Today we encourage the people from all around the world, to be patience in the midst of tragedy, in all you do and how you feel in regards to the tragedy that has unfolded in Boston, Massin the past few days. The people of Boston and the World all have been struck by the Enemy of terror. This Enemy had a dark and evil Spirit to set off a bomb in the middle of innocence people that would kill and injury so many people. But let there be no mistake, our President and all the leaders that are involved in the mystery of solving this problem has promised us that the Enemy of Terror would feel the full weight of the American Justice System.
We can take comfort in the fact that our first responders, and the many heroes that rushed into chaos to help those that were injured, and now our hospitals, nurses and Doctors from around the world are still responding with courage and a Spirit that has shown the World the strength of the people of Boston and the American Spirit of all its Citizen.
Let us not forget this very important fact, and that is this enemy was truly a thief, and his aim was to take the lives of as many people as he possibly could. In John 10:10, we see that Jesus warned us of this thief. Jesus said, “A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.”
Therefore, I encourage all of you, in all that you do, “BE PATIENCE!” Allow the authorities the time an opportunity to do their jobs. Be informed by the facts and allow the WORD OF GOD to guide your hearts and minds in all things.
Finally, listen to how the word of God informs us to act, it says, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!”
Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil, for the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land. (Psalm 37:7-9 ESV) “BE PATIENCE IN THE MIDST OF TRAGEDY!”
Now let us continue to pray for the victims and their families in the Boston Tragedy. When prayers go up, blessings come down.
GOD’S WILD AND BEAUTIFUL FLOWER GARDEN (Photo by Pastor Davis)
In the world today we find that people are filled with anxious desires to overcome their present lot in life. Anxieties are running deep in their veins, being faced with much lack of everything that this world has to offer and in their heart of hearts not being able to have the basics necessaries that GOD has promised to them that love and believe in the LORD. Nevertheless, I say to all the people, know that God never makes a promise that he will not fulfill. Just hold onto God’s unchanging hands and your storehouse will never be bare. You see, God has provided the world with all the necessary things for man’s survival in this world. Remember, there are three basics things that we need for our survival and they are; the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat. These three basics necessities, God provides them in great abundances’ and they are FREE and without germs are diseases. FREE YOUR MIND AND BE FREE INDEED
But now I can just here you saying, “I need a job, and without a job how can I have food on my table for me and my family to eat, clothes for my children to wear, money to pay my mortgage and car note, money to keep the lights and gas on in my house, money to send my kids to college. I will grant you these are important things to consider in helping offset some of these burdens that you are now facing, but are they really the most important things you need to do in order to have a healthy and prosper life style? Think deeply on this for a moment before you continue reading the rest of the story!
Now I say to you, listen carefully to what the word has to say about all of this, it says’ “If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and
THE BIRDS OF THE SKY DEPENDS ON GOD FOR THEIR SOURCE OF ENERGY (PHOTO BY SHIRLEY RHODES)
unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.
“Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.
“If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, and do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. (Matthew 6:25-34 MSG)
You see, in this passage Jesus is trying to bring you into the realization that you are important to Him and you are free of all yokes and bondage of man’s rule over you. It is not man that is going to provide you with the necessities of this life, but it is God who provides all of those who believe. DO YOU BELIEVE?
BALL AND CHAINS KEEP YOU IN BONDAGE…
The first prerequisite of having the great abundances of this life is to be set FREE. You have to remove the ball and chain from around your ankle. Release the Spirit in your Mind and set it FREE of the bondage that is keeping you from having all the things that you desire in this world. It is not that man is not providing you with a job to meet your basics needs that is hindering you from having. It is your own thought process that is keeping you from having; your dependence upon another person to provide you with a job, when God has already told you to use your own thought process and you can have anything that you may desire. Free your mind and be free indeed. If the Son of God Sets You FREE, you must realize the greatest news of all and that is, “You are truly FREE.” At a time when Jesus was speaking truth to power, this is what he said to the Jews and what he is saying to you and I right here and now, “Then Jesus turned to the Jews who had claimed to believe in him. “If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will FREE you.” (John 8:31-32 MSG)
These are the words of truth that were birthed in you from the beginning of time. They are the words that will allow you to create that job that you are concern about in order to be in a position to meet your basic worldly needs. They are the words that will bring about that change from the old man to the new. They are the words that you can take to the cashier at your bank, present them with a check with whatever amount you desire at the time and be guaranteed it will be cashed with no questions asked.
Now is the time for you to learn how to properly use your Imagination to create within you all that God has already provided for you from the very beginning of time. Click on this short Video Clip and discover the power of your Imagination.
You are the ruler of your life, the power given to you by the maker and creator of this world. No man holds power over you but the one you give to hold such power. And when you are ready to make the change and your determination is so great that you are willing to do whatever is necessary to be the true ruler of your life, the new person in you will show up and nothing can stop you from rising to take your place in this world of great abundance. The time is now for you to, “FREE YOUR MIND AND BE FREE INDEED!”
THOUGHTS ON MAKING A SACRIFICE (PHOTO BY SHIRLEY RHODES)
In today’s lesson, I set before you a very important question for you to ponder and that question is; What Are You” Really” Willing to Sacrifice for the price that has been paid for your FREEDOM? Pride, distrust, envy, hatred, anger, lack of commitment, and unwillingness to love those who strive against you in every way are just a few of the obstacles encountered in life, even when up against such odds, what are you willing to sacrifice?
Deciding to step out or move forth requires an in creditable amount of will power and self-discipline, much more than many of us are able to envision in our minds. Making sacrifices requires us to rethink our own agenda, knowing that in life there are no quick fixes. Jesus made that sacrifice in order for us to see and understand that it is possible to reroute the way we think in terms of our daily lives. It is the mission of “the Dark One” to create in each of us self-doubt and when we surrender control of our will we find ourselves on loosing grounds, where we become like a rubber band stretched and pulled so that there is no more room to expand.
So, the question is, What Are You Willing to Sacrifice? First of all you must be willing to admit that you are not your own, we are all sinnerssaved by grace. To sacrifice your will or desire to get to know more about Christ and his many teachings will become one of the greatest accomplishments of your life.
We live as mortal beings, yet we are spiritual, awareness brings about enlighten and we come into that knowledge by submission and change of attitude, no longer conditioned by how the world dictate who and whose we are.
What Are You Willing to Sacrifice? In Christ we become new creatures with meaning and purpose, willing to surrender our lives to a Savior who patiently waits. Admitting that we are sinners and in need of salvation is a start, acceptance, and total surrender of our lives brings us into an intimate relationship with Christ. We set aside “sacred moments” to allow the Holy Spirit to minister to our needs, learning to live in expectancy.
We must remember that God is not someone we bargain with; think of your relationship with your parents as a child, how you trusted them in all innocence, or your children dependence on you to meet their needs; Christ is the spiritual connection that brings wholeness, a sense of direction, and is the supplier of all that we need.
Knowing and trusting God to guide you as you journey places you under grace, when its sin verses grace, grace wins. Sin threatens us with death and that’s it. Grace, through Jesus gives us life that is never ending (Romans 5: 20-21). This means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives.
What Are You Willing to Sacrifice? A relationship in Jesus gives us freedom; you’re living in the freedom of God when you surrender in obedience to the will of the Father for your life.
The question is, What Are You Willing to Sacrifice? It is well worth the sacrifice to allow the Holy Spirit to come into your life and learn in obedience the way of Jesus, follow the pattern he has so graciously left in place for all of us to follow. Always keep his teachings at the forefront of your spiritual mind and you will journey this life in peace no matter the obstacles.
