Taken From: www.tomorrowsworld.org

"Patience...mercy...longsuffering... forgiveness" By Jonathan McNair


These are hard words. They’re easy to say, and easy to ask for, but much harder to give – at least sometimes. I’m convinced that, much of the time, I’m just about the most easy-going person in the world. At least, I feel like the most easy-going person I know. But other times......in different circumstances, I feel like I don’t have an ounce of patience or a glimmer of mercy. It’s as if I’ve run out that day, and I just don’t feel like having any more of those wonderful emotions for anyone—no matter how unsuspecting and how undeserving my next victim may be.

But maybe that’s the problem. If our patience, mercy, longsuffering and forgiveness are only human emotions, coming from our human spiritual resources, we will surely run out. Human patience falls short. Godly patience does not. Human mercy fails. God’s does not. It’s not as if we don’t ever have mercy, patience, or other admirable traits. It’s just that ours tend to run thin at times.

Interestingly, every one of the fruits of God’s spirit, listed in Galatians 5:22-23 would also be considered an admirable personality trait in a man – a “good fruit” of the spirit in man.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” ( v. 22-23).

If a person could somehow make a “humanity’s best moments” DVD, and we sat down on the couch with a big bowl of popcorn watching the panorama of history, we’d watch a timeline of moments when love, peace and kindness guided the actions of real-life heroes of the ages. We’d marvel at the self-control of Gandhi. We’d watch in grateful appreciation the longsuffering of our forefathers as they endured the painful winter of 1777 in Valley Forge. And we’d be moved by the kindness and faithfulness of Anne Sullivan toward the deaf and blind Helen Keller, dedicating much of her life to give Helen a door to the dark and silent world around her.

All of us aspire to be like that – to love like that – to have a constant, endless supply of joy. And to have self-control at all times – not just when we feel strong, but even when we feel weak. But we always come to human limits.

Sometimes we feel like being good, kind and gentle. But sometimes we don’t. And therein lies the difference between us and God, between the human spirit and God’s Spirit.

Earlier in Paul’s letter to the Galatians, he wrote, “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish” (Galatians 5:16-17). The word “lust” here is not limited to sexual craving. It embodies the range of human wants, feelings, and priorities … human desire. In Paul’s letters to Timothy, he warned against the desire to be rich (1 Timothy 6:9), youthful desires (2 Timothy 2:22) and desire for new doctrine (2 Timothy 4:3). In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul warned against “deceitful lusts” (Ephesians 4:22).

In other words, he was dealing with our human proclivity to take on godly characteristics “part-time.” Paul acknowledged that he fell prey to that same human problem and had to battle to overcome his flesh (Romans 7:14-25). Christ warned us that we face the same battle, saying, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).

Is the goodness of our human spirit “good enough”? Are our “good days” good enough for God? Is our “occasional joy” okay with God? Does God “understand” that we sometimes just don’t feel very kind or gentle? Are we content with occasional lapses of self-control, as long as we’re usually pretty good – better than the average guy anyway.

Or are we, in fact, only as godly as our least merciful moment?

It doesn’t have to be that way. Paul told the church at Philippi, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). Let this mind – this whole, complete, constant way of thinking as God thinks – be in you. Please send for our free booklet, What Is a True Christian?

Let’s never have a “least merciful moment.”

Are You A Rich Man?

I just started the New Testament and I came across Matthew 19 where Jesus is counseling the rich young ruler. The young ruler asks "what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life." (Matthew 19:16). Jesus says to "keep the commandments" (v.17) The ruler goes onto say "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?" (v.20) Jesus answers "go sell what you have" (v.21) Jesus issues a stern challenge designed to show the man that he has not observed the spirit of the commandments, in spite of his claim (v. 20). In fact, his selfish attitude in making an idol of wealth reveals that he had broken the very first Commandment(Ex. 20:3)

As we read further in Matthew 19:23:24 23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Jesus uses an exaggeration to teach that it is impossible for one who trusts in in riches over God to enter heaven. His parallel use of the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God show these designations to be synonymous.

I have read this part of Matthew numerous times and it finally hit me that the rich man is not just the rich man in regards to money. It applies to the riches of this world. I always wondered why the rich man was being singled out. I always associated the rich man with a man who made hundreds of thousands of dollars. In reality, it applies to us all and the riches of this world that include, money, entertainment gods, worshiping your family, worshipping your job, sports, addictions and all idolatry. The above mentioned are riches of this world that take away from your relationship with God. In verse 25 His disciples ask "Who then can be saved?" In other words, what do we have to do to enter into the kingdom? Verse 26 says to them "With men this impossible, but with God all things are possible." Jesus is saying that you can enter the kingdom of God if you don't lean on the understanding of men and riches of this world, but will be possible when you lean on God.

Lastly, Jesus tells his disciples exactly what the reward is when we give up all and follow him in Matthew 19-27:29 27 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” 28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.

