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THE RESOLVE OF CHRIST

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While contemplating what to write about for this post, I was thinking about a teaching I heard a long time ago from a gifted brother in the Lord. His teaching taught how important it is to have “resolve“. Down through the years, as I’ve learned more about the Kingdom, resolve, or my lack of it, has taken on more and more importance toward my growth as a child of God. The scripture he used in his teaching really struck me. Jesus just got through teaching about the Kingdom when some Pharisees tried to warn Jesus that He was in danger of being murdered. Here is Jesus’ reply:

31At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 32And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. 33Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’ 34O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’” Luke 13: 31-35

It was thrilling to see Jesus, under the threat of being killed, put Herod and the Pharisees in their place by telling them exactly what He was going to do, when He was going to do it, and for how long. Jesus demonstrated the kind of resolve and faith that all of His children should have while doing God’s will.

WHERE’S MY RESOLVE?

At the end of the day, isn’t it our resolve, when it comes to advancing the Kingdom, one of the things the enemy attacks the most? How many times have you decided to read the bible or pray and then suddenly you get a phone call, or your eyelids start to feel like weights are hanging from them while a sudden bout of the “yawns” come over you. How many times have you had good intentions and ideas to bless God and His people, but because you didn’t add resolve, they float away into the nether.

DEFINE RESOLVE

re·solve
verb
1.
settle or find a solution to (a problem, dispute, or contentious matter).

“the firm aims to resolve problems within 30 days”
synonyms: settle, sort out, solve, find a solution to, fix, straighten out, deal with, put right, put to rights, rectify; More
2.
decide firmly on a course of action.

“she resolved to call Dana as soon as she got home”
synonyms: determine, decide, make up one’s mind, make a decision
“Bob resolved not to wait any longer”
noun
pills viagra canada The most accepted choice would be to take Kamagra or pills about a prior hour the normal sex. Matured individuals may be touchier to the symptoms of the ailment in order to lead as normal a life as buy cialis possible. Studies have shown that regular exercise can enhance male sexual health now and later in best buy cialis life. Pregnancy and breast feeding conditions should be informed to cialis wholesale india doctor as these tendencies are important to decide the consumption capacity. 1.
firm determination to do something.

“she received information that strengthened her resolve”
synonyms: decision, resolution, commitment
“he made a resolve not to go there again”

I also found some interesting words while looking up more synonyms for resolve. They were:

boldness
courage
firmness
intention
steadfastness
will

Did not our Lord demonstrate all these resolve synonyms in the face of the adversary?

Oh Lord, give us a greater measure of resolve! Let us face the obstacles in our way as you did, with boldness, courage, and steadfastness. When the enemy or our flesh tries to stop us, let us address it as you did in power and faith!

That same boldness and faith that Christ consistently demonstrated dwells within us by His Spirit. We have the resolve of Christ! Be strengthened in your resolve in the little and big things, for God is with you!

James 1:2-4 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:5-7 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

PERSPECTIVE AND POLITICS

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Well it’s that time again, it’s that time when Americans slog through the longest presidential campaign in the world (Canada’s process–11 weeks, Mexico–12 weeks, America–some candidates have started campaigning a whopping 569 days before election day), and also the most expensive, with some experts predicting over 5 billion dollars being spent when all this is said and done. Every news program touches upon the presidential run every….. single…..day. Unfortunately, there’s no escaping it (unless you’re smart enough to throw out your frequency receiving devices). The presidential election and the hope for change seem to be exalted above everything else, with all the main candidates not only known in America, but internationally as well. Despite how exalted this office is, we can’t lose perspective. Compared to the King of kings, these earthly governments are like fading mist, here today and gone tomorrow. Meanwhile, the government of the Most High is like a rock, standing forever.

THE HIGHEST GOVERNMENT

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder. And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, and The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

The kingdom of God is upon the shoulders of Jesus. He is the foundation of the highest government. The following prophecy about the kingdoms of man versus the Kingdom of God clearly shows where we’ve been, and where we’re headed. The Kingdom of God is represented by a stone that then becomes a mountain and crushes the temporary statue that represents the governments of man.

