All of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

Accept Jesus as your Savior and you will live. Deny Jesus and the justice you will be served will be death, eternal separation from God the Father.

Sometimes we've just got to learn to keep our mouths shut. That's a lot easier said than done. When we were children living in Northern Indiana, there was one cold Saturday during which my brother became extremely bored. He gazed out the window with a deep hunger to be outside. There would be tons of stuff to do out there, and here he was cooped up in the house. He couldn't take it any longer and so he worked up the nerve to ask Mom, "Can I go outside?"

Let's do like Joseph and let Christ be formed in us. As He is we will be changed and lifted from slavery to greatness. All we've got to do is be patient and obedient. Before you know it you may find yourself a second ruler, oh, and you might even get to go outside.

Jerry D. Ousley is the Author of five books, "Soul Challenge", "Soul Journey" "Ordeal" "The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional" and his first novel "The Shoe Tree." Listen to the daily broadcast Spirit Bread. Find out more by visiting www.spiritbread.com
or email us at jousley@spiritbread.com

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com CHRISTIAN WRITERS

Men have an issue with pride.We are always checking on how we are being perceived with respect to others. We keep track of our stats, standing and status. We are hypersensitive to evidence that we are being dissed. Because we are so concerned about our standing and status, we are constantly tempted to inflate ourselves in order to attain a higher standing and thus higher status.

The only way I know to stop being driven by stats, standing and status is to keep seeking, keep thinking about the things above rather than seeking and thinking about things on the earth. I want to seek praise from God in heaven rather than people on earth. By becoming a Christ-follower, I have died to stats, standing and status. My life is now hidden with Christ. It makes no sense to try to quantify my life with stats. There is no way to meaningfully evaluate my accomplishments in comparison with the accomplishments of any other person. There is no way for me to derive any sense of status from what I have accomplished. The one meaningful thing that is left for me to do is to keep on seeking and thinking about things above. I need to live in and for each moment without regard to what others think, because each moment provides me with the opportunity to love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength.

I am richly blessed in my marriage. I have two grown children. I am semi-retired. I have been a computer programmer, systems analyst, househusband and homeschool teacher. I love to walk, talk and eat, and write short articles about devoting our lives to Jesus.

By Byron Register

The anxieties and the troubles of this world, the deceitfulness, deception, or pleasure of riches; meaning wealth, abundance of external possessions. The KJV translates "and the lust of other things" but the Greek "καὶ αἱ περὶ τὰ λοιπὰ ἐπιθυμίαι" Lit. and concerning the rest of the desires. It talks about these desires entering in, how do they enter in? They enter in through the mind and when they do they crowd out or choke utterly the divine seed of the word sown in the mind. Then the person becomes unfruitful or metaphorically, not yielding what it ought to yield.

(1 John 2:15 KJV) Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

John uses a strong prohibition; "Μὴ ἀγαπᾶτε" Love Not the world! The world here doesn't mean God's creation but the sinful pleasures that are in the world due to sin. Christians are loving the things that are in the world and not the Creator of the world. We are in love with material things and conforming ourselves after the things of the world.

(Romans 12:2 KJV) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

What does Paul mean when he tells us not to be conformed? The Greek word here is suschematizo; not to conform with this age, that is, do not fall in with external and fleeting fashions of this age nor be fashioned to them, but undergo a deep inner change by the qualitative renewing of your mind.

(1 John 2:16 KJV) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

The sinful desires of the flesh, eyes, and the pride of life are not out from (ek) God but they are out from (ek) the world. These sinful desires are not from our heavenly Father they come from a different origin, the world. There is a reason that John gives us such a strong prohibition against these lust.

(Mark 4:19 KJV) And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

The anxieties and the troubles of this world, the deceitfulness, deception, or pleasure of riches; meaning wealth, abundance of external possessions. The KJV translates "and the lust of other things" but the Greek "καὶ αἱ περὶ τὰ λοιπὰ ἐπιθυμίαι" Lit. and concerning the rest of the desires. It talks about these desires entering in, how do they enter in? They enter in through the mind and when they do they crowd out or choke utterly the divine seed of the word sown in the mind. Then the person becomes unfruitful or metaphorically, not yielding what it ought to yield.

