BE SPIRIT FILLED

Dearest Saints, In talking with other Christians, I have found that the parable of the 10 Virgins seems to be more controversial than others. If any doctrine, (no matter how trivial it may seem) is in the Word, there is a need to study it (2 Tim 3:15-17). Out of the 10 Virgins, five were found to be wise and five were foolish (Matt 25:2). For myself, when we think about Virgins in a physical sense, it refers to someone who is untouched and is clean, pure and undefiled. In comparison, for someone to be compared to a virgin in a spiritual sense, it only makes sense that those of us who have renounced living a life of sin, to accept and receive the finished and complete work of Christ by asking Him to become our Lord and personal Saviour (Romans 10: 9,10), those are the only ones who are Virgins because it is only by the Blood of Jesus that we are Redeemed (made clean). Those who don't bother to receive Him don't have the benefit of His completed work for them. You can't ever expect anyone who has never invited Christ and never accepted Christ's completed work that only He could ever accomplish on our behalf ever be considered a virgin in the text the He explains to His Disciples. Therefore, when He talks about the ten Virgins, this refers only to the Believers and does not include any unbelievers. Therefore, when Christ explains this parable to His Disciples, He tells them that out of all Believers, there are many that are wise and equally many who are foolish (un-wise). The difference between those who are wise and those who are not wise was the fact that half of them had additional oil in their flasks and the others had only very little oil. The lamp and the Light that emanates from the Lamp signifies Christ who is the reflection of God the Father (John 8:12). He is the Word (John 1:1,14) that is a Lamp unto our feet and a Light unto our path (Psalm 119:105). Notice that all Ten Virgins each had a lamp (which is Christ). However, the lamp does no good or serves no purpose if we don't have oil to help light the lamp. The Oil signifies the Holy Spirit who is the One who empowers us, who gives us knowledge and revelation of revealing Christ to us and enables us to be whom God calls us to be. Again, just because you are carrying a lamp, doesn't mean the lamp works because we fail to have enough oil to keep it lit. In comparison to a car, you can have it just sitting in the garage, but it does no good or serves no purpose if you don't have fuel or oil to make the vehicle go anywhere. For myself, the Bible (Gods inspired Word) are His direct instructions for Believers and not Unbelievers. The reason why I say it is not for unbelievers is that no matter how many times they read the Bible, it does them no good if they never accept the finished work that only Christ Himself could complete on our behalf. A person who remains an unbeliever will never benefit or have any eternal reward just by trying to read His Word. Christ tells us that His Word is Spirit and life (John 6:63). And when those who are spiritually dead (not Born-again), His Word remains spiritually unclear (1 Cor 2:14). How can a person expect someone who is spiritually dead to understand anything that is Spirit/Life? That is why Gods Spirit sent Philip to preach the Word to the Ethiopian Eunuch when he was reading about Isaiah. After Philip asked the Eunuch if he understood what he was reading, the Eunuch replied: How can I understand when I need someone to help preach and explain the book of the prophecy of Isaiah to me (Acts 8:30,31)? It took this man of God who was a Believer to help explain the truth about the Word so that the Eunuch was able to understand it and later be Baptized (vs 35). So when God instructs us in His Word about the dangers of forsaking His will and the consequences of not carrying enough oil, He is speaking to Believers. Even though God's Spirit lives within us (2 Tim 1:14), we are admonished to "hold fast"(vs 13) and "Guard ourselves" (vs 14). God tells us that we can quench the Spirit (1 Thess 5:19). Even though He resides within the Believer, we can grieve the Spirit and cause His Spirit within us to dry up when we fail to hold fast, fail to guard ourselves and fail to love His Word and become desensitized. If it were not possible for the Believer to quench the Spirit, why would God have mentioned it in His Word? Christ tells the Disciples in (Luke 11:11-13) about a child asking an earthly father for a loaf of bread, will he give him a stone; or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion (vs 12)? If then you who are evil know how to give good gifts, how much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask and continue to ask Him (vs 13). Are we faithfully asking/entrusting Him to keep us filled with His Spirit? What is stopping some people from just simply asking God to be filled with the Spirit? Just like unbelief is a deterrent for Christ to do anything (Matt 13:58), if we don't acknowledge our need and delight of His Spirit to empower us, give us wisdom, revelation and acknowledge our desperate need of Him in all things, are we like those who are foolish that may be carrying around very little (if not, no oil at all)? After all, Christ sent His Spirit to do the work that we so desperately need because He went to be with His Father (John 16:10-15). So everything that we are benefitting from having knowledge of Him, His Word and having any power to do anything spiritually beneficial comes from His Spirit. It's not by