Month: April 2021

Our resurrection after death can be a confusing topic for believers because it’ll happen several times to different groups of people. We know that after Jesus was crucified the resurrected Christ appeared to his disciples and over 500 other people in his glorified body. This is important because it proves Jesus is God and since he rose from the dead it means we will too. Not only that, we will receive a resurrection body just like the one Jesus has. We know that the resurrected Jesus walked through walls, disappeared at will and traveled long distances in the blink of an eye. Our new bodies will be mature like we were in our thirties. Our glorified bodies will never age or get sick. We’ll have our glorified bodies forever in heaven. I see four different resurrections for believers:

1. At the time of Jesus’ death – Prior to the death of Jesus, the souls of all the righteous dead went to Paradise within the earth. I’m talking about Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Moses, Joshua, all the prophets and anyone else God deemed righteous. Their eternal spirits from God couldn’t enter heaven because of the stain of sin on their spirits from birth because of Adam’s fall from grace in the Garden of Eden. God hates sin and will not allow it in heaven. One of the spiritual laws of heaven is the wages of sin is death. The righteous dead in Paradise had to wait for the arrival of the Son of God as the only one worthy to die in their place so they could all go to heaven. The death of Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary paid the sin debt of all those saints in Paradise. During his three days in the earth Jesus went down to Paradise and gave the saints a new spirit without sin and he also gave them their new resurrection bodies. This is the first resurrection. Jesus then escorted these saints directly to heaven. Some of these resurrected saints later appeared in Jerusalem as a witness to the resurrection of Christ and the glory of God.

Matthew 27:51-53 – Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

2. At the end of church age – When the Jews rejected Jesus as their Messiah God then temporarily turned away from Israel and turned to the Gentiles (us) to build his church and spread the gospel of Christ. Almost 2000 years have passed and we’re still in the church age today, which is also referred to as the time of the Gentiles. The church age officially began on Pentecost, fifty days after the crucifixion of Jesus, when God sent the Holy Spirit to earth to indwell believers. The church age will end when Jesus comes to rapture all believers to himself, both dead and alive. We will meet Jesus in the clouds and he will give us our resurrection bodies before taking us back to heaven with him. This is the second resurrection.

1 Thessalonians 4:14-15 – For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 – For the Lord Himself will descend with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

3. At the end of the tribulation period – The rapture of the saints ends the church age and triggers the last seven years of human history which we refer to as the tribulation. With the church now in heaven God will turn his focus back to Israel where he’ll save a remnant of his chosen people. The tribulation period will last exactly seven years and it will end with the second coming of Jesus to the earth where he will set foot on the Mount of Olives. Jesus will save Jerusalem from destruction and destroy the nations attacking Israel. There will be people who were saved after the rapture took place but who also died prior to the return of Jesus. These saints will receive their resurrection bodies at this time, known as the great Day of the Lord. This is the third resurrection.

Revelation 20:4 – Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

4. At the end of the millennium – At his second coming Jesus will establish the kingdom of God on earth with himself as King. Jesus will rule the world from Jerusalem for 1000 years. Not everyone will be killed during the tribulation period and those people who survived will become a part of the millennial kingdom. The life span of these people will be greatly lengthened much like the patriarchs of old who lived to be hundreds of years old. These people will eventually die but they will not receive their resurrected bodies until after the millennium is over, which will be the end of the age. This is the fourth resurrection.

Revelation 4:5 – But the rest of the dead (who died during the millennium) did not live again until the thousand years were finished.

After this last resurrection of the saints comes the Great White throne judgement of Jesus. The eternal spirits of all the unsaved of all ages go straight to hell upon their death. At this time all of them are resurrected bodily to stand before Jesus in judgment. God is reciprocal and fair to saint and sinner alike. Believers will be glorified in heaven so God gives them a glorified physical body for that purpose which is theirs to keep forever. What God does for the believer he will also do for the nonbeliever. Since sinners are to be condemned in hell forever God will give them a condemned body suitable for hell. The nonbeliever’s physical body will be a dead, decomposing, cadaver full of worms (maggots).

Hebrews 9:27 – And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.

It’s obvious to me those going to hell have physical bodies because Revelation says an angel will grab hold of the lost and physically throw them into the lake of fire. You don’t “grab” and “throw” something that’s not physical. Three verses in the book of Mark never made any sense to me until now. In the book of Mark Jesus is talking about those in hell where he is quoted as saying, “Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.” Jesus says it three times and I don’t recall God ever saying something in the Bible three times together like that so it must be really important for us to know. Those who have died without accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are eternally dead. Why would God give a living resurrected body to those who are already dead in their sin? He won’t and he can’t. Those nonbelievers who are dead in their sin get the corpse they deserve for eternity.

Mark 9:44,46,48 -(Jesus speaking about those in hell) – Their worm does not die, and the fire is nor quenched.

The unsaved will burn in hell forever but they will not be consumed by the fire and neither will the maggots infesting their rotting corpses. I can’t think of anything more repulsive to me than that. The flesh of all dead bodies is eaten by worms (maggots) as part of nature’s normal decomposition process. Those in hell will spend an eternity in a rotting corpse which will be very similar to those zombies we see in these “walking dead” movies and television shows. That’s not a pretty picture is it? If you’re not a believer let me urge you right now to go seek God while there is still time. The Bible says if you seek God you will find him and God cannot lie. You have everything to lose by waiting but you have everything to gain by taking action now. As Christians we have almost 2000 years of historical evidence, research, documentation, proof, and personal testimony that prove beyond any doubt that Jehovah is the one and only living God whom we are to worship. God has made everything in the universe for his pleasure and he’s waiting to meet you personally.

John 5:28-29 – (Jesus speaking) – For the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth-those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

Job 19:26 – And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God.

Isaiah 1:18 – Come now and let us reason together, says the Lord, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Revelation 20:15 – And anyone nor found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

As believers and children of God we are also “stewards” of God and accountable to God for managing the affairs of the kingdom of God here on earth. As the disciples of Christ we may called upon by God to be the pastor of a church, a shepherd over a group of fellow believers or a myriad other things God may require of you. However, the most important function we have as a steward of God is to handle our own personal affairs in such a way that we serve God while bringing honor, praise and glory to God. Each member of the kingdom of God is the “church” so personal stewardship is critical for an effective ministry for Christ.

1 Corinthians 4:1-2 – Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

1 Peter 4:10 – As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Provers 3:9-10 – Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.

