The period of the Feast of Tabernacles is very rich and deep in spiritual meaning for us. It is a statute that Moses received from the Lord in the wilderness. “Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them.” (Exodus 25:8, NAS) We understand that from the beginning it was God’s plan to have a Tabernacle …
Last week I brought a practical message about why we celebrate the Biblical Feasts. It is not about do’s and don’ts, it is about relationships and God’s Unchanging Love. This will not work in isolation, but in our unity. We need to receive and be a channel of God’s unchanging love to one another.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
I express the need for us to worship. Worship is the most important thing we can do because it is what God is looking for. It is not about engaging in a religious routine, but rather entering into an intimate relationship with our Father. “God is spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:24
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
I believe it is so important for us to always be aware of our spirits and of how we are growing and moving in what God has given us. I often ask myself these questions: “How am I walking with God?” or “Am I applying God’s word in my life in a practical way?”
I would like to share a practical thing we can all do as we grow and mature in our relationship with our Father. Focus your spirit in praising the Lord and being thankful in all things. “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18). This is a principle that works in all areas of our lives. It will keep our spirits anchored in the word God. When we practice this attitude we create our own immunity, keeping our spirits engaged and in tune with the Holy Spirit.
When we exercise this principle we will avoid complaining, criticism, and the bad habit of giving voice to negativity. Focusing our spirits on expressions of faith and love towards God and our neighbors. We read in Proverbs 16:32 that “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.” This is a verse I have memorized and it keeps me accountable for watching over how I react to things I hear and see.
One practical way to maintain this control and rule over our spirits is to be careful with what we say. Even if things are not going the way we expect, murmuring and complaining will never solve the issue. Too often our first reactions are negative and can lead us to have regrets, but if we pause and take control of our reactions we can avoid letting simple incidents ruin our day and atmosphere.
Here are some more passages that I read while I was meditating about this. I pray it may help you in a very practical way.
“Like a city that is broken into and without walls is a man who has no control over his spirit” (Proverbs 25:28).
“A fool always loses his temper, but a wise man holds it back” (Proverbs 29:11).
“If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless” (James 1:26).
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1).
James 3:5-12
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
I explain Jesus’ teaching from Luke 10. Jesus reminded the disciples that the first and foremost commandments are to love the lord your God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. Trying to justify who is or is not our neighbor is an excuse to not do what we are supposed to. When walls of division come down and we remember that being right is never more important than our relationships we can see that everyone is our neighbor.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
We are approaching the time of the Feast of Tabernacles. As Christians, we do not only celebrate it in remembrance of what God did in the past, but we also anticipate the fulfillment of what God is doing during the Feast of Tabernacles today. We believe that there are truths hidden in plain sight in the Scriptures, but we also …
I bring a message about God’s love for us. We need to open our hearts and receive God’s love which surpasses knowledge and is filled with strength and power. Once we become rooted in God’s love and fully accept it, nothing can separate us from it.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
We are being led to move through relationships. God allowed Elijah to live in isolation but then required him to find someone that would be his provision. There will be no growth and maturity without the body coming together with every joint supplying what they have received and opening up to receive from others also (Ephesians 4:11-16). We can relate …
I continue teaching about God’s unconditional love for us as expressed in Luke 15. Wherever we are, we can choose to return to our loving Father and he will greet us with open arms.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
In the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-31), Jesus describes three ways of thinking: how we think about ourselves when we have done something wrong, how we think about ourselves when we have done something right, and how God thinks about us.
The younger brother knew he had messed up but he chose to return to his father’s house and beg to work as a slave. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him” (Luke 15:20). There was no hesitation from the father. The moment he saw his son he began expressing his love. God is this loving father. It does not matter how much of our inheritance we waste, or how long we wander without Him, the moment we take a step and return to Him, He will run to us with loving arms. He will clothe us with the robes of his nature, give us his ring with authority, place new sandals on our feet so we can learn to walk in a new way, and kill the fattened calf for our abundant joy. When we come before the Lord He has the best for us, He is not holding anything back.
