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

The Lie and The Truth Personified


Merry Christmas to you all. On this Christmas Eve of 2014 we must acknowledge the many examples of the presence of evil in this world we live in. It is everywhere! Evil is defined as morally bad or causing harm or injury to someone; arising from actual or imputed bad character or conduct, according to Merriam-Webster dictionary. Every fire that takes lives, every murder, every abduction, assault, robbery, attack, etc. depicts the  continual onslaught of evil exposing the consistent pattern of the father of lies – Satan – having a field day in this world. There is something inherent about the holiday season where he turns up his displays of evil as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Uncle Ralph has something to say about this that exposes us to the person of Christ as “The Truth” and the person of Satan as “The Lie.”  These evil events require a spiritual outlook comprised of truth relative to the Word of God, not more human opinions, outlooks and explanations. Be enlightened, be blessed, be more than a conqueror through Him that loved us.

 

What is happening to our deteriorating society? If you are 40 years old and younger, you probably cannot see it. But if you are 45 years old and older, you quite possibly know what I am refering to.The deterioration is causing a breakdown in how people treat one another. There is an increase in disrespect for our fellow human beings demonstrated in our speech as well as our actions towards each other. When we fail to realize who is represented in the overall demise of mankind, we have in fact fallen for the deceptive tactics perpetrated by the father of “The Lie.”

Jesus Christ says,”You are of your father the Devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He (the Devil) was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with [The Truth], because there is no Truth in him. When he speaks [The Lie], he speaks out of his own character (or his own nature), for he is a liar and the father of lies.”John 8:44 ESV Ask yourself, “who was Jesus talking to?” Was it, thieves, murderers, liars, prostitutes, drunkards, or maybe fighters against Christ. Not at all. You will be amazed to know He was talking to the religious intelligence of His day: the CHURCH GOERS (the Pharisee’s, the Scribes, and the Sadducee)! The religious world today still represents a great deal of the evil deception that is so cunning that people are driven away from The Truth to be in connection with The Lie.  truth and liesWe need to personally acknowledge what we find in this verse: we have {The Truth} and {The Lie}. The Truth personified in the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Lie personified in the Devil.

Now you must ask yourself, “What is THE LIE?” The answer to that question is found in Romans 1: 25,  Because they (man) exchanged ‘The Truth’ about God for ‘The Lie’ and worshiped and served the creature (man) rather than THE CREATOR, who is blessed forever!  This lie is universal.  Ask yourself, “Where did this lie originate?” Look to scripture for the answers and read in Isaiah 14:12-14 that the King of Babylon is spoken of, but Satan is the unseen energizer who is really being spoken of. And there are 5 “I Wills” that Lucifer declares. I believe this is when “sin ” i.e. “The Lie” began. So the Lie originated in the spirit world, when a created being made the blasphemous claim of Deity, attempting to usurp authority over the Creator! You will get a clear introduction to the personification of The Lie via Scripture.

Isaiah 14:12-14 KJV How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! (13) For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: (14) I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

The Lie continues to manifest in man today. In short, the lie is comprised of the following statements:

 “I don’t need God.”

“I am a god unto myself.”

“I can create my own destiny.”

“My future is up to me.”

“I can speak my blessing into existence.” 

“If I believe it I can be it.” 

“No one tells me what to do!”

 

The Lie was used to introduce sin into the world. All of the evil that was pronounced in the Enemy now becomes manifested in man through sin as found in Genesis 2-3. Adam, in his created body absent of sin, is given a command by the LORD not to eat of the “Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.” But in Genesis 3:1-6 we read “the Serpent”(The Lie =The Devil/Satan/Lucifer)  approaches Adam’s wife “Eve,” entices her through the use of The Lie to eat of the tree. The manifestation of evil or sin occurred when she gives the fruit to Adam and he (willfully) eats, having been told by the LORD that if he eats he will surely die! Adam is the cause of evil existing in every human being on this earth as it is established in Romans 5:12 KJV, Wherefore, as by ‘ One Man‘ sin entered into the world (of men), and death by sin (transgressing God’s Holy Law-“thou shalt not eat”), and so death passed upon all men, for all have sinned. “The Lie” entered the human race, and has been and will continue until the fullness of time is come. Mankind in his/her human condition, a foreigner of The Truth, is capable of all forms of evil based on the innate presence of sin.

