Unbolt The Door To Your Heart

Tag: jesus

  • Seek

    “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.” Psalm 27:4 KJV

    “The one thing I ask of the Lord— the thing I seek most—is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.” Psalm 27:4 NLT

    David’s Goal each day was to be in the presence of God. To be with God, to walk with God and to behold God.

    He starts by describing the one and only thing he desires each morning. He desires it so much that he is going to “seek after” it.  There is a difference between seek after and sought after. 

    Seek after is to actively pursue, you are determined, it is your sole focus.

    Sought after is an adjective that describes what many people want. It is popular and they want it but not enough to actively pursue it.  They want it given to them.

    David is setting aside all other needs, desires, worries and distractions. He is focused on one single all-consuming pursuit.  To be in the presence of God.

    The Hebrew word for “dwell” is yashab. It means to stay continually, sit or remain.  David is not interested in a temporary or occasional visit with God. He wants a permanent, all-day presence.

    To behold or gaze means having your eyes, mind and thoughts in a focused look at the character of God. You are not fixating on your pain, darkness, or the circumstances of this world.

    Enquire or Inquire are the same word, just spelled differently depending upon the different parts of the world.  In this verse they mean to meditate on God’s truth, listening to His heart, and aligning one’s life with His wisdom instead of relying on human wisdom or solutions.

    “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33 KJV

    Your first focus and only focus when your eyes open in the early morning is to seek the presence of God in your life today.  In your work, in your relationships with family and friends.

    Let God’s presence dwell deep inside you today.

    Don’t ask God to walk with you. You walk with God.

    Seek Him first and all things will be added to you.

    Remember it is not a religion it is a relationship.

    Loving People one step closer to Jesus.

    Larry

  • Righteous

    “Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous”. Psalms 1:5 KJV

    “Sinners won’t have an excuse on the day of judgment, and they won’t have a place with the people of God”.  Psalms 1:5 CEV

    Who are the Righteous in the above verse? Who are the Sinners in the above verse?

    I love this definition of Righteous.

    Those who honor God and order their lives in all things according to His will. In every human relationship they faithfully fulfill the obligations that the relationship entails. Remembering that in all things, work, home, speech, social, political, economic, and religion, are to be used to bless others and never to exploit and never condemn.

    A righteous person in the Bible is in a right relationship with God and others, living in active alignment with God’s standards rather than relying purely on moral self-sufficiency. While not sinless, a righteous person seeks to respond to God’s grace with a transformed life.

    The true definitions of wicked or sinners is a person who refuses to be transformed and lives a life in separation from God. This applies to those who proclaim to be a Christian, a follower of Jesus, yet cannot surrender control to Him and to those that totally reject God and all His ways.

    The Original words for a righteous person.

    • Hebrew (Tsaddiq): In the Old Testament, the word describes someone who acts with justice, integrity, and fairness, maintaining a straight and true path aligned and transformed  with God’s design.

    • Greek (Dikaios): In the New Testament, it refers to someone who is approved or justified in the sight of God.

    Psalm 1:5 states that wicked people will not be able to defend themselves or survive during God’s final judgment, nor will they belong to the community of righteous people.

    • No standing in judgment: They lack spiritual stability. When God evaluates people, they will fail the test and face condemnation rather than acquittal.

    • No place among the godly: They are permanently separated from the assembly and fellowship of those who follow God.

    • Two paths: Psalm 1 contrasts two types of lives. Righteous people are rooted in God’s word like a healthy tree, while wicked people are unstable and easily blown away like dry chaff.

    • Ultimate accountability: This verse serves as a serious warning that personal choices have permanent, eternal consequences before God

    • Grace over merit: Christian teachers such as Trevin Wax frequently note that heaven is not populated by people who believe they are inherently good or deserving, famously summarized as: “Hell is full of people who think they deserve heaven; heaven is full of people who know they deserve hell”.

    Blaise Pascal’s remark that “there are only two kinds of men: the righteous who think they are sinners and the sinners who think they are righteous”), true righteousness is coupled with humility.