In the New Testament world stewards were common. Stewards managed a household or estate. Stewards were appointed by the owner and entrusted to keep the estate running smoothly. It is that context, God has given all believers the keys to the kingdom of God here on earth. It’s a lot like us giving our teenager the keys to the family car before they’re able to drive. In Scripture the Apostles Peter and Paul both make reference to this stewardship arrangement and urge us to be good stewards for God. Our responsibilities to God as stewards on the earth are threefold:

1 John 3:17 – But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

Psalm 50:12 – If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is Mine, and all its fullness.

1 Timothy 5:17-18 – Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”

How we use our time – God made us and he has given us our life. God has allotted each of us a set number of days on this earth. Some will live to be a hundred years old while others are cut down at eighteen, in the flower of youth. Who knows the reason for this or the mind of God? God does as he pleases and doesn’t owe us an explanation. What we do know is each day we have on this earth cannot be relived once it’s gone and is therefore priceless. Before God laid the foundation of the world he established the date, time and place of our birth and who our parents would be. God knows the exact moment when we’ll die and where that will be. There are no surprises with a God who knows everything. In between the time of our birth and death God has given us ample opportunity to do good works. It’s up to each of us to be good stewards of the “time” God has given us.

1 Corinthians 7:7 – For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.

Matthew 25:21 – (Jesus speaking) – His lord said to him, well done , good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.

Luke 6:38 – (Jesus speaking) – 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.

How we use our talents – God gives each of us talents and abilities that are unique. No two people have the exact same skillset. God gives us our individual talents so that we can prosper in the world and also glorify God. In addition, believers are also given special spiritual gifts once they are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. These special gifts are provided each child of God to help rhem serve the Lord here on earth. Everyone is different and some people will be blessed more than others. God will judge us based on how we used the blessings he bestowed on us. In the end, everyone will be treated fairly because God is good and God is just. God loves us and wants the best possible outcome for us.

James 1:17 – Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow or turning.

Deuteronomy 8:18 – And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

2 Corinthians 9:7 – So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

How we use our money – In God’s Word he has told us everything we need to know about money. It’s no accident that twelve of the thirty six parables in the New Testament are about money. One our of every six verses in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke are about money. 100% of what we have comes from God and we are responsible and we are accountable to God for using it wisely and in accordance with God’s will. When you give money to charity or you are funding a good work you’re worshipping God by serving God. Every time you use your money for the kingdom of God you’re being blessed by God. God has blessed you financially. Everything belongs to God so when you turn around and give away the money God has graciously given you for the purpose of giving you are double blessed by God. What a deal!

Isaiah 55:1 – Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

1 Timothy 6:10 – For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many arrows.

2 Corinthians 9:6 – But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

All decisions about money should be based on your recognition and acceptance that all money comes from God and belongs to God. Don’t get attached to money because money doesn’t satisfy but pleasing God does. God always comes before money, Money is simply a tool God gives you to do good works. As a child of God no matter what you give away God will always provide for you so you don’t have to hold onto every dime for a rainy day. God’s got your back. When a believer gives money on behalf of God he is blessed to the point he receives back more than he ever gave. God doesn’t need our money. God is graciously allowing us to give our money so that he can bless us. We have the privilege of giving for our own benefit.

1 Timothy 6:17 – Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.

Philippians 4:19 – And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Malachi 3:10 – Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.

When we give to support the works of God and to help the needy we are obeying the commands of God and glorifying God. Giving our money to God should be systematic and done cheerfully. Don’t write a $50 check to United Way once a year and congratulate yourself for giving when you have half a million in the bank drawing interest. You are to give out of your increase what you can afford to give out of the goodness of your heart. God alone will be your judge. Just remember the Bible story about the rich man who stored up his riches so he could live a life of ease. God took his life before he could enjoy it. We can’t take our money with us when we die but we can pay it forward by using it for good works here on earth which will accrue treasures in heaven for us when we get there.

Matthew 6:34 – (Jesus speaking) – Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Proverbs 11:24-25 – There is one who scatters, yet increases more; and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty. The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.

2 Corinthians 8:12 – For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.

As a child growing up in America and attending a Christian church we were taught you worship God by going to church on Sunday morning. That meant going early to attend Sunday school class with your particular age group followed by the regular church service where a few hymns were sung, the Pastor gave his sermon, and then we closed out the Sunday service with a prayer. Three hours each Sunday morning we worshipped God and we were done by noon. God was taken care of so we were good for the week. That was our idea of worshipping God, which was reinforced by the words and actions of our Pastor and deacons in the church. We thought at the time we were doing good by God. We thought God would be proud of us for spending three hours a week worshipping him.

Psalm 29:2 – Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

John 4:23-24 – (Jesus speaking) – But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.

Christians have been indoctrinated into accepting the traditional “church model” of worship. Christians have been conditioned to worship God in a particular way that is beneficial to the church. We are led to believe we must go to a building in a physical location owned by the church on a particular day and time in order to properly worship God. Christians are made to feel guilty if they miss church as if somehow they have disappointed God in some way. Church leaders, of course, do nothing to lessen this perception because it’s critical for them to keep the members coming to the church and giving their tithes so that the interest can be paid the loans the church didn’t need in the first place. Churches have to go in debt so they can build bigger buildings and more buildings because Pastors were taught that bigger is always better. Instead of out tithes directly funding good works that actually help people most of our donations wind us as interest income for local banks. As it turns out, churches don’t manage their finances any better than we do and most of us are heavily in debt.

Revelation 4:11 – You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.

Psalm 95:6 – Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our maker.

Revelation 1:6 – And He has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Let me remind you the “church” is the body of believers and not a building or a particular denomination. Each individual believer is the church and your body is the temple of God. Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of our faith and as our high priest he sits at the right hand of God making intercession for the saints. At the moment of salvation the Holy Spirit of God indwells us forever. At that point we can worship God anywhere we are and any time we want. We are the temple, God is inside us, and we can worship God spirit to Spirit as God intended. In the first century church believers met in small groups in each other’s homes to have fellowship and share the teachings of Jesus. That was worshipping God just as much as attending a service at a 15,000 member megachurch. There is nothing wrong with the “church model” of Christian worship but it’s not the only way to worship God and it’s not the best way.

1 Timothy 4:13 – Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

1 Timothy 4:6 – If you instruct the brethren in these things (the word of God), you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.