This is why we have a holiday known as Christmas. The birth of Jesus Christ, was first announced in Genesis 3:15. The Lie knew that The Truth would come and bruise the head of the serpent – The Lie. The Enemy did his best to thwart the plan of God to redeem mankind back into right relationship with Him as it was originally with Adam. Yet no man knew of the entire plan of the prophecy told throughout the Old Testament. The birth of The Truth was not only a fulfillment of prophecy it was the beginning of a new round in the war between The Truth and The Lie.

When Jesus was about to begin His earthly ministry he went into the wilderness to fast for 40 days. There The Truth came in direct contact with The Lie. After a series of proposed temptations to Christ, all of which were combated against with the quoting of The Truth – The Word/The Bible -The Lie leaves and The Truth is ministered to by angels from above. The Lie showed up as opposition to The Truth’s very existence throughout the three and one half years of His walk among the Jews exposing The Truth. At the apex of His ministry – when Jesus Christ raised Lazarus from the dead – he declared in John 11:25 I am the resurrection, and the life, he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. He later declared to Thomas in John 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Jesus Christ would go on to be crucified, buried and then resurrect from the grave. These predetermined acts demonstrate God’s Eternal plan for the redemption of mankind by way of His Son – through the shedding of the blood for forgiveness of sins and the resurrection. His fulfilling of the Law and completion of the plan gives man the option of being renewed/regenerated/revived in his/her spirit and mind. This blessed gift is made available to all mankind through the Spirit of Christ taking up residency, living in them through the power of the Holy Spirit. Man can now, BY FAITH, believe in the finished work of the Cross and receive the gifts of Salvation and Eternal Life.

In the midst of all the Heavenly benefits of salvation at work in mankind who by faith believe in the power of the Cross and the resurrection of The Truth, there is also many who are not willing, totally disinterested in The Truth and who have an Eternal attachment to The Lie. The World view of this warfare is so inundated with deception that is often overlooked. We, who have experienced the gift of spiritual regeneration and a renewing of the mind, and who no longer live to fulfill the flesh but instead live to fulfill the Spirit in us daily, will always be in the presence of those who are attached to The Lie until we get to Heaven. It is good to know that the warfare is already won. Jesus Christ defeated Satan at the Cross. The upcoming events to fulfill this prophecy is yet to come. In the meantime, the Apostle Paul was inspired by the Holy Spirit to pen this account for us to know why all of the manifestations of Evil are present in the world today. We must wait for the Day of the Lord in which The Lie’s will no longer be of any significance on this Earth. Until then we have The Truth of God’s Word teaching us how to prepare for this blessed Day.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 NET
(1) Now regarding the arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to be with him, we ask you, brothers and sisters  

(2) not to be easily shaken from your composure or disturbed by any kind of spirit or message or letter allegedly from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here.

(3) Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not arrive until the rebellion comes and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.
(4) He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, and as a result he takes his seat in God’s temple, displaying himself as God.
(5) Surely you recall that I used to tell you these things while I was still with you.
(6) And so you know what holds him back,so that he will be revealed in his own time.
(7) For the hidden power of lawlessness (The Lie) is already at work. However, the one who holds him back (The Truth) will do so until he is taken out of the way,
(8) and then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will destroy by the breath of his mouth and wipe out by the manifestation of his arrival.
(9) The arrival of the lawless one will be by Satan’s working with all kinds of miracles and signs and false wonders,
(10) and with every kind of evil deception directed against those who are perishing, because they found no place in their hearts for the truth so as to be saved.
(11) Consequently God sends on them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false.
(12) And so all of them who have not believed the truth but have delighted in evil will be condemned.

