Matthew 5:13-16 Are You the Salt and the Light?

^{Prayer for Today}

Father, I worship you and give YOUR Name the praise. For you alone are worthy of all the praise. I invite you to step in this place and take control. I submit to Your will, Your Word and Way. Holy Spirit direct my steps and guide me on my way. What is it that I can do for You, the Body of Christ and the Kingdom today.

Father, help me stay in my lane. You called me to be the salt and set me apart as a light. Don't let me lose my saltiness or allow my light go dim. Led me to the places YOU have prepared for me to enter, set my feet on that path, fix my eyes and ears to see and hear as I submit my entire body as a living sacrifice for Your use.

Today's Key to Walking in the Spirit

Questions: Who have you salted or brought light to today? Are you the salt and the light?

After Jesus taught the beatitudes to the multitudes He immediately preached to them about squandering their blessings. Apparently the mass mentality of the day was much like the masses today in that we are unaware of the power we have in being the salt and light. The key for today is simple, become aware you are the salt and the light. Act like it. (Note: if you are the salt and the light it goes without saying. It simply apparent.)

Thought for Today

As I studied this Word, I experienced an ah ha moment. Literally, my brain went ding-ding!!! Salt and light have a specific purpose to be salt and light. If you were to get a box of Morton Salt and season your food, then taste that same food only to discover it had no flavor--you would throw box away. For salt without favor is useless. Likewise, you without God's purpose would be useless. We all have a God purpose. I do mean all. Good, bad, or indifferent there is a God purpose for your life.  It is up to you to be aware of what it is.  Similarly, light that doesn't shed light is useless. Imagine flipping the on switch for a lamp that did not illuminate the room. How quickly would get another bulb that worked?Why then do we stay in lifestyles that don't work and add nothing to God's purpose? Why, do we toil when the Father created us to tend? We missed the purpose of being so blessed just like the multitudes Jesus strategically positioned in that day to see how blessed they were   You must understand God's uses your situations to align you His plan and purpose. However, if you remain unaware it is because you have not bothered to study to show yourself a workman that can rightly divide the Truth, so you continue without.

For demonstration sake let's look at the message in Beatitude Sermon (Matthew 5:2-12 NIV), I boldfaced text to emphasize. If, you truly believed the Word of God, you would never doubt you have a purpose, reason for being and something to do. That is to be the salt and the light to bless others. That's not complicated.

The Beatitudes

    He said:

   ³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
   for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
   for they will be comforted. 
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
   for they will inherit the earth. 
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
   for they will be filled. 
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
   for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
   for they will see God. 
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
   for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
   for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

   ¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

When circumstances and troubles arise they position for blessings. You must be aware of  the power and strength in knowing you obtain the rewards: the kingdom of heaven, called the children of God, great reward, mercy, comfort, and filling etc. So when, they who are struggling without God and  have not experienced the blessings of God get exposed to your saltiness and the light radiating from you, they come, seek, knock and ask and they obtain. 

I Dare You to be the salt and the light.

Today's Scripture Reading (Matthew 5: 13-16 NIV)

  ¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

   ¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Mug Jasmin's Blessings

Mug Jasmin's Blessings

Luke 18:43 & Luke 19:3 Lord, Help Me I Cannot See

^{Prayer for Today}

Father, I worship you and give YOUR Name the praise. For you alone are worthy of all the praise. I invite you to step in this place and take control. I submit to Your will, Your Word and Way. Holy Spirit direct my steps and guide me on my way. What is it that I can do for You, the Body of Christ and the Kingdom today.

Father, my prayer today is that we may see. Lord, Help Us to See! Lord, Help Us to Look and See! Oh, that we may see as you see and look as you look. Deliver us for the thing(s) that hinders our ability to see. Remove the scales from our eyes. Guide us with Your eyes; give Father that prophetic eye. Fix our gaze toward heaven, allow us to speak in the world and declare Your Word. Oh, that we may live and be holy even as you are holy.

