Willing to Help Others


There is always someone who is in need of help. Driving through Atlanta it is clear to me that people are struggling. The homeless need shelter, food, clothing while the drug addicts need a dose of self honesty to stop the downward cycle of self-destruction. Commuters encounter each other in the hustle and bustle of hard work, appointment making and networking often in need of help just to smile. Hell, I need help just to cope with the mental, emotional and physical demands of being me – a middle-aged man called by God to preach, teach and live to serve others as a vessel of Light. There is a solution!

Helping others is spiritual. It promotes selfless acts of love inspired by inwardly receiving the love of Christ ourselves. Jesus Christ is love. We would not know true love if it was not first demonstrated by Him towards us. “We love Him because He first loved us.”(1 John 4:19)  His loving kindness is so enduring it progressively proves the excellence that is God’s faithfulness towards us. No one else in this world is going to love us like Him. His love is spiritual and great enough to influence that which is natural and earthly. Through His love in us, we become willing to help others experience real love through giving, caring, sharing, laughing and releasing it into the lives of others.

Agape love is the love of Christ characterized in 1 Corinthians 13. I Corinthians 13 GraphicHere’s how it works for me:

  1. When I see my ex-wife happy in another relationship and/or my associates happy in their marriages and family lives, my selfishness can make me bitter, disinterested and aloof. Agape love is patient, kind and is not jealous. Through Christ I can be glad for their happiness and thankful for the happiness I have know in my former marriage and family. I can and do celebrate their lives unselfishly.
  2. – my adult children’s safety, their financial stability and life choices –  Here is where I become fixated on controlling tactics to influence outcomes in others that will make me feel better about myself. The fact is agape love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things and never fails. Through Christ I can experience the peace of God through His love effectually embracing me spiritually. It is so powerful it enables me to experience faith overriding my fear. In the moment of someone’s crisis, I can “be” a staple of love, kindness, wisdom, hope and willing to help others – loved ones, strangers, members of the Body of Christ, etc.

In myself (my flesh) I am unwilling to be of help (service) to anyone unless I am getting something out of the experience. Selfishness will even make me lose out on capitalizing moments. However, through my spiritual position “IN CHRIST” I am fortified to be a vessel through which His love is freely demonstrated towards others. You too can experience the powerful, strengthening love of Christ Jesus compelling you to live in the Spirit and stay willing to help others in any way possible. With God, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!

Rev. D

Watching My Mom Transition & Being Inspired


I have not lost my mom to death even though I watched her breathe her last breath. The pain of knowing I can’t call her, visit her any longer is horrific. However, I know she is in Heaven where there is no more suffering to be had. I can only imagine how wonderful it is for her now. That brings me joy. I am thankful for all the years she labored teaching me God’s word rightly-divided. Here is a reflection I began in the hospital and completed today:

I am watching my mom transition into eternity. I can’t help but be reminded of all the years of service (50+) to others teaching God’s Word. My sister and I were her lifetime students. Through the years mom and I have cast an unknown number of seeds of faith in the gospel of the grace of God.

It is for this reason that I am sharing 1 Corinthians 3. Paul’s message in the text lines up with the intention of this writing. It makes no sense to argue, debate or even choose whose message is noteworthy. Gospel seed planting is a group effort with Christ being the LEADER of the group. It does not matter who plants the seeds or who waters the seed to facilitate growth. In fact no seed can thrive on one round of watering. It is necessary for regular hydration agriculturally and Spiritually. Most importantly, all lessons, sermons, publications, blog posts et al require God’s increase for Spiritually, effectual results. No man or woman has the power to cause one’s heart to yield to the authority of scripture. Therefore, we must avoid the temptation to expect or demand instant results when sharing the gospel.

Stop insisting the student/hearer must respond to the Word in the moment of delivery for spiritual validation. Also, avoid being bias to the teaching/preaching of one person. The text indicates that, under the Authority of Christ, God uses multiple vessels to deliver His Word. Be equipped to discern the Authority of Christ and His Word as it is delivered. Or be equipped to discern where man is attempting to deliver the word himself.

Mom taught me, while teaching Bible study throughout the Tri-State area when I was a boy, God is responsible for any and all results after we deliver the Word. All efforts to teach, preach, share or write the gospel should be seasoned with the Spirit. Then, the Holy Spirit adds the increase in accordance to the Father’s will. All the while it is the Son of God, Jesus Christ, sourcing His Word into His children. What a Mighty God we serve. I’ll see you in Glory mom!

