Higher

Bishop Alexis A. Thomas preached, "It's Time to Go Up Higher!" He used Revelation 4:1 as his reference scripture.

 

It's definitely a testament to how the Word of God is alive. Each time you read a scripture it blossoms and there is more beauty to be found.

 

It may be hard to believe, but some people don’t want to do better.  No matter what you say or do with them or for them, they choose not to change. You know that old saying, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.”  There are those in the world who choose to live with “less” than God’s Best.  There are times in our lives when we also, “Normalize Abnormality”.  We would rather settle for comfort and convenience, than to face the unknown of moving up higher. 

 

Bishop mentioned the television show, “Hoarders”.  If you’ve ever seen even a short clip, you know how overwhelmed, debilitated, and trapped the subjects are.  Each slip of paper, each article of clothing, or each memento holds some significance.  The hoarder looks to those “things” for security and self-worth.  Now, I’m no psychiatrist, psychologist, or counselor, but I believe if we ignore our hurts and pains the residue of those issues eventually surfaces.  I know it well.  My office was being painted.  My supervisor came in and said, “Don’t you just love to see them painting?  I even like the smell of the paint.”  Without thinking, I was taken back to childhood.  I remembered painting the exterior of our two story house with my younger brother James.  I remembered being so afraid of being up on the ladder.  I remembered the bees swarming around the paint can. I’m allergic to bees.  I remembered my mother yelling at us, “Smooth even strokes, smooth even strokes!”  I answered my boss, by telling him how much I hated painting and about my mother’s comments.  He said quickly and without emotion, “Get over it, Cynthia!”  It was just what I needed.  I had been internalizing that junk for years. 

 

God wants us to go up higher!  But just like climbing a ladder or running a race, we have to strip off the weights.  The Apostle Paul wrote, “Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it.” Hebrews 12:1-2 (Message Translation)

 

In John 5:6, Jesus asked the lame man if he wanted to be made whole.  We have to ask ourselves.  Do we want to be made whole? Do we want to do better? Do we want our lives to change?  If we really want to be made whole we will have to face the truth.  If I want to be better financially, I will have to change the way I spend, invest, and even make my money.  If I want to be better physically, I will have to fight laziness and complacency and get moving.  If I want to be better spiritually, I will have to submit to the Spirit of God and devote more time to study and prayer.  If I want better relationships, I will have to move away from selfishness and self-centeredness.  That lame man had been in that condition for 38 years!  He spent 38 valuable years feeling sorry for himself, making excuses and blaming others for making it to the water before him.  Let’s not waste another minute!  It’s Time to Go Up Higher!

 

Alicia Keys sang, “It’s called the PAST ‘cause I’m getting PAST”.  God wants to take us higher!  Spiritually, Emotionally, Physically, and Financially!  It’s Time!  Are you ready?

 

You are not ordinary, you are extraordinary!  The Psalmist sang, “I will give thanks to you
because I have been so amazingly and miraculously made.  Your works are miraculous, and my soul is fully aware of this.” Psalm 139:14 (God’s Word Translation)

 

It’s Time to Go Up Higher!

 

Love and prayers, Cynthia

"It's Time To Come Up Higher!"

Happy Sunday!

Bishop Alexis A. Thomas preached, "It's Time To Come Up Higher!" He used Revelation 4:1 as his reference scripture.

My mother used to say, "You raise corn, and you rear children". Bishop echoed that sentiment and reminded us...we were reared with discipline and order. We had structure and guidelines. We were reared with expectations, etiquette, respect for elders, and authority figures. Thank you, was non-negotiable. You did what you were told, and stayed out of grown-folks conversations. We were so blessed to have people in our lives that refused to allow us to be less than the best. Of course, we didn't like it or appreciate it at the time but we see the benefit in our lives today.

The Apostle John was banished to the Isle of Patmos for preaching the Gospel. Marvelous things were revealed to him there. Revelation 4:1 says, "Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” (New Living Translation)John had experienced the ministry and miracles of Jesus first-hand. He was part of twelve disciples and became one of the first Apostles. He had seen many wonderful things, but his guide instructed him to come up higher, and see more!

No matter where you are in life at this moment, God says, "Come Up Higher!" You may have several advanced degrees, a successful business, and a thriving ministry, but there is still more you can accomplish! Erma Bombeck said, "When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me".

Our enemy wants us to be comfortable, mediocre, and average. God reminds us in the Word, "But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted." 1 Peter 2:9 (Message Translation)

The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 3:13, "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (King james Version) We tend to use this scripture to say we are forgetting the bad things, and pressing forward to the good things. But consider this, the Apostle Paul was encouraging the church not to rest on their "laurels" or the accomplishments of the past, but to continue to move forward, come up higher! He even wrote, "We couldn’t carry this off by our own efforts, and we know it—even though we can list what many might think are impressive credentials. You know my pedigree: a legitimate birth, circumcised on the eighth day; an Israelite from the elite tribe of Benjamin; a strict and devout adherent to God’s law; a fiery defender of the purity of my religion, even to the point of persecuting the church; a meticulous observer of everything set down in God’s law Book. The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I’m tearing up and throwing out with the trash—along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him. I didn’t want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ—God’s righteousness." Philippians 3:2-9 (Message Translation)

It's Time To Come Up Higher! Bishop encouraged us to start immediately! If you have been habitually late for work, start by being early tomorrow. Read a book, take a class, volunteer, or just clean out that hall closet. It's Time To Come Up Higher!

