Law Enforcement as Weapons of Righteousness

God's Ministers

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 12:58:27 GMT

Peacemakers not Peacekeepers

God has called law enforcement officers to be ministers of peace. Many times the only way to bring peace to a situation is to remove the one causing the chaos. Proverbs 22:10 says, "Cast out the scorner, and contention; yea, strife and reproach shall cease." The force by which that individual is removed is completely dependent on them. The general public has a difficult time understanding this truth. If an individual violently resists the God given authority delegated to a law enforcement officer to bring peace to a situation then, at that point, they are called on by God to meet that unrighteous violence with righteous violence. The apostle Paul says the following in Romans 13:4 referring to law enforcement officers:

"For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, BE AFRAID; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is GOD'S MINISTER, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil."

In light of the recent school shooting that took place in Nashville, TN we see this demonstrated perfectly by the responding officers. Those officers fulfilled their ministry role perfectly based on the circumstances presented to them. Using the word "ministry" to described law enforcement having to take another persons life might shock you but according to Romans 13:4 that's God's definition of what took place. The Apostle Paul inserts a comma directly after the words "God's minister" and gives the following definition :

"an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil."

The Greek word for minister used here by the Apostle Paul means servant, one who executes the commands of another. Whether the officers involved in that shooting are followers of Jesus Christ or not, they were used by God to end the killing. They fulfilled their ministry role through their God given authority and brought peace to the chaos.

James 3:18 in the New Living Translation says this, "And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness". Notice, it doesn't say, "And those who are peace KEEPERS". Law enforcement is not called upon to keep the peace. They are called upon to enforce peace...to be a peacemaker. Another way to say this is that a law enforcement officer is to produce peace wherever they are dispatched (sent). The officers that entered that school on Monday, March 27th, were planting seeds of peace by entering into the chaos fully prepared to execute wrath on the individual who was causing it. As those officers entered the room where the shooter was at they enforced peace by utilizing righteous violence to neutralize the threat and stop the killing. The harvest of righteousness was that the killing was brought to an end and lives were preserved. I thank God for those officers and the courage they displayed in fulfilling their God given role as a peacemaker, God's ministers in uniform.

In Romans 12:18 the Apostle Paul says this, "IF IT BE POSSIBLE, as much as lieth within you, live peaceably with all men". Notice the words at the start, "If it be possible". A law enforcement officer should respond to every call with a desire to resolve the situation peacefully. Their heart should be to bring peace to the chaos, BUT the way that peace is manifested is completely dependent on the individuals involved. Sometimes, the mere presence of law enforcement will bring peace. They'll show up on scene and the situation is resolved without them ever having to raise their voice or physically put their hands on anyone. Other times, peace must be obtained through force. This should never be the desired intention of law enforcement...if it is, then they're no longer a peacemaker but an instigator in uniform.

Just like the officers who willingly laid their lives down to bring physical peace to the dark situation presented to them, Jesus Christ (God's only Son), laid His life down to bring spiritual peace to the darkness of this world. He was the peacemaker to the chaos caused by sin. He sowed His life on the cross over 2000 years ago becoming our sin, baring our judgement, so that we could receive His righteousness and be at peace with God. Salvation has been made available to everyone through Jesus Christ but, because of His love for us He's given us the free will to reject that gift. He doesn't force it on anyone. Being a law enforcement officer doesn't justify you before God, saving another person's life doesn't justify you, being a "good person" doesn't justify you, and going to church doesn't justify you. True justification before God comes through making Jesus Christ Lord over your life and allowing Him to live through you.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:9, "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." The ONLY way to correctly fulfill God's calling to be a peacemaker is to know the author of peace, His Son, Jesus Christ. If you don't have a personal relationship with the Prince of Peace then you'll never experience the fullness of what He's called you to be. The only way to become a peacemaker, both physically and spiritually, is to be at peace with God through His son Jesus. Once you have His supernatural peace abiding on the inside of you then you'll have the authority in Christ to sow that same peace into others. True peace only comes through Jesus Christ. Don't resist the peace that God offers through Him. Once that peace is received through a relationship with Him, you'll be born again as a child of God, and identified as His peacemaker on earth.

TRUE LIFE

Mon, 06 Feb 2023 14:04:18 GMT

Jesus said to his disciples in Luke 17:1-5 (KJV) that “it is impossible but that offenses will come; but woe unto him, through whom they come. It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and be cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves: if thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn to thee saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.” This is a hard thing to walk out, especially when confrontation is something you try to avoid. There was a reason that Jesus told his disciples to rebuke their brother or sister when there was a trespass. Jesus wants everyone to walk in freedom and if we do not rebuke someone who has clearly offended us, then it can lead to anger, bitterness, sadness, confusion etc. Satan can use these things to negatively affect your life, if you let it. There is freedom in confessing sins one to another and it can bring healing that relationships desperately need (James 5:16). On the other hand, Proverbs 19:11b says “it is his glory to pass over a transgression”. The Bible helps us make wise decisions in our relationships. The Bible includes every answer we need for every situation we face. Maybe in one situation it can be easy to overlook an offense while in another situation there may be a need for confrontation and establishing boundaries in that relationship. The Lord knows what is necessary in each individual situation and if we ask the Holy Spirit, then we will know what decision to make when the time comes or when offense comes. Jesus said it is impossible for offenses not to come so we must be ready for them when they do come. We can have true life within our relationships.

After Jesus spoke to His disciples about this, He passed through Samaria and Galilee, and came to a certain village where ten lepers came near to Him (Luke 17:11). They all asked Jesus for mercy and He told them to go show themselves to the priests and as they went and followed His instructions, they were cleansed from their leprosy. Only one of the men who had leprosy turned back to glorify God when he saw he was healed from his disease. It says that one man fell down on his face and gave thanks to Him. Later in the next few verses Jesus said that his faith made him whole. That one man saw the healing that he had been expecting come to pass, he glorified the Lord, and his thankfulness and worship made him whole. Places on his body that had been eaten away by leprosy were restored. He recognized the Savior and gave Him the glory for his healing with a thankful heart! We also can have true life in our physical bodies.

