Faith is the key

Faith is the key to all healing. We can have faith for someone else to be healed. When the centurion came to Jesus and as him to heal his servant, Jesus had only to speak the word and he was healed because the centurion had faith. Matthew 8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. Others were healed because of their own faith. Matthew 9:22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. Mark 10:52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way. Keep having faith, God said he would give us all we ask for is we only believe. John 20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

A Prayer for Strength

Lord, I am weary and so tired.  I need your strength to lift me up.  I have no energy and feel that the world is caving in around me.  I need you to lift me up.  I need your strength to motivate me during this dark time in my life.  Your word says in Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Job cried out to you in his darkest hours and knew that you were still his strength.  He knew that the troubles that had befallen him did not come from you, oh Lord, he trusted in you always.  Job 23:6 Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.  I will stand strong like Job did.  Today, I put my trust in you and know that you are my strength that I don’t have to lean upon myself.  I will say the same thing David said in Psalm 18:1, I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.  I trust in you Lord and know that you are the one I need to lean on.  Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.  You said that you would never leave me nor forsake me.  Psalm 22:19 But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me.  I will stand strong and wait upon you Lord because I know that even when I don’t understand what is happening in my life that your ways are far above my ways and you have a reason for all things.  I will put my trust in you and wait.  Psalm 27:14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.  I know lord that when I trust in you that you will lift me up.  I will praise you in the storm.  Psalm 28:7  The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.  Your word tells me to be of good courage and you will strengthen me.  I am standing upon your word and trusting in you.  I am placing all my hope in you.  Psalm 31:14 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.  I am trusting for all my needs and that in this time of sickness you will also strengthen me and give me hope.  Psalm 41:3 The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.  Lord, let all that I do or say be pleasing to you.  Let me not fail to thank you in all things and trust in you.  Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

God's Glory

Mathew 6:1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
The definition of "Alms" is money or food given to poor people. We as Christians have a responsibility to help those in need, but we are not to make it a public event. Everything we do should be to bring glory to God. If we help someone, then we should remember what Jesus taught in these scriptures and God will reward us. By doing what Christ taught we are laying up our treasures in heaven and if we do it any other way then our reward is brief and will fade away. I realize that many times we simply want to tell someone how good it made us feel to help someone in need, and that is a good thing because it should make us feel good, but we must not steal God's glory. When he uses one of us to help someone, then the Glory belongs to him. My prayer is that we begin laying up our treasures in heaven where moth and rust will not corrupt. Great will be our reward..

The Door

Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.  John 10:7, 9-10 KJV

Jesus Christ came into this world for one reason, to reconcile mankind to God.  From Genesis to Revelations we see Jesus.  He was there in the beginning, he will still be there in the end.  He always has been and always will be.  He is the only way to the Father and it is through him that we must go if we ever want to make it.  There are many false Gods and many false religions in the world today that have taken man down the wrong path.  The people have scales over their eyes and are blinded to the truth.  The bible teaches us that if it were possible that even the very elect would be fooled, but thank God that it is not possible.  When Jesus ascended back to the Father, he sent us the Holy Ghost.  We have never been alone and the Holy Ghost gives us enlightenment to the truth.  It is not possible to fool the Holy Ghost, that is why the elect will not be fooled by the anti-Christ.  Without the Holy Ghost to lead you, you have an empty place inside you that hungers for fulfillment.  Satan uses that against you and fills you with hatred, anger, hurt, and pain and then man in turn goes out and uses those same things against his fellowman and the cycle never ends until you realize that Jesus is the answer.  Until your heart melts and you allow him to make you whole.  Until you accept him as your savior.  It is only then that the cycle of hate will be broken and love will take it's place.  Jesus loves you and he doesn't care who you are or what you are.  He can take a heart that is black as coal and wash it clean with his blood.  He died that you might live.  He is the door and any that come in through any other way are thieves and liars.  Only those that come through the door will remain with the Father through eternity.  The others will be cast into outer darkness where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.  An eternity in a hell that was created for Satan and his angels, not for mankind.  You don't have to crawl in through a window, come through the door and be made whole.  If you woke up this morning and are reading this post, God is giving you another opportunity to accept the GRACE that Jesus Christ so freely offers.  May the scales fall from your eyes before it's too late. 

Be Blessed

1 John 3: 17-19

17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

These few scriptures can be summed up in the few words that Jesus spoke when one of the Pharisees ask him what was the  great commandment.  He told him to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all they soul and with all thy mind and to love your neighbor as yourself.  As Christians we have an obligation to others.  If we see someone in need, we are to help them if we can.  Prayers are wonderful and they can reach heaven, but if you have the ability to do more and don't do it, then you are sinning against God.   The bible teaches us in James 4:17

Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.  I do not believe that God means for you to be taken advantage of by these scriptures.  He gave you a mind to think with and I don't know about you, but I know when someone is trying to take advantage of me because they know I am a Christian and when they are simply in need. God's spirit will lead you if you allow him.  One of the greatest feelings in the world is feeling God's spirit lead you to help someone and then seeing the joy in that person, knowing that God provided for their needs.  I encourage you today to begin to listen to the Holy Ghost and allow him to lead you.  We have friends and neighbors all around us that are in need, we also have strangers that are simply friends and neighbors that we haven't met yet.  If you want to be blessed of God, begin to bless someone else.  My bible also teaches me that it is better to give than to receive.  Acts 20:35  I have shewed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.  May God richly bless you this Holiday season as you reach out and begin to bless others and may you form a habit of blessing that lasts a lifetime.  Blessed be his Holy name. 