THE TIME IS NOW FOR YOU TO WRITE THE VISION GIVEN TO YOU
GOD SAID WRITE THE VISION (Habakkuk 2:2-3)
A CHILD IS WRITING HER GIVEN VISION (PHOTO BY PASTOR DAVIS)
In the Book of Habakkuk we find that Habakkuk had questions for God that he just could not understand. So he did what a lot of other prophets dared not do. He took it upon himself to question God what he thought God was not doing about the problems that were facing his nation. When he did, here is how God answered Habakkuk, God said, “Write this. Write what you see.
Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run. This vision-message is a witness
pointing to what’s coming. It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait! And it doesn’t lie.
If it seems slow in coming, wait. It’s on its way. It will come right on time!
Today’s lesson is being taught through the vision media of video. We hope you watch and study the entire lesson with us, then let us know what you think.
We hope that this lesson has been a blessing to your soul, and if it has, why not share it with other in your social media. Just click on one are more of the social medias below that you are connected with and share a word of truth. We are here to help each other grow in God’s grace. By sharing, it helps to make us a better community to live, work, play and grow in. Thank you all for all that you do here at Vine and Branch World Ministries in helping this ministry to grow and reach believers and no believers alike that we all may have the opportunity to share in each others joy and peace. If I can be of help to any of you at any time in any way to reach your goals are anything that God may lay on your heart that this servant he has called and put into place to do His will, just drop me a note and you will receive a response. May you find peace, love, joy and happiness in all that you do. I remain your brother in Jesus Christ, Pastor Davis/Master Teacher!
SIMON OF CYRENE WAS THE BLACK HANDS THAT HELP TO CARRY THE CROSS
Simon of Cyrene the black hands that helped carry the cross (PHOTO BY PASTOR DAVIS)
And when they had [finished] making sport of Him, they took the purple [robe] off Him and put His own clothes on Him. And they led Him out [of the city] to crucify Him.
And they forced a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, who was coming in from the field (country), to carry His cross.
In verse 21, Mark tells us that Simon of Cyrene, was coming into the city from the countryside into the city of Jerusalem, but the Lord was traveling out of the city. These two men were traveling in opposite directions. Simon was coming in and the Lord was going out being led by the Roman Soldiers and a large crowd of haters. Simon suddenly found himself turned around at the instructions of the Centurion and finds his life walking in exactly the opposite direction from where he was first headed. Meeting Christ at this point and being forced to place his hands on the cross and carry it would be a life changing experience for him.
Now some of you might ask, “why would he ever mention Simon of Cyrene as the Black Hands on the cross, and how would he even know that Simon of Cyrene was a Black Man? For those of you who are truth seekers, these would be legitimate questions to ask. For me as a Minister of the Gospel, called and ordained to come boldly before the throne of grace, and speak truth to power, convince, rebuke, exhort and teach, it is my job to empower you with knowledge in order that you may know the truth and the truth will truly set you free. (John 8:32)
For me to state here with absolute certain that Simon of Cyrene was a Black Man is impossible. This is a question that has been debated by Scholars worldwide for hundreds of years. However, I should start by pointing out it is difficult to determine with accuracy black men and women in the Bible because the Bible is color-neutral. There is never any reference to race or racial features. The main distinction throughout the Bible is between those that serve God and those that do not, whether as individuals or as nations. It is not definite that everyone from Ethiopia or Cyrene was black, but certainly you could reasonably assume that it was a good possibility. So this study will have to be considered reasonable speculation.
We know very little about Simon. We see from this Mark’s writing that he had come from the country to Jerusalem on this occasion, perhaps on business. He must have been a strong man. I don’t think the soldiers would have picked a weakling. God had appointed him to be there, not to help Jesus with the cross, but to encounter the one who was to be crucified for his sins. Except for Mark’s obscure reference to Rufus and Alexander we would have no more information about Simon.
What we do know about Simon called Niger is his name. Simon is a Jewish name and Niger comes from the Latin word for “black”. It’s safe to say he was Jewish and may have been called “Black” simply because of his looks.
Research shows that Simon of Cyrene was from a country in ancient northern Africa (bordering Egypt) called Libya. According to Spirit of English Magazine Vol. 10, pg. 286; in ancient times Libya contained two countries Cyrenaica and Marmarica. Wikipedia [the on line encyclopedia], shares that Libya was until recent times, the home of one the oldest Jewish communities in the world, dating back to at least 300 BC. In the 1st century, the Jewish historian for the Roman Empire, Josephus Flavius, noted 500,000 Jews lived in Libya. By today’s standards, people from North Africa may or may not be classified as Black. The New Testament, let’s us in on the fact that Joseph, Mary and Jesus spent time in Egypt, This raises an equally intriguing question as to whether or not Simon’s friend, Joseph of Marmarica (a.k.a. Joseph of Marmore, Joseph of Arimathea, brother of Jesus’ grandmother) from the neighboring district of Marmonica/Marmarica, should also be classified as African or Black. –Satchell Intell.
We find here in (Matthew 27:32NKJV). Simon of Cyrene was from Ethiopia, and this text and the identity of this man clearly reminds us all of us today that all cultures were represented at Calvary and in the church. This further reminds us that wise men of all ages would be honored to be allowed to perform the task that was conferred upon Simon of Cyrene, the Ethiopia from northwestern Africa. Whether it was voluntary or by force, in any case, black hands were extended to help the Savior bear His cross. The Ethiopian eunuch from Africa (Acts 8:26) was the first Gentile convert mentioned by name in the Book of Acts. History reports that he returned to Ethiopia to found the Abyssinian Christian Church, which exists until this day.
May God’s saving grace, be with each one of you whose hands, regardless of their color, feel obligated to pick-up your cross and carry it this day be blessed with love, peace and power. Only because Jesus loved all of us and died for our sins do we have the opportunity to celebrate his life, death and resurrection on this EASTER weekend. I remain your brother in Jesus Christ, Pastor Davis/Master Teacher!
KNOWING THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE REDEEMER AND PREDATOR
WRITTEN BY SHIRLEY RHODES
SHIRLEY RHODES
Knowing the distinction is how we develop into strong believers of faith in Jesus Christ and his teachings. The predator seeks out his target, devise a plan and then set about to conquer and devour. The Redeemer plucks you from the unsettled state and offers life filled with grace, mercy, joy and hope, and provides all that’s necessary through the Holy Spirit that keeps you safe and grounded. The Predator seeks to kill steal and destroy your hope, to derail you from the purpose God created you with and or for.
It is not a desire to break from the teachings, it’s being able to recognize when we find ourselves in a place that robs us of our hopes and dreams that we seek forgiveness through the Redeemer.
Perfection is a goal we all would like to reach, but as long as these bodies of clay exist we will find ourselves in the presence of the predator. When we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us we know that it is through Christ that redemptive power lives and gives us hope.
God is a living Spirit (a living personal presence) which gives us freedom from those things that holds us in bondage. The scripture reminds us, “let nothing separate us from God’s Love,” when we enter his presence it is to be done so in holy reverence, he beckons us to come. Those who do not understand the true meaning of God are those looking or going the wrong way while refusing to give thought to what God and his message is all about. It seems that all they have eyes for is the fashionable god of darkness (the Predator); thinking he can give them what they want, so they rather not bother believing a truth they cannot see.
Jesus has given us the brightness of his message: if we follow the pattern we know it is determined that we must guard our hearts because the Predator never sleeps. Jesus said, “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many (Matthew 24:4, NIV), he went on to say, the one who stands firm to the end will be saved (13).”
