Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ( Matt 5:19 )
In this study, I encourage you have an open mind, setting aside preconceived notions. We are about to delve into profound teachings. The above verse says it all. It is clear that there will be individuals in heaven who have broken God’s commandments. Yet, they will not be considered great. What does this mean?
Beloved, as you study the Word, you will discover the concept of Carnal Christians. The church of Corinth serves as a prime example. These individuals know enough to keep their salvation but live in a carnal state. An interesting point is the scripture refers to them as the Least in Heaven. The Greek defines this as a lower rank ( In a military sense ) in Heaven.
Promotion in God’s Kingdom.
When our earthly journey ends and we stand before the Lord, our rank will be revealed. This rank is determined by our service on Earth. Brethren, it is crucial to discern God’s calling for your life. It doesn’t necessarily mean a pulpit ministry. Here are 7 vital points to consider serving God.
Education
Religion
Family
Business
Gov/Military
Arts and Entertainment
Media
Reflecting on my time in the US Navy, my superiors always encouraged me to advance in rank. Serving in the Lord’s army is no different. When you discover your gift, you will excel and attract the attention of those in high places (Proverbs 18:16). The Lord has placed His body on earth to impact society. He has given us a charge: Occupy until I come. Will you answer His call on your life?
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. ( Phil 2:12 )
Today, we are going to delve deeply into the Word of God. Our focus will be on Salvation and its significance in our lives. Ephesians 2:8-9 teaches us that Salvation is a gift from God, not something earned through works. So, why strive for Salvation if it is freely given by God?
First, let’s define Salvation. The term “Salvation” comes from the Greek word “Soteria,” which encompasses both spiritual and physical deliverance. When Jesus died on the cross, He secured physical healing for us, but we must actively work it out. One way to do this is by praying for the sick (James 5:15). Another way is by receiving His Word (Psalm 107:20).
Salvation also means protection from harm. There are exceptions, like martyrdom. Many of our beloved brothers and sisters are now imprisoned or killed for their faith in Christ. The Apostle Paul was prepared to be executed for his faith (Psalm 107:20, 2 Timothy 4:5-7). Please pray for our persecuted brethren overseas.
Salvation includes financial deliverance. Poverty and lack are part of the curse. (Luke 19:8-9, Deuteronomy 28:17). Salvation is like planting a seed. Though it is free, it is not cheap. We must regard our gift as special and sacred. (Matthew 13). When you accept Christ as your Lord and Savior, He plants the seed of Salvation in your heart. Your responsibility is to water that seed and help it grow.
God knows that nurturing this seed is challenging, so He sends the Holy Spirit to help you. As you grow spiritually, you will experience different stages of growth. Consider a seed in the natural world. When you buy seeds from a store, the package in the front shows the end result. For example, a cucumber seed packet displays a fully grown cucumber. Upon opening the package, you only see seeds. You do not see the final product.
To harvest the cucumber, you must sow the seeds into good soil and nurture them. After some time, you will enjoy the fruits of your labor. God’s Word says, Taste and see that the Lord is good. His seed of Salvation is good and brings great benefits and rewards.
Scripture teaches us that we are in the army of the Lord. In an army, there are different ranks, and as you grow, there are various benefits and responsibilities. Colossians 2:5 says that the Lord beholds our order, which translates to military rank in Greek.
In our next lesson, we will expand on this, God willing. In conclusion, we don’t work to be saved; we work out our Salvation because we are saved! Remember, by their fruits, they shall be known. Guard your Salvation and work it out so that the Lord will be pleased by our labors. Shalom.
Prayer– Heavenly Father, thank you for your word. Forgive me when I have taken you and this precious gift for granted. Help me to work out my Salvation in all it’s aspects. Help me to be a vessel unto honor. Change me, Lord, so I can bring others to enjoy your precious gift. In Jesus name–Amen!
In this study, we will explore the armor of God. As believers, we have been equipped with this armor, ready for use. Knowledge is crucial because ignorance can be harmful. Understanding your identity in Christ and recognizing what belongs to you is vital for your survival. Living in this fallen world is not a playground; it is a battlefield.
The Origin Of The Armor of God.
When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. ( Luke 11:21-22 )
Upon reading Luke 11:21-22, we see Jesus and what He accomplished through His death on the cross. Scriptures call Jesus the second and last Adam. Why? Because He came to undo what Adam did when he sinned in the garden. The Word teaches that Adam was crowned with glory, which I believe was the armor of God. Upon this, the Lord gave Adam charge over the earth. He did this when He created him (Ps 8:4-6, Ps 115:16, I Cor 15:45).
Adam gave place to the devil when he sinned in the garden. He was stripped of his armor. As a consequence, the Enemy gained authority over him and all mankind. He took Adam’s armor (authority) and used it against him and his descendants. Let me submit to you the spoils that Satan took from Adam:
Fellowship with God: Peace became hard to achieve, replaced by stress, fear, and torment.
Health: Mankind would have to deal with all kinds of sickness due to a fallen world.
Prosperity: Adam had the best real estate there was; in a sense, he was the richest man on earth.