After seeing this, the Pharisees demanded to know an answer from Jesus about when the kingdom would come. They were always wanting a sign and were so focused on the senses and the external. Luke 17:21 says Jesus told them that the kingdom of heaven is within you. It seemed to be something that was so far out of reach for the Pharisees that it probably blew their mind to hear Jesus give them an answer like that. They couldn't recognize Jesus even though they saw him with their own eyes. So many believers are reaching out begging and pleading for everything in this life when in reality, God has given us everything through the life of Jesus. This is how we rest in Him and in His finished work. His kingdom has come. It is within you if you have made Jesus Lord of your life. He will come again and there will be a new heaven and a new earth, but right now we have been made new through His life within us. Of course there are limitations in this life and we’ll be perfected when we get to heaven but John 17:3 says “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent”. If this was only for the life to come then why would Jesus have spoken of this as having already been given? 1 John 5:20 says “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” Jesus also said in John 6:47 “he that believeth on me hath everlasting life”. Hath in the Greek (echo) means to have, to hold in your hand, in the sense of wearing, to hold fast, to possess. Eternal is without end and life in the Greek (zoe) means absolute fulness of life; real and genuine, life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to have a more perfect body, and to last forever. This is the abundant life Jesus talks about in His Word. Colossians 2:9-10 says “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.” We can have true life because we are complete in Him.

It is so freeing to know that Jesus is within us as believers and He has given us the victory to overcome this world; our faith in Him (1 John 5:4). If you have made Jesus Lord of your life, don’t just think of heaven as all there is to look forward to. Enjoy this life...eternal life...knowing Jesus (John 17:3). Keep learning now and then throughout eternity when you leave your body and this earth behind, when Jesus comes back for you. 1 John 5:11 says God hath given us eternal life and this life is in His Son. Your life is always and forever with Him in your Spirit; here on earth and then in heaven. This is how His Kingdom is within you!

To any who do not know Jesus, your Spirit will live forever either in heaven or hell. If you have not made Him Lord of your life then you do not have true life and you will not have life in heaven with Him. Make the choice today to have eternal life! It’s a free gift and it's in Jesus. Reach out for help if you need it!

Law Enforcement Prayer

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 16:18:46 GMT

Father, I pray for my husband as he enters the darkness. I take authority over his body in Jesus name and declare your truth over him.

· 1 Cor. 7:4 (NKJV) – The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. AND LIKEWISE THE HUSBAND DOES NOT HAVE AUTHORITY OVER HIS OWN BODY, BUT THE WIFE DOES.

That Your light within him will cause the darkness to flee in Jesus name.

· John 1:5 (NKJV) – And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

I declare divine protection over him and thank you that you’ve given your angels charge over him, to keep him in all his ways.

· Psalm 91:11 (NKJV) – For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.

No evil shall befall him, though a thousand may fall at his side, and ten thousand at his right hand, it shall not, will not, and cannot come near him in the name of Jesus.

· Psalm 91:7, 10 (NKJV) – A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;

I speak divine peace over him in the presence of chaos, divine protection in the presence of danger, divine wisdom in the presence of confusion, divine strength in the presence of weakness, and divine courage in the presence of fear in the name of Jesus.

· John 14:27 (NKJV) – “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

· 2 Timothy 4:18 (NKJV) – And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!

· Luke 21:15 (NKJV) – “for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all of your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.”

· Psalm 46:1 (NKJV) - …God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

· Psalm 31:24 (NKJV) – Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.

For the fear of man is a snare but those who trust in the Lord shall be safe.

· Proverbs 29:25 (NKJV) – The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.

Thank you for not giving him a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. For preserving the steps before him. For preserving him from fear of the enemy in the name of Jesus.

· 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) – For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

· Psalm 121:7, 8 (NKJV) – The Lord shall preserve you from ALL evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve you going out and your coming in. From this time forth, and even forevermore.

· Psalm 64:1 (NKJV) – …Hear my voice, O God, in my meditation; Preserve my life from fear of the enemy.

Thank you for delivering him from the hands of the wicked. For helping him in his time of need.

· Psalm 140:4 (NKJV) – Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; Preserve me from the violent men, who have purposed to make my steps stumble.

· Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV) – Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

You are his shield and buckler, his refuge, his strong tower! You are his support! I thank you that Your favor surrounds him like a shield and that no weapon formed against him shall prosper in Jesus name.

· Psalm 91:4 (NKJV) – He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

· Psalm 46:7 (NKJV) – The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

· Proverbs 18:10 (NKJV) – The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.

· Psalm 18:18 (NKJV) – They confronted me in the day of my calamity, But the Lord was my support.

· Psalm 5:12 (NKJV) – For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield.

· Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV) – No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn….

For my husband is blessed and highly favored by the one whose name is above every other name in heaven and on earth, King Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords. Though enemies rise up against him, You will cause them to be defeated and flee before his face!

· Ephesians 1:3 (NKJV) – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

· Philippians 2:9 (NKJV) – Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name, which is above every name,

· 1 Timothy 6:15 (NKJV) – which He will manifest in His own time, He who is blessed and only Potentate, The King of kings and Lord of lords,

· Revelation 19:16 (NKJV) – And He as on His robe and His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

· Deuteronomy 28:7 (NKJV) – “The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.”

For You have overcome this world and You, Lord Jesus, are greater than he who is in it.

· John 16:33 (NKJV) – “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

· I John 4:4 (NKJV) – You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Thank you, Holy Spirit, for being his guide. For directing his eyes to see what he needs to see and his ears to hear what he needs to hear .

· John 16:13 (NKJV) – “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

· Galatians 5:25 (NKJV) – If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

For training his hands for war and his fingers for battle.

· Psalm 144:1 (NKJV) – Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle -

For giving him divine discretion, guiding his decision-making, revealing the truth to him in the midst of deception.

· Proverbs 2:11 (NKJV) – Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you,

· Psalm 32:8 (NKJV) – I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.

I speak against the schemes, tactics, plans, and strategies of the wicked and thank you for causing them to fail before him. That they would fall into their own traps. That no ambush will overtake my husband.

· Psalm 141:9, 10 (NKJV) – Keep me from the snares they have laid for me, And from the traps of the workers of iniquity. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I escape safely.

· Psalm 64:2 (CSB) – Hid me from the scheming of wicked people, from the mob of evildoers,

Thank you for speaking to him Holy Spirit. For being the still small voice behind him saying, “This is the way, now walk in it.”

· Isaiah 30:21 (NKJV) – Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right and hand or whenever you turn to the left.

Thank you Lord for giving him opportunities to manifest Your love and Your Light in the darkness he’s placed in.

· Matthew 5:16 (NKJV) – Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Thank you Holy Spirit for giving him the words to speak to bring comfort to those in pain, freedom to those enslaved by darkness, and salvation to those who are lost; in Jesus name.