    • Recognition of inadequacy: According to these teachings, those who enter heaven are individuals who recognize their own sin and inability to save themselves, relying instead on the mercy and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

    • Faith as the basis: Salvation is understood as an unearned gift received through repentance and faith in Jesus, rather than the result of good works or moral superiority.

    Heaven is viewed as a gift of divine grace rather than a reward for personal merit.

    Take an honest look at yourself in the mirror. Do you see the face of Jesus covering your face?

    Remember it is not a religion it is a relationship.

    Prayers and Love for all mankind.

    Larry

  • Blessed

    “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither, whatever they do prospers.”  Psalm 1: 1-3 NIV

    Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.” Psalm 1: 1-3 NLT

    This is the start of the book of Psalms. If you have ever wondered what the difference between Psalms and Psalm is? The whole book is called the book of Psalms. An individual chapter or verse is called a Psalm.

    These three verses set the tone for the whole book of Psalms. They also describe what type of individual a follower of God should be.

    Verse, one states that a man who delights in the word of the God will be blessed. The word or law here is not a burden to be followed or obeyed. It is in the word that you find the source of Joy, Peace, Satisfaction and Affection. It is the word that brings you close to God and you feel that closeness deep inside. It is the word that transforms you from desiring a walk with the world and your own wisdom to a walk with God leading. It will bring delight to your heart to be walking holding the hand of God.

    The Hebrew word used in Psalm 1:1 for “blessed” is Ashray or Ashrei. Unlike a fleeting emotional feeling of happiness or mere good fortune, ashrei in the Hebrew Bible implies a deep, enduring state of well-being, alignment, and contentment that comes from walking in God’s ways or living a righteous, faithful life.

    The follower of God does not live the same life or participate in the same things that “sinners” do.  We do not read, watch or participate in activities that open the door to living a life that does not represent God’s Love. We don’t use social media to point out wrongs or condemnation of others. We do not sit around and talk or gossip about others. We do not participate in debates and arguments with others on the merit of God or doctrine.  We do not walk by the destitute, widows and homeless without helping. You are called to be a different person in all walks of life. Your life in all aspects represents Love.

    Verse two tells you how much time a follower of God spends in time with God and His word.  To “meditate” means to constantly ponder, recite and chew on the entire word of God.  To always be in prayer and conversation with God. You are to do this throughout the whole day, morning, afternoon, and evening. You are to be in this mindset at work and at play. The branch must stay fully connected to the vine every second of every day.

    Verse three tells you the benefits of this type of life. This person has its roots planted on the rock of God and will be nourished in all types of circumstances.  The water from God’s word will cure your thirstiness. This person will produce the wonderful fruit of the Spirit. The “prosper” that verse speaks of is not material wealth, but it is the promise of eternal walking with God. When you are planted with your roots in the word you will always bring glory to God and prosper in every situation. 

    The Three Jewish boys had their feet firmly planted in God and His word and they prospered by coming out of the fire after walking with God in the fire.

    We greatly misunderstand the first part of these verses.  The “way of Wicked” is not talking about doing evil things or the habits of world.  These are all good things to stay away from. But the true meaning of the “way of the Wicked” are those that do not walk hand in hand with God and delight in His word by spending all day in close walk with God. This describes everyone that does not let the Holy Spirit transform them from the inside. Even those self-proclaimed Christians who trust in their own control and desires but refuse to put on the robe of Righteousness. The people that Jesus utters the words “I do not know you” are outwardly followers of Him but they never surrendered and walked with Him.  

    In all your ways spend the whole day walking with God, representing His Love for all to see.

    Your prosperity comes in eternity.

    Remember it is not a religion it is a relationship.

    Prayers and Love for all.

    Larry

  • He Came For Me

    He came for Me!

    “But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him”. Romans 5: 8 The Message

    “Yet the proof of God’s amazing love is this: that it was while we were sinners that Christ died for us”. Romans 5:8 JB Phillip

    “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”. Romans 5: 8 KJV

    The Greek word for commendeth in the KJV is συνίστημι / συνιστάνω. Translated is sunistémi and sunistanó.

    The words mean “to set together”, “to stand near”, “to introduce favorably”.