The older brother thought he was doing everything right. He worked diligently to please his father and earn his inheritance. However, when he spoke to his father he had a slave mentality. He was jealous and angry because his brother got a party when he didn’t, but it was never his father who limited him. The father’s response was the same for both sons, “All that is mine is yours.” No matter what you think you did, or have to do, to deserve the Fathers love, you are wrong. The only thing you have to do is come before Him. All that the Father has is yours.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
I expound on the oneness of the early church as described in Acts 2 through 5. Our drive to walk in love and oneness is a key to bringing forth the restoration which is taking place in the church today.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
“and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. ” (Ephesians 3:19, NAS) I have been living in this verse for a while now and there are two things that come to my mind: one is that the love of Christ surpasses knowledge, which means that I …
I dive into what it means to be a Christian. When we refer to ourselves as Christians, we should think of ourselves as anointed ones being sent on a mission to love one another. We receive God’s love for us through Christ and reflect that love to those around us.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
I expand on my explanation of the sower and the seed parable from Luke 8. The soil has to be prepared to receive the seed of the word from God. If we prepare our hearts to receive the word, then it can be planted and activated in our lives.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
Seeds have an amazing ability to retain and preserve their quality and ability to reproduce and multiply. Seeds kept for years still retain the same untouched qualities they had generations past. I have heard of some 2,000-year-old seeds that germinated. They can not only reproduce the same DNA—the qualities of what they are—but they can reproduce it in great quantity. …
I explain the parable from Jesus Christ about the sower and the seed in Luke 8. The seed that is spoken of in this parable is relating to the word from God that we hear. How we listen to and use the word will determine if it bears fruit.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
We should have abundant life and be in a constant process of growing in our love for the Father and for each other. But then the question is: how can we do this? I think that the most important thing is to consistently connect back to our first love (Revelation 2:4). Think back to the first experience you had with …
Is it better to be disillusioned or to live in illusions? We easily build illusions about God and what we think He should do for us and in the world around us. When we walk with God we have to be seeking Him and studying His word, and we must do it with the Holy Spirit as he guides us …
There were several times throughout Christ’s ministry where He received an impartation of God’s spirit and love. (Matt 3:16-17, Matt 17:5) These experiences equipped Him to do the will of His Father. The disciples were likewise equipped in order to fulfill the commission they received in Matt 28:19-20 to make disciples of the nations. In Luke 24:29 Jesus told them …
As we approach the time of the Feast of Passover we are filled with anticipation to celebrate it as a family. The Feast of Passover is inexhaustible in its significance for us today because it represents the love and drive of God to see His people delivered from any obligation so they can come to worship Him only. During the first …
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10, NLT). God is a loving Father who created mankind out of a desire to have a relationship. He longed to have sons that would give their lives in worship to Him. Although …
The scriptures teach us that we are to believe for the kingdom coming on this earth; Jesus taught us to pray to our Father this way: “Your Kingdom Come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Christ also said that the kingdom is like a leaven that leavens the whole lump of dough (Matthew 13:33). The …
We are approaching the time of the Feast of Tabernacles. As Christians, we do not only celebrate it in remembrance of what God did in the past, but we also anticipate the fulfillment of what God is doing during the Feast of Tabernacles today. We believe that there are truths hidden in plain sight in the Scriptures, but we also …
When we study and celebrate the Old Testament Feasts we are not looking back to something that God did in the past. We are actually looking into the future and anticipating what God promised that He would do during the time we are living now. Leading up to the Feast of Tabernacles we observe the Feast of Trumpets from Sundown …
As we approach the time of the Feast of Tabernacles we reflect on the time when the people of Israel experienced the presence of God with them for forty years. That time was prophetic and a type of the days of the Kingdom of God on earth (Deuteronomy 8:4). We also think about the coming of Jesus Christ as the …
God is looking for us to be His worshippers, but we don’t do anything without discipline. We must set our will on God and discipline ourselves to pray and worship. We invite the Holy Spirit to enable us so that it is not just a mechanical ritual but an expression of our relationship with the Father and a meaningful offering …
I have been meditating on one verse for the last week. The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But victory belongs to the LORD (Proverbs 21:31). In my mind I started to think about all the details that are necessary to prepare a horse for a battle, or even a competition. It takes years to prepare a horse, …
Whenever I read the Scriptures, I want to try and understand what really happened by placing myself in the story. For instance, at the coming of Christ many people were fed, healed, and resurrected (Luke 7:20-23). Out of the thousands that had some contact with Him, only one hundred and twenty were together on the Day of Pentecost. It bothers …
Today it is very easy to find information about everything. Everyone has something to say about anything. More and more people rely upon their knowledge and understanding, and yet we are told to trust the Lord. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). But, trust must be based on …
We have been studying the life of David and how he had to be anointed three times to finally become the king of Israel (1 Sam. 16:12; 2 Sam. 2:4; 5:1). When Samuel first anointed David he was still a young boy, but the plan of God for his life was established. David went through a period where it did …