I pray that you will be a proponent for The Truth and make known the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to whomever you can. Through the grace of God currently presiding over us all we can know just how real He can and will be to us when we have faith in Him daily. He is the best gift you can ever give to anyone – Jesus Christ, The Truth.

How Do You Handle the Issue of Sexuality in 2014?


Everywhere you go someone else is promoting the homosexual lifestyle. If you are in any way uncomfortable with the discussion, what do you say? How do you respond to this ongoing socially relevant identification? More importantly, do you know what God has to say about it? If so, how do you stand for the truth of God’s Word and not be offensive to someone who has misconstrued the written word of the Bible? Better still, what do you do if the person you are speaking to does not even believe in the Bible?

For a compelling perspective on the historicity of homosexuality, specific Biblical analysis and a loving response to its increasing popularity I am posting this truthful Christian message to provide some life-changing honesty for you to answer all the questions above and more. Your sexuality IQ will be much appreciated by this content.

I pray that you will have an improved appreciation for the issues of sin and how it affects us through the judgement of others. homosexuality has taken on an identity that is increasingly permissive to humans while it is still sinful to God. We divide ourselves from the very people who are in our lives – broken, flawed, lost i.e. conquered by sin all because of their actions and we forget they too are created by God.  From a Biblical perspective, sexuality is a sin issue. Christianity is the antidote to sin. We are ALL born in sin. Therefore, you can not choose to identify someone by their sin. Furthermore, God is either the source of your spiritual life or He is not! If you truly buy into your need for a Savior because of your personal sin life, God is everything to you.  But if you do NOT buy into the Biblical content on sin then you are left with individual human perspectives. God has no official say. One is born homosexual today and perhaps one can also be born a witch or warlock tomorrow. Your human intellect and rationalization decides. You won’t concur with the notion that in God’s sight “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” The moment we speak of what God has said about this specific matter, we see the glaring, diabolical opposition that pushes for its social relevance. Humans characterize sin to disavow God’s supremacy over it. Are you included?

Perhaps, like me, you too were once just like them “lost in your trespasses and sin…” and now, as a, good, wholesome Christian, you walk around with the antidote for sin in you and are now completely unwilling to reveal it to them because of your personal criticism. Enough is enough!  If you can share the good news of Jesus Christ that saved you, JUST DO IT! The saving is God’s business anyway. God can change anyone just like He changed me and you.

Stay in the race!

D

Humble Thanks


After much time spent on releasing our second book “Qualities of a Conqueror Vol. 1” and experiencing real change personally, the Lord God Almighty beckoned me to write here. God willing ConquerorShots will regularly coincide with our “#TellUrSelf tweets.”  Ultimately you will experience spiritual delicacies to enhance your experience living the Conqueror Lifestyle. Our goal is to make it easier for you to get familiar with our Christian brand through our books, ConquerorShots, upcoming workshops and teaching materials and more all to enhance your walk with God through Christ Jesus one day at a time.

 

Psalm 136:26 NET BIBLE Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his loyal love endures! If you have never read this chapter we suggest you do so and make it a regular reading for your personal gratitude prayers. Giving thanks, i.e. gratitude, is a necessary daily experience children of God, MTaCs, practice. We learn that in giving thanks we find the production of the fruit of the Spirit manifesting in amazing circumstances. God, who created the Heavens and the Earth, you and I and everything we appreciate while we are living day by day, is worthy of our daily gratitude because of His loyal love. The NET Bible uses the word loyal so perfectly here. No matter what we do, or do not do, in the way of service to God and others, God’s love for us NEVER changes! He is the most loyal love I have ever known.

 

When we put emphasis on gratitude for the material, human accomplishments – education, money, success, children, spouses, careers, houses, land, cars, boats, vacations et al – we are subject to the evil of deception and confusion as we focus on the Earthly rather than the Heavenly.  This is where the application of “Humble Thanks” is best realized. When you are in spiritual acceptance of your NEED for a Savior, and Jesus Christ is REAL to you, you willingly humble your human nature under the authority of God.

