Authority is a position of responsibility and not automatically attached or associated with a place of power. Responsibility being the optimum word related with authority. First and foremost, the person or institution in the position must always be mindful of, and bare a responsibility to those who are subject to them! In addition, authority is given or earned, and is by agreement between the person(s) that holds authority and the person(s) under authority. Lastly, authority carries a scope or range that defines its nature. Without the presence of any one of these, what is referred to as authority is something else altogether. Therefore, in order for real authority to exist it has to associate with the following elements:

AUTHORITY IS A RESPONSIBILITY

AUTHORITY IS BY AGREEMENT

AUTHORITY IS ALWAYS DEFINED

Now in the case of leadership, such as a monarchy or other political government; the range or scope can be vast or unlimited. This however is seldom the case and usually has its limitations. Conversely, there may also be a granting of power with the position, but it too is by agreement, is defined, and never automatic.

1 Corinthians 4:2 (NIV) Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

If we consider these, examples some clarity is given to the definition, this is how it adds up.

Sovereign Ruler: Their authority is derived as a condition or definition of the position, which should be by agreement, with responsibility to their subjects; and not due to any force or strength, no matter how great.

Teacher: Holds authority by agreement of qualifications for the position, with responsibility limited to the scope of the task.

Lord of the manor: Has authority due to responsibility as property owner, as agreed and defined in the property rights.

Caretaker: Is given authority in their qualification for upkeep, with responsibility limited to the range of duty.

In all cases of authority the primary focus is on responsibility.

1 Corinthians 7:24 (NIV) Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to. 

1 Peter 4:10 (NIV) Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

Outside the parameters of the definition, authority deteriorates into domination and abuse. Without an agreement or any defined range, it most certainly, becomes manipulation. When you remove the optimum element of responsibility, it most always escalates into something far worse than mere domination. Apart from the well documented examples from history, like Hitler’s Mein Kampf, and the Holocaust; or the 1890 Sioux massacre at Wounded Knee, by U.S. militia. We could site recent events such as September 11^th, and other terrorist’s attacks. All show clearly the loss of authority, or mans attempt to manipulate it for selfishly motivated reasons.

Philippians 2:3 (NIV) Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

James 3:13-17 (NIV)Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

Selfish ambition leads to disorder and every evil practice. James goes on to point out that such things are earthly and from Satan, driven in us by bitter envy. Those of us who are believers should know this and should work as much as possible to act accordingly. Even if you don’t believe, you still must agree that such practice does nothing to foster peace and harmony. If you can admit that, then you should also admit that to continue in such things does nothing that is for the good. Could it be that mankind has allowed his attention to be captured, influenced as it were, by the things of this world?

Romans 12:2 (NIV) Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is, his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Whatever the will of God is, which is dependent on your faith and viewpoint; we know from Paul that it is GOOD, PLEASING, and PERFECT. Now watch this and pay close attention. Remember the three elements necessary for any real authority, the ones that must be present…

AUTHORITY IS A RESPONSIBILITY

AUTHORITY IS BY AGREEMENT

AUTHORITY IS ALWAYS DEFINED

Watch how the Will of God fits into this in such a wonderful way.

AUTHORITY IS A RESPONSIBILITY  

That is  

THE GOOD of All CONCERNED

AUTHORITY IS BY AGREEMENT  

That is  

PLEASING to All INVOLVED

AUTHORITY FROM GOD IS PERFECT  

That is  

THE BEST for ALL 

GOD’S WILL IS HIS AUTHORITY

Blessings

Matt.

Treasures in Heaven

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

This world and its system have caused a great deal of us, to go chasing after the so called “good things in life.” We all want the nice house, the new car, the good job, and the money that goes along with it.

20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

While these things hold some place of value, we should keep them in their proper place. God’s kingdom, and our ultimate home, is not built, nor is it based on things such as these.

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

We need to remember that all of these things exist in the world and were here when we arrived. What’s more important to understand is that when we leave…. we take none of it, every bit stays behind.

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.

23 But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

Satan is the prince of this world, whatever systems are in place is his creation; it’s all part of the lie that he wants you to buy into.

24 “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

The desires of man have been corrupted. Every since the fall, Satan has been using our own evil desires to get us hooked into his system of things. He (Satan) is the one who feeds the appetites of our evil nature. The more we allow our focus to center on the things of this world, the more we turn our attention away from Christ and what we can learn from His example.

Do Not Worry

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?

