dennis j adams

When we really say we can trust God is when the God begins to show us if we can.  Often times the Lord asks of us things that seem totally strange or even impossible.  Sound familiar to you or what?  Some of the bible stories that we read give great testimonies of how people or individual persons had to listen to that inner voice saying ‘Go ahead, you can trust Him’…even though it looked like the mot impossible circumstance in the world.  On such story is when Abraham took Isaac to Mount Moriah.  What story that grips the heart of man.  What a great testimony of faith this was.  From a father’s own lip comes words such as ‘wait here the lad and I will return soon.’  A man that was taking his own son to the altar to sanctify him and sacrifice him unto the God that had promised him his son, Isaac, speaks these words.  Can you imagine what he must of thought along the way?  I would be quite confident in saying that he believed God for the promise that was given to him.

Then behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who shall come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.” [5] And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” [6] Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.  Genesis 15:4-6

How wonderful it is to trust God in trying times.  It is so easy to trust when you can see the results before you get started.  How often have you committed to the Lord your plans and your dreams and He made them become more precious to you because of your trust in Him?  His desire is to ‘make” you rely on His promise and to see His promise fulfilled in and through you.  Romans 5:1-5 states these wonderful truths about His love for us and our reliance on Him -

Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, [2] through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. [3] And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; [4] and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; [5] and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:1-5 

Dennis

A face that states ‘Yes.’  Is that your face or the face of people you want to work with? 

Both are important and must be applied to our faith.  The Word of God clearly teaches that it is impossible to please God lest we have faith.  That faith must be a believing faith.  That believes that God is and that He, God, will reward you for all your efforts that help build the kingdom.  As young man I once thought that I had to do it all to get it done.  But then I met Jesus Christ and He gave me His Spirit to help me.  I really am glad for this because I can now pray and believe in His promise.  No matter what happens His promises are true and a surety to my walk in and with Him.  So I decided to have a face that states ‘Yes’ and have an attitude to work with others that also have that face of ‘Yes.’ 

‘Family Life’ is so important to the church.  Without the family the church could not exist.  The Lord refers to us as His children and that we belong to the ‘family’ of God.  This should not be overlooked in our daily tasks.  We should be ever building and restoring broken relationships.   This generation and the ones to come need to be influenced by ‘Family Life’ and what that offers.  Simple things like eating dinners together and praying together emphasize in the home unity.  There are to many broken relationships in the family and I believe that God wants His church, made up of families, to do something about it.  I challenge you to help me take back the families for the kingdom of God.  God created the family and He has established the relationships and blessed them.  We have a task to do and His Spirit will help us.  We invite Him to do just that.

Dennis

Let us enter in to His presence with thanksgiving and with praise is what the psalmist wrote on the subject of worship.  Jesus made reference to the words that we speak and where they proceed from and that place is – the heart, the center of man’s affection and the creative place of feelings and decisions.  In this world we live in there is so much negativity that it is quite obvious that “spirit” of lukewarm-ness has entered into the “church”.  This is quite the contrary of what the Word of God portrays as our actions toward the presence or even the thought of His Majesty.  We are to “rejoice always” and give thanks to Him through all circumstances.  Success is the obvious goal for every “Christian” in the tasks that they apply themselves to in the “kingdom’s” work.  To be successful you need to keep a “positive” attitude toward life and it circumstances.  By worship and praise you can be refreshed and renewed in your “spirit-man” everyday.  Entering in to His presence can be done very simply through praise and prayer.  Each day of your life can be filled with “joy” and expectancy of what He will as you praise Him.  The psalmist was spontaneous in His praise as he penned his words about the actions of the saints as they ponder about the Lord their God.  He penned words such as “exult His holy Name” “Oh, come let us magnify the Lord our God” and “Let all the nations laud Him.” The heart needs to be convinced that He is able and that He is more than just redeemer He is God the Creator of the heavens and the earth; He is the One and only True God!  He cares about you and desires that you delight yourself in Him.  Turn away that apathetic attitude of this society that can only praise at a certain hour and only on a certain day – as a child of God you can praise everyday anytime in any place!  He is worthy of praise and the entire honor is due His name.  Being convinced that He could handle any situation that you are in will draw praise from your lips to His Holy Name.  The Holy Spirit will orchestrate the praise from your heart and He will direct the thoughts of your mind.  As the psalmist has penned his words let the Holy Spirit compose in your heart a song of praise and worship toward the Holiness of God, your Father and Lord.