Be Thankful

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Colossians 3:15 KJV

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and at this time of the year we all seem to be able to find all kinds of things to be thankful for, but as children of God we should be thankful every day of our lives. Knowing Christ as our savior should bring the "Peace of God" into our hearts and this is enough to be thankful for throughout eternity. Just saying we are thankful is not enough. We should show God that we are thankful by the lives that we live. Our lives should be an open invitation for others to see Jesus Christ and want to know him. It shames me when I hear a sinner say, if that person is going to heaven then I will be right behind them, when "that person" is supposed to be a child of God. Sinners need to understand that you can't pattern yourself after mankind that a true Christian will pattern their life after Jesus Christ. I encourage you today to not look at those that would cause you to say such things, but rather to look to Jesus and come to know him. To know him is to love him and to love him is to want to be like him. We are a spiritual being living in flesh and blood body and those two things war against each other. The flesh is weak and people fail God everyday and make mistakes but we don't know how often they are on their knees crying out to God for forgiveness. We can be thankful that we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ standing in the gap for us, pleading our case. Let us not judge one another by what our eyes see, but let us love and pray for one another that if we sin, we seek God's forgiveness. The devil is a liar and if I listened to him telling me that if that one goes to heaven you will be right behind them, then I would likely find myself in a devil's hell. I choose rather to look at my brothers and sisters in Christ and if I see them stumble, I will pray for them to be able to stand back up, never to falter, never to fail. I am thankful today that God has given me love in my heart and allowed me to know his peace, a peace that is beyond all understanding. I have so much to thank him for...

Sing praises unto the Lord

Psalm 95:1-2
O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

The bible is filled with scriptures about praise and worship.  God desires the praises of his people.  When we begin to praise him, his holy spirit lifts us up and we can feel his presence and experience knowing him in a way that others can never understand.  When that joy starts bubbling up inside and your feet want to dance before him, there is nothing that can stop the movement of his spirit.  We often sing a song at our church called, "I'm one of them"  one part of it says this.  

I've got what my grandma had, I got it just like she did.  It was way back yonder in the head of a holler, he called me when I was a kid.  I'm one of them.  One of those Holy Ghost believers.  I know by the gifts inside.  I've seen to much already to change my Pentecostal life.  

The words to this song says it all.  I've seen to much for anyone to ever try and convince me that the Pentecost way is wrong.  I've felt the Holy Ghost stirring in my soul and I know God's presence when I feel it.  I love when God moves upon 80 or 90 year old people that many times have to have a walker to get around, but when his spirit stirs, their feet go to dancing before him as they praise him.  Friend, only God can give that kind of strength to those weary legs.  I am not ashamed of my savior nor am I ashamed of his presence in my life.  I don't ever want to stand before him and hear those words, depart from me, I never knew you.  I choose to sing and praise him while I live upon this earth.  I choose to do my best to walk upright before him and lift up his name with gladness on my lips.  He has never failed me.  When I go to him in prayer, I see answers.  He told me ask and ye shall receive.  He is my father and I am his child.  He is the rock that I run to in all my times of trouble.  Friend, if you have not had an experience with Jesus Christ, I invite you to pray.  God sent his son into this world to die so that you could live.   He loves you.  The most powerful message I can pass along is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Believe it in your heart, confess it with your mouth and you shall be saved.  Begin to praise and worship him and you shall be filled with his holy spirit and you to shall be "One of them"...you will know the joy of serving Jesus.  Blessed be his holy name!!

Psalm 27:6
And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.

Psalm 47:6
Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.

Psalm 75:9
But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

Psalm 92:1
It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High:

Psalm 146:2
While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.