· Matthew 28:19, 20 (NKJV) – “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

· Acts 26:18 (NKJV) – ‘to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’

· Romans 1:16 (NKJV) – For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes…

Thank you for placing my husband in this position of authority as a law enforcement officer to be used by You as a weapon of righteousness for Your kingdom, Your honor, and Your glory.

· Romans 6:13 (NKJV) – And do not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons of righteousness.

For He is blessed going into his shift and blessed coming home from his shift. He is the head and not the tail, above only and not beneath. All that he sets his hands too prospers; for you, Lord Jesus, have commanded the blessing to be upon him and his family.

· Deuteronomy 28:2 (NKJV) – “And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God:

· Deuteronomy 28:6 (NKJV) – “Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.”

· Deuteronomy 28:8 (NKJV) – “The Lord will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.”

· Deuteronomy 28:13 (NKJV) - “And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not beneath...

I thank you Jesus for being the Faithful One, the Captain of my Salvation, my Lord, my Redeemer, my Helper, my Peace, my Strength, my Love, my Righteousness, and my Deliverer. I place my faith and trust in You today and believe that you will bring my husband home safe at the end of his shift.

· 2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NKJV) – But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.

· Hebrews 2:10 (NKJV) – For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

· Psalm 19:14 (NKJV) – Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

· John 15:26 (NKJV) – “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.

· Psalm 29:11 (NKJV) – The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace.

· 2 John 1:3 (NKJV) – Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

· 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV) – For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

· 2 Samuel 22:2 (NKJV) – “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;

· Hebrews 6:12 (NKJV) – that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

In Jesus Name, Amen

OVERWORKING TO PROSPER

Sat, 18 Jun 2022 20:26:11 GMT

Several months ago, I came across this verse:

Proverbs 23:4 (NKJV) Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease!

The NIV says it this way:

Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness.

This proverb was written by King Solomon, the wisest and richest man to ever live. It’s ironic that most people live their lives in direct opposition to this verse. We choose to reject the wisdom of God spoken through Solomon and instead rely on our own understanding. Why?...Because God’s wisdom appears to be foolishness to our natural minds. Most of us have been raised with this mindset, if you want to make more you’ll have to work more. The majority of people believe that this is the only way to increase in life which is why the majority of people in this world are more consumed with their work than anything else. This is why, in many homes, both spouses work, and their children are raised by strangers. This is why many people get part time jobs on top of their full-time jobs and end up working 60+ hours a week. This is why most people walk around exhausted, stressed, burdened, and tired with little to no relationship with their heavenly Father. Brothers and sisters, this is not the abundant life God will’s for us to live! Yet we continue to do the same things repeatedly while expecting different results. That’s the definition of insanity!

I know that I’m speaking to some people here. You may have made Jesus Lord of your life but when it comes down to it, work always takes priority over your time with Him. I used to live my life this way...consumed with work and making more money. It got to the point that when I was off, I’d be thinking about how much money I could be making if I was at work. At the time we had four young kids and I was the sole provider of our home. I took the entire burden of providing for my family on myself and never once looked into God’s word to find out how to prosper God’s way. I was stressed, irritable, and tired, but I was putting in the hours! I was doing the work! I was bringing in more money, but the funny thing is, I wasn’t prospering. In the book of Ecclesiastes Solomon calls this vanity. My relationship with God was suffering which affected every other area of my life. I thought I was glorifying God by my work ethic but in reality, I was glorifying self. I was completely relying on my own understanding and keeping God on the sidelines. Anytime we walk carnally minded, according to the world’s wisdom, it will ALWAYS produce some form of death in our lives. People that overwork and live under a high level of stress usually end up over time with adverse medical conditions. Marriages are destroyed because people are desiring money rather than their wife or husband. Children go astray because parents are more consumed with finances than stewarding the gifts God has given them. The truth is many people stop having children due to the stress and financial burden of having to provide for them. Instead of trusting God as our source we trust in ourselves. This shouldn’t be! I can understand non-believers living like this but not those who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ.

God’s will is that we prosper and be in health according to 3 John 1:2. James says in chapter 1 verse 17 that every good and perfect gift comes from our heavenly Father. God doesn’t will for us to be in lack or impoverished. Notice, the verse above doesn’t say that riches are evil, nor does it say that working hard is evil. Look at Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, the Israelites, King Saul, King David, and King Solomon. All of them were extremely wealthy. Even at the birth of Jesus, Mary and Joseph were given many gifts including but not limited to gold, frankincense, and myrrh. If God took glory in us being impoverished than He definitely wouldn’t have put it on the hearts of the wise men to bring gifts to His Son’s birth. Work and money is a blessing from the Lord. God commanded the Israelites to work six days and to rest on the Sabbath. He has no issue with us working, in fact, if we do it unto the Lord it’s actually an act of worship. The issue at hand is our heart motivation behind gaining riches. Money is not the issue, it’s the condition of our heart. It’s leaning on our own understanding and attempting to prosper based on our own strength and ability rather than God’s. Don’t get me wrong, I want to prosper in every way.. spirit, soul, and body; but I want to do it God’s way. I’m fully convinced based on God’s word that He wills for us to ALWAYS have ALL sufficiency in ALL things SO THAT WE CAN ABOUND IN EVERY GOOD WORK (2 Cor. 9:8). I believe that’s God’s heart for every believer yet very few actually see the fulfillment of this verse within their personal lives.

At this point you might be asking, “If working more isn’t the answer to prospering financially then what is?”. Let’s look at God’s word to find out what He says. In 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 Paul is writing to the believers in Corinth about a monetary donation the church was putting together for the Church in Macedonia. In chapter 9 verses 6 through 11 Paul explains how to prosper using God’s economy. He says,

(NKJV)

Vs. 6 – But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

Vs. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

Vs. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

Vs. 9 As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad; He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”

Vs. 10 Now may He who supplies seed to the Sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,

Vs. 11 While you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.

In 2 Corinthians 8:24 Paul says that our giving is actually a proof of our love for others and God. The road to prospering God’s way is by giving with the right heart attitude. Sowing cheerfully into the kingdom of God by faith. When was the last time you sowed into your church? Did you sow cheerfully, willingly, with joy or was it grudgingly out of conviction from the pastor? Did it feel like you were paying a debt, or did you give with excitement and anticipation? Does God see you as a giver? According to this verse God gives seed to the Sower. I’ve heard it said like this, “If you find that your lacking seed, then God doesn’t see you as a Sower”. God displayed His love toward us by giving, or you could say sowing, His Son Jesus Christ, the incorruptible seed, into this world. Jesus loved us so much that he willingly, joyfully, gave His life for you and me. The harvest of His gift is you and me!

