Where does your satisfaction come from?

Friends,

The world seeks to satisfy us. It is the enemy's most effective weapon. For when we are discontent with what the LORD has provided, we chase after the things of the flesh. And when we chase after the things of the flesh, we are no longer pursuing Christ, we are no longer seeking the Kingdom of God and its righteousness.

Proverbs 27:7 [NKJV]
A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb,
But to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

The honeycomb represents the temporary pleasures of sin. It is fleeting, and it always leaves you wanting more.

When we are satisfied with what God has provided, those temporary pleasures do not tempt us ... indeed we look at them with contempt. But when we despise the life that Almighty God has chosen for us, then even the most horrendous sin seems wonderful and enticing.

Satisfaction and contentment are choices that we make. We are no longer in bondage to lust. We are free to love holiness, to love the law, and the be completely satisfied with the life of Christ.

Be encouraged, Jose

A true light for all mankind

Friends,

We are as different from the world as Light is different from Darkness. There is no comparison. For light is so very much more than the absence of darkness. And in that great difference is a tremendous opportunity.

Ephesians 5:8 [NKJV]
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

As believers, we are more than just a light for a dark and fallen world. We are the very essence of light and illumination and revelation. For as the sun reveals what was hidden during the night, so our words and actions - when they are in obedience to Christ - reveal the sin and decay that is hidden by the world. The world believes that it is okay. The unbelievers are convinced that they have either me the standard of righteousness or that no such standard exists. We know differently, and our walk must exemplify that knowledge.

When it does, we are a living, breathing representation of the Good News of Christ. Don't miss this opportunity! Walk as a child of light.

Be encouraged, Jose

A walk of vigilance

Friends,

We have been called to a life of holiness. It is a life that expresses the gratitude and respect that we should have for the LORD, given what He has done for us. It is a life that stands in stark contrast to the life of those who refuse Jesus' call.

It is also a life that requires great vigilance. If we allow ourselves to devalue obedience, we will eventually only value disobedience. If we give ourselves permission to indulge in a trivial sin, we will be on the path to pursuing sin with no regard to the call of holiness.

Ephesians 4:17a,19 [NKJV]
This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk ... who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

There comes a point in a man's life that he no longer fears doing evil. We see it as children make the transition from being afraid of getting caught to boldly, brashly and publicly being teenage miscreants.

We are reminded in this passage to examine our walk daily. To vigorously guard our hearts against the plot of the evil one.To actively repent and pursue a life of holiness.

It is the walk that is worthy of the call of Christ.

Be encouraged, Jose

The Walk of Authority

Friends,

When salvation is manifested in a person's heart, they are transformed in an incomprehensible number of ways. That man is no longer a slave to sin, but he is free to belong to Christ. That woman is no longer dead, but is alive. It is Christ in us that does these things. And it is Christ in us that has been called to exercise complete authority over heaven and earth ...

Psalm 8:6 [NKJV]
You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,

It is a stunning act of generosity and trust by Almighty God.

It is absolutely imperative that we walk in this authority ... and in complete submission to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Be encouraged, Jose

Promises of obedience

Friends,

Genesis 27:1
Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him, and charged him, and said to him: “You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan. [NKJV]

When the Lord called us into His Kingdom, the invitation came with a requirement. That requirement was that we are no longer to be bound and tied to the worldly and carnal priorities. We must no longer seek comfort, strength, love, peace and fulfillment from the world. Rather we are seek those things from the only One who can truly provide them unconditionally and unfailingly ... Christ.

That is why, so many thousands of years ago, Isaac admonished Jacob not seek a wife from the Canaanites. Over and over, the LORD commanded Israel to refrain from making covenants, and treaties with the various people of Canaan. He knew that the Canaanites would draw His people away from Him.

We are faced with the same challenge and temptations. When we form deep relationships with the things of this world, we invite them to be a wedge between us and our Father. And that is why we, too, are admonished not to do so. If we obey this command, we enjoy the promises that were made to our forefather Jacob.