Knowing the distinction between Predator and Redeemer sets God’s chosen apart, for they are chosen by God for the high calling of priestly work, to be a holy people. These are God’s chosen instruments to do his work, to get the message out to others; he takes nothing and makes something, he takes the rejected and makes them accepted (1Peter 2:8-10, MSG).
Let us not think for one moment that we are not within eye-sight of the Predator; after all, he’s been around since creation and to this day as in the days of Job. As scripture revels, One day when the angels came to report to God,Satan, the Designated Accuser, came along with them, God singled out Satan and said,” What have you been up to?” Satan answered God, “Going here and there, checking things out on earth.”(Job 1:6-7, MGS) This very moment in time he is still “checking things out on earth” the predator.
What a God we serve! Our Redeemer lives, Christ suffered because of other’s sins, Righteous for unrighteous; he went through death–then was made alive–to bring us to God. Through his sacrifice we are given a chance to choose and make decisions in order to become a part of who he really is, the choice is ours.
MOMENTS OF REFLECTIONS THE ENDING AND THE BEGINNING (PHOTO BY SHIRLEY RHODES)
THE ENDING AND THE BEGINNING
The fullness of God’s grace is beyond our human appreciation, comprehension or full knowledge. The riches of His goodness cannot be expressed or described by mortal tongue. We can only attempt to describe it, and our best efforts will be a puny approximation. We can admire the beauty of His divine grace, but we cannot really explore its depths. At best we can only stand in awe at what we have seen and live in the expectance of what is yet to come. Through God’s grace we have survived the trials and tribulation of a year of ups and downs in many areas of our lives. We now stand at the end and await the beginning of the new.
The Endings and Beginnings are a part of who we are as well as the process we all go through in life. The year ends, and the last day we realize so much has happened, struggle, decisions, choice and chance; yet we have so much to be thankful for, there are even moments we can look back on with pride and accomplishment. What to do with our learning experiences, stop and take stock (think); what have I accomplished that makes me proud, did I reach goals I set for myself this time last year?
What ever happened this year is behind us and those moments can never be reclaimed, they are endings.
A new year is time for new beginnings, letting go of ways that are not beneficial such as anger, resentment, fears, allow those things to become part of our experiences we grow from and then release them. Let’s become more diligent in our prayer life, pray for joy, peace, directions and for everyone whether we know them or not. Let us make room in our hearts, our lives to fellowship and set side time for introspection with our higher power, the source, the light, the bread of life, remembering to follow the patternJesus gave so that we might live productive lives.
Endings and Beginnings: Our spiritual identity is our soul, our spirit and that never change.
Life takes us through changes that enhance our character and instills values in our lives developing our inner being and helping us to discover who we really are. We go through many changes in a life time before we find out who we really are and what we have to give. One thing is certain, we should always see ourselves as valuable even though others may not recognize and/or accept that fact.
No matter what role or purpose we’ve been assigned in this life; knowledge we gain through the process, keep it close to heart as Wisdom teachings. Proverbs remind us in this way: Collect my counsels and guard them with your life, tune your ears to the world of Wisdom. Set your heart on a life of Understanding, make insight your priority and don’t take no for an answer, before you know it Fear of God will be yours; you’ll have come upon the Knowledge of God (Proverbs 2:1-5). God gives out Wisdom free and is plainspoken in Knowledge and Understanding. He is a rich mine of Common Sense for those who live well (6). He controls our Endings and Beginnings so why not learn to trust him with an obedient heart and attitude, which pleases Him.
This is the time of year to reflect on where we’ve been; a time to release those things (ways) that hinder our growth and the time to look forward to a new year encouraged with optimism, strength and courage. Learn from the Endings and embrace new Beginnings, make this year about renewal, commitment, caring and sharing. Grow in God’s Grace and Love.
When we think about where we have been this past year and how we have managed to come through it all, we must confront this one truth, and that is simply this, “Our God is truly an awesome God.Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God, this deep, deep wisdom? It’s way over our heads. We’ll never figure it out. Is there anyone around who can explain God? Anyone smart enough to tell Him what to do; anyone who has done Him such a huge favor that God has to ask His advice? Everything comes from Him, Everything happens through him; everything ends up in Him. Always glory! Always praise! Yes, Yes, Yes!” Romans 11:33-36.
Now as you make plans for this brand new year we encourage you to grow in God’s Grace, make this a happy, joyful, safe and prospers New Year. Click on this video clip sit back relax and allow the sounds of the water to minister to you as you reflect on the year that lies ahead. May God bless you abundantly, in Jesus name, Amen!
May God’s grace and mercy abide in you throughout this brand new year, filling your life with pure joy and prosperity.
Shania A. Byars the Dreamer (Photo by Pastor Davis)
Throughout this year we have discussed with you many times the word “transformation.” We have done so because we realized early on as we begin this teaching ministry that in order for us to be successful at what we were doing, we to needed to be in the flow of the transformation process.
We have learned a great deal from your many wonderful comments, and as we continue into 2012, we will apply the knowledge and understanding we gleamed from your thoughts and apply them to our teaching methods in hopes that many more of you will gain some valuable lessons from what is being taught here.
The subject of this lesson is: “YOU HAVE THE POWER TO TRANSFORM YOUR DREAMS INTO REALITY.” The very first thought in many of your minds will be doubt. Saying, I don’t have any power. Others have the power, but I am powerless to transform a single dream I have ever had into reality. That is truly the kind of negative thinking that hinders you from becoming the genius that God destiny you to become from the very beginning of time. Now let me encourage you to pause your reading right here for a moment and watch this short video clip as it helps to further engage your mind with great thoughts of manifesting your dreams into reality. Please continue reading on the other side of this video clip. After you have completed this message, do not forget to click on the share button and share it on your social networking page as well as with friends and family.
Let us understand this one very important thing in our lives, and that is, our negative thoughts are the seeds we plant in our minds that begins the process of creating lack, poverty and all the things that we have dreamed of having, but have not been able to obtain in our lives thus far.
When your thoughts are always centered on the negative side of life, you set up the conditions which correspondence with the predominant mental attitude in your mind. Therefore, if we feardisaster, as fear is a powerful form of thought, disaster will be the certain result of our thinking. It is this form of thought which frequently sweeps away the result of many years of toil and effort.
However, if we begin the process of planting positive seeds in our mind instead of the negative ones and begin to think of some form of material wealth, the results will be that it will show up at the time and place it is most needed. By concentrated thought the required conditions will be brought about, and the proper effort put forth, which will result in bringing about the circumstances necessary to realize our desires; but we often find that when we secure the things we thought we wanted, they do not have the effect we expected. That is, the satisfaction is only temporary, or possibly is the reverse of what we expected.
This condition is because, we lack the knowledge of the power and where that power derives from. Know that God is the source of all power that we have within our physical bodies and spiritual minds. Therefore, we must learn to lean and depend on God when we are face with the difficult task of the transformation process. Listen to what God tells us to do, He says, “ Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand).(Jeremiah 33:3).
When you are ready to put your trust in God, the power of transformation will show up on your front door step. The power to make this happen is already within you. God gave this power to you from the very beginning of time. So when you say you are powerless to make your dreams become a reality, think on this, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass. (Psalms 37:4-5 AMP).
We must transform our thinking in order to realize our dreams. The old orthodox way of thinking was to be “a worm,” to be satisfied with our portion whatever it is; but the modern idea is to know that we are entitled to the best of everything, that the “Father and I are one” and that the “Father” is the UNIVERSAL MIND, the CREATOR, the ORIGINAL SUBSTANCE from which all things proceed.