any might or any power, but only by Gods Spirit (Zech 4:6). So why not acknowledge our need of His Spirit and allow Him to fill us with overflowing so we can be ready like the five Virgins who were the only Believers to be ready when the Bride-Groom should come? Our God is a relational God and even though there is nothing He cannot do, He will not push His agenda on us. And if we fail to constantly acknowledge His need, His presence and our desire for the power of His Spirit to work through us and enable us, His Spirit will only complete the measure that we permit Him to do for us and through us. Therefore, let's not quench the Holy Spirit like the Word warns us that we may possibly do. Like the 5 foolish Virgins (Believers), it was too late for them because they are outside knocking on the door and they were not permitted to enter in (Matt 25:11,12). This to me is a signal that many Believers are not going to be ready because they dried up the Oil of the Spirit within them by quenching the Spirit that was an indication of not having enough oil and failing to continually acknowledge our need of His Spirit. Let's be counted as one of the 5 wise Virgins who were ready by asking the Spirit of God to be filled with the Spirit, to help us, and acknowledge our need of His sweet presence in every way. We desperately need the working power and presence of His Spirit to work mightily within us and through us if we ever expect to be ready at His soon coming. The Light of Christ does no good and the lamp serves no purpose if we don't carry the fullness of the Oil of the Spirit within us. In the Matchless Name of Jesus Richard Ministry Encourager Answers2Prayer http://sites.google.com/site/greatestbuilderforourlife http://www.answers2prayer.org/

PARABLES of HIS GREAT TEACHING

The teachings of Christ is so awesome that it goes beyond any human logic which is why we need to be determined to seek the rich wisdom of His Life-Giving Word to receive it only by faith and refuse to simply rely on our own understanding (Prov 3:5,6). We need to be asking Him to reveal the deeper meaning of His Word every time we look to read and study His Word because it is the only eternal life-line that our souls require. I realize how His Word is proven over and over again, when we take more time to seek His Word, He reveals the in-depth riches of what He is saying. Prov 14:6 tells us that knowledge comes easily to the discerning (those who will take the time to study and meditate on His Word). One of the parables Jesus was talking about is the Pearl of Great Price (Matt 13:45). When I think of what He is trying to tell us, Christ talks about being that "Pearl of Great Price". In this parable, a wise person understands that having a deeper relationship with Him is far more valuable than any tangible material things or relying on our own intuition. This person even goes to the point of choosing to replace everything that interferes with their relationship with God, taking every thought and/or belief that goes against Gods Word and chooses to obtain the heart relationship with Him instead. When a convinced sinner sees Christ as the gracious Saviour and invites Him to be his/her own Lord of their lives, everything else becomes worthless in order to have this rich relationship with Christ. They understand that a real relationship with Jesus is priceless to the point that everything else is worthless. Even to the point of getting rid of everything just to have that wonderful rich relationship with Christ (selling everything he has just to get that Pearl of Great Price). Another parable I always like talks about the Wedding Banquet (Matt 22:2-13). Again, even though I knew about this parable, this doesn't mean I fully understood it. Like anything He teaches, God reveals a deeper truth to His teaching when we will take the time to seek, just like seeking treasures and finding the Pearl of Great Price that was hidden in a field. Therefore, to find any hidden treasures, it takes time. Prov 2:1-7 is also a great passage that talks about gaining this valuable insight about taking time to seek Gods hidden treasures of His wisdom by having that reverential fear of Him. There is a lot more to the parable of the Wedding Banquet when I think about it more and more. The banquet He invites us to reveals first that what He offers to us is by far the BEST. When you think of a banquet, it is a type of formal event that has the best of everything (ie: silverware, cutlery, fine linen, finest crystal and the best choices of the abundance of prepared foods imaginable). Going to a cafeteria, lunchroom or having a buffet will never compare to having that feast that only a banquet offers. I like the fact that when He talks about giving a Banquet, this is an indication that He always only offers us THE VERY BEST that far exceeds any other type of event. This is comparing that what He offers (Banquet) will always far exceed what the world could/would ever offer to any of us. The sad reality I find is that many Christians remain a "cafeteria style" christian by only picking and choosing what they want to hear while not fully surrendering to His will and His way. The only way we can ever experience by enjoying that Banquet the Lord offers us is fully choosing Him and feasting on His Word, receiving what He tells us and choosing to live how He tells us to live above all else. When I go further to read about a person who goes into the banquet without wearing the wedding garment, Jesus mentions to His