BibleFood for Hungry Christians

Holy, Holy, Holy a neglected Bible truth"

2008-02-15T15:36:00.023-05:00

A theme on my heart lately has been Holiness and Holy Spirit.

Holiness is up there as one of the most misunderstood subjects among Christians.

True Biblical holiness is not hardness, legalism, or mean-spirited people making everyone miserable with their own list of concocted standards.

God is a trinity of FATHER, SON and HOLY SPIRIT.

Why not Father, Son and LOVE SPIRIT, GRACE SPIRIT, COMPASSION SPIRIT, ETC.

We must see he is the HOLY Spirit. God wants us to know He is the HOLY SPIRIT.

Holy is used in various forms over 650 times in the Bible.

The Greek noun hagiasmos, “holines,” “consecration,” or “sanctification,” [1] is from the root hagios which means holy or sacred.

Two ideas on Holiness:

One of the meanings of holiness is the idea of being "set apart". God is apart from us . . . He is in a class by Himself. "There is a profound difference between Him and those He has created. When the Bible speaks of holy objects or holy people or holy time, it refers to things that have been set apart, consecrated, or made different by the touch of God upon them. It was the nearness of the divine that made the ordinary suddenly extraordinary and the common, uncommon." [Sproul ibid.] Holiness means that God is transcendent (or unique and superior) in His greatness. (by R.C. Sproul)

The second aspect of holiness (and the one we generally think of first) is the idea of purity. God is good. He does what is right and never does what is wrong. God is unstained by, and uncompromising with sin. God does not "bend a little" when it comes to wrong-doing. God always acts in a righteous manner because His nature is holiness. He is both great and good.
(by R.C. Sproul)

Holiness is to be separated from sin AND, therefore, consecrated to God. Jerry Bridges

Isaiah 6:3 "And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory."

Revelation 4:8 "And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come."

You will note what the angels sing is holy, holy, holy. It's not just Holy. It's not even Holy, Holy. They proclaim "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts".

Why holy 3 times ?

Similarly to our bold, italic, and underline, a Hebrew emphasis was repetition.
So the angels are not content with, “Holy!” And they are not even content with the emphasis of, “Holy! Holy!” They must say it three times—“Holy! Holy! Holy!” They take it to the third degree—the unmatched degree. No other attribute of God is praised like this. Not love or mercy or justice or sovereignty. Just Holy. RC Sproul

And they are affirming in this trihagion, this repetition of the word holy, the complete character of God. No scripture says, love, love, love, goodness, goodness, goodness, mercy, mercy, mercy, grace, grace, grace. While God is those things, never a thrice use of it when speaking of the consummate nature of God, He is holy, holy, holy.

CONCLUSIONS
Though our study and pursuit of holiness must never end, this devotion needs to come to a conclusion. So let me make several final observations.

First, it should be obvious, that there is no better way to use our time than to use it for God's glory. There is nothing better. There is no one greater than the Lord. He is our life, our hope, our joy. To run after and serve anything other than the Lord is foolishness. Look at your own heart and turn away from the trivial pursuits that so often occupy our energy.

Second, we need to take personal holiness seriously. We spend a good deal of our lives trifling with sin. I know I find myself battling with the unholy all the time. We push God off to the side when we feel He is getting in the way of our enjoyment or of our "entertainment".

Look, I know that taking holiness seriously means significant change in our lives. And like you . . . I resist it.

However, if we understand God's mercy and grace at all (even a little bit). If we have any sense of God's holiness (which is becoming more and more rare) we will want to purge all that is profane from our lives.

It is time to do a personal inventory and to make changes:

in your entertainment
your use of your time
the way you spend your money
the way you talk
the way you do your job
the way you treat others
the way you worship

Finally, we need to stop comparing ourselves to others and start measuring ourselves by the correct standard. When we measure our lives by God's standards we truly see ourselves.

Yes, it often hurts, and facing the truth is painful. We must accept responsibility for our own behavior. But the amazing thing about the gospel is that it tells us that because of what Christ has done on our behalf, if we admit our sin and turn to Him for mercy . . . we will find it. Our Holy God will cover us with the righteousness or goodness of Christ.

Indeed, God is great and He is good, and He is HOLY. Let us devote the rest of our lives to Him! AMEN!

Until next time, be blessed and be a blessing,
Jim (jim@biblefood.org)

Two great books on the subject of Holiness.
"The Holiness of God" and "The Pursuit of Holiness"
Available at http://www.amazon.com/ for $10.39 each

“Christianity or Churchianity - Which are You a Part of?”

2007-06-14T18:59:00.000-05:00

Looking at the title, some may say, “What’s the difference?” That is exactly what concerns me. They THINK they are part of Christianity when, in truth, they are really only part of a church. Today, we are going to briefly look at both and make sure we are part of Christianity, and not just part of a church (churchianity). You can find people who are a part of churchianity in any denomination (including yours)!!!

This devotion has been inspired by the answer I have often heard when this subject comes up. I’ve heard this answer when I lived in the North and in the South. It is sometimes worded a little differently, but basically the same answer. The typical question I ask when I am told about a dying person or a serious situation in a person’s life, “ARE THEY SAVED?” The typical answer I get is, “Oh yes, he goes to church every week.” My question back to them is, “BUT IS HE SAVED?” Often the person I’m talking with thinks I’m nuts for asking, after all they just told me this person goes to church. I then explain that just because someone goes to church doesn’t make them a Christian anymore than swimming makes me a fish.

May you also understand there is a vast difference between a churchgoer and Christian. I believe EVERY Christian should be part of a church and not be in disobedience to the Word of God (Heb.10:25). To be a church, doesn’t mean you have to meet in a building with a steeple on it, it could mean that you are meeting in a home or storefront as a newly planted church. Christians should go to a local church, but just because you go to church doesn’t mean you are a Christian.

What is Churchianity? - It is when someone is a part of a church, may even be very active, sing in the choir, or be an elder or deacon in the church. He is likely proud of his church (and likely his denomination). He may have mastered all the “Christian lingo,” yet he has not ever personally accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior.

What is Christianity? - Christianity is made up of individuals who have come to a realization individually that they are a sinner in need of a Savior, who is Jesus Christ. They repent of their wretched sinful state before God, and accept the Death/Burial/Resurrection of Jesus on the cross to wash away their sins and to make them a new creation. They also give Jesus control of their lives as LORD and SAVIOR. Christians are followers of Christ (Christlike). That’s a basic overview of what makes one a Christian and, thus, part of Christianity.

Many today are saying, "I'm of this ministry" or "I'm of this denomination," sounding a lot like I Cor. 1:12,13 - "Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. v.13 - Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?" To be a part of a ministry or denomination is fine (most of us are) UNLESS IT'S ABOVE JESUS IN YOUR LIFE. In that case, you are part of churchianity and NOT Christianity.

I would like to close with what I consider a very sobering passage of scripture. Matthew 7:21-23 - "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

A person can say the right thing, even say “LORD, LORD,” and yet NOT be SAVED (a Christian). Christianity involves obeying our Heavenly Father!

It says that MANY will say, we "prophesied," "cast out demons" and "did many wonderful works (i.e., miracles)" all "IN THY NAME." God’s answer to all this will be, "I NEVER KNEW YOU." Never in the Greek means "not even at any time." These were people who were NEVER saved! Sobering thought!!!

In closing:

I believe there are some out there reading this who have been part of churchianity (maybe all your life), but today God is calling you to receive Him as your Lord and Savior and become part of Christianity. Others of you who are reading this know people who are not true Christians, they may even go to church but they are not saved. I pray God will help you to minister Christ to them. We have a mission field in and outside of the Church walls, may the deception of churchianity be broken in lives of many church goers, so they can truly come to a true knowledge of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

If you are a Pastor/Minister, I urge you to do your part in breaking the power of churchianity over many that may be sitting in your own congregations.

We really are living in critical times, no time to waste!

Please take this message seriously,
and may we be used of God to make an
eternal difference for the Kingdom of God!

May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all,
Jim (jim@biblefood.org)

The Many Faces of God

2007-04-17T19:51:00.000-05:00

“The Many Faces of God”

What does God look like to you?

What is your image when you think about God?

I believe that many of us have visual images and beliefs of God that are not Biblical.

We often refer to God as our heavenly Father – which is good and correct, but we often go wrong in our view of what our heavenly Father is like.

Some look at Him, as a constantly “disciplining God.” While He does have to correct us and discipline us (Hebrews 12:6-8), seeing Him too often in this way is not a balanced picture of God.

Seeing God as a constantly ANGRY, MEAN, MAD, and even a DISCIPLINING God (24/7) is not the picture I believe we should have of our heavenly Father.

I am not a psychologist or psychiatrist, but I do believe many people get their image of God from their example in an earthly father.

While I have a good dad, he wasn't perfect; and as much as I love and respect him, I believe it is good that my image of my heavenly Father is better than anything my natural father could have been to me.

Some people have had earthly fathers who abandoned them, abused them, mistreated them, were critical of them, etc., and as a result, some people see their heavenly Father the same.

We must base our beliefs of our heavenly Father from what the Bible tells us about Him.

