"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8
The dictionary defines a red alert as: the highest level of alert when an attack by the enemy seems imminent; or more generally a state of alert resulting from imminent danger. When a nation is under red alert, it does not let its guard down for one minute. It keeps a watchful eye in every direction and takes special note of anything out of the ordinary or that looks suspicious. One moment of carelessness or being lax and letting their guard down could cause serious problems or even worse a fatal situation.
Keeping a high level of alertness is something that the Christian should do daily. We are always in danger of an attack by our enemy- the devil. He has one purpose and goal in mind- steal, kill and destroy. He goes throughout the whole earth looking for those who are ignorant and unaware of his tactics. He looks for those who are not being watchful. He seeks out those who are being distracted by other things- the cares of this world, material possessions, pursing their own agenda, following their own dreams- so he can sneak up on them and them not notice him.
Since we have an enemy we must maintain a high level of awareness and not allow ourselves to be distracted or stop watching altogether. We must keep our "spiritual radar" on at all times- we must be discerning. We must stay on guard and not let down our guard. We must not underestimate our enemy but remember how cunning and deceptive he is. I am not talking about living in fear or having overly preoccupied thoughts about the devil. I am talking about remembering that we are in a spiritual war and have a very real enemy, who although he has been defeated, will still try to destroy you.
It isn't time to let down our guard. It is time to be more vigilant than ever before and more watchful than ever before. "But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up." (Matthew 24:43)
Have a great day. You should be and stay on "red alert" spiritually because your enemy is looking for opportunities to attack and destroy you.
For further reading:
2 Corinthians 2:11; 11:14
John 10:10
2 Timothy 2:4
Ephesians 6:11
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
"Finding Answers"
"And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain." 1 Corinthians 3:20
Our thoughts, our understanding, our reasoning apart from God is in vain. This is a fact that is repeated over and over in the Bible. Yet, we are constantly trying to "plot our own course" through life. We are continuing leaning to our own understanding. And always trying to "figure things out".
No matter how hard we try, there will always be things that we don't understand. We will always have questions. We will always seek for answers. There is nothing wrong with wanting answers, it just depends on where you are going to get the answers.
Some people seek to find answers within themselves. Others seek to find them through knowledge and education. Some think their answer lies within their material possessions- an abundance of them is the answer to all their problems. There are those who consult different sources of divination such as the horoscope, physic hotlines, fortune tellers, Ouija boards, etc. to find their answers. Many think that the government has the answers. Others spend their time going from one person to another seeking out answers-- and you don't have to go very far to find someone who thinks they have all your answers.
The reality of it is that we don't have all the answers. It makes no difference how well educated we are, how smart we are, how much common sense we have, how many resources are available to us, we just don't have what it takes. But that doesn't leave us hopeless and helpless, wandering through life with no answers. There is someone that we can go to to find the answers we need. It's the Lord. He is the All-Knowing and All-Wise One. There is no answer hidden from Him. He even knows the answer before the question is asked.
So this morning let me ask you, "Where do you go to find answers for your life?" Do you look within yourself? Do you go from person to person, resource to resource, or do you go to God and His word to find them? Going to the wrong source will always leave you empty and unanswered. Going to the right source will give you the right answers. That right source is the Lord.
Have a great day. The answer to all your questions is found in Jesus.
For further reading:
Proverbs 16:25; 3:5,6
Jeremiah 10:23; 33:3
Psalm 94:11
1 Corinthians 2:10-12
Our thoughts, our understanding, our reasoning apart from God is in vain. This is a fact that is repeated over and over in the Bible. Yet, we are constantly trying to "plot our own course" through life. We are continuing leaning to our own understanding. And always trying to "figure things out".
No matter how hard we try, there will always be things that we don't understand. We will always have questions. We will always seek for answers. There is nothing wrong with wanting answers, it just depends on where you are going to get the answers.
Some people seek to find answers within themselves. Others seek to find them through knowledge and education. Some think their answer lies within their material possessions- an abundance of them is the answer to all their problems. There are those who consult different sources of divination such as the horoscope, physic hotlines, fortune tellers, Ouija boards, etc. to find their answers. Many think that the government has the answers. Others spend their time going from one person to another seeking out answers-- and you don't have to go very far to find someone who thinks they have all your answers.