Disciples that this person is cast out where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt 22:11-13). I thought this was harsh and didn't quite understand this particular verse and why He would mention this. Again, I believe that many verses may not be clearly understood when we just skim over them and fail to take any time seeking Him to gain further understanding. When I thought of this more and more, I believe He is telling us that in order to be wearing the proper Wedding Garment, it is about putting on Christ (just like a garment). In Romans 13:14, He tells us to put on Christ (Wedding Garment) and make no provision for the flesh, which I believe means to say (that seeks to satisfy self at the expense of having a richer relationship with Him). We are told to strip off the old nature and put on Christ in its place, which again means to ask His help to remove every form of character that fails to represent Him favourably in our lives. Before we put on the nature of Christ, I believe we have to first of all strip off the old nature. I believe we often try to put on Christ without stripping off our old nature in the first place which doesn't work (Eph 4:22,23; Col 3:9). It's like sweeping dirt under a rug instead of getting rid of the dirt in the first place. God sees those who have put on Christ (wearing that wedding garment) and those who have not put on Christ. Just like when the Master notices the one person who is not wearing the Wedding Garment. When I think of this, it seems that this may be an indication that a person who thinks he/she will be invited to the Wedding Banquet will realize later that he/she is not welcome because they failed to live for Christ by being True Representatives for Him. God Himself knows who truly belongs to Him or not and those who try to enter in the banquet will be found out by the Master (God). Don't be caught thinking that a person is automatically invited to the Gods Wedding banquet and realize when its too late that He will cast you out from attending this time of celebration. If this was never the case, why would He have indicated this portion as part of His parable? This may be an indication that many Christians may not be properly prepared by not wearing that Wedding Garment. We are reminded in 2 Peter 1:10 to be certain that our calling and election is sure. Therefore, we are not to take our place as Christians for granted. The title of my Blog is called "Hope in God". But having this true hope in Him only comes to those who truly put Him first in their lives and live as though He is the "life-line to our very souls". No one can expect to receive the Hope of His promises if we are not going to allow Him to truly be our Lord in the first place. May we be that Bride that is prepared to receive that coming Bride-Groom (Jesus) so we will be welcomed into the great day celebrating with Him in that Wedding Banquet that He talks about (read Matt 25:1-10 about the 5 wise virgins who were ready). We cannot be fully prepared without His help. He will help us if we will only ask His help in the first place and for Him to help prepare our hearts to meet Him when He should return which many of us believe this is the generation that will experience His soon coming. He never forces His agenda on anyone, He only waits to those who ask and invite His help. Have you asked Him to help you be continually be prepared so you can attend His Wedding Banquet? Will He notice you wearing Christ (the Wedding Garments) or not? Let's have that Hope in God by inviting Him to help us be all we can to be Representatives of His Goodness and be fully clothed with Him. In the Matchless Name of Jesus Richard Ministry Encourager Answers2Prayer http://sites.google.com/site/greatestbuilderforourlife http://www.answers2prayer.org/

KINGDOM of GOD - Parable of Leaven

Blessed Children of the Most High, I like to continue going through each parable that Christ likens to the Kingdom of God. I find this series interesting that Dr/Pastor Ralph Wilson has put together. I like to share some thoughts again I believe the Lord is putting on my heart (as I always like to acknowledge Gods goodness and never take any credit for anything He inspires me or leads me to do in the first place). It's amazing that God can give one sentence and we can make it an entire message to give Hope and meaning to what He is saying. An example is we read in Matt 13:33 He talks about the Kingdom of God is likened to mixing the dough until it was all leavened. This leavening agent is like a yeast that causes raw dough to rise. In the Old Testament, God often told the Isrealites to refrain from eating anything leavened (Exod 12:14-20) which was a form of sin and hypocrisy (1 Cor 5:6-8; Matt 16:5-12). In the Old Testament, it was a sign of keeping the law that was written. In the New Testament, Christ talks about the leaven as not necessarily keeping the law by doing, but keeping the commandments and His doctrine within our hearts instead because we now live under Grace. In Matt 16:5-12, Jesus talks to His Disciples about being aware of the yeast of the Pharisees. They thought He was talking about actual bread when Christ is actually talking about the false teachings of the Pharisees (vs 12) because they felt righteous by keeping the Law rather then believing Christ. Christ often confused the Pharisees. As one example of many, He taught them that it was better to do good then to just follow a bunch of rules and regulations, like saving a donkey from the well on the