I have to Forgive

Ever hear anyone say....... well the Bible says I have to forgive, So therefore, I forgive you...

It is as if we are forced to forgive or else!!!!! The Bible does not teach forgiveness in that manner........ We know that the letter kills but it is the Spirit that gives life. ....... , Without understanding the spirit behind the laws of GOD we die...

.It is the Spirit of LIFE that is in Christ Jesus. ... that has set us free from the "I have to do right, because the Bible says so",.... to our new state that declares... I want to do right and have been given the grace to enable me to do right...... That is evidence of the Spirit of Life coming from Jesus.


Rom 8:2
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.


2 Cor 3:6
who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Our GOD's motive for forgiveness is not because He has to forgive. ...GOD can do exactly as He chooses.. So why does GOD forgive???????


Ps 86:15
But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, Slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth



GOD forgives because HE wants to forgive..... He desires to forgive and because of His great love,... GOD,.... looks for opportunities to forgive.

Our desires should line up with GODs desires if we are indeed saved and now house the very Spirit of Jesus in our hearts.


1 John 4:17
In this [union and communion with Him] love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him], because as He is, so are we in this world.

Forgiving because we HAVE TO forgive, ... reminds me of going to work everyday but I really would rather not go to work...I simply hate my job .. I must then present this front and pretend...that I have the right attitude when all along..I am only going through the motions. .. The job is not in my heart.. ....it is only the means to earn a living.

As Christians our behavior should not be a front.. we should not do things based on having to do obey GOD because the Bible says so... No not at all... Matured men and women in the salvation experience... want to forgive just as GOD wants to forgive US and because the Bible says so is in my heart by and through the Holy Spirit from GOD ..... .


Look as this example of someone caught in the snare of sin...

John 8:4
they *said to Him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act.


How does Jesus respond...

John 8:10
Straightening up, Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?"

If anyone could have condemned this woman.. it would have been Jesus.. Jesus as we know is sinless... a lamb without spot or wrinkle or any blemish whatsoever...

John 8:11
She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more."]

Praise HIS NAME!!!! Truly it is the kindness and goodness of GOD that leads us to repent... I tell you on that day, this lady was restored to life, she was forgiven.. Can you imagine the relief she felt ..????


Rom 2:4
Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

At any moment GOD is ready and very much desires to forgive us..., He does NOT condemn those of us who seek forgiveness.. He is very near to restore us.. Yes very near... even in our very heart and speech .. If we ask with a sincere heart... MY friends then we are forgiven.

When someone has violated you .. sinned against you in anyway... and they ask for forgiveness do not do it because you have to forgive....

Let it be because... we know that the very act of forgiveness brings life and restoration...

Let it be because we desire to forgive ...

Let it be because we desire to be an extension of Jesus in this world.. looking for the opportunity to forgive.. AND FORGET!!!!..

Is 43:25
"I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins

That's right... remembers your sins no more... no record.. GONE.... and we should treat our brother and sister the very same way...

That old cliche .. I will forgive you but I will never forget...., IS not from the heart of GOD...


Mic 6:8
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, and to love kindness and mercy, and to humble yourself and walk humbly with your God?

God Revealed

When we have no knowledge of the existence of God we begin to theorize about HIS very existence. I remember feeling like... hummm, I have to believe in something.., and so what shall I believe...

When I was young we all thought of ourselves as Christian. I was not a Christian, but, I thought hey, whatever we say we are that’s what we are right... We choose a religion based on our understanding of what makes sense to us.. or we choose because father or mother made us go to that church down the street... I remember becoming catholic because I went to a catholic school for a year.... knew all the prayers .. the rosary everything.. But I did not know GOD.. I was only giving GOD lip service..


Matt 15:8
'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME.

The reality of GOD becomes dramatically true, when you find out GOD really does indeed exist… .. But knowing GOD does not necessarily come about as a great discovery down some long spiritual path…and then suddenly..after much effort we find GOD….Many people have done that and found Buddha, or Mohamed or perhaps another religious deity...