Free Online Bible Lessons & More



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Connect with us as and learn how to “rightly divide the Word of truth” on your schedule. Subscribe to this service today by going to the studio wall:

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I hope to see you there!

Rev. D

 

 

The Sharp Accuracy of the Bible


I cut my hand this morning while preparing breakfast. The sharpness of the knife sliced more of my finger than the frozen meat needing cutting. My understanding of the cardiovascular system provided some quick thinking while my spirit became captivated with the LESSON GOD WAS PROVIDING ME IN THE EXPERIENCE.

Never allow the sudden entrance of painful experiences to distract you from the fact that GOD IS OMNISCIENT, OMNIPRESENT AND OMNIPOTENT.

FullSizeRender
The aftermath of nearly slicing off the top of my right finger!

While the blood poured out of my finger and the intense, sharp sting of the running water made me cringe with concern – so much so I had to let the finger bleed until the thought to use gravity kicked in – the Holy Spirit was QUICK to remind me of Christ’s nail-scarred hands as He hung on the Cross BLEEDING for me. Since He was PRESENT in the moment  I was at peace with the trauma of seeing me bleed. Some would rush to the hospital with the cut I sustained-which may be NECESSARY in those cases – but God’s ALL KNOWING POWER prepared me for such a time as this.

OK the bleeding slowed considerably as the use of gravity was maintained for 11 minutes without interruption. Obviously the cooking stopped but more importantly the PRAYING began. There are many posts here on ConquerorShots chronicling the slogan “Prayer Changes Things.”  (Use the search bar to see) It soothed my doubts and calmed my fears. Suddenly I remembered one of the points from yesterday’s Cyber Bible Study   lesson I taught on Jacob. (You can sign up to get in on this free Spirit-filled weekly experience)

In Genesis 32:24-29 we see that Jacob wrestled with the Angel of the Lord all night long. The Bible lesson for us today is that Jacob’s experience with God’s Word cut him so deep it soothed his fears and produced faith to trust in Him exclusively.  The text reveals that at this stage Jacob was a mature man, having persevered 20 years of toils prescribed by Laban. Jacob was a father of 12 with 2 wives who supported His Spiritual reliance on God. Jacob maintained an abundance of fear for he and his family’s lives were threatened due to the death sentence his brother Esau vowed years ago. 

Jacob wept bitterly with anguish and heartache having lived to realize that all his worldly treasures could not deliver him from the consequences of his sinful past having stolen Esau’s birthright and blessing. God’s Providence for Jacob is undeniable as is the EFFECTS HIS CONSISTENT WORD HAD ON JACOB. At the time of the text Jacob realizes DIVINE incentive to wrestle (pour out his heart’s pinned up anguish from adolescence, working for Laban, having to marry Leah and looking at her crooked eye as the mother of  7 children and all the years he had to wait for his love Rachel to birth Joseph) with the Second Person of the Godhead – Jesus Christ INCARNATE – to the point where God changed Jacob’s name to ISRAEL. The evidence of it being a physical battle was the onset of the hip joint injury Jacob sustained. C.B.S. classmates have learned the name change was OBVIOUSLY part of God’s Plan made before the world was formed. (Psalm 90:2) 

This name change is so significant it can’t be overlooked. The seed that was originally predicted in Genesis 3:15, promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was now set in motion to become a DIVINE, UNIMAGINABLE, LOVING, JUSTIFYING SACRIFICE FOR YOUR SINS AND MINE through the manifestation of the Nation of Israel. Jesus Christ – the Lamb of God, the way the truth and the life, the Word in the Beginning that was with God and was God which became flesh so that He could identify with His Creation and SAVE US FROM ETERNAL JUDGEMENT AND DAMNATION – IS THE SEED PROMISED TO THE PATRIARCHS. 

God confirmed Jacob’s anguish as He allowed me to nearly slice off my finger. THE WORD OF GOD CUT JACOB WITH SHARP ACCURACY over time whereas a physical knife can cut our flesh deeply and IMMEDIATELY. TODAY, children of God/members of the Body of Christ, experience God’s WORD with QUICKNESS, ACCURACY and POWERFUL LONG SUFFERING RESULTS. THESE RESULTS ARE POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST NOW LIVING INSIDE US THROUGH OUR FAITH IN CPR² ON A DAILY BASIS.

Without FAITH it is IMPOSSIBLE to experience the life-changing experiences God’s Word can demonstrate in your life

Jacob wrestled with Him in the Old Testament. We wrestle with Him daily as He is revealed in the Pauline Epistles as the Head of the Body/Lord and Savior and our righteousness and peace.

