You. Amen

EVERY TEMPTATION

Luke 4:13 (NKJV) 13  Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.
    A young man entered his house bruised and torn, his mother embraced him and questioned the cause, "A guy in my class tried to take my lunch money and we fought," "Did he get it," she begged, "No I already spent it." The enemy cannot take what is ours, it is given by a Greater Hand and no one can take it away. Jn 10:29
    The enemy according to 1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV) "... the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour,"  the single purpose of Satan is to destroy, he does not take prisoners they are annihilated. The temptation by the devil, was to destroy the ministry of Jesus to save mankind, Jesus did not attack and He did not send Satan fleeing.
    The common myth today is "We must rebuke and demand the devil to leave us alone," that is not scriptural, in fact it plays into the enemies hands, "Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world." 1 Peter 5:9 (NKJV) More clearly the bible says, "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you," James 4:7 (NKJV) Jesus did not attack the devil, in-fact the angels give us the example, "... Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" Jude 1:9 (NKJV)
    Fighting the devil is God's work, mine is to cast all my cares on Jesus and He will lift us up. Let Jesus take care of the light work, we will worship and give praise to the God who can.
Heavenly Father, in You alone is all we need, help us to walk that others see You. May we inhale and exhale for your Glory and Honor. Amen

I COMMIT

Luke 23:46 (NKJV) 46  And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit.' " Having said this, He breathed His last.

     Sir Walter Scott on his death bed said, "Until this moment I thought there was neither a God nor a hell. Now I know there are both, and I am doomed to perdition by the just judgment of the Almighty." Man has from the very beginning tried to ignore God and His plans for humanity, the truth lies in the ages of proof that not only does He exist, but He has made a Way for any one to receive Eternal Life with Him.

    Charles Haddon Spurgeon, beloved preacher and author, on his deathbed: “I can hear them coming!” He sat straight up in bed and asked: “Don’t you hear them? This is my coronation day. I can see the chariots, I’m ready to board.” What a testimony to the end of the flesh and the beginning of Eternity with the God who loves with an everlasting Love. 

    Jesus Christ, crucified by men said, "Father forgive them they no not what they do," the God of creation loved us so much, He carried the weight of my sins to the cross where they were paid for with His life. He willingly laid down His life, the work completed, He said not in the struggle of life and death, but in total control of His destiny, "Father into You hands I commit my spirit." Have you committed your spirit into the hands of the Father, anything less will separate you from Him?

Heavenly Father help those this Sunday trust in the Name that delivers every soul from hell. Help pastors to preach with authority, help Lord your church to establish your Word with Your Power and Authority that many might come to You. Amen

THE FORGIVENESS

Mark 1:4 (ESV) 4   John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 
    A man pretended to be a law enforcement officer, he was caught and sentenced for the crime, his response, "It seemed right at the time." Many today claim to know the Savior, because they know about the redeeming work of Jesus, that is like calling your self a soda because you drank one. A person cannot have a relationship with the King of Kings if they have not first been emptied of all self serving by that King.
    Jesus washed the feet of the disciples to symbolize much, one point is clear we must be washed by the Savior or we are none of His. He must cleanse us or we have no part in Him. Has your life been washed clean of sinful living by the One who is sinless? Unless the baptism of repentance has washed us clean and forgiveness has been applied to our lives we are not Christians. To be a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ we must receive from Him forgiveness, through our own personal repentance. Have you been washed in "The Blood Of The Lamb?"
Heavenly Father help us to live as those alive from dead living, set apart for the work of Grace that comes from above. May we walk in this world as living examples of the work of Jesus, may we live clean lives that others may see You, may we be careful how we walk so that others do not stumble. Amen