In the Bible, JEHOVAH (LORD) means most likely the self-existent one (I am who I am or I am the One who is) and denotes God's personal name and His eternality. It is often used in relationship to God as redeemer and covenant keeper.

In this we see the different attributes and characteristics of the LORD revealed. The following are just some of those Old Testament Jehovah compound names:

Jehovah Jireh means “the LORD provides" (Genesis 22:14).

Jehovah Rapha means “the LORD who heals" (Exodus 15:26).

Jehovah Shalom means “the LORD is peace" lack of tension, conflict and strife in God (Judges 6:24).

Jehovah Nissi means “the LORD is my banner" or “God my Standard of Victory" and signifies that the battle is the Lord's (Exodus 17:15).

Jehovah Tsidkenu means “the LORD our righteousness," God is the source of our righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6).

Jehovah Raah means “the LORD our Shepherd" and denotes our Shepherd who tenderly leads us, loves us and will keep us safe (Psalm 23:1).

Jehovah Shammah means “the Lord is present,” God’s abiding presence. Thus he will not abandon you. He will stay, not to just visit (Ezekiel 48:35).

In the New Testament I would like to share a few scriptures that tell us what God is like in relation to us, who have accepted Jesus into our lives as SAVIOR and LORD.

Jesus is the image (Phil. 2:6 Col. 1:14-16) of our heavenly Father.

We can learn about our heavenly Father by LOOKING AT JESUS.

Oh, how Jesus (God) LOVES you and me (John 3:16)!

Our hearts should cry “ABBA” meaning father, or more closely “daddy (or “papa”).
It conveys, “tenderness, dependence, and a relationship free from fear or anxiety.”
God is that one perfect father – daddy! This has always ministered to my heart. (See Romans 8:15 and Galatians 4:6)

In conclusion, can you see God as a laughing God?

A few years ago, I saw a picture of Jesus laughing, and honestly I thought it was almost irreverent. I don’t feel that way now! I believe there can be healing in seeing God LAUGHING. I’m sure some of you just have a hard time picturing that. Let me help you by having you go a picture of Jesus laughing.

NOTE: Jesus Laughing is found on many sites, but it's official site is at: http://www.jesuslaughing.com/

How about a compassionate, crying Jesus?

I have always found this picture touching and just an incredible picture.
To see this picture go to my website:
http://www.biblefood.org/jesuswept.htm

How about a God who isn’t hurting us, but is PROTECTING us? You can see that on my website. Go tomy website: www.biblefood.org/psalms_91.htm (hands of God).
Praise the LORD many have been touched by this picture over the years.

I believe a picture speaks a THOUSAND words (or more) and these pictures WILL minister to many of you – AMEN for that!

But even these great pictures are pale images in the face of an eternal God who loves us even beyond anything we can even picture. It’s even beyond human comprehension – Such a wonderful, loving God!!!

For this devotion with MANY MORE TOUCHING PICS go to: http://www.biblefood.org/faceofgod.htm

Do you have a negative view of God?

If so, I pray that the LORD, through this devotion, and more importantly through the pages of the Bible, will open your eyes to see Him as the wonderful, loving God He really is!

In His Service,
Jim (jim@biblefood.org)

Also please let people know about our sites:
http://www.biblefood.org/
http://www.goproclaim.com/

Is It Right to Judge?

2007-03-01T23:51:00.000-05:00

Main text: Matthew 7:1-5 & John 7:24

Jesus is instructing us against engaging in hypocritical judgment.

In Matthew, Jesus tells us "Do not judge, or you too will be judged…" Possibly the most misquoted scripture in the Bible. People pull this scripture out of context AND never quote the many other scriptures on scriptural judging.

Let's first look at Matthew 7:1-5.
Let's not stop at verse 1 but read on. This passage includes significant detail later in the verse, "FIRST take the plank out of your own eye, THEN you will see clearly to REMOVE the speck from your brother's eye."

In John’s Gospel, Jesus is more succinct. First, He tells us what is unacceptable and then He tells us what is acceptable. "…Stop judging by mere appearances (unacceptable), and make a right judgment (acceptable)" (John 7:24).

So you think we’re "NOT TO JUDGE"? Let's go on!

Jesus taught men to judge rightly, insisting they “judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24) and He praised a man who “rightly judged” (Luke 7:43).

Paul shamed the Corinthian Christians because no one among them was willing to “judge the smallest matters” (1Cor. 6:2). As the Apostle Paul wrote, “He who is spiritual judges all things” for “we have the mind of Christ” (1Cor. 2:15-16).

We must let God’s word JUDGE people and then, based on the WORD (BIBLE), we must then speak His Word in LOVE - ALWAYS IN LOVE).

Jesus taught men to judge rightly, insisting they “judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24) and He praised a man who “rightly judged” (Luke 7:43).
Paul shamed the Corinthian Christians because no one among them was willing to “judge the smallest matters” (1Cor. 6:2). As the Apostle wrote, “He who is spiritual judges all things” for “we have the mind of Christ” (1Cor. 2:15-16).

Now let's look at some things that the WORD OF GOD judges, and when we agree with the WORD, we are not really judging people, but God's Word is judging them.

1Cor.6:9 states: "Make no mistake about it: those who lead immoral lives, or worship idols, or who are adulterers, homosexuals of any kind, or thieves, exploiters, drunkards, gossips or embezzlers will NOT inherit the kingdom of heaven."

Gal.5:19-21 it states: "Immorality, impurity and shamelessness (sensuality), idol worship and magic, ambition, division, factious, and envy, drunkenness, orgies and the like. I again say to you what I have already said: those who do these things shall NOT inherit the kingdom of God."

Rev.21:8 it states: As for cowards, faithless, depraved, murderers, fornicators, sorcerers, idolaters, liars, THEIR PLACE is the lake of burning sulfur(or lake of fire). This is the second death."

In all these sins it is not a one time incident that is repented of, but a way of life (repeated).

Judging is proper ONLY when done from a right heart (free of plank/2x4 plus in Christ’s LOVE) and based on God’s Word (Bible) as our standard.

So let's be bold enough (in LOVE) to judge sin as sin.

Based on the Holy Bible as our standard.

Have a Jesus blessed day!

Jim (jim@biblefood.org)

"Seeing the Big Picture" by Os Hillman

2007-01-25T06:52:00.001-05:00

I didn't write this one but it was so good I wanted to share it with you all:

.."Everything is against me!" - Genesis 42:36

Eventually, Benjamin along with Jacob's other sons learned that their brother Joseph was second in command in Egypt. Joseph revealed his identity, and Jacob was reunited with his son whom he had not seen for more than 13 years. He had thought Joseph to be dead.

So often we believe our dreams are dead. There seems to be nothing left in our world to live for. Everything appears to be against us. During these times, God is doing His deepest behind-the-scenes work. During these times, God is performing a deeper work in each of us-a work that cannot be seen.

When clients began leaving my ad agency and it dried up for no apparent reason, it appeared "everything was against me." I could not see that God was orchestrating a whole new calling on my life. At the moment, it seemed like the worst thing in the world. It seemed that I had been a failure. But God said, "No." All the years before had been preparation for what God's ultimate calling would be. One of God's methods for directing His children's steps is through drying up resources: a job loss, a career change, or a disaster. In these times we are willing to listen more intently, and to seek God in ways we would not normally do. C.S. Lewis once wrote, "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains; it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world." [C.S.Lewis, The Problem of Pain, 93.]

In His Service,
Jim (jim@biblefood.org)
www.biblefood.org
www.goproclaim.com

"The Making Process of becoming His Vessel"

2006-11-03T17:11:00.000-05:00

Today's devotion is taken from my sermon titled:
“The Joseph Process to Your Greater Purpose for God” - Genesis 41:1-46 - Recommended reading

Joseph spent another 2 years in prison forgotten [after giving Cupbearer his dream interpretation], a total of 13 years of ups and downs for the process to be completed in God’s plan for Joseph’s life.

This process will break down that deadly sin of human PRIDE – Prov. 16:18, I Cor. 10:12 A difference in PRIDE and CONFIDENCE IN CHRIST.

A.W. Tozer stated, "It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He [God] has hurt [or broken] him deeply".

A broken and contrite heart God will not despise – Psa. 51:17

This is a person who has come to the total awareness of their spiritual bankruptcy apart from Christ.

Looking at Joseph, I’m sure there were some Eygptians who questioned how this JEW got to the TOP so quickly in Eygpt. But they didn’t have the SLIGHTEST idea what had gone on in Joseph’s life in the 13 previous years leading up to God promoting him.

Today I want to relate Joseph’s life to what I’ve gone through over the years as they are so similar, and I believe will help you understand why I am so PASSIONATE with my vision to reaching the world with the Good News of Jesus Christ. I’ve been told at times to calm down. For the record, I am at peace in my heart. But the hour is short, the harvest is ripe, we need to get busy gathering in the Last of the last days’ harvest.

My background: I was saved in 1975 at age of 15, and then I had a vision/dream in my heart of my calling to ministry at age 16 (after reading “the Cross and the Swithblade”). I then went to Bible School [after finishing High School] and finished it by age of 21, then I took my first pastorate from the age of 22-27.

