Why God Is Not A Democrat

Democracy has many wonderful things about it. I gives us the right as a people to vote for what we feel is right and the right to be free. A right not to get pushed around by the government and equal rights under the law. When the majority rules we feel like democracy has done its job. However, what happens when the majority rules against the laws of God? How about if the majority of the people being heard have taken it upon themselves to oppress those who can't defend themselves? Worse, what if they have taken it upon themselves to kill or eliminate those they deem worthless or a problem in their own eyes? Can democracy be a good thing then?

If you look up the word Democrat which is the rooted in the word democracy it will define a Democrat as someone who fights for civil rights and equality. However, there are a few reasons why God would not be a Democrat. First of all, God will never make your civil rights or freedom come before obeying His laws or loving others. Jesus has called us all to deny ourselves, pick our cross, and follow Him. Luke 9:23 That means we lay down our rights for the cause of loving others.

For example, your freedom or right to choose to have an abortion does not trump loving the life of a child that now lives inside of you. We do not have a right to kill someone in the name of convenience. By the time you do a pregnancy test, the child's heart is beating. Isn't life and death decided by whether we have a heartbeat? Our sexual choices need to be governed by love, not lust. We should not use our freedom to exploit the innocence of children, arouse people to sin, pour pollution into the minds of families, and call it entertainment. Your freedom should never trample over love or be used to hurt or offend others. Our constitution gives us the freedom or right to free speech but it should never be used as a platform to use hateful speech towards anyone.  We also have the freedom of the press. It does not give us the right before God to slander, gossip, or malign others. I don't care what your religious beliefs are, they should never give you the right to hurt people or murder them in the name of your God! God is love not hate or judgment! Anyone, who says they represent God and treats others in an unloving way does not represent His heart. "But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes." (1 John 2:11). 

Also, we should never have an attitude of entitlement. This is the opposite of having the humility of God. You take care of me because I am special. This attitude can be seen by the rich and poor. We should never expect special treatment because of who we are, what we do, or what we believe. You are not more special because you have money. The world should not have to cater to your every whim because you feel you are more important than others. You should obey the same laws everyone else does instead of receiving leniency because of your star status. Just because you serve in our government does not mean that you should be given special privileges. Whatever the people receive you should receive. You should get the same health care, social security, retirement, and protection under the law. You don't have the right to spend your money without some kind of accountability.

On the other hand, you should not feel you are special because you are poor or of a certain race believing that the government should take care of you. Entitlement is rooted in pride. Believing we are entitled because of our background, our sexual orientation, our race, or religious beliefs is not equality. We applaud those who fight for equal rights but not when they trample over other people to accomplish this goal. Humility looks after the interests of others and treats others better than they do themselves. It lays their rights down for others so people can walk in peace and unity.

In conclusion, no society or republic can live in true happiness unless righteousness, love, humility, and peace are embraced. These are all virtues of God's kingdom. Democracy at best is a failed concept outside of these virtues. In other parts of the world where the majority rule in hatred there is nothing but chaos, war, murder, and a bleak future for peace. What many people don't realize is, as they push God's kingdom out of our society they slowly invite selfish, self-centered, prideful, behaviors that will only create a society where freedom will be lost. A government that looks to themselves as the ones that decide what is right or wrong and uses its power to rule a people will end up oppressing them. Just look at other countries. It's time that America realizes that the only way our country will stay free is when they allow God to rule them instead of men who are in it for themselves. Men without virtue are men who will trample over your rights, freedom, and love so they can obtain their personal glory. How do I know this? History repeats itself it seems.

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God is not a Republican

Before you get offended let me explain why God is not a Republican. First of all, God is not into capitalism which is the main mindset behind the Republican platform. Capitalism is based on the idea that each individual should take care of their own lives in a free market society without the interference of government. Not a problem. However, Capitalism also sends the message that the poor must fend for themselves and only the strongest survive. The common idea among most of the rich is that they have no responsibility towards the poor and shouldn't help them because for most part they must be lazy if they are poor. I hear this a lot even from Christians. While that might be a pervasive cultural thought it is not way God thinks.  The truth is many single mom's struggle to make ends meet every month while fathers go on living their life absent from their children's lives. A whole generation of children have been raised without one or both parents due to divorce, drugs, abuse, death or crime. I meet them everyday when my children bring their friends over.