THE PRAYER: “Thank you Lord for allowing me to see how your Word operates on my soul like a knife on my flesh. My sin-sick soul is pierced with the DOCTRINE, CORRECTION, INSTRUCTION AND REPROOF OF YOUR WORD AS IT LIVES IN ME LEADING ME INTO ALL TRUTH FOR YOUR NAME’S SAKE WITH SHARP ACCURACY WHILE I LIVE THE CONQUEROR LIFESTYLE – in Jesus name amen!”

 

What Shall I Render?


Do you struggle giving your first to the Lord?  Do you struggle with giving your last to the Lord? Are you a tither? Do you give church offerings sparingly or bountifully? Most of all, why do you give your offerings? If you do not practice this NECESSARY sacrifice, what prevents you from it?

The answers will undoubtedly cover a wide spectrum of opinionated responses that lack sound Biblical teaching. While Israel’s experiences provide a dominant viewpoint that is upheld throughout Christendom, I want to emphasize that long before God called out the Nation of Israel from the world through Abraham and his promised son Isaac, God has ALWAYS required a sacrificial offering from mankind. More specifically, whenever we are blessed by God OUR THANKSGIVING IS BEST ACKNOWLEDGED THROUGH OUR SACRIFICIAL GIVING.

Abel’s offering to God in Genesis 4 is the first example of sacrificial giving. His brother Cain’s response to God’s acceptance of Abel’s offering is still GREATLY felt throughout the USA. Men and women are still trying to defy God’s requirements for sacrificial giving by rationalizing their human works as a means to get God’s approval. Case and point: a professional legal secretary will bring his/her skills into the church and work on various auxiliaries where the skills are needed. They will give from a place of authority and certainty which is coupled with human merits. In doing so, they will naturally assume that God is pleased with their efforts. They give to the church body with their professional skills. But when the church offering is administered they will struggle with monetary giving because they rendered professional services that were NOT compensated.

God requires sacrificial giving! It literally means GIVING UP SOMETHING GOOD. Noah is the example that represents this best! In Genesis 7:2-3 God tells Noah to gather up every clean beast on the earth by 7’s, both male and female. For example, Noah was responsible for loading 7 male sheep and 7 female sheep. The Godly instruction gives rise to the DIVINE EXPECTATION FOR THE SACRIFICE. The breeding would be maintained by the 6 and the SACRIFICE IS THE 7TH! It is also a revealing appreciation for the PROVIDENTIAL WILL OF GOD CONCERNING MANKIND!

God gave Noah the instruction as He welcomed Noah and his family into the ARK. The UNIVERSAL DEATH OF THE EARTH AND ITS INHABITANTS ENSUED. In Genesis 8 the rain ceases and God gives the instruction to exit the ARK:

Genesis 8:15-21 KJV
15 And God spake unto Noah, saying,
16 Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons’ wives with thee.
17 Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth.
18 And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him:
19 Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark.
20 And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

Noah did not build a house for his wife and family FIRST! HE BUILT AN ALTAR! His gratitude for SALVATION FROM THE UNIVERSAL DEATH compelled him to sacrifice one of every clean animal to God on the ALTAR. The altar of sacrifice has ALWAYS been a representation for the COMING OF JESUS CHRIST, HIS DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION. Genesis 8:21 once again infers God’s understanding of THE PLAN of REDEMPTION Christ would fulfill. Today God no longer requires blood sacrifice from animals BECAUSE OF OUR ONGOING FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST’S FINISHED WORK!

If you KNOW YOU ARE SAVED BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS, like Noah we are REQUIRED to give – “not grudgingly, not out of necessity. God loves a cheerful giver…”(2 Corinthians 9:7) Our cheer, willingness and sacrificial giving of our finances is an outward expression of the THANKSGIVING in our hearts and minds for SALVATION. Under the auspices of God’s grace PROVIDING the FREE GIFT OF SALVATION AND ETERNAL LIFE, we can NEVER give too much. At this stage of Christian development, financial giving, church service through ministry and talents and any other form of “giving” is acceptable and pleasing in His sight.