Choose today to renew your mind to prospering God’s way. I made that choice almost 5 years ago and it’s radically changed my family and I’s life. My wife and I and our six children are prospering more now than ever before because we are Sowers. Over the last 5 years my wife and I have sown more money into the Kingdom of God than in all of our previous years combined and you know what...God has been faithful to fulfill His word. Don’t lean on your own understanding and overwork to obtain riches. Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, seek first His Kingdom, and purpose in your heart to be a valve that God can flow money through. IF HE CAN GET IT THROUGH YOU, HE’LL GET IT TO YOU!

My challenge to each of you reading this:

Begin sowing financially into the kingdom of God. Purpose in your heart every week to sow a portion of your income. I would recommend sowing where you’re being fed. Whether that's your church or a parachurch ministry. Regardless of which one it is make sure it’s good ground. Sow by faith with an expectation to receive more seed to sow. It might not be immediately, but God is faithful to fulfill His promises.

WHAT KIND OF TREE ARE YOU

Sun, 12 Jun 2022 16:53:25 GMT

Jeremiah 17:7-8 says “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.”

These verses are similar to Psalm 1:3 talking about the blessed man: “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” This man is blessed because he delights in the law of the Lord and he meditates in it day and night. As a result he is producing fruit. Ephesians 1:3 tells us saints, believers, that He HAS blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. This is a verse that we can rest in. He did the work! If you don’t feel blessed today, the truth is that you ARE. Reach out to receive one of the many blessings that you’ve inherited as a child of God!

I don’t know about you but I want to be like the tree whose root system is strong and getting the right nutrients. When the heat comes, I don’t see it. I’m not carnally minded which means that I am not ruled by my five senses. Instead, I walk by the Spirit. I draw from The Source. God is my source. He is the fountain of living waters (Jeremiah 17:13). Why wouldn’t I flourish when God is the source of everything that I need? I want to be like this. I don’t want anything or anyone else to be my source but Him.

Jeremiah 17:9 goes on to say that the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked: who can know it? The next verse answers that question for us. God searches the heart and tries the reins, to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. So the question I have for you is: What are you drawing from in the soil of your heart that is going to produce fruit in you? Are you planting the right things into your heart to produce spiritual growth? The Bible says that a tree is known by its fruit, whether good or bad. It makes me think of Matthew 7:17, “Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.” What kind of fruit do you want to produce? You have the choice set before you today. Choose life and choose to rest in the finished work of Jesus. Let His love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance be what is produced in your life through the power of the Holy Spirit, Who gives you this ability. Abide in Him and let Him be your Source for everything you need in this life. You are blessed IF you put your trust and hope in Him. He tells you that you are like a flourishing tree when you rest in this truth.

BE blessed because you ARE blessed!

CAN WE KNOW GOD'S WILL?

Sat, 14 May 2022 20:01:24 GMT

It is always tough for me to think about the grief people endure when they lose a loved one. Life is precious and a gift from God. Each new day He gives is a blessing. When a life is taken too soon it brings sadness to my soul. I used to not be able to know why these things happened. I would not even have an answer other than God must have had a reason. None of the reasons I would think of were enough for me. I would see God as inconsistent. In the Old Testament God was this way and then in the New Testament He was this way. So if I believe that God is the same yesterday, today and forever, then is it God who changed? No, never. If I believe His Word, which is perfect, then He didn't change. I believe that the way He relates to us is different under the New Covenant because Jesus came to Earth. When there was no perfect sacrifice made for sin, God dealt with man according to the law. The law was what we looked to for our right standing with God. I am so thankful that now we don't have to make sacrifices for sins and that Jesus made us right with God forever. He forgave our sins past, present, and future. Again, if I want to know God's true nature, I have to look at Jesus. He was the exact representation of God. Did He ever let a person suffer with sickness or disease when they came to Him to be healed? In the Gospels I see Him saying He's willing every time to heal anyone who would come to Him for healing. I see Him saying that it's a person's faith that has made them whole. How are we made whole? Forgiven and healed. Receiving His abundant life that deals with every broken part of us; spiritually, emotionally and physically.

God is always wanting us to receive from Him. He is a perfect gentleman though and He won't force us to believe or receive. He's paid a price and is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Does that mean all will receive Him? Unfortunately not.

When a person came to Jesus to be healed, He seemed to have them reach out in faith to receive it. Hebrews 11:1 says "Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see" (NLT). That's now faith; for right now! The Bible also says that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6) In order to receive salvation a person must receive it by faith. They believe in what is not seen. God won't make a person believe that He bore their sins and He won't make a person receive His free gift of salvation. He says that if YOU confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9). Salvation. I didn't know what this definition included until several years ago. I thought it just meant I was saved from my sins. Salvation is defined in the New Testament Greek as this: (sozo)- to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction, to save one (from injury or peril), to save a suffering one (from perishing), i.e. one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, restore to health, to preserve one who is in danger of destruction, to save or rescue, and to deliver from the penalties of the Messianic judgment. That's a loaded definition right there. If you have received salvation then you have a lot to celebrate right here!

The message I want to get across to whoever is reading in closing is this: how good God is. He's not a puppet master and we aren't puppets. He has given us His Word and His promises to stand on for any challenge we may face iin this life. I don't know what it's like to lose a child but I do know that it isn't God who is taking the lives of babies and people prematurely. We can know His will if we search the Scriptures. He tells us to pray His will in Matthew 6:10 when He says "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in Earth, AS it is in Heaven". Did you catch that? I never did, even though I grew up reciting the Lord's prayer. Think about Heaven. Is anyone sick in Heaven? Is anyone mentally ill in Heaven? Is there death in Heaven? That's not His will and obviously we all will die but it's never been His will since the beginning of Creation. The garden of Eden was perfect and since we live in a fallen world, there is death, sickness, mental illness and sadness galore. It's not His will though. I will close with one verse to show you what God says about life. Psalm 91:16 says "With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation" (NIV). He tells us His will right here. Anyone taken at a young age is not God's doing. His will is long life and salvation. I can say with confidence that God IS good. I'm not trying to believe that He is. I know He is.

If you've been struggling with these kinds of thoughts, please take a moment and ask God to reveal to you His will. Ask God to bring you to Scripture verses that tell you of His goodwill and nature. As a New Testament believer, we serve a God Who's wrath has been satisfied because of Jesus (Romans 3:25). It was the amazing sacrifice of Jesus that bought our salvation.