The earth is full of His presence and His love overcomes the deepest of sorrows.  As one reads the Word God it is quite apparent that Jesus was here to love the lost and to embrace the hurting. (John 3:16-17)  When we read this scripture and look into the reality of this society we live it is quite apparent that the “spirit” of love needs to be applied more and more into the hearts and lives of the world. The Lord has placed in us His love – and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5:5 ESV) Love can and will overcome any circumstance that you may be going through even now.  When we read the word “hate” it sends chills down ones spine.  Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses. (Proverbs 10:12 ESV) What a strong word and it certainly does cause strife in the body of believers and also in the worlds’ system.  When Paul wrote the love chapter in 1st Corinthians 13 we are made keenly aware of the importance of having love in your heart and in your actions.  He, through that anointing of the Holy Spirit of God, said that we would be nothing but a loud cymbal of noise if we did not have love.  This nation of America needs to be bathed in love so that sins of racism and hatred would be erased from the nations testimony and from the churches also.  So much can be said about the sin of fear, which the enemy of our soul uses to paralyze the people in the Body of Christ.  Fear will cause the individual to not be able to love with the expression of compassion that is taught in the Word of God.  When we see someone that is not living according to the Word of God we should love him or her and pray, not judge or hate him or her!  Jesus loved us when we are at our worst and loves us now even at our best.  The more that I grow closer to the Lord I understand the importance of the simplicity of love and mercy.  Without love I cannot please God nor can I minister the Gospel of Christ. For God so loved the world that He gave us His love in the presence of His Son, Jesus.  Peter wrote in his epistles to the church an incredible statement – Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8 ESV) Thank God and remember if you cannot love your brother how can you love God? If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. (1 John 4:20 ESV)

Dennis

What a statement – “Just believe.”  Whether it is stated in the manner of monotone voice or in an exclamatory voice it is still the same.  The simplicity of just believing in the Gospel of Christ. As the disciples walked with Jesus, they witnessed many miracles and spectacular actions that the Lord did.  They would ask Him questions and ponder on His answers.  Jesus would answer in parables and He would show by example just what someone could do if they just believed the promises of God.  When Jesus settled the waves of the sea and the storm they ask Him a question: “Increase our faith.” (Luke 17:5)  Jesus responded and said “Have faith in God.” (Mark 11:22)  What a simple statement that can actually bring results that man cannot do.  Mountains can be removed, blinded eyes can see, deaf ears can her and the mute can speak.  The Lord Himself stated that greater things than these that you see you would be able to accomplish. (John 14:12) Simple faith brought men and women alike into the annals of faith found in Hebrews 11.  By faith they accomplished enormous tasks that only the Lord could accomplish through them.  One of the most dynamic statements that have ever been penned in the word in my opinion is when Moses had finished praying to the Lord at the edge of the Red Sea, the Lord responded “Go Forward!” He actually reproved Moses for his prayer, He stated it this way: The LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. (Exodus 14:15 ESV) In other words He was stating to him, “just believe.”  The Lord had already promised and He had already prepared the way and He wants us to believe Him. He desires us to choose His will in the matters of the impossible situations.  Abraham believed God and he sought a city whose foundations were built by the Hand of God.  He believed in the Lord who is able to make something out of nothing.  God, who pulled out of darkness light and from emptiness fullness, made the heavens and the earth.  Where there was nothing God made something and that something was life as we live it.  We are to live by faith and that faith is to be in a great God.  Believing His every promise and His every command.  It really is simple, “just believe” and He will bring it to pass at His appointed time.

