Prepare for the harvest

Friends,

The world will never give you permission to pursue righteousness. Among the enemy's greatest desires is to make following Christ hard ... really hard. What is "easy" is to focus on the challenges and obstacles ... and then give them the power to stop us from seeking the Kingdom of God, from digging into His Word, and from joining forces with fellow believers int the fight against evil.

Proverbs 20:4 [NKJV]
The lazy man will not plow because of winter;
He will beg during harvest and have nothing.

The LORD admonishes His people - you and me - to prepare for the harvest by persevering in adversity. Let no act of the enemy deny you the opportunity to be in God's word. Overcome the flesh's desire for the easy path.

There will come a time when we reap the rewards of those actions. That will be a time of great joy and abundance. A time of unchallenged intimacy with Christ the King.

Be encouraged, Jose

Strength flows from Belief

Friends,

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus reminds us that our love for Him will result in hatred towards us. The world hates Jesus ... watch the ridicule, the charges of intolerance, and the persecution ... and therefore hates the Lord's followers. And it will inevitably strike close to home.

John 7:5
For even His brothers did not believe in Him. [NKJV]

We can find strength and comfort in the knowledge that Jesus experienced this Himself. He was tested and tempted in every manner, and the enemy seeks to hurt the Lord at every opportunity, and in every era.

Be strengthened in this. Be confident that Christ never forsakes His people, and that we will be victorious over all.

Be encouraged, Jose

Rational hope

Friends,

We can begin the day with hope and expectation because of only one truth. It is not that the government will come to our aid, or that the job will provide for us. It is not that our intellectual capabilities will prevail, or that we are physically prepared for what lies ahead.

Our hope, expectation and confidence stem from a belief in the power and consistency of the LORD.

Psalm 9:9-10 [NKJV]
The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed,
A refuge in times of trouble.
And those who know Your name will put their trust in You;
For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.

Remember that we who have put our faith in Almighty God trust the only One who will keep all His promises, fulfill every expectation, and who will be victorious over every enemy.

Be encouraged, Jose

Never stop learning

Friends,

We know that no man, but for Jesus, is perfect. We know that all of us make mistakes, falling short of the glorious and perfect standard set forth for us by a Wise and Omniscient God. These are the facts of the fall. But they are no excuse. We are commanded to learn and grow in the knowledge of the LORD.

Proverbs 1:5
A wise man will hear and increase learning,
And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel [NKJV]

In our world, it seems that the arrogant and conceited are gaining power and authority. But in their arrogance, the intellectual elites have decided that they have all the answers. That they no longer need to humble themselves before the LORD.

We who obey, and who continually seek a deeper intimacy with Christ, will ultimately prevail. We rely on Almighty God for our victory. And when He returns, we who have been humble shall be exalted. And we will throw our crowns at His feet in joyful adoration!

Be encouraged, Jose

Courage in the face of the enemy

Friends,

As believers, we are under constant attack from the enemies of God. Satan and his host of fallen angels seeks to destroy His followers at every turn. The flesh is ever-ready to succumb to temptation. And the world daily expresses its hatred of Christ and His people.

We are truly faced with a ruthless and persistent enemy. And yet we can be brave.

Psalm 3:5-6
I lay down and slept;
I awoke, for the LORD sustained me.
I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people
Who have set themselves against me all around.
NKJV

We can sleep peacefully, knowing that the LORD sustains us with the same vigor and endurance that He sustained David, the writer of these verses. No matter who was aligned themselves against God's Kingdom, we can face them. The Lord shall be victorious. And so shall we!

Be encouraged, Jose

The whole church

Friends,

We are part of a great and mighty thing. Its power is undeniable, though many fear it, ridicule it, ignore it, and deny it.

Ephesians 2:20-21 [NKJV]
... having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord

Never forget, brothers and sisters, that the foundation of this body is Christ. It is not a pastor on TV or in the pulpit of the biggest church in town. It is not the praise band or the most out-spoken member of the congregation.

When we forget that the foundation of the whole church is Jesus, we splinter, argue, divide, and are easily conquered.

When we remember that Christ is our cornerstone and source, we are more than conquerors.

Be encouraged, Jose

Faithful in what has been given

Friends,

Have you been given a ministry? Are you diligent to fulfill that ministry, no matter how small or unnoticeable? Do you find yourself frustrated because your small work seems to have no impact?

Consider the legacy of Shamgar:

Judges 3:31
After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed six hundred men of the Philistines with an ox goad; and he also delivered Israel. [NKJV]

This man is not prominent in Israel. It seems he is a simple farmer, tending to the small piece of ground under his stewardship. He is armed with nothing but an ox goad ... what, in our day, might be called a cattle prod.

You may be interested to understand that this tool is actually a 2-edged, sword-like implement. And with this 2-edged sword, Shamgar killed 600 enemy soldiers. In so doing, he delivered the people of God.