Ask yourself one question; if faced with making a choice between any of the so called good things, or your life…. what would your answer be? When the robber says, “Your money or your life” we tend to not think about our answer, we choose life. Satan, who we all know is the ultimate thief and robber, is giving us that very same choice. He is just a more skilled conman. We don’t understand that we are being robbed. That’s why we call his acts “a trick of the devil.”

26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

God, knowing just how tricky the devil is, has given us help, and reminders to keep us focused.

27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

There is nothing wrong with being concerned. Whether it is for ourselves, or others it is a quality that we should try to develop. At the same time we shouldn’t allow Satan to distort our concern into worry. This is a good example of how the devil can take a good thing and get us to take it way past the place where it should go.

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.

29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Worry destroys faith. When we allow ourselves to worry we leave the road of righteous concern. Satan takes us on a detour called out by a sign marked “What If.” The trouble is in the fact that this path branches into many more detours, all marked with the same sign of what if. What was worry now becomes confusion. It doesn’t matter which path we choose, each trail leads to the same place…. “LOST.”

31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’

32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

As we move along the narrow path toward the righteousness of God, let us not detour with Satan down a path of worry, becoming lost. Keep your concern on the one and only sign that leads to that kingdom, and our home…. that is the sign of Christ, our LORD.

With His Blessings,

Matt.

While God is the final word in all things, the range of authority that man must and will submit to will be varied.

The reasons why this is, and the make up of that range is worth the time it takes to get a feel for where we stand personally.

To be a Christian is to follow Christ, this in itself addresses submission directly. At the same time it points to authority indirectly. Have you ever questioned the place that Christ holds according to your beliefs? It is the very nature of ones belief that opens the door to, or closes it on the subject of authority.

Man in general has a nature that is resistant to any authority other than his own. Without the inclusion of God, Christ, or faith; his ability to yield just might be non-existent. At best, it is a form of manipulation or compromise, when dealing and interacting within society. This submission to authority, by man is an issue even before his acceptance of Christ. As a minister, this becomes an issue not only for me in a personal setting; but also for those in my charge. The process of holiness and sanctification bares a direct outlook on our ability and willingness to accept the authority of God and submit to His will. To God, it is a question of faith, and also to what stock you place in your faith of Him. While none of us are perfect, our submission, like our worship, must be in spirit and in truth.

That same faith is given a chance to be assessed and worked on by all believers as we follow the direction to submit to one another. It not only prepares us to obey God, but also gives instruction in humility. Just think for a moment, you always know your intentions, just as God does. You know if your ability to submit to the authority of man (government, law, parents, etc.) is without reservation, or due to some underlining motivations. No matter what your assessment, you know where you stand in relation to the idea of a true spirit and your readiness to meet God with all humility. This might be why God mandated this interaction in the first place. Within this framework, submitting to authority does keep us safe.

The wisdom of God is beyond us and is always at work. We must submit to the authority of God or at least be willing to make an effort to. In doing so, we must also submit one to another. This we do for our safety, for our protection, for our harmony and fellowship, and most importantly for our understanding of God’s Humility. Without the regular practice of this command, we give a foothold to pride. Just remember, pride always comes before the fall.

Blessings,

Matt.

          When I accepted Christ I was a 6yr. old kid, even if it was fully explained to me I don’t think I would have understood the whole of what I was doing. At the time all that I knew was that Christ died so that I could be saved and I not only wanted to be saved but was glad to be so. In my little mind that was all that mattered. Accepting Jesus made sense and was normal, I had no agendas or other motivations to stand in the way of my going forward in Christ. In a very real sense, my limited understanding helped to set the foundation for my belief in Christ today, as a mature man.

          From the time that the book of Malachi was written, there existed a 400 years period of silence from God. When considering the subject of Malachi, (a book rebuking the people concerning worship), the events that occurred after that period would bring joy and comfort to all. It is little wonder that the angles proclaimed the birth of Christ, the Messiah, in songs from Heaven itself. God not only spoke, but in such a loud and wondrous way. Here was the redeemer, foretold in the prophets. The fulfillment of a long awaited promise is indeed “GOOD NEWS.”

          The life, death, and resurrection of Christ; (the Gospel) are not only good news but “The Good News.” It marks the single event that does for us all what we could never do for ourselves. Not the law and certainly not any self-imposed righteousness of man. God, once and for all time, has demonstrated the weight and depth of His unchanging love for mankind. There was nothing that we as man did to earn it. Our actions as a people didn’t point to our deserving it. No, our salvation was a gift, and a gift of God’s love. How then could we not accept this gift, and show our love in return?