sabbath day (Luke 14:5). The Pharisees thought they were justified by keeping the law while forsaking what was really important. The yeast of the Pharisees were much different from the Yeast of Gods Word. The parable about the Kingdom of God being like dough that was mixed and leavened, I like to think of this as a symbol and sign for the important of Unity and Doctrine. In order for the mixture to be leavened, it has to mix together with the Yeast of following Gods teaching (not the yeast of anyone elses teaching). This reminds me that when we make up the Church, we need to mix with one another and be of one mindset (Phil 2:2) because we follow Christ and not just some form of doctrine because Christ is The Way, The Truth and The Life (John 14:6) and there is no other way that we can ever inherit eternal life. Also in this simple parable, this tells me that when we don't mix and we keep to our separate little groups, we don't allow the Yeast of Gods teaching to work properly for the Church in order to rise. When you bake a bread, you need to mix all ingredients thoroughly and add the yeast in order for the dough to rise to its fullness in order to have its best effect. Otherwise your dough will remain stagnant if the ingredients are not well mixed. Therefore, this is telling me that we need to mix with one another and come to the place and understanding that "WE NEED EACH OTHER" and see our need for each other to be of one mind by only allowing the Yeast of Gods Word be our Doctrine which is how the Church is able to grow (rise). Just like the ingredients that don't mix or allow the yeast to have its full effect, you can't expect to enjoy the freshness of eating bread the way we like to eat fresh bread. It's the same as this parable tells us. When we don't mix well (not being unified with one another by following what God teaches us), and not allowing the fullness of Gods Word (His Yeast) within us, we cannot expect the Church to grow either. Like I mentioned, it's amazing that God can say so much in one sentence. I believe I only scraped the surface of the full meaning of this short parable and I am certain there is much more to say about this. Understand this, that Christ speaks in parables so that those who have a heart after Him and will spend time seeking Him and His leading are the only ones who grasp the true meaning of the parables. It has to do with our heart towards Him and not being an intellect (read Matt 13:10-17). The ones who don't allow Him to have any place in their hearts don't ever receive the richness of His wisdom and knowledge for them. Allow God by asking Him to move your heart to reverently fear Him to keep His commandments (Eccl 12:13). When we do, He promises to reveal the secrets and richness of His Kingdom to you when your heart is right towards Him (Matt 13:11; Mark 4:11; Luke 8:10). I welcome any further comments you may have concerning this. God bless to All. Richard Poulin Answers2Prayer Ministry Encourager

The Kingdom of God - Part 2

Dearest Saints, As a continuation of what I started a couple of topics ago, I continue to think alot about the Kingdom of God and all the parables Jesus talks about that is likened unto the Kingdom of God. I do encourage any feedback you may have because I don't confess to have all the answers, but I like to share what I believe God is telling me. I am eager to share this because He talks so much about what the Kingdom of God is about. And knowing that when He talks so much about any subject (including this particular one), it is something we need to pay close attention to and not take lightly. When we read in Matthew 13, some of the parables He likens the Kingdom of God include: a. Seed that fell on different kinds of soils (vs 4-8) which He further explains in vs 19-23; b. Parable of the wheat and darnel (vs 24-30), which is further explained to the Disciples in (vs 36-41); c. Parable of the Mustard seed (vs 31-32); d. Parable of the leaven dough (vs 33); e. Treasure buried in a field (vs 44); f. Search for precious pearl (vs 45,46); and g. Parable of the dragnet (vs 47-52). There are also some found in Chap 25 that talks about the 5 foolish virgins and 5 wise virgins (Matt 25:1-12), using talents (vs 14-30) and the parable concerning being invited to His banquet (Matt 22:2-13). I find when I study certain scriptures long enough, I get excited about knowing how He is so faithful to reveal insights when we will take time to seek. He proves His Word to tell us that when we seek, we are able to find what we are searching for (Matt 7:7). In a nutshell, when Christ talks about the Kingdom of God from all the parables, I believe He talks about a great separation from those who are committed to following Him and those who choose not to. God is quite clear telling about the results of the rewards of being Children of God and the destructive results of those who forsake Him and choose not to follow Him. The first parable about the seed falling on different soils are well explained, so I won't go into detail. But I like to explain further about the wheat and tares. For those who are in the farming business, you know all about this. The wheat is a useful grain that stands in a field straight up (compared to those who look up to God who set their eyes and heart upon Him). The wheat is compared to His Children. On the other hand, the darnel (children of the evil one) are the ones whose heads are bent over and looking down (which is another form of those whose love, cares and affections