Unfortunately, as a result of this Capitalistic mindset the church has spent decades building bigger barns or ministries instead of offering a solution to a fatherless generation, single parents and widows. Just yesterday my husband took the time to help a young man who lost his mother at 14 years old and lost his father when he accidently got shot by police in a crossfire. This young man had also served in Afghanistan. He was also taking care of his brother's children while attending school. These are the types of people we need to extend our time, love and resources to.

Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. James 1:27
Recently, I watched a documentary on some man claiming to be Jesus in Russia and people were flocking to him by the van load. Why?  This ex-police officer bought some land and set up communal living in the beautiful countryside.  Everyone there contributes to the well being of the community. They plant their own food, live healthy and they live in peace. When the reporter asked the people why they went to live there it was for three reasons: food, shelter and peaceful living.  None of those had to do with doctrine or truth. They didn't seem to care what this fake Jesus believed because he showed them he cared. We need to offer real solutions to people's problems. The truth is Catholics do more for the poor than their Protestant counterparts. Mormons take care of their own church family members better than we do. At one point in time we were sending out more missionaries into the world than any other religion. Now Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses and Seventh Day Adventists outnumber us on the streets. Why? We have become part of a new revival Chad Taylor coined as the "Revival of No Responsibility."

From the pulpit to the pew; Capitalism has become pervasive way of life. I will call this "Building Bigger Barns" syndrome. We have spent years building crystal cathedrals while the city was being taken over by gangs, poverty and being laid waste by the enemy.  We have stored up for ourselves closets full of stuff while others walk around in the same clothes day after day. We have filled up our tables for Thanksgiving while others around us have no food. We don't even bother to ask people in the church if they have anywhere to go on the holidays. We eat at the restaurants every Sunday with the church elite while others go home to empty refrigerators. We throw our left over change in a basket and think God is pleased. Is He? This reminds me of a story in the bible about a man who had gotten an abundance of wealth but instead of giving the extra to others he decided to build bigger barns.

And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ ²⁰ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ ²¹ “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:19-21

I used to be a property manager of a storage and believe it or not the number one thing that always intrigued me was how people could not let go of their stuff. I knew one man that paid $249. a month for two storages that were filled with newspaper from top to bottom. One day I had to ask him why he had so many newspapers. He told me he read the health articles. Wow! This is a great example of how many of us are filled with knowledge but are really in the dark about our mental and spiritual state. This is so sad.

Ever watch those hoarder shows on TV? There has been times when some of these people have been found buried under their possessions. Our nation is literally drowning in stuff while the rest of the world lives in poverty! Our nation throws away food by the tons! The stores destroy it so no one can get it out of their garbage cans. This is selfish behavior. The military throws away rations that have expired. My husband has seen it personally. Yet, the nation of Israel always allowed their poor to glean the fields after harvesting.

Do you remember the story of the rich young ruler? Here is a recap: A young man offers to follow Jesus. This young man had lived a very obedient life to God but couldn't let go of one thing... ²¹ Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” ²² But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Matthew 19:21-22
I want you to note that Jesus did not ask him to give the money to tax collectors, the temple or even His own ministry. He said to give it to the poor.

He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, And He will pay back what he has given.
Proverbs 19:17

In conclusion, if we are to truly to become love in action we must first start loving people unconditionally. We can't judge people because of their social status and feel justified for not showing mercy because somehow they did not climb out of the hole by themselves. That was the attitude the Pharisees had in the bible. They failed to be good Samaritans because they walked around the problem instead dealt with the issues at hand. If you are to be a true follower of Christ you will not mind getting in the trenches with the poor, homeless, sick, prisoner and forgotten. This is what Jesus did when He came to rescue you. First, we must start by providing for our own household then the household of faith. Pray and ask God what you can do to become the answer to someone else's problem then Be The Church!

Part two: Why God Is Not A Democrat!
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Honoring In Our Giving

“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” Matthew 10:40-42

Many of us may think that this scripture is about rank when actually it is about honor and love. Many people have given up on tithing or giving because of the obvious abuses in the church but what we don't realize is that we are getting ripped off. God rewards honor and love. If you notice Jesus said, "Anyone who welcomes you, welcomes me." We need to see that honoring people, honors the Lord. He doesn't even overlook anything as small as a glass of water. He wants us to recognize those who He has sent into our lives even if they aren't your big name preachers. We so often honor people who are "well known" in church but ignore the usher and look down upon those less "gifted." I have been in ministry many years and have found this type of partiality grieving to God. We will pile on the money on the name brand preacher but won't give a thought to a single parent or someone who is struggling in the body of Christ. Let's face it, ministry has become a business instead of a place of equipping, imparting and loving people into the maturity of Christ.