Dennis

The Lord, to do a great work in the days of the Old Testament, anointed the His prophets.  His gifts and callings that He placed upon these mighty men and women were not irrevocable Romans 11:29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. – “For not repented of are the grace-gifts and the calling of God”. He does not revoke what He has given or whom He has chosen. Many tried to hide or even run from His anointing that He was willing to place on the hearts of men who accept His calling. When Elijah found Elisha he was plowing a field. 1 Kings 19:19 So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, while he was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. And Elijah passed over to him and threw his mantle on him. Elisha ran toward Elijah with expectation and hopefulness to be able to serve in the same anointing.  The God of our Salvation, the One true God, that is the same today as He was then and is now, is seeking those that will worship Him.  He desires bless and anoint His people with the power of the Holy Spirit.  When Jesus was ready to depart from this natural atmosphere called “earth” in to the heavenly realm of His Kingdom He told the disciples that the Father would send the Comforter that would guide them and protect them.  He was speaking of the anointing of the Holy Spirit.  This anointing is upon those that will accept His salvation.  There are “special” anointings that God gives people to do work for Him.  Such anointings are found in scripture.  The anointing of the Apostolic ministry and the Prophetic ministry are just a few to mention.  We also notice that David was anointed as king when he was just a teenager tending the flock of his father Jesse.  Are you anointed?  Do you have a special anointing from God?  The Lord desires to give gifts to you.  James 1:17 Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow.  His promises do not end with the New Testament saint they continue on with us.  The God of Covenants also promises them to us.  He has established His anointing upon this earth. We are in the presence of His grace-gifts.  God does not change His mind. He is constant, immutable, and unchangeable. He shall perfectly fulfill His calling and gifts to the Israel of God.  Galatians 6:16 And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

Dennis

It really matters that we are knowledgeable with God’s Word and His commands.  Often when we read God’s Word we look for little items that will not constrain us or convict us about our life-style.   The real truth of the matter though is that the Lord places us in situations to show us how much we really trust Him.  Let me explain – In Luke 21 there is a true story told of a widow’s gift.  This widow brought all that she had to the offering plates in the temple.  Jesus noticed here giving and saw fit to put it in His Word so we would reflect on and take notice also to what draws the attention of God.  This widow was placed in a situation where by she was in total control and had to make a choice:  To give unto the Lord or not to give???  Well who would have blamed her or even held her accountable for her actions if she decided to go to the market instead that day?  But, she did not! The Lord took notice and compared here to the rich.  They gave out of there abundance but she gave out of her need!!!  The Word tells us that God will provide seed for the sower and He will bring harvest where seed ahs been sown.  Let reflect on this for just a moment longer.   There are many testimonies in the Word of God where people were brought to the place that a choice had to be made:  To plant or not to plant, to give or not to give.  Usually these places are not desired by any but they exist.   Also, they are places that no one would even consider it an erroneous choice not to give.  Oh, that is only if you think with the flesh in control and not the Spirit.  We should always give no matter what.  It will never get any better to you obey God in your heart and trust Him with all that you have.  Remember He gave it to you in the first place.   Has the Lord noticed your giving lately?

Dennis

Viewing the past often can give the wrong appearance of the future.  The walk that the Lord desires for all His children is the walk of faith and trust.  When looking back on past failures and also past successes you certainly can learn from them but you cannot take them into your future.   The promises of God are Yes and Amen!  They establish a surety for all those that will believe in His Word.  His Word is alive and powerful and full of truth.  His Word comes forth from Him and considers where it has been placed and responds back to Him with fullness of praise.  Every promise that He has given to anyone is certainly going to come about.  The Lord Our God, He cannot lie.  When Jesus was heading to Calvary He looked beyond the cross to the joy that was set before Him.  Even in the times of great suffering and anguish – YOU can look past it all and see what He has promised you.  Remember to give thanks in all things for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.  When Joshua came to the River Jordan’s edge he had to look to the other side where the fulfillment of the promise was going to begin to take place.  He had to look beyond the walls of Jericho to the land that was promised.  When he was about to end his life and enter into the presence of God He stated that his whole household would serve the Lord.  As the people of God we must also look beyond every one of our circumstances into the “face” of the promise that God has given.  As the church began to mature into the fullness of Christ one of the disciples named Stephen in the Book of Acts charged the religious community with the “crime” of reaching to the past so that they were “blinded” to what and who Jesus was.  They, the “religious” community were so distraught about his charges that they stoned him to death.  As he was being punished, for his truthful statements, he looked into the promise of God and saw Him!  Praise God even in the time of death you can look beyond your situation and see that He is waiting to give you the “fullness” of His love.  Don’t gaze behind you- look forward and take the hand of Him who has promised you an eternal reward! Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philip. 3:13-14 ESV)