Put God first and receive His rewards in Heaven. Amen.

The Battle For Our Minds

Most of the battles we fight are between our ears. Head knowledge, or mindsets, can interfere with receiving present truth and can hinder one's faith in God's ability to perform the supernatural. We must therefore renew our minds with truth. Renewing our minds does not just affect our minds; it totally changes us. It causes every part of us to be transformed into His image. Through the process of transformation, each of us presents his or her body as "a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God" Romans 12:1) Through transformation we are empowered to no longer be "conformed to this world" but equipped to "prove what is that good acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:2) How awesome is that. We get a new heart and new life when our minds become renewed. There is no place for idolatry if we renew our minds to the truths of God.

Satan has tried to distort our minds for centuries by attempting to negate the power of the Holy Spirit. He has convinced us that studying the Scriptures is the only thing necessary to be a Christian. Though we obviously need the Scriptures, we also need the Holy Spirit to empower us to properly interpret and apply the Word to renew our minds.

Book of Matthew - Do Not Worry

Greetings Brothers and Sisters.

I can't tell you how many times that I have to deal with worry in my life and the lives of people I come across each week. It can have devastating effects on everything we do whether it is at work, home, our families and especially our emotions.

Worry is not from God. Worry comes from the enemy in an effort to control us and take our mind off of God and all that He promises us in His Word. Worry is sin and God does not want sin in our lives.

Matthew 6:25-33 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Seek God's Kingdom First.Putting God's kingdom first is the first step on the pathway of God's miracles, and you cannot walk on this pathway unless determining His will, purpose, and glory. It is your first priority as you pursue His call on your life. To do so, turn first to His Word, which is the atmosphere in which you may understand His will, recognize His way, and hear the voice of His Spirit (Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law). Second, watch for the little things, the little signs along the way, not in the great wind, earthquake, or fire, but rather in the "still voice" (1 Kings 11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”) Often it is the small, seemingly insignificant things or events that ultimately determine our destiny.

Isaiah 2:22 Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he? Psalm 118:18 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. Too often we fail to understand who this applies to. We have to understand that this also means not to trust in ourselves. Worry occurs when we start thinking of all the things we did, have to do, and a lot of the time how we were offended.

Jesus repeats what He said in verse 25 in verse 34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Worry is not an option and God calls us to put all our trust in Him. Psalm 56:4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?

Trusting in God means to surrender your thoughts and emotions to Him. Receive your inheritance that has been given to you when Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins. Be delivered this day from worry. Amen

May God bless your day.

Jezebel Spirit

The Jezebel spirit is not discussed in the church even though this spirit, which has no gender, played a dominate roll in 1 Kings in the Old Testament and plays a dominate roll in the world today. Jezebel is also mentioned in Revelation 2:18-22 18“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write,‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: 19 “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. 20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman[c] Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. Appears Jezebel plays a significant roll in the corrupt church.

Elijah called for a showdown with the God's of Baal and our God. He challenged and defeated 450 prophets of Baal. Jezebel certainly was not pleased with Elijah. 1 Kings 19:1-2 1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.”

Elijah, God's great prophet, ran to escape from Jezebel and was so depressed he wanted to die. How could such a great prophet who defeated 450 prophets of Baal fear Jezebel?

I believe we underestimate this spirit and fail to understand how prominent the Jezebel spirit is in our world today. Jezebel is known as the evil queen of Israel who murdered prophets and threatened the life of Elijah. She was an idol worshipper, murderer, thief and manipulator. She operated in illegitimate authority when she stole Naboth's inheritance. The spirit of Jezebel inflicts poverty, infirmity, divination and a spirit of religion. Jezebel also brings confusion, fear and doubt into lives and circumstances. Though this evil power has no gender, the seductive methods of prostitute are used to entice us into compromise in any area of our lives. It took Jehu to come against Jezebel and slay her. 2 Kings 9:30-33 30 Now when Jehu had come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she put paint on her eyes and adorned her head, and looked through a window. 31 Then, as Jehu entered at the gate, she said, “Is it peace, Zimri, murderer of your master?”
32 And he looked up at the window, and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” So two or three eunuchs looked out at him. 33 Then he said, “Throw her down.” So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses; and he trampled her underfoot. Rather than slaying Jezebel as Jehu did, we are easily seduced into tolerating her spiritual seductions!

Understand this: The Jezebel spirit is about control and she will use harlotry (Hollywood) and witchcraft against mankind to get us to sin and to take our attention away from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The demonic principality of Jezebel will abort destiny if we do not pray and war against this seductive spirit.

It is my prayer that we gain knowledge about the dark side so that we know how to battle for our souls and the souls of our loved ones. Time is getting short.

Blessings, Tony

Transforming Your Mind

Greetings brothers and sisters.