If you notice in the book of Acts  "All the believers were of one  heart and of one mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need." Acts 4:32-32-34

It's time that the body of Christ moves past selfish motives, agendas and business models. We want God's powerful grace but if you read the above scripture you will see that they were of one heart and one mind. It was a place of unity, love and giving. We need to stop treating people that come to bless our ministries with so much disdain. That's Jesus playing your music, straightening your chairs, taking up your offerings, feeding the hungry and sacrificing their time to do the will of our Father. There are people that go to our churches everyday that are hungry, sick and facing homelessness. We think that because we give our left over change in the offering that we are fulfilling our duty. That's not love my friend. That's religion. We need to stop being so preoccupied with wanting to be blessed that we seek out to be the blessing. This is true Christianity and the heart of our Father. For God so loved that He gave...

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Reborn Identity

As I was laying in bed this morning I kept hearing the word "Identity."  Who are we?  Why are we here?  Can we have meaningful relationships?  Can I move on pass the divorce?  Am I lovable?  Am I worth the time?  Am I employable.  Identity is by far the most talked about topic right now as people struggle to find out who they are and overcome their personal struggles with their sexual orientation, unemployment and relationships.  The roles of men and women have changed over the years.  This has brought so much confusion to our society.  Especially in homes where single moms have to play the roles of mom and dad just raise up their children.  The breakdown of gender and parental roles have caused such fragmentation in our society that it has left us wandering around trying to find out who we are.  Have you ever heard someone say "I just need to find myself."  Well, most of us cringe when we hear that because it means that the person who just said that is going on a personal journey to find themselves and you are not invited.  The next thing you know they pack up their bags and they are gone.  Is it really that they can't find themselves or it is that they don't like their life and think they can have a better life without you?  What is sad about the statement I just made, is that they think their identity will change if they change scenery.  The truth is we define our world by and how we see ourselves in relation to it.


So what is identity?  I will define identity as the characteristics that define who we are, evidenced by what we do.  We are often defined by what we believe about ourselves and sometimes what others have said about us.  For instance, if your parents told you that you were good for nothing and nobody will love you; then most of time people live up to those expectations.  Let's say you were bullied in school and called names.  The most likely outcome will be that we take on the identity of our accusers.  A worse scenario would be to be molested, raped or abused and take on the identity of shame.  There are many divorced people out there who take on the identity of rejection.  Children whose parents leave and abandon them take on an identity of rejected orphans.  Everyday all over the world people allow events to define them instead of allowing God to tell them of their amazing value.

So who are we really?  Are we here just get by and live just another day?  Are we here to be abused by others?  Are we here to become successful, happy and raise a family?  What was our original design?  Some of us don't seem to know who we are!  If you don't know I will tell you... YOU WERE MADE TO BE LOVED!  You were meant to have an amazing life and have a relationship with your creator.  If you are reading this and you don't believe in God then I have only one thing to say...GOD BELIEVES IN YOU!  God decided to risk it all and give up his life to demonstrate your value and His love for you.  He didn't know if you would accept His proposal but He was willing to take the chance because YOU ARE WORTH IT!  Why am I capitalizing my words?  I want to give you the opportunity to start thinking about yourself in the way God thinks about you.  Before your mind starts to argue with you about your value and identity; I want you to know that you can become someone completely different.  Your heritage, past, crime record, mistakes, upbringing, divorce, abuse and etc. does not have to determine your future or define who you are.  God has already defined who you are and declared your value.  You are God's treasure!  All of God's Kingdom is destined to dwell in you along with God's son; Jesus Christ.  When He looks at us He sees Jesus.  For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:29)

Many people are held to horrible images of themselves because they have believed a lie!  The devil is a liar!  He can only enter our lives though deception and lies.  Once you embrace the truth he can't keep you a prisoner of your past anymore.  He can't torment you with fear.  He can't cause you to be depressed, sad or suicidal.  He can't cause pain in your heart and he can't keep you defeated!  Why?  Because you have a new identity and it is Christ's!  Christ is victorious and already defeated him so don't give him a voice in your head!  Give no place or thought to the devil.  (Ephesians 4:27)  Realize that you win!  You are a new creation with God's DNA (destiny - now - activated)  You are now being conformed to the express image of the Son.  Circumstances don't define you; you define your circumstances.  You have nothing or no one to fear.  The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?  Psalm 27:1

Some quick points:  To find your Christ identity you must realize:

1.  Baptism was meant to leave our old identity in the grave and take up a new one by following Christ.  God came in the flesh so he can be an earthly man with struggles and adversity but still walk in victory!  Jesus came out of the wilderness in power not defeated.