These religious icons are a substitute for knowing the real GOD and a hindrance from knowing the true and Living GOD as known through the revelation of Jesus Christ.. ... They are what I know to be -anti-Christ spirits. Religions denying Christ as the only way to GOD and holding themselves up as a substitute for Christ

We can therefore define an anti-Christ spirit as being against Christ and instead of Christ.


1 John 4:3
And every spirit which does not acknowledge and confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh [but would annul, destroy, sever, disunite Him] is not of God [does not proceed from Him]. This [nonconfession] is the [spirit] of the antichrist, [of] which you heard that it was coming, and now it is already in the world.

Any religion that does not knowledge that Jesus is indeed GOD incarnate is a religion being operated through an anti-christ spirit.. .. Saying Jesus is a god, rather than GOD..or saying Jesus was only a prophet or just another righteous man is false religion .. it is blasphemy.


John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Let us have scripture again reveal this immovable foundational truth;


Phil 2:6
Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained,



When we, as saved people explain to the world that Jesus is GOD..They are offended, they repel you and can often become angry with you..

Matt 7:6
"Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces

.We can talk about any religion, but when the name of Jesus come up.. there is likely to be an unwelcome response.....What is behind this reaction..

I would have to say in many cases it is an anti-Christ spirit.... The reaction to Jesus is .., there are many ways to GOD.. this is your way but we have ours... Again such thinking can result in a grave error with damnation of their soul being the eternal consequence.


John 14:6
Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.


Knowing GOD is an act solely initialed by GOD Himself..., Through GOD revealing himself... Yes it is GOD who reveals Himself .. and not man who finds GOD.. we are at best blind men wondering through life and until GOD opens our eyes we do not see HIM ..until GOD reveals HIMSELF.


Nicodemus , was considered a religious man, a leader of GOD people the Jews.. yet He knew NOT ..GOD..


John 3:1
NOW THERE was a certain man among the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler (a leader, an authority) among the Jews,


John 3:2
Who came to Jesus at night and said to Him, Rabbi, we know and are certain that You have come from God [as] a Teacher; for no one can do these signs (these wonderworks, these miracles--and produce the proofs) that You do unless God is with him.

Nicodemus saw Jesus as a teacher but not the Holy ONE of GOD... And Nicodemus with all his authority and all his education.. someone who undoubtedly spent his lifetime reading scripture.. YET.. He knew NOT GOD


John 3:10
Jesus replied, Are you the teacher of Israel, and yet do not know nor understand these things? [Are they strange to you?].

While in the meantime ..Peter a fisherman.. not a particular religious man at all... Was given the Revelation of Christ Our Savior..….

Matt 16:17
Then Jesus answered him, Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are you, Simon Bar-Jonah. For flesh and blood [men] have not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in heaven.

Just as things are today , things were the same in the time period of Jesus ministry.. Many People had theories about who is this Jesus...


Matt 16:13
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"


Matt 16:14
And they said, "Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets."


GOD can only be known in reality through an actual experience with GOD.., Yes a revelatory experience. We have come to call it a personal relationship with Christ..., the phrase "personal relationship".. is not to be found anywhere in scripture.. But we know it to mean.. an actual experience with knowing Jesus through Revelation knowledge.. In our case through .. His revealed WORD..., Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the WORD of GOD...


In what we thought was our search for GOD was in reality GOD drawing us to HIMSELF..

John 6:44
"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.

GOD is not apparent to everyone, People hope that they know GOD they hope they are going to heaven... But only when GOD reveals Himself to you can we be certain.

To the World God is hidden… their questions are always... does GOD exist?????

Is 45:15
Truly You are a God Who hides Himself, O God of Israel, the Savior


Yet our LORD does leave a multitude of clues that bear out HIS existence.., the creation itself testifies of the existence off GOD… The intelligent design of our world and the very universe speaks about the existence of GOD…

Ps 19:1 The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
Ps 19:2 Day to day pours forth speech,
And night to night reveals knowledge.
Ps 19:3 There is no speech, nor are there words;
Their voice is not heard.

