prodigy

Most of the entirety of my life could be defined as a Christian self-help struggle. Typically, you could always find me with a book in my hand on how to become a better Christian, how to increase in purity, decrease in sin and become a more Godly, improved version of my inherently lacking self. I can tell you that in this flesh and spirit fight, I’ve never won the battle because I read a 5 step self-help book on conquering sin. It’s good to be introspective at times and it’s necessary to evaluate our lives to see whether they are producing fruit, but what I’ve found is that often as we continue to look within, there’s a tendency to get stuck there, and then we stop seeing anything else. We stop seeing others, we stop seeing God, we only see our struggles and that’s right where Satan wants us. Stuck on the sidelines of the abundant Christian life we’re meant to experience because we don’t feel worthy. Once we fix ourselves up, then we can join a Bible study, go on that mission trip, write that blog, serve in the Children’s ministry. Otherwise, won’t we be a hypocrite? That is a lie meant to keep us believers living a discouraged life, ineffective for Christ, wholly focused on self. Every single one of us, even your seemingly perfect pastor or that softly spoken friend who never seems to struggle with anything, are all broken, sinful, pretty screwed up individuals within and of ourselves. The Bible compares our own righteousness to that of filthy rags. God looks down at us and declares that there is none righteousness, not even one us. Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” But thankfully verse 24 goes on to say, “and we are justified by his grace as a gift , through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” God actually boasts that He chooses to use the weak things of this world to accomplish His purposes. It’s the prostitute who protected the spies, it’s the women at the well, it’s the disciple who murdered Christians, it’s the tax collector, it’s the adulterous king. It’s in our weakness that He is made strong and it’s in our weakness that He receives all of the glory. God convicts us of sin in His mercy , but it’s the enemy who condemns us. The difference is, in the conviction there’s light, there’s hope and in it we are drawn closer to God for His help and restoration. When we’re experiencing condemnation, we are brought to despair and it leads us away from God, away from others, and instead, it sinks us into isolation and feelings of hopelessness. There’s a proverb that so poetically says, “hope deferred makes the heart sick.” The more we look within, see our hopelessness to change those besetting sins, those sins which have kept us locked up in chains for our entire lives, those struggles which we feel as if we can never be freed from, the sicker our hearts feel. Because of the fall, in this world there will be suffering, we will always be struggling with our propensity to wander far from grace, but greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world. When God gave his only Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins, and then rise again, He defeated sin, He defeated death on that hill on Calvary so long ago. The battle has already been won, my friend, your chains are broken and you can walk in freedom and victory today. What I have found to be the most powerful in this battle, is to stop trying to struggle and strive in my own strength. To stop trying to stop. But instead, when I can’t help but sorrow when I look and see the broken parts of me, I then take my eyes off of myself and I put them on Jesus , the author and perfecter of my faith and of my story. We are not meant to clean ourselves up before we go to church or serve or have Christian friends. If that were the case, we’d all stay home every day. When we read God’s Word, it changes us. When we pray, God answers. When we serve and spend time at church and in community, it’s only then that our hardened, sick hearts and affections are stirred toward Christ, not the other way around. The enemy tells you to stay away because you’re not worthy, but God says you’re worthy because His blood cleanses, covers, and makes all things new. When we start to add all of the good things in our lives, when we seek to know God, to know who He is, what His character is, the miracles He’s performed, the promises He’s given, and what He personally has to say to us each day through is Word, in that, the Holy Spirit begins to transform us and sanctify us. He fights the battle for us, He gives us the strength we need each day and then the good begins to take over the bad. In the light of His glory and grace. When we can stop bleakly staring into our own inner darkness and instead, stare into His glorious light, our eyes are then opened and we begin to see and feel God again. In spite of our imperfections, we become the light that we are designed to be as Christ followers. Lit up because we are free from the burdens of sin and shame, and overflowing with redemptive joy, that which we can’t help but share with a lost and hurting world, a world so desperate to hear the message of hope that we all hold within us. Have a great day. Stay Blessed..

Yes I do.