are on this world) who doesn't bother to look up to God when they should. The wheat are His Children who look up to God and are useful for the Kingdom which is the grain that feeds and nourishes peoples physical needs. The darnel is a weed that is anything but useful. This is compared to those who are useful for Gods use (grains of wheat) and those who are of no use to God when we choose not to follow Him. God cannot use anyone who is not willing to allow Him to be Lord of their lives. How can anyone be useful for His purposes when we don't allow Him to be Lord of our lives or submit our heart before Him in the first place? God even warns His own people who look back by setting their cares and affections on this world are not fit for His Kingdom (Luke 9:62). He needs our whole heart. An interesting point is when Christ talks in a parable about the Servants who were eager to pull up the darnel right away to burn them. Christ tells them not to pull them up because we may also pull up the wheat at the same time (vs 28-30). In other words, we need to learn to live together, but remain distinctly different from those who God sees as darnels (children of the wicked one) (vs 38). By pulling up the darnel, God was concerned about the well being of His own children who may have also been pulled up when He doesn't want that to happen. This also tells me that God uses the ungodly to keep us sharpened and prove our faith in Him when we deal with those who are considered wicked. How can we prove our love and faithfulness to Him when we want to always live the life of ease and be of no use to reach the lost? This tells me also that there is a danger when we only want to live in our little "Christian Groups", being totally separate from the world when we should influence them instead. Christ Himself says to the Pharisees when they scorned Him by associating Himself with sinners all because they kept themselves separate from sinners. He tells the Pharisees that it was important for Him to associate with sinners because they are the ones who He compares to them who are sick are the ones who need a Doctor, not those who are well (talking in a spiritual means) Matt 9:10-13. The Pharisees only hung within their own kind which meant they were of little use of having any positive influence on outsiders at all, which we are admonished to do. We need to be useful from what we learn about Christianity to bring this out of the Church walls and not just benefit our own selves. How can we influence those who are outside who need to be drawn into the Kingdom of God when we are only going to hang around those in our little Christian Groups? God is looking for those who will labour for the cause of souls and be useful, just like the wheat is most useful that benefits all (Matt 9:37). Christ tells us that the separation comes when He sends the angels to gather (vs 41) that will separate the darnel (children of the evil one) from the wheat (children of God). This also tells us that it is up to Him to send the angels to gather and separate, not for us to try and do (like the Servants wanted to do) simply because we would have made a mess and destroyed some of the wheat in the meantime. One of the things that separates the chaff from the darnel and the grains of wheat is that when the wind comes, the chaff that is useless is blown away and the grains that are useful are able to withstand the wind and falls into the grainery for further use. Notice that calmness doesn't separate the two as does when the winds blow. When storms come, this is often when you will notice the difference between those who are not of God and those who remain strong in Him. Too many people don't take His Word literally and think that He will save everyone just because He is a God of love. Our Bible does not say that. God is not only love above ALL else, but He is also a God who is Just and tells us plainly the Truth because He is love. It's because of His love for us that He often warns us with His Truth. So when He says there is going to be a distinct separation of those who are going to be thrown into the fire and those who are in right standing shine forth like the sun (vs 42,43), He means this. It may not be the nicest message, but it is the Truth because this is what He says. I love each of you enough that I am willing to receive any opposition about this just because it is based on Truth because it is in His Word. So when Christ talks about His Kingdom and for us to be fit for His Kingdom, lets invite Him to be Lord of our lives and allow Him to have ALL of Our HEART and not just part of us. Be encouraged to ask Him to make us as wheat by totally looking up to Him and setting our affections on Him and the things concerning His Kingdom. Just like wheat is the one that is nourishing in a physical sense, we whom are truly His Children will be able to equally nourish others (admonishing, teaching, being an encourager) that benefits others by being useful for Him, His use and to advance His Kingdom. To be most useful is to humble ourselves before Him, choosing to believe Him regardless of what we think and by allowing Him to rule our heart. I would like to continue further about the other parables and be fit for the Kingdom of God. I encourage anyone to share your comments anytime. May this be a rich blessing to all. In the Matchless Name of Jesus Richard Ministry Encourager Answers2Prayer http://sites.google.com/site/greatestbuilderforourlife http://www.answers2prayer.org/

Do You REALLY CARE?