Now admitting that to transform your thinking from the negative to the positive and it has been taught to us for more than two thousand years, and it is the essence of every system of Philosophy or Religion, then how are we to make it practical in our lives? How are we to go get the actual, tangible results here and now that will make our dreams become a reality?
First, let us begin by putting our knowledge into practice. Nothing can be accomplished in any other way.
The athlete may read books and lessons on physical training all his life, but unless he begins to give out strength by actual work he will never receive any strength; he will eventually get exactly what he gives; but he will have to give it first. It is exactly the same with us; we will get exactly what we give, but we shall have to give it first. It will then return to us many fold, and the giving is simply a mental process, because thoughts are causes and conditions are effects; therefore in giving thoughts of courage, inspiration, health or help of any kind we are setting causes in motion which will bring about their effect.
Let us understand that your thoughts are spiritual activity and is therefore creative, but make no mistake, thought will create nothing unless it is consciously, systematically, and constructively directed; and herein is the difference between idle thinking, which is simply a dissipation of effort, and constructive thinking, which means practically unlimited achievement.
Remember, you have the power to make the transition from the old person to the new person. It all lives in the power of your belief system, your thought process. Now take advantage of the power that God has given to you, stop giving lip service to who and what you are and become the true creative power that lives within.
We minister to you this day from the position of PEACE, PURPOSE, POWER and PROSPERITY. Learn to think Globally as you work Locally to make this major transition in your life. I remain your brother in CHRIST, PASTOR DAVIS/MASTER TEACHER!
GOD’S DESTINY FOR MAN AND WOMAN WAS HIGHER AND MORE NOBLER THAN ANY OTHER CREATURE (Genesis 1:26-28)
The Bible describes the origin of the sexes as a creative act of God. Evolution has never been able to explain how the sexesbegan. Humanity was commanded to be fruitful and multiply. Now watch this short video clip and we will meet on the other side.
God said, Let Us [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the [tame] beasts, and over all of the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth.
So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them.
The crown of God’swork was the creation of man in Hisimage and according to Hislikeness. This means that man was placed on earth as God’srepresentative, and that He resembles God in certain ways. Just as God is a Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), so man is a tripartite being (spirit, soul, and body). Like God, man has intellect, a moral nature, the power to communicate with others, and an emotional nature that transcends instinct. There is no thought of physical likeness here. In contrast to animals, man is a worshiper, an articulatecommunicator, and a creator.
From the beginning God’s heart to build a dwelling place for Himself in the Earth is seen in His creation of man and woman—together, the foundation of the house of the Lord. Through the two of them together, He intended to live and reveal Himself in the world. Through them God intended to manifest His character and authority(image), express His dominion over the Earth, display His indisputable power over the works of darkness, and subdue His archenemy, Satan. The first man and woman were a microcosm of the church, signaling that God’s glory would forever be seen in the Earth through the combined expression of male and female. Now, as then, God’s blessing—His promise of success—is upon our unity.
These verses also reveal to us just how God meant for man’s intrinsic value to be, his human worth and divinedestiny. God made sure that man was distinct from the rest of His creation. The Divine Triune Counsel determined that man was to have God’s image and likeness. Man is a spiritual being who is not only body, but also soul and spirit. He is a moral being whose intelligence, perception, and self-determination far exceed that of any other earthly being.
These properties or traits possessed by mankind and his prominence in the order of creation imply the intrinsic worth, not only of the family of mankind, but also of each human individual.
Capacity and ability constitute accountability and responsibility. We should never be pleased to dwell on a level of existence lower than that on which God has made it possible for us to dwell. We should strive to be the best we can be and to reach the highest levels we can reach. To do less is to be unfaithfulstewards of the life entrusted to us.
Now let us understand, after having been made out of the dust of the ground, a humanbegins as any other creature—a biologicalentity. The creaturely existence, however, is insufficient to describe the human being, for man becomes the crowning act of creation and is distinguished as being different—God literally breathes life into man.
Unlike the rest of creation, a human being has been created in a covenantrelationship to God and has an exceptionally high and distinct value and destiny. The likeness of man to the Creator is in the form and function of personal unity. God designed the human personality to consist of self-consciousness and self-determination, with both the freedom and the awareness to respond to God, to other human beings, and to the environment. He also designed a destiny for man far higher and nobler than that of any other creature. When God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness,” He had planned from the foundation of the world a glorious future for those who would choose the redeeming grace of Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:4-6).
To God the father, the creator of all there is, to Him be the glory. In the name of Jesus, we have ministered to you from a position of peace, power, purpose and prosperity. I remain your brother in Christ, Pastor Davis/Master Teacher.
In our lesson yesterday, we discussed with you how to live in the beginning and blessedness of this day. Today, we take you a step deeper into the reality of our mind power to understand how we determine the beginning. Now come and let us join our minds and see how God intended for us to live out our lives each day.
The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
The Darkness of the Night (Photo by Pastor Davis)
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. (Genesis 1:1-3)
God spoke light into existence (Photo by Pastor Davis)
How do we determine the beginning of anything in this world of ours? Have you discovered the vast importance of any beginnings? Do you really know what is involved in a beginning? Do you know the number of beginnings you are continuously been making, and do you realize their full importance? If not, come and journey with me for a short time into the depths of your mind and let us thoughtfully explore some ignored beginnings by-way of blessedness; for blessed it is when it is wisely resorted to, and much strength and comfort it holds for the understanding of our mind.
Let us begin with this moment for each of us; it is our beginning at the greatest blessingGod has given to each one of us. It is the first day of the rest of our lives, a brand new beginning for you to take a chance, and learn to live out the rest of your brand new life.
Now here is how Jesus describes it, Jesus said, “I amalpha and omega”, the beginning and the end. Now pause your thoughts for a moment and watch this short video clip before continuing to read the rest of the story and we will meet on the other side with Jesus as alpha and omega.
By making this bold statement, Jesus opened our minds up and showed us the beginning of all life as we know it. Therefore, when we think deeply on this and pause our thoughts and consider how in the spiritual world, the greatest things proceed from the smallest beginnings. A light fancy may be the inception of a wonderful invention or an immortal work of art; a spoken sentence may turn the tide of history; a pure thought entertained may lead to the exercise of a world-wide regenerative power.
Then we look deeply into the material world, and as we do so, we discover that everything also, proceeds from a very small beginning. The mightiest river is at first a rivulet over which the grasshopper could leap; the great flood commences with a few drops of rain; the sturdy oak, that has endured the storms of a thousand winters, was once an acorn.
A beginning is a cause, and as such it must be followed by an effect or a train of effects and the effect will be of the same nature as the cause. The nature of an initial impulse determines the body of its results. A beginning also presupposes an ending, a consummations, achievements, or goal. A gate leads to a path and the path to some particular destination; so a beginning leads to results, and results lead to a completion.
In aiming at the life of Blessednessone of the simplest beginnings to be considered and rightly made is that which we all make everyday—the beginning of each day’s life. How do you begin each day? At what hour do you rise? How do you begin your work in what frame of mind do you enter upon the sacred life of a new day? What answer can you give your heart to these important questions? You will find that much happiness or unhappiness follows upon the right or wrong beginning of the day, and that, when every day is wisely begun, happy and harmonious sequences will mark its course, and life in its totality will not fall far short of the ideal blessedness.