Then comes THE REST OF THE STORY.

I pastored in the 80’s, and loved the LORD, but I had some spiritual struggles. I also had not yet experienced the level of the breaking of the self-life that the LORD was going to require of me. I thought I was a good solid Christian, in the Word daily, almost daily running off alone to be with God. I pretty much felt I had my Christian life under control, I was in charge of my DESTINY, then it all collapsed in one day (24 hour period)! I literally lost everything in one day – Church, ministry, transportation (my car totaled), and also due to all that I needed to move out of my rental. I ended up having nothing! That was on August 8, 1987.

BOY, DOES THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN LOOK FAR FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VALLEY.

Then I went through what I call those QUIET YEARS. I still remembered the vision of God’s call on my life at age 16 and here I am (in 1987) almost 12 years (1975) after God’s vision/dream and it’s ALL GONE!

I could hardly see the vision God gave me at 16. I felt like absolutely nothing was happening in my life, when in reality, God was establishing me, perfecting me, and refining me. NOT THE MOST FUN PROCESS!

Read: Job 23:10 – “…When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.”

Refining process = As Gold purified/tried by fire – Read 1 Peter 1:7 and 1 Peter 4:12

I believe trials serve to:
1. Remind us of our need of Christ.
2. Strengthen our faith.
3. Remove impurities.

Then in 1994 or 1995 the first sign of something as to my calling revived – God has me start a monthly men’s Bible Study with approx. 10-20 guys.

Also during that same time period (1994-1995) I go through the book “Experiencing God,” and then end up faciliting to approximately 10-12 people (I shepherded them with all my heart for those few months).

Then, in 1998 I was impressed of the LORD to start an online Bible Study called BIBLEFOOD/Go Proclaim Ministries (Weekly Devotional) started with, I think, 3 members and growing. That year we grew into the 100’s. I was so excited!!!

Then by 2000 growing into the 1000’s and today we have over 6,000 members of BibleFood. My heart as a pastor grew during this time as many wrote me for prayer and guidance.

Then in the winter of 2004/2005 the LORD said it’s time to sell the house and move into ministry where I can personally be involved in peoples’ lives, not just by the internet.

The door opened in the Spring of 2005 for a home missions/pastor position in Kane, PA. Where’s Kane??? Pennsylvania Isn’t it COLD in PA? Though I don’t like the cold weather, I believed (and still believe) God sent me to the little town of Kane, PA (known as the Icebox of Pennsylvania).

Now, as we move into 2006, the vision to reach the world, not only by internet but in person, swings open. I am invited to AFRICA (a dream of decades – It will happen in 2007), then Pakistan, then INDIA (going to India NEXT week).
See: www.goproclaim.com/india.htm

What has happened? What is going on?
God is bring me through THE JOSEPH PROCESS!

Just as Joseph had his testing period before God’s VISION was given to Joseph at age 17 was to come to pass some 13 years later (when he was 30 yrs. old). So the vision God gave me at 16 started to manifest in 1998 (23 years later) and further fulfillment in 2005 at age 46 (last year, some 30 years later), and now my first trip to a third world country this year, and prayerfully more to come.

Are all the valleys done, NOPE! But the valley times seem shorter.

NOW SO IMPORTANT – DON’T MISS THIS!

No matter what you have thought of yourself, REMEMBER THE WORDS OF I Cor. 1:26-29.

“For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: THAT NO FLESH SHOULD GLORY IN HIS PRESENCE.”

God has NOT chosen many WISE, MIGHTY, or NOBLE…but God has chosen the foolish, weak, base [insignificant], the despised.

WHY? So that NO person shall take pride in himself, but give God all the glory.

Then in I Cor. 4:7 – “For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?”ALL that we have we received is from the LORD. Since we received it from the LORD, there is no reason to boast about what you have as if you achieved it yourself. It was all given to you by God.

2 Cor 3:5 – says, “…our sufficiency is of God.”

Why such a process?
Because God does not want POWERFUL PERFECTLY POLISHED vessels of the flesh (self-made men), but yielded vessels which HE CAN PERFECT.

I remember my days in the Joseph pits, and would rather stay broken and obedient to my LORD than end up in the pit again.

I KNOW I am what I am BY THE GRACE OF GOD.
I DO what I do BY THE GRACE OF GOD.

My prayer is:
LORD, may Jim never rise to ANY throne, may Jim NEVER forget the working of God in his life, may Jim ALWAYS seek to please his LORD and SAVIOR and not man.

This is what 17 years did for Joseph, it BROKE him and PREPARED him.
This is what 30+ years did for Jim – it has broken him and prepared him (I’m a slower learner than Joseph).

What about you?
Did God give you a vision in your heart of what HE wants to do with your life FOR HIM? YES! He has a purpose in your life for each of us to GLORIFY HIM in some way(s).

Have you lost that vision?
Let God make you into that YIELDED vessel He can use!

It may take you 5 years of preparation, or like Joseph 17 years of preparation, or like me 30+ years of preparation, or maybe more (though I hope not).

PLEASE don’t resist His hand in your life, yield to the LORD in your heart.

Cry out from your heart, “I only want YOUR will LORD for my life and nothing else”.

Then keep crying out from your heart until you actually mean it and are 100% yielded to the LORD.

PRAYER:
LORD, thank you for NEVER giving up on us, in the past, or in the PRESENT or in the future, and LORD help us to be YIELDED vessels that will give GLORY TO YOU WITH OUR LIVES! In Jesus Precious Name, Amen!

In His Service,
Jim (jim@biblefood.org)

“It’s Time to Wake Up the Sleeping Church”

2006-10-20T21:42:00.000-05:00

"Therefore let us not SLEEP, as do others: but let us WATCH and be SOBER."—1 Thess. 5:6

Wow, time sure has been flying by! I haven’t had any time to write devotions.

Hopefully, I will have more coming out soon.

Meanwhile, I encourage you all to go to our website: www.biblefood.org as we have many devotions there; and if that is not enough, we have many more devotions in our archives at: www.geocities.com/biblefood/archive.html. Also, also our church site is beginning to include some of my sermon notes at: www.kanepa.org/sermons.htm

The LORD has been moving in our little town of Kane and in Go Proclaim Ministries/BibleFood reaching the world with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

In November 2006, I will be going to INDIA to minister at a Pastor/Minister Seminar and in churches, villages, and an orphanage in MALAKAPALLI - WEST GODAVARI.

The LORD has been so faithful in providing the finances and blessings to make this trip possible. Now I need your prayers more than ever.

Please PRAY for me to not get sick there, for my strength, and also for my voice, as I will be speaking 25-30 times in 2 weeks. Go to: www.goproclaim.com/india.htm

In preparation for this trip, a brother in Christ called me a couple weeks ago and told me I needed to get the book, “Revolution in World Missions” by K.P. Yohannan. Interestingly, I had picked up the book at a Pastors’ conference a few months back, but amongst my other books, it was overlooked and never. So when this brother told me about the book, I told him I already had two (unread) copies (my wife had also ordered it, not knowing that I had it – that’s another whole God story).

I have read the book with such excitement and vision, as I get ready to go to India. The LORD has been so faithful in providing that I will have money enough to help support some of the pastors in India. As a matter of fact, we have had more money come in for India than has come in for the past 8 years of Go Proclaim Ministries/BibleFood. WOW! What a MIRACLE!

After reading “Revolution in World Missions” by K.P. Yohannan, I have been so encouraged about our being able to support pastors who live in poverty in India.

Please get your free copy of this book at: www.gfa.org/gfa (scroll down to bottom left of page). They will mail it to you absolutely FREE (no shipping charge either). It is also available to download as a big PDF file (book), again, for FREE.

I feel that we are so spoiled in America. I believe originally it was God’s blessing on our country, but we have hoarded it upon ourselves and now what was once a blessing is causing us to FORGET God (See Prov. 30:7-9). I believe economic disaster is in the future of America (and deserved for forgetting God), but in the meantime we still have a chance to help get the Gospel of Jesus Christ around the world.

Today, are you among the financially blessed in America (or the world)? What are you doing with that blessing? Are you buying more homes, cars, stocks, toys, etc., OR are you properly using it to spread the Gospel around the world? WHY do you think God has blessed you financially, fellow Christian! Seriously, why has God blessed you financially? HE HAS BLESSED YOU TO HELP SUPPORT THE SPREADING OF THE GOSPEL! Not to buy more homes, cars, stocks, toys, etc. or as the Bible says it, “to build more BARNS” (See Luke 12:13-21).

I am not a money-making machine and have been personally criticized in the past for my lack of a secular trade or skill; and, thus, my lack of ability to make a decent income. Meanwhile, I continue to do what God has called me to do: Preach the Gospel AND do whatever jobs come along to help financially support my family and for the spreading of the Gospel. My wife and I feel, first and primarily, I must spend my time and energy in the work of the ministry as Pastor and all that goes along with that, as well as my calling to be a voice to the Body of Christ worldwide, even if it is but a whisper.