Good Day Dearest Saints, Most of the time, I love to encourage so people are empowered to know that there is HOPE for each one by sharing my life and the Hope He has given me. But aside from just encouraging, I feel I need to Challenge each one including myself, and I sense that this time to challenge each one is NOW. Occasionally, I hear familiar statements that are either encouraging, thought-provoking or messages to challenge us. One of my favorite sayings I often hear is "No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care"! The greatest sermons of all time is not necessarily preached behind the pulpit, its demonstrating Christ to others from what we have read in scriptures or heard from preachers and are living it out. It's not enough to hear a sermon and just go home and do nothing with what we have read or heard. We need to share what we know. I have to admit, for myself, I feel I am educated more then my obedience which is a big OUCH for me. So this is equally intended for myself, if not, more so. When I think about that initial statement, I have to ask myself: What action(s) am I portraying to show that I care for one another? What type of action(s) am I failing to portray that demonstrates my lack of caring one for another? Are there any actions I am doing that show my lack of care for one another? People are most encouraged to do what is right when they know that there is someone who truly cares. It is not going to matter how many sermons he/she hears in church or sermons watched on TV, it is going to count when they know that there is someone who cares for them. I often think it's the little things that really count and also the little gestures we show and perhaps fail to show that speaks volumes. Just like the sins of remission and sins of omission. The sins of remission is when someone commits a sin by committing a sinful action, and the sin of omission is failing to do what we know to do what is right, but don't it (James 4:17). Both are equally sinful which is what lead Christ to the Cross in the first place who took those huge spikes in our place. When someone spends time to encourage, does anyone even acknowledge for one moment and appreciate what others may be doing? I often question why it seems hard for people to say a simple "Thank You" or just to say how we appreciate them. Why is it hard for people to do that? Like I said, I am going to be challenging about this. I like the fact that the Apostle Paul says to various Churches "I thank God for each of you by keeping the faith" (1 Cor 1:4-9). He not only appreciated each one, but acknowledge God first and foremost by thanking Him. This tells me that appreciating one another goes hand in hand with thanking God. Appreciating one another encourages one another and we are told to encourage each other while it is called TODAY so we won't be hardened by sins deceitfulness (Heb 3:13). Paul started to entreat the Corinthian Church in the following verses. But again, he always starts and ends by encouraging them and thanking God for them. Therefore, I want to now say that I appreciate all the Pastors that put in hours and hours of prayer time and study notes to preach an anointed message to benefit and equip the hearers. I appreciate all those who evangelize to share the gospel and be used of God to draw people to Christ. I appreciate a lot of those in missionary work around the world showing the love of Christ by meeting physical and spiritual needs to others. Especially in parts of the world that don't live in a comfortable society that we North Americans are often accompanied by. I appreciate those of you who spend hours in quiet time studying and praying and interceding one for another. I love to encourage people. But often times, like myself...we need to be challenged and admonish each one to "Get out of our comfort zone". God tells us in His Word that iron sharpens iron (Prov 27:17). If we truly appreciate one another, do we ever just give a call to one another just to see how they are doing? Do we ever just email someone whom you know is hurting and let them know you are thinking and praying for them? When we see someone alone in a crowd, do we go out of our way to share a warm smile, a handshake and spend a little time with them? These are a lot of very small gestures to tell others that WE CARE. It breaks my heart when I hear about outsiders coming into Church and hearing a sermon but not greeted by anyone to just acknowledge their presence. The sad part about it is that it only takes very little effort to do these kind gestures. Even amongst the crowds, Jesus always acknowledged people. I like the story about how Christ noticed Zacchaeus who was sitting in a tree and gave special attention to him while he was alone in the tree (Luke 19:3-5). We are told to be imitators of Christ (Eph 1:5) and as Paul imitated Christ, so should we. The scriptures tell us to be DOERs of the Word and not just HEARERs where it describes a man who is only a hearer of the Word and looks in a mirror and then walking away forgetting what he looks like (James 1:23,24). God tells us that not everyone who calls Me Lord, Lord will enter the Kingdom, but those who DO the WILL of My Father (Matt 7:21). If people would understand that the amount of our love for the Lord goes hand in hand with how we treat the least of the Brethren (Matt 25:40). I not only challenge each one, this is also a challenge for me like every message I put together to go beyond what we normally do and demonstrate Christ more. I spend hours upon hours to put together these messages as a way of telling each one that I do this because "I DO CARE" and want each of you to be most blessed because of it. I want to be able to share the experience of my life to others because of the HOPE God has truly given me to really live. When we care about God, care about being Representatives of Him and Agents of Light for Him in this dark world, we will care about one another. The amount of love we have for God is the amount of love we have for one another. Too many people in Churches sing and say they love God, but is often questionable about loving others. The sign of the cross not only goes Up and Down, but across to one another. I put this challenge out to you (and myself) to truly demonstrate to one another that others can say of us "I SEE THAT YOU DO CARE". I put this challenge out all because I do it out of love and concern for each one and because "I DO CARE". Do you care? In the Matchless Name of Jesus Richard Ministry Encourager Answers2Prayer http://sites.google.com/site/greatestbuilderforourlife http://www.answers2prayer.org/ For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ (Gal 3:27)