James 4:1-10 [Warnings Against Loving The World]

(James 4:1 KJV) From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

Our love for the world brings wars and fighting among us; Let's look closer at this Scripture the word "whence" means of place, from what place, of origin of source, or from what author or giver. So what source does these fightings come from? We know by God's Word that He doesn't bring strife or confusion among His children. This love for the world causes fights because of our desires for pleasure, lust, enjoyment, or desires for pleasure it is not from God. These lusts war in our members like a soldier would fight or strategize against his enemy.

(James 4:2 KJV) Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

James tells us the reason we don't have answers to our prayers, "ye lust, and have not:" we are lusting after the wrong things we kill [Lit. to commit murder] and we desire or we are filled with jealousy are to burn with zeal; to be heated or to boil with envy, hatred, or anger. We can't obtain by this kind of behavior because it is against the will of God, James puts it simply, "ye have not, because ye ask not."

(James 4:3 KJV) Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

James tells us the reason we don't receive he says, "ye ask amiss" this comes from the Greek word, "kakos"; badly, wrongly, wickedly, sick; to speak ill of, revile, one, or with bad intent. A lot of times because of our love for the world we tend to ask God for things of this world and our intentions are not for God's glory or for the use of the ministry but for the fulfillment of our own desires. We ask for these things so that we may consume or waste "it" upon our own lusts.

(James 4:4 KJV) Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Because of a love for the world James calls them adulterers he goes on to say don't you know that if anyone becomes a friend to the world then they are an enmity with God. The last part of this verse is what I find to be interesting, "whosoever therefore will be a friend to the world is the enemy of God." This comes from the Greek word, kathistemi, and here it is in the third person and it means that God will appoint, ordain, or make the person who is a friend of the world His enemy, Do you want to be God's enemy? So what's is the way to stay God's friend and not His enemy?

(James 4:7 KJV) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Submit, this word is an act of submission to be obedient to God and then we must do one more thing, resist the devil. We must set ourselves against, oppose, withstand, and resist the devil, this shows us that the source of our love for the world's sinful desires is Satan, the god of this world. When we resist the devil he will flee from us, this word flee means he will escape, avoid, disappear, flee from fear or threatening danger. All we have to do is submit to God and resist the devil and he will run from us, or the Holy Spirit that is in us, as in terror because he knows who we belong to because our Father can beat him up!!

2-1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

In John 17:3, Jesus tells us that eternal life is to know God. The Greek word used here for know is gnosis. Gnosis means to experience, to share an experience with. Do we want to know God and do His will at the same time? We must keep His commandments, striving to be obedient to Him and to continually grow through our experiential knowledge of His word how to be obedient. We are to walk with him We are to not sin. Overcome and grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, 2 Peter 3:18. To do this, we have to desire live the eternal life given us by the Father through Jesus Christ. This does not come easily. Jesus himself described this way as difficult and narrow, for human nature stands every ready to throw stumbling blocks in our path.

It is crucial to understand that sin destroys ideals. As we sin, the high standards of eternal life -- of knowing God -- are gradually eroded away. When we sin we become willing to accept just about anything. Sin destroys innocence, and in the process creates fear, cynicism, guilt and restlessness. Sin destroys your will, removing over time the barriers to sin more and the incentive to do well.

Sin produces more sin. It produces sickness, pain, slavery, and finally death.

The cycle of sin will never change in a person's life unless each individual person -- as God draws them, calls to them -- takes it upon himself to allow himself to be motivated to use the gifts God gives. It takes a great deal of effort and Jesus warns it will be difficult.

" . . . It is so easy for us to be distracted by our various kryptonite poisons; those things which distract and drain us of strength. We chase them more than our life force. Whatever our drug of choice, we become lulled into a stupor until we can no longer see or hear the voice of our hope."

His name was Samson and he was our first "superman"; also the only one of truth. All other fantasy characters we make up are derivatives of this supernatural man whose strength was incomparable.

It would seem Samson's kryptonite was women; the wrong women. A life changing event is when he is lulled to sleep. In this slumber his strength is removed because God has departed from him. He ends up having his eyes taken and is imprisoned, spending his days now grinding grains. (Gives a whole new meaning to our slang about being in "the grind")

After a time Samson was called in to perform like a circus act for his captors. They gloated over having subdued him. They began to revel and party at this accomplishment but they forgot the most important aspect about this man's life. His God was redemptive Then Samson said to the lad who held him by the hand, "Let me feel the pillars which support the temple, so that I can lean on them." Now the temple was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there-about three thousand men and women on the roof watching while Samson performed. Then Samson called to the LORD, saying, "O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!"