    If you take the time to fully understand the implications of this verse, you will start to be transformed. God sent His son to not only forgive your sins, but to sit next to you, eat with you and to introduce you to His Father in a Favorable light by putting the white robe of righteousness over you.

    He did this even though you showed no sign of goodness and still deep in your sinful ways. You did not earn this Love by following any doctrine or religious principles. 

    Yet it is extremely hard to fully comprehend and to practice in our lives.

    Since the creation of this world, man and religion have been telling you how to live a life with rules that will get you saved for eternity. Just keep the rules, and keep them the way they are telling you to do it.

    Jesus came to try to show, explain and live a life that showed the Jews that all their rules did not earn them a place in eternity. They did not listen and I am afraid that many people and religions today are not listening.

    Paul in Romans 2: 17-29, is trying to explain that those that think they have the light, they think they are a chosen people before God. They think they have the inside track and they believe the only way into eternity. If you just keep the Sabbath Holy, by our definition, worship the way we tell you to and live the way we tell you to live. Eat, drink and dress the way we tell you and then you are basically guaranteed a ticket to Heaven.

    Paul is telling those people that they should be condemned for convincing others about this falsehood. He also ends with that outward behavior that you think shows the world that you are a follower of God is not worthy of anything.  He is stating that a true person of God is one inwardly, marked by a circumcision of the heart wrought by the Holy Spirit rather than an external letter of the law.

    The difference is that we wait for a person to become lovable. They need to show that they deserve our love before we show any love back. Then they need to exhibit the traits that we think show that they believe in God. If they are keeping to the rules, then maybe we can invite them over for dinner.

    God came for me while I was unlovable!  I was not bathed, I was not clean, I had habits that were not eternal habits. I had no desire to even show that I needed to be loved and had not ask for forgiveness.

    He came for Me!

    Let that sink in!  You cannot live a life worthy of ever being in a position where you earn that Love. You will never be lovable enough to earn it.

    Now God is asking you to go forth and show that same relationship with everyone.

    “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13: 34-35 NIV

    This Love will fill your church to overflowing. No amount of doctrinal teaching or preaching will ever do that. It is your job, not the pastors, not the elders nor an evangelism program.  You are to be the person that represents God to everyone.

    If your church is not overflowing and people are not able to find a seat, it is your fault. You are not showing others you are a disciple of God.

    Be Transformed today by fully comprehending what God has done for you when you did not deserve it at all.

    Go and Show God’s love.

    Remember it is not a religion it is a relationship.

    Prayers and Love for all.

    Larry

  • Fruit

    “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.” Galations 5:22 KJV

    The first thing to notice about this verse is that it is singular. Fruit not Fruits. All of these listed traits are one fruit.  You do not get to choose one and not another.  The Holy Spirit brings them all together on one plate and not A La Carte. This Fruit or Trait is available for every believer if they will accept it.

    What is missing from this list is also very important to understand.  Preaching, Teaching, Spreading Doctrine are not a fruit of the Spirit. They are listed as Gifts of the Spirit in other bible verses.  Gifts of the Spirit are only given to a few people and not to everyone. Gifts of the Spirit are given to certain people at the Holy Spirit’s discretion.

    “Don’t be in any rush to become a teacher, my friends. Teaching is highly responsible work. Teachers are held to the strictest standards. And none of us is perfectly qualified. We get it wrong nearly every time we open our mouths. If you could find someone whose speech was perfectly true, you’d have a perfect person, in perfect control of life” James 3: 1-2 The Message.

     There is a big distinction between Fruit of the Spirit and Gifts of the Spirit.

    Scripture defines the fruit of the Spirit as internal character and relational virtues rather than verbal declarations and theological knowledge. The Fruit describes traits in a person’s inner transformation and how they treat others.

    A person can memorize scripture, articulate perfect theology, and preach eloquently while lacking love, patience, or humility. Scripture warns that gifted speech or knowledge without love amounts to “a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal”.

    The Holy Spirit equips some believers with gifts like communication and teaching to serve for the benefit of the glory of God, but the fruit is the evidence of the Spirit’s reshaping of human nature.