2 Peter 2:9 – But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

We need to define what it means to worship God so we’re all on the same page. The dictionary definition of worship is to show great admiration and respect for someone and when used in a religious context this is expressed through praise and prayer to God. The New Testament was originally written in Greek where the translated English word “worship” had three different meanings that were similar depending on how the verb was used. In the Greek, worship could mean, “to look upon with awe,” or, “to bow down to in deep reverence,” or, “to render service for.” We should note here that the Bible constantly tells us to “fear” the Lord which in the biblical context means we are to look upon God with, “respect, awe and deep reverence.” We’re to maintain our “fear” of the Lord through daily Bible reading and prayer. The definition of fear and worship are almost identical. When we “fear” the Lord it’s the same as worshipping God. It’s also clear to me worship is not something we do three hours a week. Worship is an attitude, a state of mind where we’re in tune with God, where we’re in proper fellowship with God and God is pleased with us. There is nothing more important on this earth than pleasing God. When we abide in Christ we are “worship”. Worship is something we “become”, something we “are” all the time.

Ephesians 5:19 – Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.

Colossians 3:16 – Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

2 Timothy 3:15 – And that from childhood you (Timothy) have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

God never does anything without a reason. God made the angels in heaven to worship him. God made man to worship him, first on earth, and then later on in heaven once we’ve accepted God’s grace unto salvation. God gave us a physical body as the vessel through which we are to worship God. Scripture says we were fearfully and wonderfully made. Why does God say this? God never wastes words and every word in Scripture conveys information for the spiritually perceptive. Physically we’re “wonderfully” made because the human body is a marvel that only God could make. No other adjective is needed.

Psalm 139:14 – I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.

If God were only talking about our physical bodies he would have stopped with the adjective “wonderfully” because that says it all. When God continued on in the Scripture to also describe us as “fearfully” made he has gone beyond the physical man to describe the spiritual man. Spiritually we’re “fearfully” made because our bodies are the instrument through which we worship God by showing the awe, deep respect and reverence God deserves. To “fear” the Lord is to worship God. Most people don’t catch the double meaning intended by this scripture. Putting “fearfully” ahead of “wonderfully” in this Scripture tells you God’s priority. God gives us our bodies primarily for the purpose of worshipping him. Man is worship the same way God is love.

Matthew 22:37 – You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.

Hebrews 1:6 – Let all the angels of God worship Him.

As I mentioned in a previous blog, our incredible mind is our “worship organ” through which we worship our Creator. Look at what “is” and work backward to determine the cause or the reason. Scientists know that human beings have a bigger brain than we need as a species to survive and flourish. Why is that? We also know that humans are only using 10% of their brain capacity. How is that possible? Nonbelievers will never figure this out. It’s like giving a monkey a football and telling him to go play the game. God’s Word says the Holy Scriptures are foolishness to the nonbeliever because Satan is the god of this world and he has blinded the nonbeliever so that they cannot see the truth of God without help from a believer or God himself.

John 9:31 – Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshipper of God and does His will, He hears him.

God gave us a bigger brain than we needed for survival because that’s where our eternal spirit is located. The Brain is also where the Holy Spirit resides. The brain is the link between the physical world and the spiritual world. The brain is the conduit through which we talk to God and God talks to us. The brain is what we use to worship God. We don’t need a bigger brain physically but we do spiritually. When we get to heaven our puny 10% capacity brain will not be up to the task of worshipping God properly when standing alongside the angels of heaven. God has thought of everything. God will give us back the 90% of our brain capacity we currently aren’t using because of Adam’s fall from grace in the Garden of Eden. With 100% of our brain capacity restored we will then be able to worship God properly. The theory of evolution is linear and it’s impossible to over build or have excess capacity. The only possible explanation for us having a bigger brain than we need and having 90% of our brain capacity currently not being used is that we were made that way by God.

1 Chronicles 16:29 – Give to the Lord the glory due His name; bring an offering and come before Him. Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

If we abide in Christ and also in God’s Word our minds are in a constant state of worship. A Christian who obeys God and offers up prayers to God and the praise of our lips worships God for his honor and glory. A Christian who is living the life God intended is a walking, talking, worship machine 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The effective Christian does not need to go to church to worship God because we are the church and we carry our worship of God with us wherever we go, to the glory of God.

Ephesians 6:18 – Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.

Philippians 4:6 – Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

The Bible tells us we are to worship God for his work in creation and for his redemptive work in saving our souls. We are to worship God through obedience to his commands, through prayer and through song. We worship God every time we give a sacrifice to the Lord in the form of our money, our good works and our time. One of the definitions of worship in the original Greek was, “to render service to,” Every time we serve the Lord in any capacity it is worshipping God.

2 Timothy 2:15 – Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Every time we read the Bible, study the Bible or share the Bible with others we are worshipping God. You worship God simply by living a faithful Christian life to the best of your ability. If you’re a Christian don’t ever let anyone tell you you’re not worshipping God. If you’re a believer then you’re saved unto eternal life. If you have eternal life then you’re a child of God. If you’re a child of God your life is an instrument of worship to God the Father. Everything we have belongs to God and everything we do for the Lord is our reasonable service because God has given us life.

Romans 12:1 – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

Hebrews 13:15-16 – Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

When we’re saved unto eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior it happens in an instant. It’s the greatest moment anyone can ever experience in their life. The Holy Spirit comes to indwell us, in our mind, as our friend and constant companion. Upon salvation the Holy Spirit gives us a new eternal spirit to replace our sin-stained spirit, hence we are reborn. At conception God gives us a part of himself, which is our original eternal spirit. At that point we become immortal beings. When the Holy Spirit swaps out the believer’s original spirit with a new replacement spirit it’s an actual “rebirth.” God is “birthing” us all over again. Don’t be confused when the Bible says we’re “reborn” because that is exactly what happens to us spiritually. The Holy Spirit is Jesus. The Holy Spirit is God.

Philippians 1:6 – Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

At the moment of salvation the Holy Spirit also changes the destination of our new spirit from eternal death in hell to eternal life in heaven. Just imagine your spirit is a train headed down the railroad tracks that eventually lead to the lake of fire. We’ve all seen the movies involving trains where the train gets to the end of the line, where the tracks end, and then plunges off the tracks into an abyss of some kind. Spiritually speaking, we’re all conceived and born in sin and our unsaved souls are like that train on the tracks headed straight to hell. We can’t stop the train once it leaves the station (at our conception). We can’t get off the train. We can’t prevent the train wreck that’s coming. The spirit of each nonbeliever is on their own individual train headed for the abyss we call the lake of fire. Our only hope is to change the train’s destination before it gets there. In the movies all the railroad switchman has to do is move a lever near the tracks to shift the tracks over a little bit so the train can be diverted down a different set of railroad tracks going to a different destination.

Proverbs 14:25 – A true witness delivers souls, but a deceitful speaks lies.

