Life is really short and what we don't know is when it will end...
The spiritual battle for your soul is real. The Devil (and his demons) wages war against you in an unseen realm that you need to be aware of at all times. Don't let this out of your sight before you read it. Don't stop for any reason! No distractions of any kind! The Devil doesn't want you to know about what's going to be mentioned in the next few moments.
Without Faith, it impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6a). You must have faith to make it to this point. In fact, God's Word says this very thing (see Matthew 13:31, 32) He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” Your faith be small, however, it can grow and be powerfully used for the Kingdom of God.
I want to speak to you now regarding the world we are living in today. God's Word says; But understand this, that in the last days difficult times will come (That is right now). For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, savage, opposed to what is good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, loving pleasure rather than loving God. They will maintain the outward appearance of religion but will have repudiated its power (or have a form of Godliness). So avoid people like these (2 Timothy 3:1-5).
1 John 2:15-17 says; Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. God's plan for you and me is to be with Him throughout eternity. This should be the desire of every human being on the planet.
We are all in a battle and it's in the unseen world or outside the realm of the flesh, It's spiritual and the good news is God will open our eyes to this world if we ask him.
The Bible says; If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do (James 1:5-8).
Our God loves when we initiate conversation through prayer. He wants relationship with us! He says: "come near to me and I will come near to you" (James 4:8). When we ask for something we need he wants to provide. Listen to His word and what it says! Break it down and study it. Ask questions around the meaning of the context. Like this verse below;
Mat. 7:7-12 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18).
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).
that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6:11-19).
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
You are in a Battle that we will not be able to see on our own. Every person need's God to be really set free and to show us the way to eternal life.
Does Money Consume Your Thoughts & Life?
"Dream The Impossible Dream"
Many years ago I dreamed about having my Limo waiting for me outside. A driver who was just waiting for me to come out and tell him/her exactly where I wanted to be dropped off next. For a while, I even owned the website; Dreamtheimpossibledream.com. Seriously, when we get into the things that are going to make us happy in life, usually are fantasized around riches, money, jewels, fast cars, etc. However, all these are temporary when it comes to your soul and eternity. We are here on earth just long enough to make a choice regarding where we will spend eternity. Can You be rich and be a Christian? Yes, most definitely, but we better realize what God says to those who are wealthy in this life. Since I wanted to be short with this statement, let me sum it up in one statement and by the way their is nothing wrong with dreaming. However, reality and God's Word tell us "to much is given, much is required" (Luke 12:48).
Why Not Have A Hidden Vault In The Mansion
We must manage our money and not allow our money to manage us!
My Home Away From Home; "Visitation"
For where your treasure is there your heart will be also!
What Does The Bible Say About Money?
Guard Your Heart, for it is the Well-spring of Life (Pro. 4:23).
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” I absolutely love God's promise! God knows what we need according to His will. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us (1 John 5:14).
The Bible does say; “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Mat. 6:19-21).
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever (1 Jn. 2:15-17).
GOD'S WORD SAYS IN MALICHI 3:10; Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.
WHY? God wants you and I to learn to TRUST HIM with ALL of our HEART. Listen to what PROVERBS 3:1-10 says;
1 My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
2 For they will prolong your life many years
and bring you peace and prosperity.
3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make yur paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and shun evil.
8 This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to
overflowing, and your vats will brim
over with new wine.
We can do life God's way or our way! There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death (Proverbs 14:12). The Bible also says; And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; (Joshua 24:15). I have made the choise and I hope you do too. Blessings in the Lord, Pastor Steve & Tabi
A Rich Respondsibility!
"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24).
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses (1 Timothy 6:6-12).
And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:25).