True Fellowship with God

 1 John 1:6

 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

I call myself a Christian because I asked Jesus to forgive me for my sins and come into my heart. Believers were first called Christians in Antioch. They were given the name because they were followers of Jesus Christ. A man who claimed to be God, a man who gave His life on the cross, shed His blood that the world may be saved. Through Christ, I now have fellowship with God. Christ bridged the gap, and I now can enter into the presence of a holy God through Christ who reconciled me back to my Creator. John says that if you have this kind of fellowship with God, then the way we live our life matters. Living a life of sin, and knowingly doing things that are contrary to what is right, is to walk in darkness. The Bible says that we once lived in darkness, but we are now the light of Jesus, and we need to walk in His light. Continuing to say that we have fellowship with God, and know Christ to be our savior, but refusing to walk in light is to deceive ourselves, and we are living a lie. The word religion has become the catchphrase for anyone who chooses to rest their salvation by keeping rules and rituals. It is true that a religion without a relationship or fellowship with Christ is empty. Yet, if one professes to have a relationship with God, then he or she will be a religious person, and, by God’s help and grace, walk in the light of God’s word. The devil has set spiritual traps along this path we walk. That is why we must walk in the light of God’s word and seek to do what is good and right. Love mercy, do justly, and stay humble before God and others. This is done when we walk a path that is full of light.

Walking in the Desert

 Deut 2:7
For the Lord thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness:..

The testing of our faith is done when we are walking through the desert wilderness of life. I’m told that the desert has its own unique attractions, and in some respects I can see how it might be, but as a general rule, I would choose rather not to live in the dry climate of the hot and lifeless desert. A desert place in life is symbolized as a time of desolation and dryness of spirit. Going through a hard place, circumstances are tough and life giving water is nowhere to be found. The lessons in life are often done when we are walking in the desert. This is the place where our faith is tested and our trust to believe in God, that He knows where we are, and He knows what we need. His will and purpose is being accomplished. He is preparing us for something new. In the desert, He will provide us with what we need. A river will spring forth, and He will bring us through. “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Is 43:19). We all enjoy the “mountain top” experience where all is going well, and we are basking in God’s presence. But when we walk through the desert, God’s presence appears to be absent. We need to know that God sees us and knows what we are going through. We can trust the promises of God and believe that He will provide us with what we need as we walk in the desert places of life. He has promised us a river, a stream that will take us through. “When we have exhausted our store of endurance, when our strength has failed, when the day is half done, when we reach the end of our hoarded resources, our Father’s full giving has only begun”- The river of grace will appear and make a way as we walk in the desert.

Fellowship in Christ

 1 John 1:3
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
Fellowship with Him, fellowship with the Father, and fellowship with one another. Fellowship, the bond of perfection, communion with God, a child of the King, adopted into the family of God. Fellowship, a cord that binds us together in our faith and love for Christ. The mutual belief that Christ died for our sins, and through confession of sin, we enter into fellowship with Him. When we come into contact with a fellow believer, there is an instant connection. We may be divided by land or sea, social class, or culture, but our kindred spirits connect in Christ, we have instant fellowship with one another.  We gather together on Sunday to worship the Father and give thanks to our Redeemer, but we also gather to break bread and have fellowship with each other. A time to build each other in the most holy faith. Time to share life and our walk with Christ, how God is answering prayers,  and share the burdens we carry. Our hearts become heavy when we hear about someone who no longer is in fellowship with Christ. They are no longer walking in the light, and are now walking in darkness. We must be aware that believers may not always agree, but when one denies the power of Christ, and continues in sin and darkness, they have dis-associated themselves from the body of Christ. As fellow believers, we must pray that God will restore that person, and return back  into the fellowship of Christ. Let us gather together to worship our Savior, and have fellowship one with another because we have seen and heard what Christ has done for us.

Living in the Word is a Lifestyle

Debt. 6:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up…  And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

Living in the word of God is a lifestyle. It consumes every part of our day. The things we do and the things we say are guided by the words that are given to us in the Bible. It is unnatural for a Christian to go through the day and not think on the precepts of God’s word. As a Christian, we are part of the Vine, and the words of Christ flows through our life essence. His word is more than a set of rules and instructions to live by, it is the source of life we draw from to inspire us to keep moving forward. It provides us the promises that God will not leave us or forsake us in our time of need. As we wake up in the morning, and start our busy daily responsibilities, may we keep His word in our hearts, and allow His word to guide our thoughts, words and deeds. Let us make God’s word more than just a good book to read, but may it become our lifestyle.

Walking On Water

Matt 14:29  And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

Walking on water is not possible. The laws of nature defy the possibility that humans can literally walk on the surface of the water. The laws of nature do not apply to God. He created the laws that govern our universe, He can alter those laws at will. With men, this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible. When God asks us to do the impossible it would be natural for fear to grip our hearts. We who fear the unknown and things that seem impossible to do know a God that does things that are impossible. Have any mountains that are in the way? Have any rivers that are over flowing the banks you need to cross? Have any seas that need parted? I don’t know if I will ever need to walk on water, but I need Him to work out some impossibilities that I cannot do in my own strength or ability. Taking the first step in believing Him, and keeping my trust in the one who can make miracles happen is what God requires of me. With God, all things are possible.

