Spirit Spoken

1 Timothy 6:6-8 "But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content." In this section of Pauls letter he writes to Timothy about false teaching and teaching that accords with godliness. Reading from the text you can conclude that at this time there might have been teachers that taught godliness was a way of gain, or a way to become rich. The Christian walk isn't for material gain but spiritual fulfillment. Sometimes we can be so distracted by what we don't have that we lose focus on what we do have. The calling Christians have is a calling full of sacrifice and service to God. How can we then be in desire of things that aren't apart of God plan? We can't justify the wants of the flesh and trying would be a sin. God knows our needs and will provide for his people. David expresses his experience in Ps. 37:25 "I ha

Genesis 41:52 "The name of the second he called Ephraim: for God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction."  Here Joseph has just risen to power in Egypt because the Pharaoh saw that the Spirit of God was with him. Joseph went from prisoner to second in command over all of Egypt. Entering into his plentiful years Joseph married and had two sons. The first was Manasseh which means "making forget" and the second was Ephraim which means "making fruitful". The meanings behind their names represented God's faithfulness in Joseph's life. Joseph saw that God's Spirit stayed with him through all his afflictions. First his brothers wanted to kill him but then they decided to sell him. As a slave he's brought down to Egypt and sold to a an Egyptian officer that finds favor with him being that the Spirit was with him. Joseph is then framed for a crime that he didn't commit and put in jail. Through all of this Joseph still trusted in God

1 Kings 18:38 "Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again." In the book of 1 Kings, Elijah the prophet of God stands against the prophets of Baal, an Idol. In this section Israel has put an Idol before the one true God. God uses Elijah to bring the hearts of His people back unto Him. Before I get to the big lesson of this scripture, which is Idols. I want to point out first another important message in the scripture. Elijah stood alone before the people of Israel and the 450 prophets of Baal. They all made him out to be a bad person and a trouble maker in the land. The world will always be against God's  people, the world makes good look bad and bad look good. Still we must follow Elijahs example. and not give in to the majority's opinion and stand for what we know is right. Israel chose to follow an Idol therefore sinning against God. Elijah proves to them that there is only one

Philippians 4:5-6 "Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." In Paul's letter to the Philippians he encourages the people to stay focused, to stay true to the truth, and rejoice in the Lord always. I think an important thing to notice is the fact that Paul, while in chains, is writing about rejoicing in all things. He proves that it's not only important that we rejoice in the good things but also in the bad things. The importance is his behavior towards the trouble he faces. It speaks loudly of his God, testifying the faith he has in his God. As Christians having a savior we should always be content knowing the power and might of our God. Our Lord protects us, aids us, and has his hand upon us. That is why we call him the Good Shepherd because He gives us the strength to endure the elements of this fallen

Genesis 4:4-5 "And Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering," "but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell." In this section of the bible we read of Cain and Able, the sons of Adam. Cain worked the land, and Able kept sheep. Now reading chapter four we see God choosing to regard Abel's offering but having no regard for Cain's offering. Abel's offering is good and respected by God. Abel recognized that the first fruits of his labor were good, and the best for God. God never saw the firstfruits from Cain, which would have been a good offering to God. Cain kept the first fruit for himself but for God he gave the fruit that remained. God should always be first in our lives. By offering God the first fruits of our labor we honor the one who truly deserves boasting. For it was God who provided all that we needed and it should be

Commitment or apostasy? Hebrews 6:12 "That you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises." In the letter to the Hebrews we observe the author writting about apostasy in chapter 6. Which by definition, apostasy is the abandonment of a former loyalty. The message in this chapter is about staying true to your commitment to God. The full assurance of hope in better things. It's possible for people to fall away from God. It's better to mature as Christians then to allow doubt to bring us down, and then having to relay the foundation of repentance. Let us not bear worthlessness but usefulness. Confident of better things in salvation, through patience and faith. Amen. Before allowing faith to be weakened, hope to fade, love become forced, assurance be questioned. These things that have happened, even now. I will let go and let God. Giving my father a chance to speak to me through my leaders and ministry team. I will gath