Keep this mental image I’ve created in your mind. Think of the Holy Spirit as your spiritual railroad switchman. The Holy Spirit of God is the only person who can move the rail switch which will divert the destination of your soul train from hell to heaven. When we’re saved, instead of going straight to hell when we die we now go directly to heaven to be in the presence of Jesus Christ himself. By his mercy and grace God himself saves the unborn and children up to the age of decision where they are able to choose between God and Satan (around age twelve). God’s love, mercy and grace unto eternal life is God’s greatest gift to man and we should honor, praise and glorify God for what he has done for us.

Matthew 22:14 – (Jesus speaking) – For many are called, but few are chosen.

The Holy Spirit writes our names in the book of life which means our salvation is secure. Salvation unto eternal life is irrevocable. Heaven is secure for all believers, who were called by God before the foundation of the world. If you’re going to heaven it’s because you were meant to be there and you belong there. God doesn’t make mistakes. Salvation is the easy part. The hard part of being a Christian is living the rest of your life in obedience to the commands of God, which is your reasonable service.

Jeremiah 31:16 – Thus says the Lord: Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for your work shall be rewarded, says the Lord.

Television preachers love to tell you all the “good stuff” God has in store for you but they neglect to tell you must also work for the kingdom of God if you want to please God. Working for God is the hardest thing you’ll ever do. As believers we are the “church” of God, not some building or a particular denomination. Jesus Christ is the head of our church and our high priest in heaven who is seated at the right hand of God making intercession for the saints. Believers are disciples of Christ and we are to obey all the commands of God, as spelled out in the Bible, to the best of our ability. As disciples of Christ we accept the new responsibilities and tasks we’re to perform for the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 3:13-15 – Each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

We’re to glorify God and I went over the nine ways to do that in my previous blogs. It goes without saying that our first duty is to love God. That is God’s greatest commandment. If we read the Bible daily and pray daily it’s virtually impossible not to love God. Abide in God’s Word and our love for God will always be stoked. Jesus gave his disciples and all believers the Great Commission before he ascended back to heaven. We are to witness the gospel of Christ to the whole world. That is the believer’s number one responsibility.

Hebrews 6:10 – For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

Nothing is more important than saving lost souls for the kingdom of God. The Lord’s harvest field is full of lost souls and there are few believers who work it, who witness in it. Only 10% of church-going Christians have read the entire Bible and fewer still have taken the time to actually study God’s Word. You can’t effectively witness for Christ if you don’t know how and you won’t know how until you study the Bible. It’s only common sense. You can’t do anything until you know what to do and how to do it. Catholics don’t witness at all.

2 Timothy 2:21 – Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter (dishonor), he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.

Along with witnessing, Christians are also to instruct, edify and discipline fellow believers. Christians can’t do that unless they know what they’re talking about which brings us back to studying God’s Word. My passion is God’s Word. I read my Bible or Scriptures every day. I’ve assembled a reference library for my study of all things related to God. If you want to know God you must go to God. Don’t expect God to come to you. You must make the effort to know God first. I have an unquenchable thirst for God. Those who have it know what I mean. The Bible says those who seek God will have this thirst for God so I know I’m on the right track. God also says in the Bible if you seek him you will find him. I give you my personal testimony that this is true. Only our God says in Scripture, “come let us reason together.” Your duty as a believer is to know God. Search for the truth of God yourselves and then go where God leads you. Good luck on the race God has chosen for your life.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The second greatest commandment of God is to love one another. As Christians we are to fellowship with each other because we are members of the same family. We are brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. We are to love each other, support each other and strengthen each other. Another primary responsibility of Christians is to do good works. We are to care for our own fellow believers first but we are also called upon to help others in time of need. The Bible mentions caring for widows and children especially. God is good and as Christians we are to promote all that is good in the world and set an example so that nonbelievers will see the light of God in our actions and be drawn to the truth of God.

Ephesians 2:10 – For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

God will give us opportunities to witness for Christ to those whom he draws to the light of God in us. We do good works out of compassion for our fellowman but we must never lose sight of our main objective, which is to reap souls for the kingdom of God every chance we get. Christians must make their good works testify to Jesus Christ. All who receive our help because of our love, compassion and faith in God must know we come on behalf of our God and our Lord Jesus Christ in the hope that some will be drawn to the truth of our God. God will draw them if their heart is receptive. We just have to be ready to witness to them if they should ask the reason for our faith. All that we have belongs to God so when we do good works we’re only giving to others what God has given to us for this purpose. When we spend God’s money wisely we build up treasure in heaven for ourselves which we will receive on the last Day.

Psalm 42:2 – My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?

Psalm 63:1 – O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirst land where there is no water.

Psalm 143:6 – I spread out my hands to You; my souls longs for You like a thirsty land.

Psalm 42:1 – As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O Lord.

Matthew 7:7 – (Jesus speaking) – Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Matthew 22:37 – (Jesus speaking) – You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.

Isaiah 1:18 – Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

GLORIFYING GOD: (cont’d)

9. Through our suffering – The ninth and final way we glorify God is through our suffering. I saved suffering until last because, not only is it a hard study to explain, it’s also my least favorite way to glorify God. I love God with all my heart and I want to glorify the Lord as much as possible but if I can avoid suffering I will. I’m just not really keen on the idea of suffering. I wouldn’t mind passing on the cup of “suffering” if it’s passed to me. My wife says I’m a hypochondriac because I run to the doctor every time I get the least little health problem. However, I am mentally, physically and spiritually prepared to suffer for Christ if it’s God’s will for me. I can say that without any reservation or worry because I know in the end my God loves me and anything God does is for my benefit even though I may not understand it this side of heaven. I trust in God the way a small child trusts his father.

1 Peter 3:18 – For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.

That brings me to the age-old question Christians have asked for 2000 years. Why would a just and loving God allow suffering in the world? Why are believers and nonbelievers treated alike when it comes to suffering by allowing them both to suffer equally? Why do some people suffer a lot and others appear not to suffer at all? We really don’t know all the answers. We have more questions than answers. God is not clear on this subject in the Bible. However, God does give us a number of Scriptures that shed some light on the subject. We are told in the Bible that our suffering here on earth glorifies God and as a result of our pain and suffering we also will receive praise, honor and glory in heaven the more we suffer for Christ.

1 Peter 1:10-11 – Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what , or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.

I know God sent Jesus, his beloved and only begotten Son, to suffer and die a terrible death on the cross in our place. Because Jesus suffered for us he received praise, honor and glory in heaven from God and all the angels. My question is, was it really necessary for Jesus to suffer that much pain and suffering before and during his crucifixion? Would our sins still have been forgiven if Jesus had died a little less painfully? If Jesus had died an easier death would it still have appeased the wrath of God against all sinners?