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Doors Are Opening!

Happy Sunday!

Bishop Alexis A. Thomas preached, "Doors Are Opening!". He used Revelation 3:8 as his reference scripture.

Life is good, and yet sometimes life can be hard. Each day we must struggle for our own personal faith. The Apostle Paul wrote to his Son in the faith, Timothy and said, "Fight the good fight of the faith!" 1 Timothy 6:12 (Voice Translation)

What is the good fight of faith? I'm glad you asked. Hebrews 11:1 says, "Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." (New Living Translation)
So the Good Fight of Faith is fighting to keep believing, no matter what it looks like. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says, "For we walk by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7 (King James Version)

The enemy doesn't really want your money, the enemy doesn't really want your health, and the enemy doesn't really care if you go to church every Sunday! The enemy ultimately wants to get you to stop trusting GOD! He wants to alter your High Opinion (Worship) of God. Think about it. The serpent in the Garden of Eden said to Eve, “Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?” Eve said to the serpent, “Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. It’s only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, "Don’t eat from it; don’t even touch it or you’ll die." The serpent told Eve, “You won’t die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you’ll see what’s really going on. You’ll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil.” Genesis 3:2-5 (Message Translation)

The enemy has always wanted you to take your eyes off God. He has always wanted to be worshipped. Isaiah 14:12-15 says, "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit." (King James Version)

Doors Are Opening! Doors are opening! Doors are opening, for YOU! The enemy will fight your faith. He will whisper in your ear, and ask you to question what God has said. He will torment you at your lowest point, and try to get you to give up. But don't give up! Never give up! Numbers 23:19 says, "God is not a man—He doesn’t lie. God isn’t the son of a man to want to take back what He’s said, Or say something and not follow through, or speak and not act on it." (Voice Translation) God's Word and His Promises are TRUE!

Philippians 4:19 says, "You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus." (Message Translation)

2 Corinthians 9:8 says, "God is ready to overwhelm you with more blessings than you could ever imagine so that you’ll always be taken care of in every way and you’ll have more than enough to share." (Voice Translation)

Philippians 1:6 says, "There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears." (Message Translation)

Isaiah 54:17 says,"No weapon that has been made to be used against you will succeed. You will have an answer for anyone who accuses you." (God's Word Translation)

Even Jesus had to fight the good fight of faith, but he knew the secret! In Matthew 4, the enemy tried to tempt Jesus. "But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say..." (New Living Translation) Jesus knew that this fight can be won by using the Word of God to defeat the enemy! Study the Word, Memorize the Word, and use the Word against the enemy.

Love and prayers, Cynthia

When Greatness Meets Favor

Happy Sunday!

Bishop Neil C. Ellis, Pastor of the Mount Tabor Full Gospel Baptist Church in Nassau, Bahamas was our guest speaker today! He preached, "When Greatness Meets Favor". He used Joshua 17:17, Psalm 102:13, Revelation 3:8, and Ecclesiastes 7:8 as his reference scriptures.

God wants to do a major thing in your life! He never intended for this(this place, this level, this situation) to be all(all that you have, all that you are capable of, or all that you experience) . In Jeremiah 29:11 he said, "I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for." (Message Translation)

Moses was dead. The Children of Israel were now in the Promised land. It was time to divide the land. The descendants of Joseph complained to Joshua that their allotment was too small. Joshua agreed and told the people, “You are a great people and have great power; you shall not have only one lot," Joshua 17:17 (New King James Version)

2 Timothy 3:16 says, "Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us." (Message Translation) So see yourself in that previous scripture! You are a Great Person! You have Great Power! God has more than one blessing for you!

Proverbs 18:21 says, "Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose." (Message Translation) Did you get that? Another translation says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." (King James Translation) You get to choose! When my children were young, every year I got bronchitis.  If you have ever had it, you know it’s no fun!  I used to say, "I get bronchitis every year". And every year I got bronchitis. Until I learned that my words have power.  God created us in his image. He spoke and the whole universe was created. Scientists even say the universe is still expanding. God's Words caused that! He designed us to have authority and dominion. He wants us to speak words of Life!

Psalm 102:13 says, "You will arise and have mercy on Zion; for the time to favor her, Yes, the set time, has come." (New King James Translation) Years ago the Winans sang a song called "It's Time" The lyrics said, "It's time to make a change and we are the people who can do it!"  It's time!  Ecclesiastes 7:8 says, "The end of a thing is better than its beginning;" (New King James Version) No matter what you have experienced, it's time for things to get better!  It's time for Favor in your life.  Bishop Ellis defined favor as, "A bowing, a bending, or a leaning in the direction of the undeserving."  Revelation 3:8 says, “I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door, which no one can shut." (Voice Translation)

You are a Great Person, You have Great Power, you will have more than one Blessing, it's time for Favor in your life and God has opened the door!  What will you do?

Love and prayers, Cynthia