Lordship of Christ Archives - My Manna

Be Zealous

MyManna — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 22:00:54 +0000

Zeal is defined as the “fervour for a person, cause, or object; eager desire or endeavor; enthusiastic diligence; ardor.”
The early church certainly was zealous (Acts 2:42-47). Their holy zeal resulted in adding to their numbers daily. From their fervent preaching and heartfelt service, the early church exploded with new believers.
Have you ever longed for that same experience? Have you ever desired to have the love for outreach and the zeal they had at Pentecost?
But we might be zealous for the wrong things: building our own little kingdom at the expense of the things that really matter in life.
People also get so excited about sports. They will shout until they are hoarse. They will brave the rain to go watch a game. Other people will stand in line for hours for tickets to a movie or a concert. These fans are so excited and passionate, or they would never spend their time and money this way.
Everyone Is zealous about something.
All people have an innate desire to be passionate. Being passionate makes us excited and makes us come alive. Suddenly life has meaning and purpose.
We are to be zealous. Having zeal that is transformed by Jesus Christ. Being those who put Jesus first. Being those who allow that zeal to overflow into compassion and concern for other people.
The word “enthusiasm” comes from a composite of two Greek words, en and theos that means “in God.” Enthusiasm really means “God in you.” A person who is enthusiastic is “full of God.” Christians should be the most enthusiastic people in the world.
The great prophets of God were zealous for Him. Elijah said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts” (1 Kings 19:10). David said, “The zeal for Your house has eaten me up” (Ps 69:9).
Are you zealous for God … or something else?
God wants us to be zealous for Him.Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matt 22:37).
“Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men” (Col 3:23).
“Therefore be zealous and repent” (Rev 3:19).
(MT)

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Come What May

MyManna — Wed, 04 Jan 2017 22:00:07 +0000

“I keep the Lord in mind always. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8.
At any banquet or formal meal in early Near Eastern culture-

– a person’s closest friend and advisor usually sat on his right-hand side (thus the term “right-hand man”).

The Bible refers to Jesus, you may remember, as sitting down after his resurrection “at the right hand of the Majesty on high” Hebrews 1:3.

His Father was giving him the highest honour that exists in heaven or on earth.
Therefore, when David acknowledged God’s place at his “right hand,” he said a lot in a small phrase.

He revealed that God occupied the most important position in his life.

He declared that God had priority over everyone and everything.

He called God his close friend and trusted advisor.
David knew from experience that he would be nowhere without God’s protection and guidance.

For David, there was no question about where to put his trust.

As long as God had his rightful place in David’s life-

David could take on anything the world had to offer.

Come what may…

David would not be afraid.
Are you aware that you can live with the same confidence David did?

Have you reserved the most important place in your life for God,

– or have you given the honour seat to someone or something else?
Only one guest is to sit at your right hand.

If you haven’t extended this honour to God-

– now is the time to do so.
And how do you treat the people you truly esteem the highest?
(PA)

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Come Off the Cross?

MyManna — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 23:00:16 +0000

” … come down from the cross and save yourself!” Mark 15:30.

God calls each of us to the cross-

– in order for all the things that are alive in our flesh to die.

Daily we are invited by the enemy of our souls-

– to love ourselves and come away from the cross.

What are the signs-

– that you have come off the cross?

When you are overly concerned with appearance, you have come off the cross.
When the words of others cause you to react and defend, you have come off the cross.
When you strive to have your world in perfect order, you have come off the cross.
When you complain about circumstances, you have come off the cross.

The way of the cross means-
– letting go and letting God have His way
– in every matter, every relationship, every outcome.

“When God starts to deal with the old nature He heads straight for the center of all that you hold most dear.
Allow Him to bring you to the cross in the very center of who you are.
Don’t grumble and become agitated when the process starts.
Silence and peace will help you much more than being upset.
To bear the cross simply, without letting your self-love add all sorts of dilemmas to it, will make your life easier.
When you accept the cross simply allow it to do the work God intended, you will be happy because you will see what good fruit is produced in you.”

Those were the words of Francois de Fenelon-
– a man who lived in the 1600s and was considered one of the most godly men of his time.

The apostle Paul sums up the way of the cross:

“For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” Phil 3:18-21.

Let the cross have its way in you.

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Ongoing!

MyManna — Sun, 18 Sep 2016 23:00:45 +0000

^“Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living…For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.” Romans 14:7-12.

There are many people who have trusted Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour-
– and yet continue to live in rebellion against Him.
Why is it that some individuals who claim to follow the Son of God refuse to serve Him?
The simple answer is that salvation is only part of the picture.
But salvation doesn’t guarantee a godly or fruitful life here on earth.
The will of the Father is that we live under the lordship of His Son.
That means we must submit to Jesus as the one in charge of our life.
Daily decisions and leadership of those under our care ultimately belong in God’s hands, not our own-
Christ provides us with the guidance and direction.
Though we’ll sometimes make mistakes-
– we need to remember that God’s grace is for imperfect people.
The problem is that we often desire to give Him dominion over just certain areas of our life.
For example, too many of us want Him out of our finances, out of our schedule, or out of our career.
But when we are lying in a hospital bed-
– which of us will tell Jesus to stay out of our health?
So ask yourself:
Is Jesus the Lord of my life or not?
Salvation is a one-time experience-
– but the Christian life doesn’t stop there.
The lordship of Jesus Christ is ongoing!
There comes a time when every believer must recognize that God’s Son came to do more than save us.
He came to be the Master of our life-
– for our good and His glory.

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Ongoing

MyManna — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 23:00:07 +0000

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The choice is yours!

MyManna — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 23:00:11 +0000

From what we get-
– we can make a living!
From what we give-
– we can make a life!!
The focus should be on giving rather than on getting.
And that makes all the difference.
As long as our focus is on-
– getting all we can,
– canning all we get,
– and sitting on that can-
– we’re slaves to our money.
On the other hand-
When we view money as a tool for accomplishing good-
– then it becomes our servant.
That attitude frees us to use money as God intended-
– to provide for our needs,
– but also to provide for others.
Jesus addresses the bottom line.
“You cannot serve God and money” (Matt 6:24).
Are you the master of your money?
Or is your money your master?
Master or slave?
The choice is yours!

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The Lord of all

MyManna — Sun, 12 Jun 2016 23:00:46 +0000

“A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:18-20).
There are people today who say, “I am a Christian,”-
– but they are out getting drunk.
They say, “I am a Christian,”-
– but they are having premarital sex or
– being unfaithful to their husband or wife.
They say, “I am a Christian,”-
– but in their business, they lie to people every single day.
They distort things.
They take money that is not really theirs.
There are a lot of people today who think they are Christians-
– but are not, because they have not really changed.
They are not living according to what the Bible teaches.
I am not saying that a Christian cannot sin.
I am not saying that a Christian won’t slip up.
But I am saying that there is a big difference between-
– a person who slips up, sins, is sorry for it and wants to change
– and a person who lives in continual, willful, habitual sin.
The Bible says that if you live that way, you don’t know God.
Maybe the reason that some people have never really known the joy of the Lord is that they have never met the basic requirements of salvation.
They think being a Christian is just having Jesus along for a ride.
They don’t realize that He wants to be their Lord and wants to lead and guide them.
They don’t realize that He has a distinct and unique plan and purpose for their lives.
Jesus Christ wants to be the Lord of every aspect of your life.
He wants to be the Lord of-
– your business,
– your free time,
– your relationships,
– your body, mind and soul…
If He is not the Lord of all-
– then He is not a Lord at all.

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