God the Holy Spirit – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Stand Firm In Your Faith

“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'” (Matthew 22:37-39, NIV).

In Romans 12:3, the Apostle Paul tells us that God has given to all a measure of Faith [the ability to believe and trust in God]: “…to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.”

We use faith to believe that God exists; faith is the catalyst that enables us to love God, the Father, and God, Jesus Christ; and faith causes us to believe and accept Christ as our personal Savior.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV).

Active Faith allows us to embrace the Plan of Redemption, fulfilled by Jesus Christ on Calvary’s Cross, keeping us spiritually connected to Christ by believing in God’s Power and Promises.

Like a seed in the ground, faith can grow. We choose to water and feed our faith by trusting and obeying God in every aspect of our lives. Instead of making decisions based on speculation, we pray, ask, and wait for God’s Divine Guidance.

Faith is a spiritual muscle that must be exercised daily to gain strength. Our love for Jesus keeps our faith active, giving us the desire to stay connected to Jesus Christ through daily Personal Worship, Prayer, and Bible Study.

“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!” (Psalm 95:6, ESV).

From the moment we wake up, our first words should reflect immense gratitude for God’s Love and Mercies revealed by the gift of time. Yes, we have received another day, which allows us to consecrate ourselves to follow Christ by worshiping God in Spirit and Truth.

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27-28, NKJV).

Morning worship reflects the intentional decision to place our faith and trust in Jesus, our Loving and Faithful Shepherd. The Holy Spirit rewards our faithfulness by empowering us with Jesus’ Wisdom and Strength. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13).

It is a mystery that the human mind cannot comprehend; however, God, the Holy Spirit, can be present everywhere at the same time. The Spirit of God strengthens our faith, always guiding and giving us the wisdom to perceive life through spiritual eyes.

“In the days of His earthly life, Jesus offered up both [specific] petitions and [urgent] supplications [for that which He needed] with fervent crying and tears to the One who was [always] able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission toward God [His sinlessness and His unfailing determination to do the Father’s will].” (Hebrews 5:7, Amplified Bible).

In His earthly life, Jesus was a Prayer Warrior who used HIs faith to rely on God, the Father’s Guidance and Power! We must form the habit of consistently whispering prayers for Divine Wisdom, Guidance, and the Strength to overcome our internal desires and the external temptations we are guaranteed to encounter every day.

“Key Ways to Strengthen Faith: Faith is the very life of the soul!”

Study the Scriptures Daily:
- Treat God’s Words as Spiritual food and water.
- Meditate on the gift of Redemption and Christ’s Righteous Character.
- Let your mind dwell on sacred, eternal things rather than trivial matters.
Engage in Secret Prayer:
- Open the heart to God in solitude, free from outside distractions.
- Bring burdens and trials directly to the Lord to receive the spiritual strength for endurance.
- Consciously surrender your plans each morning and ask the Holy Spirit to guide your day.
Exercise Active Obedience:
- Understand that true faith produces fruit and works through love.
- Clear the heart of cherished sins or selfish desires that act as strongholds for doubt.
- Put faith into practice by cooperating with God in daily duties.

Take Time to Separate and Meditate on God’s Past Leading:

Remember that we have nothing to fear for the future unless we forget how the Lord has led us in the past.
Count your blessings and speak words of praise and thanksgiving rather than entertaining discouragement. Steps to Christ and The Desire of Ages

“Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.” (Psalm 25:4, ESV). “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105, ESV).

Our faith is strengthened by praying, asking for, and depending on God’s Will and Perfect Plans. The choices we make either build and strengthen our faith or destroy our faith and relationship with Jesus Christ; Self-reliance [depending on our thoughts and strategies] always excludes Christ from our lives.

Exercising Faith invites the Holy Spirit to empower us to trust in the unseen Promises of God. “Faith is not only to look forward to things unseen; [faith] is to be confirmed by looking at past experience,” and at the many victories God has given to us in impossible situations.

“Faith enables us to reveal that Christ is abiding in the soul,” giving us the courage and strength to reflect the Light of Christ in a world overshadowed by spiritual darkness. Through faith, we demonstrate that loving, honoring, and following Jesus Christ makes a difference in one’s life.

Reflection: The time we intentionally spend worshiping God reveals the direction of our faith, trust, and focus; either we use our faith to implicitly focus on Christ, trusting Him with our lives, or we use our faith to focus on and trust our limited abilities.