What small piece of earth has the LORD given you to tend?
Do you allow the enemy to pass through unmolested?
Do you realize that you have the same armament in your possession as this hero of the Bible?

And now, what are you going to do with it?

Be encouraged, Jose

Willed to victory

Friends,

When we responded to Christ's call, did we recognize that it was not of our doing? Or have we somehow come up short when it comes to acknowledging that our salvation is part of His sovereign will?

James 1:18
Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. (NKJV, emphasis added)

We who are rightly called Christians are given that title because the Lord chose us to be part of His Kingdom. A close reading of scripture proves that we considered God to be our enemy, and He declared that the war was over. And there are only two ways to end a war, and only two sides that one can be on when it is ended. By God's sovereign choice and will, His people are on His side, victorious over sin and death.

Make no mistake, brothers and sisters. We are victorious. And it is because the Lord of Hosts has done it!

Let us rejoice and be glad!

Be encouraged, Jose

Assured Victory

Friends,

The enemy is counting on our surrender. He expects us to be weak and fearful. He assumes that our confidence in the LORD is easily shaken.

But you and I need not live under the assumptions and presumptions of the enemy.

Exodus 15:6
Your right hand, O LORD, has become glorious in power;
Your right hand, O LORD, has dashed the enemy in pieces. [NKJV]

Almighty God is glorified in victory over His enemy. His enemy is our enemy. And therefore, the Great and Wondrous Lord is glorified and exalted in victory over your enemy and my enemy.

We have nothing to fear, brothers and sisters. The enemy that wants to harm you and me is shattered pieces under our feet. Walk in victory!

Be encouraged, Jose

The Garden's victory

Friends,

Where are you living today?

Genesis 2:8
The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. [NKJV]

Man was created outside of the garden ... in the wilderness. But he was not meant to stay there. The wilderness is a place of danger, of sin, and of death. The Garden is a place of rest and provision and life. The Garden is where we are headed when Christ makes His return.

Now, we live in a fallen world. And indeed, it often feels like a "jungle out there." But ask yourself ...
Is day-to-day life characterized by fear, anxiety and uncertainty? Or is it marked by peace and assurance and confidence.
Are you buffeted by shame and condemnation? Or do you repent and walk in the freedom of grace and forgiveness?

We are fearfully and wonderfully equipped to subdue the earth, to survive and thrive in the wild reality of daily living. Our equipment is the grace of Christ Jesus. And when we rely on that, we can walk through this fallen world unfazed by its attacks, knowing that a victorious peace is assured.

Be encouraged, Jose

Calling for help

Friends,

Life's daily battles often lead us to look for help, for allies. We determine that these struggles can be overcome with "a little help from our friends." But is that the right path?

Psalm 124:2-3
If it had not been the LORD who was on our side,
When men rose up against us,
Then they would have swallowed us alive,
When their wrath was kindled against us;

It is critical that, when we seek out allies, that we realize that there is truly only one Ally that can be effective. Worldly friends might make us feel better for a time, but the help that comes from Christ will bring everlasting results.

When you are tempted to cry out to your natural family or to your circle of friends, remember that it is the LORD that we should be calling upon. Get on His side and find safety in His Name.

Be encouraged, Jose

Remember what Christ has done

Friends,

Hundreds of years before Christ came to live among men, the history and meaning of His life and death were sung of in the temples of Israel. King David saw that the LORD had promised a Deliverer, and that He would keep that promise. And he saw that the Deliverer, a Messiah, would be be rejected by those whom He came to save.

Psalm 23:16
For dogs have surrounded Me;
The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me.
They pierced My hands and My feet;

Why did Christ Jesus endure such torment at the hands of mere men? Because He saw that the prize, the reward, was worth even the most unfathomable price. Our Savior knew that the price He would pay would bring forth the great miracle of salvation, reconciling man to God ...

Psalm 23:27-28
All the ends of the world
Shall remember and turn to the LORD,
And all the families of the nations
Shall worship before You.

For the kingdom is the LORD’s,
And He rules over the nations. [NKJV]

This is what Jesus has won for those that believe on Him, follow Him and obey Him. If there is one thing you should remember today, remember this.

Be encouraged, Jose

Two paths everyday

Friends,

Thousands of years ago, a young woman named Ruth came to a crossroads in her life. Down one path was the security and familiarity of her old life. Down the other was unknown territory, but it was the territory of Almighty God. She was given every opportunity to return to her old ways. But the Spirit of God had taken hold of her ...

But Ruth said:
"Entreat me not to leave you,
Or to turn back from following after you;
For wherever you go, I will go;
And wherever you lodge, I will lodge;
Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God."
Ruth 1:16 [NKJV]

In our modern world, we encounter these crossroads seemingly everyday. One path leads us back to the familiar surroundings of our fallen, carnal nature. Down the other is the responsibilities and spiritual riches of the Kingdom of God. One path will be burned up and forgotten; the other is eternal. We'd be crazy to spend our energy on what is doomed for decay and destruction, but the enemy tempts us with what is comfortable and predictable.