Wenceslas Hollar - The kneeling sinner
Wenceslas Hollar – The kneeling sinner (Photo credit: Wikipedia) A Depiction of Humble Thanks to God

By regular confession of sins, transgressions, iniquity, guilt,shame and fear before Him in prayer and thanksgiving for the simplest of blessings you come to realize through your need for His providence, you will humble yourself under God’s mighty hand for His continual protection and power in your life and the lives of others. The air you breath, the blood running warm in your veins, the activity of your limbs and your mind being sane and at peace become blessings of enormous praiseworthiness.

 

In humble thanks to God’s loyal love which endures through any and all human conditions, your gratitude will always be acceptable to God and it will reflect His love off of you into many other lives, situations, circumstances and conditions here on Earth. Heaven is our home but the Earth is our training ground. Be humble before God as your realize your spiritual training. Every scripture in Psalm 136 KJV ends with “His mercy endureth for ever” to emphasize that all of the human accomplishments acknowledged in the list exist because of the eternal endurance of God’s faithful, goodness and kindness towards His children. Give humble thanks daily and create your own list – IT WORKS!

 

Stay in the race!

 

Darrin

 

Let It Go




When ANYTHING is keeping you from spiritual progress – “LET IT GO!”


Develop & Maintain The Conqueror Lifestyle Pick up your copy of "Qualities of a Conqueror - Volume 1" Today
Develop & Maintain The Conqueror Lifestyle
Pick up your copy of “Qualities of a Conqueror – Volume 1” Today

If something is hindering you from moving forward, you are responsible for honestly identifying the problem and willingly letting it go. No one is going to do this work for you -GOD HAS GIVEN YOU ALL THAT YOU NEED TO EXPERIENCE BLESSED FREEDOM. Your ability to “let it go” is found in your belief in God’s faithfulness.

Hebrews 11 is a well known chapter in the Bible as it is often described as the “Hall of Faith.”  There you will discover the actual definition for faith, specific instruction on how to access faith and realize ALL its benefits and a comprehensive account of several Biblical characters who demonstrated faith during  their lifetime.  Then the writer offers inspirational instruction on what to do when you are faced with matters that affect your progress in spiritual maturity through faith. He uses the analogy of a runner in a race to demonstrate the process of realizing your potential to move through the race of life victoriously living the Conqueror Lifestyle. Remember, the race is not given to the swift or to the strong, but to the person who is willing to endure unto the end. As you run this race (live the life God has called you to) you are going to have to LET SOME THINGS GO.

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance (WEIGHT) and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faithwho for the joy set before Him endured the crossdespising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God

The list above is based on my own personal account of weights that have served to affect my spiritual progress. Ultimately, God allows them so that you and I will be forced to trust Him more. The same applies to you and whatever matters are hindering you from moving ahead in faith. You are going to have to trust in infinite God, not in your finite self if you really want to move ahead. Otherwise, your momentum in the race is lost, you are not willing to change and your human endurance will give out. Stop giving the weight more strength to keep you in bondage.   My book “Qualities of a Conqueror – Volume 1” will show you, among other instruction, how to LET  IT GO and LET GOD ABIDE.

 

Blessed Freedom


I have not written a ConquerorShot in quite some time. My life’s journey has allowed me to realize new opportunities to write, speak, teach and live the Conqueror Lifestyle. Yet I have missed this outlet to share truth relative to life situations and how we experience the “more” in Romans 8:37 . This month’s principle is INTEGRITY. Today, in my awakening, the resounding voice of truth of the blessed freedom we, children of God, possess, gave me clarity of mind and spirit as I reflect on God’s faithfulness. I pray that every reader and follower will rejoice with me in knowing that John 8:36 says “So if the son sets you free, you will be really free.(NET)”  “Our God IS FAITHFUL.