Romans 14:11
11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

Christ prayed for you

John 17:14-18

14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
This world has been turned upside down, not only by ISIS but by all the different groups of people out in the world that want to do anything they want to make a dollar, live any way they want, treat others any way they want. We are living in the days when the world calls evil good and good evil and people are ok with that.  God's children are living in this world, but as Jesus Christ himself said, WE ARE NOT OF THIS WORLD.   If you are washed in the blood and have accepted Christ into your heart, then you are no longer of this world.  You have an earthly body to use while here, but you are SPIRITUAL.  As the days go on, times will be harder on God's people.  Jesus also knew this and that is why he prayed for them.  Once we comprehend that we are spiritual and begin to live more spiritual, we will begin to understand more about what is going on all around us.    God will make a way for his people, but we must stand upon the word of God.  Share his word with others and pray for the world and those around us.  God did not call us out to hate, but rather to love.  I know that many times I speak of war being the only way, but I do not believe that contradicts that fact that I also love.  I pray for ISIS, our leaders, the hate groups, the abortionists, and anyone else that I believe is living contrary to God's truth, but in the same token, I believe that when an act of war is perpetrated upon our fellowman or our country that sometimes war is inevitable.  Joshua fought a hard battle once and was defeated.  When he prayed and talked it over with God, then God let him know that there was sin in the camp.  Get rid of the sin and you won't be defeated.  Joshua got rid of the sin and fought the same people a second time.  The battle was going strong at sundown and  Joshua asked God to stop the sun.  God stopped time for Joshua so he could win the battle.  How much more would he do for his people today if we would only get rid of the sin among us.  War is something we sometimes face and I believe it is sometimes the only way, but God must be the center of everything.  If we are not living according to his word, then we may find ourselves like Joshua and be defeated by the enemy simply because there are those among us that are hiding sin.  Jesus knew that we would face evil in the world, but he has prayed for us and died for us, we must live for him.  Blessed be his Holy name.

We are blessed

King David desired to know all the wonderful things of God.  Psalms 119 is such a blessing to read.  We need to follow David's example and seek God's face, desiring to know all of his ways.  I love verse 11:  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. 
David  prayed that God  would open his eyes and teach him his laws.  He wanted to know all about God so that he could live according to his word. 18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.  Throughout the  psalm we see him seeking God's face, pleading to know more about God, more about his ways, more about his statutes, more about his commandments and the only reason he had for wanting to know more about it all was that he might live according to God's ways and tell others about Gods wonderful works.  27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works. 33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.

34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.  44 So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.

We as Christians could learn something from reading the psalms of King David.  Things were not always easy for him.  He was hunted like an animal by his enemies.  He knew something about suffering, but he also knew something about praying.  He knew where his help came from.  So many times in life when we are hurt, when we suffer loss, when we are in need, when our greatest HOPE and our greatest HELP is in God, we turn and walk away from him instead of crying out to him.  God knows our pain, he knows our needs and he knows our sorrows.  If we would turn to him with our whole hearts and seek his face, he would hear from heaven bring comfort to our souls.  We need to read his word continually and seek for knowledge and wisdom to understand his laws.  The more we bury God's word in our hearts, the more JOY we will have in our lives.  I like to say that we get out of it what we are willing to put into it.  If we go all week long and never pick up the bible to read, or we never go into our prayer closet and pray then we can't expect to go to church on Sunday and have the blessings of God fall upon us.  Our lives should be a living example of God's ways.  Sinners should be able to know things about God just by watching how we live.  It is my heart's desire Lord that my life would portray your word.  I feel like King David when he said, 94 I am thine, save me: for I have sought thy precepts.  97 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. 105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.  114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.  124 Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.  We can never walk God's path on our own, we need his help, his guidance and his love.  We are so much more blessed than David was.  God's spirit would come upon King David, but when Jesus Christ ascending back to the Father, he said he would send us a comforter that would never leave us nor forsake us, the Holy Ghost.  God has given us his Holy Spirit to dwell inside of us to be there always leading us. What a blessing God has given mankind.  We don't have worry about if we do something right or wrong if we will only listen to him.  The Holy Ghost will speak to our hearts and he will teach us God's ways.  He is our comfort and our guide.  We are most blessed to have him in our lives.  Blessed be his Holy name.  

Seek Wisdom

Colossians 1:9-11
8 Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Paul is speaking to the Colossians letting them know that Epaphras, a fellow servant in Christ had told him about how they had accepted the gospel of Christ.  Notice that once Paul heard that they were now Christians, he told them he would not cease to pray for them.  This is an example to us today.  When we see someone come to Christ, then we should not cease to pray for them just as Paul did.  It's the prayers that we pray for each other that keeps us strong in the Lord.  I heard a dear brother in Christ say last night that when we are on a mountaintop that we need to remember our brothers and sisters that are in a valley and pray for them.  There may come a time that the role is reversed and they are the one on the mountain and then they will be praying for us.  We as Christians need to always remember that God desires the prayers of his saints and we are to pray one for another.  Nothing can ever take the place of your own personal prayer life with God, but there will be times in our lives that we walk that dark valley and it's those times that we need the prayers of others.  The bible also teaches us that we have not because we ask not.  I am not talking about material things, but rather the spiritual things of God.  Just as Paul did, we need to be asking God daily to fill our fellow Christians with his knowledge and spiritual understanding so that they can live worthy of him.  We can only walk in the light once we understand the light.  Jesus Christ is the light of the world.  It pleased the Father that all fullness would be in him, that by his birth, death and resurrection from the grave he made a way for mankind to be reconciled to the Father.  With this knowledge, we are equipped to begin seeing the spiritual things of God.  Once we can comprehend that Jesus Christ was not just a baby born in Bethlehem, but that he was in the beginning with God, that it's all about Jesus, then we will begin to truly know wisdom.  The bible teaches in Colossians 1, verses 16 and 17 that Jesus Christ created all things.  He was right there from the very beginning.   16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

This is the wisdom and knowledge that we need to be asking God to reveal to his our new brothers and sisters in Christ. We need to seek his will in and ask for wisdom and knowledge to understand his word that we can be strong in him and walk worthy of him.  Blessed be his Holy name.  