Resist that temptation, brothers and sisters.

Today, when you are faced with a decision -- and you will be faced with one -- remember that following Christ only seems crazy to the flesh. Along that path we will have His protection, His leadership, His victory, and His rewards.

Be encouraged, Jose

He fights for us

Friends,

When you pray, how often do you explicitly ask the LORD for victory over our enemies? Do you ask Almighty God to wage war upon those that persecute His people? Consider an excerpt from a prayer of David, a man after God's own heart.

Flash forth lightning and scatter them;
Shoot out Your arrows and destroy them.
-- Psalm 144:6 [NKJV]

Throughout the Bible, we hear people of God crying out to God for mercy, for help and for deliverance. And we also see them beseeching the LORD to destroy their enemies... to wipe them out... to blot them from the face of the earth.

It is critical that you and I see the great humility in these pleas. The people are not taking matters into their own hands. Rather, they are relying wholly upon the might and power of the LORD. And the LORD does not look upon their situation passively or from a distance.

The man and woman of God looks to the LORD to be deeply and intimately involved in every aspect of their life. When there is persecution, he humbles himself before God, crying out for Him to show Himself mighty and powerful.

Be encouraged, Jose

Live like a grasshopper

Friends,

The people of Israel spent 40 years in the desert, in part because they thought that being a grasshopper was a bad thing.

There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.
Numbers 13:33 [NKJV]

They saw the "giants" and got scared, figuring they'd get stomped on like bugs. But they had forgotten that the Lord had sent swarms of grasshoppers into Egypt as part of His terrible judgment upon that land. And they had failed to connect to God's promise -- that they would be His instrument for wrath upon the current occupants of Canaan.

In other words, they were like grasshoppers ... and that is an awesome thing.

Sisters and brothers, we may be looking around, feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of the challenges set against us in this fallen world. In those moments, remember the grasshopper. We are an army. We are on the Lord's side. When Christ returns, we will be a swarm that overwhelms that which overwhelms us today.

Be encouraged, Jose

Once and for all

Friends,

Modern Jews are observing Yom Kippur today, marking their remembrance of the day of atonement. In the desert, the LORD told His people that, when they crossed into their land, they would follow this ritual to remind them that only God is capable of fulfilling all of the precepts of the Law.

And Aaron shall make atonement upon its horns once a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonement; once a year he shall make atonement upon it throughout your generations. It is most holy to the LORD.
Exodus 30:10 [NKJV]

The death of this animal foreshadows the death of the Messiah. Christ's death made atonement for our sins.

There is a difference, however. Christ died once and conquered death for all time. Since He conquered it, death can never again be used against Him. This turns His death into a triumphant event. For by it, the sins of His people are atoned for ... once and for all time.

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

A poke in the side

Friends,

Over the past year or so, many of us have been jarred from positions that seemed safe, secure and comfortable. We trusted in the company, the contract or the market. And the Lord has removed those obstacles. We thought they were supporting us, but in fact they had been blocking us from trusting in the Lord.

Acts 12:7
Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. -- [NKJV]

In this passage, our brother Peter was not in a place of comfort or safety, but he was secure. He had been arrested by the reigning tyrant, Herod, and bound in chains, guarded by four squads of experienced soldiers. It seems to me that he had resigned himself to being executed by Herod for preaching the Gospel. So much so that and angel, sent by Almighty God, had to give ole Pete a good whack to get him to step out in faith. It probably hurt, and it wasn't the first time that the crusty old fisherman had to prodded into looking beyond the present circumstance so that he could see that the Lord is still working in his life.

So how does this apply to you and me? Does it feel as though you've been kicked by a mule? Have you been trusting in the world's systems and institutions for your security? Has your vision been obscured by the present circumstances? If so, then perhaps that mule wasn't a mule, but an angel of the Lord telling you to arise, to walk away from the bondage of the world, and refocus your attention on the One who declared it His mission to ...

set the captives
(that would be you and me)
free!

Be encouraged, Jose

Declare God's Works

Friends,

These hard times have left no one untouched. All of us are feeling it, and know others who are affected by them, as well. For the believer, however, we know that there is nothing done in vain. The LORD has a perfect and holy purpose for everything.

Psalm 118:17-18 [NKJV] 
 I shall not die, but live, 
 	 And declare the works of the LORD. 
 The LORD has chastened me severely, 
 	 But He has not given me over to death. 

We don't often know why we experience what we experience. However, we can be confident that it serves God's purpose, even when we do not fully understand His plans. And because we know that these things serve His perfect will, we can trust that they are good.

We know that all of the works of God work together for our good ... for life. We know this because He said so. And therefore, once we have endured these current hardships, and when we come out on the other side (wherever and whenever that is) we can declare the great and wondrous works of our LORD!

Be encouraged, Jose