Call it What it Is

Happy Sunday!

Bishop Alexis A. Thomas preached, "You Know You Got Some Sin In You!"  He used 1 John 1:8-10 as his reference scriptures.

The Apostle John wrote to the New Testament Christians with hopes that their

"joy may be full".-1 John 1:4 (King James Version) There is nothing worse than a sad, sorrowful, defeated Christian!  We are called to spread the "Good News" but so many times we are heard singing the blues louder than the unbelievers.

The Good News is Jesus paid the price for our sins and the sins of the world; past present and future! Hebrews 9:12 says, "Christ entered the Most Holy Place only one time—enough for all time. He entered the Most Holy Place by using his own blood, not the blood of goats or young bulls. He entered there and made us free from sin forever." (Easy-to-Read Version) Lost people won't go to hell because of their sins! They will go to hell for rejecting Jesus!  "Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me." - John 14:6 (Easy-to-Read Version)  Now that's Good News!

The moment we accepted Jesus as our personal savior, our human spirit was recreated and made perfect. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (King James Version)  Our spirit man is perfect, but it has to fight against our imperfect soul and our imperfect flesh.  In order to strengthen our souls, Romans 12:1-2 encourages, "Brothers and sisters, in light of all I have shared with you about God’s mercies, I urge you to offer your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice to God, a sacred offering that brings Him pleasure; this is your reasonable, essential worship. Do not allow this world to mold you in its own image. Instead, be transformed from the inside out by renewing your mind. As a result, you will be able to discern what God wills and whatever God finds good, pleasing, and complete." (Voice) 

Our spirit, soul, and body fight or war against each other. The Apostle Paul wrote,"It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge." Romans 7:23 (Message) But, when we allow the Word to transform us, our spirit and soul join together and over-power our flesh. So what was the Apostle John writing about in the following scriptures? I'm glad you asked!

1 John 1:8-10 says, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (King James Version) 

I know it's hard to believe, but we miss it sometimes!  No, we aren't living with blatant disregard for the Word of God, but we do sin.  When we sin, sin enters into our physical body and gives the enemy an opportunity to attack us physically.  When we sin, sin enters into our soul and gives the enemy an opportunity to attack our emotions. Ephesians 4:27 says, "Don't give the devil a way to defeat you!" (Easy-to-Read Version)  I'll use myself as an example.  I am fighting against the spirit of gluttony. Gluttony is a sin!  At one point in my life, I could eat a whole box of snack cakes in one sitting. I know, that doesn't seem too bad, but think about this.  All those calories add weight to my body, more weight than I was designed to carry around.  I then began to have problems with my knees. Because my knees were weak while lifting a heavy object my knees couldn't support the weight and my back was injured. The sin of gluttony did not affect my perfected spirit, but it affected my physical body and my soul.  Pain is depressing! So, my emotions were also affected. These scriptures encourage us to drop our self-righteous attitude and admit that we miss the mark.  Of course, I won't go to hell because I ate a whole box of snack cakes, but I may get to heaven faster!

Bishop begged us to, "Call it what it is!"  Call sin sin. When the Holy Spirit reveals something to you through the Word, listen.  Admit when you are wrong and repent. Move forward and do better tomorrow!

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Words

Happy Sunday!

Bishop Alexis A. Thomas preached from Luke 11:13, Ephesians 5:18, and Daniel 10:12-14 today.  He encouraged us again that God will answer prayer, but he put a new spin on it! God is coming for your words! You've heard the saying, "God answers every prayer, but only the prayers that are prayed"  We have to put our words to work in agreement with the Word of God.

Luke 11:13 says, "If you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” (Common English Bible)  Even though we think we are perfect and would never consider ourselves evil, Jesus describes us as evil when compared to God the Father. He is good!  He will not withhold good things from his children, just as we will not withhold good things from our children.  Psalm 84:11 says, "The Lord gives—doesn't withhold —good things to those who walk with integrity." (Common English Bible)

Ephesians 5:18 says, "Don’t drink wine excessively. The drunken path is a reckless path. It leads nowhere. Instead, let God fill you with the Holy Spirit." (Voice) Bishop encouraged us to be Spirit-filled and Spirit-controlled.  The Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians and compared the process to drunkenness.  Just as a drunk person is under the influence of the alcohol, we Christians should be under the influence of the Holy Spirit.  Bishop described it like this; Is the Holy Spirit a resident in your life, or is the Holy Spirit president of your life?