A mystery revealed

Ephesians 3:1-6
1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6 That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
Paul was one of the greatest apostles to ever walk this earth and witness for Jesus Christ.  Scholars are not certain how many books of the new testament that he wrote, but if you include the book of Hebrews (they are not certain he wrote Hebrews) then that would be a total of 14 out of 27 books of the new testament.  Can you imagine God choosing a man that had once beaten and abused his children to be lifted up out of darkness and shown the mystery of God's intentions toward mankind?  Paul was a man of authority and God intended to use that strong will for his own good.  Up until this point there was a separation between the Jews and the Gentiles.  The Gentiles were not considered worthy to receive God's word.  The separation of the Jews and Gentiles is thought to have started with Seth, the son of Adam, but the true separation is attributed to the calling of Abraham to be the father of God's chosen people, Israel.  God called them out to be a separated people.  Some scholars believe that God's intent was for them to be a nation of priests, prophets, and leaders that would be a light to the world and teach all the other nations about God and the savior he would send into the world.  Somewhere along the line things changed and the world ended up with two separate peoples, the Jews, God's chosen and the Gentiles, all others.  It remained this way for thousands of years until one day on the road to Damascus, God decided it was time to change things.  I believe myself that God's intent was to use his chosen people to teach the world about him, not shut the rest of the world away from him.

Acts 22:17-21
17 And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;
18 And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.
19 And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:
20 And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.
21 And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the GENTILES.

We all know that the the world leaders are pushing for "One World Order", they want one church, one money, one God, but there is just "ONE PROBLEM" with what they want.  "IT'S A FALSE GOD" that they expect mankind to serve.  When God sent his children, Israel forth into the world he told them that they were not to bow down to false gods.
Exodus 23:24
Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.

I do not believe that God hated these other people.  They were his children that had went astray like lost sheep but they had had turned so far from him that he created himself a new people with Abraham and his seed.  He still loved them and if any chose to listen to his people, to live among them and come back to him, then they were welcome.  That is the mystery that he showed to Paul.  That he loved the Gentiles also and that he would welcome them into his fold.

Exodus 12:49
One law shall be to him that is home born, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.

I believe God had a plan for "ONE WORLD ORDER", but mankind WAS NOT AND IS NOT capable of carrying out God's plan.  Mankind has created for himself too many religions that separates man from God.   Mankind's idea of one world order will never work because they have pushed the "ONE TRUE GOD" out of their plan, but there will come a day that we will have a true One World Order that is led by Jesus Christ himself as Lord of Lord and King of Kings.  When he comes back and sets his foot upon the Mount of Olives, then he will set up his kingdom and finally, there will be order in the world.  Mankind will serve "ONE GOD" and the world will be as it should have been.  Blessed be his Holy name!

Obey God

Romans 13:1
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

Paul is telling the people here that while on this earth we will always be subject to someone.  We will have a government ruling over us.  We will have laws to obey.  He is also letting us know that it is God that gives the leaders what power they have.  God himself sets up the nations and God can bring them down at his own will, because there is no true power but of God.  Paul goes on to tell the people that "rulers" are not against good works but against evil.  Paul is telling the people how is it supposed to be.  This entire chapter in Romans is telling us about obeying the laws, paying tribute to whom it is due, (taxes) and keeping of God's commandments. You see at the time Paul was teaching this, the keeping of the commandments of God was a good thing.  It was what set you apart as a good person. Paul unfortunately did not look ahead in time and see that one day the laws that he taught the people to obey would be so twisted by hatred that they would go against God Almighty.  Paul clearly tells the people the kind of things to obey in verses 9 and 10.

9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

If the laws of man go against the laws of God, then the bible also teaches that we are to obey God rather than man.  When Peter and the other apostles were brought before the high council for preaching and teaching in the name of Jesus, he told them plainly that we are to obey God rather than man. 

Acts 5:29

Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

There are many laws in place today that go directly against God's word and as Christians we can not support those laws.  We can not support those that support and put those kind of laws in place and if we do, I believe we will be held accountable to God.  We will be persecuted for standing up for what is right, but Christ was also persecuted.  The apostles didn't stop teaching and preaching about Jesus even though they were beaten and thrown in jail.  We MUST STAND upon the word of God and not waver from it's truth.   We MUST have FAITH that God will take care of his own.  Blessed be his Holy name.