On Tuesday morning my awakening was a source of thanksgiving and reflection. Often times family matters between husband/wife, father/son, father/daughter, brother/brother and brother/sister offer challenges that affect us to the core.  The saying is true “no one can hurt you more than family.”  I can testify to that from both perspectives – the hurt and the hurtful. Yet I have come to realize in my reflection that God is ALWAYS in control of ANY given situation and my readiness to acknowledge His Sovereignty in ANY gut wrenching situation is how I continue to experience His blessed freedom. The Conqueror Lifestyle© can preserve and provide you with this outlook on any given day.” (Rev. D)

I was awakened by a phone call from my daughter (progress) “Daddy, I need you to come here… I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT… HURRY DADDY!”  As the urgency in her voice called me to immediate action to “get there” I rushed to my 2 car garage (progress) and got in my car (progress) to go and see about my “baby girl.”  I was too “busy” to pray, ponder a principle, reflect on Scripture or anything concerning my spiritual hygiene and therefore it was on “auto.” Similarly, I had not brushed my teeth, washed my face or showered my body. My call to action only gave me time to “get there.” When I pulled up I immediately noticed her car.  Then I saw her standing there on the side of the curvey, 2-lane, slippery road. To my surprise she was standing, tall, unharmed in any way from this obvious loss of control with life-threatening potential. I had to contain myself concerning my visceral response to what I realized driving up. As I hurried over to her my heart was pounding with overwhelming joy for God’s faithfulness. “He protected my daughter once again!”

My 1st image of my daughter's 1st  accident
My 1st image of my daughter’s 1st accident

 

As I grabbed her into my arms I could feel her tension as she was in shock. Her embrace was firm until she exhaled and sobbed in anguish over what she had just experienced.  The obvious loss of her car was annunciating  her regret as she was just starting to get used to her freedom of having her own vehicle in her fourth week. As I listened to her lament over this apparent MTaC” moment, the Lord reminded me of this passage of scripture:

7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them. 8 O taste and see that the LORD is good ; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!(Psalm 34:7-8 NASB)

While I was on my way to “get there” God and His angels “were already there!”  There was no other way to help her than to share my thanksgiving for the faithfulness of God concerning my daughter and His child. He gave His angels charge over the entire aspect of her first accident. What I knew as I drove up was she was driving in the same direction I was, yet her car did not hit the tree HEAD ON! The impact was TOTALLY absorbed by the rear of her car as it amazingly was ‘TURNED AROUND.”  She could not explain how it ended up in that position as she described the spinning experience as she braced herself for impact. But God was fueling my spirit with the POWER, THE SAME POWER, that managed her miraculous outcome. He was the reason for her protection, safety, and most of all her blessed freedom to walk away from that accident without ANY injury to her body.

I COMMENCED PRAISE & THANKSGIVING by testifying of His goodness, grace and faithfulness all around that accident scene and reminded her of the evidence as she was standing there, tall and beautiful, unharmed with no visible scars. There was no need to visit the ER and, as she would later prove, she was in good enough condition to go on to school later that morning and take a physics test, pass it and maintain her A average. There is Blessed Freedom in knowing God IS able!!!

In the same manner, I am fortunate enough to have an ongoing experience with Blessed freedom as the Conqueror Lifestyle continues to make my pathway straight. I told you I had not performed any spiritual hygiene or bodily hygiene as I rushed to “get there”  But the fact that I have routinely upheld my responsibilities towards personal and spiritual hygiene daily prior to the accident, there was evidence of it as I had to interact with my daughter, the officers, the tow truck driver and even myself. The qualities of a conqueror include being prepared to walk in the freedom that is realized as I maintain my position In Christ. His blessed freedom is possible because I continue to trust in, rely on and believe that His Power is in me. If you know Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior, He will sustain you, protect you, provide for you, mature you and most of all bless you with “more than you could ever ask or think of.”  We serve a Mighty God with unlimited resources. It is in your best interest to allow for your integral attachment to the Spirit of Christ, through His death, burial and resurrection to sustain your integrity in Him on a daily basis. The results include Blessed Freedom to realize His faithfulness.  “John 8:36 says “So if the son sets you free, you will be really free.(NET)” 

 

Enhanced by Zemanta

Be Honest: Give Credit Where It’s Truly Due


English: Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thu...
English: Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunders at ARCO Arena. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Here at Conqueror Ministries we love sports.  Athletes depict the Conqueror Lifestyle so brilliantly.  Last nights game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Miami was no exception.  At the top of the game the commentating  focused on prior dialogue between Dwyane Wade and Kevin Durant.

