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Expel It Entirely

11 But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong. 12 When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile believers, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision. 13 As a result, other Jewish believers followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 When I saw that they were not following the truth of the gospel message, I said to Peter in front of all the others, “Since you, a Jew by birth, have discarded the Jewish laws and are living like a Gentile, why are you now trying to make these Gentiles follow the Jewish traditions?” ~ Galatians 2:11-14NLT

Peter, like all of us, was human. He wasn’t perfect. There was only ever one perfect person, and that was Jesus. Peter was like us. He had flaws, hiccups, and he made mistakes. He even had to be corrected by someone who had received salvation long after he had. Peter had been saved for years before Paul, yet it wasn’t the number of years that counted but what they did in those years.

See, Peter was only saved from his sinful nature; he never persecuted the Church. Yes, he denied Christ three times, but Christ forgave him physically on earth after the resurrection. Paul, on the other hand, wasn’t just saved from a sinful nature; he was saved from persecuting and executing the Church. He was there from the stoning of Stephen onward until that day on the road to Damascus. Paul was, arguably, saved from a much greater sin and, as Jesus put it, therefore, loved more. The more you love, the less you fear. Peter feared the reaction of those in the Church. He was afraid of being criticized and rejected by those he was comfortable around, and in doing so, he sinned.

The same spirit of Fear that made him flee in the garden when Jesus was arrested and made him deny Jesus in the courts of the High Priest caused him to fall into sin once again. See, Fear isn’t an easy spirit to overcome. Fear doesn’t just leave because you preach the Gospel or you’ve been saved a long time. Fear is something you have to completely remove from its roots and entirely expel out of your life. And when it comes knocking at your door again, you can’t answer it. You can’t give it any kind of foothold into your life again. Why? Because it’s a controlling spirit. It’s a dominating spirit that demands you to bow to it.

But if you do, LORD forbid, fall into the grasp of Fear again and sin, God will always send you help, just as He sent to Peter. Peter, as stated earlier, was saved long before Paul, but it took a man that had no fear to confront Peter in person and correct, with Scripture, his faults. Peter wasn’t above correction because he walked and talked with the LORD. He wasn’t above correction because he was given the keys of the kingdom. Why? Because Peter was human, just as we all are. So, when someone shows you the inaccuracies of your beliefs, actions, or statements in Scripture, don’t be angry. Don’t become defensive. Accept that correction so that the LORD might redeem you from the place you have fallen and might continue to use you.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Expel It Entirely.

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Check Your Countenance

14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. ~ Matthew 5:14-16

If we are to be the light of the world, wouldn’t that include all types of light? Wouldn’t you agree? Here is a type of light. The Greek word ʾôr pā·ně(h) is translated as light, but this light means:

  • Bright countenance, formally, light of the face, i.e., an appearance of the face that shows positive, happy attitude (Job 29:24; Pr 16:15)
  • Also: favor, favorable circumstances, and relief from trouble and danger (Ps 4:7[EB 6]; 44:4[EB 3])

I see a lot of Christians going around with long angry, sulky faces, like they have had nothing good and nothing good is coming to them. Let me just tell you, that is not being ʾôr pā·ně(h), the light, formally, light of the face.

Our countenance is a direct connection to our emotions, which directly influences our actions. We are called to be the light of the world while Jesus is in Heaven. How can we lead people to the joy of the LORD if we ourselves look angry, depressed, and filled with all kinds of negative emotions? The Joy of the LORD is our strength, so use it. Light the darkness in every interaction you have with someone, with every prayer and supplication you set before the LORD, with every action you make. The world is watching us; our countenance matters.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Check Your Countenance.