A sister in Christ who has been a believer since 1987 was sharing about her walk with Christ in our bible study Saturday night. She was a little frustrated and confused on what else to do, as she was experiencing many obstacles in her walk. Like so many of us, we know what the Bible says but little in the way of how to apply what we read to our lives.

Too often we are conformed to this world. (Romans 12:2 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.) In other words, we are caught up with with all these things in our every day life that may not pleasing God. Unfortunately, we are not always aware of these habits that we have developed that need to be eliminated. Sometimes we are aware of these habits and in our flesh we fight the need to change.

Paul urges us not to be conformed to this world but to be transformed away from this world. To become transformed involves a process of change. Transform means metamorphosis as in the process of a caterpillar endures as it is transformed into a beautiful butterfly. The entire process involves death to an old identity, experiencing a season of change, and becoming an entirely new creation. This process is exactly what we believers experience as we are transformed into the image of Christ.

The enemy cannot have a hold on us if we renew our minds with His Word and perfect will. The process of renewing our minds involves three steps. First, we must be willing to change. Second, we are to present ourselves to the Lord as sacrifices in holiness. Third, we must not be conformed or fashioned to this world. All three steps are dependent upon our becoming saturated with His Word. By daily reading His Word, our minds are fashioned and we come into agreement with His perfect will. As we implement what we learn, we can dethrone the enemy. And as we digest His Word, we gain knowledge and understanding of who we are in Christ Jesus. As result, a new identity emerges devoid of our old habits. Therefore, empowered to defeat every strategy of the enemy.

My prayer is we transform ourselves by applying what you read in God's Word to our lives.

Blessings to you all,

Tony

Book of Habakkuk - The Walk of Faith

Habakkuk provides a beautiful picture of how to move from doubt to faith, from confusion to understanding, and from fear to hope. He asked genuine question, waited for God's answers, and accepted them. He put his hope in God and experienced His presence. In faith, he looked beyond his present circumstances to God, placing his hope in God's saving grace and absolute faithfulness. He set his heart and his eyes on God.

Habakkuk 3:17-19 17 Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls—Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills.

Understand that is acceptable to acknowledge the difficulty of your situation. However, like Habakkuk, focus your attention on God rather than on your circumstances. Remember that circumstances will change, but God remains the same. Put your hope in God's ability to save you; He is present with you in even the most difficult of times. Choose to rejoice in the Lord, regardless of the way you feel. Trust that He will enable you to overcome.

1 Cor. 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it

Hebrew 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

I pray God will bless your day.

Tony

Offenses - A Major Hindrance

Proverbs 18:19 A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a castle.

Offenses (unresolved bitterness, resentment, unforgiveness in broken relationships) grieve the Holy Spirit and undermine the unity and prayer vital to revival. When the Holy Spirit is grieved, the flow of His power, counsel, and comfort is stymied, and the enemy is given opportunity to accuse, torment, imprison, and ultimately defeat us. This blocks our ability to give or receive God's mercy because our relationship with Him is compromised, and the church is prevented from presenting the glory of God to a community. If we repent of our offenses to God and make things right before others (Matthew 5:23-24 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift), we can live in the power of an "ungrieved" Holy Spirit. Thus released from anger and bitterness, we can expect continual revival, abounding in the grace of His forgiveness, mercy and kindness (Mark 11:25-26 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”)

Do you have someone that you need to forgive? Better yet, have you offended someone and need to apologize and ask forgiveness? So often we look at others and their offenses against us and forget to remove the plank out of our eyes to see how we have offended them.

May God shed His blessings on you.

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Book of Amos

Amos exemplifies God's commitment to forewarn His people of impending judgement in order to give them the opportunity to repent. God sent the prophet Amos as His spokesperson of warning to Israel. Like a trumpet blown to warn a city of attack, so God peaks through His prophets to warn His people in order to save them from destruction.

As I have been reading the Old Testament, I have come to realize how important a message it conveys in respect to our present culture. We have to understand that we are not any different than the people Amos is warning in his day.

Amos 3:67 If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid? If there is calamity in a city, will not the LORD have done it? Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.

Understand that, motivated by His love, God brings warning through His prophets in order to save His people from harm. God send instructions to the prophets by a direct word. We as believers should warn as the prophets have done. Like the prophets we have received a word from God. It is called The Bible.

Allow the godliness found in the Bible to be your life's standard. Ask God to show you any places in your life that deviate form His standard. By His grace, submit those areas to the Lord. Ask God to conform you to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. Romans 12:2 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.

May God bless your life.

First Blog

Dear brothers and sisters,

I just set this blog up for one purpose and that is to share the uncompromising Word of God. My intent is to convey what God says in His Word (Bible) and not what man says or understands, Proverbs 3:6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.

It is my hope and prayer that God will lead me to share what is right and correct using His Word that has been around since the beginning. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Blessings to you all and may God be with you in your journeys.