Do What is Right

2 Kings 22:2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.

When presented to do what is right, Josiah did what he felt was right. He followed his conscience in a day when God’s word was put on the shelf. True that our conscience can be misplaced by erroneous teaching, but left allow, God puts within each one of us a desire to seek the truth and do what is right. Sin has tainted the nature of our desires, and the carnal nature that we are born with seeks to gratify self in the face of doing what is good and acceptable to God. Paul speaks of this dual battle in the hearts and mind of people. The battle of doing what is right, when the desire to please self is present. As the Word of God came to Josiah in his day, so does the Holy Spirit come to us to lead us into all truth. We can choose to do what is right and take a stand against sin in our own life. Through Christ, we no longer have to live in condemnation, Through His blood we can have full salvation from sin and victory over sin in our lives. The nature of sin can be crucified with Christ and we can live each day with a pure conscience knowing the power of sin no longer has dominion over us, walking in the light of God.  

Walking in Truth

Psalm 86:11 Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.

Walking in truth assumes we know what truth is. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and  the life, no man can come the Father except by me” Walking in truth is to walk in Christ, to live in the Vine and to live a life that reflects the teaching of the Savior. The world says that what is truth to one person, may not be truth to another person. That there are different ways to find God. God does lead people in different ways, but ultimately, we all must enter through the cross. Straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, and few be that find it. Walking in truth is finding that God, through Christ, desires us to live a life of praise and do all things to glorify His Name. Someone who walks in truth will not live carelessly without regard to His commandments. Temptation may come, and in a time of weakness, Satan may cause us to fall. If we walk in truth as God desires us to, we can overcome the wicked one and stay in perfect fellowship with the Father. We all have a choice to walk or not walk in truth. The Psalmist said, “I will”, he made a choice to do the will of God. may we always call out to God for help to say “I will”. He will never leave us or forsake us.

Walking by Faith

2 Corinth 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

“Seeing is believing” is often said among those who are skeptical of things happening that are unnatural. I sometime find myself in that camp when it comes to the supernatural, and unexplained healing. Yes, I believe God is able and can do things that are unbelievable, but my practical mine often wonders at the methods I see others using to bring about miraculous healing. To me living by faith, it not necessary having faith to heal and restore everything that is wrong. To me, faith is believing in God to do what is good and right regardless of what I think should be the outcome. Sometimes He chosen to heal that baby who is struggling to stay alive, other times He choose to take the baby. Faith in God is not seeing God heal that baby, and yet believing He is God and knows what is best. For God is good and will work all things out for His pleasure. Walking by faith is to know that God is in control of my life and in control of the circumstances that surround me. Even when I look to the left and to the right and do not see Him, I still believe that He is there and will guide my every step. 

The Steps of a Good Man

Psalm 27:23,24 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholdeth him with His hand.”-

Walking with God is to step in the footprints of Jesus. The steps we take in life are the decision we make that will led us down a path of destruction or a path of righteousness. As we walk with God, He is faithful to show us what steps we need to take. In our effort to do what is right, we are still prone to human error. Even with the best intentions, we sometimes can make a wrong decision. Though we may falter and fall, God is faithful to pick us up with His hand and put us back on our feet. We don’t have to let the failures of our efforts discourage us from going forward with God. Relationship that have been broken because of a wrong step, may never be the same, but God who knows the desire of our heart, desires us to walk close with Him. “Lord, help me to follow the steps of Jesus, and when and if I fall, pick me up and teach me how to walk in your ways”

Piercing the Darkness

Psalm 91:5,6 “ Thou shalt not be afraid of the terror by night... nor of the pestilence that walketh in darkness...”- 

There is something about the darkness that causes us all to be afraid. Not knowing what may lurk in the shadows or what unforeseen terror we may encounter. In the darkness, we fear the unknown and are consumed by the possibility that it may destroy us. Physical darkness, not being able to see what is in front of us can be disconcerting, especially if we are walking in a place that we are unfamiliar with. When we know that we are going somewhere where it is dark, we take with us some sort of light. We take comfort in knowing that the darkness can be dispelled by the flick of a switch or a push of a button. It reveals the hidden things that our imagination feared. Satan is the prince of darkness, He is the master of instilling fear and causing us to be afraid of the unknown. As Christians, we do not walk in darkness, but we often must walk through darkness. The valley of the shadow of death are real experiences that can bring terror and cause us to despair. But we our the children of the Light, and He will pierce the darkness and cause a light to shine before us to guide us through all our fears and the “what if’s ” of life. We don’t have to be afraid of the sin and wickedness that surrounds us, we our followers of the one that shine the light into the world to set men free from darkness. Thank God for the light of the Holy Spirit that can lead us into the right path. We don’t have to fear, if we walk in the Light.

Walking on Water

Mat 14:29 “And He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.“- 

One of the greatest fears to overcome is failure. Most of us are afraid to step out on the water because past experience had shown us that we will sink. We look at the situation and know that stepping out of our comfort zone will surely cause us misfortune. What will people think? When we step out for God, it may not be the popular thing to do. We need to come out of the boat and step out in faith and start believing God to do the impossible. Peter started out in faith, but started to look around and became afraid. It is not uncommon for our faith to start to falter when we see that things are looking bad. The mist that is blowing in front of us obscures our vision of Jesus and we begin to lose focus. Peter did the right things and called out to Jesus when he began to feel his feet plunge beneath the water. God wants our faith to grow, but it is not able to grow unless we take the first step to trust God. In the human, we may succumb to failures and setbacks, but we can’t let the winds and waves around us keep us from calling out to God. He is ready to reach down and pick up right back up. In the sinking waters, He will lift me up, and cause me to walk on water. With God, all things are possible.