Be encouraged, Jose

How to do the impossible

Friends,

In our mortal, un-glorified state, it is quite impossible for us to maintain a perfectly holy walk. Nonetheless, we are commanded to strive for that goal. We cannot do it using our own abilities - it can only be done by the power of Christ Jesus.

But how does one access that power?

Galatians 5:16 [NKJV]
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Fulfilling the desires of the flesh is the greatest obstacle to our ability to being holy, as Jesus is holy. But the key to a holy walk is somewhat counter-intuitive. Our focus should not be on flesh avoidance ... because then our focus is on the flesh. Rather, the focus should be on living, thinking, speaking, and acting according to the spirit of God.

We listen for guidance from Jesus, and we'll be unable to hear the voice of the flesh.
We focus all of our energy on doing the will of the Father, and there will be no energy left to doing the will of the world.

There will be only one result: we will be obedient.

Be encouraged, Jose

Leaving it behind

Friends,

I have been reading of late a book called Cocoon, by Kim Davis. The book's premise is that we can learn many things from the transformational process that takes the unique life of a caterpillar into the amazing wonder that is the butterfly. There are important lessons for our walk with Christ in this transformation. The caterpillar has been provide everything it needs to become a butterfly, but it must surround itself by the protective cocoon and give up its old life of crawling in order to achieve flight.

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 3:18 [NKJV]

You and I are commanded to be conformed into the image of Christ Jesus. To cling to our old life is to refuse the gift of new life that Christ promises. It is no less than a raised fist of rebellion in the face our Lord.

Are you shedding that old life? Are you leaving the old man behind? Are you truly walking in the new life of the fully devoted follower of Jesus?

Embrace the New Life, brothers and sisters!

Be encouraged, Jose

Find the book at Kenny Davis Ministries

What will they hear?

Friends,

How much energy have you expended in the fight to keep your secrets, secret? How hard do you try to obscure the simple truth of less-than-holy motivations and less-than-noble intent? We do these things even with the plain truth spoken to us by our Sovereign Lord:

Luke 12:3
Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops. [NKJV]

There is no escaping the facts, brothers and sisters. They are already to known to eternity, and in due time will be brought forth for all to see and understand. It is not a threat meant to intimidate us into proper behavior, nor is it an appeal to our vanity and pride.

This is simply the truth.

And it is a real reminder to pursue consistent and persistent holiness in every aspect of our lives. It is encouragement to die to ourselves daily, and to live for Christ in every moment, every thought, every action and every word. So that, when our words and deeds and thoughts are proclaimed from the rooftops, the only thing that will be heard is that which glorifies Jesus!

Be encouraged, Jose

Passover to Passover

Friends,

When the LORD first instituted Passover, it was a relatively simple affair. His directions were specific but they were fairly straightforward. We find them in the twelfth chapter of Exodus ...

Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. On the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation for you. No manner of work shall be done on them; but that which everyone must eat—that only may be prepared by you. So you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this same day I will have brought your armies out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day throughout your generations as an everlasting ordinance.
Exodus 12:15-17 [NKJV]

Keep in mind that these instructions were given to a people that was approaching the end of centuries of captivity. There were very few tangible reminders of God's promise, only the stories of journeys taken and battles fought by old sheep herders and their sons.

Once the LORD delivered Israel from the grip of Egypt, He began to unveil more mysteries. Prior to their entrance into the Promised Land, God's people had forty years -- being led by the very presence of God -- to learn the deeper meanings of what He had been teaching them. And so, near the end of this journey, the LORD introduces more into the Passover feast:

"On the fourteenth day of the first month is the Passover of the LORD. And on the fifteenth day of this month is the feast; unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days. On the first day you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work. And you shall present an offering made by fire as a burnt offering to the LORD: two young bulls, one ram, and seven lambs in their first year. Be sure they are without blemish. Their grain offering shall be of fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah you shall offer for a bull, and two-tenths for a ram; you shall offer one-tenth of an ephah for each of the seven lambs; also one goat as a sin offering, to make atonement for you. You shall offer these besides the burnt offering of the morning, which is for a regular burnt offering. In this manner you shall offer the food of the offering made by fire daily for seven days, as a sweet aroma to the LORD; it shall be offered besides the regular burnt offering and its drink offering. And on the seventh day you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work."
Numbers 28:16-25 [NKJV]

As you can see, God has made the preparations more extensive, the worship more intense, and the sacrifice more complete. At first, the children of God could only make minimal preparations. After years of hearing His voice, God expects more.