          When I look back to that day that marks my walk with Christ, it’s clear to me the things Jesus said when it came to children. Matthew 18:3 And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Just like children, we need to change our view of what matters. There is no other news that could replace the Good News of the gospel.  Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Children are not hindered by the ambitions and selfish desires of adults, and Jesus gives warning that we are not to be a stumbling block by placing such hindrance before them. Instead we should be living and re-living in the joy of the gospel, setting an example for all children to follow. A close relationship with Christ, a careful examination of the love He showed us with the sacrifice of the cross, and it becomes clear, no, it becomes easy; for me to humbly and gratefully give Him my praise. In closing I leave one other reminder from Jesus: Matthew 21:14-16 14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. 16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, ‘From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise?”

Blessings,

Matt.

I trust that God has held you all in His love and grace.  These past few weeks have been a demanding, as well as a joyful time for me, as I have been in preparation for the annual convention of the CCDA. In addition to planning for this event, I also have been making arrangements for the TOPS conference as well. Both of these events deal in areas of the ministry that are dear to my heart. I am back in Chicago now after the close of CCDA conference. This year it was held in Philadelphia, PA, and it was a wonderful success. A team of local Philadelphia CCDA members who provided lodgings at the downtown Marriott hosted us. There were guest speakers, praise and worship singers, dancers, exhibitors, over a hundred different workshops, and attendees from all over the country. Some came in from countries abroad. In all there were well over two thousand in attendance. It was a great time for fellowship and networking, not to mention the wealth of knowledge and sharing of experiences that leads to better ministry application. As the name implies, The Christian Community Development Association, is in the business of doing just that. From the looks of things at this year’s convention, God is doing a mighty good work on the effort of the association’s hand. I had a wonderful time in the LORD, as well as a chance to take in some of the history of our country from the perspective of the city of “Brotherly Love.” I look forward to next year’s convention in St. Louis. For more information on the CCDA or the TOPS organization, I have placed links in my Blogroll. For now I will relax and catch my breath in the short time before I leave for Dallas, Texas and the TOPS conference. I Will post information on how it turned out as well as some pictures when I get back, until then…

May God keep you all in “His Ever-Loving Hands”,

Matt.  

This Aug. 28 marks the 43rd anniversary of Dr. King’s historic speech, entitled, “I Have A Dream.” In it’s entirety or in a shortened version, this speech has been heard around the world and was the basis for world attention toward civil rights. Dr. King had a way of delivering his message coupled with a style of writing that made him as well as his subject, come at you. As I reflect on his life and the whole movement, (yes, I was around then) I wonder where we fair in the over all current picture, compared to where we were as the speech was delivered. There have no doubt been changes in the way people regard others and or the way things are done, but how much, can we say has been for the better.

When the speech was written back in 1963, Dr. King sited the fact that after 100 years from the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, the Negro, or Black Man was still not free. Today the physical chains and manacles may have been removed, but new ones of a more invisible nature are set in place, just as they had been in his day. His words served to educate not just Black’s and the U.S. government, but the whole of society around the world.

Now, year’s later, new revelation can be gained from the same words as they apply in our society and times. The truth will always be a necessary factor in any effort toward gaining freedom. Jesus taught His disciples to know the truth for the express purpose of being made free. (See John 8:32) The trouble with a good many of us everywhere is that we don’t always recognize the truth, or we refused to face and act on it as we should.

Ephesians 6:12

For our struggle is not aganist flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly realms.

The truth is Satan is behind the scenes and very active in planting deceptions and false truths.

Two myths that are common placed and widely accepted in the world are these.

• The devil is a fairy tail, and he doesn’t exist.

• Sometimes you have to do wrong so that good can be helped along or that it’s O.K. to do wrong if a greater good will be the end result.

In a lot of ways these two reasons alone, are the force behind the injustice of the past and what is ongoing today. When you deny Satan’s presence it’s easy to take responsibility for his actions. By the same token, when you do wrong, for whatever reason, you play into his hands and do the work of Satan.

“The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.” “But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.”

Again I ask, just how much for the better have we changed? When you read the daily reports in the nations papers, or take a look at what takes place in the areas around you, how much has changed at all? Our society is spotted with ills that stem in some part from our lack of attention to these very statements. The problem is not confined to Black’s, White’s, or any particular ethnic group; but is spread among all of us. America does not exist as an unequal player, for the world itself can be found guilty of the same neglect. The hard line political stances, rebellion, wrongful deeds, bitterness, and hatred all come to life when we allow ourselves to accept a little sin as being O.K.