Maybe you are like me and haven’t been blessed financially by the LORD. By Third-World standards, I am considered extremely rich, but in American standards, pretty poor. Past stock market crashes have had no effect on me directly, and neither will future ones, as I have no stocks (guess that’s one benefit of not being rich). Some of you out there are much poorer than I, you wish you had more money to give to spread the Gospel, but God in His infinite wisdom has chosen a different path than riches for you. You still have such power (though not financially rich) in the LORD. Are you praying for those who do not know Jesus? If not, why not? Are you sharing Jesus with those in your everyday life in your circle of influence (friends, family, neighbors, etc.)? If not, why not?

EVERY SINGLE CHRISTIAN ON EARTH HAS A PART TO PLAY IN SHARING THE GOSPEL. ARE YOU DOING YOUR PART? IF NOT, WHY NOT?

This is not to put a guilt trip on anyone, but I believe God wants us to wake up out of our SLEEPING state and seek to do more of God’s will on this earth.

Time is short, the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few!!! (See Matt. 9:37,38)

PRAYER: LORD, help us to see our Kingdom priorities and responsibilities as your laborers. Forgive us for our greedy, selfish and lukewarm state of our hearts. Give us a fresh vision of our purpose for being here, and help us to see our part in this end time harvest of souls. In Jesus’ Name – AMEN!

In His Service,
Jim (jim@biblefood.org)
www.biblefood.org

ARE YOU SEEING CLEARLY?

2006-09-07T12:36:00.000-05:00

In this day and age we live in many of us get DISTRACTED from the purposes of God and make things priorities that ought not to be.

Today’s devotion will deal with this issue, and prayerfully, help us to refocus our spiritual eyes so that we will see clearly.

Our society (and often our carnal minds) teaches us to want (even lust after) the nice car, big home, big paying job, etc. These things can be nice and SOMETIMES God blesses us with them. But if your mind is occupied with these things as a priority in your life, your spiritual vision is VERY BLURRED. In my own life, I have had to learn to NOT give THINGS too much importance.

In America, as well as in many other parts of the world, success is measured by what type of job you have (i.e. how much you make), by the home you own, the car you drive, etc. But this is NOT how God measures success!

Success in God’s eyes is based on our OBEDIENCE to Him and in our seeking to make an eternal difference.

Our eyes MUST be on the things of God, not on the temporal things of this world.

I‘ve shared my heart above, now let’s look at these things from God's heart through His Word:

3 Things That Blur our Vision:

1 - THE DECEPTION OF THE LUKEWARM CHURCH (I.E. LUKEWARM CHRISTIAN)
"And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write...........thou art lukewarm........BECAUSE THOU SAYEST, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that THOU MAYEST SEE". - Revelation 3:14, 16-18

"Because thou sayest." What a difference between their thoughts of themselves, and the thoughts Christ had of them! .......There are many in hell, who once thought themselves far in the way to heaven......They were poor; really poor, when they said and thought they were rich. They could not see their state, nor their way, nor their danger, yet they thought they saw it….. Some things must be parted with, but nothing valuable; and it is only to make room for receiving true riches. Part with sin and self-confidence, that you may be filled with his hidden treasure….. Let us examine ourselves by the rule of his word, and pray earnestly for the teaching of his Holy Spirit, to take away our pride, prejudices, and worldly lusts".
- Matthew Henry Commentary

2 - THE COVETOUSNESS OF MAN IS NOT RICH TOWARD GOD

“And he said unto them, Take heed, and BEWARE OF COVETOUSNESS: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, his night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is NOT RICH TOWARD GOD”. - Luke 12:15-21

“Covetousness is a sin we need constantly to be warned against; for happiness and comfort do not depend on the wealth of this world. The things of the world will not satisfy the desires of a soul.…..If we value the beauty of holiness, we shall not crave the luxuries of life”. - Matthew Henry Commentary

3 - CONCERNS OVER THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD (ANXIETIES, RICHES, AND LUSTS) WILL CHOKE OUT THE WORD IN YOUR LIFE

Jesus spoke this parable about a sower sowing seed and the outcome of those seeds sown. Someday, I hope to look in more depth into that entire passage; but for today’s devotion, let’s just look at a small portion of Mark Chapter 4.

“Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow....And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up,and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.......And these are they which are sown among ......thorns; such as hear the word, and THE CARES OF THIS WORLD, AND THE DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES, AND THE LUSTS OF OTHER THING entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful”. - Mark 4:3, 7, 18, 19

3 things are mentioned in this passage that will choke out the Word of God in our lives:

1.Cares of this World - Always worrying and being anxious about the things of life will absolutely cause us to have blurred vision spiritually.

2. Deceitfulness of Riches - Don't buy into the lie that money is success and happiness. This results in blurred spiritual vision.

3. Lust for other things - This would include all lust or "over-desires" in reference to OTHER THINGS not already mentioned that are NOT from God. This, too, will result in blurred spiritual vision.

SCRIPTURE CLARITY COMES BY:

1 – PUTTING (SEEKING) THE THINGS OF GOD FIRST IN OUR LIFE. IT IS THEN THAT GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF THE LITTLE EARTHLY THINGS OF OUR LIFE.
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.... Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. BUT SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS; and all these things shall be added unto you”. - Matthew 6:24, 31-33

“Worldly-mindedness is a common and fatal symptom of hypocrisy, for by no sin can Satan have a surer and faster hold on the soul, under the cloak of a profession of religion [Christianity] …..Christ counsels to make our best things the joys and glories of the OTHER world, those things not seen which are eternal, and to place our happiness in them. There are treasures in heaven. … A man may do some service to two masters, but he can devote himself to the service of no more than one. GOD REQUIRES THE WHOLE HEART, AND WILL NOT SHARE IT WITH THE WORLD. When two masters oppose each other, no man can serve both. He who holds to the world and loves it, must despise God; he who loves God, must give up the friendship of the world. THERE IS SCARCELY ANY SIN AGAINST WHICH OUR LORD JESUS MORE WARNS HIS DISCIPLES, THAN DISQUIETING, DISTRACTING, DISTRUSTFUL CARES ABOUT THE THINGS OF THIS LIFE. This often insnares the poor as much as the love of wealth does the rich….. If we take care about our souls and for eternity, which are more than the body and its life, we may leave it to God to provide for us food and raiment, which are less. Improve this as an encouragement to trust in God….. SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND MAKE RELIGION [CHRISTIANITY] YOUR BUSINESS: SAY NOT THAT THIS IS THE WAY TO STARVE; NO, IT IS THE WAY TO BE WELL PROVIDED FOR, EVEN IN THIS WORLD”. - Matthew Henry Commentary

2 - OUR AFFECTION (MIND) MUST BE ON THE THINGS ABOVE.

“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth”. - Colossians 3:2

God tells us to set our affection (i.e. mind) on the things above. Lightfoot puts it this way in regard to this passage, “You must not only SEEK heaven; you must also THINK heaven”.

Though the things of this earth are not necessarily bad, our mind, thoughts and attention needs to be on those things that are eternal. In other words, DON’T GET WRAPPED UP IN ALL THIS EARTHLY TEMPORAL STUFF!

Seek God above all else, and set you mind, thoughts first and foremost focused on the Word of God and the things of God, and you will see as God meant you to – CLEARLY!

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help me to get my eyes off those things which are temporal and not of any value to your Eternal purposes. I come to you right now and ask you to help me SEE with Your eyes, and to truly have Eternal priorities. I ask this in Jesus’ Name! AMEN!

In His Service,
Jim (Jim@Biblefood.ORG)

INDIA - Needs Jesus - Do YOU Care! Part 2 of 2

2006-09-07T12:01:00.000-05:00

Today I want to share a little more about India as I am excited that the LORD has opened a door for me to go to India and preach the Gospel in November.

Scriptures on WORLD MISSIONS (please read)
Romans 10:14,15
Matthew 28:19,20
Acts 1:8

The challenge (especially to AMERICANS) is to look beyond our immediate surroundings and acquaintances and to see the WHOLE WORLD as our field of labor.

Here are some statistics specifically about India:

Christians in India, Indonesia and Pakistan run the HIGHEST RISK OF LOSING THEIR LIVES. Persecution Ranking worldwide: 26th

In India, Christians only make up 2.43% of the population!

On November 9th - 23rd - I (Jim Mazzulla)have been invited to be daily guest speaker at a ministers conference (a minister to ministers), and to also speak in churches, villages and orpanage in Rajahmundry (Andhra Pradesh), India.

Actual e-mail from Pastor Babu (who recieves BibleFood Devotionals) dated 6/24/06:

Dear Brother Rev.Jim,
Thank you so much for your kind reply.Really I was blessed to having fellowship with you to grown up in spiritual life to reach the goal. HOLY SPIRIT TELLING ME THAT YOU ARE RIGHT PERSON TO PREACH AND TO TEACH OUR PEOPLE IN INDIA TO FEED SPIRITUALLY FOR THEIR SPIRITUAL GROWTH. My soul encoraging me to invite you to our midst to teach and preach.I have visited your websites and inspired mostly. We are praying the Lord to provide you finances to meet your needs for the outreach work.Our God is trustworthy. Prayerfully and hopefully waiting for your visit to India.We have a Seminar for ministers and pastors during November 14,15,16,17-2006...God Bless you very richly and abundantly.
With Prayers,
Pastor Babu

SEE RECENT LETTER/FLYER:
http://www.goproclaim.com/youth__gospel__crusade.htm

This is an opportunity to minister to an estimated 500 pastors, ministers and church elders for this conference. TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO GO FORTH AND WIN INDIA FOR CHRIST.