Willing to Prepare


Do you believe you know how to use your Bible accurately?  How effective does your use of scripture penetrate your heart and/or others when you share it? There is a preparation process we MUST experience in order to follow the Word of God accurately and share it using penetrating precision  with others.  Here is an accurate, Biblical description to maintain as you read/share/study/hear God’s Word:

Hebrews 4:12 KJV
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

NASB 12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

 

I like the Greek word for sharper in both translations. The transliteration of the Greek word gives the specific meaning of “one cutting motion with pristine accuracy.” The opposite Greek word means to “use a repetitive motion to perform the cut.” God reminded me of my frozen sausage I sometimes cook for breakfast. I buy the logs of sausage that are normally refrigerated in a tubular plastic wrap. When you freeze them, slicing a serving requires a “SHARP” knife to cut through the frozen meat. Most knives require a consistent, hacking away on the frozen meat to gradually slice a piece. But I have one knife that is EXTREMELY SHARP that will accurately cut one slice at a time with a SINGLE motion. This is the sharpness the Bible has on our hearts and minds when consumed/shared rightly-divided.

Conqueror Ministries has established the Cyber Bible Study (C.B.S.) as a viable ministry teaching others how to study God’s Word rightly-divided. The term comes from 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

NASB 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamedaccurately handling the word of truth.

 

The Greek word for “rightly dividing” helps us arrive at the “precise” meaning of the Pauline instruction to prepare yourself to manage the Word “accurately handling it or dissecting/expounding the Word correctly.” This preparation will improve your life and the lives of others as you share. Are you willing to study to be prepared? The opportunity is available now and it is totally free!

If you honestly want to be prepared to do so, sign up today to receive free emails linking you to this rich Bible teaching going on live every Wednesday 5pm EST. If the live time is not perfect for you, the links to the broadcasts are sent to you to watch at your own pace. Also, get my Darrin Book CoverSuit Up Series today to read up on how to effectively utilize the Armor of God including “the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.”

The time is now! Take every step necessary to be on the Spiritual winning side of the ongoing warfare manifesting throughout this world.

Stay in the race!

Rev. D

 

 

Faith in CPR² DAILY


I do not subscribe to Easter as a religious experience. I suggest that Christians consider every day as Easter. There is a wealth of power, change, security and love associated with CPR – Christ’s Powerful Resurrection. The fact that He will NEVER have to die on the cross, experience human death and resurrect from it AGAIN is without question. Therefore, CPR² has everything to do with how we experience the daily identification with the one-time event UNSHACKLING US from day to day.

We can all agree that we need faith to believe in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins and the gift of eternal life. John 3:16 declares the plan God made to thwart the goal to destroy God’s creation – mankind – through sin. Mankind was and is destined to perish in life and in eternity because of sin. THERE IS NOT ONE RELIGIOUS BELIEF OR ACT MAN CAN DO TO REALIZE A DIFFERENT OUTCOME because religion does NOT save us. Faith is the means by which salvation and eternal life is realized. We were not there to see these events happen. We must have faith in the Word of God, rightly divided, to come to this new beginning.

Faith in CPR² is a human experience with unlimited Spiritual benefits. By faith, we come to expect and experience the freedom associated with being “IN CHRIST” as a result of receiving the free gift of salvation and eternal life. It is FREE because there is NOTHING we can do to deserve it. The gift itself epitomizes the grace of God on our behalf. After we receive salvation, we begin to rely on CPR² to realize new life flowing into our Christian walk, talk and manner of life. I developed the phrase “Live The Conqueror Lifestyle” to simplify the Spiritually beneficial characteristics of faith in CPR².

Why is Christ’s powerful resurrection squared? The answer is quite simple when we read the Pauline epistles and identify with His apostolic call to minister the gospel of the grace of God to Christians in this current age. Sin condemned our spirits from God’s inhabitability. Human spirits are naturally dead because of sin.

Biblically speaking, from the fall of Adam all the way up to the conversion of Saul to Paul the Apostle, mankind was unable to restore himself/herself to the GOD INTENDED relationship man and woman was designed for. The significance of Christianity is found in the fact that Christ died to save sinners through Faith in His resurrection. Paul declares this gospel exclusively! FAITH frees us from the condemning qualities of sin throughout our human Christian experience.  Through faith in CPR² we experience Spiritual revival (initially)/regeneration (subsequently).(the 1st product of CPR)

 Romans 8:1-2 & 5-6 KJV
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Secondly, faith in CPR² produces mental renewal. (the second product of CPR) The Apostle Paul makes this abundantly clear:

Romans 12:1-2 KJV
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Spiritual regeneration and mental renewal are the products of salvation through faith in CPR. We need them daily for our spiritual development, growth and maturity. These 2 products result in the production of all the God-ordained benefits for mankind associated with Christ’s powerful resurrection. Therefore, we can celebrate Easter every day because His resurrection is the source of new lives “IN CHRIST!” Join us for our weekly Cyber Bible Class  as we continue to uncover The Plan of God for the world, mankind and the Devil. We also celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on a daily basis as we “Live The Conqueror Lifestyle.”