Daily Faith Building Activities Will Result in Steadfast Strengthened Faith

Consecrate Yourself Daily to God: “…by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1, ESV).

Diligently Study the Holy Scriptures: Receive Power Through God’s Word

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:12-13, NIV).

Prayer Keeps Us Connected to Jesus, The Source of All Strength

“Pray continually.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17, NIV). Every day, pray, “Lord, increase my faith.”

“Prayer is simply talking to God as a trusted friend who hears hidden thoughts and understands every burden. Prayer is a vital, personal connection with Jesus, our Loving Friend. Solitude in prayer protects the mind from outside noise and lays the soul bare before God for true spiritual growth.”

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes…” (Proverbs 3:5-7).

Invite God into your decision-making activities. Use your faith to trust and rely on God’s Divine Guidance in every aspect of your life. Never consider any decision insignificant; we cannot discern future outcomes. As followers of Christ, we should never suffer consequences because we failed to ask for Divine Guidance. Always wait on God to answer your prayer. Our Heavenly Father is never in a hurry. [Study Psalm 27:14].

King David’s Prayer of Faith: “Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ My heart said to You, ‘Your face, Lord, I will seek…. Teach me Your way, O Lord.'” (Psalm 27:7-8, 11).

The Internal Conflict: Trusting Our Thoughts or Trusting God’s Sovereign Thoughts

“For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” (2 Chronicles 20:12)

When three armies came against King Jehoshaphat, his immediate response was to declare a fast in the Kingdom of Judah. and using his faith, he prayed, asking for God’s Help.

“Lord, the God of our ancestors, are You not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and Might are in Your hand, and no one can withstand You.” (2 Chronicles 7:20, NIV).

King Jehoshaphat Prayer Focuses On God

If we look carefully at the King’s prayer, he honors and revere’s God by acknowledging God’s Sovereign Omnipotence: “You rule…Power and Might are in Your hand, and no one can withstand You.”

We were created to depend on Christ. Loving Christ is revealed by using our faith to follow and depend on our Shepherd with a spirit of humility, surrendering daily to follow and obey His will and plans.

Throughout the Bible, we find that God never focuses on human ability or weaknesses. God always redirects our focus to Himself: The Scriptures reveal His Love, Power, and Sovereign Authority.

“Behold I am the God of all flesh, is there anything too difficult for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27).

“God reminded the Prophet Jeremiah that He holds Absolute Power over all humanity and creation, affirming that nothing is too hard for the Sovereign God.

Reflection: Do we really believe that nothing is impossible for God to resolve? “Would not God search this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart.” (Psalm 44:21).

Joshua, Israel’s New Leader: Although Moses mentored Joshua to lead the people, when Moses died, because of the Israelites history of stubbornness and disobedience, Joshua not only feared the people, but he also doubted his ability to lead them.

God’s Response: (Joshua 1:5-6, 9):

“No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.”
“Only be strong and very courageous… Observe to do according to all the Law…Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.”
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Reflection: Recently I listened to a discussion by a panel of pastors, who stated the reason that most believers are having a difficult time in their spiritual Journey, and their routine duties of life: “We are always focusing on ourselves instead of God.”

Whether we are facing the routine obstacles of life, or overwhelming challenges and hardships, our initial thought should not be, “What am I going to do?”

With humility, King Jehoshaphat acknowledged our human limitations and the fact that we must depend on God: “For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”

Love and loyalty to God is revealed by our willingness to surrender to His Authority. In faith, we pray for guidance, with the commitment to trust and obey Jesus Christ, our Savior and Shepherd.

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'” (John 14:6).

The Message of The Cross reveals that Jesus Christ has Redeemed us with His Life: “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, ESV).

“From accepting Christ as our Savior, we acknowledge that His blood washes away our sins, which signifies, “New Ownership: Believers belong to God rather than to themselves or the ways of the world.”

God, the Father’s expectation is that we follow, trust, and obey God, Jesus Christ, His Son and our Shepherd by honoring Him with love, loyalty, surrender, faith, and obedience.

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7). “And without faith it is impossible to please Him…” (Hebrews 11:6).

Do our thoughts and decisions reveal that our faith is in Jesus or in our abilities?

If we live from day to day relying on our thoughts and strategies then we have redirected our faith and focus to ourselves, which proves that we do not believe in the Power of God, nor do we trust Him.

A lifestyle of surrender and obedience is demonstrated through daily worship of Prayer, Bible Study, and asking God to reveal His will and plans for our lives.