Closing your ears to those in need. Proverbs 21:13 Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered. Proverbs 14:31 Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him. Proverbs 28:27 Whoever gives to the poor will not want , but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse. Scripture tells us that Christians should consider the interest of others and help those in need. If someone asks you to pray for them, then pray. If someone begs for some water, food, or money, then give it to them. When you do these righteous things you are doing God’s will, working for God, and bringing happiness and blessings on others . Every act of kindness to others is an act of kindness to Christ. I encourage you to start today and lend a helping hand to others in need. Think about the many different ways you can help the needy today. Let’s think of different ways to bless the poor. Let’s pray that God removes any stinginess that’s lurking in our heart. Matthew 25:34-40 “Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, my Father has blessed you! Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you took me into your home. I needed clothes, and you gave me something to wear. I was sick, and you took care of me . I was in prison, and you visited me.’ “Then the people who have God’s approval will reply to him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you or see you thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you as a stranger and take you into our homes or see you in need of clothes and give you something to wear? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “The king will answer them, ‘I can guarantee this truth: Whatever you did for one of my brothers or sisters, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did for me.’ What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.” Augustine God has chosen us to help one another. What does the Bible say? • Isaiah 58:10-11 Feed the hungry , and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon. The LORD will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. •Deuteronomy 15:11 There will always be some in the land who are poor. That is why I am commanding you to share freely with the poor and with other Israelites in need. • Acts 20:35 By all these things, I have shown you that by working in this way we must help the weak, and remember the words of the Lord Jesus that he himself said, ‘ It is more blessed to give than to receive.'” • Luke 12:33-34 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail , where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. These passages are not saying that we are saved by faith and works. It is saying that faith in Christ that doesn’t result in good deeds is false faith. True faith in Christ alone for salvation will change your life. • James 2:15-17 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. • Proverbs 19:17 The one who is gracious to the poor lends to the Lord, and the Lord will repay him for his good deed. • Psalm 37:25-26 I once was young and now I am old, but I have not seen a righteous person forsaken or his descendants begging for bread . Every day he is generous, lending freely, and his descendants are blessed Mark 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself . There is none other commandment greater than these. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?

If God only let people into heaven who deserved to go there - then heaven would be empty! We all have sinned, and even one sin - just one - would be enough to keep you out of heaven. In other words, someone who has followed Christ all their life doesn't deserve to go to heaven any more than this man who had been a Christian only a week. No one "deserves" heaven because we are all sinners. As the Bible says, "There is no one righteous, not even one ... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:10, 23). This is hard for us to accept, because down inside we all think God ought to reward us and allow us into heaven if we're good enough. But it isn't true, because God's standard is nothing less than perfection. This is why we need Christ, for only He can save us. He was without sin - but on the cross, all our sins were placed on Him, and He died in our place. Now God in His grace offers us salvation - not as a reward, but as a free gift. The Bible says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). Don't let another day go by without Christ. No matter what you have done or how others may look at you, God loves you and wants to forgive and save you. And He will, if you ask Him to come into your life. Open your heart to Christ today.

This is probably one of the biggest areas that I struggle with and I’m tired of it! I hate not loving God the way I’m supposed to love God. I hate ?? waking up without giving God the love that He deserves. We don’t cry enough to the gospel message. We will cry when we read books or watch emotional movies, but when it comes to the gospel the most important message, the bloodiest message, the most glorious message, and the most beautiful message we treat it like just another message. I can’t live like this. I have to cry for God’s help. Do you have a passion for God? Have you sat down and thought to yourself I can’t live like this? I can’t live without you. I’m tired of words. I’m tired of emotion. Lord I have to have you or I’ll die. I’m tired of reading about your presence. I want to truly know your presence. We always claim that we love God, but where is our zeal? I have to cry out for tears for the Lord and a greater appreciation and love for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I don’t want the world. You can have it. I don’t want it! It leaves me dry and low. Only Christ can satisfy. Only Christ and nothing else. All I have is Christ! Quotes “My goal is God Himself, not joy, nor peace, Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God.” “Loving God – really loving Him – means living out His commands no matter what the cost.” – Chuck Colson “The true measure of