Charity

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge ; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.”

*What is Charity, you might ask? Charity in the bible is Love. Love is an important factor in effectively performing the works for the Lord. Without charity/love, anything that we do is considered nothing; it was all for nothing. In today’s society we know charity as it is where people donate their money and time to a certain foundation in need of support. Though it is a wonderful experience to take part in, half the time people today do it without feeling and only looking for a return investment. Now how can you possibly receive a reward from giving to a charity? Well, people think giving publicly will heighten their status in society and give the appearance of a good person; but that is just it. Now, I’m not saying everyone has this mindset, but with the many hearts today, it has completely changed the true purpose of Charity.

What God wants to see in the “Charity” we partake in for Him, is fulfilling His Word, and that is by spreading the good news to all nations and tongues. The only problem the Lord sees today, is that people are lacking the most important factor, Love. Love is an emotion that produces action into someone or something we have such passion for. **

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil: Rejoiceth not in inquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.”

*This brings me back to the story of the Samaritan who went out of his way to help a Jew. *

Luke 10: 30-37

“And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him, Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.”

*If you notice in the reading above, this man that had befallen among thieves was rejected help from two people that you would assume would stop and help, but had in fact turned a blind eye! A priest of all people to turn their face of someone in need is a true betrayel, someone that is suppose to eat, sleep and breathe compassion for mankind because they are suppose to be a holy vessel. But by the example of this priest, it doesn’t matter of the apparel and persona you carry. If you don’t exemplify that title in action by LOVE, especially in this case, then everything you have done or continue to do is by no means valuable in the eyes of the Lord. Then a Levite, someone who is of the same kind as the beaten man, had turned his eyes and withheld compassion from helping this man. It shows that even if you share the same bloodline and/or fellowship as someone else, you can still reject them without batting an eye. I have heard family members turning their back on each other, and it could be for the price of the all mighty dollar! Now, what speaks volumes in this study, is that someone who you would never even consider taking the time out for this person, did exactly that! Samaritans and Jews were to be separate back then, because of the different beliefs and cultures they held; Samaritans were idol worshippers while the Jews were to solely worship God. The fellowship of these two people were a no-no, for the reason of the influence of Idol worship. But in this case, the Samaritan wasn’t concerned about the background of this helpless man, he looked upon the need. He showed a compassion that no one else showed him, and went out of his way to make sure the man was taken care of. He did this out of the love he had in his heart, and not thinking of anything in return; especially for someone who he wasn’t to be in contact with! Oh, how we can share this same love for others! We live in a wicked world where people look out for #1 and no one else. This is the opposite of what God wants from us. *

1 Corinthians 13:9-13

“For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”

*It takes a person of true heart and maturity to put others first in replace of their own needs. It is said, that we should have Faith, Hope and Charity (Love) but most importantly Charity (Love)! Remember, that God is Love, and without that Love, He doesn’t live in us as He should! *

1 John 4:16“And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”

Bringing in the New Year with the Lord!

Every year our church brings in the new year by having what we call a “Night Watch”. What all takes place at our “Night Watch” service, is that we come to the church at night and watch a Christian Based movie, afterwards we conduct our Praise & worship until we enter into the new year. With doing that, we certainly know when we bring in the new year while worshipping God without looking at the clock, for there would suddenly be a burst of power running through the congregation as we are all giving God all the glory! God reminds us every year to lean closer to Him, and stay prayed up for the nearing time of His return, and for that we recognize our enemy at hand who tries to prevent our victory, that is more the reason for us looking toward the new year seeking a powerful new beginning for our battle is just around the corner.

Now all I can think of as we are bringing in the new year has been all that transpired in the year 2017, it was surely a whirlwind of a year with trials and pains for me, but as we were entering into 2018 God tells me to let go of the burdens of 2017 and embrace the new beginnings of 2018. As I was praising God all I could think of was the baggage I carried and how I needed to drop them and move forward. The baggage of Self-Doubt, Fear, Worry, Betrayel, Heart Ache & Loss. I had no reason to continue carrying these weights, because God will show His works when I keep my eyes on Him. He has so much in store for me, and I can’t look at what is all around me for they will bring me down!

Matthew 14:25-31

And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.28And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

When trouble comes we think God will immediately pick us up and take care of the solution right there and then, but that is not the case every time. There is a point where trials will feel like it’s a mile long and God is so far away, but that is not the case. God knows our struggles and He knows our pain, and there is a time where he waits to see where our heart to cling most to, Him or the world.

Hebrews 4:15-16

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Throughout the time of my trials, I often felt I was fighting all by myself, and the more I prayed it felt like God wasn’t hearing me, but that is what satan wants me to think. It is the total opposite…..

Joshua 1:5

There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Psalms 34:18

The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

1 Timothy 6:12

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

I was called for a purpose, just like every one God has called throughout the years and continuing to do throughout all the earth today: to spread the good news of salvation and redemption! Satan tries to prevent that from happening, but just like the very beginning where God’s prophets (Highlight John the Baptist) were sent out to warn the people of their sins and were killed for it, it doesn’t stop the word from being preached.

Psalm 44:22

Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.

Matthew 11:12

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

Does this put fear in us? Does this prevent us from continuing to spread the gospel? It shouldn’t, because God is fully in control of what is before us. He already tells us who wins at the end: Those who stayed faithful till the very end!

Hebrews 3:14

For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;