Faith, trust, and obedience are the keys that prompt God to open the Windows of Heaven, and pour out His Abundant Blessings, especially when we need His Divine Help.

Great is His Faithfulness! God sustains our lives; it is His Ruach breath that flows through our lungs and His mercies that keep us alive.

The Failure to Reverence God is prevalent in today’s Christian Community: Sadly, because we have embraced self-reliance, rarely studying the Bible, we pray with a focus on ourselves, approaching God as if He is our equal. God will not acknowledge prayers that do not honor Him.

Our prayers should always begin with honoring and reverencing God’s Sovereign Authority: Jesus teaches us in the Lord’s Prayer to always acknowledge God, the Father’s Holy Name : “Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your Name.”

King David prayed: “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.” (1 Chronicles 29:11).

“Do not be wise in your own eyes.” (Proverbs 3:7).

We have embraced the worldview of self-governance. Something is not right when Christians use their limited perception, and prior experience to evaluate a challenge, trust their feelings, and with a spirit of overconfidence, develop a strategy, believing that it will work.

Self-Reliance is the intentional decision to exclude God, revealing that we believe our mind is greater than God’s Omniscience, and His Higher Thoughts and Ways.

Not only does self-reliance dishonor God, but it also redirects our faith to trust in misguided human thoughts. “…Do not lean on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5).

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21).

Trusting in ourselves builds an impenetrable wall of resistance against depending on God, placing us in a state of disobedience, which immediately separates us from God.

Trusting in human wisdom compares to driving on a familiar road covered with a thick fog. Because we know every curve in the road, instead of driving with caution, we drive at our normal speed, because we do not anticipate encountering any hazards.

From Genesis to Revelation, the Scriptures reveal that God always redirects our faith and focus to His unlimited Power. Jesus created us to depend on His Wisdom, Strength, and Guidance: “Without Me, you can do nothing.”

“We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, God listens to him.” (John 9:31, ESV).

The Holy Spirit alerts every believer when they have detoured from the Narrow Path of Righteousness. Every day, we decide if we are interested in surrendering and following Jesus Christ.

“I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” (Jeremiah 17:10, ESV).

When we live to please ourselves, we have an issue of the heart. God knows who loves Him, and although He knows we are attempting to serve Him with a divided heart, He will never coerce us to love Him.

When our response to John 3:16 is to love God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength then faithful obedience and surrender is not a burden or an inconvenience.

Receiving Forgiveness and Spiritual Restoration: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9).

First, we acknowledge that we have sinned against God by not revering and trusting His Love, Faithfulness, and Sovereign Power.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10).

God requires a prayer of confession and asking for forgiveness because we have rebelled against His Sovereign Authority by embracing and practicing self-reliance.

“I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!” (Isaiah 65:24, NLT).

When we repent for our wrongdoing and in humility, admit our helplessness, we serve a Loving and Faithful God, who will give us His Divine Help.

We do not have to live a life of hoping for the best to happen. Jesus’ Invitation:

“Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need” [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment]. (Hebrews 4:16, Amplified Bible).

“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (1 Peter 3:12, ESV).

Lord God, You are the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory. We confess that we have trusted in our thoughts and strategies instead of placing our faith and trust in You. And we ask You to forgive us for dishonoring Your Holy Name and Your Sovereignty. We admit that we have reached a dead end in our spiritual journey, and are facing obstacles that we cannot overcome without You. Lord, we ask You to restore us spiritually. We confess that we desperately need Your Help, and we thank You for Your Divine Intervention. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Running The Christian Race – Strive For Your Crown of Life!

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” (1 Corinthians 9:24, NIV)

There is a misconception that has spread like wildfire in the Christian Community: Because Jesus Paid it All [redeeming us from our sins] on Calvary’s Cross, once we accept Jesus as our Savior, we don’t have to do anything beyond attending church to receive Eternal Life.

Jesus says, “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” (Revelation 22:12, NKJV).

The Amplified Translation: “Behold, I (Jesus) am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to the merit of his deeds (earthly works, faithfulness).” (Revelation 22:12).

Throughout the Bible, God reveals that He has given us spiritual gifts and innate talents to use for His Honor and Glory. “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them…” (Romans 12:6).

“By His own humiliation and agony, Christ has paid the purchase for our salvation, and He has a right to our services.”

“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19).