It is so easy for us to be distracted by our various kryptonite poisons; those things which distract and drain us of strength. We chase them more than our life force. Whatever our drug of choice, we become lulled into a stupor until we can no longer see or hear the voice of our hope.

Our hour is at hand to be awakened to the strength we walk in. Our eyes will not be removed from us but rather we will be given greater vision. Our movies, books and comics follow a familiar theme. We have a hero who starts out invincible, but then succumbs in some weakness or another only to be redeemed to offer hope.

Our greatest hero was one who had no weakness at all but succumbed to His love for us despite our weakness as a human race. He loved us enough to be our hope, our redemption and our salvation.

I love to encourage the heart of people to be who they are meant to be in Christ. My hope is anything offered of myself would be pleasing first to my Heavenly Father and secondly to bring a blessing to others.
www.debrabee.org

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com CHRISTIAN WRITERS

Jesus loved the sinner and hated their sin, and that is the model we should follow. We must never fall into the trap of trying to love the sinner so much that we begin to love the sin itself as well, and even worse, begin to justify it.

Related Story on DerDiz.com

The subject of homosexuality has been at the center of heated debate and discussion over the last few years. Some people call it a "sin" and "abnormal," while others feel nothing is wrong with it. In fact, some go so far as to say it is a legitimate lifestyle choice or "orientation" that is even equal to heterosexuality, even to the point of advocating same-sex "marriage" and openly, practicing homosexual ministers in the pulpits of our churches and other places of worship.

In today's society it is commonplace to call people who disagree with homosexuality on Biblical and scientific (biological/psychological) grounds imaginative names like "homophobic" or "anti-gay" or "bigots" or "gay-bashers" or, worst of all (tongue in cheek) "religious right." But name-calling on either side of this debate proves nothing and will not get us anywhere.

This is especially true of the favorite term used, "homophobic," since it is a misnomer of the highest order, being derived from the Latin "homo" for "man," and the Greek "phobos" meaning "fear." Those of us who believe that homosexuality is not part of "God's creative plan" but is a perversion of it do not "fear" a man or humanity. They have a problem with immorality being called moral, and sin being called, in effect, a "righteous," God ordained alternative lifestyle.

Furthermore, it's getting so bad today that people are actually getting fired from their jobs at well-known companies like AllState because of their Judeo-Christian stance against homosexuality (the article at this site http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=44961 should enrage anyone of good conscience). We have become a society that tolerates abnormality and punishes normality in the court of public opinion.

Examining God's Perspective

Many in the homosexual community are willing to admit that God exists and is the Creator. But they seem to be unwilling to admit that this same Creator condemns homosexuality as wrong and an "abomination." Those of us who follow the historic Judeo-Christian ethic believe that God has spoken in history and has ordained this spoken word to be written down. This spoken word now written down we recognize as the Bible. For those of us who take it seriously and believe it to be authoritative for our lives, it is the final court of arbitration in matters of faith and morals.

Therefore, if it can be shown that the Bible condemns homosexuality, it stands to reason that the Creator knows best and we should align our views with His. So does the Bible condemn homosexuality as something to be avoided as sinful and wrong? To read some of the intellectually dishonest sophistry and Scripture twisting in the literature of many homosexuals and their advocates, you might even be led to believe the Bible actually condones it. But before taking a look at the main passages used to support the view that homosexuality is condemned by the God of the Bible, here is what Dennis Prager, a conservative Jewish radio talkshow host and commentator, had to say about the issue:

"Jews or Christians who take the Bible's views on homosexuality seriously are not obligated to prove that they are not fundamentaists or literalists, let alone bigots (though, of course, people have used the Bible to defend bigotry). Rather, those who claim homosexuality is compatible with Judaism or Christianity bear the burden of proof to reconcile this view with their Bible. Given the unambiguous nature of the biblical attitude toward homosexuality, however, such a reconciliation is not possible. All that is possible is to declare: 'I am aware that the Bible condemns homosexuality, and I consider the Bible wrong.' That would be an intellectually honest approach." [taken from Judaism's Sexual Revolution: Why Judaism (and then Christianity) Rejected Homosexuality].