The reality of it is that we don't have all the answers. It makes no difference how well educated we are, how smart we are, how much common sense we have, how many resources are available to us, we just don't have what it takes. But that doesn't leave us hopeless and helpless, wandering through life with no answers. There is someone that we can go to to find the answers we need. It's the Lord. He is the All-Knowing and All-Wise One. There is no answer hidden from Him. He even knows the answer before the question is asked.
So this morning let me ask you, "Where do you go to find answers for your life?" Do you look within yourself? Do you go from person to person, resource to resource, or do you go to God and His word to find them? Going to the wrong source will always leave you empty and unanswered. Going to the right source will give you the right answers. That right source is the Lord.
Have a great day. The answer to all your questions is found in Jesus.
For further reading:
Proverbs 16:25; 3:5,6
Jeremiah 10:23; 33:3
Psalm 94:11
1 Corinthians 2:10-12
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
"God's Thoughts"
NOTE: I am leaving this morning to go out of town, so there won't be a Coffee Break sent out the rest of the week. May God bless you all with a truly wonderful week and may He be highly exalted in your life each and every day. Love and blessings!
"For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God." 1 Corinthians 2:11
Everyone of us have thoughts. And the thing about our thoughts is that they are private. No one but ourselves know what we are thinking unless we choose to share them with someone else. The Bible tells us that God has thoughts also and no one knows what He is thinking either unless He chooses to share it.
Do you ever wonder what God thinks about? (Let me make something perfectly clear before we start- I am in no way saying that I understand the thoughts of God, know everything He is thinking, or can understand His thoughts. But there are some things that I know are on His mind because the Bible tells me what they are.)
So what does God think about? He thinks about YOU! He thinks about how much He loves you. That is what was on His mind when He sent His only begotten Son Jesus into the world to save us from our sins. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." (John 3:16,17) At the cross, you were on His mind. Thoughts of you and me having the opportunity of living with Him forever if He would endure the suffering of the cross, far out weighed the pain that was engulfing His body. "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Heb. 12:2)
He thinks about the plans that He has for you- plans to give you blessings, hope and a future. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." (Jeremiah 29:11-KJV) "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (NIV)
There is no doubt that God is thinking about you, and He thinks about you all the time. What do you think about? Is He the subject of your thoughts? Do you think about Him? Do you think about His goodness that He bestows on your everyday? Do you think about His grace? Do you think about His will and purpose for your life? Do you think about what you can do to bless Him? Or are your thoughts more self-centered and self- absorbed? Do you think about everything and everyone else besides Him? Just what do you think about?
Have a great day. What does God think about? He thinks about you. What do you think about? Is it Him?
For further reading:
Isaiah 49:14-16; 55:7,8,9
Philippians 4:8
Psalm 10:4
"For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God." 1 Corinthians 2:11
Everyone of us have thoughts. And the thing about our thoughts is that they are private. No one but ourselves know what we are thinking unless we choose to share them with someone else. The Bible tells us that God has thoughts also and no one knows what He is thinking either unless He chooses to share it.
Do you ever wonder what God thinks about? (Let me make something perfectly clear before we start- I am in no way saying that I understand the thoughts of God, know everything He is thinking, or can understand His thoughts. But there are some things that I know are on His mind because the Bible tells me what they are.)
So what does God think about? He thinks about YOU! He thinks about how much He loves you. That is what was on His mind when He sent His only begotten Son Jesus into the world to save us from our sins. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." (John 3:16,17) At the cross, you were on His mind. Thoughts of you and me having the opportunity of living with Him forever if He would endure the suffering of the cross, far out weighed the pain that was engulfing His body. "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Heb. 12:2)
He thinks about the plans that He has for you- plans to give you blessings, hope and a future. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." (Jeremiah 29:11-KJV) "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (NIV)
There is no doubt that God is thinking about you, and He thinks about you all the time. What do you think about? Is He the subject of your thoughts? Do you think about Him? Do you think about His goodness that He bestows on your everyday? Do you think about His grace? Do you think about His will and purpose for your life? Do you think about what you can do to bless Him? Or are your thoughts more self-centered and self- absorbed? Do you think about everything and everyone else besides Him? Just what do you think about?