Romans 8:12-14

Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Matthew 6:24

No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

This speech of Dr. King speaks to the heart and soul of everyone who has ever had a dream of vision or the hope of a better condition in life.

”I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.”

“With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.”

Revelation 7:9

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

Romans 12:9-21

Love

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

“And if America is to be a great nation this must become true.”

“When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, “Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”

As I said at the beginning of this essay, we can still gain wisdom from the words of this message left by Dr. King. As God looks and judges the hearts of men, we must all learn to allow His spirit to dwell within our own hearts. After all, that’s where our character stems from. Then maybe these words can ring true.

“I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

For the benefit of those who have never had a chance to read Dr. Kings speech, I have included it in its entirety.

“Blessings”

Matt.

I Have A Dream

by Martin Luther King, Jr.

(Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C., August 28, 1963)

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of captivity.

But one hundred years later, we must face the tragic fact that the Negro is still not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize an appalling condition.

In a sense we have come to our nation’s capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check which has come back marked “insufficient funds.” But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check — a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all of God’s children. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment and to underestimate the determination of the Negro. This sweltering summer of the Negro’s legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.

We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny and their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, “When will you be satisfied?” We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro’s basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one.

We can never be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.

Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.

I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.”

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day the state of Alabama, whose governor’s lips are presently dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, will be transformed into a situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith with which I return to the South. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with a new meaning, “My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim’s pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring.”

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous peaks of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and every molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, “Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”

 Selfish…or selfless, it’s a question of position. Which position a person takes is one thing, but which one they hold is another ball of wax. The word desire is introduced at the very start in the story of man. God imparted it as part of man’s original package. In the beginning our desires were led by God. We followed His will and all our desire was good. The free will of man had the influence of God, who could only instill righteousness. As a result of this, man’s will and the will of God, were one and the same. There was perfect fellowship. God’s plan for our lives was always to give us and allow us the very best. In the beginning our choice was focused on His perfect will.

One of the tools of Satan, used in spiritual warfare is temptation. It is probably his most effective and most often used. We see above that it was the one used in the fall of man. Temptation was used to corrupt the will and desire of man. Satan only had to play with the desire that was already in place. Once the fruit had been eaten, the perfect influence of God was no longer the only voice that man would hear. The groundwork for ongoing temptation, or evil desire had been set. Satan, looking to rob us of our focus, found a way to corrupt God’s plan. He added to our ability to choose. With his deception we had to contend with reason, long before we were ever ready to handle it. Every time we make a choice we try to attach reason to the choice we make. Even when it’s a bad choice we want to justify it. Reason for us is really confusion. We need the wisdom of God, and the help of the Holy Spirit, in order to obtain righteousness. This is the key to salvation, to accept Christ as a savior. Without Him in our lives, to strengthen our commitment to His will… we fall back on our reason. Remember, most reasons are nothing but dressed up excuses. It’s like this, when He comes what will you stand on… His righteousness… or your reason!!!

Jesus knew the power of man’s desire as well as what would result if we were left to the temptations of Satan. In His example of prayer, He teaches us to ask our Father in Heaven :”Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil…” Jesus knew that the evil temptations of Satan would come to influence our power of desire.

John 17:15
My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.

There are some very good reasons for staying in this world, for one there are others that must hear the message of Christ’s salvation. Those who follow Christ and bring that message must learn to resist the evil one. This corrupt place is the best training ground for both Satan’s tactics and following the direction of the Holy Spirit.
 

All is not lost, for God is still in control . Satan corrupted man, not God! We were redeemed and given the gift of salvation, if we only believe. To believe in Christ is to trust in his Word. After all, Jesus is the Word. When we study His word… and I do mean study, we learn to hear and recognize His voice again. As in any relationship, choice of involvement is key. You must want and desire to be  there. If you make wanting a relationship with God… YOUR REASON… you have the best choice possible. This is what reconciliation to the fellowship of God through Christ Jesus is all about. Things can be restored as they were in the beginning.

John 3:16-19 
16“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.  19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.

It all comes down to your reasons behind the God given power of desire that you have. What will be your choice? God Himself is asking the question… think hard about your answer.

1 John 5:18
We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him.

1 John 5:19
We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.

Deuteronomy 30:19
This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.