 The emphasis was on D.Wade’s wrist bands titled “note to self(see them here)”  about comments KD made about replacing Wade in the top 10 list with James Harden. KD’s palpable drive to overcome his  2nd place status to the Heat in the finals and the MVP award to LeBron James.  The reference inferred KD’s inferiority to the Heat.  My attention to the game’s outcome heightened when, during the pregame interview with KD, he referenced Proverbs 27:17 “irons sharpen iron” as a way of spiritually demonstrating his appreciation for the heightened camaraderie between the Heat players and he.  We applaud Kevin Durant’s response. People can motivate people to rely on God’s sovereignty.

 Proverbs 27:17 (NASB) Iron sharpens iron,So one man sharpens another.


The game did not disappoint.
 The Thunder experienced a 20+ point deficit in the first quarter before taking their place as leading scorers.  The fact that the Thunder faced the stellar starting five – Wade, Chalmers, Bosh, Battier and James,- who were responsible for the championship win in 2012, made it seem that once again Miami was not going to lose an important game at home. Why was this game important to the Heat? Simple. They all have egos that demand a win against the #1 Western Conference team to supersede  their #2 Eastern Conference standing. It is obvious that the team is without their other star player, Russell Westbrook.  Therefore, the Thunder’s vulnerability to the Heat’s starting lineup  was a prime opportunity to establish momentum in their efforts to move to #1 in their conference.  However, the Heat failed miserably.

I am certain that the 2 stars Westbrook and Durant are sharpening other iron on their own team as well because the sudden rise of Reggie Jackson and Jeremy Lamb, both sharp as tacks on offense and defense. And the veteran Derek Fisher just seemed  unstoppable in his 3 point shooting.  Ibaka and Sefolosha were both defensive dynamos as the Heat struggled in a cycle of turnovers that was ongoing throughout the second half.  As the Thunder’s went on to win it 112-95, Kevin Durant emerged once again as the star scorer with over 30 points. His leadership qualities as a  Conqueror made the post interview with Doris Burke a stellar MTAC moment.  When she asked Kevin “what goes into a streak of winning like you have had over the last 12 games,(see it here)” Kevin’s response was humbly “God – Jesus Christ.”  Doris was waiting for Kevin to take the credit for his athleticism and the victorious outcome and Kevin’s motivation  to BE HONEST AND GIVE JESUS CHRIST THE CREDIT HE DESERVES shut out any opportunity for vain egotism to prevail.  

Christians and MTAC’s worldwide watching this post interview should appreciate this opportunity to see the Conqueror Lifestyle in action publicly last night. If you missed it, check out the link above.  Kevin Durant gave us our Conqueror Shot for the day.

 Your honesty with yourself about your need for your Savior, Jesus Christ, should always be on display.

Enhanced by Zemanta

When A Celebrity Is Conquered: Justin Bieber’s Self-Destruction


The celebrity lifestyle includes destructive behaviors.  It alarms us all when we hear of a celebrity who has been pronounced dead after a short lived life fueled with the excesses of drugs, alcohol, sex and the phenomenon of “more” naturally.  There are many people who are in position throughout the music, film, television, comedy and sports entertainment industries, all of whom are there strictly to provide the celebrity with “more” destructive devices.  These “yes people” provide the means for more opportunities to spin out of control and ultimately follow in the footsteps of legendary performers like Billy Holiday, Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Len Bias, Michael Carl Blaze, Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, Chris Farley, John Belushi and countless others both well known and unknown.  Celebrities are so much more prone to the excesses to offset the absolute nature of insanity induced by a life absorbed in the abuse of alcohol and drugs. When will we – as a regenerated people – stand for what is right and oppose such tragedies?