A chosen generation

1 Peter 2:9
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light;

I have heard people say they wish they were born in this time or that time, they are unhappy with things that are happening in the world today and I have been guilty myself of often wishing I was living a hundred years ago, but as I was reading what Peter wrote to the new saints of God, I realized that I am among that "Chosen Generation".  I believe that God's children today are the generation that will see Christ's second appearing.  Christians are a "Royal Priesthood".  In the days of Moses, only the priest could make a sacrifice to God, but our sacrifices to God are our our own bodies, a living sacrifice, acceptable to Christ.  With his death, he tore down the veil and made it possible for ALL to come boldly before the throne of God!  I believe the children of God are a "Holy Nation" that may be scattered all over the world, but united in God as a "Holy Nation"  and yes, a "Peculiar People".  Christians are peculiar because they have the capacity to LOVE even those that hate them.  Sinners can't understand or comprehend the LOVE OF GOD so therefore in their eyes, Christians are peculiar or strange.  This is a marvelous day to be alive.  Let me tell you friend that today is the day of salvation.  We need to be lifting our hands and praising the Lord.  He has called us out of darkness and we walk in his marvelous light!!  We know the truth!!  I believe we are "The Generation" that will get to see Christ coming back for his children!! Lift up your head, your redemption draweth nigh!!  

One day and I believe it could be any moment, Christ will step out on the clouds and call his children home. Being a part of this make us a "Chosen Generation" The dead in Christ shall rise and we will all go up to meet him in the air. This is not his second coming, it is the rapture of his people.  1 Corinthians 15 teaches us about his second appearing, what we refer to as  "The rapture". 

1 Corinthians 15:52

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Luke 21 and Mathew 24 will teach you all about Christ's second coming.  These are two separate events.  There is a "second appearing and a second coming"  He appears in the clouds to call his children home and his second coming is when he will set his feet upon the mount of olives to set up his kingdom and rule the world!  

I am thankful this morning to be among this chosen generation that he called out of darkness and into his marvelous light.  

 Remember when Mordacai was talking to Esther, and he remined her that it was just possible that she was born for a time such as this.  Born for the time they struggling in. 

 Esther 4:14  For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

 We as Christians today worry about the times we are living in, but God in his wisdom raised us up for a specific reason, for this time.  We too were born for a time such a this!!  We are a chosen generation!!  I am thankful that he opened my eyes that I might see.  Blessed be his Holy name!

  I am thankful that he opened my eyes that I might see.  Blessed be his Holy name!

Pray one for another

Ephesians 1:17-19

16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Paul is talking to new believers here.  He is praying they have wisdom to understand God, that their eyes be opened to the truth of Jesus Christ and that they understand his greatness and his intentions for those that believe on him.

We as children of God should be following Paul's example.  When we have a new convert in the church we should be praying for them daily.  New Christians are as babies and they don't know as we know what God is able to do.  It is our duty to pray for them that God will give them wisdom in his word.  We are to pray that God will open their eyes to understanding and that they will allow the Holy Ghost to guide them and teach them.  It is not our duty to go to them with all kinds of man made rules about how they should dress, how they look, how they should talk, or even who they should hang around with.  Those things are not what God wants us to do, that is his job.  A truly converted Christian will learn those things From the Holy Ghost!  If we do as Paul did and pray for God to give them wisdom and and that he open their eyes to understanding, then the Holy Ghost will do the rest.  As they begin to read God's word and learn of him they will begin to change.  As the Holy Ghost dwells on the inside and starts guiding them, then you will see a change on the outside.  If a person is a true Christian, they don't have to tell anyone, it shows in the way they walk, the way they talk, the way dress, and the way the treat others.  It's called "THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT"  and you will know them by the fruits they bear.  

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance:

The bible teaches us to pray one for another.  Many will ask for prayer from their fellow Christians if they are sick or in need but but the bible teaches us to confess our faults. If, as a Christian you have something that you feel is a fault, then go to a brother or sister in Christ and seek their prayers. The bible tells us where two or three join together that God is in the midst.   I believe that many times we face battles in life that are hard because we don't do as God tells us to do.  We try to stand alone when God wants us to be a body, fitly joined together, praying for one another.  

James 5:16
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Mathew 18:20
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

To many times you see Christians tearing one another down instead of building each other up and that is not of God.  The world will tear us down and hate us.  Jesus taught us that the world would hate us because they hated him, but we are to love one another and pray for one another and so fulfill the word of God.  To do anything less is going against God's own word.  Blessed be his Holy name!

God will supply

Philippians 4:6
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Be careful for nothing is simply Paul's way of telling us that we should not be anxious or worried about anything. If we have a need then we are to take that need to the Lord. Paul uses the words prayer and supplication here as well as telling us to do so with thanksgiving. Going to the Lord in prayer is something we do daily without even thinking about but when you truly have a need that you want God to supply then you are to get serious in your prayer life. Prayer and supplication means that you are not just quickly asking God for something and then going on about your business, but you are humbling yourself down before him and truly seeking his face.