Daniel 10:12 says, "He said, “Daniel, do not be afraid. From the very first day you decided to get wisdom and to be humble in front of God, he has been listening to your prayers. I came to you because you have been praying." (Easy-to-Read Version)  After 21 days, the angel arrived with the answer to Daniel's prayer.  The angel told him that the prayer had been answered immediately, but spiritual forces had hindered the answer from getting to Daniel. The Apostle Paul explained this to the Ephesians, "For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against persons without bodies—the evil rulers of the unseen world, those mighty satanic beings and great evil princes of darkness who rule this world; and against huge numbers of wicked spirits in the spirit world." Ephesians 6:12 (The Living Bible)

So what can we get from all this? So glad you asked! Trust God, he loves you and he will treat you better than your earthly parents ever could. Surrender to the Holy Spirit, "Trust the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding." Proverbs 3:5 (God's Word Translation)  Last but not least, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY! Don't be alarmed if the answer is delayed.  Use your words to thank God that he has already answered. Speak the Word!  Meditate on the Word! Memorize the Word! Then when the devil tries to make you doubt, you will have ammunition necessary to blow him to pieces! 

Love and prayers, Cynthia

God Will Answer Prayer - Part 3

Happy Sunday!

Bishop Alexis A. Thomas continued his series today, with yet another reminder that, "God Will Answer Prayer!" He used Luke 11:1-13 as his reference scriptures.

"Another time Jesus was praying, and when He finished, one of His disciples approached Him. 

"Teacher, would You teach us Your way of prayer? John taught his disciples his way of prayer, and we’re hoping You’ll do the same." Jesus said here’s how to pray:

Father [in heaven], may Your name be revered. 

May Your kingdom come. 

May Your will be accomplished on earth 

as it is in heaven. 

Give us the food we need for tomorrow,

 And forgive us for our wrongs,

 for we forgive those who wrong us. 

And lead us away from temptation. 

And save us from the evil one.

Imagine that one of your friends comes over at midnight. He bangs on the door and shouts, “Friend, will you lend me three loaves of bread? A friend of mine just showed up unexpectedly from a journey, and I don’t have anything to feed him.” Would you shout out from your bed, “I’m already in bed, and so are the kids. I already locked the door. I can’t be bothered”? You know this as well as I do: even if you didn't care that this fellow was your friend, if he keeps knocking long enough, you’ll get up and give him whatever he needs simply because of his brash persistence!

So listen: Keep on asking, and you will receive. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened for you. All who keep asking will receive, all who keep seeking will find, and doors will open to those who keep knocking.

Some of you are fathers, so ask yourselves this: if your son comes up to you and asks for a fish for dinner, will you give him a snake instead? If your boy wants an egg to eat, will you give him a scorpion? Look, all of you are flawed in so many ways, yet in spite of all your faults, you know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to all who ask!" Luke 11:1-13 (Voice)

God is a good father!  He is not a deadbeat!  The State of Georgia has never had to take him to court regarding his child support!  SO why do we come to him as if he's a penny-pinching tight-wad?  Why do we fail to ask for what we need and desire? Psalm 37:4 says, "Do what the Lord wants, and he will give you your heart’s desire." (Common English Version)  Bishop encouraged us that there is no greater way to spread the Good News than to let others know, God Will Answer Prayer! That's good news...and we need some good news!

God Will Answer Prayer!

Love and prayers, Cynthia

God Will Answer Prayer: Part Two

Happy Sunday!

Bishop Alexis A. Thomas continued his sermon series, "God Will..."  with "God Will Answer Prayer": Part two.  Today he used Luke 18:1-8.  The New Living Translation says, "One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy. The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”

Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”

Bishop reminded us that all boasting must be and will be removed. He said and I quote, "You cannot get divine things done in human strength." Our ancestors understood this concept and sang, "Father I stretch my hand to thee, no other help I know. If thou withdraw thyself from me wither shall I go?"  With God all things are possible.  We are full of gifts, grace, purpose and power.  No one can do what we are ordained to do!  Everything that God is, and everything God has is accessible through prayer. 

What do you believe God is? Who do you believe God is?  The Word says, "It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him." - Hebrews 11:6 (Message)  Did you get that?  He cares enough to respond! God Will Answer Prayer!  And here's further proof, "We live in the bold confidence that God hears our voices when we ask for things thatfit His plan. And if we have no doubt that He hears our voices, we can be assured that He moves in response to our call." - 1 John 5:14-15(VOICE)

Love and prayers, Cynthia