SEEK FIRST the KINGDOM of GOD

Dear Blessed Saints, I have had this desire to learn in a much deeper way to obtain a greater understanding of what it means to "Seek ye first His Kingdom and His Righteousness"(Matt 6:33). This particular passage encompasses something vital that offers an enormous promise to those who fulfill this requirement. For one thing, it doesn't say that some things will be added to you or "may be added to you". But declares "ALL" things "SHALL" be added unto you. The Word "all" doesn't leave anything out that would exclude anything being good and eternally profitable to us. The Word "shall" puts a definitive emphasis that what He promises is going to take place, Regardless! When Gods Word often says "shall" when making promises to us, this makes me realize that we need to respond equally by having that same strong confidence in God that will put great emphasis on our part that BELIEVES HIM, no matter what. So when we pray, we need to KNOW He hears our prayers and will answer them (1 John 5:14,15) when we pray according to His will and make no room for doubt or being double-minded (James 1:6-8). Therefore, I became interested in finding out more about what it really means to seek His Kingdom First. Christ likens His Kingdom to a lot of parables He talks about. He talks about the wheat and the tares growing together and then being separated (Matt 13:24-30). He talks about selling all and a person buying a valuable field with a "Pearl of Great Price" (Matt 13:45,46). Another one is talking about a small mustard seed that causes a large tree to form and being a shelter for many birds (Matt 13:31,32), along with other parables when you read Matt Chapter 13 as one of the primary chapters that talks about His Kingdom principles. Presently, I am taking a course session on this Title from Dr Ralph Wilson who has a great teaching tool on this subject. The main points I would like to bring out about seeking His Kingdom first (I believe) has to do with Humility and Love. I like comparing His parable of the mustard seed that is very small in size, but grows into a large tree. It's like comparing to ourselves that the more we decrease (by not relying on ourselves) and trusting entirely on God. Without having true humility, we fail to see our depravity and our need of God who alone is able to do what only He can do. No man can change a heart, only God can. When God commands us to do something, He also reminds us that without Him, we can do nothing (or accomplish nothing that has any eternal value) John 15:5. Therefore, this is why it is paramount to enquire of Him as your absolute Source of help to create in you a right heart (Ps 51:10). One of the scriptures that jumps out at me is (Matt 22:37-39) where God explains to a lawyer/teacher of the law that we are to love the Lord with All of our Heart, All of our soul and All of our Mind. Then, we are to love one another as He loves us. This is what fulfills all the law and prophets (vs 40). Therefore, I find that seeking His Kingdom First goes hand in hand to have humility to allow Him to change our heart so we can love Him with "Our All" and to put Him First in our lives. When we humble ourselves to ask Him to give us that heart of love for Him (Ask and you shall receive), He will give you this ability to do just that. Seek by spending time to come to Know Him and you will receive and understand (Seek and you shall find). Knocking on the door is like that parable of the persistent fellow who wanted 3 loaves of bread from his friend at midnight because his family was hungry and got it only because he persisted (Luke 11:5-8). So when we come "knocking" (be persistent) while being hopeful and this is when the door of opportunity opens (Knock and the door shall be open to you). Secondly, seeking His Righteousness is believing Him of Who He says He is. We are told that we are declared Righteous simply because we believe (Rom 4:3,5). Jesus tells His Disciples that our "works" is simply to believe in the One (Jesus) whom the Father has sent (John 6:29). Therefore, His Righteousness is His Truth and we need to believe Him to know He is truly Righteous. If we don't believe He is Righteous, then how can you expect to become Righteous when Righteousness only comes from Him in the first place? (Rom 4:24) The third portion of this scripture is His Promise to us when we do seek First His Kingdom and His Righteousness. He promises that "All these things shall be added unto you". This is a wonderful and powerful promise. This promise tells me that when we humble ourselves for His help to seek FIRST His Kingdom and Righteousness, He promises to fulfill and meet every one of our needs. You will notice the preceding verses (Matt 6:31,32) tells us not to worry because He knows what we need. Therefore, He is telling us that when we have concerns and needs to be met, we need to seek His Kingdom First and His Righteousness rather then "trying" to do and stop relying by becoming your own resource. I like to put it this way: When we seek His Kingdom and Righteousness first, everything that concerns us will fall into place. That's His promise to us. Therefore, when we really want to seek His Kingdom first, let's humble ourselves (knowing our depravity without Him) and ask Him to give us a heart of Love for Him and His Righteousness (by believing He is who He is and what the Bible says completely about Him). Having a heart for Him fulfills everything, including seeking His Kingdom first because this is a reminder that Jesus told the lawyer that this fulfills ALL the law and prophets (Matt 22:37-39). In the Matchless Name of Jesus Richard Ministry Encourager Answers2Prayer http://sites.google.com/site/greatestbuilderforourlife http://www.answers2prayer.org/

BEING ZEALOUS for GOD