34 You continued looking until a stone was cut out without hands, and it struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and crushed them. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were crushed all at the same time and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that not a trace of them was found. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. Daniel 2:34-35 (NASB)

INSTRUCTION

Is there any instruction from the highest government concerning the secular governments of man? Of course, although man has rejected His lordship, God continues to move through earthly governments to accomplish His will. God clearly wants His people to pray for those in authority, not just those in your favorite political party, but whoever is in charge. Don’t you know that Christians can have a profound impact upon authorities if we pray?

“1 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior…” 1 Timothy 2:1-3

The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will. Proverbs 21:1

The following is an exert from Dillon Burroughs’s article pertaining to prayer and politics.

“We live in an age of political spite. Even seemingly devout Christians have decided it’s okay to bash our nation’s leaders with reckless abandon. “I know I’m supposed to love our president, but…” or “I can’t wait to get those politicians (choose your party) out of office in the next election!” Yet these attitudes are directly opposed to God’s plan regarding our Christian view of our nation’s leaders.
First and foremost, the apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 2 commands us to pray for our governing leaders. In fact, just about every possible word for pray was used to communicate this truth. Further, we are not to pray for their demise. We are told that we pray in order that “we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” What does this mean? We pray for our leaders so we will live in a stable society that allows us to focus on worshiping God….”

BOY DO WE NEED PRAYER

One thing that Christians truly need to be leery of is the vain philosophies of politics.

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. Colossians 2:8 (ESV)

Democrats have a certain philosophy, as well as the Republican party. All political parties feel like they have the answer to the public’s problems. These parties may try to stand on cherry picked scriptures from the bible, while having a form of godliness, but unfortunately, they deny its power. The overall emphasis always ends up being man centered, meaning–man has the answer. It’s vain for Christians to put so much weight and hope in political parties that are doomed to fail, because they depend on elemental spirits of the world instead of the Spirit of God. The bottom line—these parties are not determined to follow Christ in all things, and they do not trust God for resources. They are out to take from and exploit the weak. There’s a spirit of corruption, bribery, hypocrisy; “and to take as much as we can from the public coffers before it all comes tumbling down” type of approach—a spirit of, “let’s party now for tomorrow we die“, and the wickedest philosophy that is used to rationalize so much political evil says, “the end justifies the means“. Well, nothing is new under the sun: Isaiah 1:21-26.

21 How the faithful city has become a harlot!
It was full of justice;
Righteousness lodged in it,
But now murderers.
22 Your silver has become dross,
Your wine mixed with water.
23 Your princes are rebellious,
And companions of thieves;
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And follows after rewards.
They do not defend the fatherless,
Nor does the cause of the widow come before them.

UNGODLY COUNSEL

People really need to put away the ungodly counsel that is regurgitated over the airwaves everyday. Airwaves that are filled with demagogues and liars using half truths to fill people’s hearts up with hate and bitterness. Hate directed towards other people that are made in Gods image and likeness, who He loves through the sacrifice of His son. We may wink at, and justify embracing demagogues full of ungodly counsel and entertainment, but God doesn’t.

Psalm 1:1-6(ESV)

1 Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.

SUBTLE SATAN

The devil knows the power of God that’s released against him when Christians take God’s word to heart. Therefore, if he can change things, and move things ever so slightly away from what God really wants, he’ll do it. A lot of Christians have embraced the idea that the answer to our country is having more Christians in political offices. Although, without a doubt, God calls some Christians to political offices, and it’s a great calling, but is it emphasized in the word of God as “the” answer? Under the Old Covenant, you could make a case, sort of, because God did promote some people to positions of political authority, Joseph comes to mind; but under the New Covenant, are we not encouraged to pursue Kingdom offices, not mans. The bible is clear that we are to pursue offices and callings in God’s government, such as deacons, pastors, shepherds, overseers, evangelists, prophets, teachers, etc. Don’t misunderstand, God doesn’t ignore the governments of man; He specifically says to pray for them first. We should look to prayer first, not with lip service and unbelief, but with faith that praying to God is THE answer above all else pertaining to worldly governments, then supporting Christians who run for office.