I hope and pray each and every day that you all find “GOOD REASON” to choose life. It’s in the will of God…. found in His Word. Your place in eternity should be all the “REASON” that you need.

Blessings,

Matt.

Philippians 4:12-13
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
Everyday we face struggles… everyday!
Things come up to prevent us from even wanting to go on. All of our efforts seem to be of no effect, without meaning. It is when we reach the end of all our ability that we can find the hand of God! His strength is there to carry the load that we have no power to bear.

1 Corinthians 4:2
“Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”
We won’t always see the workings of the Holy Spirit. It is our faith in His power and ability to get the job done, that we cling to. The LORD works in ways that sometimes are not clear to our understanding. No matter what, trust Him.

Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
The best of our plans, the most labored of our work, what ever effort that we put forth, still does not compair to the perfect work of our Father in Heaven. If we place our trust in God and resolve to keep Him as the master of our lives, what can go wrong?

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
“With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Always remember that the battle is not ours, it’s the LORD’S. Every effort we make we make according to his purpose.

Philippians 1:6
“being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Without this firmly in our understanding, we will loose hope. If we endure till the end, however, we know that the battle is already won. To the victor goes the crown.

I pray for your strength and for the peace of your spirit… you will fight the good fight, In the name of Jesus. AMEN!

Your Brother in Christ,
Matt.

Romans 12:15-16, “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.”

The following is one of my personal stories about obedience. I share it in hopes that it will help others to apply Gods Word in their own life.

Most of my life has been in service to others, I’m comfortable with it. Always it is seemed natural for me to want to assist others, even strangers. This desire has led me to seek knowledge and learn ways to give of myself. In this pursuit, any study I undertake is intense. To scratch the surface is never enough. God has given me a thirst to absorb more of the information. This has led to some colorful names (i.e. bookworm, Mr. know it all, etc.) over the years, but it has also placed me out in front of most of my peers. Often I have been given to serve as teacher, tutor, and or leader among them. I find it less of an effort to assist, mentor or encourage others to strive for their very best. The one drawback, as I see it comes with my sometimes imposing more than wanted. I guess you could say that I’m preachy in a lot of ways. Having both preached and taught as it relates to the church, I know that I will minister in this way again. I didn’t arrive at this suddenly or with ease. As a matter of fact, for a good part of my life I think I have been trying to avoid the responsibility. The more I turn away, however, the more I find myself faced with this calling. God has molded my life with his skilled hands. He knows what He is doing and how to get His point across. I must be obedient… the direction of the Spirit is the only thing that now makes any sense; I stand ready to listen and follow. I remember a young man, a kid really, back in jail. He came in full of anger and rage, not wanting to listen. Often he was at odds with the jailers and others. There was nothing good to come from his behavior. I saw a lot of myself at an earlier point in my life being a part of his makeup. I made the decision to reach out to him.

The more I tried to reach him the more resistance I met with. Still, with patience, and the help of the Holy Spirit, I kept at it. I shared from the Bible, told him about my own life and troubles, and let him know that God not only loved him but had a plan for his life. While trying to reach him I also attracted others. They were all eager to hear and study the Word of God. I started a regular Bible study and prayer circle. What started with one, took on a life of its own. “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”(Matthew 18:20) This all because I listen to the call of the Spirit, and answered with an act of love. I was transferred from that part of the jail, as is often the case. I spent over a year away from that area, continuing to follow the call and minister where I was located. After all that time I found myself back in the same area, again. The same young man was still there, I had almost forgotten him. To my joy and the Glory of God, he had taken over both the prayer circle and Bible study, keeping them going. He told me that he had also started attending the visiting ministry service. The young man had given his life to God and continued the ministry in my absence. There was a visible change in the way he conducted himself. The anger and rage was gone. In its place was a spirit of giving mixed with a thirst to study the Word. I take no credit for this. It’s all the work of the Holy Spirit, but still it makes my heart glad like nothing that I can describe. As long as I am able to follow the call of the Spirit, I will be glad to do so. It matters not where or how, only that I remain obedient to the will of God.

I leave you with this reminder, “obedience is better than sacrifice.”

Blessings,

Matt.

 

I ‘m asking my readers and friends for their support on this one. Pray for this family’s strength, their comfort, and their peace.

Having lost my wife this past January, I can feel the weight in this trying time. I know that my God is faithful to complete that perfect work that He started in us all.

DEAR FRIEND,  you do have… and will be… in my prayers…

Matt.