We can look up at the Sun, the moon and the countless stars in the sky.. And if we are reasonable people we must say…Who put all this together???? Someone had to do this..
It’s like walking into a vast wilderness and stumbling upon a Mansion…,..The first thing we look for is someone to be there.. This structure did not build itself....We have stumbled upon something far greater than a mansion in the wilderness .. who's maker is the LORD our GOD...


Ps 115:15
May you be blessed of the LORD, Maker of heaven and earth.

Ps 121:2
My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.

Ps 124:8
Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.

Ps 134:3
May the LORD bless you from Zion, He who made heaven and earth

.
John 1:3 All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being.


The evidence is overwhelming.. , GOD does exist… Seeing GOD in creation is much like seeing a completed mansion and knowing someone had to construct this house… but not meeting the builder…until one day the builder decides to come out and say hello… …

God revealing Himself to Paul

Acts 9:3
As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him;

Acts 9:4
and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"

Acts 9:5
And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" And He said, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting

GOD revealing Himself to Moses

Ex 3:3
So Moses said, "I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up."


Ex 3:4
When the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am."


Ex 3:5
Then He said, "Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground."


Ex 3:6
He said also, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God

One day,..... only known perhaps between you and the LORD.. GOD revealed Himself to you........... And your life has been forever CHANGED......

This my friend is how you were Born Again....

John 1:13
Who owe their birth neither to bloods nor to the will of the flesh [that of physical impulse] nor to the will of man [that of a natural father], but to God. [They are born of God!]

Serving GOD, Part 3 - When do we Serve.

The subject of serving GOD is exhaustive, to say the very least. Many many topics can be derived from these few lessons. And, we may go deeper into the subject matter in the future. We will examine the gifts more thoroughly,... it is a fascinating look at the "How", of serving GOD.

Now we look at the ,WHEN.... when do we serve...??? First every Born again child of GOD is on GOD's schedule and GODs time table. The plan of service for your life is not something left up to chance.. GOD has an intricate plan.... and that plan was written before you were even born.

Please.......... .Read slowly and carefully the verses below.. and let not your natural mind prejudice your thinking...

Ps 139:15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;

Ps 139:16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.

Amazing .... All your days are recorded in heaven NOW... not after you die....right NOW... How can this be... ??? We have to understand that GOD has not limitations like we might imagine... God sits outside of the dimension of time... He sees , past, present and future in an instance..and He orchestrates every element... HE is sovereign in every respect...

David wrote.. , This is..sooooooo far above my head .. I'm not going to even worry about it.. ..Well that's "Ormond's".. translation of what David said...:


Ps 139:6
Your [infinite] knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high above me, I cannot reach it....

The Prophet Jeremiah writes as directed by the Holy Spirit:

Jer 29:11
For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

Here again... New Testament....

Eph 2:10
For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].

And how much clearer can we get from reading..."predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], "

And Again......

Ex 23:20
"Behold, I am going to send an angel before you to guard you along the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.

Your life has tremendous value to GOD, He has ordained you to be a significant part in the Kingdom of GOD. GOD has a PLAN For YOU...

And plans have schedules..... You are on GODs schedule..even if you are not aware of it.. Still you are on His time frame, for executing His will in the earth...


John 7:6
So Jesus *said to them, "My time is not yet here, but your time is always opportune.

140
John 7:8
"Go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast because My time has not yet fully come."

Jesus was on a schedule ... And he was always on time... He knew the plan for His life... Jesus knew the appointed time for things to happen in His life..


Matt 26:45
Then He *came to the disciples and *said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Jesus was much aware of the time and the hour of His betrayal... Jesus knew the time and the hour of each phase of His ministry... and He waited on GOD.... There were no short cuts.. no work arounds..