The definition of the word "supplication" is a humble entreaty or petition.  The origin from Latin means to "plead humbly"  

Throughout the bible the word supplication is used in reference to prayer. Serious prayer results in serious answers. When a child asks for something we may not give the child what he asks for the first time he asks, but let that same child start crying and pleading. Parents hearts are melted by the cries of their children and the child gets what he or she asks for. God is our Father and he may not give what you ask for when you just quickly ask and then go on like it's not really all that important to you, but if it's important enough to put you on your knees, crying out to him, pleading your case and thanking him for all of the blessings he bestows upon you, then you will see results. Just like any parent, God loves his children and when they cry and plead for something, his heart becomes tender to that want and he will answer from heaven and give you what you ask for. He will not only supply your needs, but he will supply your wants as well if you truly seek his face in prayer and supplication. King David knew this. In Psalms 23 he said "I shall not want" God not only gave him what he needed, but he gave him what he "WANTED".

God loves you today and he will hear your prayers if you will humble yourself down before him. The bible teaches us that we HAVE NOT because we ASK NOT. God already knows the desires of your heart, but he wants to hear it from your mouth. He wants your prayers. He is worthy of your praise. If you truly want an answer, then begin to truly ask. Fast and pray, seek his face with every want and need in your life and then stand upon God's word. There is power in prayer. Blessed be his Holy name.

A living sacrifice

Romans 12:1 KJV
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.

There was once a time that animal sacrifices had to be made for the sins of man.  For without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin.  

Hebrews 9:22  And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

God knew that this was not the answer and he sent forth his only son, Jesus Christ to be the ultimate sacrifice for man's sins.  To be covered by the blood of Christ is a renewing of your soul.   You become a new creature and from that point on, your body is your sacrifice to God. 
1 Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Christ shed the blood so that you don't have to.  God now accepts a living sacrifice and he wants it to be holy!  If we "LIVE" for God and live according to his word, then we are a a holy sacrifice to him.  The mercy of God is renewed every day and as long as we live for him and confess our sins before him, he is just to forgive our sins and make us acceptable when we kneel down to pray.  Paul told us here that it is our "reasonable service", what does that mean?  It means that it is expected of us.  Once we become a child of God, then he expects certain things of us.  He expects us to come out from among the world and be a separated people, He expects us to live according to his commandments.  He expects us to fail not to assemble together for worship, praise and fellowship according to his word.  He expects us to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others.  All these things are reasonable services that we should be doing everyday as a child of God.  Blessed be his Holy name! 

Be not conformed

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.
Romans 12:2 KJV
Paul taught that Christians are not to be conformed to the world. Just because something is socially acceptable does not make it right. We are not to try and adapt or fit into the world. We are not to live by the standards of society. We are to live by God's word. Paul taught us that we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. The only thing that can transform us is Jesus Christ and once you have a relationship with him, then you can begin renewing your mind by reading and listening to the word of God. I believe God's word will literally renew your mind. I believe if we are sick, in a coma, or don't even know our name and someone begins to daily read the word of God to us or play it from a CD that it will renew our minds. God's word is powerful and alive. If we can get into God's word daily and let him renew our minds, then we will be able to know the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. Blessed be his Holy name...

The soul is thirsty

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
Psalm 63:1 KJV
David knew that seeking God was as important to the soul as water is to the flesh for survival.  If we are going to make it through this world, then we need to be seeking God's face.  He needs to be the first thing on our minds when we awake in the morning and the last thing before we go to sleep at night.  We need to be doers of his word and not just hearers only.
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
God's word is nourishment for our souls.   The more we read the bible and live our lives according to what Christ told us to do, the more satisfied our soul becomes.   Have you ever seen someone that has tried everything that life has to offer and yet they can't find the peace and happiness that they are looking for.  Drugs won't do it, Alcohol won't do it, Whore-monging and Fornication won't do it.  You may find temporary pleasure in these and other things.  God's word tells us that there is pleasure in sin for a season, but it's PEACE that the soul is seeking.  Man's soul is forever searching for the PEACE that Adam knew when God first made him.  The PEACE that he experienced when he walked in the cool of the day, talking with God before Satan deceived Eve and sin was brought into the world.  Friend, let me tell you that nothing of this world will ever bring your soul the PEACE it is searching for, but there is one that is NOT OF THIS WORLD that will bring PEACE LIKE A RIVER TO YOUR SOUL.  Isaiah 66:12 For thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river.....Jesus Christ is the only thing that will ever bring that PEACE that was lost through Adam back to mankind.  When you accept Christ into your life and become born again, it will not miraculously make all your problems go away, but it WILL bring PEACE to your soul and those problems won't seem so important that they overwhelm you.  You learn to deal with them on a daily basis with God's help and guidance.  If you have ever known what a relationship with Christ is like and then walked away from him.  Your soul will hunger just like David's did.  You soul will find no rest until you return to Christ.  I invite you to pray this morning.  Talk things over with Jesus.  He is always watching and waiting for you to simply turn to him so that he can help you.  He will knock but you must open the door.  Blessed be his Holy Name.