This insightful analysis by Mr. Prager demonstrates that you do not have to be a "Fundamentalist Christian" in order to acknowledge the fact that the Bible indeed condemns homosexuality as it does other sins. Even many honest homosexuals will partially admit this. But many people fail to see that the sin of homosexuality is different from other sins in the sense that it is the only one (to my knowledge) that involves dual wrong, moral and biological. Not only is homosexuality a sin but it also violates God's created order in biological sexuality.

God's Word on Homosexuality

The Bible has declared in several places that homosexuality is wrong and uses the term "abomination." Leviticus 18:22, 20:13, 1 Kings 14:24 in the Old Testament (OT) condemn homosexuality. Although lesbianism is not specifically mentioned, it must be understood that this is implied due to the fact that the male was the focus in ancient times. Notice how in Genesis 2:24 it is the man (Adam) who leaves mother and father and clings to his wife. Yet it is obvious that the implication is that the wife also leaves father and mother to cling to her husband.

So the lack of direct mention of lesbianism should not make people falsely assume that God is not displeased with the unnatural act of female homosexuality as well.

When we come to the New Testament we find the same kind of thing. Paul in Romans 1:26, 27 condemns homosexuality as being against "nature." Interestingly, though he knew of the OT passages against homosexuality, he decided not to quote them. From nature alone we can see that same-sex couples are wrong, and that's the point I think Paul was trying to make.

We also have the testimony of passages like 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10, which deal with other aspects of homosexual behavior. But the problem today is that many people have undertaken the task of deliberately misinterpreting these passages so that they do not condemn homosexuality.

Twisting the Bible to suite personal preference is nothing new. The cults do it constantly, and now we have specific sinners doing it for obvious reasons. But all the Scripture twisting and distorting in the world will not change the nature of things.

The Biology of Homosexuality

No matter how many Bible passages are distorted to make homosexuality seem acceptable, the fact remains that God did not make same-sex humans with the ability to reproduce from their so-called sex and professed "love." This is telling of itself, for surely God could have given same-sex couples the ability to procreate if He chose to. But the fact that there is a biological ban on these unions proves beyond doubt that God does not approve.

Conclusion: The Christianizing of Sin?

Today we have organizations and websites out there with professing Christians who also claim to be gay and lesbian. We even have "metropolitan" churches specifically for homosexuals (I'm now waiting for the "First Baptist Fornicators and Liars Church of God in Christ").

But in light of what the Bible and biology has to say, does this even make sense? How can one be a "Christian liar" or "Christian fornicator" or "Christian murderer"? What has our society come to when we can go to such extreme lengths to justify our sin and then try to paint a "Christian" face on it? God have mercy on us for falling so far from the truth.

Yes, homosexuals need the love and compassion of Christ that all sinners need. We as Christians should be open to showing this godly love to homosexuals, but this does not mean we must advocate and justify sin in the process. Jesus loved the sinner and hated their sin, and that is the model we should follow. We must never fall into the trap of trying to love the sinner so much that we begin to love the sin itself as well, and even worse, begin to justify it.

Related Story on DerDiz.com

Who are you in Christ?
It is important to know who we are outside Christ to appreciate who we are in Christ.

Outside of Christ we are dead in trespasses and sin,(1) all our righteousness or goodness are as filthy rags before God(2). We are enemies of God, separated, alienated from Him, without hope, destined for hell and eternal destruction. (3)
Without Christ, we are slaves to sin and Satan and all his cohorts.(4) We have hearts that are desperately wicked even though to the people around us we may look like saints.(5) There is that capacity for evil lurking and when the right circumstance presents itself, the true adamic, satanic nature manifests itself. We may never kill on the outside but we can kill from the inside. In this state we are in total rebellion to God even when we go to Church, pray, are charitable or are even ministers of the Gospel! We may have status in society, acclaimed, feted and celebrated, but before God we stink, are damned and doomed.

However when we one day realise our sinful nature and need for forgiveness and restoration and come to Christ, we are restored to our first estate. God gives us a fresh start. The slate is wiped cleaned for a New Beginning. (6) The old goes and the new comes. Our spirit is recreated and regenerated. We become brand new specie as it were. We become God’s voice, his hands and feet here on earth. Any attack on us becomes an attack on Him. (7)He presides and rules over us. We become His sheep and He becomes our Shepherd. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep. (8) We belong to the family of God.(9)