ARE YOU SPIRITUALLY HEALTHY?

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 13:52:57 GMT

Are you walking in the blessing of the Lord?

You might answer this question based on the external, flesh and blood, what you see with your eyes and what you feel in your body. If you feel healthy, safe, and secure. If you live in a nice house, wear nice clothes, drive a nice car, see a large number in your bank account. That’s what determines if your blessed or not.

Now I’m not saying those things are bad. God’s will is not physical poverty and sickness. God’s will is that we have more than enough so that we can bless others. In fact the Apostle John writes in 3 John 1:2, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in ALL THINGS and be in HEATLH, just as your soul prospers.” God’s word is very clear, His desire for us is not to be sick or be in lack. Psalms 23:1 says, “The Lord is my shepherd; I SHALL NOT WANT.”

My question is, how do we determine our spiritual health? How do we determine if we’re walking in the blessing of the Lord? The answer to this is not revealed in the good times, through circumstances, when our life is void of any trials or tribulations. The answer is revealed IN THE MIDST OF TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS; IN TIMES OF STRESS AND PRESSURE. True growth takes place during times of discomfort. Jesus talks about this in Mark 4 when he tells the parable of the sower. In this parable the sower sows seed on 4 different types of ground. He later explains to His disciples that the seed is the word of God and the ground is our hearts. In Mark 4:5-6 Jesus says, “Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away.” In Mark 4:16-17 Jesus explains this verse by saying, “These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when TRIBUTLATION or PERSECUTION arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.” Isn’t it interesting that the sun, which provides nutrients and food energy to a tree, can also be the source of destruction and death to that same tree if it doesn’t have a strong root system. Likewise, trials and tribulations in the life of a believer can either produce spiritual growth and strength or cause you to be ineffective and fruitless.

If you want to see if a tree is truly strong and healthy, look at the leaves during times of drought or intense heat. It’s during those times you’ll be able to see whether it has a strong root system or not. It’s during times like these you’ll be able to see whether that root system is connected to a strong source of water. If the leaves begin to wither, it’s not receiving enough water to continue to harvest the sunlight and process it into food energy which in turn limits its growth. The following quote is from an article written online by Razor’s Edge Tree Service:

“If your tree has wilted leaves, pay attention. Leaves are a tree’s farmers, harvesting sunlight and processing it into food energy. But if they’re wilting, they’re not working at their full capacity and the whole tree suffers.

According to this article there are two main causes to leaves withering. One is Heat Stress and the other is drought stress. Each is caused by a lack of water being absorbed through the plants root system. King David writes the following in Psalms 1:1-3:

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. HE SHALL BE LIKE A TREE PLANTED IN THE RIVERS OF WATER, THAT BRINGS FORTH ITS FRUIT IN ITS SEASON, WHOSE LEAF ALSO SHALL NOT WITHER; AND WHATEVER HE DOES SHALL PROSPER.”

King David says that the blessed man is like a tree that's planted beside a continual source of water who comes to maturity and bears fruit in season, whose leaves never wither, and whatever he does prospers (grows, is successful, advances, is profitable). This promise is conditional. It’s dependent on the choices we make; what we’re plugged into. According to this Psalm a blessed man does not do the following:

Fill himself with the counsel of the ungodly.
Be consumed/ filled by the news (The fear, doubt, and unbelief of this world)
Be consumed/ filled by the world’s wisdom and philosophy (Being dominated by the physical).
Taking man’s word over God’s word.
Stand in the path of sinners
Walking dominated by your flesh and feelings
Walking carnally minded
Living life by your natural senses: what you can see, taste, hear, smell, and feel
Being a slave of sin
Sit in the seat of the scornful
Surrounding yourself with mockers
Surrounding yourself with those lifted up by pride, despising others; gossips

But does do the following:

Delights in the law of the Lord
To desire and take pleasure in the word of God, in His promises, and in His commands
Trusts in God’s word
Lives their life according to God’s word rather than man’s.
Meditates in the law day and night
Who ponders, imagines, speaks, and studies God’s word day and night.
Their heart and mind is consumed by the Word of God and their identity in Christ
They see themselves through the mirror of the Word of God not through the natural mirror looking at flesh and blood.

The water that the roots of our heart should to be drawing from during times of trials and tribulation in our life should be God’s word. His word and His promises should flow out of your mouth during these times like rivers of living water on the inside of us. Jesus said in Luke 6:44-45, “For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. FOR OUT OF THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART HIS MOUTH SPEAKS.”

God is never the source of trials, temptations, or tribulations. Those come from the world, the flesh, and the devil. But when trials, temptations, and tribulations come what comes out of your mouth? When sickness comes what comes out of your mouth? When you see lack in your life what comes of out of your mouth? During times of stress and pressure, what comes out of your mouth? Do you take these times in your life as opportunities to resist and stand steadfast in the faith (I Peter 5:9)? James 1:2-4 tells us to count it all joy when we fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of our faith produces patience; but to let patience have its perfect work, that we may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. We can count it all joy because we have Jesus’ victory. We have access to His promises. We have access to the keys of the kingdom of Heaven. We have access to His authority. We’ve been given His name. We have access to His armor. We have access to the fruit of the spirit. We have access to the mind of Christ. We have access to His faith. Take advantage of what we’ve been given access to, renew your minds to who you are IN CHRIST, draw from the water source of God’s word through the teaching of the Holy Spirit, and through patience grow, mature, be perfect and complete; lacking nothing. Speak out what the word says not what the world says.

TRIALS, TRIBULATIONS, AND PERSECUTION WILL EITHER PRODUCE GROWTH AND FRUIT FOR THE BELEIVER WHO IS MATURE AND SPIRITUALLY HEALTHY OR LACK, DESTRUCTION, AND DEFEAT FOR THE BELEIVER WHO IS IMMATURE, CARNALLY MINDED, AND WEAK IN THE FAITH.

BE BLESSED, BE CLEANSED BY THE WORD OF GOD, AND BE FILLED WITH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!

IF GOD BE FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US!

OUR MOST VALUABLE ASSET

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 17:18:34 GMT

What's your most valuable asset entering into the year 2022?

Time

Last night my family and I were watching home videos of me and my brothers growing up in the 90's. It made me realize how quickly time goes by and how we need to guard what we spend our time on.