Dennis

Mercy is defined as: Compassion and in other words ” Mercy” is a form of love determined by the state or condition of its objects. Their state is one of suffering and need, while they may be unworthy or ill deserving. Mercy is at once the disposition of love respecting such, and the kindly ministry of love for their relief.  One once said ‘that Mercy is a distinctive Bible word characterizing God as revealed to men.’ Another followed with words that were quite descriptive to humanity ‘compassion for the miserable.’ There is a wonderful scripture, as all scriptures are, which states: Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! (1 Chron. 16:34 ESV) The word “Mercy” is well defined and is definitely needed in the world.  As Christian believers we need to show mercy to those around us and also to those that are not of the community.  Being an example of Christ and living, as a Christian is very gratifying and also rewarding when we show mercy and reach out to the hurting and lost.  God has chosen us, as His very own. We are called to represent him to others. What we need to understand is that mercy and truth meet together in Christ. Mercy is a Christian grace and so that brings to the lifestyle we live the promotion of compassion at all times.  Shakespeare’s question, “How canst thou hope for mercy rendering none?” is fully warranted by our Lord’s teaching and by Scripture. Mercy is God’s attitude toward man and we are the vessels that God uses to promote this posture.  The Lord is not without mercy ever, the Word states: But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, (Ephes. 2:4 ESV) Thank God for His great love towards us. We receive mercy from God by the removing our sins and clothing us with the righteousness of Christ.  He establishes us in “Kingdom” living and positions us in His Kingdom as “royalty” (1 Peter 2:9) When we walk humbly and push pride aside we receive mercy from the Lord also.  He desires to show all mankind mercy and to pour upon them the blessings of His presence. The Lord showed mercy to all that came to Him.  They would cry out to Him “Lord have mercy on us” (Luke 17:13) and He would do just that! He would heal them, He would forgive them and He would feed them.  When anyone takes the time to seek the Lord they will find Him full of mercy and willing to listen and respond.  As we bless others let mercy be part of the blessing and always remember to thank Him for His mercy toward you.

Dennis

Everyone that is called by the name of the Lord has the responsibility to live according to the Word of God.  The examples set forth in the Word are affirmed by the lifestyle that each one led after meeting the Lord.  Paul wrote this: Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. (Philip. 3:17 ESV) We have a pattern in Christ – He lived according the Spirit.  As you live in this world – the earth’s system of living, you are responsible to live a life that will exemplify the Christ-like life.  When Jesus spoke to His disciples He made a very dynamic correlation between the flesh-life and the spirit-life… And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23 ESV) A life that is focused on Christ and the example that He left.  The Lord constantly spoke about the importance of right living and how it would effect a generation of people if they did not live right.  The generation that we have now is not living according to Christ-likeness. It is though a generation is coming forth that knows not the Lord! (Judges 2:10)  If there was ever a time to “live right” it is now!  Those that are called by His name must lift up the standard of “right living” and boldly proclaim through their lifestyle that Christ is real and He is the Savior of the world.  Our citizenship is not of this earth but of the heaven whereby we are bound.  As we take this pilgrimage through this life we must not take lightly what Christ did on Calvary – He died for you and I.  Therefore there is no judgment on those who live according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh.  “Grace” is not to be cheapened by a faulty miscalculated appearance of what one might sense as the right life to live…He has set the pattern and that pattern is not to be woven in a different direction or added to.  He has placed His hand on our lives to direct us. He has given us His Holy Spirit to guide us through this life.   Gaining the “how to live” can be found in the Word of God!  There are so many yet to see the Him!  They can see Him through your living the “right life”.  The question may be posed:  “How is the Lord observing you each day?” Right living will show others that Christ is real and He will bless the steps of the ones that have chosen to live for Him!

Dennis