Also check out: http://www.goproclaim.com/india.htm

Recent news about persecution in Andhra Pradesh:
March 2006:
Andhra Pradesh saw relatively few attacks against Christians in 2005, despite the murders of pastors K. Daniel and Isaac Raju. However, 2006 has already seen a number of violent atrocities against Christians.

June 2006
Post:Titled "Missionaries Beaten". This is a story about a Gospel for Asia missionary team that was showing a film to a village in Andhra Pradesh, India and some men showed up and beat them and destroyed thousands of dollars worth of equipment.
Link: http://inspirationalkorner.blogspot.com/2006/06/missionaries-beaten.html

June 2006
The body of 67-year old Pastor Prem Kumar, a 67-year-old preacher from the Church of South India, was found Thursday, June 8th in a forest in the Nizamabad district of Andhra Pradesh state. Pastor Kumar was contacted by a young man requesting that Kumar lead a prayer service in the village of Rampur Thanda. Pastor Kumar was attacked with stones and boulders and his head was crushed beyond recognition.

August (2006) from the Hindustan Times,
The state government has ... introduced legislation that would ban the propagation of any faith other than Hinduism in the area. If the legislation is passed, those preaching any other religion could face imprisonment and fines... Those attempting to convert people to religions other than Hinduism could be imprisoned for two years.

Sept. 2006
Several Indian states have recently imposed so-called ‘anti-conversion’ laws to limit the spread of Christianity and discourage missionaries and church leaders of preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to non-Christians, church groups say (Source BosNewsLife Research Sept 2006)

In the midst of persecution more than 100 million Indians have viewed the "JESUS FILM."

I personally believe a "persecuted church" is a growing church. Both numerically and spiritually.I'm excited about this opportunity to minister in India. We need your prayers and financial support!!!

Please let me know if you, or your prayer group, or your church is praying for me - It will be a blessing in paving the way for my trip to India and will encourage my heart.

Also, if you can help financially, it is much needed! Please help! THIS MINISTRY IS NOT ABOUT MONEY. NEVER HAS BEEN, NEVER WILL BE. YOUR HELP (IN PRAYER/FINANCES) FOR OUR MINISTRY INTO INDIA IS NEEDED.

If you choose to support me financially as I participate in this missionary trip to India, please make your check payable to: Go Proclaim Ministries. In the memo write: India Trip.

Please pray about the part God would have you to play in this trip, and may He bless you for your prayers and support.

Our Mailing Address is:
Go Proclaim Ministries
Attn: BibleFood
Box 676
Kane, PA 16735

Go Proclaim Ministries is a 501c3 organization and all contributions are tax deductible.

For your convenience you may also give by credit card by going to www.goproclaim.com/donate.htm

Visit:
www.goproclaim.com/india.htm
www.goproclaim.com/support.htm

Please forward to EVERYONE that you feel would want to be involved by prayer and support for my trip to India.

In His Service,
Jim
E-mail: jim@biblefood.org

INDIA - Needs Jesus - Do YOU Care! Part 1 of 2

2006-09-07T11:43:00.000-05:00

Scriptures on WORLD MISSIONS:

"How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how
shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and HOW SHALLTHEY HEAR WITHOUT A PREACHER? And how shall they preach, except they BE SENT? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" - Romans 10:14,15

"GO YE therefore, and teach ALL NATIONS, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen." - Matthew 28:19,20

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and YE SHALL BE WITNESSES unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, AND UNTO THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH." Acts 1:8

There is only ONE mission of the Church: to bring GLORY TO GOD by proclaiming the Gospel and reaping the HARVEST OF SOULS which willworship and delight in God forever.

The challenge is to look beyond our immediate surroundings and acquaintances and to see the WHOLE WORLD as our field of labor.

Now I would like to specifically share about INDIA, which is in what is called the 10/40 Window.

10/40 window means the section of the world located between latitudes 10 degrees and 40 degrees north of the equator.

It covers the Middle East, North Africa, Central and Southeast Asia, and holds two-thirds of the world's population.

Only about one and a quarter percent (1.25%) of Christian mission giving is going to missions work in the 10/40 Window.

Here are some statistics specifically about India:

Christians in India, Indonesia and Pakistan run the highest risk of losing their lives. - June 27, 2006 Persecution Ranking: 26th

The average annual income in India is $370 ($30.83 per month).

I've been told by a Christian who lived there. It is even worse for a Christian (basically treated as outcasts) at around $240 ($20 per month and lower).

In India, Christians only make up 2.43% of the population!

Well I have good news:
November 9th - 23rd - I (Jim Mazzulla)have been invited to be daily guest speaker at a ministers conference (a minister to ministers), and to also speak in churches, villages and orpanage in Rajahmundry (Andhra Pradesh), India.

We need your prayers and financial support!!!

Please let me know if you, or your prayer group, or your church is praying for me - It will be a blessing in paving the way for my trip to India and will encourage my heart.

Also, if you can help financially, it is much needed! Please help! THIS MINISTRY IS NOT ABOUT MONEY. NEVER HAS BEEN, NEVER WILL BE. YOUR HELP (IN PRAYER/FINANCES) FOR OUR MINISTRY INTO INDIA IS NEEDED.

If you choose to support me financially as I participate in this missionary trip to India, please make your check payable to: Go Proclaim Ministries. In the memo write: India Trip.

Please pray about the part God would have you to play in this trip, and
may He bless you for your prayers and support.
Our Mailing Address is:
Go Proclaim Ministries
Attn: BibleFood
Box 676
Kane, PA 16735

Go Proclaim Ministries is a 501c3 organization and all contributions are tax deductible.

For your convenience you may also give by credit card by going to
www.goproclaim.com/donate.htm

Visit:
www.goproclaim.com/india.htm
www.goproclaim.com/support.htm

Please forward to EVERYONE that you feel would want to be involved by prayer and support for my trip to India.

In His Service,

Jim
E-mail: jim@biblefood.org

If I could speak to today’s churches and ministers - WHAT WOULD I SAY?

2006-08-25T13:13:00.000-05:00

Today’s devotion comes from the depths of my heart, and is spoken in love, sincerity, and humility! It has taken me a long time to get to the place where I can write this! It is written with ministers in mind, but is a word we all need to hear. I’m not in a popularity contest (obviously), but just wanting to obey my LORD JESUS CHRIST and help the church in these perilous times.
(II Tim 3:1).

Main text:
“Behold, how good and how pleasant [it is] for brethren to dwell together in unity!” - Psalm 133:1

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; THAT THEY ALL MAY BE ONE; as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: THAT THE WORLD MAY BELIEVE THAT THOU HAST SENT ME. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; THAT THEY MAY BE ONE, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and THAT THE WORLD MAY KNOW THAT THOU HAST SENT ME, AND HAST LOVED THEM, AS THOU HAST LOVED ME. - John 17:20-23

For today's devotion, I’m going to use my little town as an example, but I believe what I am saying needs to go out to everyone who claims to be a born again Christian, and to every Pastor who claims to love God, love God’s Word, and love God’s people (sheep).

I pastor a church of approximately 30 attendees on a good Sunday, sometimes higher, sometimes lower. Taking the position of pastor at Community Fellowship in the little town of Kane, PA, (www.kanepa.org) changed my life--quite a change after living near Atlanta, GA, since 1993. It has cost me being away from my grown children and grandchildren. Is it worth it for 30 people? My answer to that is, if GOD SENDS YOU somewhere, it is worth it even if it is for ONE person.

NOTE: Many missionaries of the past saw few or no converts on the mission field, but they paved the way for future missionaries and the move of God in various parts of the world. Praise God for their obedience!

While I have a church of 30, I have a ministry to EVERYONE in town. Our little town has approximately 4,000 people and likely AT LEAST 3300 or more have not been born again (John 3:3) . Hopefully, there are 700 or so brothers or sisters in town (though honestly I have a hard time finding them ...Hmm) that I can UNITE with to change our area for Christ. Some of you might be thinking good luck on that!!!

I understand that thinking--Churches and people who call themselves Christians normally don’t unite. So is it any wonder we are not seeing true spiritual growth? A

Are you aware that most of what we call church growth around the country isn’t really “growth” at all? It’s just Christians moving from one church to another. It’s more like who has the “best show” in town. That’s a sad but true reality.

We AREN’T supposed to go to the “best show” in town! We are to go to where God WANTS us AND where the Bible is proclaimed and taught as the infallible Word of God.

I have, at times, almost wished I wasn’t the pastor of a church, just so people wouldn’t worry about me stealing their sheep (which hasn’t and won’t happen). Actually, they are God’s sheep. True churches don’t grow by stealing sheep anyway.