“By the body we are to understand [lustful desires], appetites, and inclinations. These the apostle Paul set himself to curb and conquer, and in this the Corinthians [members of the Corinth Church] were bound to imitate him…”

“I say then: ‘Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.’ ” (Galatians 5:16).

“[We] must fight hard to overcome fleshly lusts, and not to surrender to uncontrolled appetites.” Fleshly lusts also includes the relentless pursuit of our desires, material possessions, wealth, and relationships with the intent of self-gratification.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9, ESV).

“You are the light of the world…You are the salt of the earth.” (Matthew 5:13-14).

As “Light and Salt of the Earth” [Matthew 5], we represent God’s Love by possessing the Fruit of the Spirit, including self-control, which represents Christ’s Righteous Character:

“But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23, Amplified Bible).

As “Light and Salt of the Earth,” God has given us the responsibility of spreading “The Message of the Cross.”

Sadly, many believers cannot fulfill their God-given Spiritual Assignment of witnessing to others, because they do not have a heart to Heart relationship with Jesus Christ. And from not studying the Holy Scriptures they do not know or understand God’s Character, His Commandments, and Righteous Precepts.

Walk In Love – Walk In Light – Walk In Wisdom

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’ And Jesus replied to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.'” (Matthew 22:36-38).

Love for God is the foundation and the catalyst of our spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ. To love God is to know Him, to honor and revere Him, and to put God First in every aspect of life.

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'” (John 8:12, ESV).

Following Jesus requires that we love Him more than we love ourselves, and this includes our spouse, and our family. We do not neglect them, yet, we do not compromise because they are not committed to following Jesus with faithful obedience.

Dedicated followers of Christ are willing to live a daily sacrificial life of self-denial and faithful obedience. “I will not sin against God,” is the True Believer’s Creed.

“Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational act of worship.” (Romans 12:1, Amplified Bible).

Sacrificial Commitment: The daily personal worship of praying, fasting [at least one hour per day], and surrendering oneself to follow Jesus cannot be accomplished without self-denial, self-control, and Jesus’ Wisdom, Strength and Power, given to us by the Holy Spirit.

“Spiritual Fasting is an earnest tool for seeking God’s Wisdom, breaking self-dependence, [and sinful habits, behaviors, and self-seeking pleasures].”

Practical Ways to Incorporate Spiritual Fasting: At 8 pm, I cease all food intake, with the exception of water [if thirsty]. At 10 pm, I pray for God’s forgiveness of sins, asking for blessings of safety while sleeping, and to reveal His will for my life.

The next morning, I whisper a prayer of gratitude for the blessing of a new day, breaking my fast with lemon water. At times, I feel no hunger for 3-4 hours, so I delay eating.

Spiritual fasting draws us closer to Christ and gives us spiritual and mental clarity. The Holy Spirit teaches us how to distinguish God’s Voice above our thoughts and others’ voices.

From daily fasting, we are rewarded by Jesus with the Wisdom to perceive life through spiritual eyes. Not only do we gain a higher spiritual focus, the Holy Spirit empowers us with the self-control to stop former habits and behaviors. Yes and Amen!

Before engaging in spiritual fasting for an extended time, pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who will guide you regarding the duration of your fast. This is especially important for those with medical diagnoses that require taking medications within definitive time parameters.

“See then that you walk circumspectly [carefully], not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15).

Continuous Prayer invites the Holy Spirit to empower us with Spiritual Wisdom, Discernment, and Strength. Without daily Spiritual Reinforcements, it is impossible to recognize and overcome Satan’s continuous covert strategies and temptations.

We receive our greatest Spiritual Blessings through personal worship. Our love and gratitude to God for our Spiritual Gift of Time is revealed by separating ourselves to worship Him one-to-one in Spirit and Truth.

From praying and eating The Bread of Life and drinking The Living Water [Studying The Holy Scriptures], God, the Holy Spirit converts our heart, and transforms our mind and character, preparing us for eternity with Jesus Christ.

Sanctification is performed by the Holy Spirit, who requires our willingness to actively participate in our daily spiritual growth and character transformation into the likeness of Christ. Let go of people, places, and habits that fail to honor God!

“Be holy for I Am Holy.” (1 Peter 1:16).

If our lives do not reflect the daily sacrifice of self-denial, and the willingness to surrender with faithful obedience to follow Jesus on the Narrow Path of Righteousness then we are only carrying the label of being a Christian.