1 Peter 2:21 – For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.

Luke 24:26 – (Jesus speaking) – Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?

God has perfect knowledge and he wants what’s best for us in every circumstance so we have to trust God, even when we do not fully understand everything that is happening. There’s a lot about God and the spiritual world that we don’t know, don’t need to know, and we may never know. That’s okay. What’s important is we know that God is never arbitrary. God never does anything without a good reason. God doesn’t owe us an explanation for any of his actions. God does as he pleases. What I do know for sure is that God is good and God is great. We need to remind ourselves that every day and then just relax and put our trust in the God who made us and who loves us dearly. You would not be cruel to your children and neither would God. We are, after all, God’s beloved children. God dotes on us like we do our grandchildren.

1 Peter 4:14 – If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.

Luke 24:46 – (Jesus speaking) – Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day.

God loves Jesus dearly yet Jesus was made to suffer the pain and agony of a death by crucifixion, the cruelest method of death ever devised by man. Crucifixion was such a cruel way to die that no Roman citizen could be put to death in that manner. Death by crucifixion was so heinous that it was only used about 200 years before the Romans abolished its use. In the Bible it’s obvious Jesus’ death brought praise, honor and glory to Jesus and God the Father. It’s also obvious Jesus’ sacrificial death removed our sins so we could have eternal life in heaven. This may be hard to believe but God loves us ever bit as much as he loves his Son Jesus because we are also sons of God and co-heirs of heaven along with Christ.

1 Peter 4:12-13 – Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you: but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

Jesus died on the cross for us because there was no other way to save us from eternal death in the lake of fire. Jesus suffered and died a painful death because there was no other way to fully appease the wrath of God for the sins of man. The wages of sin is death and a just God demanded that the debt be paid in full with a blood sacrifice. Since we could not save ourselves God came off his throne and came to earth in the incarnation of Jesus Christ to pay our sin debt with his own precious blood. That’s how much God loves us. We have no idea how much God hates sin.

1 Peter 4:16 – Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian. let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.

Jesus died by on the cross to fulfill the prophecies of the Bible. God’s Word must come to pass. The Scriptures cannot be broken. We don’t have to understand it all. We just have to accept what we know to be true and trust God with what we don’t know or what we can’t fully understand. Everything will be revealed to us in heaven one day. Just know that if Jesus suffered for us then we believers will also be called upon to suffer for Christ in return. By God’s will some will suffer more than others. However much we suffer and whatever fate befalls us we are to bear it with dignity and perseverance while continually giving praise, honor and glory to God in every circumstance. In heaven we will be rewarded for being faithful servants of God.

GLORIFYING GOD: (cont’d)

8. Through our love – As human beings in our physical plane we cannot love as deeply and completely as God can nor can we even understand it this side of heaven. The Bible tells us not only does God love us but that God IS love! Could any one of us have sentenced our only child, our firstborn son, to die a horrible death on the cross for another person, a total stranger who was not even a good person but a terrible sinner?

Ephesians 5:2 – And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

Don’t kid yourself. I couldn’t and wouldn’t make that kind of sacrifice and neither would you. Your Father and mine loved us enough to do this for us. If God’s emotions allow him to experience love and joy at an infinitely greater level than us it also means God experiences pain and grief much more profoundly than we do. God is reciprocal in all things. We can’t have the good without also having the bad. God would never take steps to ease his pain and suffering and we see that clearly in the life of Jesus. Jesus is God!

John 3:16 – (Jesus speaking) – For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Romans 15:5-6 – Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

John 15:8 – (Jesus speaking) – By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

In the New Testament Jesus said the two greatest commandments are to love God and to love one another. Both commandments are about love. I believe the main theme in Heaven is going to be love. Love will be the secret ingredient that makes heaven heaven. Jesus Christ showed us perfectly how to love while he walked among us and we are all commanded to emulate Christ in our lives and thereby glorify God.

Galatians 2:20 – I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Loving like God loves doesn’t come natural to us and if that is hard for believers to fully comprehend you know it is virtually impossible for the nonbeliever to understand that kind of love. Only as a saved child of God can we begin to understand God’s love, what it must have cost God personally to save us and how much we’re loved by our Father. It’s easy to love God because God first loved us.

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

Luke 6:45 – (Jesus speaking) – 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.

John 7:38 – (Jesus speaking) – He who believes in Me, Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.

As you read your Bible regularly (daily I hope) you’ll find yourself loving God more and more. God loves us deeply and we are priceless in his sight and this comes across clearly in the Bible. As we realize God’s love for us our hearts naturally overflow with love for God in return and the “good fruit” of our heart will manifest itself for all to see. Over time it will become easier and easier for us to love God, ourselves and others as we abide in Christ.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 – Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.

I’m an introvert by nature and I’m pretty much self-sufficient. Loving and showing love never came easy for me. The more I meditate on God and study his word the more love I feel for all men. I have an increased capacity to love believers and nonbelievers alike. The fruit of my heart is that I show my love through my constantly worry about all those lost souls headed for hell and what I ought to be doing about it. Not a day goes by that I don’t ask myself, “What more can I do?”

Titus 3:4-8 – But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

My Christian blog site, www.onemoreforjesus.net, was created for this reason. By my passive witnessing online I just wanted to help save one more person for the kingdom of God while at the same time exhorting them to study God’s Word for knowledge, understanding and wisdom. I seek to keep one more person from spending an eternity in hell by my “passive” witness for Christ. I pray that God will give me, “onemoreforjesus.”

John 15:13 – (Jesus speaking) – Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

Mind you, I still don’t have enough love in me to give up one of my children for a lost soul but I’m at the point where I would give up my life if that was the only way to keep someone out of hell. I can justify that sacrifice in my mind because momentary pain is nothing when weighed against keeping someone out of the lake of fire for billions and billions of years. How could I not make that sacrifice for a fellow human being, someone I love? I can’t come anywhere close to God’s love but I can see where he is coming from.

GLORIFYING GOD: (cont’d)

6. Through our preaching and ministry – In an earlier blog (Spiritual principles #4) I listed the crowns or rewards we can receive from God which are mentioned in the Bible. One of those was the crown of rejoicing which is primarily for preachers and pastors who faithfully guide their local church. You can’t preach the word of God unless God calls you to that ministry. I’ve always been a little bit jealous of that because I know that is one crown that’s out of my reach since I’m not a preacher. In studying God’s Word I realized I was wrong. God is fair to everyone so all believers have an equal shot at every crown in heaven. God isn’t going to have a crown reserved for an exclusive and select group of people to the exclusion of everyone else. There is no country club mentality in heaven. All of us are equal in God’s sight. This crown is available to anyone because it also applies to church deacons and other church leaders. It applies to Sunday School teachers, choir directors and even those who conduct Bible study. If you want this crown go get it.