There is another element to ..the "When to serve GOD".. and it is being prepared to serve when the call comes to began ...when the time is NOW.. we must be ready to serve.... Preparation to serve makes you qualified to serve...

Preparation begins with study:

2 Tim 2:15
Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.

And finally preparation ends with trail..or testing.. call it your final exam..


Pet 5:10
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you..:

Yes ... GOD Himself..."will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be".... in His service...

Let me give you our foremost example Jesus ... , I will show you Jesus being prepared for ministry.....and then .. Jesus when preparation as completed... and He became qualified for ministry...:

Jesus.................the final exam:


Luke 4:1
THEN JESUS, full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led in [by] the [Holy] Spirit

Noticed Jesus is full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit:

Luke 4:2
For (during) forty days in the wilderness (desert), where He was tempted (tried, tested exceedingly) by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they were completed, He was hungry

Completed the Exam.. Now Qualified to Serve:

Luke 4:14
Then Jesus went back full of and under the power of the [Holy] Spirit into Galilee, and the fame of Him spread through the whole region round about.

First we see Jesus full of and controlled by.... and NOW we see Jesus full of and under the POWER..of the Holy Spirit..

Look at the Prophecy written by the Holy Spirit using the hand of the Prophet Isaiah:

Is 61:1
THE SPIRIT of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound,

We serve...WHEN .. we are qualified to serve: "and qualified me ".. as shown above... Friends it is obedience under fire....

Heb 5:8
Although He was a Son, He learned [active, special] obedience through what He suffered


Heb 5:9
And, [His completed experience] making Him perfectly [equipped], He became the Author and Source of eternal salvation to all those who give heed and obey Him

Mark 2:9
"Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven'; or to say, 'Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk'?

11
Mark 2:10
"But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"--........................

When we serve GOD .. when the time arrives... we will be fully prepared and fully qualified.... and we then,,,,operate in HIS Authority...

Matt 28:18
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.


Matt 28:19
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,


Matt 28:20
teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Serving GOD, Part 2 -How we Serve.

We have just finished looking into the Bible concerning .....

Why we serve GOD.

Now, we will engage in opening up the eyes of our understanding into ..........

How we Serve.

Before we can successfully operate as GOD's workmanship, to serve........., our LORD will do somethings first to equip us. .. Our equipment, or gifts define how each of us serve GOD.

1 Cor 12:11 All these [gifts, achievements, abilities] are inspired and brought to pass by one and the same [Holy] Spirit, Who apportions to each person individually [exactly] as He chooses

The Bible says your gift will make room for you. It is in the gifting provided through the Holy Spirit that shows you how we serve GOD as individuals. Of course the ability we obtain through GOD is not just a natural ability or a natural gift. This impartation is a supernatural gift, it is a spiritual gift.

Cor 12:1 NOW ABOUT the spiritual gifts (the special endowments of supernatural energy), brethren, I do not want you to be misinformed.

1 Cor 12:7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the [Holy] Spirit [the evidence, the spiritual illumination of the Spirit] for good and profit.

Before we get into the subject further and define spiritual gifts, please observe the current condition, in our Churches.

There is much confusion, much deception, and much abuse, around the administration and use of spiritual gifts, in the Body of Christ.

Our churches have the look of accommodating charlatans, and opportunist, that are making merchandise of our good will, for their own selfish profit.

Matt 7:15
Beware of false prophets, who come to you dressed as sheep, but inside they are devouring wolves

Matt 24:11
And many false prophets will rise up and deceive and lead many into error

Luke 6:26
"Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way.

1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

We must remain alert and aware of the traps or snares set for GODs people because today deception is indeed rampant in our churches today.

In the direction of the other extreme we have Christians that deny that GOD actually imparts spiritual gifts. In one case there is deception surrounding the use of spiritual gifts and then we have the outright denial that spiritual gifts even exist today. I can not say which error is the more dangerous than the other, but both errors are dangerous and we should not be the victim of either of them.