Your time is the most valuable asset you'll ever have available to you. Usually, what you spend your time on is tied up with your finances, what you spend your money on. Jesus said in Luke 12:34, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also". What if I were to replace the word "treasure" with "time and money"? That verse would read something like this, "For where you invest your time and money, there your heart will be also." If you were to look at what a person spends their time and money on, you could very quickly determine what their heart is attached to.

I would challenge you to look at this past year and consider what you've spent your time and money on. Whether you believe it or not, that's where your heart is. Many people spend the majority of their time at work, and then wonder why their relationship with their spouse and children are suffering. Your heart is with your job and not with your family. Many wonder why their relationship with God has grown stagnant. Why they have no desire to read His word and can't seem to hear His voice. Yet, those same people will stay up late watching a movie or a sporting event on TV. Those same people will spend half a day sitting in a tree stand in the woods in the freezing cold. Those same people will spend endless amounts of money on entertainment, vacations, video games, fitness supplements, firearms, etc., you fill in the blank. None of those things are evil in and of themselves unless it has your heart.

It's not a sin to have treasures but it is a sin for those treasures to have you. Jesus wants your heart. When the rich young ruler approached Jesus in Luke 18:18 he asked, "what shall I do to inherit eternal life?". Jesus' response in vs. 22, "Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come, follow Me." You see, Jesus didn't want to make him poor. Jesus realized that his heart was consumed by his things, his riches. That's what he trusted in. All Jesus asked was that the young man trust Him with his finances (lay up treasures in heaven) and give Him his time (follow Me). I believe that if this young ruler would've taken this step of faith and given His whole heart to Jesus, he would've been one of the most prosperous men of all time. He would've experienced and lived out the eternal life that he was asking about.

If your relationship with God has grown stagnant and your not growing and maturing as a Disciple of Jesus Christ then I want to challenge you today to examine where you're spending your time and money. You have the power of choice. Choose to sow your time and money into the kingdom of God and I guarantee that you will reap a bountiful harvest. I can say that, because that's what the Word says and I've experienced it in my own life. In 2 Corinthians 9:6 Paul says, "But this I say, He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully."

EXERCISING AUTHORITY

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 17:18:33 GMT

Are you exercising Jesus' authority in you thought life?

As law enforcement officers we should all understand more than anyone else the power of delegated authority and how to effectively enforce that authority. This is the only profession, apart from the military, where you have the authority, if justified, to legally infringe on someone's 4th amendment right. If that individual decides to resist your authority we are legally justified to use force, even up to deadly force in the performance of our duties. Once we seize these individuals and have enough to place them under arrest we immediately take them before a magistrate who determines probably cause, and then later that same individual stands before a judge who determines guilt or innocence based on your testimony and the laws of the jurisdiction you're working in.

Knowing this, why don't we apply the same principles to our thought life. According to James 1 sin is conceived, or you could say birthed, in our minds. Before we ever act out any sin in the physical, it first starts out as a desire in our mind. That sinful desire comes from three places; the world, the flesh, or the devil. James 1:13-15 says, "Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God', for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away BY HIS OWN DESIRES and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death."

You might be asking, "Living in this world, with the technology that we have at our fingertips, how do we stop these desires/ sinful thoughts from entering our minds". The answer is found in 2 Cor. 10:3-6. The Apostle Paul writes the following, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, BRINGING EVERY THOUGHT INTO CAPTIVITY TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled". In the King James Version of the Bible it says, "Casting down imaginations...". According to these verses God has equipped us through the weapons and authority that Jesus has delegated to us through the Holy Spirit to bring EVERY thought or vain imagination into captivity. Instead of captivity you could also say, "place under arrest". Once these thoughts have been placed under arrest we then bring them to the feet of Jesus and Judge them by His word. If you determine based on God's word that the source of that thought is from the world, the flesh, or the devil and doesn't glorify God then by the authority of the Holy Spirit you cast that thought down. In the Greek, the phrase "casting down", literally means to demolish. We demolish these thoughts by wielding the sword of the Spirit, speaking the truth of God's word out loud!

What does the police academy constantly pound into your head about enforcing your authority, making arrests, and using force? I should know after going through it twice. They constantly yell, "Verbalize! Tell them what you want them to do! Make Witnesses!" This is also true in the spiritual realm. We must verbalize the truth over the lie! We must take these evil thoughts, place them under arrest, and bring them before the Judge, Jesus Christ. You might ask, "how do we know when a thought is from the world, the flesh, or the devil." It won't line up with God's word. This is why it's so important to know His word and who you are in Christ. You must know and understand your authority in Him in order to effectively enforce the laws of the kingdom of God in your life.

We can't stop ungodly thoughts from entering our minds but what we can do is stop them from setting up strongholds. We can prevent them from taking root in our minds. These thoughts take root by meditating on them which eventually will lead to us acting out them out. We need to begin exercising our spiritual authority by placing those thoughts under arrest as soon as they enter your mind. The next time this happens I want you to get by yourself with nobody around and verbalize! Not just mentally but actually speak out loud so that you can hear yourself. Identify yourself, who you are in Christ, and place that thought under arrest. Then, verbally walk through taking that thought to the Judgement seat of Jesus and through the power of His Spirit DEMOLISH it! If you do this in faith, that evil thought or imagination will not take root within you mind and therefore will have no power over you. This is how we walk in Christ's victory and enforce His authority against temptation!

THE ILLUMINATING LIGHT OF JESUS CHRIST

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 17:18:32 GMT

How do you react when you encounter the illuminating light of Jesus Christ?

There's really only two responses. Either you press into it, willingly receiving the light. Or you reject it, recoiling back into the darkness.

Why would someone choose to live in darkness rather than basking in the redeeming power and light of Jesus Christ? The answer is found in John 3: 18-21 where Jesus says:

vs. 18 - "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

vs. 19 - "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men LOVED DARKNESS rather than light, BECAUSE THEIR DEEDS WERE EVIL.

vs. 20 - "For everyone practicing evil HATES THE LIGHT and DOES NOT COME TO THE LIGHT, LEST HIS DEEDS SHOULD BE EXPOSED.

vs. 21 - "But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."

(Emphasis Mine)

Light has one job and that's to consume darkness. Darkness only exists in the absence of light. If you notice in Genesis 1:1 God didn't have to create darkness. Darkness was already there because light had not been created. In vs. 3 God said "Let there be light" and light was created. Where there is no light, darkness automatically exists. Likewise, if you are not born again in Christ you're automatically in darkness. And if you're in darkness, according to vs. 18 above, you're condemned already.