People fail to realize the crown of glory is also for believers who have a particular calling from God, a personal ministry, where they do the work of God for his glory. Missionaries will receive the crown of glory because God calls them to that ministry. Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950 as a ministry attending to the needs of the poor in Calcutta, India, where she worked all her adult life. Do you think Mother Teresa deserves the crown of glory for her work? You bet she does and when we get to heaven we’ll see she has it. Dr. Albert Schweitzer built and ran a hospital in rural Africa all his life because of his love for God. That’s what God called him to do. Dr. Schweitzer has also received a crown of glory in heaven.

Ask the Holy Spirit for your own ministry that touches your heart and serves God at the same time. The Lord gives each of us good works to do. We just need to pray for God to enlighten us what we’re to do for his glory. God won’t be shy about telling you. I know people who have been hospital volunteers over thirty years to God’s glory. That was their ministry. I know a lady in her nineties who volunteers every week at a local food bank (she won’t tell me her age). God moves other people to help prepare and serve food for the homeless both in shelters and on the street. There’s no end to the ways we can serve God in order to bring honor, praise and glory to God for his love and mercy.

1 Peter 4:11 – If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

7. Through our fruitbearing – In my blog, Spiritual principles #4, I discussed the crown of rejoicing which God will give to all believers who have been faithful and effective in witnessing for Christ. God will reward all who witness for Christ but even more will be given to those who are good at it. I’m thinking of evangelists like Billy Graham. That man probably brought thirty million people to Christ. Can you you imagine the treasure Billy Graham had waiting on him when he returned to his maker? You can be sure Christ told Billy, “Well done good and faithful servant.” In the final analysis that’s what I want too. I just want God to be pleased with me and my works done on earth to his glory. I’ll plan and do whatever is necessary to achieve that goal. 80% of the battle of life is just showing up.

In my zeal for the Lord I’ve studied God’s Word. I’m equipped and ready to witness for Christ. The problem is nobody has beat a path to my door to hear my witness. Those with a passion for God never have enough people to witness to so it’s up to us to find innovative ways to share our witness. If we don’t we won’t bear much fruit for the Lord. We won’t be as fruitful as we’d like. In my case, I purchase Christian tracts a thousand at a time and I leave them wherever I go. I leave them in doctor’s offices, department stores, in Walmart bathrooms and I hand them out to whoever will take one off me. I give myself a daily quota of Christian tracts to give out, although the pandemic has slowed me down tremendously.

My Christian blog site, www.onemoreforjesus.net, is what I call, “passive witnessing.” I sow the gospel seed by urging others to study God’s Word and witness for Christ. I pray that my blog site will bear fruit by leading at least one person to the truth of God’s Word and salvation unto eternal life. The name of my blog site tells you my ministry for God. You can’t be effective for God by accident. You have to come up with a plan and establish goals if you want to be effective for the Lord. I’m going to reveal my soul to you and tell you my secret desire. My goal is to help save 100 people unto eternal life. God says we’re to work in his harvest field to save as many as we can. I’ll be happy with saving just one person but of course I want as many people in heaven with me as I can get. Not a day goes that I don’t think about all those lost souls in the world dying every day and going straight to hell for the lack of a witness.

John 15:8 – (Jesus speaking) – By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit.

GLORIFYING GOD: (cont’d)

5. Through our giving – In my previous blog I addressed the scriptural mandate to give 10% of all we have to the Lord. The Bible talks about giving back to God the “first fruits” of all he has blessed us with. We’re talking about the first 10% and not the last 10%. In reality God is being extremely generous because everything belongs to God. 100% of everything you have is because God has graciously allowed you to have it. God doesn’t need your 10% but by allowing you to give back to the Lord what he already owns he is justified in blessing you. You’re giving back to the Lord for your benefit not God’s. You’re not doing God any favors; just the opposite.

“You reap what you sow,” is a spiritual law of heaven which means God is reciprocal. You give to God and he gives back to you, only God gives bigger and better. When you give 10% to the Lord God will reciprocate and bless your remaining 90%. You will always wind up better off financially than if you hadn’t given anything to God in the first place. I’m not saying we should give in order to get more back. What I’m saying is God is good, God is great, and God is generous beyond belief to those who love him.

In our society the churches have taken that scriptural mandate to mean you must give that 10% of all you have directly to the church so they can decide how to spend the money. There is nothing wrong with tithing 10% to your church if that’s what you want to do but don’t for a minute think you have to do it that way. You’re not going to hell if you don’t give your money to the church. Tithing 10% to your church is just one of many ways to give back to the Lord but I don’t think it’s the best way to give. You have no control over where tithe money goes or what it’s used for. Maybe you’re paying for an airconditioned dog house for the Pastor’s dog. Maybe you’re funding a week long deacon’s spiritual retreat at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City or in Hawaii. You just don’t know where your money goes and that’s a problem.

We know God put us here on earth to seek him out and decide who we will serve, God or Satan. We’re to emulate Christ and live our lives in such a way that we bring honor and glory to God. One of the ways the Bible says we honor God is by doing good works and that takes money, your money. The Bible says you’re to give 10% back to the Lord, which can be in the form of good works where you decide where to spend the money instead of the church accountant. I prefer funding good works myself because it keeps my mind focused on God and how good and great he really is. When you think about God that is worship, which we are all to do. Why not do good works and worship God at the same time? The definition of worship is to have deep respect and admiration for the object you’re thinking about, which in this case is God.

Look at it this way. Tithing is like putting your money into a mutual fund. It’s impersonal, it’s no fun, and you get no benefit from it other than the initial buzz from putting in your money. Funding good works is like picking your own stocks. You have to do your own research on the stock market and then keep an eye on you investment so you can buy or sell as needed. Which type of investor do you think will please God more? You and I both know God prefers a hands-on believer with skin in the game and that’s the believe who puts his money where his mouth is and where his heart is. The good part is with prayer the Holy Spirit will help guide you so your gift pleases the Lord.