Fortunately for us we have the light of life, Jesus exposing the dark motives of men through the Holy Spirit. Through the Spirit of GOD we investigate, question, and inquire into all things. Men can be deceived all day long, but mature Spirit lead Christian should not be deceived, at least not for long.

1 Cor 2:15
But the spiritual man tries all things [he examines, investigates, inquires into, questions, and discerns all things], yet is himself to be put on trial and judged by no one [he can read the meaning of everything, but no one can properly discern or appraise or get an insight into him].

Wow, having the Spirit of GOD active on the inside of you... well, nothing can even come close to matching its value..

Now, back to the subject at hand...Our spiritual gift is GOD empowering us to be HIS witness and to execute HIS will in the earth.

Acts 1:8
but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."

Zech 4:6
Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts

Joel 2:28
"It will come about after this That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions

The LORD is saying, when people encounter you, they will see things that no natural man can do. GOD's purpose is to convince men that HE indeed is present and to convict men of sin so they might be saved.

John 11:40
Jesus *said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?"


John 11:41
So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.


John 11:42
"I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me."


John 11:43
When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth."



This profound miracle occurred so that the people would believe that Jesus was sent by GOD. And many people believed on the LORD Jesus after this miracle was performed.

John 11:45
Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what He had done, believed in Him

Ok, someone may say.. well yes this happen but that was Jesus.. and we are not Jesus.., Jesus is GOD he can do anything, right???

My friends Jesus came here, to earth as a normal man. He gave up everything related to HIS divine nature and was born a human being.

Here is a scripture verifying the divine nature of GOD, proving Jesus being GOD!!!!! Before descending to HIS eartly ministry.

Phil 2:6
Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained,

Now, here is Jesus in the role of HIS earthy ministry, were He referred to HImself as the Son of Man.

Phil 2:7
But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being.

Matt 8:20
Jesus *said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."

Every miracle performed by Our LORD was done through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit... YES, the same Holy Spirit that we are filled with Today, the very same Holy Spirit.. There is no other ..

The Gifts:

1 Cor 12:8
To one is given in and through the [Holy] Spirit [the power to speak] a message of wisdom, and to another [the power to express] a word of knowledge and understanding according to the same [Holy] Spirit;


1 Cor 12:9
To another [wonder-working] faith by the same [Holy] Spirit, to another the extraordinary powers of healing by the one Spirit;


1 Cor 12:10
To another the working of miracles, to another prophetic insight (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose); to another the ability to discern and distinguish between [the utterances of true] spirits [and false ones], to another various kinds of [unknown] tongues, to another the ability to interpret [such] tongues.


Eph 4:11
And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers.


Eph 4:12
His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ's body (the church),

Somewhere in the gifts described above you may find YOur empowerment through and by the Holy Spirit... ..How do you know..., there is only one way to know........ GOD Himself shall reveal this to YOU..

But you MUST prepare yourself...,AND, this is how we prepare..

Rom 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

Then you will know........ HOW you can serve the LORD..

Serving GOD Part 1, Why we serve

Serving GOD is a most noble aspiration., wait let me correct myself , serving GOD is by far the most noble aspiration that exist for man. There is unquestionably no greater service you can render in this life. All our efforts to gain significance in this life will be found in service to GOD.


Is 55:2
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your earnings for what does not satisfy? Hearken diligently to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness [the profuseness of spiritual joy].

Man, made in GOD's image and likeness can only find true satisfaction through HIS creator.

Even the unsaved find worldly fame, recognitiona, and material wealth, not to be satisfying. After gaining all the world can offer they still feel empty.

Eccl 3:11
He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.

Men feel empty because we have an eternal spirit that can only be fullfilled with an eternal relationship with its maker. Man is hungry for and thristy for spiritual things, because we are spirtual beings.

John 4:14
but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."