Seek the Lord

Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Isaiah 55:6 KJV

We can look around us every day and see the bible prophesies being fulfilled before our very eyes. Russia is marching into Syria, the battles have begun. We need to be seeking God now more than ever in our lives. Right now we are blessed to have God"s spirit, the Holy Ghost present in this world to draw us to God. We are blessed enough to have him in our lives to lead and guide us, but one day soon he will leave this world. When he goes, then there will be true chaos. (Complete disorder and confusion). When he goes, the church will be going with him and there won't be any preachers to try and tell you how much Jesus loves you. There won't be any Mommy's and Daddy's praying half the night that you get home safely. There will only be evil left in this world. If you think it's hard to make a decision to give your life over to the Lord right now, wait until that time. I feel the need to urge you to pray, to seek Jesus Christ and talk with him today, while there is time. He loves you and he wants a relationship with you. If you have ever been a christian and maybe you have just wondered away from him, he is waiting for you to come home. God said if you would draw nigh to him, he would draw nigh to you. Jesus said in John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him:, but if you are in a backsliding state, then God has already drawn you to once. He did not say he would draw you twice. The second time around, it is up to you to make a decision to come home. The prodigal son had to learn what life was like being without anything and nobody to turn to, but when he had enough, he made the decision to go home to his father. His father could have called him to come home at any moment, but is was up to the son to make the decision. His father was waiting and watching for him. he rejoiced and was so happy when he saw him coming down the that road. Your heavenly father is waiting for you. Jesus is standing with outstretched arms, just waiting for you to come home. He loves you today. He doesn't care what you've done, where you've been or who you've been with, all he cares about is that he loves you and wants you to come home. Please, don't wait until it's too late. Seek the Lord while he may be found. God said way back in Genesis that his spirit would not always strive with man. One day soon the Holy Ghost will be gone..Let me invite you to pray today. Jesus loves you..Blessed be his holy name.

Entering into God's rest

Hebrews 4:1-11(KJV)

1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.

6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

When God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, he had a plan for them.  He would lead them to a beautiful land, a land of lush green grass and cool waters.  This land would be flowing with milk and honey.  This would be their place of "REST", but because of unbelief many did not get to enter in.  When Moses sent the twelve out to search out the land, they came back with a bad report.  Twelve went out but only two came back still believing and trusting that God was able to do all that he said he would do.  Joshua and Caleb knew that no matter how big the people or what the situation that God could do all things.  Because of the "UNBELIEF" of the others, the children of Israel wondered in the wilderness for forty years and did not get to enter into the promised land, the "REST" that God had brought them to, except for Joshua and Caleb.  Because of their belief and faith in God, they entered into their "REST".  When God swore in his wrath that they would not enter into his "REST" it had a two-fold meaning.  The land of Canaan was an "EARTHLY REST" but he was also referring to his "ETERNAL REST", the place of eternal peace for all those the trust and believe in him.   

Jesus Christ has prepared a "RESTING PLACE" for his people. While on this earth we have a job to do.  We are to live Christ-like and spread his truth to others.  Once we have accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior, it doesn't stop there.  We are to "LABOR" and "BELIEVE" so that we may enter into that "ETERNAL REST OF GOD".  I am not saying that works will save you.  YOU ARE SAVED BY GRACE, but you have a work to do.  The bible teaches us that faith without works is dead.  If we say we have faith in God but never do any good works for him, then that faith and belief is not being manifested and we to may miss out on entering into our "REST" because of unbelief.  God's "GRACE" is the only thing that will save us, but unless we "BELIEVE AND HAVE FAITH" we will not enter into his "REST".  

 Hebrews 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

This may sound like it is contradicting, that if "GRACE" is the only thing that can save us then what does "WORKS and BELIEF" have to do with it.  It is very simple.  They all go hand in hand.  We must first "BELIEVE THAT HE IS" before we can ever accept the "GRACE" that he offers us freely and then we are to do the "WORKS" to show our faith (belief).  

James 2:18

Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

James 2:26

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Let us therefore accept God's "GRACE" and labor to enter into that eternal "REST" that Christ has gone to prepare for us.  He said if I go away, I will come again to receive you unto myself, that where I am, there you may be also.  

Be Obedient to God

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Matthew 5:11-12 KJV

Being obedient to God's word is not always popular.  it will not always get you a pat on the back from man, but it will always get you one step closer to heaven and the approval of God Almighty.  Jesus knew that being obedient to the Father would bring him much pain and suffering while on this earth, but he also knew the rewards that awaited him when it was finished.  He would become the "Mediator" between God and man..forever standing in the gap to plead our case.  God promises that great is our reward as well, and there are blessings in serving Jesus, but there is also suffering.  We love him because he first loved us.  There will be suffering and persecution to Christians because mankind doesn't know what LOVE truly is.  This world is ruled by the Prince of Darkness and Evil abounds, but if we endure to the end we shall be saved.

Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Darkness will flee in the presence of Light.

Can you even begin to imagine looking down upon this world and seeing all the chaos and hatred.  Seeing the cruelty of mankind manifest itself in so many ungodly ways that my heart hurts just to think about it.  God has to look upon the evil of his own creation.  He sits in a heavenly place surrounded by nothing but PURE LOVE and has to look upon PURE EVIL.   Can you imagine him saying to his son, we have to do something.  And can you imagine anyone loving you so much that even while you are filled with SIN that he would willingly answer the FATHER and say YES WE DO.  God loved his creation so much that he was willing to let his ONLY SON die in order to SAVE them.  Although the world is still filled with evil, I am thankful this morning that I was able to SEE THE LIGHT.  I am so thankful that HE KNOWS MY NAME.  

John 3:16-21

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Do you know that there is no such thing as DARKNESS.  All darkness is, is the absence of LIGHT.  If you walk into a dark room and flip on a light switch the darkness has to flee.  There is ONLY LIGHT.  Right now the world is filled with darkness simply because mankind has refused to see the LIGHT.  Evil can not dwell in the presence of light.  Once a person opens their eyes and begins to see THE LIGHT then evil has to flee.  Jesus Christ is THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.  Once you come to know him you will begin to see a change in yourself.  You will begin to separate yourself from the things of the world.  Your spirit will begin to speak to your heart and you will become a NEW CREATURE.  Light will ALWAYS overcome darkness.  I encourage you today to LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE and one by one we can push the DARKNESS back that have creeped in and overtaken our world.  

Mathew 5:14:16

 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

The Holy Ghost is a revealer

I have a few things running around in my mind this morning. God gives insight through the Holy Ghost to those that trust and believe in him. Unless you are a Christian, you will never understand as a Christian understands, meaning you will not see events and things happening in the world the same as a Christian will see them. Jesus told us in the word that the Holy Ghost would teach us all things. He is here to lead us and help us and he will teach us if we listen.

 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Corinthians 2:14 KJV

Jesus taught us well

I am thinking this morning about Jesus, walking and talking with his disciples.  And I am thankful for his word that over 2000 years later I can still read it and hear him talk with me.  He tried to let them know what was important in life and he made sure they knew the way to go.

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18,  31-34(KJV)

1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.  (Definition of Alms: (in historical contexts) money or food given to poor people.)

2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

This world is full of poor people in need.  It's a wonderful thing to be able to help someone but there is a way to go about doing so.  Jesus knew this and taught it well.  Have you ever thought about what it's like to do without food, clothing, a roof over your head or are you so blessed that you have these things.  Many don't, but they do have feelings.  The last thing a person in need wants from anyone is for you to make a big deal out of helping them out.  If you give someone a little money, or buy them groceries and take to their house, you should never do it publicly or in such a way as to embarrass that person.  It makes them ashamed and oftentimes they don't even want to take the gift you are trying to give them.  If you do it publicly, then you are doing it for the wrong reasons.  You are doing it for YOUR OWN GLORY so that you can look good.  Every work or deed we do on this earth should be to bring GLORY TO GOD.  God is the only one that matters and if you do things his way, the PERSON in need will be helped, GOD will be glorified and YOU will be blessed.

5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Jesus goes on to make sure they understand that it's not just helping others that should be done quietly without making a big deal out of it.  Your prayers should be between YOU AND GOD.  If you stand and pray so loudly that they whole church hears you, then you are only bringing attention to yourself. You are saying "Look at me"  and God is not being glorified.  I believe a person should lift their hands in church and give God praise, He inhabits the praise of his people, but Praise and Praying are two different things.  We go to church to PRAISE GOD.  I know that we pray in church as well and there is nothing wrong with that, it's how we pray that matters.  If we are sincere in our PRAYERS then we WILL NOT want everyone around to hear us anyway.  We will be crying out to God and God do as he says and he will answer those prayers.  He will provide...

16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;

18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

Jesus went on to teach about "FASTING"  When you really need something from God and you begin to fast and pray about it, you know you are going to hear from heaven.  Fasting is a personal experience between you and God.  If you make it public, then you may as well go out and buy a big cheese burger and enjoy it because you are not going about it the way Jesus taught us to do in order to get answers.

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Jesus is our provider.  If we put God first in our lives and live upright before him, he will provide all of our needs.  Jesus explained this clearly and tried to make them understand that they should not go around worrying all the time.  That the most important thing they should be doing is serving God.  If you are a "BLOOD BOUGHT" child of God, then you should understand that no matter what is going on in the world, you are not part of the world.  God will provide and take care of you.  Just like he fed the children of Israel with manna from heaven, he will provide your every need.  Blessed be his Holy Name.