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The Uncorrectable

11 But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong. 12 When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile believers, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision. 13 As a result, other Jewish believers followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 When I saw that they were not following the truth of the gospel message, I said to Peter in front of all the others, “Since you, a Jew by birth, have discarded the Jewish laws and are living like a Gentile, why are you now trying to make these Gentiles follow the Jewish traditions?” ~ Galatians 2:11-14NLT

Peter was one of the Twelve who walked and talked with Jesus Himself. He was arguably Jesus’ best friend. He preached the first message on the Day of Pentecost and brought in 5,000 souls. He was a well-respected leader in the Church; nevertheless, not even he was above correction. When Paul corrected him, he didn’t condemn Paul. He didn’t pull up Paul’s past. He didn’t point out how long he was saved compared to Paul. He didn’t try to drag Paul’s name through the dirt and get him ostracized. Why? Because no one is above correction, but today that’s not a common belief.

Today, the Church has become unable to take correction. I’ve noticed that when someone doesn’t agree with one of my beliefs, they’ll start very friendly and kind, but as soon as I use Scripture they can’t defend against, they point out three things to me: I’m older than you, therefore wiser than you. I’ve been a Christian longer than you, therefore, I know and understand the Bible better than you. If they’re a man, they bring up that I’m female and, therefore, can’t possibly know better than a man. They never use Scripture. In fact, I was recently condemned and called all sorts of things in the comment section because I wouldn’t accept the beliefs of a man who believes he’s older than me (his age was never said, so I can’t say for sure). His biggest problem with me was that I used Scripture for why I didn’t believe his beliefs. He wanted to discuss the Scripture without quoting it. That is the temperature of the majority of “Christians” today. We want to push our ideology, our narrative, our truth, and when they contradict the Word of God, and someone points it out, we get angry. We get defensive. We get aggressive. Why? Pride.

Pride will blind us, keeping us from seeing the Truth. It will force us to create our own truth and disregard whether or not it agrees or disagrees with the only Truth, the Word of God. It will cause us to lash out when asked for Biblical evidence and see anyone who shows us the Truth in the Word of God as a bigoted hypocrite. This isn’t how the Church is to react. We are to use the Bible for correction so that we can grow. No one is perfect. Not me. Not you. Not even Peter, arguably Jesus’ best friend. Pride will keep us from God, for He humbles the proud but elevates the humble.

If your beliefs are challenged, defend them with Scripture. If they are weighed, measured, and found wanting, then change those beliefs. No one is above correction because no one is perfect.

Dear LORD, please search me. Convict me of any false beliefs, practices, or stances that I have within me. Show me any sin that has made a home in my life. Help me to root my beliefs in You and Your Truth and not in myself or another’s truth. Help me to strive to better myself each day. Teach me to take correction, and humble me so that pride may not build up in my life. Help me to always seek You and Your Kingdom. Guide me in all of my ways so that I may not be led astray by another shepherd. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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Dwell In His Grace

18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. ~ Luke 4:18-19

Jesus said that the Holy Spirit was upon Him and that God the Father had anointed Him to preach the Good News of salvation. To release the captives and heal the sick, to bring freedom to the oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor.

Seems to me that we are living in that time, the time of the LORD’s favor. Why? Because this is the time when anyone can bow before the LORD, call on His name, and be saved. Before the giving of the Holy Spirit, that didn’t happen. That had not yet been an option for all of mankind.

Now, because of the fullness of Jesus, or the completeness of Jesus, we have received favor upon favor, and grace upon grace, to the point where we can do all things through Christ who gives us His favor, or His grace.

In other words, His completeness, or His fullness, which is His strength, becomes our strength, and we are made complete in Him as long as we are in Him, and He is in us. Nothing is impossible for us.

There is no lack in Jesus. There is no emptiness in Jesus. There is no absence of anything good in Jesus. There is no bareness of any kind in Jesus. Why? Because Jesus is the fullness of God, made complete through His obedience as a man, obedience even unto death. That fullness or completeness is given or granted to us by Jesus when He said, “Lo, I’m with you always.” That was not just for the first century Church, but for us as well.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Dwell In His Grace.