Today's Key to Walking in the Spirit

Question: 

Are you aware your life is being watched? What are others seeing and looking when they watch you?

Our ability to see (spiritually and naturally discern) is a powerful key to praying and walking in the spirit. We need to possess seeing eyes that not only see but look. Seeing is visually discerning. However, looking is the act of turning one's gaze towards or calling one's attention toward someone or something. Our ability to visually discern (recognize) does not necessarily mean we possess the ability to look (call attention to) or vice versa. Isaiah 6:9-10 and Mark 4:12 tells why our ability to see and hear are vital parts of our spiritual walk. Mark 4:12 says, "they may be ever seeing but never perceiving," the two do not automatically co-exist. Though the do not automatically co-exist they can be developed and fine tuned. It is vital to develop sight so we can turn and be forgiven.

Thought for Today

Now, let's look at two men who visually impairments that disabled them. Blind Begging Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) and Zacchaeus, the rich Chief Tax Collector/sinner. I want you see (recognize) that I have deliberately labeled and described Bartimaeus and Zacchaeus. I am going call your attention to their physical location-Jericho. Jericho is the land of promise, it is the first city captured and destroyed by the Israelites and Joshua (Joshua 6). It is this land in which God miraculously gives His chosen people (recall how the walls of this fortified city crumbled with a shout.)  They utterly destroyed Jericho, all the inhabitants saved Rahab, the harlot (ancestor of Jesus) and her family. Joshua cursed anyone who would venture to rebuild it. However, Jericho appears to have significant prominence in the Bible as a place of restoration, spiritual miracles, and activity for Jesus.

Let me call your attention to a fact, both Bartimaeus and Zacchaeus attained some notoriety in the town of Jericho. Both were known to the people. Both had physical impairments that prevented them from seeing Jesus. Bartimaeus and Zacchaeus had both heard Jesus was passing their way. Both had to take some action to turn towards Jesus. Bartimaeus lacked the ability to see, so he yelled and screamed.  Zacchaeus, a very short man, climbed up a tree to see Jesus without obstruction. These men discerned they needed to see. Both position himself strategically to achieve their objective--seeing. Both Bartimaeus and Zacchaeus are one among a throng of people yet Jesus is completely of aware of their presence. These men's pressing need to see caused Jesus' to look at their situation and grant their request. Both men received total restoration. Their restoration is a turning point or tipping point for the masses. What Jesus does for them turned the entire crowd towards restoration and relationship with God.

Finally, let's look and see the crowd. Notice the crowd is also aware and awaiting Jesus. However, their awareness and anticipation are not the things that bring restoration or relationship with God to them. As you read the text. you will see there are those in the crowd that allow their attention to be called away. Some even take the time to chastise Bartimaeus assisting that he shut. Others in the crowd whispered about the sins of Zacchaeus. The vast majority never knew that what Jesus would do for Bartimaeus and Zacchaeus would bring deliverance to them. Lord, help us to look and see.

Today's Scripture Reading (Luke 18:43 NIV)

Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

John 4 & 5 Your Jesus Encounter

^{Prayer for Today}

Father, I worship you and give YOUR Name the praise. For you alone are worthy of all the praise. I invite you to step in this place and take control. I submit to Your will, Your Word and Way. Holy Spirit direct my steps and guide me on my way. What is it that I can do for You, the Body of Christ and the Kingdom today.

Father, how I pray for our encounters with you to be more about loving and worshiping YOU! I don't won't to only experience you and our relationship through a dreary, droning monologue prayer session. I want rest in your arms, feel your embrace and hear that still small voice that let me know I have been with you. I seek to spend quality time in your presence that ministers to our bond. You have transformed, translated us in a blink of eye and we are desiring to be everything you want us to be now and forever.

Today's Key to Walking in the Spirit 

There is a spiritual key that unlocks the power of relationship building in the Kingdom. Jesus knew this. As we study the Word of God, we understand it is all about relationships and man's capacity to relate. Unfortunately, very few truly know or appreciate relationship matters--truly all relationship do matter. Love is the key. It vital that we learn how to walk in love, administer in love and receive love.