On the other hand, if you carry the name pastor/shepherd and are not feeding the sheep the Bible and don’t plan or try to, then I will RESCUE those sheep all day long. In my opinion, there are a lot of wolves in the pulpits today. Let’s pray that we can get to these sheep before they are devoured by wolves (Matt. 7:15) and hirelings (John 10:12-13). Also, see Jer. 23:1,2; Jer. 50:6 and Ezk. 34:2,3,10.

This doesn’t mean that just because of some doctrinal differences that the pastor is a wolf or hireling. I believe if the fundamental truths of the Bible are being taught and the sheep are not spiritually beaten, then that pastor is likely a shepherd, so encourage the sheep to stay there!

Praise God, in our little town, approximately 6-8 born again ministers get together weekly to pray and encourage one another. We also have had joint services outside in the park during the summer.

Yeah, I’m bragging a little on our town and the ministers.

But that’s not enough, we must EVERYWHERE, IN ALL CHURCHS AROUND THE WORLD, break down the walls even further and stop worrying about where the sheep go.

SO, WHERE AM I GOING WITH ALL THIS?

If we REALLY want to see a move of God, we will have to be Christ-like enough to not worry about carnal sheep stealing and JOIN HANDS AND HEARTS in the purposes of God. We have a world that is lost out there!

Let’s get free from that “religious show” or “country club” mentality and “they’re MY sheep” thinking. Pastors are under shepherds, UNDER THE GREAT SHEPHERD (John 10:14-16) . We’ve had the wrong mind-set long enough.

Let’s get back to the Bible and our purpose of CARING/FEEDING sheep and REACHING A LOST AND DYING WORLD with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

In His Love, Grace, and Mercy,
Jim (jim@biblefood.org)

Please pass this on to others by e-mail, websites, blogs, snail mail, photocopies, etc…

God is Working in Our Lives

2006-08-10T12:26:00.000-05:00

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way." - Psalm 37:23

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28

"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."
- Philippians 1:6

As we journey down the road of life, it has many twists and turns in it and also some mountaintop and valley experiences. In the midst of all this, we MUST see God's hand working throughout our lives.

Can we mess up God's plan for our lives? Sort of yes, and sort of no. We will do things that are NOT God's will; like sin, disobedience (which is sin), etc., that will get us off of God's track for our lives. But the moment we repent and seek Him, He works us back into His plan and will for our lives.

You may think - no, you don't understand, I messed up too bad for God to use me. No, that is not so!!! I have wrestled with that myself, but we need to remember that God is BIGGER than our mess-ups. And guess what? God KNEW you were going to mess up even BEFORE you messed up. He also KNEW when you would repent and had ALREADY laid out the path BEFOREHAND to get you back on track with His will for you -WOW!!!

Not only does God move in straightening out our mess-ups, but He also is moving in our everyday life as we walk with Him.

Over the years, I have had what I'll call "divine appointments" which simply means being at the right place at the right time because of following the LORD.

There are many times we don't even have a clue that God is directing our steps (we think we are), but then you look back and say ONLY GOD could have made that "divine appointment."

One example of this is in founding BibleFood Devotional 8 years ago in January 1998. I followed the LORD'S leading in starting BibleFood Devotional. At the time, it didn't seem like a big deal, just an act of obedience; literally, only sending the devotion out to a handful of people.

Out of that ONE act of obedience, I have had the following happen:

1. I have grown through reaching out to others.

2. I have made many real friends.

3. I have made many ministerial friends.

4. I met my wife in 1999. She was a member of BibleFood and had moved to the area where I lived (though we didn't know each other yet). She e-mailed me one day that she was looking for a church in the area. I recommended that she visit where I was attending. We became offline friends and in time, fell in love (no cyber dating for us). Let me state here that we were not looking to date each other; that happened in time, God's time! And what a blessing He gave me in Joyce (my wife).

5. Out of BibleFood Devotional was started another online ministry in January 2000 called "The Encourager," devotions specifically written for ministers, elders, others in church leadership positions. These devotionals get into more specific issues that face those in ministry. It is also viewed by many via the internet. www.geocities.com/biblefood/tearchive.html

6. “GodWillHelpYou” was started in 2001 - This was inspired by Jim trying to minister and help co-workers at a job. Then he saw the need for this ministry over the internet. This ministry is an outreach to the lost, bound, backslidden, and hurting, as well as the unsaved. www.biblefood.org/godwillhelpyou.html

7. I was inspired by how God used the internet with BibleFood to using it in the starting of Christian Pool Players Association in 2002. This was started to reach the lost and hurting in the “pool/billiards” environment through friendship evangelism and special events. This has grown to over 250 members throughout the USA and the world. Go to: www.christianpoolplayers.com

8. In 2005, I accepted the pastorate of “Community Fellowship Church” in Kane, PA. This came about through a member in Pennsylvania who receives BibleFood Devotional. I had mentioned I felt the LORD calling me to the pastorate (somewhere). She e-mailed me about a place in Kane, PA (where’s Kane, PA, was my first thought). Also, I thought that it’s got to be cold in Kane and I don’t like the cold (but I do like to obey God). Yes, I took the pastorate of a small church in the small town of Kane. By the way, due to the cold winters, Kane is known as the “Icebox of Pennsylvania.”

Church website is: www.communityfellowshipofkane.org and www.kanepa.org

9. Opportunities in 2006 have opened for me to minister overseas (short-term missions) in India, Africa, and Pakistan. This is something I have had on my heart for years!!!

There are other areas where God has done amazing things in my life and others just because of obeying Him in this ONE area.

The last thing (number 10) I would like to share on relating to BibleFood touches my heart deeply as it is so GOD! This will take a few lines to explain but I think it will be worth your reading.

10. Back in the spring of 2000 I was planning to register www.biblefood.com as it was available that winter and would be so much easier for you all to remember and/or find. Finally, later that spring when I was ready to register it, I found that it had been taken in March 2000, I just missed getting it!!!

I was upset about losing the name and checked to see who took it. I decided to e-mail the person who registered it. I explained to this person how I had been wanting it for a long time. We ended up becoming friends (real close friends). The website name became a non-issue, but our friendship became our main concern. Since that time, my wife and I met Bob and his wife Mary while on our vacation. Now we have known them for years, have been to their home a couple times on vacation, spoke at Bob’s church, and love and respect them both highly. I consider Bob my “BibleFood brother” and have been so blessed by his love for Christ and his knowledge of the Bible.

I decided, with my busy schedule and the many changes in my life time-wise, that it was time to ask Pastor Bob Jones to use his God-given gift in the Greek to bless the readers of BibleFood Devotional. He has written a number of devotions for us. Although we are separate ministries, we are also working together for the purpose of blessing the Body of Christ.

I did register BibleFood as www.biblefood.org (ORG)and Pastor Bob Jones is still www.biblefood.com (COM).
Isn't that AWESOME!!! :)

In closing, over the years since starting BibleFood Devotional, I want to say I have experienced many trials and lots of valley time; but through it all I know God is still God, He is still in control!!!

So whether things are looking bright or dark, remember God is ultimately in CONTROL!!! Let God be God and allow Him to move in your life!

Your prayers are ALWAYS welcome and appreciated.

In His Service,
Jim (jim@biblefood.ORG)

NOTE: A trip to India is planned in November 2006. (We need supporters – If so led please send support to GO Proclaim Ministries, Box 676, Kane, PA 16735 (Attention India).

I Don’t Deserve This

2006-07-31T20:37:00.000-05:00

Have you ever heard anyone say, "I don't deserve this!!" Or better yet, have you ever heard yourself saying “I don’t deserve this”? And you may be right, there may be times in our lives that we were treated wrongly, gone through situations that weren’t fair, that weren’t right.

We expect life to be easy, to be fair; and it doesn’t always work out that way. In 1970, there was a song sung by Lynn Anderson – “I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden.”

When we look around, we see people who are suffering for their wrong doings, and we may think that the thing they suffer from is what they deserve. For example, it is hard to think that a murderer does not deserve to spend time in jail. The guy at work who is always late and does a bad job probably deserves to lose his job.

deserve (verb) - To acquire as a result of one's behavior or effort: earn, gain, get, merit, win. To be worthy of; merit.

Psalm 28:4 - Give them according to their deeds, And according to the wickedness of their endeavors; Give them according to the work of their hands; Render to them what they deserve.

We understand when it is obvious that “bad” people suffer for their actions.

BUT I DON’T DESERVE THIS - That is really quite a statement and it may be ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

The Bible is absolutely FULL of examples of people who did mot DESERVE what happened to them.

Joseph was thrown in a pit by his brothers; sold as a slave in chains; thrown into jail, falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife, and forgotten about for years after he helped the King. Did he deserve this? The answer is very easy “NO.” Genesis 39:2 says, “The Lord was with Joseph.”

Daniel was shipped off to a foreign country, thrown into a lion's den, and hated by those that he worked with while he served the King. Did he deserve this? Again, “NO.” But look at the result when he was delivered from the circumstance that he “Did Not Deserve.” Daniel 6:26 - I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end.

John the Baptist was beheaded. Did he deserve this? Again, “NO.” Luke 7:28 – “For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."

Paul was cast into jail, ship wrecked, stoned, and beaten with rods. Did he deserve this? Again, “NO,” Colossians 1:24 - “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church.”