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The Peter Syndrome

21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” ~ John 21:21-22

Just before Jesus’ ascension, He asked Peter 3 times if he loved Him. Peter replied, “Yes, LORD, I love You.” Jesus then told him to feed His sheep. No one is called to be idle; we all have work to do, and that work is feeding the sheep. You don’t have to be a full-time lead pastor to feed sheep; we just need to be knowledgeable ourselves and committed.

Then Jesus goes on to tell Peter how he would die. Peter didn’t seem to be pleased with what he learned about his future. He apparently turns away from the conversation because the Scripture says that he turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them.

He points his finger at him and says to Jesus, “What about him?” This is often us. We look at our trials and tribulations, then at others, and we feel envious of them and their journey. But we have to remember what Jesus explained to Peter. Your job is not based on someone else’s job. Your call is not based on someone else’s call. Their experience is not your experience. Their situation is not your situation.

Your job is to follow Jesus and be obedient to His plan for you. When things get hard, and persecution gets rough, always remember that you are not your own; you are bought at a price. Therefore, the life you live does not belong to you but to Jesus.

You will receive your life in eternity. This life here on earth is only for a very short time, and it is a preparation for eternity, and it is to be lived for Jesus. That is not too much to ask since He purchased your life by giving His own life. Did you notice what Jesus said to Peter? Don’t look around and notice the lush lifestyle someone else might seem to be living compared to yours. What is it to you if it is Jesus’ will to bless someone else extravagantly? You follow Jesus; never forget that.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Remember Whom You Follow.

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Hold Tight To This Hope

29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” ~ Mark 10:29-31

Remember Joseph? Joseph was loved by God. He was blessed and highly favored. But still, he was hated by his brothers, who sold him into slavery. Someone will ask, how can that be favor? Being sold into slavery by his own brothers who hate him, is that really favor? Not only that but he was falsely accused of attempted rape and thrown into prison. Is that favor?

Favor, as defined in Webster’s New World Dictionary, means:

friendly or kind regard; good will; approval; liking

It doesn’t mean that you will spend your life wallowing in the lap of luxury and sleeping on a bed of roses. The favor and grace of God come with a price. There is a price to pay, but the reward is way, way greater. The reward is eternal life without all of the cares and worries of this world.

  • Never again to persecuted
  • Never again to hungry or thirsty
  • Never again will we be scared or worried
  • Never again will we be concern over things
  • No more tears
  • No more sad goodbyes
  • Because there will be no more death
  • No more lies, or murders, or cheating
  • There will be eternal peace and the eternal joy of the LORD

When the LORD returns for us, we will be rewarded for all that we have gone through for the sake of His name. Right now, you may be feeling the hatred of the world, but if you turn your focus to the love of God, their hatred won’t tear you down. It won’t destroy you or depress you. Why? Because when you focus on the favor of the LORD, His love surrounds you, encourages you, and gives you hope.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Hold Tight To This Hope.

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Dwell In This Great Hope

6 And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. ~ Philippians 1:6

God wants us to enjoy His favor. He has given us the opportunity to seek Him so that He can grace us with His unfathomable favor. Grace is often defined as the unmerited favor of God shown to unworthy men and women, which Paul tells us in Ephesians chapter one that God has lavished His grace, or His favor, upon us. The LORD’s favor is what wakes us up in the morning, what keeps us through the day, and what lays us down at night. But best of all, it’s God’s favor or His grace that saved a wretch like me.

God’s grace has saved you, and it is God’s grace that saved me. Without God’s great favor, we are hopeless. But please understand that God shows His love, His grace, and His favor on all people when He lets His rain fall on the wicked as well as the just. And causes His sun to shine on the righteous as well as the unrighteous because He is a good, good God.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Dwell In This Great Hope.

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Embody Salt

13 You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. ~ Matthew 5:13-16

Some people say that salt was so important in ancient times that it actually enabled society to expand; thus, salt came to actually represent great power and value. What does that mean for us?

