Be Encouraged Today!

School is off to a good start. The devil tried to throw a monkey wrench in the first couple of weeks, but he is a liar and a defeated foe. Period! Okay... Right now, I am studying the book of Galatians, and it is no wonder why God has me studying Galatians. Every time I’m led to do a study on a book, I know that God is trying to show me something. Just in these first couple of verses in the first chapter, the one thing that I got was that the Apostle Paul, whom God gave the revelation of the New Covenant, had to stand up for what God had called him to be, even when people tried to tell him who he was. Paul had done a lot of bad things in his life. He even killed people because of his beliefs. But God got a hold of his heart. And when God got a hold of his heart, Paul still struggled. He said, “The things that I don’t want to do, I wind up doing. And the things I know I ought to do, I don’t do.” If this wonderful, strong man of God struggled in his walk with God—if, in his past,...

In 2 Thessalonians 3:2, Paul asks believers to pray: "And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not Faith." At first glance, Paul appears to be speaking of people with evil intentions. Yet a closer look at the language he uses may reveal something deeper. The Greek word translated "unreasonable" is atopos , meaning "out of place," "misaligned," or "not in proper order." This suggests more than open hostility; it points to a condition of being spiritually misplaced. Throughout Scripture, one of Satan's most effective strategies is not necessarily to make people openly oppose God, but to subtly shift the object of their faith away from God's appointed provision. His greatest victories often come not through obvious rebellion but through misplaced trust, our faith. Misguided Devotion Rather Than Malicious Intent Many who opposed Paul's message were not irreligious people. In f...

One of the greatest gifts God has given humanity is the power of choice. Every day, we make decisions that either align with God's Word or move us away from it. As Believers in Christ Jesus, the issue is not merely whether we commit an obvious sin, but whether we choose to obey what God has revealed to us through His Word and by the leading of the Holy Spirit. The Apostle James addresses this very issue: "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." (James 4:17) Most Christians understand what are commonly called sins of commission —the things we do that are clearly forbidden by God's Word. However, Scripture also teaches about sins of omission —failing to do the good things God has commanded us to do. Sins of Commission and Sins of Omission There are two ways a person can miss God's will: Sins of Commission Doing what God has forbidden. Lying, gossiping, stealing, adultery, hatred, and other acts that viol...

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the Power of God." — 1 Corinthians 1:18 "But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the Power of God and the Wisdom of God." — 1 Corinthians 1:24 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom; all who follow His instructions have good insight." — Psalm 111:10 As I was reading Psalm 111:10 and reflecting on Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 1, a beautiful connection began to emerge. If the preaching of the Message of the Cross is the manifestation of the Power of God and the Wisdom of God, could it be said that the Message of the Cross is the Wisdom of God and the starting point for understanding and following the Lord's instructions? I believe the answer is yes. When we connect these passages together, we discover a clear spiritual progression that reveals how God brings His children into Wisdom, obedience, and sp...

In Ezekiel 47:1-5 (AMP) states: Then he [my guide] brought me back to the door of the house [the temple of the LORD]; and behold, water was flowing from under the threshold of the house (temple) toward the east, for the front of the temple was facing east. And the water was flowing down from under, from the right side of the house, from south of the altar. 2 Then he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate by the way of the gate that faces east. And behold, water was spurting out from the south side [of the gate]. 3 When the man went out toward the east with a measuring line in his hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he led me through the water, water that was ankle-deep. 4 Again he measured a thousand [cubits] and led me through the water, water that was knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand [cubits] and led me through the water, water reaching the hips. 5 Again he measured a thousand [cubits]; and it was a river that I cou...

When we came to Christ and accept what He accomplished on the Cross of Calvary for us, we were imputed His Righteousness. In Christ… Romans 6:3-4 (recommend you read the whole chapter) states: Or are you ignorant of the fact that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 We have therefore been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory and power of the Father, we too might walk habitually in newness of life [abandoning our old ways]. In what Jesus has accomplished, for those who would believe, is everything we will ever need in life. We have been given Salvation, redemption, reconciliation, The Word of God and His righteousness. Now when God sees us, He no longer sees a sinful person, but the Righteousness of He who was slain – The Lamb of God. To be able to walk in the righteousness daily, we must have our Faith in the very thing that afforded us that righteousness. It was ...