Brothers and Sisters, we are living in the Last Days [2 Timothy 3], Run, Run, Run the Spiritual Race with Conviction and Courage in the Power of our Lord, Savior, and Triumphant King, Jesus Christ, Who Promises:

“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My Throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His Throne.” (Revelation 3:21).

Lord God, as we strive to run the Christian Race, we ask You to empower us with Your Divine Wisdom and Strength. We ask for the anointing, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Lord, teach us how to be holy, and guide us in our thoughts, spoken words, and decisions, so we always bring Glory and Honor to your Holy and Righteous Name. Jesus, please be our Strength, lead us, guide us, correct us, and protect us. Thank You, for Your Amazing Love. We ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of our Triumphant King, Jesus Christ, Amen.

The Lifestyle That Reveals We Love Christ

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'” (John 14:6).

Who is Jesus [Yeshua]? Jesus is the Only Son of God, the Father and Jesus is God, the Second Person of the Triune Godhead [the Holy Spirit is the Third Person].

In Hebrews Chapter 1, God, the Father makes the absolute declaration that Jesus, His Son is also God, refuting that Jesus is a created angel:

“For to which of the angels did He ever say: “You are My Son, today I have begotten you? And again: I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son?…Let all the angels of God worship Him.” (Hebrews 1:5-6).

“But to the Son He says: Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions. (Hebrews 1:8-9).

God, the Father proclaims again that Jesus is not a created angel:

“But to which of the angels has He [God, the Father] ever said: ‘Sit at my right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool? Are they [the angels] not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister to those who will inherit salvation?” (Hebrews 1:13-14).

The Creation of This World and Humanity

God, Jesus Christ created the world and life, by His spoken words, with the exception of Adam and Eve, who, He formed with His hands.

“Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.” (John 1:3:).

Colossians 1:16: “For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him.”

The Creation of Human Beings

“‘Let us make’ is evidence of the Godhead working in unison. God, the Father and God, the Son planned and executed the creation of humanity together.”

Outward Resemblance and Character: “Humanity was created in God’s image both in physical form (bearing a likeness to their Maker) and in moral character. This gave Adam and Eve perfect, holy attributes where reason controlled their passions and their affections were pure.”

“So the Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father’s One and Only Son.” (John 1:14, NLT).

Jesus Proclaims His Authority: “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.'” (Matthew 28:18).

Because the powerful Jewish rulers denied that Jesus was the Messiah, Jesus proclaimed His Authoritative Status given to Him by God the Father to His disciples.

“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2: 9-11).

So that every believer has conclusive proof that Jesus is also God, the Holy Scriptures validate that God, Jesus Christ has always existed with God, the Father, and God, the Holy Spirit.

Yes, we are given conclusive evidence that we must revere Jesus, the Lamb of God, our Savior, Heavenly Intercessor, and Mediator through the worship of faithful obedience.

Our Royal Status: We are Sons and Daughters, heirs of the Promise, who are preparing to live with and worship Jesus Christ, our Risen Savior and Triumphant King, for Eternity in the New Heaven and New Earth.

Living As True and Faithful Believers reveals to the world that we are Sons and Daughters of God!

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.” (Romans 8:14-17, ESV).

Satan’s False Teaching: We can live as we desire and still inherit our Crown of Life.

“But why do you call Me Lord, Lord, and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). Obedience to Jesus is not an option.

“Empty Profession: Simply calling Jesus ‘Lord’ is just a verbal acknowledgment; only acknowledging His authority means little without obedience.”

True discipleship requires actively applying and obeying God’s Spoken Words, [the Holy Scriptures] to direct your thoughts, behaviors, actions, and lifestyle to reveal obedience to God’s command, “Be holy, for I am Holy.”

God not only calls believers to have a pure heart and clean lifestyle, but Jesus actively supplies the strength to achieve it. We can do nothing for our Spiritual growth and transformation without being empowered by the Holy Spirit.

“For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.” (Philippians 2:13, NIV).

“The Bible clearly teaches that living a holy life is not achieved through human willpower alone, but through the transforming Power and daily guidance of God’s Spirit.”

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…and being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:5, 8).

If God the Father required Jesus, God, the Son, in His earthly life to faithfully obey Him, then we as created human beings, certainly must acknowledge God’s Sovereign Authority over this universe and our lives through obedience.

Reflection: If we obey our employer’s policies and procedures, and county, state, and governmental laws and regulations, then how much more does God expect us [mortals who live and die] to worship Him through daily surrender, humility, and faithful obedience?