The same is true today.
We must not stay in our state of initial salvation. We must grow. If a 30-year-old man still sucked his thumb and needed a diaper, we would recognize that something was terribly wrong. If a 30-year Christian has no deeper knowledge of the LORD than he did when he first came to Christ, then we must likewise realize that something is terribly wrong.

Where are you today in your walk with God? Have you grown? Have your prayers changed? Are you doing battle against the powers and principalities of evil? How much of your prayers are about asking for yourself versus interceding on behalf of your brethren?

Take time this weekend to consider these questions and to go before God. Listen for His answer. And be resolved to obey His word.

Be encouraged, Jose

The righteous pursuit

Friends,

In the course of daily life, each one of us has to fight the urge to spend our time and energy on the things of this world. In that battle, we would do well to remember what happens to all worldly items ...
Prestige fades away.
Possessions rot and rust.
Power is a fallacy.

And even more, Almighty God sets His hand against those who pursue these things:

Arise, O LORD,
Confront him, cast him down;
Deliver my life from the wicked with Your sword,
With Your hand from men, O LORD,
From men of the world who have their portion in this life,
And whose belly You fill with Your hidden treasure.
They are satisfied with children,
And leave the rest of their possession for their babes.
Psalm 17:13-14 [NKJV]

The Spirit of God inspired David to write these words in a prayer, knowing that the LORD will rise up against every man who make their portion in this life, at the expense of eternal life. God sees that as idolatry, worshiping the created things instead of the Creator.

Only the LORD is truly worthy of worship and praise. And only His presence is worth the energy of pursuit. Seek Him, brothers and sisters, and He will show Himself mighty to you.

Be encouraged, Jose

The yoke of our Lord

Friends,

The path to true rest and peace is Christ Jesus. When burdens are heavy and the circumstances of life become overwhelming, we know that we can rest in Jesus. We know that we do not walk alone.

Matthew 11:28-30
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. [NKJV]

We quote these famous verses so easily, but have we stopped to examine what our Lord is really saying? What is this yoke that He calls us to take?

Luke 9:23
Then He said to them all, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. [NKJV]

The only way to find the relief that we so desperately seek is to take up Christ's yoke ... the cross. Deny the self and live only for the Lord. Obey His voice, and not the voice of the world. The Law that Jesus has fulfilled is not a heavy burden for those who walk according to the Spirit.

Be encouraged, Jose

Love Defined

Friends,

We know that Christ showed you and me the ultimate love act at Calvary. Beyond His desire to restore the people of God to righteousness was a deeper, more powerful purpose.

This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.
2 John 1:6 [NKJV]

Every thing Christ Jesus did ... every word, every thought, every act ... was in complete obedience to the Father's perfect will. He obeyed the letter of the law and the spirit of the law. And when He was declared to be the Lamb of God, He knew it was His Father's will that He go all the way to the Cross.

Nothing has changed, brothers and sisters. You and I are commanded to obey the Father's will, just as Jesus did. (And as we are transformed into His image, we will do so with greater consistency.) It is how we demonstrate love. It is how we turn love into a verb. And it is how we ultimately bring glory to the Lord of lords!

Be encouraged, Jose

What are you looking at?

Friends,

Each and every day, the Lord calls us to step out in faith and bring forth the Kingdom of God. Jesus told us that the Kingdom is at hand! Why then, do we behave as frightened as the Hebrew spies of old when faced with enemies that Almighty God has already vanquished:

Then they told him, and said: "We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there."
Numbers 13:27-28 [NKJV]

The Lord had already told Israel that there were enemies in the land, and that He would drive them out before His people. He even sent them through Hebron, a city that Abraham had purchased and that was home to Abraham's final resting place (and from which we get the designation "Hebrews"). But instead of seeing the future that God had promised, and instead of recognizing their legitimate claim to the land, these 10 men only saw large people, large cities, and large walls.