The sum total of everything we are about can be found and defined in our service to and for the LORD. Whatever we choose to do, no matter how small and no matter how large, our aim is to do all to the Glory of GOD.

1 Cor 10:31
Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

However , we must fully understand that any of our own "good deeds" of service, never could be qualified, to purchase our salvation. Therefore ,the idea that GOD weights our deeds, and then determines if we are fit for salvation is woefully false. Jesus paid for us in FULL, we have nothing to pay. The debt was NOT cancelled, it was PAID IN FULL.

1 Pet 1:18
knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,


1 Pet 1:19
but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

Our service to the LORD comes out of the salvation experience. This salvation experience, as we well know, is facilitated completed through the mercy and grace of GOD, Our Father.

Titus 3:5
He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but because of His own pity and mercy, by [the] cleansing [bath] of the new birth (regeneration) and renewing of the Holy Spirit,


BUT, once we are saved, preparation for service begins. God's mandate is that we all serve. Ministry is not an option, it is NOT solely to be done by the preacher or the pastor or the bishop. Do not be deceived the LORD GOD wants you to follow HIM and following Jesus can not be done in the stands we must be on the field of play

Matt 10:38
"And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me

We are a body and every part of the body has a role that benefits the entire body. You are not saved and were not saved to sit on the sidelines.

1 Cor 12:27
Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it.

I have found that we have to be careful in our roles. We must find the place the LORD has for us. Often ,I have seen church folk overwork a few and the masses contributing in a limited way. Find a place of balance when serving Jesus.. Please remember, HIS burden is easy, His yoke is light. We are not to serve outside the provision and grace of GOD..

Matt 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]

Matt 11:29 Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.

Serving Jesus is a work lead by HIS Spirit. Work motivated by carnal desires actually hinder the purposes of GOD.

Men or woman called of GOD, are not bringing Glory to the name of Jesus by neglecting their families and other obligations.

If you are someone who truly desires to serve the LORD, it is most likely due to the LORD planting that desire in your heart. We want and desire to act in unison with the church, the Body of Christ.

Because we are saved, we have the very spirit of obedience, that causes us to want to please GOD. Our new nature seeks GOD in order to be fulfilled and to obtain satisfaction..

Pet 1:2
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.

As you have just read, GOD's Spirit sets us apart from the world and cause us to want to please HIM.

Christians , those of us who have been born again, have taken on a heavenly nature, yes a heavenly nature. The term born again can also be translated born from above. Our desires come out of a new spirit and a new heart.

Ezek 36:26
"Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Ezek 36:27
"I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.

Prior to salvation, we had a leaning towards sin, an appetite, if you will to sin. Our appetite now is towards Godliness and towards obedience to the faith.

1 John 3:9
No one born (begotten) of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, for God's nature abides in him [His principle of life, the divine sperm, remains permanently within him]; and he cannot practice sinning because he is born (begotten) of God.

We are now new creations, with new heavenly citizenship our allegiance is to our faithful creator whom we rightfully call Our FATHER..

Eph 2:5
even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

Eph 2:6
and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Our destiny, our purpose, is wrapped up in pleasing the LORD, who saved us.. so we choose to serve GOD. Our service is fully designed to fulfill both the plan of GOD, and the purpose of GOD.

The Plan of GOD:

Eph 4:13
until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

God's plan is really about getting us to a place of maturity, so that we can serve others to bring them to a place of maturity... so,.... they can serve others and then bring others to a place of maturity.... Why.. so that we can fully know HIM.. the more we are like HIM the more Jesus can have fellowship with us and we can fellowship with HIM.. BUT even more than that.. .

His purpose:


Eph 2:22
In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you yourselves also are being built up [into this structure] with the rest, to form a fixed abode (dwelling place) of God in (by, through) the Spirit.

You are a living stone being shaped and prepared to be a part of the very dwelling place of GOD HIMSELF.. AND this my friend is WHY we serve JESUS

1 Pet 2:5
you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.