The Sun Rise upon the Cross (Photo by Pastor Davis)
It is a right and strong beginning of the day to rise at an early hour. Even if your worldly work does not demand it, it is wise to make of it a habit, and begin the day strongly by shaking off indolence and by putting on vigor and energy. How are you to develop strength of will and mind and body if you begin every day by yielding to weakness? Self-indulgence is followed by unhappiness. Those who lie in bed till late, are not necessarily bright and cheerful and fresh, but often the prey of irritabilities, depressions, debilities, nervous disorders, abnormal fancies, and all unhappy moods.
This is the heavy price they have to pay for their daily indulgence. Yet, so blinding is the pandering to self that, like the man taking his daily dram in the belief that it is bracing the nerves which it is all the time shattering, so the lie-in-bed is convinced that long hours of ease are necessary for him as possible remedy for those very moods and weaknesses and disorders of which his indulgence is the cause. Men and women are unaware of the losses that they entail upon themselves by this common indulgence: loss of strength both of mind and body, loss of prosperity, loss of knowledge, and loss of happiness.
Begin the day by rising early. If you have no object in doing so, never mind; arise, go for a gentle walk among
Nature exposed in the beauty of the trees and sunlight (Photo by Shirley Rhodes)
the beauties of nature, and you will experience buoyancy, freshness, and a delight, not to say a peace of mind, that will reward you for your effort. One good effort is followed by another; and when a man begins the day by rising early, even though with no other purpose in view, he will find the silent early hour so conducive to clearness of mind and calmness of thought, his early morning walk so profitable in enabling him to become a consecutive thinker and so to see life and its problems, as well as himself and his affairs, in a clearer light; that in time he will rise early for the express purpose of preparing and harmonizing his mind to meet any and every difficulty with wisdom and calm strength.
There is, indeed, so spiritual an influence in the early morning hour, so divine a silence and inexpressible
The Early Morning Sunrise (Photo by Pastor Davis)
repose, that he who, purposeful and strong, throws off the mantle of ease and climbs the hills to greet the morning sun will thereby climb no inconsiderable distance up the hills of blessedness and truth.
The right beginning of the day will be followed by cheerfulness at the first meal, permeating the household with a sunny influence; and the work of the day will be undertaken in a strong and confident spirit, and the whole day will be well live.
There is also a sense in which every day is to be regarded as the beginning of a new life, in which one can think, act, and live newly, and in a wiser and better spirit. This day is truly the first day of the rest of your life. It is my birthday and I thank God for allowing me to experience another one. “To be continued”
The Wisdom of God makes all things Beautiful (Photo by Pastor Davis)
We begin today’s lesson by studying one of two very important precepts. One is wisdom and the other is knowledge. In today’s lesson, we will focus our attention on Lady Wisdom, and we begin by asking the simple question,“WHO IS LADY WISDOM?”She is a deep understanding and realization of people, things, events or situations, resulting in the ability to choose or act or inspire to consistently produce the optimum results with a minimum of time, energy or thought. She is the ability to optimally (effectively and efficiently) apply perceptions and knowledge, and then produce the desired results. Lady Wisdom is also the comprehension of what is true or right coupled with optimum judgment as to action.
HerSynonyms include: sagacity, discernment, or insight. Lady Wisdom often requires control of one’s emotional reactions (the “passions”) so that one’s principles, reason and knowledge prevail to determine one’s actions.
Sweet Honeycomb 001
She is beautiful and delightful to the soul in every way. She is as sweet as honey to the mouth as wisdom is to the soul. The Bible says, “My son, eat honey, because it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste. So shall you know skillful and godly Wisdom to be thus to your life; if you find it, then shall there be a future and a reward, and your hope and expectation shall not be cut off.” (Proverb 24:13-14 AMP).
She is elusive: She is so elusive, that she seems to be in very short supply. Some people are crafty and shrewd, others are well-informed and highly educated, but few of us manifest the quiet depth of wisdom.
What are her secrets and the source of her wisdom? Listen to how the Bible tells us about her Secrets and the Source of her Wisdom. It begins by asking a series of questions. ”But where, oh where, will they find Wisdom? Where does Insight hide? Mortals do not have a clue; have not the slightest idea where to look. Earth’s depths say, ‘It’s not here’; ocean deeps echo, ‘Never heard of it.’ It cannot be bought with the finest gold; no amount of silver can get it. Even famous Ophir gold cannot buy it, not even diamonds and sapphires.
Neither gold nor emeralds are comparable; extravagant jewelry cannot touch it. Pearl necklaces and ruby bracelets—why bother? None of this is even a down payment on Wisdom! Pile gold and African diamonds as high as you will, they can’t hold a candle to Wisdom.
“So where does Wisdom come from? And where does Insight live? It cannot be found by looking, no matter how deep you dig, no matter how high you fly. If you search through the grave yard and question the dead, they say, ‘We’ve only heard rumors of it.’
“God alone knows the way to Wisdom; he knows the exact place to find it. He knows where everything is on earth, he sees everything under heaven. After he commanded the winds to blow and measured out the waters, Arranged for the rain and set off explosions of thunder and lightning, He focused on Wisdom, made sure it was all set and tested and ready.
Then he addressed the human race: ‘Here it is! Fear-of-the-Lord—that’s Wisdom and Insight means shunning evil.”(Job 28:12-28 MSG)
This concludes part one of this great subject; “SEEKING THE SWEET AROMAS OF LADY WISDOM!” In lesson two, we will discuss with you the effect Lady Wisdom has upon our ability to provide great leadership within our families. Therefore, we encourage you to come back tomorrow for the conclusion of this powerful study. May you be ENCOURAGED in the Lord as He pours His many blessings out upon you, in Jesus name we pray, AMEN!
Pastor Davis stands in front of his two room school house where his success began. My very first school was located within 500 feet from the house I was born in. Both my Mother and I attended this School which set before me my Challenge to run in my race towards success. This School is located in a small town in Marysville, S.C. Population then and now about 100 people.
ENDURE THE RACE SET BEFORE YOU
By Shirley Rhodes
Life is a race, and we all entered into the racethe day we were born. However, at that very moment we
GOD’S GIFT TO MAN
never had the opportunity to consider it as such. But as we begin the process of growing into maturity and been endowed with power, knowledge, understanding and opportunity, we soon discovered that we were truly in a race. We have been challenged to run in a Race towards Success. When we were brought face to face with this great Challenge, we had to consider where we stood in this race and just how we were going to complete with the competition in a way that we would become a success in all that we did day by day with the tools that we were given from birth.
Before going further, let us considers what this word Success mean to us. First and foremost, Success is a relative term and it is personal and individual. It is your answer to the problem of making your minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years add up to a great life.
Success is harnessing your heart to a task you love to do. It is falling in love with your work. It demands intense concentration on your chief aim in life. It is focusing the full power of all you are on what you have a burning desire to achieve.
Successis ninety-nine per cent mental attitudes. It calls for love, joy, optimism, confidence, serenity, poise, faith, courage, cheerfulness, imagination, initiative, tolerance, honesty, humility, patience and enthusiasm.
THE SEAT OF KNOWLEDGE In this two room School House I began to climb the ladder of Success. Every success story has a beginning and a end. My story began right here, and it is still a story in progress.
Success is having the courage to meet failure without being defeated. It is refusing to let present loss interfere with your long-range goal.
Success is discovering your best talents, skills and abilities and applying them where they will make the most effective contribution to your fellow men. In the words of Longfellow it is “doing what you do well, and doing well whatever you do.”