 In those days there appeared John the Baptist, preaching in the Wilderness (Desert) of Judea² And saying, Repent (think differently; change your mind, regretting your sins and changing your conduct), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. John 1:1-2 Amplified

¹⁴ Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. ¹⁵ And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.  Luke 4:14

2.  We have already been given a new spirit and God's nature when we got born again.  I hear a lot of people say "Well, I was born that way."  When are born of God's spirit, we take on His nature and leave behind our parent's nature.  We have a new Father and we take after Him not our culture or upbringing.
Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!

3.  We can't allow events, people or external judgments define who we are but we need to get a new mind set by receiving God's truths and implementing them, causing us to know what pleases the father's heart!  Don't let people tell you who you are.  We were meant to define the world around us because of who we already are!

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]. Roman 12:2 Amplified

4.  We need to embrace our future and let go of our past!  You can't be the new you and still be holding onto past hurts and events.  We can't allow past hurts trump the cross.

I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,  Philippians 3:13

5.  We have to embrace a mindset of humility and be stripped of our rights to possess the fullness of Christ's identity.

⁵ Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility: 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, 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. Philippians 2:5-7

6.  Our identity is love.  It's not we do, it is who we are!

By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves]. John 13:35

7.  Self must be crucified that Christ's identity can live!

Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also].  Matthew 16:24

I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.  Galatians 2:20

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Get Your Prayers Answered!

One of the biggest complaints I quite commonly hear among Christians is that their prayers are not answered. While there may be many reasons our prayers not being answered, there are times that we fail to recognize when God does. For example I had a friend who prayed to be married for years. He had gotten a girl pregnant and the girl truly loved him. He didn't find her attractive but she was a terrific mother and would have made a great wife. Before long she moved on and she got married. He was very upset! All he would do is complain about how someone else was raising his child. She waited quite a few years on him but he was caught up in indecision and being picky about her looks. She was actually a good looking gal. I ran into him years later, he was still alone, single and wishing he could be in his daughter's life full-time. Unfortunately, he failed to recognize the gift God had brought into his life and missed out on his blessings. His expectations were way out of the boundaries of being reasonable so he did not receive what he was believing for. I hate to say but this happens more than we think. We fail to seize the moment or enter into the doors God opens. We start to put unreasonable expectations on God.

A good example of a an unreasonable expectation is to believe for a young beautiful looking spouse when we are old and mediocre looking. The truth is many people believe for things in their flesh because they have been looking at far too many magazines. Most people do not look like Hollywood stars my friend. For instance, you might be entertaining mental fantasies that has created unreasonable expectations of your mate. You may be missing out on someone who is already in your life willing to love you but your are too hung up on an ideal that no one can live up to. Our selfish desires sometimes cause us to miss out on our answered prayers!
Another way you can miss your answered prayer is if you think you are too good for a job, a person or an opportunity. Pride will keep you from receiving from God. It isn't realistic to believe for something you can't afford. I knew a brother who refused to get a used car even though he was on a budget and instead wanted a new one off the lot. The most expensive one! Well the money came and went with no car. I knew another Christian who lost a job opportunity because they decided to make unreasonable demands for a salary. The employer never called back. You have to know when you are in a position to bargain and when you are not. Perhaps you are believing for a house when you don't have a job to make the payments. You may get what you prayed for but then not have the money to make the payments. We can't allow presumption to cloud our reasoning. God wants us to operate in wisdom. We must count the cost of every relationship, purchase, decision and hear God's voice in every matter. Faith may get us what we want but wisdom will help us keep what we received by faith.

Believe it or not unrealistic expectations caused the Jews to miss their Messiah. The Jews could not receive their king because they were stumbled at the fact that Jesus was looked upon a everyday blue collar worker. "Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him." Mark 6:3 They couldn't get over the fact that they knew him and the town he was from. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” John 1:45-46 They were expecting a Moses or Elijah and expected to be delivered from the hands of the Romans. They expected Jesus to overthrown the Roman government by force like Joshua or David but Jesus came to establish a kingdom that could not be seen. When the time came and Jesus was crucified they thought all was lost. They rejected Jesus as their savior because He did not meet their expectations.