    We are to focus on a relationship with Jesus and then take that relationship and show it in how we relate to every human being we encounter. The fruit of the Spirit is the natural overflow of abiding in Christ and letting His life work show through us.  

    We tend to focus on verse 22 and not look verses 23-25.

    “The Spirit, however, produces in human life fruit such as these: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, fidelity, tolerance and self-control—and no law exists against any of them. Those who belong to Christ have crucified their old nature with all that it loved and lusted for. If our lives are centered in the Spirit, let us be guided by the Spirit”. Galatians 5: 22-25 JB Phillips Translation

    The Fruit of the Spirit only comes to those that have crucified their lives to Jesus. The old nature, old habits, old behaviors, old way of thinking, and control issues are put in the past and forgotten. You are a new creation in the Spirit and should be guided by the Spirit.

    The most important trait missing from the list of fruit or gifts is the act of condemnation.

    “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world”. John 3:17 KJV   Condemnation in any format is the work of Satan and is not related to any gift from God.

    Sinners would not have been transformed while eating and drinking with Jesus if he had condemned them over lunch. Condemnation is a fruit of the flesh and not a fruit of the Spirit.

    God knows that the best way to accomplish His great commission is through one’s actions and relationships than through any words that you can utter.  That is why the fruit of the Spirit is relational features and not preaching.

    Today, show people what God has done for you by how you treat them.  Your words are worthless if you do not show love and compassion for them and their lives.

    Remember it is not a religion it is a relationship.

    Prayers and Love for all.

    Larry 

  • Taste

    “O taste and see that the Lord is good” Psalms 34:8 KJV

    Have you ever been in a home and they fixed some food and you were somewhat concerned if you would like it or not? Maybe a restaurant?  You are just not sure if you can trust the taste buds of the person that fixed the food.  Your first questions are how the food was prepared and what are the ingredients. You are asking yourself if I can really trust them that this food will taste pleasing to me.

    David is not asking you to taste in this verse. He is telling you that if you take a taste of God, you will most certainly find that it is the best experience you will have in your life.  David is saying this from experience. David wrote the song after he had been delivered from death at the hands of King Saul and King Abimelech.

    David is know asking you to share in the same feeling that he felt when he realized that his God saved him from death

    David invites you to experience firsthand the delivering power of God.  He understands that you may be hesitant and fearful. You are comfortable in being in control. Yet David is so assured of God’s promise to take care of you that He says if you taste you will see how good God really is. You will experience the benefits of letting God lead and find that it is the best experience you will ever have.

    Just like food must be eaten to know its flavor, God’s goodness must be experienced personally. He invites people to experience God’s goodness for themselves instead of just hearing about it. Tasting is active. You must reach out and take the food and open your mouth to taste it. God is not going to force open your mouth and shove in the experience.  You must be actively seeking and desiring to experience God and His wonderful blessings.

    “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” Matthew 7: 7-8 KJV

    Today you must purposefully reach out and taste the greatness of God.  Then you will experience that His promises are true and everlasting.

    The rushing river did not part until the toes of the priest touched the water.  They had to take the first step. They had to take the first bite to taste and see the greatness of God.

    “And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan” Joshua 3:17 KJV.

    Once they took the first step into the raging flooding water of the Jordan river, it dried up completely for all of the children of Israel to cross.

    Take the first step of complete trust in God and put your wisdom and ideas aside. Taste Him and see that He is Good!

    Remember it is not a religion it is a relationship.

    Prayers and Love for all.

    Larry

  • Vacant Space

    “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation”. Matthew 12:43-45 KJV

    Jesus is speaking directly to people that proclaim to be followers of Him.  Jesus is talking in parable form, yet He is very blunt.

    Merely stopping a behavior or habit is not enough. An outward moral reform or cleansing of one’s life is not going to do any good. You are just living a life that looks good. Whitewashed and clean on the outside and giving the appearance that the inside is clean and swept.

    You cannot just stop doing harmful habits or behaviors. You must actively start another behavior or habit to fill the mind and heart with the presence of God.  If you just stop the habit and do nothing else, Satan sees that you are only doing it to show outwardly that you are good and He will then come back with even greater force than before. You become vulnerable to a greater collapse.