Are we falling into the same trap?

The Lord has promised us great blessings, as well as great trials and tribulation. Are we focused only on the trials and tribulations, giving them power to stop our advance into the promises of God? Or will we instead follow in the footsteps of Caleb and Joshua, who declared in faith:

Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.
Numbers 13:30b [NKJV]

Brothers and sisters, the enemy is determined to frighten us into paralysis. He wants us to believe that he has the power to defeat the faithfulness of Almighty God. If we are to believe that God is indeed Almighty, then we must stand firm and step forward, knowing that no force of hell can stop us.

Be encouraged, Jose

Why are you dirty?

Friends,

Although we have been cleansed of our sin by the blood of Christ, our journey through this world gets us dirty. And the enemy will be close by to remind us -- and God -- of our stumbles.

Zechariah 3:1-3 [NKJV]
Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. And the LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?"
Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel.

The "brand plucked from the fire" refers specifically to a tool that is used to stoke and stir up a fire. As you use the tool, it gets charred and blackened by the burning wood. The Father sees this and rebukes Satan for using it to slander the saints.

But I found myself convicted by this verse. Does the mud and muck that soils my heavenly garments come as a result of serving the Kingdom or from serving me? And can't we all ask ourselves the same question?

Brothers and sisters, let us resolve to serve the Kingdom and not ourselves. Let the dirt and filth be the result of striving to serve the Lord Almighty.

Be encouraged, Jose

Pastoral humility

Friends,

Because of our celebrity-driven culture, we are witnessing the emergence of what I call the "supreme pastor." This is a person who has attained an official leadership in a congregation and who has - for one or more of a multitude of reasons - come to expect highly deferential treatment. This could include a reserved parking space out front, a demand to be addressed using a title, or extravagant perq's. In the most horrendous of cases, such men (and sometimes women) will use their position to gain sexual favors from individuals in their congregation.

From the most innocuous of these to the most horrific, these leaders are ignoring the directive that Paul laid out from the Lord:

Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another
Romans 12:10 [NKJV] - emphasis added

The Lord demands that we show appropriate respect to the authority He has ordained for each of us. Such authority, however, must be exercised in all humility and meekness. To do otherwise will humiliate and deeply wound any congregation.

But when a leader walks with the Lord, humbly, and with a deep passion to serve (not to be served), the people will be richly blessed.

Be encouraged, Jose

The whole counsel of God

For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. (The Apostle Paul, speaking to the believers at Ephesus) -- Acts 20:28 [NKJV]

Friends,

Beware of the preacher whose sermons always make you smile. The Holy Word of God is not meant to entertain.

When Paul spoke the words above, he was preparing to depart Ephesus to return to Jerusalem. In essence, it was his farewell party. And throughout Paul's entire stay in that city, he brought forth the true and pure Gospel of Jesus Christ. Be definition, this means that Paul confronted sinners and their sinfulness, rebuked those who had gone astray, and admonished all of the believers to lead holy lives. He was unafraid to do these things. His God was not all lovey and cuddly and safe. His God is the true God, the Almighty. Who is holy. And just. And faithful. And awesome.

Our flesh doesn't want to be reminded of these facts. We want our preachers to not be too strident or to set goals that are too lofty. Give us a break! we say. Go easy on us ... we're only human!

Brothers and sisters, like Paul, all of us -- not just our preachers -- must have the courage to speak the whole truth. Look around at the world. Can't we see that it desperately needs the real and genuine word of God? Not some watered down version that promises an escape from Hell without a repentance. The world needs to repent. No one will unless they hear Christ -- through you and through me -- say, "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand!"

Be encouraged, Jose

Whose ways?

Friends,

Psalm 128:1
Blessed is every one who fears the LORD,
Who walks in His ways. -- NKJV

It's a small detail, but it's critically important. Look closely at the second line of this verse. Notice the fourth word. See that it is capitalized.