In Acts 26:18 Jesus said that those who are in darkness are living under the power of Satan. In that passage Jesus commissions the Apostle Paul to do the following:

'to open their eyes, in order to turn them from DARKNESS to LIGHT, and FROM THE POWER OF SATAN to GOD, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.'

I'm sure you can remember your mom or dad coming into your bedroom early in the morning when you were running late for school and turning the light on. What was your immediate reaction to the light being turned on? I know what I did. I got agitated and immediately threw the covers over my head. It was uncomfortable! Because my body had adjusted to being in the dark, when the light was turned on I resisted it. I turned from it!

Many times this is the response of the believer and non believer alike once exposed to the light of Jesus Christ. How many of you know that a born again believer can still be living in darkness by the choices they make and what they open themselves up to. Paul refers to this as strongholds in 2 Cor. 10:4.

The light's primary job is to consume the darkness which in turn exposes that which has been hidden. This definitely isn't comfortable but you must allow the power of that light to consume the darkness in your life. Salvation for the non believer can only come through the powerful light of Jesus Christ. Deliverance for the born again believer that's become a slave to sin can only come through the purging light of Jesus Christ.

I've seen it with friends of mine. Many have withdrawn themselves from me and this ministry because of discomfort. Maybe some of the things I've brought up have challenged you in your walk with the Lord. Maybe God has used me to shed light on the areas of darkness in your life that nobody else knows about except for you and Him. Or, maybe you're not born again, you're not a follower of Jesus Christ, and God has made that clear to you through this ministry. I urge you, DO NOT HIDE UNDER THE COVERS! DO NOT EMBRACE THE DARKNESS! Embrace what might seem uncomfortable at first. Embrace the light of Jesus Christ, open your eyes, receive forgiveness and walk in FREEDOM from sin through the Holy Spirit!

Remember, darkness is the absence of light. Darkness has no power over light. The amount of darkness that's consumed is solely dependent on the power of the light source. THANK YOU JESUS THAT HE IS THE ULTIMATE LIGHT SOURCE AND HIS POWER NEVER RUNS OUT.

YOU ARE THE DECIDING FACTOR. YOU HAVE A CHOICE. CHOOSE THE LIGHT!

SLAVE OR FREE

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 17:18:31 GMT

ARE YOU A SLAVE OR ARE YOU FREE?

As law enforcement officers we encounter slaves all of the time. I know that sentence might sound strange to you but we do. In fact you might be a slave right now and not even realize it. According to Dictionary.com one of the definitions of a slave is a person entirely under the domination of some influence or person.

Throughout the course of my career I've encountered many individuals enslaved to illegal drugs, prescription drugs, and alcohol but the list doesn't stop there. Most of you would probably say that those aren't an issue for you but what about being enslaved to work, money, fear, anxiety, the news, TV, anger, pornography, sex, video games, social media, cell phones, etc. Most people hate the things that their enslaved to but regardless of how much they hate it they don't believe they can ever walk in freedom over it.

A couple of months ago I placed an individual under an emergency custody order who was enslaved to meth. This man was literally curled up in the corner of a bay at the ER crying, terrified that I was going to kill him or allow someone else to kill him. In one of his lucid moments I asked him if he enjoyed being high on meth. The man shook his head and said, "No, I hate it!". Even though this man hated his master he still felt compelled to yield to the god of meth.

You might label him as an addict but he's a slave being dominated by the god of meth. What dominates you? Webster's definition of dominate means to rule or control; to exert the supreme determining or guiding influence on. Who or what are you allowing to dominate you? Who or what are you yielding yourself too? What consumes your mind? What dominates your thinking and is the guiding influence to the decisions you make in life?

Lets take the topic of money since we can all relate to that. If you see lack in finances in your life is your response the same as the worlds which is to serve the god of work and money, putting more hours in, looking to yourself to be your source rather than God? According to Proverbs 23:4 it says, "Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease!". The writer of this proverb says that overworking to become rich is leaning unto our own understanding! Jesus says in Luke 6:38, "Give and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." Paul says in 2 Cor. 9:6 talking about money, "But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." According to Jesus and Paul we need to increase our sowing (giving) in order to increase our reaping (receiving). I've heard it said, "If God knows he can get it through you, He'll get it to you." Proverbs 11:25 says, "The generous soul will be made rich. And he who waters will also be watered himself." My wife and I have determined to be generous givers, sowing into the kingdom of God, standing in faith trusting that God is faithful to perform that which has promised.

Now I obviously still work. God created us to work, in fact that's one of the first tasks he gave Adam and Eve. The ability to work is a blessing and a gift. But, I'm not enslaved to my work like I was when I worked for the Lynchburg Police Department. You see, I looked to the PD as my source rather than to God. When I saw lack my grip on "my" money became tighter and while serving the god of work, I worked more. I never once allowed the word of God to dominate/influence my decision making in that area. Now I still made sure to give my 10% to the church but I looked at it as a tax from God rather than seed being sown by faith into the soil of the Kingdom of God. Over the last four years, since receiving this revelation through the teaching of the Holy Spirit, my wife and I have given more money towards ministry than ever before. Much more than 10%. As a result we've been able to receive from God more blessings and more money than ever before. It was as if my giving opened up a door of blessing that was closed before while serving the god of money in my mind. I'm not claiming that we're walking perfectly in this area but by the grace of God we are no longer yielding our minds and bodies as slaves to work and money.

The apostle Paul says in Romans 6:16 (NKJV), "Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, YOU ARE THAT ONES SLAVES WHOM YOU OBEY, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?"

According to the Apostle Paul there's only two masters in the world, sin (yielding to self/ flesh) and obedience (yielding to the Holy Spirit and God's word) leading to righteousness. Whether you would admit or not you are presenting yourself as a slave to obey one of those.

WHICH ONE ARE YOU OBEYING?

It is for freedom Christ has set us free! Gal. 5:1

Turn to the Lord Jesus Christ, receive the power of the Holy Spirit, and experience freedom from the power of sin and death!

ONE OF OUR GREATEST WEAPONS

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 16:56:43 GMT

Are you utilizing one of our greatest weapons as followers of Jesus Christ?

Yesterday, my classmates and I, were finishing up Officer Survival by helping the academy staff put back into storage all of the equipment we used during the past week. Myself and about 5 other classmates ended up using the academy’s elevator to bring up several heavy pieces of equipment. We all squeezed into the elevator and pressed the button for the 2nd floor. As the door to the elevator closed someone said jokingly, “I hope this doesn’t break because of the weight”. In response one of my classmates standing near me said, “I think we’ll be alright as long as Clark’s in here with us”. We all laughed and continued on. Even though this was obviously a joke I was reminded of it as I spent my time with the Lord this morning.