Have a great day. What does God think about? He thinks about you. What do you think about? Is it Him?
For further reading:
Isaiah 49:14-16; 55:7,8,9
Philippians 4:8
Psalm 10:4
Monday, October 25, 2010
"Guard Your Heart"
"Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God." Hebrews 3:12
When the Lord gives us a warning in His word, it would definitely do us good to pay attention to what He is saying. His warnings are always for our benefit. Above is one of those warning. What is the warning? The warning is- in a nutshell- "guard your heart". Be careful not to allow it to become unbelieving.
He uses the example of Israel here to teach us what He means. In verse ten He tells us that they were always going astray from Him in their hearts. The heart is the "heart of the matter". The Bible tells us that God is after our hearts. It tells us that with our hearts we believe unto salvation. The greatest commandment is that we love the Lord with all our heart.
They didn't guard their hearts. They allowed unbelief to come in even after they had seen all the miracles that He had done for them. They tempted Him to do more after He had already given them everything they needed- their hearts were full of discontent. When He tried to take them into the promised land, they did not believe that He was able to do it. They believed what they saw instead of what He said. They also wanted God to fulfill their every desire and follow their plans- when, where and how they wanted things to go.
Are you following in their footsteps? Are you listening to the accusations of the enemy against God? Are you tempting Him? Are you listening to the negative reports when He has already given you His word on the matter? Are you dissatisfied with what God is doing? Are you trying to make Him conform to your plans and do things your way? Then beware and on guard, you are on your way to having a "straying heart" and a straying heart strays away from God. And when it strays away from God there are consequences. (Just ask those Israelites who did not enter into the promised land.) Or are you guarding your heart from unbelief?
How do we keep from departing/straying from the Lord? How do we keep from having an evil heart of unbelief? By guarding our heart. We do that by keeping it clean and pure before Him. That is done through faith. Believe what He says. Cleave to Him no matter what. Trust Him no matter what the situation looks like. Follow Him and allow Him to do the leading. Renew your mind with His word. Hide His word in your heart. Refuse to listen to the accusations of the enemy. Be content where you are at the moment but keep seeking Him. Let His word establish peace in your heart. Be led by the Spirit and not your own flesh or selfish desires. Remember, the just live by faith, not by sight... and not by our wants and desires.
Have a great day. Guard your heart from unbelief so that you don't depart from the Lord.
For further reading:
Proverbs 4:23
Psalm 51:10; 119:11
Romans 12:2
Hebrews 3:1-2; 13:5
2 Corinthians 5:7
Galatians 5:16
Philippians 4:11
When the Lord gives us a warning in His word, it would definitely do us good to pay attention to what He is saying. His warnings are always for our benefit. Above is one of those warning. What is the warning? The warning is- in a nutshell- "guard your heart". Be careful not to allow it to become unbelieving.
He uses the example of Israel here to teach us what He means. In verse ten He tells us that they were always going astray from Him in their hearts. The heart is the "heart of the matter". The Bible tells us that God is after our hearts. It tells us that with our hearts we believe unto salvation. The greatest commandment is that we love the Lord with all our heart.
They didn't guard their hearts. They allowed unbelief to come in even after they had seen all the miracles that He had done for them. They tempted Him to do more after He had already given them everything they needed- their hearts were full of discontent. When He tried to take them into the promised land, they did not believe that He was able to do it. They believed what they saw instead of what He said. They also wanted God to fulfill their every desire and follow their plans- when, where and how they wanted things to go.
Are you following in their footsteps? Are you listening to the accusations of the enemy against God? Are you tempting Him? Are you listening to the negative reports when He has already given you His word on the matter? Are you dissatisfied with what God is doing? Are you trying to make Him conform to your plans and do things your way? Then beware and on guard, you are on your way to having a "straying heart" and a straying heart strays away from God. And when it strays away from God there are consequences. (Just ask those Israelites who did not enter into the promised land.) Or are you guarding your heart from unbelief?
