You Can't Get Out the Game

And Elijah came unto all the people, and siad, How long halt ye between two opinons? If the Lord be God, follow him:but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. 1 Kings 18:21

In the movie “The Wiz,” Michael Jackson who played the scarecrow asked the question “is today the day you help me get off the pole” The crows sarcastically replied “help you down, you just a straw paper dummy.” To add insult to injury, the crows had the scarecrow sing the anthem entitled “You cant' Win.”

I like this song because it holds some important truths. The chorus simply says You Cant Get Out of The Game. This one statement is a moment of clarity for many making decisions tolive for Christ. Whether you choose to participated or not, there is a war going on; economically, spiritually, socially, etc... Where you choose to stand and fight or not is in fact your response to the game. The choice is yours.

From a biblical perspective, several prophets gave the Israelites several ultimatums from God; questioning their stance or whose side are they were on. Are you on the side of God or not. There is no middle ground. Revelation 3:15-16 God admonishes the church of Laodicea saying “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

The problem we face is trying to compromise our stance. Either you are for good or for evil; right or wrong. I know there are who those who are going to say ...but what about this and what about that. God doesn't compromise when it comes to your blessings, your living or your dying. He says yes or no; there is no in between. It's a decision!

The choice is yours. Question is whose side are you on? Cause for real for real, you really can't get out the game.

Worship Is A Lifestyle Not A Service

God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth ~ John 4

Each Sunday, countless numbers of people attend a service at their local church. Upon arrival, you may receive a bulletin or some type of program and an usher directs you to your seat. After being seated, the Worship Leader gets up and begins to lead the congregants into the flow of worship. As the service progress, you look at your bulletin and you see the following words: “All services are governed by the Holy Spirit and are subject to change” or “Enter to worship – Depart to Serve.”

How can those things happen, when you come expecting God to perform. Church has become a play of sorts. You know when you go see a stage play, you get a “playbill” and the usher directs you to your seat. You get a Mistress or Master of Ceremonies that tell you what takes place. Like church, the Worship Leader is that MC and everyone else is part of the production. The problem is – WORSHIP IS A LIFESTYLE – NOT A SERVICE!

When man was created, he was created to worship God. Worship is an act of reverence; an intimate meeting with the Lord. When you enter in to the church building, you should already be worshiping. Not waiting for the Worship Leader to guide you into the flow of worship. Your life should be reflecting your intimacy with God. The songs and music are an accompaniment to worship not a pep rally to get you going.

God had to get me to understand that when I enter into his presence, I enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. All these are the prerequisites to worship. Then when my flesh has been cast down and my spirit is fully in tune with the Lord, I can enter into the throne room. This does not begin when you get to the church. It should happen from the time you rise each morning.

Jesus in John 4 tells the woman “there will be a time when you will not come to the mountain or to Jerusalem to worship.” In other words there is going to be a time where the local church will not be where you can go to worship; nor will there be anyone to lead you in worship. In fact Jesus makes it clear. They that worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.
So...understand this. Worship is more than a service you attend on Sunday or Revival. Worship is a lifestyle. Need a lifestyle change?
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Lord, you are that Spirit and my heart desire is to please you. Teach me Lord how to worship you in the way you desire. You are an awesome Creator and loving God. Show me Jesus how to transform my mind, spirit and body to worship you as an integral part of my life. I shed all pretense and flesh to reach your throne room. Lord, forgive me for all the things that I have done that have dishonored or displeased you. Purify my heart, my soul. Let my thoughts and my words and my actions daily Lord reflect a lifestyle of surrender and worship. I desire to be more intimate with you and discover those things inside of me that are yet untapped in you. I love you Lord. You are my everything. ~ AMEN

Your Fruit Is Showing

For every tree is known by his own fruit – Luke 6:44a

Ever see someone come out of the bathroom in a public place and they have tissue on their shoe, or maybe the skirt is in the stocking or pants unzipped? Wait...mind out the gutter, please. I'm going somewhere with this. If you have, its obvious you have seen evidence of where they have been. But let's talk about your Christian life.

You know what an orange, grapefruit, coconut and apple looks like...right? But did you know that before the fruit is on the tree, a horticulturalist can recognize the tree even before there is fruit on it. So I ask, why cant anyone recognize your tree or the fruit you produce. A person who harvests certain fruit know when it's ripe and when it time to pick it. There is a distinct mark or smell to the fruit that determines the richness of the product before its placed on display.

As in the life of the believer, there are some distinct markings that separate good fruit from bad. Just because a person wears a diamond encrusted cross, speaks the language of a Christian and appears to have a flock of believers does not a good tree make. Just because you speak in tongues, prophecy, act humble, pray and fast does not make your fruit good. In fact the markings of are: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.

Sometimes the seasons of your life can determine the health of your fruit and the quality of your harvest. Has the weather (those circumstances affecting you) caused you to be frostbitten; or perhaps you have reached a dry season and the water in your roots has limited the fullness or vitality of the fruit. Do you sway to every wind and doctrine or are you bowing to the SON (sun)?

No matter what you are doing, there is evidence of your life. Be careful now...Your fruit is showing!

Let The Words

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight oh Lord my strength and my redeemer (Psalms 19:14).

Its the beginning of the work week and you dread going to work. You had a fun-filled weekend, but now you are not mentally or physically in the mood to be bothered with anyone. I remember those feelings. In fact, I would get up cursing the day and contemplating whether or not I wanted to go to work. In all honesty, it was my mouth that usually dictated how my day would turn out. I would say things like, I got a headache or my stomach hurts or I don't feel good.

Well, lo and behold by the time I reached my office, I felt the migraine coming and the nausea associated with it. I had a terrible attitude and was quite curt with other co-workers. My day was already funky, tiring and it had not even begun. Since I had suffered migraines before, it was nearly impossible for me physically or mentally function. I learned quickly, what I speak will come to pass. That headache and stomach ache manifested something fierce. While I could go home, it meant another day of work incomplete and leave taken unnecessarily; all because I let my mouth determine my day.

The scripture above is so profound in that, the words we speak are actually what we have been meditating in our hearts. My mentor often tells me when I'm thinking too much, I'm eventually going to speak what my heart has written. Sounds strange huh? I know. But the truth is she is right. As Christians and believers in God, our words must be acceptable in the sight of God. If we rise in the morning and speak negatively about our day, jobs, place of living, friends, etc.. or cursing the fact that we got up; we soon will find those things coming to pass or the negativity showing.

So what is that acceptable thing coming out of your mouth? Its really coming from your heart. What is it that God is hearing from you? Is it curses, blessings, doubt, dread.. Is God pleased with those things. If you say He is your strength and redeemer what is God going to redeem when your mouth has cursed everything he gave you. Remember...It is so...and it shall be.

Lord, thank you for the reminder that the words from my mouth should be acceptable in your sight. For my words are an offering unto you God. I thank you for pointing out where those words resonate. Create in me a clean heart O God and renew the right spirit within me. Show me Lord, the areas of my heart that are displeasing to you and help me Father to speak only those things which bring you glory, honor and reverence. Lord my thoughts are now subject to your Lordship and I use the power, dominion and authority to speak life to every situation. Thank you Lord for forgiveness. In Jesus name, Amen.