loving God is to love him without measure.” – Assorted Authors “A man may study because his brain is hungry for knowledge, even Bible knowledge. But he prays because his soul is hungry for God.” Leonard Ravinhill “God gives salvation to the needy, but gives the deep things of His heart to the hungry who refuse to live without them.” It is horrible when your mind changes. One of the worst things in the world is when you first get saved and you can’t stop thinking about Christ. Then, out of nowhere your thought life changes. You go to play basketball with your mind on Christ and then you leave with your mind on the world. The scary part is that it becomes hard for you to get that love back. Thinking about things other than Christ becomes your life. It becomes so common. I can’t live like this. I can’t live when my mind is not centered on Christ. Many of you know what I am talking about. You go to do one thing and you come out and your zeal for Christ decreases. We have to cry out continually that our minds be put back on the gospel of Christ. 1. Colossians 3:1-2 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 2. Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will. It’s a terrible thing when love gets common. You don’t treat your love the same. You know when there is a new song that you love so much so you replay it over and over again. Then, it becomes too common. It becomes boring and dull after a while and you don’t play it that much. When you first met your wife there was so much spark. You wanted to do things for her just because. Then, you got married and you got too comfortable. The things you would do for her you stopped doing them and these little things will bother any spouse. You don’t have to say it, but it is like with your life you’re saying, “oh it’s you again.” This is how many of us treat God when love gets so common. You’re not what you once were. You can obey everything, but still not love God and have a passion for God. In Revelation God says you lost that love and zeal you once had for me. You have been too busy for me that you haven’t been spending time with me. It’s either you start spending time with me or because I love you I will make a way for you to spend time with me. 3. Revelation 2:2-5 I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars. You also possess endurance and have tolerated many things because of My name and have not grown weary. But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. Some of you are wondering why you don’t love God like you used to. It is because the world has got your heart. Your love for God has died so your love for the lost has died as well. You have lost your fight. Someone else has taken God’s place in your life. Sometimes it is sin. Sometimes it is the TV. You lose the love of God little by little until it is nothing. I must tell you there is no such thing as an ordinary Christian. You must repent and He is faithful to forgive. “God I don’t want this. I don’t want these desires. I want you.” Pray for a renewing of your mind and set your heart on seeking God. 4. Jeremiah 2:32 Does a young woman forget her jewelry, a bride her wedding ornaments? Yet my people have forgotten me, days without number. 5. Proverbs 23:26 My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways. Do you thirst for Christ? Do you long to know Him? Do you hunger for Him? God I have to know you. Just like Moses said, “show me your glory.” Some of you reading this have read the Bible front and back, you always go to Bible study, and you know so much of the Word. But, are you seeking Him? You can know everything of God, but truly know nothing of God. It’s one thing to know the facts, but it is another thing to know God intimately in prayer. No one wants to seek God anymore. No one wants to wrestle in His presence until He changes you anymore. I want an invasion of the Almighty God. Are you seeking Him with all your heart? Are you living and breathing without God? Are you desperate for Him? Is this important to you? Are you truly looking for Him? Don’t tell me you’re looking for Him when you’re spending hours in front of the TV and you give God a cheap leftover 5 minute prayer before bed! 6. Genesis 32:26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “ I will not let you go unless you bless me .” 7. .Exodus 33:18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory .” 8. Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart . 9. 1 Chronicles 22:19 Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the LORD your God . Begin to build the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the sacred articles belonging to God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the LORD. 10. John 7:37 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 11. 1 Chronicles 16:11 Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually . Can God share His heart with you? Do you want to know His heart? God will speak life, fill you with the knowledge of His heart, tell you special things that no one knows, and allow you to know what bothers Him. He wants all of you. He wants to talk to you daily. He wants to guide you. He had special things planned for you, but many people don’t seek God for it. Nothing can be done in the flesh. 12. Proverbs 3:32 For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous . 13. John 15:15 No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you . 14. Romans 8:28-29 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him , who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Do you have time for God? You have time for what is important. You have time for your friends, shopping, watching TV, surfing the internet, but when it comes to God you don’t have time! Your life says He is not important. Are you reading Scripture to get to know Him in His Word and to conform into the image of Christ? Are you spending time with God in prayer? Busy, busy, busy! That is all I hear from Christians today. These are the same Christians who say that they want a change in their life. It’s all words. What does your life say? God wants to spend time with you. His heart beats faster for you. Before the world was created He saw you and said, “I want you,” but you neglect Him. Your life says He means nothing to you, but yet He still sees you as His precious child. 