DEC-2015
Will You Let The Spirit Speak?
But when they deliver you up, take no though how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. (Matthew 10:19-20)
Too many times, we allow our witness to be weakened when we allow our flesh to speak verses trusting and surrendering to the spirit. Every born again believer have a responsibility to represent the Kingdom of God in everything we do and say. In our daily interactions with both saved and unsaved individuals we must make sure that we do not allow our flesh to forsake our purpose. The bible says the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. When you are confronted with a calamity, or challenged with a problem that frustrates are angers you what will you do? "Will you Let the Spirit speak?
Jesus advised his disciples that they will encounter persecution, harassment and circumstances where we will be ridiculed. In the midst of whatever uncomfortable and even ungodly situations,, how will the people of God respond? Will we respond to vulgarity and unrighteousness by being vulgar and doing things that we know is not right? If our friends, fellow church member, or even our family, allow themselves to be influenced by the world, will we also become worldly when dealing with them? The text suggest Jesus gives the disciples a divine commitment that if they will not allow their flesh to take control, the spirit will be present.
Not only will the spirit be present, but it will speak for us. Jesus told the disciples in the book of John that the comforter would come and would remind us of all things that he has taught. If we will allow our spirit man to have control it will always speak with power, purpose and godliness. The spirit will always represent the Father. "Will you Let the Spirit speak?
Pastor SP Courtney
Will You Let Him have your whole heart?
I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will show forth all thy marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most high which speaketh in you. (Psalm 9:1-2)
Everyday millions and millions of folk who profess to be Christians, children of the most high God find themselves committing to all kinds of people, places, activities and circumstances. When you joined your fraternity, sorority, when you played sports in high school, college or just at the neighborhood recreation center you did your best to give your all. You poured your sweat, your time and in most cases your resources into many areas of your life. However, the question remains, how much of yourself have you given all of yourself to Jesus? "Will You Let Him have your Whole Heart?
The Psalmist in this Psalm of thanksgiving makes it known publicly that he is in full praise mode, and his confidence in the Lord keeping him in the midst of his enemy was evident. The root word in the Hebrew text suggest that the whole heart represented both the will and the intellect, or the center of anything. Perhaps every believer should ask am I giving God my whole heart? Am I giving him my will, that I might do His will? Are we giving him our mind, that we might think more like Christ, and let this mind that is in Christ be in us also. The Psalmist offers a praise with all of his being, a praise that revealed to all, the marvelous works of the master.
Partial praise, and periodic prayer are obstacles and hindrances to God's people. We must submit to our heavenly father a praise that involves our mind, body and soul. We must give him all of our faith, our fears, our hopes and our dreams! "Will you Let Him have your Whole heart?
Will You Say No to Fear?
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. (Luke 1:30)
It perhaps the most crippling and debilitating emotion that humans experience. Fear is an attack of the enemy with the expectation that even if they cannot stop us they can definitely slow us down. When the Israelite spies returned with their report they were afraid of the people of Anak because of their size. As a result they spent 40 years in the wilderness. Many did not see the promise land because of their fear. The disciples struggled in the storm against the winds, the waves and the rain, so they went down in the bow of the ship and shook Jesus and ask, Master, carest thou not that we perish? Jesus calmed the storm and then chastised them by saying, "O ye of little faith! While I know these were difficult circumstances, we must remind ourselves that God did not give us the spirit of fear! "Will You Say No to Fear?
Mary had a reason to be nervous and to be startled as the Angel approached her. However, her circumstances are not our circumstances. Most of our fears are related to things we either have not encountered or things that are perceived to be bigger than us. Yet, the bible is clear in the book of Proverbs saying, Trust in the Lord, and lean not on your own understanding which suggest that whatever we are facing, our faith should conquer our fears because we are not relying on our ability, or our capacity but rather we are trusting in Him. Every believer should be confident in the privilege and the power within them through their relationship with Christ. I cannot fear my faults, for there is no failure in trying. I cannot fear my dreams, for there is no fear in seeing a better tomorrow. I cannot fear my past, for it is not who I am today, yet embracing it reminds me of how far God has brought me! "Will you say No to Fear?
Pastor SP Courtney
Will You Be His Witness in 2016?
"And then they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child." -Luke 1:17
In a few more days we will reach the end of 2015 and many will make preparations to enter into 2016 by making certain resolutions, promises commitments to make significant changes in our lives. As you consider these changes, I want to challenge you to consider your kingdom responsibility and honestly evaluate your level of commitment to being a witness for the Lord in 2015. Perhaps you had a good year, and you accomplish some good things, can you point to a person or a group of people who heard your testimony? Did you represent Christ in such a way that someone else witnessed His life in you? "Will You Be His Witness in 2016?
The Shepherd's referenced in Luke chapter one were impacted when the Angelic Host told them about the baby being born in Bethlehem. After going and witnessing that everything they were told had come true the Shepherds made a commitment to make known what the angel had said. That unto them on this day a savior was born and He is Christ the Lord. And the believer should be confident in the privilege and I know Christ did something to make Himself known in your life. It is my belief we all leave power within them through their relationship with Christ. I cannot fear my with a testimony that God is still God and that He is still doing great work in our lives and we still have great work to do here on earth. Our assignment in 2016, our commitment to do something different should be a commitment to tell more people, to witness more about the goodness of our God. "Will You Be His Witness in 2016?
Because of Calvary,
Pastor Stuart P. Courtney
