Dr, Veronica Winston preached, "You've Been Selected for the Dream Team". In the USA, we are in the heat of the World Series, and there are football, basketball, and hockey games to enjoy as well! Fantasy Football coaches are reeling from injuries, and are now considering sidelining other players. Did you know that you are also a part of a special hand-picked Dream Team? 1 Peter 2:9-10 says, "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."(Message). God has chosen us for his team. He only chooses the best and the brightest!
Being on God's team is not always easy! The world hates God's team. Jesus said, "Everyone will hate you because you follow me. But the one who remains faithful to the end will be saved."(Easy-to-Read Version). Now, there's no reason to fear! We overcome! But as the Apostle Paul wrote, "It never seems easy while you are going through it". He also encouraged us with these words, "These troubles and sufferings of ours are, after all, quite small and won’t last very long. Yet this short time of distress will result in God’s richest blessing upon us forever and ever!"(2 Corinthians 4:17, Living Bible). Did you see that? God's Blessing is on us forever.
What things should we avoid in order to stay fit and in shape for the team? Great question! Stay away from fleshly desires! 1 Peter 2:11 says, "Dear friends, you are like visitors and strangers in this world. So I beg you to keep your lives free from the evil things you want to do, those desires that fight against your true selves."(Easy-to-Read Version). It seems so simple, but it tends to trip us up. Stay away from fleshly or carnal desires. The Apostle John described it like this, "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."(1 John 2:16, KJV). Another translation describes it like this, "Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity."(Message).
Stay away from false prophets! 2 Peter 2:1-2 says, "But there were false prophets, too, in those days, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly tell their lies about God, turning against even their Master who bought them; but theirs will be a swift and terrible end. Many will follow their evil teaching that there is nothing wrong with sexual sin. And because of them Christ and his way will be scoffed at."(Living Bible). The best way to know that you are hearing the truth is to study your own bible! Know the Word when you hear it and know when it is being taken out of context. Case in point: People say money is evil. That's often the way the scripture was interpreted. But money is amoral, it's neither good or evil. It is the person using it that determines whether it will be used for good or for evil. The scripture actually says, "For the LOVE of money is the root of all evil:"(1 Timothy 6:10(a), KJV). Did you get that? Now it makes more sense that God would inspire the King to write, "Laughter and bread go together, and wine gives sparkle to life—But it’s money that makes the world go around."(Ecclesiastes 10:19, Message). Get the Word on any subject, then get understanding!
Stay Focused! Stay focused on the things of God. Don't be so distracted by the world that you get lost in their doctrine. Jude described these types of people like this, "These men are constant gripers, never satisfied, doing whatever evil they feel like; they are loudmouthed “show-offs,” and when they show respect for others, it is only to get something from them in return. Dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ told you, that in the last times there would come these scoffers whose whole purpose in life is to enjoy themselves in every evil way imaginable."(Jude 1;16-18, Living Bible). Make time for Bible reading, meditation, and prayer just as you would make time for baseball, softball, or tennis practice! In his book the Outliers, author Malcolm Gladwell said it takes approximately ten thousand hours of practice to achieve mastery in any field. Do you want to win in this life? Do you want to overcome? Do you want to "prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers"? Do you want your prayers answered? You have to put in the work! Reverend Kenneth E. Hagin used to say, "Blessings are not just going to fall off the trees like ripe cherries!" You've got to do your part!
Love and prayers, Cynthia
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