I was studying Acts 27 which describes the Apostle Paul’s voyage to Rome. Prior to this chapter, Paul had been arrested for preaching the gospel and was now being transported to Rome by ship to stand trial before Caesar. During this trip Paul’s boat is caught in a terrible storm. For days this storm beats against their boat causing them to eventually toss overboard all of the boat's equipment and furniture. It says in vs. 20 that the storm was so bad the sun and the stars couldn’t be seen for days and that all hope of being saved had been lost by those on the ship.

In the midst of this hopeless situation Paul receives a word from the Lord. In vs. 23 and 24 Paul tells everyone on the ship, “For there stood by me this night an angel of God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’” Notice how the angel said that God had granted Paul safety for all those who sailed with him. I believe Paul had been praying not only for himself but also for all those who were with him on the ship. The end result was that all 276 soldiers, crew members, and prisoners on that ship survived despite there ship sinking. As long as Paul was with them and they did what Paul said, not one person was lost.

You might be asking yourself why I’m sharing this with you. This passage of scripture made me think of the fellow officers/deputies that work with us on our shifts. Do you pray for them in the same way I believe Paul was praying for those who were on the ship with him? Do you believe in the power of prayer? Are you interceding for the protection of those on your shift?

One of the greatest weapons we have to defend against any spiritual or physical attack of the devil is prayer. We need to be covering ourselves and those who work with us with prayer, but not passive prayer. Use your mouth to wield the sword of the Spirit which is God’s word and speak out the promises of God.

The following is an example of what I pray out loud as I drive into work. You don't have to use these exact words but I would encourage you to find promises in the word of God to stand on. Confess them out loud over yourself, your family, and those who you work with. Just like the apostle Paul, your prayers and confessions can place divine protection over those around you.

My prayer:

Father, I declare divine protection over myself and those working on my shift. Hide us from the evil schemes and plans of those who practice lawlessness. I believe therefore I speak that no weapon formed against us will prosper in the name of Jesus. For You have trained our hands for war and our fingers for battle. Guide our eyes, hands, and feet today, Lord Jesus. Preserve our lives from fear of the enemy. We receive Your discretion, Your protection, Your wisdom, and Your strength today, Lord Jesus. Use us as weapons of righteousness for Your kingdom. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

ARE YOU A WEAPON OF RIGHTEOUSNESS?

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 16:56:37 GMT

The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 6:12-13 (HCSB)

12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires. 13 And do not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness.

Ask yourself this question:

Am I offering any part of my body (my eyes, ears, tongue, hands, feet, sex organs, mind, etc. ) to sin to be used as a weapon of unrighteousness? According to these 2 verses it's a choice that we have control over. We either let sin reign/rule in our body and willingly present our members to be used as weapons of unrighteousness or we offer every member of our body to the Lord Jesus Christ to be used as weapons for righteousness.

We are to be the hands, feet, and mouth of Jesus no matter where we're at or what we're doing. If Jesus came to you and said He was going to take your place today at work, how would He do your job? This is the reason why I've called this ministry Weapons of Righteousness. God's will for us each day is that we would present/submit our earthly vessels(body's) to Him to be used as a weapon of righteousness for His glory no matter what our vocation is.

You might be wondering how we're supposed to do this. The answer is to walk in the same power that Jesus walked in, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul gives the answer in Romans 8:13, "For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." You have access to this power if you're a born again follower of Jesus Christ.

Make a choice this morning to be used as a weapon of righteousness for the Lord Jesus Christ! Have a blessed day!

WHAT ARE YOUR EYES FEEDING ON?

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 16:56:32 GMT

Our eyes have a direct connection to our hearts. Not our physical heart that pumps blood throughout the body but our spiritual heart. Job 31:7 says, “If my step has turned from the way, Or my heart walked after my eyes, Or if any spot adheres to my hands,”. Our heart’s (our mind, will, and emotions) will follow what we consume with our eyes. Jesus said in Matthew 6:22 and 23, “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”. If you constantly consume the news with your eyes your heart will be filled with fear, anxiety, and stress. If you consume pornography with your eyes your heart will be filled with adultery, lust, unfulfilled sexual desires, and condemnation. If your eyes feed on the Word of God your heart will be filled with life, light, and health.

Proverbs 4:20 - 23 says:

My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. Keep (guard) your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. (emphasis mine)

The devil understands this truth as well. He knows that if he can control what your eyes feed on, he can have direct access to your heart. For many of you this might be an area where the devil has set up a stronghold in your life. You might feel powerless against this fight. If you haven’t made Jesus Lord of your life then you are. For those who have done that, but still feel powerless, what you’re lacking is the power of the Holy Spirit in your life. According to Ephesians 6:17 we have been given the Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, to fight this battle. Notice, it doesn’t say the Sword of the Flesh. God’s word must be activated and empowered by the Holy Spirit within you in order for strongholds to be torn down.

My question for you this week is, what are your eyes feeding on?

IS GOD JUDGING US?

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 16:56:29 GMT

When most people hear the word judgement, they picture a judge sitting in a courtroom issuing out convictions and jail sentences. Many picture God in this way. They envision God in Heaven issuing out judgments and punishments to us on the earth. Unfortunately the Bible, God's word, doesn't say that. In fact it says the exact opposite.

Jesus said in John 5:22-23, "For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgement to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father". If that's the case, is Jesus the one judging us...According to John 8:15, no. Jesus said in John 8:15 when speaking to the Pharisees, "You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one."

If Jesus isn't judging us and God isn't judging us than who is? Our answer is found in John 12:47-48 from the mouth of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "And if anyone hears MY words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, AND DOES NOT RECEIVE MY WORDS, has that which judges him - THE WORD THAT I HAVE SPOKEN WILL JUDGE HIM IN THE LAST DAY."

We will be held accountable for everything that's been revealed to us through the word of God. Deut. 29:29 says, "The Lord our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOREVER for ALL that He has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions."

God has revealed Himself to us through His word and His Son, Jesus Christ. We will be held accountable forever for ALL that has been revealed to us through His word. The Bible MUST be our "plumb line" for what we filter our lives through. We must allow the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us through His word. This is the truth that will set us free. If you reject Jesus and His word, you have that which judges you. Do you know what His Word says?