    You must actively invite the Holy Spirit to come and live inside your heart and mind. The problem arises in that the Holy Spirit is in the business of transformation. He is not interested in just living in the space you provided.  He wants to demolish your desires, habits, and thoughts and build a new mind and heart dedicated to the glory of God.

    This is why Jesus said the road is narrow.  Most people do not want or desire to change. They will not allow complete transformation.  Yet, Jesus says you must be reborn again to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

    You can come to God as you are, but you cannot remain as you are.  You must give up total control and hold on to nothing of the past.

    Today, fill the mind and heart with the activities that bring about a complete change.  Stop doing what the world does, stop doing any activity that promotes worldly thoughts. Give total control to God.

    “O taste and see that the Lord is good” Psalms 34:8 KJV

    Remember it is not a religion it is a relationship.

    Prayers and Love for all.

    Larry

  • The Best Method

    How would you complete the sentence: “The Son of Man came . . .”? The Son of Man came to preach the Word? The Son of Man came to establish the kingdom of God? The Son of man came to die on the cross?

    There are three ways the New Testament completes the sentence, “The Son of Man came . .  “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45); “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10); “The Son of Man has come eating and drinking . . .” (Luke 7:34).

    The first two are the purpose of His coming. He came to serve, to give His life as a ransom for my sins and to seek out and save the lost. The third statement is His method. He came to eat and drink with people.

    In his book “Eating Your Way through Luke’s Gospel” Robert Karris says, “In Luke’s Gospel Jesus is either going to a meal, at a meal, or coming from a meal.”

    Luke’s Gospel is full of stories of Jesus eating with people:

    In Luke 5 Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners at the home of Levi

    In Luke 7 Jesus is anointed at the home of Simon the Pharisee during a meal.

    In Luke 9 Jesus feeds the five thousand.

    In Luke 10 Jesus eats in the home of Martha and Mary

    In Luke 11 Jesus condemns the Pharisees and teachers of the law at a meal.

    In Luke 14 Jesus is at a meal when he urges people to invite the poor to their meals rather than their friends.

    In Luke 19 Jesus invites himself to dinner with Zacchaeus.

    In Luke 22 we have the account of the Last Supper.

    In Luke 24 the risen Christ has a meal with the two disciples in Emmaus, and then later eats fish with the disciples in Jerusalem.

    “But wisdom is proved right by all her children.” Luke 7:35 NIV.  This is the next verse that tells you that the proof His methods worked was the radical change or transformation of the people He was eating and drinking with.

    One of the best examples is Zacchaeus.  We have no idea what was said over lunch, but Zacchaeus was completely transformed into a new individual when lunch was over.

    “But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Luke 19:8 NIV

    “Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.  But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Luke 14:12-14 NIV

    Jesus is trying to tell you and me that the best way to share is not in a sermon, preaching, condemnation, fear of damnation or exclusion.  It is eating and drinking with people.

    Effective discipleship and outreach do not require complex programs, just a table, food, and an open seat.  Prioritize listening and genuine presence.  You are not there to talk about yourself.

     By eating with tax collectors, outcasts, and acknowledged sinners, Jesus offered tangible acceptance and forgiveness which then brought about a complete transformation. Dining together acted as a living picture of God’s banquet, showing that outsiders were welcomed into God’s family, which irritated the religious elite of the day. 

    Jesus’s method of evangelism and ministry centered heavily on sharing meals and table fellowship with people from all walks of life.

    Is your heart and house open to allowing the Holy Spirit to work through you to transform others. People don’t want to be invited to your church to be introduced to God. They will be happy to attend a church where they have a friend. 

    “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” Psalm 23:5 NIV. Even in the presence of darkness and evil, Jesus wants to eat and drink.

    Remember it is not a religion it is a relationship.

    Today open your house and share God with others by your friendship of eating and drinking.

    Prayers for all.

    Larry

  • Are You The Reason?

    “As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” Romans 2: 24 NIV

    “I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them”. Ezekiel 36:23a NIV

    Are you the reason non-believers do not believe in God?