15. Ephesians 1:4-5 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love. he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will. 16. Colossians 1:16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. One of the easiest times to forget God is when God has just delivered you from a great trial. God has delivered some of you and you have lost the love you once had for Him. You started thinking everything was done in the flesh. Satan starts to lie and say it was just a coincidence. You became prosperous. You became spiritually lazy and you have forgotten God. Some of the godliest people can only talk about how they used to go to the throne of God and how God used to reveal Himself in great ways. It’s terrible. It’s terrifying. God has to warn people. He says, “I know what happens when I bless people. They forget me. Be careful that you do not forget me.” God can take everything back. Sometimes breakthroughs and victories are so dangerous. When God gives you a victory you have to seek His face more than you have ever done in your life. 17. Deuteronomy 6:12 then take care lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt , out of the house of slavery . 18. Deuteronomy 8:11-14 “ But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the LORD your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today. For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, and when your flocks and herds have become very large and your silver and gold have multiplied along with everything else, be careful! Do not become proud at that time and forget the LORD your God, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt.” Some of you have forgotten the great price that was paid for you on the cross. When is the last time that you have cried to the gospel of Jesus Christ? You sing songs like God is holy and you read these verses in Scripture, but you don’t really grasp what they mean. Don’t you understand? God can’t forgive you if He is good and just. He has to punish you because we are wicked. You know what you were before Christ. You know! You even know your worst moments as a Christian when you fell so short. You know! Christ looked at you in your worst moment and said,” I’m going to take his/her place.” His Father said, “if you do that I’m going to have to crush you. Jesus said, so be it. I love him/her.” It pleased the Father to crush His sinless beloved Son for you. In your worst moment He became a curse for you and He no longer sees you as a wicked sinner, but a saint. Jesus came to make dead men live. Don’t you know that you are nothing and your life means nothing apart from Christ? Sometimes I ask why me? Why choose me? Why save me and not others in my family or my friends? You don’t realize how blessed you are. Set your mind on the gospel of Jesus Christ and that will rejuvenate your devotional life. 19. Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us , for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” 20. 2 Corinthians 5:21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin , so that we could be made right with God through Christ. We should be like David who was a man after God’s heart. One of the things that David did was mediate on the Word. He loved God’s Word. Do you have a passion for the Word? 21. Psalm 119:47-48 I shall delight in Your commandments, Which I love. And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments, Which I love; And I will meditate on Your statutes. 22. Psalm 119:2-3 How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, Who seek Him with all their heart . They also do no unrighteousness; They walk in His ways. Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone. No works! Evidence that you are saved by faith in Christ is that you will have a new relationship with sin. You will be regenerate. You will be a new creation. Love is not just doing what is right. You will have a new zeal for Christ your Savior. The sins you once loved you now hate. It burdens you. You’re not the old person anymore you are new with new affections. The God you once hated you now long for. Are you regenerate? Does sin burden you now? Are you growing in your hatred for it and your love for God? I’m not talking about sinless perfection and I’m not saying that there isn’t struggles, but don’t tell me you’re Christian when your life hasn’t changed and you’re living in rebellion just like the world. You know that God loves you , but the question is do you love Him? We don’t obey because obeying saves us we obey because God saved us. We are new. It’s all grace. We are so thankful for what God has done for us on the cross. We love Him and we desire to honor Him with our lives. 23. 1 John 5:3-5 For this is what love for God is: to keep His commands. Now His commands are not a burden, because whatever has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith. And who is the one who conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 24. John 14:23-24 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them . Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.” Are you longing to worship God in Heaven? Do you desire God so much that to die would be a blessing? Do you ever just sit and wonder about the joy and the blessing that is waiting for you in Heaven? Do you ever just sit outside at night and glorify God for His beautiful creation and think about the omnipotence of God? One glimpse of Heaven and you will never go back to your old life. 25. Philippians 1:23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better. Bonus Matthew 22:37 Jesus replied: “ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind .” Readjust your spiritual life today. Do you desire God? Cry out for more of Him today! Are you blessed with this message? Do a react..