Today is a day when such a stand is possible. Justin Bieber is not alone in his quest to “have a good time.” No! However, because of his recent arrest at 4am in Miami, Florida after allegedly being under the influence of drugs and alcohol and operating a Lamborghini in a drag racing scenario, his actions are enough to initiate all of the help opportunities we can as Christians.  Christians are in no way perfect. Yes, my book “A Conqueror In Training” intimately portrays the level of imperfection we experience in our Christian walk. But what we are not, when we are living the Conqueror Lifestyle, is “conquered by sin.”  Justin’s behavior and his recent arrest are all examples of how he is in the grips of the origins of being overtaken by drugs and alcohol. People who are conquered by sin manifest this spiritual condition through the excesses of drugs, alcohol, sex and music. The history of the entertainment business, including the sports world, is such that we as Americans know how prevalent these behaviors are and yet they continue on year after year. Dr. Drew has even taken the syndrome to the television medium to publicly portray all of the negative proclivities by which human beings can realize their affinity to self destruct. Justin is conquered by sin. One of the ways being conquered by sin becomes possible is when various worldly tactics are employed exposing the innocent to their natural phenomenon of “more” – no matter how talented or smart one may be.

The Conqueror Lifestyle will safeguard you from self destruction
The Conqueror Lifestyle will safeguard you from self destruction

 

The problem is this: talent is a human condition that is used as a form of capitalization. Capitalism promotes wealth. Wealth promotes the love of money. “The love of money is the root of all evil.”  Evil is released into the lives of these unsuspecting, innocent, unsupervised youth and early adults as they travel up the “ladder of success” at a diabolical rate of speed and velocity. Ultimately they are consumed by the distractions of the world and all its vices and become overwhelmed with the cares of life. The downward spiral ensues and there is no where else to end up – with all the riches, fame, notoriety and increased opportunities to be of service to others – but 6 feet under.

How devastated were you when you heard of the death of Michael Jackson? Justin Bieber is on the same path. The Conqueror Lifestyle is available to you Justin to help you realize all that God designed you to be if you would by faith try this way of life. This lifestyle promotes experiencing the phenomenon of “more” spiritually.  However, if anyone else is interested in helping Justin, or anyone else, by getting help through what we do here at Conqueror Ministries we will do all we can to be of service to you to help anyone develop and maintain the Conqueror Lifestyle. It is an antidote to a life conquered by sin.

 

Enhanced by Zemanta

I Honestly Need The Lord To Be of Service


A Conqueror’s need presents from two perspectives – human needs and spiritual needs. Human needs range from the basics of food, shelter, air and water to the complexities of sex, security and social prominence.  Spiritual needs are initialized at birth and begin to manifest in the regeneration, reconciliation, justification and sanctification of the spirit through salvation. All of the manifestations of the fruit of the Spirit develop us spiritually– love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, fidelity, tolerance and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).  Human needs are the focus of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Need and the Attachment Theory. Studying these psychological and sociological perspectives serve to elevate your human experience to varying degrees of human success.  But the basis of your human growth and development and all the success you will realize throughout the course of your life is found in the structure and manifestations of your human needs.

A pyramid illustrating Maslow's hierarchy of n...
A pyramid illustrating Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)5=GRACE NOTHING IS POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE GRACE OF GOD.

“My spiritual need for the Lord secures a Godly experience of consistent, faithful maturity and my spirit is able to soar to new heights and depths. This ConquerorShot is a personal submission of how honesty is always at the helm of the Conqueror Lifestyle. It is essential to the development and maturity of our spiritual lives.”

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

I honestly need the LORD to mature me spiritually so that I can realize all the goodness, grace and mercy I can experience through Him. When I am willing to give of myself in service, through financial outpouring or in any way in which I can show benevolence, I immediately tap into the unimaginable spiritual riches in Heavenly places. Meeting someone else at their point of need signifies my honesty about my spiritual need for Him in my life. But I need the Lord at work in me to have the wisdom to know when to meet the needs of others.