IN CONCLUSION

It’s a challenge in these last days to keep things in perspective. Everything is set up to distract us, get our attention, watch me, click me, and look at me! Billions of dollars are used to study our weaknesses and fears, and how to exploit them; to find the psychological buttons to push that will get our attention, dollars, and even votes. But let us focus on the Eternal Kingdom for all of these things will fall by the wayside. Let us pray for the authorities of this world, because all men are subject to God. Let us keep a holy perspective.

The saying is trustworthy, for:
    If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
if we endure, we will also reign with him;… 2 Timothy 2:11-12

Detroit–Does God Care?

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Does God care for the city of Detroit? Should this once thriving and prosperous city be shunned; left as an example of what not to do, abandoned to its own demise?

On July 18, Detroit, at one time the richest per capita city in America, filed the largest municipal bankruptcy in American history. A city that people once migrated to for a better life, just like people migrated to California for gold.

At the height of Detroit’s prosperous years the population consisted of close to 2 million people. Good paying jobs were basically the norm. Over 296,000 manufacturing jobs in the 50’s helped produce a thriving, booming middle class. But today, Detroit is tragically a vastly different story. The population has dropped down to a little over 700,000 people with less than 27,000 manufacturing jobs . A city that once was saturated with booming businesses everywhere now has 78,000 abandoned buildings. About one third of the city is either vacant or derelict. The poverty and unemployment levels are through the roof. One can go on and on about Detroit’s problems and devastating lack, as well as the spiritual and psychological blows that have accumulated over the years. Just like poor populations all over the world, Detroit has many deserted and disenfranchised people, you know, the ones that didn’t have the means to leave when the well ran dry. One can imagine the oppression, the sting of abandonment, the clouds of depression, hopelessness and despair that some of the people must be feeling. Detroit reflects on all of God’s people. Have we become a people that callously says, “you made your bed, now lie in it”? Are the poor living in Detroit aliens from another planet that should be quarantined, or are they imperfect people made in the image and likeness of  a Holy God? Does anyone care? Sure, people can list off all the steps of what should of been done–but where’s the love?

1 Corinthians 8 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.(NLV)

1 John 3:17 But if someone who is supposed to be a Christian has money enough to live well, and sees a brother in need, and won’t help him–how can God’s love be within him ? 18 Little children, let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions. 19 Then we will know for sure, by our actions, that we are on God’s side, and our consciences will be clear, even when we stand before the Lord.(NLV)

YES GOD CARES!

Prov. 14:31 Anyone who oppresses the poor is insulting God who made them. To help the poor is to honor God. (NLV)

Prov. 21:13 He who shuts his ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in his own time of need. (NLV)

Prov. 28:27 If you give to the poor, your needs will be supplied! But a curse upon those who close their eyes to poverty.

These scriptures are a bright light in a dark world. God’s heart is in direct conflict with this world’s constant drumbeat of exploiting and condemning the poor while being unconscious of the “taken for granted help” they themselves have received. Everybody, some time or the other, needs a shoulder to lean on.

Check out “Inner City Blue Collars”

By Hakim Hazim and Charles Holmes, Jr.

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Sexual Immorality

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Sexual Immorality

By Charles Holmes

(A recent report listed an astonishing rate of STDs among Americans, likening it to a severe epidemic. Science clearly confirms one more negative consequence of sexual immorality.)

While on an ever changing slippery slope of morality, society has a way of imagining that God is winking at everything He has clearly said not to do. We delude ourselves and believe that there are no real consequences for all this immorality. Since everyone is now doing this or that, it has to be all good. We can’t listen to the radio or turn on the TV without being bombarded by situations that are contrary to what God intended for us. There are as many opinions as there are people of what is acceptable and how we should look at sexuality. Can opinions of creatures triumph over the unchanging word of the Creator?

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