That simple four-letter word has a powerful punch. A punch so powerful it covers a multitude of sins. Think of the Love God has for us. He sacrificed His ONLY Son for people who did not love him. We who learn to love and accept this sacrifice as a gift earn abundant and eternal life. We obtain access to a right relationship-A Kingdom Relationship.  Imagine, we who rejected him are called sons, daughters and heirs. Oh what Love is  that!!!

Thought for Today

This week as I studied and prayed, God revealed a powerful truth to me concerning encounters with Jesus. I studied and read chapters 4 and 5 in the gospel of John. I asked the Holy Spirit to speak and share what was the most significant point that I was to understand. He did just what I'd asked. In those chapters there several different encounters that occurred. The Samaritan woman and her entire Samaritan village, Jesus' disciples, the lame man, Pharisees and the Jewish Leaders. Each encounter with Jesus is remarkably different. 

The Samaritan woman is by far the most significant encounter in that she is completely transformed into a worshiper and an evangelist. Her transformation and evangelistic message converts her  entire village into worshiper. The Samaritan though connect through blood-line and in some small measure knowledgeable of Jewish scripture, and religious belief did not seek out Jesus. It is astonishing that they are ones that are completely transformed. 

The disciples many times are confused and confounded by Jesus' sermons and actions. His disciples were the closest to him.  Note they did not receive this type of complete transformation for some time. After Jesus is murdered, the disciples hid and worried. They only  transformed into worshipers after the resurrected Jesus appeared to them before he ascended to Father. Then they began to understand the power of the Christ whom they had with them the whole time. 

The Pharisees and Jewish leaders encounters with Jesus produced pure and complete hatred on all levels regarding Jesus. They more they saw Jesus do; the more they hated him and plotted to kill him. Odd they spent time devoted to understanding and knowing the scriptures but it availed nothing for them. In spite of, all the knowledge they had about the Word of God they did know God.

Questions: What is your encounters with Jesus producing in you? Have you notice a complete transformation yet?

It is important for us to take notice that all our relationships take this shape. Acceptance & growth; acquaintance and aloofness; acknowledgement and attainment; abhorrence and  alienation. If you are going to build kingdom relationship you must learn to love all despite how they may treat you. That is agape love, the kind of love God sheds on us.

Today's Scripture Readings (Read John 4 & 5)

 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.  God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:21-24 NIV)

 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.  And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. (John 5:24-27 NIV)

How to Grow Your Church

God woke me up early with this message regarding church leadership marketing to grow their church.

Here's what thus saith the Lord:

So you want to grow your church. Evangelize!!! Evangelize.

The word evangelize fundamentally means spread the news. This is the oldest and most effective way marketing has been done since the beginning.

Cain knew his reputation as a murder would spread every where.
Noah spread the weather report to the whole world though no one listened
The Israelites became a terror to their enemies.
John the Baptist drew the masses to the water to be baptist; something that had never been done
Jesus was pressed with the multitudes because He preached a Word they could relate to.
Jesus dispatched the disciples to spread the Word--evangelize.

Church Leaders stop trying to conform to the world. I dare you to spend time renewing your mind with the Word...and see if you need a marketing concept.

There are three aspects of growing the true Church the first part is Spirit and Truth, the second is Evangelism and the third is the Father's Business.

1. Spirit and Truth-- the administration of Word (spirit and truth) that sets the captive free, convicts the sinners and delivers the lame and halt. 
2. Evangelism--your free captives and you begin to displays and  demonstrate they are changed, and others see and know there has been a change. That evidence of freedom, healing and deliverance will automatically began to draw those who need a change for themselves.
3. The Father's Business-there is a business aspect of the true church. I will not go into this now check back.

I want to point you who feel you need a marketing plan to Isaiah 55. This is the true formula and plan for growth and expansion of the Church.