Now as you contemplate how to endure the Race Set Before you, we suggest that you chose a life centered on the teachings of Jesus. However, in doing so you are certain to come up short a few friends simply because you choose to enter the race that leads to eternity. This race towards success is not to the strongest are to the fastest runner. It however, is to the person that remains focus on Jesus which will enable them to have a calm spirit and the patience to endure the trials and tribulations that are certain to come into their pathway.
Remember these three basic rules:
(1) Joy, what’s going on inside of you, how you present yourself to others; happiness is what’s around us at all times. Sometimes we fail to take time to recognize all the beauty and peace God has provided in nature and others, learn to be thankful for each moment and not take it for granted.
(2) In order to Endure the Race Set Before You, examine your mind set; you must win the fight, put on the whole armor of God mentioned in Ephesians 6:11-18.
(3) There’s a course you must finish, so therefore be faithful where-ever you are, this race is one of endurance; there is a finish you must see and keep, always stay focused and keep your eye on the prize, that prize is Jesus and you will gather strength to Endure the Race Set Before You. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the truth (2 Timothy: 2:15).
Finally, understand this simple truth; there are no secrets of success. Success is doing the things you know you should do. Success is not doing the things you know you should not do. Be encouraged in all that you do. Jesus promised that He will always be with you, He will never leave you are forsake you. Nor would He put on you more than you could ever bear. He will be with you through it all. He always will have your back, and He is challenging you to run this race towards success.
CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD TO LIVE BY FAITH (PART ONE OF TWO)
THE CREATION (PHOTO BY PASTOR DAVIS)
Then God said, “Let us make man[a] in our image, after our likeness. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:26a-27 ESV)
When God created us, he did so in His own image. He equipped us with all the tools necessary for us to survive here on this earth. The five main navigation tools he equipped us with were known as our five senses. They are the sense of smell, the sense of taste, the sense of hearing, the sense of touch and finally the sense of sight. With the five great navigation tools, we can do all things through God who strengthens us. The Bible teaches us that when we learn to use all five of the tools together successfully that nothing shall be impossible unto us. “WHY,” because we were “CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD TO LIVE BY FAITH!”
Now, He didn’t just equip us with these tools and leave us on our own to go out and learn how to operate them. No, he gave us a brand new operational manual to learn from. Just like your new car, your new refrigerator, or microwave, your cell phone or computer. All these toys you purchase, the manufacture sends alone an operational manual. These manufactures learned their lessons from GOD’S OPERATIONAL MANUAL, (THE BIBLE), the greatest operational manual ever known to man.
In that great manual, there is a passage that commands us to study to show ourselves approved. In other words, study and learn from our creator, who he is, and how he can help us to use the tools He has provided for us in order that we may enjoy a healthy, loving, and joyful and prosper life.
Our greatest challenge then becomes for us to learn how to use our five senses in order that we may move into the spiritual realm of life where God Himself lives and operate His world from. You see, as long as we stay on the lower level of life, operating from the prospective of our sight, in other words been guided by what we see is what it is. If we can’t see it, touch it, smell it, or here it’s sound, it doesn’t exist. We are only using our cardinal minds and learned skills to exist.
The universe that we live in is expending more and more every day. However, with our limited sight, we cannot see this. We can only see what our eyes will allow us to see. We are incapable of looking beyond the scope of the great distance that has been build into our sight.
However, when we stop and think about it, we can really see a great distance. Our sight takes in at one view, not onlythe most unbounded prospects on earth, but also the moon, and the other planets, the sun, the fixed stars;though at such an immeasurable distance, that they appear no larger through our finest telescopes than they do to the naked eye.
Therefore, the things that are unseen to us, and we are told that they exist all around us, can become a frighten experience to us. For example; if we are told that other beings exists here on this earth, they live with us daily, they walk the earth just as we do. Without seeing this with our own cardinal eyes, we would have a tenancy to disbelieve this. However, this is truly what happens when we are walking by sight and not by faith.
But what is Faith? In the book of Hebrews it describes faith as, “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ( Hebrews 11:1)”
In other words, It is a “divine” evidence and conviction of things not seen;” of things which are not seen now, whether they are visible or invisible in their own nature. Particularly, it is a divine evidence and conviction of God, and of the things of God.
Without faith, the things that exist beyond our limited imaginations are foreign to us. We are creatures of habit; we live and learn by the things that are always present before our cardinaleyes.
Therefore, we must learn to WALK BY FAITH, and not by SIGHT.” But before we can possibly “WALK BY FAITH,” we must learn to LIVE BY FAITH, and not by SIGHT. And to all real Christian our Lord said, “Because I live, you live also:” You live a life which the world, whether learned or unlearned, “know not of. “You that,” like the world, “were dead in trespasses and sins, hath he quickened,” and made alive; given you new senses, — spiritual senses, — “senses exercised to discern spiritual good and evil.”
“There is nothing in the understanding which was not first perceived by some of the senses.” All the KNOWLEDGE which we naturally have is originally derived from our senses. And therefore those who want any sense cannot have the least KNOWLEDGE or idea of the objects of that sense; as they that never had sight have not the least KNOWLEDGE or conception of LIGHT or colors. We must truly know, that from the very beginning, God planted in our minds the KNOWLEDGE to be able to live by faith, but it was not a given. We first had to except His only begotten son, Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior before we could experience this great walk in life. However, let us understand this one very important fact, and that is this, we were “CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD TO LIVE BY FAITH!”
This concludes lesson one of a two part series. In lesson two we will teach on the subject title, “HOW DO WE DO IT!” (HOW TO LIVE BY FAITH)”
Imagination is the ability to form mental images, phonological passages, analogies, or narratives of something that is not perceived through our senses. Imagination is a manifestation of our memory and enables us to scrutinize our past and construct hypothetical future scenarios that do not yet, but could exist. Imagination also gives us the ability to see things from other points of view and empathize with others.
Imagination extends our experience and thoughts, enabling a personal construction of a world view that lowers our sense of uncertainty. In this way our imagination fills in the gaps within our knowledge enabling us to create mental maps that make meaning out of the ambiguities of situations we face where information is lacking, which is an important function of our memory management. Imagination enables us to create new meanings from cognitive cues or stimuli within the environment, which on occasions can lead to new insights.
Our knowledge and personal goals are embedded within our imagination which is at the heart of our existence, a cognitive quality that we would not be human without. Imagination is the means novelists use to create their stories. Imagination is the essence of marketing opportunity that conjures up images and entices fantasy to consumers, allowing them to feel what it would be like to live at Sanctuary Cove in Northern Queensland, Australia, receiving a Citibank loan, driving a Mercedes 500 SLK around town, or holidaying in Bali. Imagination decomposes what already is, replacing it with what could be, and is the source of hope fear, enlightenment, and aspirations.
Imagination is not a totally conscious process. New knowledge may incubate subconsciously when a person has surplus attention to focus on recombining memory and external stimuli into new meanings. Most people tend to spend a great deal of time while they are awake ”daydreaming”. This may be enough to activate our default network, a web of autobiographical mental imagery, which may provide new connections and perspectives about a problem we have been concerned with.
Unguided imagination through dreaming and ”daydreaming” enables the gathering of information from different parts of our memory, which may not be easy to access consciously. This information may come from a within a narrow domain or a much wider field. The more imagination takes account of the wider field, experience, and prior knowledge, the more likely these ideas created through imagination will have some originality – through complex knowledge restructuring. Creative insight occurs mostly as the result of triggers and slow incubation periods that lead to a revelation.