 

 

How to Live the Conqueror Lifestyle & “WIN” Daily


 

God is faithful no matter what! Rev. D shares this short message on how you, like him, can live on purpose declaring “I WIN!” Spiritually daily.

The Benefits of Hope


Lamentations 3:24-26 KJV
24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

2017 is here and we are alive and well! Amidst all of the political uncertainty, social conflicts, national and international terrorism it is incumbent upon us to have hope. I do not suggest you place your hope in any government offices, political figures, public figures, corporations, social services divisions, church, preachers, deacons, evangelists, bishops,parents, grandparents or any other family member or friend. I hope that the foundation of your hope is rooted in your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

Jeremiah is the writer of the opening scriptures that have blessed me tremendously. I hope they do the same for you. For all my ConquerorShots followers I am aware that this month’s spiritual principle is honesty but allow me to use it in conjunction with hope. You see, according to Jeremiah you have to be honest about what God has brought you through to successfully maintain the hope he proclaims in verses 24-26.

In the scriptures before, the writer declares his hopelessness. Nebuchadnezzar, the King of the Babylonians, sieges the Southern Kingdom where Jerusalem and the temple were. Prior to this the Assyrians occupied the Northern Kingdom. Jeremiah was lamenting over the lose of all the land and blessings God gave to the Israelites. It is interesting to note that the suggested location of Jeremiah’s public laments was at Golgotha – the future location of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Jeremiah’s hopelessness waned heavily on him as he honestly remembered the blessings of God, the provisions of God and the POWER OF GOD.

His honesty about what God had done in the history of the Israelite’s existence gave him significant evidence about God’s POWER. Upon his honest reflection of the facts, Jeremiah’s hope was produced. LISTEN, people all around the world are desperate for hope to relieve them of their hopelessness. Their reflections are confused by all sorts of worldly, fleshly, anti-Christian rhetoric. It distracts, dissuades and denounces EVERYTHING true about the Sovereignty of God. We can’t arrive at the benefits of hope like Jeremiah if we fail to appreciate the salvation of the Lord today.

We, like Jeremiah, must be CERTAIN of our Spiritual portion or inheritance we are entitled to as children of God in 2017. This is a Christian blog and I exclusively write from a platform of Christianity. If you don NOT have faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ he has NOT become your Lord and Savior, UNFORTUNATELY these Heavenly benefits do not apply to you. The central point of the benefits of hope rely on this personal experience: No man can save you like Jesus Christ can and will if you believe that His death (shedding of His blood), burial and resurrection gives you access to the LORD God Almighty Himself.

Faith in Christ Jesus as a risen Savior, who now sits on the right hand of the Father making intercessions for us, establishes the following spiritual benefits of hope:

  • Freedom to live life as “more than conquerors through Him that loved us”
  • Truth that transforms us from death to life, darkness to light, hopelessness to hopefulness
  • Justification
  • Sanctification
  • Glorification
  • Power to stand in adversity, evil days, months, years, decades
  • Confidence in the forgiveness of sin
  • Confidence in the production of the fruit of the Spirit overriding the works of the flesh
  • Confidence in the peace with God and the peace of God
  • Victory over the Enemy in life and throughout Eternity
  • Heavenly blessings including crowns, homes and riches untold
  • The Promise that wherever Jesus Christ is eternally I will forever be with Him
  • NO MORE UNCERTAINTY, POLITICAL CONCERNS AND CONFUSIONS, HUMAN TERRORISM AND SOCIAL INJUSTICES

It is good to have the willingness to “wait on the Lord and be of good courage.” God’s goodness gets sweeter and sweeter as you learn to trust in Him who will NEVER leave you or forsake you. Therefore, like Jeremiah said, EVERY man “should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.”  Our hope keeps us connected to the benefits of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Live the #ConquerorLifestyle in 2017!

 

Noah: A Lesson on Perseverance


I have started posting videos on YouTube for men all around the world. This is the latest installment. God uses the opening of the video to display how perseverance works in my life. It is my hope that this ministry will sow seeds of inspiration to anyone who is recovering from the storms of life. My goal is to empower men to stand in the truth of God’s Word and in the hope of God’s plan being revealed in their lives. The Conqueror Lifestyle is changing lives!

Be blessed and stay in the race!

Darrin