Blessed Saints of the Most High, Just like the prayer of Jesus taught His Disciples, He glorified God the Father first. I would like to start by just glorifying Him because I find the Lord so amazing the more I spend quiet time with Him by just meditating on Him and His word more and more. The doors He opens and how He tells us that He uses the weak and foolish to shame the wise (1 Cor 1:20-25) is mind boggling. Just like the last article I wrote about having courage and knowing "How" to develop courage with His help, I would now like to share "How" we can be zealous for God. Again, we know what the Word says about having zeal for God, but many people have a hard time to make it work out for them. So again, I would like very much to share what I believe the Lord has (and continues) taught me and to share so all of us can make the most of His Word and His will work for our benefit. Several decades ago, when I believed I had no purpose in life or didn't feel I had any value to contribute to, I had absolutely no energy or zeal to do anything meaningful and just felt lifeless as though I was just existing all because I felt I had no value. I am so thankful now that I am totally on the other side of this spectrum from the way I believed and felt. When I now have the energy and passion that I did not have for some time in the past, I realize now that what gives me energy, passion and zeal to do anything is knowing we are valued and are valuable and not just considered a number. Therefore, I would like to emphasize some very important truths to each one. If any of you feel like you are not valuable, you need to refute and repent of listening and believing this lie that comes from the enemy before you do anything else simply because those of you who doubt you are not valuable to Him are not listening to the Truth of Gods Word for you. One of the most encouraging portions of scripture I have always liked can be read in 1 Cor 12:12-27. It compares the spiritual body to the physical body and how we need each other. The eye doesn't say to the hand, I have not need of you (vs 21). I especially like vs 22-24 that talks about the parts that seem ignoble or less important, God gives special honour to these parts of the body. When we receive Christ, WE ARE THAT BODY that is joined together and works together by being valuable collectively to each other for His sake. Again, it all comes down to knowing God, not just knowing about Him. When we know God, we will KNOW He does everything for a wonderful divine purpose, and WE ARE PART OF HIS DIVINE PURPOSE. If we know God, we will know the truth that none of us are here by any accident. He formed us in the womb in whom we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Job 10:10; 31:15; Psalm 139:13-15; Isa 44:2,24; Isa 49:5 and Jer 1:5) and each one of us is living in the present for a divine purpose and NOT just to simply exist. None of us were created just to exist or purposed to just live for this present world, but we were created for a far greater purpose He has set for each of us. The greatest mandate in all of existence from past, present and future will never exceed Gods mandate and purpose which He created us for. When we realize how awesome He is and how He controls, directs events and does everything for a purpose, you will realized He considers each of you highly valuable. You and I are HIGHLY VALUABLE to Him. He would not have created any of you if He didn't have a wonderful purpose to have you here in this present age in the first place. This is something we need to believe in our heart that we are HIGHLY VALUABLE TO HIM and He wants to use each of us to fulfill the greatest mandate ever purposed in life itself. This is something we need to get from our head to our heart. The reason why many don't fulfill this is simply because many don't believe this for themselves. No wonder Jesus answers His Disciples in John 6:29 that the works for us is to simply BELIEVE in the One (Jesus) whom the Father has sent. So we need to believe Him, believe who He is and that we are part of His wonderful plan. If we don't get this revelation into our heart, we can/will never accomplish what God has set us apart to do. When I received this revelation of how He loves me and values me, He brought brought life, purpose and value to my dead situation. This can be life-changing to you as it has to me if you will just BELIEVE. As always, for your benefit, I would like to encourage you to see His creation from His eyes and how He wanted to create each of you for this purpose at this moment in History for what we believe the greatest event will soon take place. And we are part of the greatest mandate in a time I think is the greatest event that is about to come which is His second coming. We have to get this truth (Revelation) into our heart and say that: "God loves me and I am highly valuable to Him. And by His Grace, I will submit to Him to fulfill the greatest mandate He has planned for me". He tells us in Isaiah 43:7 that He created all mankind to glorify Him. Therefore, we are valuable to Him to fulfill this purpose He created us to do in life. Believing otherwise is being deceived of the one who is out to rob us (John 10:10a) from being the people of God who suffered and died for us to become. After I have lived under the devils deception for many years, I have determined by the Grace of God (His help for me first and foremost), that I am NOT giving satan the satisfaction of ever robbing me from Gods very best for me or ever rob me of the wonderful destiny God has for myself and for each one of you. When I realize how valuable I am to Him, I have that zeal and passion He has given me to do exceedingly than I had ever expected. I can't thank Him enough for giving me this revelation and I hope it is a true revelation that will give you real Hope and knowing He wants to use you and give you a bright future (Jer 29:11). When you know this Truth (as one of many), He tells us that the Truth sets us free (John 8:32). Don't ever accept living in bondage to the lies of the enemy, receive this truth and be all you can be for Him who loves you and values you more then you can ever think or imagine. What more does He have to prove His love and how He values to us when He took our place on the Cross and gave His life for us? In the Matchless Name of Jesus Richard Ministry Encourager Answers2Prayer http://sites.google.com/site/greatestbuilderforourlife http://www.answers2prayer.org/