Our ultimate example: Did Jesus deserve to be beaten, whipped, stripped and then hung on a cross? NO, NO, NO! Hebrews 12:2 – “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured.”

None of these men DESERVED (earned) the treatment that they received; yet, even as great men of God, it happened.

“The undeserved circumstances, events, and treatment we face will either defeat us or develop us more into the likeness of Christ, depending on how we respond.”

“I have my rights” – you are absolutely correct.

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

IT IS NO LONGER I WHO LIVES – YOU ARE DEAD to this world, YOU ARE DEAD to the way the world conducts itself. You are alive in CHRIST. You have rights, every single thing that the WORD of GOD tells us are our rights.

We have a different set of RIGHTS. Luke 6:27 – “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.”

And it goes on to list some of our other RIGHTS as a Christian. We are told in Romans 12 that we are NOT to conform to this world. We are to be a different people. How different?

Galatians 5:22 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control.”

It is really all about having the right perspective and the right attitude.

I have slowly been reading Foxe’s Book of Martyrs – A woman watched her child scalped and then beheaded. Then they took her, whipped her, removing patches of skin. Then when she would still not deny Christ, they heated an iron chair till it was red hot, sat her in it; and she praised God while she cooked.

Thanking and praising God – that is quite a testimony!

Stephen in Acts 7:59 – “And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

If we can keep a right attitude, we will not seek revenge on people.

Hebrews 10:30 – “For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The Lord will judge His people."

I DON’T DESERVE THIS –

Think about this -- Do We Deserve Salvation?

Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Do we deserve to be called the Children of GOD?
Do we deserve to have a relationship with Almighty God, the creator of it all?
Do we deserve the blessings that HE gives us?
Do we deserve to have HIS HOLY SPIRIT dwelling within us?

I remember thinking how UNDESERVING of all this I was. It was during a praise and worship service in 1986 while I was attending Christ For The Nations. The presence of GOD was so real; yet with 2000 people around, it was just me and HIM. I began to cry when I realized Who I had been, who I was and who HE was. I did not deserve any of what He had given me. I didn’t deserve the love that HE had given me. From that experience, I have tried to keep an attitude of thankfulness. I could have died in 1975 in a car accident where I had been pronounced dead. I was not a Christian at that time. If it weren’t for HIS mercy, where would I be today?

I pray that each of us would always remember that, and that each of us would have an experience with Almighty God that would give us a true perspective of what we deserve.

CONCLUSION:
James 1:2 – “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

Today's devotion is written by my brother Tom.
He too is a minister, and loves to teach God's Word.
To contact Tom by E-mail: tom@biblefood.org

To contact Jim by E-mail: jim@biblefood.org

Has God Failed You?

2006-07-14T09:15:00.000-05:00

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he [it is] that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Deuteronomy 31:6

[Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Hebrews 13:5

Have you ever felt like God failed you in an area that you were believing Him to move in, and the outcome just wasn't what you expected from God or His Word (the Bible)?

Some people are so sure they understand every aspect of God and scripture and what He (GOD)has promised them, that they will THINK they can demand God to do something they ask for because they think it is a "clear-cut promise." They THINK they can just claim it and it must happen!

I have even heard people say things along this line, "God if you don't do this, based on the Bible, then you are a liar, and I will no longer believe in you." While they say they are not being irreverent but holding God to His promises, I think it is quite an irreverent way for a "man" to talk to God.

There are promises in the Bible that I personally have stood on and they never came to past. Maybe it was for someone's healing, or for a job, etc, But you know if it doesn't turn out the way we expected, the fault is not with God being a liar (what a terrible way to think) but with our FINITE mind not understanding what God was doing in a given circumstance.

One thing is for sure God did NOT fail us. The bottom line is that we misinterpreted scripture and God's will in a given situation.

I like the strong words found in Romans 9:20 " Nay but O man [MERE MAN IN COMPARISON TO GOD],
who art thou that repliest [ANSWER, QUESTION, DISPUTE, ARGUE, CONTRADICTS] against God. Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, why hast thou made me thus?"

Also we see the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY correct Job on this very attitude in Job 40:2 - "Shall he [Job] that contendeth [FINDS FAULT, ARGUES] with the Almighty instruct [HAVE THE ANSWER FOR] Him?..." Job saw how wrong his attitude was and in verse 4 properly answered the LORD with, "Behold I am vile; what shall I answer Thee? I lay mine hands upon my mouth."

Boy can I relate to Job! I have needed to put my hand(s) over my mouth and repent of some attitudes and words I felt when God didn't do it the way I expected Him to.

Do you, for a moment, think God knew less than you what was best in a given situation, or why something happened and He didn't seem to intervene?

Do I have all the answers to all what happens around me and you? - NO!

But at least we need to NOT blame God or get upset with Him.

In the future when you stand before God and He reveals Himself in ALL your past situations, you sure will wish you had just trusted the LORD with that situation and just moved on!

We must realize our understanding of things is limited.
As I Cor. 13:12 states, "For now we see through a glass, darkly {obscurely, blurred]; but then face to face, now I know in part [fragmentary fashion, incompletely]; but then shall I know [fully, completely] even as also I am known."

Only in eternity, face-to-face with the LORD, will it all be crystal clear.

As we think on the words in today's devotion and the scripture passages referenced, let us look inside our hearts to see if we have have a wrong view of God and of those circumstances that we just don't understand.

Today, by faith, GIVE them to the LORD and LEAVE them with the LORD, and MOVE ON with God's plan for you.

TRUST Him with them, and someday in this life, or more LIKELY in the life to come, He will make all those things crystal clear.

Just remember God has NOT failed you and He NEVER, NEVER, NEVER will!

AMEN!

Freedom To Be Free

2006-07-03T12:36:00.000-05:00

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty [freedom] wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage". Galatians 5:1

In this passage, Paul is making a passionate appeal to the Christians of
Galatia to recognize the freedom they have by God's grace and to encourage
the Galatians to reject the false teaching of the *Judaizers. This was the
heresy Paul came against in his letter to the Galatians. So many today fall
into a similar problem.

* Note:
The Judaizers taught that Gentile believers could not be true
Christians unless they were circumcised and followed the Mosaic law.

Interesting that we, as Christians, have liberty (KJV) or freedom
(Gk. eleutheria) to be free (Gk. eleeutheroo). Both of these words come
from the same Greek word "eleutheros". This freedom happens at salvation.

You don't need to get FREE after you are saved, you need to learn how NOT
to put yourself under bondage of the law.

Why would such a statement even need to be said?
It was said to the Galatian Christians as they were having problems by
thinking of putting themselves under the law AFTER becoming Christians.

They got saved by Grace alone, through Faith alone, and NOW they're trying to please God by keeping "the law" of the Old Testament.

Fellow Christian, this freedom is already yours.
Please, do not allow legalism to come or stay.

When we put ourselves under the law, we are acting as a child who has no
freedom of action. A child must follow a set of rules as prescribed by his
parents or guardian.

Why? Because he is not old enough to act alone.
When we get saved we are no longer under the guardianship of the law.
When we put ourselves under the law, we are like adults putting ourselves
under rules that were made for children.

Spiritually, as Christians, we are to be living in dependence upon the indwelling Holy Spirit. We should obey the LORD and His word; not because the law forbids us to do wrong and commands us to do right, but because we're led by the Holy Spirit; it pleases the Lord Jesus; and because of our love for the LORD.

(Note for youth: You are still under your parents in the natural, but the Holy Spirit wants to direct your spiritual life, if you'll ALLOW Him.)

What Christ did cannot be coupled with performance to earn salvation. All righteousness came through Jesus Christ alone. Any addition implies that Christ's sacrifice is inadequate, insufficient, incomplete and unfinished.

Someone who has been made free in Christ can still live in bondage; but it is
because they are allowing themselves to be deceived and they and/or others
are putting them into bondage.

When we try to follow the law to feel that we are acceptably walking with
God, we are attempting to earn at least "part" of our salvation ourselves. When we do so, we are declaring that Jesus is no longer our righteousness
alone, but Jesus and law (which is wrong). The law and grace for salvation are incompatible!!! We're saved by Grace ALONE, through FAITH alone! Not by any laws or of our own doing.

We are FREE! Don't buy into the lie that you must earn God's favor. Don't come under bondage to legalism, Jesus made you to be FREE.

I would encourage all of you to take the time to read Galatians as it is only
six chapters long and will prove to be an epistle that will bring freedom to
your life.

Also please know, this is NOT a license to sin, quite the opposite.
I am free to not sin!!! WOW!!!

Romans 6:1,2 states:
"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer herein?"

When I got saved GOD changed my want too's.

Praise God I don't want' to do those things that would be against God or the Bible!

Prayer:
Thank you LORD for your precious setting me free through becoming a
new creation (II Cor. 5:17). That you LORD that I'm free from sins power over my life. I will not allow myself to come under the bondage of legalism
in any form. Thank you for complete freedom in my Christian walk.
In Jesus' Name! Amen!