This can also happen in spiritual relationships when people create unreasonable expectations of people in leadership. The truth is they couldn't possibly live up to the expectations they place upon others themselves. They expect every call, e-mail, or glance to be acknowledged or they get offended and leave the church. The problem with that is that they are probably missing out on something God had for them but they were never were around to receive it because of offense. There are people that literally wander around for years without anyone to speak into their lives and mentor them because they continually find fault with those over them. They want God on their own terms and on their own time. It doesn't work that way. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8

In fact not being able to make to make up our mind, being hesitant, fearful, or expecting way too much are all signs of being double minded. Which really means that we are of two mindsets. The bible exhorts us this way, 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:6-7 Instability is caused by our lack of faith or double mindedness it causes us not to receive what we prayed for.


Not only can we miss God's answer to prayers because of our expectations are not reasonable but also because our expectations are too low. Perhaps we are asking God for a job with benefits and weekends off but then take a job that works us on the weekends with no insurance. Little did we know that the next call would have been our dream job but we failed to wait for it. Our unbelief can cause us to settle for less. Our desperation can cause us to be hasty.. We can't act out of desperation we need to move in revelation. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5 Yet, it happens all the time we get so impatient with the process of waiting that we jump ahead of God. I wonder how many people got married to the wrong people because they jumped in the sack before really waiting on God for the answer? I had a friend who desperately wanted to get married. He didn't care to who; he just wanted to be married. Well finally a girl complied and she ended up abusing him. Before long they divorced and I never heard from him again. He was the sweetest guy you could ever meet but he settled for less. How is God going to answer your prayers if you aren't willing to wait? "What are you believing God for?" What do you want? It is ok to be specific within reason.

Here is a great example from my own life. I was looking for a car and was a place of desperation because the car we were driving was breaking. We went to a car lot, quickly began the contract and went to get the money. We never signed anything they were still getting the car ready. My husband could not get peace. We called for prayer and the Pastor encouraged us not to be hasty but wait on what we really wanted. We felt embarrassed but we decided to go up the street to another lot. There it was, a natural gas car that my husband always wanted. We knew right away that we wanted it. It was what we waited for. I am so glad that we listened to the lack of peace we were feeling it saved us hundreds of dollars in gasoline. If we take the time to listen to God and wisdom we too can have our prayers answered.
You might be thinking, shouldn't someone do what they said they would do? It is better to back out of your commitment than to make a longtime mistake. We can't allow pressure to cause us to make detrimental choices. We can't ignore the red flags and sirens going off just because we don't want to look bad. Never ignore the red flags. I don't care if you already planned the wedding and caterers. God will do what he can to warn us but we need to take the time to hear Him. We can't allow ourselves to be people pleasers. We also can't be indecisive or hesitant because like I mentioned before we will miss out on God's answer for our lives. You may be asking God for a promotion but because you are hesitant to ask your boss for it you miss out on the favor God has for you.

Also, many people pray but don't follow through with their part. You have to put feet to your prayers! You can't expect to become wealthy by sitting at home without a college education, without trying to look for work or at least allowing God to prosper you through witty inventions or creative ideas. For some reason many Christians believe that somehow if they mystically put their money in the basket every week that they will automatically prosper. God's word says he will bless the work of our hands but that means you have to work. It seems like everyone wants to live off the gospel now or days. However, more than ever Christians are needed in the marketplace like places of government, medicine, education, entertainment and etc. I always hear about this wealth transfer that will supposedly come from the world. That my friends will happen when Christians leave their pews and start cooperating with God's plan to take over areas of influence. God has called us to take dominion over the earth. If you read the bible you will see God always raised up leaders among his people. Daniel, David, Solomon, Esther, Joseph and Moses were in key government positions. They were the decision makers of their day. Deborah was a judge and the general did not go to war without her! Abraham was a wealthy real estate tycoon he just needed an heir. God loves to bless his people but his people need to rise up to action.

Just to recap on how to get your prayers answered:
1. Set reasonable expectations by setting attainable goals. People don't plan to fail; they fail to plan.

2. Don't lower your expectations; God can do great things! Don't be hesitant, fearful or allow self doubt. This is unbelief and double mindedness. You will never reach solid ground in your life if you allow your mind and emotions to rule you.

3. Don't wait around for God to do everything rise up to action! Don't expect others to do things that you can do for yourself. Be proactive in what God has shown you.