I want you who feel it is okay to develop worldly strategies of integrated marketing campaigns to increase you church membership to beware of counting the people and trying to multiple without God's sanctioning it.   Read 1 Chronicles 21

God has a way, and His ways are not our ways neither or His thoughts our thoughts. While you seek to increase God may desire the decrease as with Gideon (read Judges 7). Stop trying to draw from the masses, focuses creating master's. Church leaders must finally understand growing membership is not your job. The assignment is to feed the sheep, care for and protect the sheep. The sheep multiple and increase. The congregation that is properly fed will grow, and multiple, the spread the word and add to the flock.

God changes not. He is the same yesterday, today and forevermore. There is nothing new under the sun either. Don't get caught up in the mass appeal of marketing (managing profitable customer relationships) unless you fully understand how to incorporate holiness into the marketplace.  Though there are all types of new methodologies and technologies at the Church disposal it is imperative that as we the Body of Christ use them we do so with holiness. In a way shape or form should the true Church look like the world.

Psalm 112 The Promises to the Worshipers

^{Prayer for Today}

Father, I worship you and give YOUR Name the praise. For you alone are worthy of all the praise. I invite you to step in this place and take control. I submit to Your will, Your Word and Way. Holy Spirit direct my steps and guide me on my way. What is it that I can do for You, the Body of Christ and the Kingdom today.

Father, thank you for making me a worshiper. I pray now that we prepare to receive your promises given to the worshipers. I pray we now understand the divine order of worshiping YOU in spirit and truth is the key to unlocking  Your blessings on us for generations to come. Reveal to Your children the secret place of worship, that we may abide with YOU there. You are worthy of all worship, praise, honor and glory forever. Amen

Today's Key to Walking in the Spirit

Worshiping God is different than praising God. You have heard it said, "When praises go up blessings come down and God inhabits the praises of His people" this is truth. However, true worship is what our spirit longs to do. True worshipers are obedient servants and their worship is come from knowing their Father. They worship their Daddy because they know Him in truth. They know he will never leave nor forsake them. They know that every good and perfect gift comes from Him. They worship because they know no weapon from against them will prosper. They worship because they know neither life nor death will separate their love. They know they were created to worship so they simply Worship everyday, in all things, and in every way.

Thought for Today

 The LORD blesses everyone

   who worships him and gladly

   obeys his teachings.

Worship is our obedience, it is our love; reverent love and adoration. While one can display many forms of worship the underlying motive of worshiping comes about because of a deep reverent love, and adoration for  the Father. Worship is our ability to love God beyond our emotion, or feeling. True worshipers pierce the veil and enter a dimension of relating one on one with their Daddy. Imagine the child spending that special one on one time with his or her Daddy. Can you hear their conversation, can see their loving embrace and connection going on in this scenario? Our Heavenly Father wants us to come to know Him in this way. It is a place of knowing that no matter what we are going through or facing  we know  it will be just fine. Praise is a place that ushers us in to worship because it is the point we gain understanding of His awesome love. We praise Him with, song, dance, cymbals and trumpets for all the marvelous things He done for us and through us. Yet, our praise is only the tip of our worship. Worship releases an overflow of blessings in our lives and the lives of our descendants.  Worship is so powerful the enemy seeks to have us place our worship on him or other things.  Believe or not God created us to Worship Him because that is what solidifies our true love for Him. 

Today's Scripture Readings

Worship the LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span. (Exodus 23:25 NIV)

“Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.  Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.  God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:21-24)

Psalm 112 (Contemporary English Version)

God Blesses His Worshipers

 ¹Shout praises to the LORD!   The LORD blesses everyone
   who worships him and gladly
   obeys his teachings.