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. (Matthew 22:37-38).

When we love God, following Jesus with total surrender and faithful obedience is not a burden or an inconvenience.

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you.” (Jeremiah 31:3, Amplified Bible).

“We love Jesus because He first loved us,” unselfishly sacrificing His life to redeem us from the penalty of sin, which is the second and final death [Romans 6:23].

We love Jesus because through His blood, we have the opportunity to overcome sin and receive the greatest reward of living with Him forever [John 14:1-3, Revelation 21-22].

“I will praise you with my whole heart; I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…” (Psalm 138:1, Psalm 139:14).

It is our heartfelt worship of obedience, praising God with our prayers of gratitude and singing joyfully that reveals our reverence, love, and loyalty to the Sovereign and Faithful God, the Sustainer of our lives.

The Path of Righteousness is Narrow, requiring a commitment to live a sacrificial, holy life of self-denial and overcoming our desires and Satan’s temptations through the Power of the Holy Spirit [Romans 12:1-2].

The Beginning of Our Spiritual Journey With Jesus: From our declaration of faith to accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, He cleansed us from all our unrighteousness, giving us a pure heart.

Abiding in Christ is a lifelong commitment of following Jesus, requiring continuous Prayer, Bible Study, and asking for His Divine Guidance and Strength.

Daily spiritual growth and character transformation requires a partnership with the Holy Spirit; we must use our power of self-control to say No to our desires, sinful pleasures, and chasing wealth and success.

Keeping our faith and focus on Christ and being content with our blessings, denying our sinful desires, and Satan’s earthly pleasures is the lifestyle of a dedicated follower of Christ.

From our love and willingness to humbly follow Christ, we invite the Holy Spirit to Sanctify us, resulting in Jesus covering us with His Righteousness, and this is the Life of an Overcomer. Yes and Amen!

“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on my throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. (Revelation 3:21).

Prayer: “Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant…” (Psalm 51:10; Psalm 86:16). Lord God, with surrender and adoration, we kneel before Your Throne of Grace, asking for Divine Strength and Guidance. As we strive to live holy, we also ask for the Holy Spirit to empower us with the wisdom to perceive life through spiritual eyes. Lord, teach us how to reveal Your light into a world that is dark from the plague of sin. We look forward to Jesus’ Second Advent when we will finally see our King Of Kings And Lord Of Lords. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Triumphant Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Jesus’ Gift of Peace

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Jesus’ gift of peace is one of the believer’s greatest spiritual benefits. To enjoy a mind filled with peace, gratitude, and contentment instead of fear, anxiety, and worry is possible even when we are facing our greatest challenges.

Jesus’ gift of Perfect Peace is an internal calm filled with joy, contentment, and courage experienced by those who have dedicated and surrendered their lives to follow Jesus Christ.

Spiritual Peace is not a quiet place, or listening to soothing music. Spiritual peace cannot be purchased; only Jesus can give true Peace. Spiritual Peace is a life-enriching experience that so few enjoy because receiving this gift requires that we follow Jesus with faithful obedience.

“Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.” (Psalm 119:165). God’s Moral Law [The Ten Commandments] and His Righteous Precepts in the Bible establish boundaries for Christians, teaching us how to live righteously.

Jesus’ promise of peace is the foundation for an unbothered mind, even when the fiery trials of adversity bring raging storms into our lives. Yet, only the righteous who strive to complete the Spiritual Conditions of Participation receive His gift of Divine Peace.

The Spiritual Conditions of Participation to Receive Peace: “Jesus answered, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.'” (John 14:23, HCSB).

Is it possible for us to be ineligible to receive Jesus’ Gift of Peace?

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Engaging in sin, including the sin of self-reliance, makes us ineligible to receive Jesus’ gift of peace. “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? (Luke 6:46).

The False Teaching of Compromised Christianity promotes church attendance, but teaches that because we are covered by God’s Grace, we can live according to our desires. “God’s grace does not provide Christians with the license to engage in sin. Rather than promote sin, God’s Grace teaches restraint from sin.”

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ…” (Titus 2:11–13, NIV).

Those who are disobedient cannot receive Jesus’ Divine gift of Spiritual Peace. The Solution: “Whoever consents to renounce sin and open his heart to the love of Christ, becomes a [recipient] of this heavenly peace.”

The Knowledge Seekers: There are Christians who are highly perceptive of their environments, aware of everything happening in their community, on the job, and in the city they reside in.