It is through the imagery of analogies that many breakthroughs in science have been achieved. Einstein developed his insight for the theory of relativity through imagining what would happen if he travelled at the speed of light, Faraday claimed to have visualized force lines from electric and magnetic fields from a wood fire giving insight into the theory of electromagnetic fields and kekulé reported that he gained insight into the shape of the benzene molecule after he imagined a snake coiled up in a circle.
We will conclude part 2 of this lesson in tomorrow’s study session, by describing the 8 multidimensional concepts of Imagination.
The Bible is the most important pool of knowledge that we have at our disposal. When God created us and sent us into this world, he did not send us here without the proper tools for us to learn how to survive and live out a righteous and joyful life. He gave us HIS WORD, as He inspired us to write it and place it in 66 different books which we now call the Bible. THE BIBLE IS OUR ROAD MAP, which will provide us with all the knowledge and power we will ever need to learn how to live out our lives in peace and prosperity.
In the first and second chapters of Genesis there are two accounts of the creation. In the first, most often quoted the order of creation places man as the final or ultimate creation. The second account places man in the primary position of creation, followed by the plant and animal realms.
The apparent conflict here need not in any way detract from the importance, significance, and validity of Scripture, but rather it can open for us a whole new vista of awareness that can assist us in our quest for awareness of Truth. Bible scholars all pretty well agreed that the Scriptures as a whole (and these early passages in Genesis in particular) are the product of more than one human vehicle expressing out of his own inspiration. The infinite intelligence that is God inspires the receptive consciousness with truth, and that truth is then expressed according to the consciousness, or degree of awareness, of the vehicle.
Therefore, let us understand what we mean when we say that THE BIBLE IS A ROAD MAP. The Bible is, when rightly understood, the story of the unfolding of the consciousness of man. Because it comes to us out of antiquity, having been translated again and again by many levels of consciousness, from one language to another and from one culture to another, it is often difficult to be able to interpret Scripture and relate it to our everyday experience.
However, Scripture reveals the evolution of the consciousness of man, from his origin in the Mind of God to his full willed and willful realization of Himself as God, as manifest in the Christ incarnate. Because of the awe of the Bible in which we stand, we will continue to return to it again and again until our expanding awareness causes it to reveal all its great insights. Our path on the journey to willed Self-awareness can be made clearer from time to time when we see THE BIBLE AS A ROAD MAP, which has led others before us. Perhaps the symbols on the map are not always clear to us, but if we keep returning to the proven value of the map, it will give up to us the insights that we are ready to grasp.
Two Different points of view (Photo by Shirley Rhodes)
THE SMALL MINDED PERSON AND THE LARGE HEARTED PERSON
Let us consider for a moment the person whose mind is unsuspecting, generous, and magnanimous. How wondrous and beautiful is that person’s world, for they are conscious of some kind of nobility in all creatures and beings. They see others as true, and to them they are true.
However, in their presence the meanest forget their nature, and for the moment become like them, getting a glimpse, albeit confused, in that temporary uplifting, of a higher order of things, of an immeasurably nobler and happier life.
Now when we really consider the facts, we find that the small-minded person and this large-hearted person live in two different worlds, though they are neighbors, family and friends. Their consciousness embraces totally different principles. Their actions are each the reverse of the other. Their moral insight is contrary. They each look out upon a different order of things. Their mental spheres are separate, and, like two detached circles, they never mingle.
The truth of the matter is this, one is in hell, the other in heaven, as truly as they will ever be, and death will not place a greater gulf between them than the one that already exists. To the one, the world is a den of thieves; to the other, it is the dwelling-place of gods.
How totally different can their actions really be, we see it in this manner; one keeps a revolver handy, and is always on their guard against being robbed or cheated and at the same time, (unconscious of the fact that they are all the time robbing and cheating them self), the other keeps ready a banquet for the best. They throw open their doors to talent, beauty, genius, goodness. Their friends are of the aristocracy of character. They have become a part of themselves. They are in their sphere of thought, their world of consciousness. From their heart pours forth nobility, and it returns to them tenfold in the multitude of those who love them and do them honor. This is the life of, “THE SMALL MINDED PERSON AND THE LARGE HEARTED PERSON!”
Now that you have read my view point on this matter, please allow me to conclude it with what the bible teaches us concerning these two very different people. Remember, these two people live with us every day. They are our neighbor, our friends, our family, our co-workers, our business associates and so many others. But let us always remember to stand on the side of truth, and righteousness and when we understand and except God’s word as truth and the fact that it will never lie, then our conscious mind will bring us into the knowledge and power that it provides an opportunity to make those necessary changes in our lives that can propel us to higher grounds. It is a new way of thinking, acting, and living as God has purposed us to do so.
The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked
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; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditatesday and night. 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. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. (Psalm 1ESV).
Now let us learn to walk in “THE WAY OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND NOT IN THE WAY OF THE WICKED.”
HOW WE CAN HELP TO OVERCOME ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE
WRITTEN BY MINISTER SHIRLEY RHODES
ALCOHOL and DRUG abuse are usually two addictions that come to mind when addictions are discussed. Although we can take normal and healthy parts of life and abuse them as well, such as food, people’ SEXUAL ACTIVITY and our FAITH as means of avoiding or addressing the root cause of the problems, these issues may result in anger, pain and grief if we don’t work through these feelings. This puts us at risk of using SUBSTANCES, activities or people to avoid the real issues, and that is, “HOW WE CAN HELP TO OVERCOME ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE!”
Known as psychoactive substances; ALCOHOL (which is legal), and others which are illegal impact and alter our moods, our emotions, and interfere with our thought process and behavior.
When a person is under influence of any DRUGS, the mood to act may at some point produce negative effects on our children as well as society. Dependency is a matter that few will seek help on their own; without some type intervention may eventually find themselves at the “end of the rope” and do not know where to turn. Here are some of the facts, click on this video clip and watch:
First and foremost there must be a realization or admission that there is a problem, and the desire for intervention. When we operate in life with clear thoughts or patterns we can easily lose hope, therefore the process begins with retraining how we think and disassociation of source.
Applying biblical principles offer means for strength, encouragement and an environment where you are seen as a person with a weakness and have come to the knowledge that with the positive environment and support systems you can become an over-comer in your life. Off-course the process is usually not one of simplicity but with will and determination all things are possible. We are all created beings in the image of God and he showers us with all of the love and understanding we need once we’re able to think in terms of grace and mercy which no man can give.
Thou will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee (Isaiah 26:3-KJV). People with their minds set on you, you keep completely whole, steady on their feet, because they keep at it because in the Lord God you have a sure thing. (26: 3-4-Mgs)
Guard your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23).
I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHICH STRENGTHEN ME (Philippians 4:13). This means that you as a parent now know without a shadow of doubt that, “SUBSTANCE ABUSE CAN HAVE A GREAT IMPACT ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.” Your child is seen as a person with a weakness and have come to the knowledge that with the positive environment that you will help to create and the support systems, in which your child can become an over-comer in their life, and once again rise up to the many challenges of living out their individual lives as a fully functioning and productive citizen of the family and community once again.
We encourage all of you who will have the opportunity to read and study this lesson to know that we all are harmed when our love ones become addictive to ALCHOLIC and DRUGS, and it is the responsibility of all to become engaged and be empowered with the truth and knowledge of what it is, how it is harming the individual as well as the family and community at large. When we do this, we then can begin to have an impact on the devil’s rule over the lives of the abusers and begin to take down his kingdom stone by stone. God has given us the power over the Devil’s rule; now let us begin to use that power to transform our love one’ back into whole productive citizens. We can do this in the name of Jesus and the devil will flee from us. Then we all will have learn one very important lesson, “HOW WE CAN HELP TO OVERCOME ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE.” AMEN!