I have no earthly idea what may come up and how to be prepared. I most definitely do not have the ability to be a god to anyone else.  In fact I can drive myself insane trying to prepare for all the scenarios which demand emergency preparedness. And then, in all my efforts to be “ready” God can systematically present circumstances far different from all the ones I prepare for. He can bring up a matter of need that only He can fulfill to cultivate my willingness to trust in Him. Then, in His infinite wisdom, He will use whatever vessel He chooses to be of service to me in my need. If your honest with yourself you know I am not the only one with these spiritual experiences.

As Children of God, our spiritual needs outweigh our natural needs in such a Divine way that we become  well acquainted with the fact that He intimately allows for all of us to experience human needs so that He can make us realize His Sufficiency in all things. When we are willing to give cheerfully God meets our spiritual needs in amazing ways.

2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

You, me and every child of God need the Lord to be of service.  Be honest with Him starting today.




Enhanced by Zemanta

A Choice To Serve


Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Choices
Choices (Photo credit: Sky Noir)

Every day you realize you are awake and able to live another day, you have a choice to make.  In addition to the choices about what you will wear, what you will eat and what you will do first as you survey your list of options, you are responsible for an even greater choice. If you are not willing to make this choice, your decision is made for you. You can thank Adam for that. Whether you are God‘s child, or not, the life you live will always present opportunities for you to become willing to make a choice to serve the God who created the Heavens and the Earth or the gods of this world.

The choice is found in who you will serve –  who you will work for through the service of your life.  We all are destined to be used by God – goodness and evil are all manifested by God’s Sovereignty. Many of you seperate good from evil and designate good as being of God and evil exclusively being from Satan.  We need to consider Psalm 24:1 A Psalm of David and I Corinthians 10:26 An Epistle of Paul’s – “The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein”EVERYTHING THAT IS HERE AND EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS HERE IS BECAUSE OF THE LORD’S SOVEREIGNTY. If you fail to accept this truth then your choice will always be manipulated by your own ideas.  Even the evil that manifests through you is under the authority of Christ today. 

Joshua was nearly at the end of his life when he delivered this sermon in Joshua 24. It gives attention to doctrine and application.  The doctrine is represented by all of the deeds in which the Lord God Almighty provided for His people. From the calling of Abraham, the birth of Isaac, the deliverance out of Egypt and through the Red Sea and their warring victories into the Promised Land, God proved His determined will and put it on display for the world to know. The Hebrews were recipients of the consistent manifestation of God’s Sovereign Power.  They had proof to know that no other god is comparable to the God of the Heavens and the Earth.  But it is the application of the sermon where we find the purpose of the choice to serve.

Your acquaintance with good and evil notwithstanding, it is a fundamental Biblical truth that when your flesh is controlled by sin you can not please God. You sow seeds of sin through all types of lifestyle choices.  Every decision you make is based on your pursuit to manifest and fulfill the desires of the flesh.  Joshua was reminded of Moses who declared the importance to choose life with a heart that loves the Lord, His Word all with a willingness to serve Him daily. Read Deuteronomy 30:11-20.  You can offset any affinity towards sin when you make a choice to serve God by praying for the knowledge of His will and the power to be all that He has created you to be. You can be of maximum service to God, realize the Conqueror Lifestyle  and serve Him and others effectively, when His power is working in you and through you conforming you to the image of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But you can make this choice to serve God only because of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ which gives you access into His grace.

Others realize your choice by every word that comes out of your mouth, every deed of your hands and every direction that your feet move towards. The heart decides which choice is to be made.  A heart that is willing to freely surrender to God’s Sovereignty is a direct result of a quickened spirit connected to the power of the resurrection at work in you. It’s not hard at all to make Jesus your choice when you accept all that He has freely done for you.  You willingly desire to serve Him because of how effectively He serves you.  Stop trying to be your best you independent of God’s spiritual blessings at work in you. You will know true service as He manifests His good works in your life when you make the choice to depend on and serve Him in all that you say and do. Agree with me and Joshua and make your choice THE LORD.