If you don't have this assurance of salvation please write me (jim@biblefood.org) or please go to:

www.gty.org/index.php?section=how_to_know_jesus_christ
www.thekristo.com/site/pp.asp?c=9oIDLROyGoF&b=409877
www.matthiasmedia.com.au/2wtl/

Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone

2006-06-27T11:52:00.000-05:00

And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in the Jordan SEVEN TIMES, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. But Naaman was wroth and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? May I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.”
II Kings 5:10-12

Our example is found here in the Old Testament of someone needing to get out of their COMFORT ZONE is when Elisha, the Prophet told Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, to dunk 7 times in the Jordan River, and he would be healed. HE DID NOT LIKE THAT! He thought he knew of better ways he could be healed than going into the Jordan River, but he needed to get out of his comfort zone (and likely some PRIDE), and into OBEDIENCE, he went to the Jordan and was healed. See II Kings 5:1-16.

An example in the New Testament is when Jesus spit on the ground, made mud and put the mud on the blind man’s eyes. I’m sure the blind man may have been UNCOMFORTABLE on his walk to the pool of Siloam, but he obeyed and was healed. See John 9:1-7

WE, TOO, NEED TO GET OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONE.

This past year, I have personally had to “get out of my comfort zone.” This isn’t the first time God has had me get out of my comfort zone, and it won’t be the last for sure!

Hopefully, relating my situation will help encourage some of you to “get out of your comfort zone.” Just last week I shared this with one of our BibleFood members as she shared about God bringing her out of her comfort zone.

So I would like to share my recent situation that happened a little over a year ago when my wife and I moved from Acworth, Georgia (near Atlanta). This move was prompted by the LORD, as He was leading us to take a small church. Now, let it be said here, I love the warm weather of Georgia (hot), and though I grew up in Connecticut (cold), I ALWAYS hated the cold. In the 1980's, I pastored a church in Connecticut, then moved to Georgia in the 1990's and said I would never move back to Connecticut (too cold). So where does God call us to, but to the small town of Kane, Pennsylvania, (population 4,000) where it is COLDER than CT. It is called the "Icebox of Pennsylvania" due to its cold winters. On top of that, we left all our grown children and grandchildren (hard), not knowing one person in Kane. We sold our home (another story) and moved here without a home. We stayed in a member’s nice cabin out in the mountains for the first 2 months, then rented a house. As for the pastorate, we came up here knowing I would have no salary (nada) to start with, but that was fine as the LORD would provide. Still a year later, I am not on salary but do draw a small housing allowance (my wife works as transcriptionist). Our financial situation has been tight to say the least for the past year.

Even though we “stepped out of our comfort zone” to be in the will of God, we still have some trying moments. With that being said, may this next thought be the one that sticks with you all and encourages your heart:

IT IS GREAT TO BE WHERE GOD WANTS YOU!
WE WOULDN'T TRADE ANY OF IT AS WE KNOW WE ARE IN THE WILL OF GOD.

So what is your “Comfort Zone”?

Here are a few areas to consider:

YOUR COMFORT ZONE may be being in a church where you
are NOT spiritually growing, but you have been there ALL of your life,
and the LORD is telling you to move on to a BIBLICAL CHURCH (not like you’re USED to).

YOUR COMFORT ZONE may be that God is calling you
to ANOTHER area of ministry than where you are presently.

YOUR COMFORT ZONE may be going from a two-income family
lifestyle to living on ONE income for the children’s sake or for some other reason.

YOUR COMFORT ZONE may be that you need to SACRIFICE
something that you really enjoy but you KNOW it is God (it will be WORTH IT!).

Jesus’ methods to get you and me out of our COMFORT ZONES and watch over our lives are oftenNOT the way we would do it, but OBEDIENCE to God’s ways will bring about His desired RESULTS and FRUIT in our lives.

Proverbs 16:9 says it so well,
“A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps”.

Whatever God tells you to do that affects your comfort zone,
it is for the GREATER GOOD OF YOU and the Body of Christ. God is NOT telling us to get out of our COMFORT ZONES to make our lives miserable.

HE IS TELLING US TO GET OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONESO HE CAN DO A FRESH WORK IN OUR LIFE.

So open your heart to what God has for you and get out of your comfort zone.

If you sense God is leading you “out of your comfort zone”and whatever that means for you, be OBEDIENT to Him.

If that is where God wants you, it is the BEST place to be!

In His Service,Jim (jim@biblefood.org)

My Salvation: A Rose Garden with Thorns!

2006-06-22T09:15:00.000-05:00

"Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." Psalm 16:11

This scripture has always been special to me. If I had to pick one scripture that I could relate to my salvation, it would be Psalm 16:11.

Today's devotional will be more of a testimonial as June 21, 2006, I have been saved for 31 years.

I was saved at a prayer meeting that my oldest brother had just started attending (that was a miracle in itself). Although this meeting was quite different than what I was used to, God met me there with the abundance of His LOVE, and I knew that the God I had hated all my life LOVED me ("…..we love Him because He first loved us - 1 John 4:19). I just couldn't resist His LOVE (John 3:16) and DRAWING me to Him. ("No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him…." - John 6:44).

I accepted Jesus as my LORD and Savior (Rom. 10:9,10) on June 21, 1975 and began my first 31 years of serving Jesus.

Although not all people have the same level of intensity when they get saved (and intensity means little in that respect), when I got saved the grass really did seem greener, the sky bluer. Finally, though previously I had wanted to die, I now had a reason to live!

As a new Christian (1975), I asked my parents to take me out of public high school and put me in a Catholic school, thinking that it would be the place for me. But in just one month, I felt that I really wanted to be back in public school with all my unsaved friends who were into drugs, alcohol, etc. I wanted no part of that lifestyle, but just knew that was where I belonged. Because this was where God wanted me, my unsaved friends at public school never did pull me down into sin. If they would have pulled me back down into sin, I believe God would have kept me out of that environment. Thanks be to God with His abundant grace and my love for Jesus, I did not fall back into the ways of my unsaved friends. I still spent some time with them, except when they did the drugs, alcohol, etc.; but most of my spare time was spent reading my Bible and praying.

By the time I was 16 years old, only a few months later, I had left the prayer group where I was saved because they did almost nothing to disciple me as a new believer, and I had become aware of carnal/flesh problems within the group.

From there I went to a small church group I learned about from a born again neighbor. This group had TWO leaders equal in authority (which I later saw can be a problem). I attended this group for awhile until one day one of the leaders gave a strange and short speech, grabbed his wife's hand, and left! I had just experienced something I didn't even know existed - a church split!

From that time on, God has led me, over the years, to various denominational and non-denominational churches. He has led me to attend various types of churches, which I believe has helped me to minister to those from different backgrounds.

On the personal side, my life wasn't a bed of roses and I don't believe God meant it to be. In 31 years I have seen and experienced religious deception through false teachers and false, ungodly manifestations. (Beware of manifestations that are unscriptural and magnify you, another person, or a group.) God, in His mercy, and my desire for truth got me out of those messes.

A few years back, I felt led to tell the pastor (now retired) I had in my late teens (in person and in an E-mail), that I was sorry for some of the stuff I may have put him through regarding my pride, thinking I knew so much when I really knew so little. I have also thanked him for staying faithful to the Word of God over the years and not being drawn away by the many winds of doctrine out there. ("That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, by which they lie in wait to deceive." - Ephesians 4:14)

In the past 31 years I have seen my family experience breakdowns (some ending in divorce). Also, close relatives die, including my mom who went to be with the LORD in her 50's with cancer. I have experienced backsliding (falling away from Jesus) to the extent where I was doing stuff I knew was wrong and sinful. But, again, God faithfully brought me out of those times into His loving arms.

I have had my battles with finances, depression, insomnia, etc., In some areas the victory is 100% manifested; but in other areas, I'm still trusting the LORD.

The bottom line is NO MATTER HOW ROUGH it gets at times, we should remember the words in the following scriptures: "….Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. - John 6:68 and "For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness." - Psalm 84:10

I say with GREAT JOY that MANY of my family members (nearly all immediate and many extended family members) are saved and living for Christ!

I would like to close with a few things I've learned during my first 31 years as a Christian:

1. Live humbly before God.
2. I keep in mind that I don't know very much and thank God for
what I do know.
3. Live today for Christ as if it is your LAST day! I've seen it
become the last day for many people over the last 31 years.
4. Study and follow the Word of God and not experiences that
may contradict the Bible. (II Timothy 2:15)
5. We can believe in every circumstance, good or bad (and both
will happen), that God will ultimately prove to be in control of
the situation! (Romans 8:28)
6. Respect godly leadership, but NEVER follow a man!
7. The importance of being part of a local body of believers. (Hebrews 10:25)
8. Be quick to forgive and quick to repent.
9. Do everything on God’s timetable –
Don’t rush ahead of God, don’t hesitate when He says GO.
10. Put Jesus first, Others second, and yourself last, and THEN you will truly experience the J.O.Y. of the LORD. (J.O.Y. is an acronym for Jesus, Others, Yourself)

My prayer is today’s devotional/testimony will minister to you and others.

Please feel free to pass this and any other devotions on to others.

In His Service (for 31 years),
Jim Mazzulla

Visit my website (updated/new look): www.biblefood.org
Visit my ministry page: www.goproclaim.com
Visit my blog (new): www.biblefood.blogspot.com