How do we keep from departing/straying from the Lord? How do we keep from having an evil heart of unbelief? By guarding our heart. We do that by keeping it clean and pure before Him. That is done through faith. Believe what He says. Cleave to Him no matter what. Trust Him no matter what the situation looks like. Follow Him and allow Him to do the leading. Renew your mind with His word. Hide His word in your heart. Refuse to listen to the accusations of the enemy. Be content where you are at the moment but keep seeking Him. Let His word establish peace in your heart. Be led by the Spirit and not your own flesh or selfish desires. Remember, the just live by faith, not by sight... and not by our wants and desires.
Have a great day. Guard your heart from unbelief so that you don't depart from the Lord.
For further reading:
Proverbs 4:23
Psalm 51:10; 119:11
Romans 12:2
Hebrews 3:1-2; 13:5
2 Corinthians 5:7
Galatians 5:16
Philippians 4:11
Friday, October 22, 2010
"Good Jealousy"
"For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy." 2 Corinthians 11:2a
Jealousy is not a good thing. The Bible tells us that it is a work of the flesh and commands us not to allow it in our lives. But I want to submit to you this morning that there is one kind of jealousy that is permitted and that we must have active in our lives. It is being jealous over our time with the Lord.
One of the definitions in the dictionary of jealous is- possessive and watchful in the maintenance or protection (of). When it comes to our time with the Lord, we have to be watchful of the things that would try to come and steal that time from us. We have to be on guard so as to not let any distractions or hindrances keep us from our place where we meet with Him. We must do whatever we have to in order to maintain that intimate time with Him- lay aside some outside activities, set the clock a little earlier, turn the phone off, etc. We must "jealousy" protect our quiet time, our "closet" time, our alone time with the Lord. It is the most important part of our life and we must guard it with all diligence. We can't afford to "sacrifice" it for anything else. Nothing else is as important. Communion, fellowship, relationship, intimacy with the Lord is why we were created.
How jealous are you over your time with the Lord? Do you make sure you don't let anything hinder you from having it? Do you give it up easily without reservation or a fight? Do you sacrifice other things in order to have that quiet time in His presence or is it what you sacrifice? Do you give in to the distractions and give up trying to have that time, or do you persevere until you have it? Examine your life and relationship with the Lord, are you watchfully protecting it, or giving it up?
Have a great day. It is all right to be jealous when it comes to having time alone with the Lord.
For further reading:
Mark 12:30; 1:35
Hebrews 12:1
Luke 10:38-42
Jealousy is not a good thing. The Bible tells us that it is a work of the flesh and commands us not to allow it in our lives. But I want to submit to you this morning that there is one kind of jealousy that is permitted and that we must have active in our lives. It is being jealous over our time with the Lord.
One of the definitions in the dictionary of jealous is- possessive and watchful in the maintenance or protection (of). When it comes to our time with the Lord, we have to be watchful of the things that would try to come and steal that time from us. We have to be on guard so as to not let any distractions or hindrances keep us from our place where we meet with Him. We must do whatever we have to in order to maintain that intimate time with Him- lay aside some outside activities, set the clock a little earlier, turn the phone off, etc. We must "jealousy" protect our quiet time, our "closet" time, our alone time with the Lord. It is the most important part of our life and we must guard it with all diligence. We can't afford to "sacrifice" it for anything else. Nothing else is as important. Communion, fellowship, relationship, intimacy with the Lord is why we were created.
How jealous are you over your time with the Lord? Do you make sure you don't let anything hinder you from having it? Do you give it up easily without reservation or a fight? Do you sacrifice other things in order to have that quiet time in His presence or is it what you sacrifice? Do you give in to the distractions and give up trying to have that time, or do you persevere until you have it? Examine your life and relationship with the Lord, are you watchfully protecting it, or giving it up?
Have a great day. It is all right to be jealous when it comes to having time alone with the Lord.
For further reading:
Mark 12:30; 1:35
Hebrews 12:1
Luke 10:38-42
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