You know what that means, of course. It means that "His" refers to the LORD, not to the "every one" that appears in the first line.

"Every one" means you and me. If we fear the LORD, but walk in our own ways, then we will not be blessed. In fact, if we walk in our own ways, we will be following a path that surely leads to death. And, if the truth be told, it means that we really don't fear the LORD, do we.

If we truly fear the LORD, then we will inevitably walk in His ways. And when that happens, we will experience - in a very real and tangible way - the mighty blessings of Almighty God.

Be encouraged, Jose

Power's Purpose

Friends,

When a brother or sisters receives a fresh anointing from the Lord, it is an awe-inspiring event. Indeed, the person often gains prestige and notoriety in the church; the Body recognizes that there is something truly special about that individual. Unfortunately, in our celebrity-driven culture, this recognition quickly goes too far. In an instant, it degrades into treating that man or woman as an idol; all while rationalizing it with a veil of Christianity.

American Christianity has forgotten the real reason for the anointed power of the Holy Spirit:

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
Acts 1:8 [NKJV]

The Lord sends His Spirit upon us for one reason, and one reason only: to empower us to be His witnesses. First to the Body of Believers (Jerusalem), and then to the world (Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth). Instead, we have fallen -- far too easily -- into the enemy's trap of using the power of the Spirit to bear witness to ourselves. We exalt our own talents and charisma. We revel in the crowd's adulation. We embrace the power, prestige, and possessions that flow our way. And then we're shocked -- shocked!! -- when we find ourselves the object of the Father's righteous indignation and severe chastisement.

Brothers and sisters, is your life a witness to Christ? Do celebrities (even Christian celebrities -- like preachers or singers) receive special attention in your heart? Are your conversations reflecting an interest in what God has done in your life? Turn away from what the world is chasing. Focus your heart, your mind, your ambitions and your dreams on what the Lord is chasing. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Are you ready for it?

Be encouraged, Jose

Staying connected

Friends,

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
John 15:5 [NKJV]

Think back to your close friends from school. During those days, you'd be inseparable; you felt like you knew everything about each other. You talked and laughed and fought and embraced. You were honest with each other. You held each other accountable.

But what happened in the intervening years and decades? You took different paths, perhaps even moving to different cities. You married. You began raising little ones. Priorities changed. And the ones who were like brothers and sisters have, through reasonable neglect, become strangers.

It is easy to lose intimate connection with Christ. And it happens in the same way. Where once He was foremost in your thoughts throughout the day, He has become an afterthought. Someone to be squeezed in between the first cup of coffee and the morning commute. And we wonder why our prayer life seems so weak, why faith seems so hard to cultivate.

Brothers and sisters, what are you doing today to nurture your relationship with the One who laid down His life for you? What has taken the Lord's place as your number one concern? Remember, He has not left nor forsaken you. He waits, patiently, for you (and me) to turn around - to repent - and seek Him. And we must do this. Because when we are apart from Him, we can do nothing. But when we are connected with Him, we can do all things through Him.

Be encouraged, Jose

Turn away from the idols

Friends,

Ezekiel 14:6 [NKJV]
"Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: Repent, turn away from your idols, and turn your faces away from all your abominations.' "

The news of the past seven days has been filled ... overwhelmed is probably a better word ... with talk of the death of several celebrities. The question I pose today to believers is this ...

Why do you care?

The death of a famous singer, actress, or other celebrity is, in reality, no more or less important or tragic than the death of your neighbor. No matter what a person accomplishes in this world, unless they have repented and accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, then the only real tragedy is that yet another soul is lost to the enemy. Beyond that, our attention to the death of someone with whom we have no relationship is a blatant form of idolatry.

Today, ask yourself this: Do you interrupt your relationship with Christ Jesus because of the actions of a famous person? Do the events surrounding the unsaved celebrities of our world distract you from prayer and fellowship with the Lord?

It's far too easy to be bewitched by the glitz and the glamour that surrounds entertainers. But such things do not compare to the glory revealed in Christ. Search for that true, enduring glory today and for always.

Be encouraged, Jose