    I was recently in a bible study when a young lady shared with us her introduction to God and why she did not want to become a follower of God.  She is a waitress at a restaurant a few blocks away from several churches. She admitted that the worst days to work are Saturday lunch and Sunday lunch. When asked why she said, “that is the time when the church people get out of church and come to eat, they are some of the worst customers we get all week”. She went on to explain that they are the rudest and impatient customers when something goes wrong with their order.  They are very unforgiving.

    Does your waitress want to know your God when she messes up your order?  Do your words and actions reflect God’s forgiving grace or Satan’s condemnation?

    “Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other”. John 13: 34-35 The Message

    Ask yourself and be honest. Are my actions today the reason someone does not want to get to know God? 

    How did I represent God in the aisle of the store, when a person cuts me off in line, in the car while driving, or when I am talking to a representative of a company that I feel has done me wrong.

    When you realize that every word, action or behavior points to either God or Satan. Then and only then can the Holy Spirit start the transformation.

    You were called to be a different person, a person that does not love the world or its behavior. A person that reflects God in every situation or circumstance. A person who does not read or watch the news that only condemns. A person who is not watching TV programs that have questionable activity in them.  A person who is not online posting praise about politicians and their actions and criticism of other politicians or people that think differently.

    You are called to be a person that does not rip phones out of the wall but truly shows forgiveness and grace to all.

    Letting your daily actions, words, and choices reflect Christ’s love and truth.

    Ways to Point Others to God:

    Show Love and Grace: Treat people with kindness, patience, and forgiveness, just as Jesus loves and forgives us.

    Live Consistently: Let your faith guide your behavior every day, not just when you are at church or around other believers.

    Serve Selflessly: Help those in need and share what you have with others to bring honor to God.

    Speak Truth with Care: Share the message of the Gospel with gentle respect and clear love.

    Work with Integrity: Do your daily work and tasks with a good attitude, as if you are working directly for the Lord.

    What God are you representing today?

    “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.  Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.” James 3:9-12 NIV

    Remember it is not a religion it is a Relationship.

    Prayers and Love for All.

    Larry

  • Confess

    “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 NIV

    There is a word in the above verse that many followers of God have misunderstood or just plain believe the wrong definition of the word.  They then pass on this wrong definition to their children and to others.

    The word in question is “confess”. I can hear many of you immediately utter “I know what that word means”.  It is a simple word, and I know I need to say I am sorry to God for my actions.  The problem is you rely on man’s translation without digging deeper and finding out what was really meant by the word and how it is used.

    Confess (Homologeō): In Greek, this word literally means “to say the same thing” or “to agree”.

     Confessing means you stop making excuses and agree with God that what you did was wrong. It is an honest acknowledgment rather than just feeling bad and saying to God “I am Sorry”.

    This word has no relationship with “I am sorry” or “repent”.

    Just feeling bad and saying I am sorry is an act of the mouth and not the heart. Confess (Homologeō) is a deep agreement in your heart that you agree with God that you are a sinner and have wronged Him.  It is an agreement that you need to stop and immediately make a change. It is a deep wound inside that is crying out for forgiveness or your sin.

    David cried out “I have sinned against the Lord” 2 Samuel 12:13 KJV. “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin”. Psalms 32:5 NIV

    Genuine confession offers no defense for the offense. It is a frank admission: “What I did was wrong.”

    Saying “Sorry” for some action never brings about a true change of heart.  “Sorry” focuses on the mistake itself rather than the deep emotional pain that causes you to change. Apologizing just eases your own guilt. It makes the moment about your own comfort and not a true agreement with the Lord about your sin.

    Agreement with God about my sins can only happen when I allow the Holy Spirit to make a complete transformation of my heart and mind.

    A transformation that brings about a completely new mind, new behaviors and new habits.

    When you agree with God about your sinful behavior it will bring about a transformation of the heart and mind that will prepare you for eternity with God.

    1 John 1:9 means that when we admit and agree with God about our wrongdoings, God is reliable and fair to forgive our sins and completely clean our hearts.

    Dig deep into the word of God and be transformed.

    Remember it is not a religion it is a relationship.

    Prayers and Love for All.

    Larry