Tag Archives: James 4:7-8

Christian

A Man After God’s Own Heart

If you want to become a man after God’s own heart you have to examine the men in the Bible whom God both chose and loved and then imitate them.

David was a man after God’s own heart. How did he live his life? David meditated on God’s word. We know that from the Psalms. He was courageous as evidenced by his fight against Goliath. He was unafraid to confess his sin and ask for forgiveness when confronted by it. 1 Kings 15:5 KJV says, Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.

Job was also a man after God’s own heart. Job 1:1 KJV tells us, There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

Paul was chosen to preach God’s word to the Gentiles. His zeal was evidenced by the trials he went through. He was stoned, beaten with stripes, ship wrecked, yet he didn’t give up. He didn’t waver. He kept preaching and teaching the Word of God.

This is by no means an exclusive list of the men God loved and chose to do his work and keep his word. Nor is it an exclusive list of things you should do if you want to follow the Lord.

Read the Bible regularly, pray for wisdom and understanding, and live out God’s word as you learn it. Just as women should dress conservatively I believe men should dress conservatively. As a man do not cover your head when you pray to the Lord. Don’t be effeminate. These are just a few nuggets from Church tradition and the Bible on how to become a man after God’s own heart. Another key way is to build a personal relationship with God. Keep his commandments. Read the Bible. Pray. Attend Church. Living out these things will become easier as you go and God himself will help. Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you. James 4:7-8.

Standard
Christian, Inspirational

Spirit and Truth

There are many that seek to be in the presence of the Lord. There is nothing wrong with that. They want a feeling of love and peace or they want to be slain in the spirit. There are yet others who spend hours, perhaps even days, fasting and praying to get into his presence.

There is no secret to finding and being in the presence of the Lord. Jesus said in Matthew 18:20 KJV, For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

If you attend Church you are in his presence. If you pray with your spouse, he is there. If you have a bible study in your home – he is there.

Meanwhile, others seek the dispensation and gifts of the Holy Ghost. If you want the blessing of the Holy Ghost living in you, learn and accept TRUTH. The Holy Ghost is known as the spirit of truth. John 14:17.

If you let the truth take root and grow in you, you have the Holy Spirit. Read your KJV Bible. Let it sink in. Meditate and memorize verses from it. It is 100% truth. You don’t need speaking in tongues as evidence of the Holy Spirit. You do need to understand truth and have the wisdom to perform it.

Finally, remember God told us in Jeremiah 29:13 KJV, And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. So seek the presence of God, but remember he is not far off. Draw near to him and he will draw nigh to you. James 4:7-8.

If you seek to be in the presence of the Lord God Almighty, Jehovah, there is only one way that I know of, bring Jesus with you and approach him in PRAYER.

Standard
Christian

Sleight of Hand

I have often wondered why magicians and witches don’t flock to Christianity after witnessing the power. Some of them may never see it, but I suspect most do encounter the power of evil on some level.

It is a mistake to think the Devil and his followers have no power. Look at Jannes and Jambres. They were able to match several of the miracles done by Moses and Aaron in Egypt just before the Exodus. The Bible doesn’t say Pharaoh’s magicians matched the miracles by sleight of hand or by clever trickery.

In the book of Job we see some of Satan’s powers when God removes his protection from Job. Satan emboldened raiders and thieves. He killed Job’s children by causing a strong wind to come down upon the house they were in. He brought fire down from Heaven to kill some of Job’s flocks. He even smote Job with boils.

The New Testament calls him the prince of the power of the air. The title sounds inconsequential until you think how much we need air.

I think his greatest feat in this era is as community organizer behind the scenes. It is evidenced by the power transsexuals and other deviant groups exercise in our society.

I’m not trying to build up the Devil. Yet, there is an expression, know thy enemy. I think many of us fail to realize just how dangerous the Devil is.

The good news: James 4:7-8 KJV tells us,
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. [8] Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Standard