Yes, the knowledge seekers keep up with the global and local news, weather forecasts, the political arena, economic status, and social issues. They are tech-savvy, financially stable, and can readily participate in most discussions because, while others are wasting time on frivolous activities, they are seeking a higher level of knowledge.

The knowledge seekers love God and attend church, yet they also do not receive Jesus’ gift of Perfect Peace. Unfortunately, Christian knowledge seekers use their intellectual energies to continuously focus on the distractions of the tumultuous conditions in this world instead of focusing on God and preparing daily for Eternal Life.

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3). Jesus teaches that the only way to have His peace is by using our faith to focus on Him and trusting Him with our lives.

We also require Jesus’ gift of Perfect Peace to engage in the Daily Battle of Spiritual Warfare. In Ephesians 6, the apostle Paul tells us that we are involved in a spiritual war of the Great Controversy of Good and Evil that has existed for over 6,000 years.

Paul compares the Christian journey to the commitment of a soldier in the military, which requires an intentional focus, a peaceful mind, and maintaining one’s priorities to keep oneself prepared to fight in battle.

“No soldier in active service gets entangled in the [ordinary business] affairs of civilian life; [he avoids them] so that he may please the one who enlisted him to serve.” (2 Timothy 2:4, Amplified Bible).

Not having Jesus’ Peace prevents us from growing spiritually. Our prayers will be rushed, and we will not have the attention span to focus on the Holy Scriptures, preventing the Holy Spirit from guiding us in our spiritual journey and giving us the wisdom and discernment to understand the depth of God’s Word. [Isaiah 55:8-9].

Once we have accepted Christ as our Savior, He is also our Commander, who enlisted us to serve God, the Father. God must be our first priority! We actively participate in our salvation by maintaining a close relationship with Christ, which requires a sacrificial life of self-denial, surrender, and faithful obedience.

Separation, Solitude, and Silence are the Requisites for Personal Worship

“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand.” (Psalm 95:6-7).

Our love for God is demonstrated by the daily personal worship of Prayer and Bible Study. Many do not understand the depth of our spiritual experience of personal worship. We revere God with a spirit of humility because the Holy Spirit lifts us spiritually, placing us in the Divine and Holy Presence of Christ, which requires us to remove all distractions.

The Bible is our Spiritual Blueprint and Roadmap given by God to instruct and guide us, so we can actively participate in our journey of Sanctification [daily spiritual growth and transformation] performed by the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit, also known as the Spirit of Truth, gives us the wisdom and discernment to understand the depth of God’s thoughts—the Holy Scriptures. And we receive the strength to overcome temptations and to persevere in our rugged Christian journey.

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2).

We require Jesus’ gift of Perfect Peace to allow the Holy Spirit to transform our minds, characters, and personalities into the likeness of Christ [Sanctification] required to receive Eternal Life.

Jesus’ Transforming Power is not a superficial emotional experience. We must have His Spiritual Gift of Peace for our Minds and Characters to be transformed into His Righteous Character, which requires us to be covered with the Righteousness of Christ.

Reflection: What is distracting your focus from enjoying a heart-to-heart relationship with Christ and receiving His peace?

Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness…”; Proverbs 3:6: “Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.”

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7).

The greatest peace comes from knowing that we are following Jesus Christ as He leads us on the Path of Righteousness: And our reward will be eternity with Jesus, our Triumphant King. Yes and Amen!

Lord God, we thank You for Your Love, Grace, and Mercy. We ask You to give us the wisdom to reset our priorities by seeking knowledge and guidance through prayer and from Your Holy Scriptures. We also pray for the strength to resist the temptations of our heart’s desires and pursuing knowledge that only distracts us, and has nothing to do with our Salvation and Eternal Life. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Powerful Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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What Does God Require of Us?

“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ” -Matthew 22:37

“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” -John 13:35

“It is no secret what God desires and requires of those who would claim to love and obey Him. He specifies very clearly in Micah 6:8 (and in similar passages elsewhere): ‘He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?’ ” (NKJV).

The two greatest sins are both tied to love. The failure to love God and to love everyone else results in the loss of receiving our reward of eternal life. Many believers feel that loving God is easy, but add qualifiers and conditions for loving others.

“Loving Everyone” includes those who have despitefully used you, attempted to defame your character, and abandoned, or abused you. Everyone is the 8 billion plus people that live on the planet Earth. Loving others unconditionally reveals that our hearts are overflowing with Agape love.