4. Don't be afraid to change your mind if you have made a mistake. Please God not men!

5. Remember to get wisdom and revelation from God he is the best consultant you can ever find. Also, find people who provide good counsel to be sure you are hearing from God.

Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

Proverbs 11:14

6. Get involved and cooperate with God. Believe it or not you can miss out on God's will if you sit around and do nothing. All his promises are conditional upon obedience. "If" "You" then "I" "Will."

7. Always know that God has the best in mind for you so never get tricked into believing anything less.
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life" Psalm 23:6

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

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What To Do With A Prodigal?

So many times as parents we feel helpless when our loved ones stray from the faith or get caught up in illegal activities or destructive behaviors. As parents what do we do in times like these? How far do we let them go before we intervene? As we struggle within ourselves to do the right thing there is a fleeting thought in the midst of our agonizing prayers...God is a father too.

The Ten Commandments and Jesus

People have gotten a wrong impression that the Ten Commandments are some archaic set of laws no longer necessary in order for us to live for Christ.  Others believe that Jesus already "abolished the law on the cross" not understanding that the ordinances of men are not the commandments of God.  Jesus  made it clear, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill." Matthew 5:17-20

Jesus did not come to abolish the laws of God for then he would have to abolish love itself!  He only simplified our obedience by summing up the commandments of God into two laws:
1.  Which was to love God
2.  And to love others as ourselves.

Jesus summed up all Ten Commandments into commands of love.  To obey the commandments of God is to walk in love!  Jesus wanted to make a distinction to His people that there was a difference between the commandments of God and the commandments of men.  The commandments of men and traditions are only an external form of obedience that tries to appease God by works but does not address the inward attitudes and motives of our hearts.  Jesus taught that obedience to His commands is a matter of loving him and abiding in His presence.

He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” John 14:21

 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. ¹⁰ If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.  John 15:9-10

His commandments were written on the tablets of our hearts making obedience possible through the work of the Holy Spirit.

You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; ³ clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart. 2 Corinthians 3:2-4

We can obey God's commands because the Holy Spirit lives in us and has poured his love over our hearts.

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:5

Let us review what Jesus said about the Ten Commandments.

I.  You shall have no other Gods before Me Exodus 20:1-3
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. Mark 12:30

2.  You shall not make yourself an image to worship, whether it be something in heaven or earth you shall not bow down to it and serve it  Exodus 20:4
(That includes something you made with your own hands (business, success), yourself, your favorite band, movie stars, cult leaders, Christian leaders and so on)

 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. ⁹ And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” Matthew 4:8-10

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Matt 6:24, Luke 16:13

3.  You shall not take God's name in vain (falsehood) Exodus 20:7
(vain is shawv in Hebrew which means falsely or deceptively, useless)

²¹ “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. ²² Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ ²³ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matthew 7:21-23

Jesus quoting Isaiah:

‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
⁹ And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ " Matthew 15:8-9

4.  Remember to keep the Sabbath and make it a time of sacred worship.  Take time to rest just as I did. Exodus 20:8-11
And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him.¹¹ Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? ¹² Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”  Matthew 12:12

²³ Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain. ²⁴ And the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” ²⁵ But He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him: ²⁶ how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?”²⁷ And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. ²⁸ Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.” Mark 2:23-27

 Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught. And a man was there whose right hand was withered. ⁷ So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him. ⁸ But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, “Arise and stand here.” And he arose and stood. ⁹ Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?” Luke 6:6-9

5.  Honor your mother and father and I will lengthen your days  Exodus 20:12

"For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ ⁵ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”— ⁶ then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition."  Matthew 15:4-7

6.  You shall not murder Exodus 20:13  (That includes yourself and unborn babies)

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ ²² But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire." Matthew 5:21-26

7.  You shall not commit adultery  Exodus 20:14  (That includes social networking affairs or pornography)

 “Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ ³² But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery." Matthew 5:31-32

They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?”   He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. ⁹ And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.” Matthew 19:3-9

8.  You shall not steal  Exodus 20:15 (That includes stealing from the government or God)

Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ¹⁹ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” Matthew 19:18-19

And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”  Matthew 22:21

9.  You shall not bear false witness against someone else Exodus 20:16

“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. ¹⁶ But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ ¹⁷ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector." Matthew 15:18-17

10.  You shall not covet the things that belong to someone else  Exodus 20:17

And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”  Luke 12:15

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