Let me be clear. There’s one thing I’ve learned during my study of God’s Word and that is God is reciprocal. With God you, “reap what you sow,” because it’s a spiritual law of heaven. On the last Day if God is going to remember every sinful act of the nonbeliever and judge them for those actions. You can also be sure God will be fair and he will remember every good deed of every believers who comes before the bema judgment of Jesus. Let me repeat myself because this is critically important. God will be fair to both believers and nonbelievers. Jesus will hold nonbelievers accountable for their sins at the Great White Throne judgment on the last Day.

The sins of believers have been forgiven so they will be rewarded for their good works by Jesus at the bema judgment seat. We’re going to be amazed in heaven by the fact that no kindness, no matter how small, will be overlooked by Jesus and we’ll be rewarded for it. Everything about our lives is under a microscope. God never sleeps. God misses nothing we do so live your life as if you’re under constant observation, because you are. Conduct your life at all times so as to please God. When you sin, and you will sin, ask God to forgive you immediately. You’re in luck because God has promised he will forgive any sin you confess to him. Take advantage of God’s mercy and grace every day.

It’s a scary thing knowing God sees everything you do and knows your every thought. At the same time it’s also a golden opportunity to build up treasure in heaven. A believer gives from the heart and not because he expects anything in return. I agree with the Apostle Paul when he says we are to run the race God gives us in such a way that we win the prize. There’s no shame in knowing we build up treasure in heaven by our good works and then trying to achieve it. Whatever you give to charity or by your good works you’ll get back tenfold in heaven.

During my 31 year career working for the federal government a little bit of every paycheck was automatically deducted and sent to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. That’s where my heart was and still is. God will reward me tenfold one day for my generosity. Where’s your heart and what are you doing about it? Are you depending on someone else to do what you want done for the less fortunate? Never wait for the other guy to do what you should be doing yourself. Do you think it’s up to your church to help others since you tithe? Have you washed your hands of any personal responsibility to do God’s work? Are you a watcher or a doer of God’s Word? I have a suggestion. Plan your work for God and then work that plan relentlessly until you achieve the results you want. God is watching you so don’t let him down. Your goal should be to hear Jesus say, “Well done good and faithful servant.”

Philippians 4:19 – And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 13:16 – But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

It was never God’s intent to have these 15,000 member mega-churches that cover four city blocks. Churches where you have so many members you have to conduct multiple services every Sunday just to accommodate everyone. These big churches are so large there is no way you can meet and know all the members of the church. The closeness and fellowship is not there except for small circles of friends. Mega-churches were the invention of man because humans are conditioned to think in terms of bigger is better.

I’m not saying these churches are wrong to grow this big, I’m just saying there’s a down side to it. I enjoy watching Pastors like Jeffress, Hagee and Jeremiah hold their Sunday services on television as much as anyone. I’m saying it’s not required or necessary to belong to a big church in order to worship God. I don’t blame the Pastors for growing their churches so large because they were taught bigger is always better. All Pastors want bigger buildings, more buildings along with constant growth and expansion. All Pastors dream of televising their Sunday services.

The mega-church model is the gold standard for churches because the more members you have the more money comes into the church coffers. It’s all about the money. Pastors want their flocks inside the four walls of the church on Sunday so they can squeeze a tithe out of them. Churches want us to believe we must give 10% of our income as a tithe to the church so they can keep the enterprise going. Big church is big business. The continuous building programs must be funded. Scripture does say we are to give 10% of all we have to the Lord. That 10% could be a tithe to the church and usually is but it could also be used in a number of other ways that would also glorify God such as doing good works. Don’t let the church or society make you feel guilty about tithing. Everything you have belongs to God, including your money. Let the Holy Spirit guide you how to spend God’s money.

Most church members spend a couple of hours on Sunday worshipping God and then they forget all about God until the following Sunday; and the cycle repeats itself. That is not what God intended. All God’s creations, both angel and man, were created to worship the Lord. We see in the Bible that angels in heaven are constantly singing to God, praising him and worshipping him. Lucifer, in particular, was created specifically to worship God. I see angels doing their part to worship God but I don’t see men doing what they were created to do.

God created man to continually worship and serve him by using our minds. We know the human brain has a much greater capacity than we need to survive as a species and that’s with us using only using 10 % of our brainpower. Man has a consciousness, a self-awareness, that cannot be explained. God created our mind as the organ through which we are to worship him. Think of our brain as our, “worship organ.” Our mind is the nexus between the physical world and the spiritual world. Do you remember the movie “Stargate” starring Kurt Russell and David Spader? Our mind is our stargate; our portal between worlds. Through the portal of our mind believers can access the throne room of God and our mind is the medium through which God speaks to his creation.

Satan and his demons can only assault us through our minds because it’s the only part of us exposed to the spiritual world in which they operate. Our mind is a spiritual receptor, an antennae, capable of accessing the spirit world which is why the Bible tells us to guard our minds. Science has proven man only uses 10% of his brain capacity. Why is that? Adam had 100% of his brain power so he could worship God in the Garden of Eden. When Adam sinned against God he was expelled from the Garden of Eden and God reduced his brain capacity to 10% because Adam no longer needed 100% of his brain function to live on earth. The minute we enter heaven God will give us 100% of our brainpower back because we’ll need it in heaven to worship God as he intended, with our minds. Man will be continually worshipping God in heaven one day just like the angels are doing now.

Let’s face it, 99% of Christians are doing a pitiful job of worshipping God, me included. Two hours a week in church worshipping God isn’t going to cut it. God made our bodies to be holy temples of God, not because of our arms and legs, but because of our minds. The Holy Spirit indwells our mind because our mind is where we interface with God and the spirit world. Scripture says we are to worship God in spirit and that occurs in the mind of the believer whether we’re in church or at home on the couch.

God gave us a wonderful mind to worship him continuously anytime and anywhere. As I mentioned in my previous blog, worshipping God is not an act you perform like mass or something you do a certain way. God made us to be worship machines. We use our minds to worship God when we mentally show our respect and admiration for who God is, his holy attributes, and what God has done for us and what he will do for us in heaven.

Walking outside and exclaiming to God what a beautiful day he has made is worship. When you read the Bible you are worshipping God. Every time you say grace before a meal or pray to God you’re worshipping God the Father. To use our mind to think about God is to worship God. It’s why God gave us such a wonderful brain in the first place. Because God is good and God is great it’s impossible to meditate on God without praising and worshipping him in our mind which is by, definition, how we “glorify” God. Worshipping God is as easy as breathing in air so let’s make a conscious effort to do it and do it often. Then stand back and watch as God blesses our lives.