We are to be that kind of salt:

  • Influential
  • Powerful
  • Valuable

We’re influential because of our message of the Gospel. The only Gospel that changes lives, restores relationships, gives hope to a hopeless world, and saves souls.

We are powerful because we are connected to the ultimate power, Jesus. He said all authority in heaven and on earth is given to Him, and He gives us access to that power and authority through His Holy Spirit and His Holy name.

We are valuable because Jesus, God the Son, Himself, came and died to pay the price for us. God Himself dwells within us. And God molds us into His image as He redeems us from our past. We are valuable.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Embody Salt.

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Follow The Caller

9 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

When we repent and choose to follow Jesus, we change. We don’t and can’t continue on in our sin and filth. The majority of the Church is distracted by celebrities and Hollywood. We know more about our favorite celebrities and movies than we know about the Word of God and who God is.

Aleister Crowley called himself the Beast, 666, and was deemed the Wickedest Man In The World by the British press. He was the founder of the Thelema religion, which a lot of musicians follow today. Here is what he said:

….to hell with Christianity, Rationalism, Buddhism, all the lumber of centuries.
 I bring you a positive and primaeval fact, Magic by name;
and with this I will build me a new Heaven and a new Earth.
 I want none of your faint approval or faint dispraise;
I want blasphemy, murder, rape, revolution, anything, bad or good, but strong.

He certainly has it today, with society calling evil good and good evil. That is what is wanted today, blasphemy, murder, rape, revolution. Look at the riots that took place. The police are told by the mayors and those in charge to stand down while businesses were being looted. Communities destroyed. Lives disrupted. Innocent people murdered. Parents raped right in front of their children and in their own homes.

Even with all of this, this isn’t the end; it’s only the beginning. Darkness has to be almost completely interchangeable with light. Why? Because the love of many has to grow cold before the LORD returns. Unless we want the Great Tribulation to take place and Jesus to return in our lifetime, we have to make a change. We have to be careful who we allow to influence us. We have to be careful what we allow in our homes. We have to be careful what we allow in our churches. We have to be careful what we allow in us. We aren’t a part of the world. We have been chosen out of the world by God Himself. Therefore, follow Him who called you and not the world who deceives you.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Follow The Caller.

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Don’t Be Stupid

22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. ~ Romans 6:22

We are no longer slaves to sin. We cannot have one foot in the church and one foot in the world. But someone will say, “You can’t judge me! Only God can judge me.” But let me ask you, “Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water” (James 3:11-12). Therefore, how can we know if the water is fresh or salt if we don’t make a judgment call? How can we know if the fruits are olives, grapes, or figs? Again, we have to make a judgment call.

That is one of the most misinterpreted verses in all of Scripture. The verse is not telling us to stop calling sin, sin; otherwise, Scripture would contradict itself, and Scripture never contradicts itself. John said that if we see our brother in sin, we are to show him his sin using Scripture; we are not to pass judgment on him/her. Leave that for God. That’s His job. When we do that, we put ourselves in God’s seat (1 John 5:16).

Paul advocated for restoration in gentleness by correcting your brother when you see him in sin (Galatians 6:1). Jesus advocated for the same thing in Matthew 18:15-17. We have now been set free from the bondage of sin, so why do we allow pride to keep us from accepting correction? Solomon wrote that the person who hates correction is stupid (Proverbs 12:1). According to Solomon, stupidity has taken over not just the Church but the entire world. Pride is the root of stupidity that rejects and hates correction. Correction isn’t about you; it’s about building a better Temple for God to dwell in. We are the Temple of God now. Therefore, how can we expect God to dwell in a temple that is weak and run down by sin?

Our actions define who we are, and if our actions don’t match the Word of God, we should all pray that the LORD fill us with conviction and surround us with people who love us enough to show us a more accurate way to live as Priscilla and Aquila did for Apollos.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Don’t Be Stupid.

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