    ²Their descendants will have
   great power in the land,
   because the LORD blesses
   all who do right.
    ³They will get rich and prosper
   and will always be remembered
   for their fairness.
    ⁴They will be so kind
   and merciful and good,
   that they will be a light
   in the dark
   for others
   who do the right thing.
    ⁵Life will go well for those
   who freely lend
   and are honest in business.
    ⁶They won't ever be troubled,
   and the kind things they do
   will never be forgotten.
    ⁷Bad news won't bother them;
   they have decided
   to trust the LORD.
    ⁸They are dependable
   and not afraid,
   and they will live to see
   their enemies defeated.
    ⁹They will always be remembered
   and greatly praised,
   because they were kind
   and freely gave to the poor.
    ¹⁰When evil people see this,
   they angrily bite their tongues
   and disappear.
   They will never get
   what they really want.

Isaiah 21:6 Set A Watchman

Prayer for Today

Father, I worship you and give YOUR Name the praise. For you alone are worthy of all the praise. I invite you to step in this place and take control. I submit to Your will, Your Word and Way. Holy Spirit direct my steps and guide me on my way. What is it that I can do for You, the Body of Christ and the Kingdom today.

God teach us to become watchmen, ever ready to set the watch and to pray. Put in a spirit that worships the Most High God. Let us keep our hearts fixed on YOU for there is none like. Teach us to wait on YOU and desire to do your Will and Work. As we humble ourselves before the throne of Mercy and Grace, help us to stand in proxy for the nation of America, The presidency, the leaders, the people herein, proxy for the nations and people who YOU will gather unto Yourself. Help us and have mercy Father.

Today's Key to Walking in the Spirit

The most powerful key to walking in the spirit is prayer. Don't assume you need some special technique, training or manner of speech to pray; other than opening your mouth. Many will say I don't know what to say to God. I will say to that statement, if you can talk your family and friends for hours on end; you can talk to God. He is waiting for us to realize, He wants a relationship with us. A relationship that is engaging, inviting and exchanging. I urge you to get this key and use it.

Watch and Pray

 

Thought for Today

As I watch and see events unfolding in the world, I am amazed though not shocked. Reading the Word of God and communing with God has made me acutely aware of the times we live in. I have this enormous respect for God's mercy and grace that permits us come to Him and cast all our cares and concerns on Him because He cares for us. The fallacy of humans is so outrageous, today. Dare anyone think the wick go unpunished; that none see their greed, schemes and rebellion?    Are the wicked so full of themselves that they do not fear the God who made them?  Worldwide we are witnessing an uncovering debauchery. Wickedness is being exposed in the five pillars of society (family, marriage, government, education and the church). And the watchmen have given their reports. Now, the waiting who watched will now hear what, Thus says the Lord. It is time for the prayer warriors, the wailing women of Zion, and the watchmen on the wall to travailing and cry loud. 

Today's Scripture Reading Isaiah 21:1-10

A prophecy against the Desert by the Sea:

   Like whirlwinds sweeping through the southland,
   an invader comes from the desert,
   from a land of terror.

 ² A dire vision has been shown to me:
   The traitor betrays, the looter takes loot.
Elam, attack! Media, lay siege!
   I will bring to an end all the groaning she caused.

 ³ At this my body is racked with pain,
   pangs seize me, like those of a woman in labor;
I am staggered by what I hear,
   I am bewildered by what I see.
⁴ My heart falters,
   fear makes me tremble;
the twilight I longed for
   has become a horror to me.

 ⁵ They set the tables,
   they spread the rugs,
   they eat, they drink!
Get up, you officers,
   oil the shields!

 ⁶ This is what the Lord says to me:

   “Go, post a lookout
   and have him report what he sees.
⁷ When he sees chariots
   with teams of horses,
riders on donkeys
   or riders on camels,
let him be alert,
   fully alert.”

 ⁸ And the lookout^[a] shouted,

   “Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower;
   every night I stay at my post.
⁹ Look, here comes a man in a chariot
   with a team of horses.
And he gives back the answer:
   ‘Babylon has fallen, has fallen!
All the images of its gods
   lie shattered on the ground!’”

 ¹⁰ My people who are crushed on the threshing floor,
   I tell you what I have heard
from the LORD Almighty,
   from the God of Israel.