In short, you don’t need a physical church to worship God. Pastors want you in church because they need your money and they want you dependent on them. The simple truth is the believer is the church and not some building. Our bodies are holy temples of God. Therefore, we worship God in his temple (our bodies) through the use of our minds. You are worshipping God with your mind when you are meditating on God. What we need to do as believers is train ourselves to worship God more by simply thinking about God more often. Thinking about God is worship. We now know what worship is. We know we can worship God anywhere just by focusing our mind on him. We know we can and should be thinking about God all through the day.

If we work at it we can progress to the point where it’s easy to think about God continually so that we are worshipping God all day long. You are what you think about so be holy and think about God a lot. As we worship God more often we’ll develop the “fear” of the Lord that is the hallmark of Christians who humbly walk in fellowship with their God. To “fear” God means to look upon the Lord with awe and reverence. It’s a state of mind. Reverence means deep respect and admiration. In the dictionary reverence and worship have the exact same definition. When you revere God in your in mind you’re worshipping him without saying a word. But God knows those who worship him and he’ll bless them for it.

The Christian Church has been around for almost 2000 years. Since God made us he is our Father and he has shown his love for us by giving us eternal life in heaven in his presence. What is the purpose of the church? Our first duty as members of the Christian Church is to love God. It’s easy to love someone who loves you first.

Matthew 22:37 – (Jesus speaking) – You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.

If we love God we are then to show that love by glorifying God. Christians often use the term, “glorifying God,” very loosely because most of the time they don’t fully comprehend what that means or understand exactly how it’s achieved. If you don’t believe me ask any Christian you know how they glorify God. If you’re lucky you may get a couple of right answers when there are at least nine known ways to glorify God.

Few Christians know all the ways that God can be glorified and fewer still make the effort to glorify God in all areas because it takes a lot of willpower and discipline. God is worthy of our love, praise and worship so we need to make the best effort possible. Being an effective Christian takes a lot of hard work but if your mind is focused on God it becomes a labor of love. Let’s always look for ways we can glorify the God we love, honor and cherish. Review the following list regularly to see if you’re glorifying God to the best of your ability:

GLORIFYING GOD:

1. Through our praise and prayers – Prayer is how we talk to God. Without prayer there is no two-way communication going on between you and God and therefore no fellowship, no deepening of the spiritual relationship with God. We aren’t walking with God if we’re not praying to God. We should be praying daily to God and the more often during the day the better. Praying to God should be as easy as talking to your best friend sitting beside you. Praise is a natural result of prayer as you realize how much God loves you and how much God has done for you and what God will continue to do for you forever in heaven . The Bible is chock full of Scriptures telling us to give praise to the Lord because he is worthy of that praise.

The definition of praise is to show respect and gratitude as an act of worship. Worship is not some pompous ceremony. Worship simply means showing God the deep respect and admiration he deserves and we can do that publicly or privately at any time. It’s as simple as that and there’s no reason to make a big production out of it. The definition of glorify is to praise and worship God. When we use the terms glorify, praise and worship these are all words saying pretty much the same thing which is to always show God the deep respect, admiration and gratitude he deserves for what he has done for us. These words don’t depict a specific action on our part but is more of a permanent attitude of reverence for and acknowledgment of our Father in heaven. Along that same vein, in the biblical context when we say to, “fear the Lord,” it means to look upon God with awe and reverence.

Psalm 50:23 – Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; and to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.

2. Through our acknowledgment of Jesus – Scripture says we cannot please God without faith and that faith is in his Son Jesus Christ, through whom we have the forgiveness of sin and eternal life. From the foundation of the world God’s salvation plan for man was to send his precious Son to die on the cross to redeem us from our sins. God made the ultimate sacrifice by giving up what he loved most because of his love for us. There was no other way for us to escape eternal death for our sins. God is glorified when we acknowledge what Jesus has done for us on the cross and, conversely, if we reject Jesus’ sacrificial death on our behalf it’s the ultimate insult to God which will result in our condemnation and spending eternity in hell. It never pays to piss off God.

Philippians 9-11 – Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on the earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

3. Through believing God’s Word – When you believe every word in the Bible is the wisdom and truth of God then God is glorified. When you read the Bible daily God is glorified. When you memorize Scripture, hear Scripture or speak Scripture God is again glorified. When we study the Bible in-depth that also glorifies God. When we spend time in God’s Word we are showing our deep respect, admiration and gratitude to God for what he has done for us. Spending time reading your Bible is glorifying God, praising God and worshipping God at the same time. Reading the Bible is the best way to stoke our faith in God and maintain a health “fear” of the Lord at the same time. Reading God’s Word fills you with the Holy Spirit.

Romans 4:20 – He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God.

4. Through our witnessing – We know why we’re here and where we came from. God created us and put us on earth for two reasons. First, to seek out God and make the decision to serve God or Satan. Assuming we find God and accept his grace unto salvation through faith in his Son Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we can then focus on the second reason God leaves us on earth instead of taking believers on to heaven. That reason is so we can share our witness for Christ with others.

Scripture reminds us that God’s harvest field is great and the laborers are few. God’s hope is that all his children will repent of their sins and turn to God and the salvation he offers for the asking. God is blessing us by letting us help save others. Every time we witness the gospel of Christ we’re glorifying God. When we emulate Christ by doing good works we’re witnessing for God by our actions and thereby glorifying God the Father. Those who see the light of God in our Christian works may be drawn to God by our example and be saved, to the glory of God.

Face to face witnessing for Christ is always the best but let’s face it, we don’t really get that many opportunities to do that. Or we don’t get all the opportunities to witness that we’d like to have. We have to think outside the box and make our own opportunities to witness for Christ. If you distribute Bibles to those who can’t afford them or support those who do, like the Gideons, that’s also witnessing because you’re sharing the gospel message contained in each Bible you provide. My favorite way of sharing the message of the gospel is by passing out Christian tracts which is also witnessing because it contains a Christian message and a sinner’s prayer at the end to guide the reader to salvation on their own.

The twin themes of my Christian blog site are studying God’s Word and witnessing for Christ. My blog is what I refer to as, “passive witnessing.” This is my 530th blog and every one was written to share my love for God and to exhort believers to study God’s Word so that they can be effective witnesses for Christ. Every time I write a blog or post a blog I’m glorifying God with my time and attention on heavenly matters. Every time someone takes the time to read my blog they’re glorifying God too because their mind is on God as it should be. I’m glorifying God every morning when I take quiet time to meditate on the majesty of Almighty God over a pot of coffee. Each of us must find our own personal time to be with God and worship him in our own way. Reach out to God and he will bless you for it.

2 Thessalonians 3:1 – Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is in you.