When God looks at us, He sees Jesus. We are clothed in His righteousness. God becomes our Father and we become His children. (10) We are citizens of heaven- in the world but not of it; we are ambassadors of the Kingdom of God; (11) we are a royal priesthood; we are God’s property and territory; we are the light of the world and the salt of the earth,(12) followers or disciples of Christ. We no longer belong to ourselves but to Him who came to rescue us from the dominion of darkness and translated us in to the Kingdom of light and life.(13)

Why is it important know who you are in Christ?
If you don’t know who you are in Christ, you will live below God’s expectation of you. You will be short-changed by the enemy of your soul. How can you avail yourself of the power God has available for you? Your growth will be stunted and you will live like an orphan, vagabond or destitute. The promises of God are not for everyone. They are for the children of God. (14)

Like an unfaithful spouse who justifies his/her infidelity by his/her perceived need to fulfill needs not found in his/her marital relationship, the born again believer does the same when he/she goes to “religion” in order to fulfill the perceived spiritual needs not found in the Word of God. By religion, I am referring to ANYTHING that Man has added to or taken from what is revealed in the Word of God.

Among the Ten Commandments that were given to the people of Israel for the purpose of establishing their nation under a theocratic form of government, was the commandment prohibiting adultery (Ex. 20: 14). Adultery not only is the means in which the most of intimate human relationships (marriage) can be destroyed, but the spiritual life of those involved and society as a whole is impacted as well.

Because of its devastating potential, adultery was among the prohibited acts that could result in capital punishment (Leviticus 20: 10) being imposed on both parties involved. In light of this, it is interesting to note that only the woman who allegedly had been “caught in the act of adultery (John 8:4 NIV)” and not the man who had been involved with her was brought before our Lord. It was not the issue of the woman’s sin that mattered to her accusers, but the perceived opportunity to challenge the ministry of our Lord (John 8: 6).

For one to be convicted and executed for the sin of adultery, the FACTS had to be established by the TESTIMONY, at a hearing convened for that purpose(John 7:51), of two eyewitnesses (Deut.17: 6) to the actual behavior. Accusations that are not made under oath or in a formal setting fall short of what is required to be considered testimony.

It is not uncommon for self-righteous individuals with secret agendas to bypass the requirements of evidence or judicial procedure.

Such “technicalities” were also of little concern when they later arrested and brought our Lord to “trial”. It was not until AFTER His arrest (John 18: 12) that they sought witnesses (Matt. 26: 59, 60) and it was not until AFTER the false conviction of blasphemy (Matt.26: 65) failed to be recognized by Roman authorities that His conviction of blasphemy was amended to correspond to alleged violations of Roman law (Luke 23:2). Even at that, Pilate found no grounds for conviction (Luke 23:4).

If it were not for the fact that His work on the cross was very purpose that He came to Earth, neither the secular nor the religious courts of His Day could have legitimately condemned Him. Under Roman occupation and Law, the Sanhedrin lacked the power to impose capital punishment and under Roman law, there were no grounds for conviction of a capital offense (Luke 23:4). The arrest, trial(s), conviction, and execution of the Lord Jesus Christ were one of the classic examples of travesty of justice at the hands of both ecclesiastical and secular authorities in all of recorded history.

If our Lord went along with the lynch mob that brought the alleged adulteress to Him, He could be accused of circumventing Roman law that required its sanction to impose capital punishment as well as denying the accused woman of a hearing or trial under Jewish jurisprudence as well. If our Lord did not go along with them, He could be accused of condoning her alleged adultery and or disregarding the Commandments. Either way, or so they thought, they had Him in a dilemma that could be used to accuse and/or discredit Him (John 8:6). By having them consider their own sin(s), He turned the situation around. They found themselves being humbled by the scenario they promoted (Ps. 57:6). No pill is harder to swallow than the one that is prepared for others.

This message is quite misunderstood by Christianity today. Many say that living without sin is impossible. Many will reject it immediately before even hearing the matter.

However God has a message and “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.”[Pro 18:13]. “To the law and to the testimony, if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them”[Isa 8:20] “Prove all things, hold fast that which is good”[1 Thess 5:21].

Now, this message is not only true, but it is fundamental doctrine to the Christian faith. And it happens alone by faith.

Mat 9:29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

By your faith it will be done unto you. The faith that we need in order to keep the commandments of God is “the faith of Jesus”.

Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Without the faith of Jesus we will keep sinning. Paul said himself that he was dead. What Paul meant was that self no longer ruled in his body. But Christ worked in him mightily. He had the “faith of Jesus”.