Our role model is Jesus. In His earthly life, Jesus was hated by the majority of the Jewish leaders who not only schemed everyday to kill Him, but also attempted to entrap Him by asking questions which appeared to have no correct or acceptable answer. Jesus proved that loving others despite their hatred is possible.

God is Love! Yes, God, the Father knew the majority of people would reject the gifts of His precious Son and Salvation, still, Jesus humbly, lovingly, and willingly gave His life for us. Are we willing to walk in the Loving footsteps of Christ by asking God to teach us how to love?

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” -1 John 4:11

Lord God, we ask you to teach us how to love as You love us. And we ask for forgiveness for not loving others as you love. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we pray, Amen.

Living By God’s Righteous Principles

“As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew (Levi) sitting in the tax collector’s booth; and He said to him, ‘Follow Me [as My disciple, accepting Me as your Master and Teacher and walking the same path of life that I walk].’ And Matthew got up and followed Him.” Matthew 9:9, Amplified Bible

Every day, we face the internal conflict of following our thoughts, desires, and inclinations [feelings] or seeking and fulfilling God’s perfect plans. Because we inherited rebellious hearts, pursuing righteousness is not our default setting. Yet God gave us the spiritual attributes of love, power, and self-control to counteract fulfilling our desires and falling into temptation.

Loving God requires active participation and is demonstrated through daily surrender and loyalty. We choose to obey God’s Righteous Precepts. Pray continuously for the strength to live holy through faithful obedience.

“Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow” (Isaiah 1:16-17).

Lord God, we pray for the desire to consecrate ourselves to serve You faithfully as we prepare for Jesus’ soon coming. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray, Amen.

Sabbath Peace and Blessings – Elohim Shomri, Our Protector

“The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.” —Psalm 121:5

From the moment we awaken, we are actively involved in the ongoing battle of good and evil. Without heavenly angelic intervention, we could never overcome humanity’s greatest enemy—Satan, the stealthy “roaring lion” who desires to separate us from God by presenting personalized and dangerous temptations of worldly pleasures and treasures that appeal to each of our heart’s desires.

The Safety of Abiding in the Presence of God: “Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler [deception] And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge…” —Psalm 91:3-4

Throughout our waking hours, we should whisper prayers of gratitude for Christ’s continuous protection from unseen and seen harm provided by His angelic armies. Unknowingly, we face harm through covert schemes of powerful deceptions, identity theft, financial scams, fake love relationships targeting the lonely, coercion, and many other dangers developed to devastate our lives.

It was not our human wisdom that prevented us from sustaining major losses. The righteous are blessed with guardian angels who protect us from the evil of unseen spiritual warfare. Near-miss vehicle collisions, personal falls without injury, and protection from highly contagious diseases are only a few of God’s Divine blessings of protection.

“…When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him.” —Isaiah 59:19

It is not good luck, charms, chants. or ancient spirits that protect us. Our safety from all hurt and harm is a result of God’s overwhelming love and continuous mercies of providing angelic protection to keep us safe. God’s protection knows no boundaries, He also protects us from from succumbing to temptation.

“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” —1 Corinthians 10:13, NLT

Even when facing temptation, we receive a warning from the Holy Spirit that something is not right! The disturbance of our inner peace and feelings of unease arises from the Holy Spirit who alerts our guardian angels, who always obey Jesus Christ, their Commander, to warn and protect us. God’s promises of protection are timeless, and valid, and include today’s Christian believers.

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior…” —Isaiah 43:1-3

The Scriptures reveal God’s Love and His continuous Intervention in our lives. We are loved beyond measure! We must love God with all of our hearts, souls, minds, and strength to worship Him in spirit and truth with faithful obedience. If we do not worship God in our earthly lives, certainly, we will not desire an eternal life of worshiping God.

This Sabbath [and every day] separate yourself at least twice daily to enjoy a time of intimate worship of praying, studying the Scriptures, and singing songs of gratitude to Elohim Shomri.

“Elohim Shomri” translates to ‘God our Protector’ or ‘God my Protector,’ emphasizing God’s role as a Provider of safety and protection.’

“Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honored, And I have loved you…” —Isaiah 43:4

Bible Study: Psalm 91, Psalm 121, and 2 Kings 6

Lord God, for your never-ending love, mercies, faithfulness, and protection we say, Hallelujah and Thank You! We ask for a much-needed spiritual blessing of wisdom and strength on your Holy Sabbath. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.