God‘s Marvelous Light Show us the way to SELF-CONTROL (Photo by Pastor Davis) Studying God’s word allows us to obtain knowledge of who God is, who we are and who we are in God.
The Bible commands us to study to show ourselves approved; when we do this we reflect a wiliness to be obedient to God, thereby placing ourselves in a position in knowing that, “OBTAINING A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD LEADS TO SELF CONTROL!”
Studying God’s word allows us to obtain knowledge of who God is, who we are and who we are in God. When we are able to gain such critical knowledge, and then begin to act on that knowledge, it leads us steady to having SELF-CONTROL over every aspect of our daily lives.
SELF CONTROL is one of the fruits of the Spirit; SELF-CONTROL refers to mastery over sinful human desires in every aspect of our life. The Greeks considered this a highly prized virtue. Their focus, of course, was entirely on self-effort, but the problem was that self-effort always fails in the long run because it may control the body but does not affect inward desires.
Therefore, the WORD OF GOD speaks to us and says, “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.” (2 Peter 1:5-7 ESV)
The quality of SELF-CONTROL must then lead to patient endurance, the ability to steadfastly endure suffering or evil without giving up one’s faith. Endurance is not a stoic indifference to whatever fate allows; rather, it springs from faith in God’s goodness and control over all that happens in believer’s lives.
Such endurance leads to godliness, this is another word that is unusual to the New Testament, but common to Greek ethics lists of that day, we see that Paul emphasized godliness in the Pastoral Epistles as being the virtue that should characterize the life and conduct of the believers. Godliness was the primary word for “religion” and referred to a person’s correct attitudes toward God and people, usually referring to performing obligatory duties. Here we discover in 1st Peter the word describes an awareness of God in all of life – a lifestyle that exemplifies Christ and is empowered by him (the same word is used in (1st Peter 1:3).
We as Christians and believers must have a right relationship with God and right relationships with fellow believers. The false teachers claimed such “godliness,” but were sadly lacking in reverence toward God and in good attitudes toward others. For all believers, it is a requirement that if we want to obtain SELF-CONTROL over all aspects of our lives, we must work hard to prove that we really are among those God has called and chosen to reflect His teachings and training to overcome SELF. Pause your thoughts and reading for a few minutes and watch this short video clip teaching on SELF-CONTROL.
Now listen to how Paul describes to us how he trained to gain SELF-CONTROL over his physical body. He says, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” (1 Corinthians (9:24-27 ESV).
In closing, I tell you that every believer should be putting out the kind of effort for the reward of God’s Kingdom that an athlete puts out to merely win a wreath. In order to do so, it requires you to develop SELF-CONTROL and practice SELF-CONTROL daily.
Now let us learn the lesson of SELF-CONTROL that Paul teaches us in this Scripture, because he practiced what he preached. He had to live by the gospel and therefore he practiced self-denial like the athletes just described in this Scripture. Paul did not run the race aimlessly, nor was he like a boxer who misses his punches. Instead, he kept his eyes focused on the goal, running straight for it, with purpose in every step. He did not allow himself to be sidetracked and he did not waste time becoming lazy. He kept on, disciplining and training his body.
Paul pictured life as a battle. We as Believers must not become lazy for Satan seeks to cause us to stumble, sin continues to buffet, and sorrow and pain are a daily reality. Instead of being bound by our bodies, we as believers must diligently discipline ourselves in our Christians lives in order to stay “in shape.” When we truly learn to do this, we will be in the process of learning the truth and that is, “OBTAINING A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD LEADS TO SELF CONTROL!”
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FREEDOM IS YOURS IF YOU DESIRE TO HAVE IT
Remember this one truth, if you remember nothing else in your life, and that is this, “FREEDOM IS YOURS IF YOU DESIRE TO HAVE IT!” In the past you have allowed yourself to live in captive, drug down, stepped on, and the invisible yoke of bondage put around your neck, and the heavy bondage of life worries placed upon your back. You walked around with your head hung down, your shoulders bent over, and afraid to look up and experience the beauty and joy of all that God had provided for you. The thief came in the front door and stole all the love and joy away from you. You were unable to hold onto your job, and therefore all your earthly goods and everything that you had perceived as good was stolen away from you.
Now you are suffering from a lack of determination, no energy and fight left in you to be able to take back what was stolen. Jesus has warned you that the thief was going to do this. However, you allowed your mind to set idle, doing nothing good for yourself, becoming a couch potato with the T.V. remote pointing and flicking from channel to channel and the cell phone constantly dialing and gossiping about who is sleeping with who.
Now listen to the truth of Jesus words as he was warning the people, “Jesus told this simple story, but the people had no idea what he was talking about. So he tried again. “I’ll be explicit, then. I am the Gate for the sheep. All those others are up to no good—sheep stealers, every one of them. But the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for—will freely go in and out, and find pasture. A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.”
“I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd puts the sheep before himself, sacrifices himself if necessary. A hired man is not a real shepherd. The sheep mean nothing to him. He sees a wolf come and runs for it, leaving the sheep to be ravaged and scattered by the wolf. He’s only in it for the money. The sheep don’t matter to him. (John 10:10-12 MSG).
Your life is worth more to Jesus than a job with the money you will earn to pay your bills. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He is the one that will preserve your mind from the idle thoughts that allows the thief to enter in and still and kill you. Haven’t you allowed him to do enough damage to you? Listen up, “FREEDOM IS YOURS IF YOU DESIRE TO HAVE IT!”
Now as we conclude this word of truth, it is my hope that this word has stirred up a passion in your soul and given you new life to begin a new way of thinking and living, allow Jesus to have the final word that can make you whole and bring truth and salvation to your soul. Here then are the words of Jesus. “Now that you’ve cleaned up your lives by following the truth, love one another as if your lives depended on it. Your new life is not like your old life. Your old birth came from mortal sperm; your new birth comes from God’s living Word. Just think: a life conceived by God himself! That’s why the prophet said, “The old life is a grass life,
its beauty as short-lived as wildflowers; Grass dries up, flowers droop, God’s Word goes on and on forever. This is the Word that conceived the new life in you. (1 Peter 1:22-25 MSG)
After this Jesus spoke and then gave us the greatest commandment of all, and this is what he said, “And you shall love the Lord your God out of and with your whole heart and out of and with all your soul (your life) and out of and with all your mind (with your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength. This is the first and principal commandment.
The Second Is Like It and Is This, You Shall Love Your Neighbor as Yourself. There Is No Other Commandment Greater Than These. (Mark 12:30-31 AMP)
Now my brothers and sisters, it is with great joy that I am thrill beyond my own imagination that you have comprehended what has been taught here and you will use it to your benefit to rise above where you are right now to the level God is trying to push you to be. I urge you to think globally and work locally. I minister to you today from a position of peace, power, purpose and prosperity because; this is the Word that conceived the new life in you, and “FREEDOM IS YOURS IF YOU DESIRE TO HAVE IT!”
THE TIME IS NOW TO CONFIRM GOD’S INVITATION TO YOU
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV)
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall, For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:5-11 ESV).
So, friends, confirm God’s invitation to you, his choice of you. Don’t put it off; DO IT NOW. Do this, and you’ll have your life on a firm footing, the streets paved and the way wide open into the eternal kingdom of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:10-11 MSG)
04/18/2013
PASTOR DAVIS/MASTER TEACHER