God had to devise a plan. He could not force His way into the earth because He gave it to a man. When Adam sinned, the earth was given to Satan, who became the god of this world (2 Cor 4:4). The word “god” here is translated as delegated authority.
Faced with this, the Lord devised a system. He needed to come to earth as a man so that salvation be available to you and me. Jesus came and did not sin while He was on earth. He was obedient unto death. Through the cross, He took back His armor and gave it back to the church. The Lord also added some extra bonuses, giving us back the spoils that rightfully belonged to us. Praise God.
Give no place.
Neither give place to the devil. ( Eph 4:27 )
Given all these benefits, some wonder why we still face stress, sickness, and poverty. One key point to consider is that God has given us the armor to fight the good fight of faith. It takes faith to claim what belongs to us. Consider the example of the Jews in the desert.
Time and again, God told His people that they had the land of milk and honey (Exodus 3, 33:3). It was their inheritance (Deut 4:21). but the giants who occupied the land were a fearful sight. The Jews relied on what they saw, hardened their hearts, and perished in the wilderness. Only their descendants possessed the land. Joshua and Caleb also possessed it because they dared to believe and act on God’s promises. Doubting God’s word is never wise (Heb 3:8, 15).
Beloved, you must renew your mind and train yourself in this fallen world to claim what belongs to you. A crucial point to remember is to guard against the enemy. Ephesians 4:27 advises us not to give place to the enemy. When you sin, don’t run from God in shame and embarrassment. Run to Him, confess your sins, and He will forgive and restore you.
There are other ways to lose your authority, like unbelief and not guarding your tongue. In your devotional prayers, yield yourself to the Lord. Pray the prayers of Ephesians ( Eph 1:17-23, Eph 3:14-21) and Colossians (Col 1:9-11) before your Bible study. The Holy Spirit will give you light.
Your old sin-loving nature was buried with him by baptism when he died; and when God the Father, with glorious power, brought him back to life again, you were given his wonderful new life to enjoy. ( Romans 6:4 ) (The Living Bible)
In our earlier study, we discussed what it means to be in the Army of the Lord. We also covered the spiritual tools necessary to navigate your spiritual boot camp. These tools help you become a soldier for Christ. In this second part of our study, we will explore the concepts of circumcision and covenant. When you accept Jesus as the Lord of your life, you enter into a covenant with Him. This is like when I joined the Navy. I signed various contracts that promised food, income, and shelter in exchange for my service to the country. The covenant with Jesus is no different.
Many believers want to please God but struggle with a sin consciousness. They are often very hard on themselves and turn away from their commitment due to frustration. They feel they constantly fall short and eventually give up but there is good news! Victory is possible!
Romans 6:4 holds the key. My favorite Bible translation ( The Living Bible ) reads– ” Your sin-loving nature was buried with him by baptism.” Many Christians want to hate sin and that is a noble desire. The fact of the matter is that you have already buried your sin-loving nature in the waters of baptism. A rule of thumb would be to make the confession listed below as many times as possible during the day. Learn to speak aloud the word of God and you will start seeing change—
“I love righteousness and hate iniqutity. ”
Friend, if you are a Christian but have not gotten baptized in water, don’t waste any time. Get baptized as soon as possible. Don’t carry your dead body around because you will start to stink spiritually before God. Remember a dead corpse after a while decays and stinks. So, seek a good spirit-filled church and get baptized in water. It’s time to bury your old sin-loving nature.
If you are having trouble breaking bad habits, here are two things to remember–
1-Go back to the waters of baptism and remember how you buried the old man. That sin-loving nature is buried. You are a new creation ready for service to the Lord.
2- There is a saying- “Rome was not built in a day.” You are going to have struggles in the flesh. Many will say that you are not saved, but I got good news for you. Consider the next scripture below–
For a justman falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. ( Prov 24:16 )
Notice God calls the man who falls seven times –Just. Why? Because he sees the heart. The believer is determined to get up and put his/her hand on the plow. If you are Born-Again, you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. You are the just person that’s being talked about. Beloved never stay down and give up. Decide that you will do better. His mercy endures forever and the Holy Spirit will help you get up and win!
In my next post, I will discuss how you can move up in rank in the Army of the Lord. Remember with promotion comes blessings but also, tremendous responsibilities. When you have rank, you can have influence with God and find out your true calling in life. God bless.
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. ( 2 TIm 2:3-4 )
In this study, we will explore what it means to be part of the Army of the Lord. I’ve included an Uncle Sam poster with the words “I want you for the US Army.” The Bible teaches us that natural truths can show spiritual truths (1 Cor 15:46). The Lord is seeking new recruits for His Army, and anyone can qualify.
When you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you are automatically enlisted in the Lord’s Army. I reflected on my time in the US Navy. I noticed how recruiters had quotas to meet. They also offered bonuses for new recruits. Similarly, evangelists are the Lord’s recruiters, bringing sinners to salvation and receiving heavenly rewards for their efforts.
We diminish the gospel when we are content with bringing just one sinner to the Lord. God desires a broader vision for His people. The Bible instructs us to teach nations, which encompass multitudes. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to bring multitudes to His glory.
Boot Camp
After salvation, it is crucial to find a good church. The church should teach you about your identity in Christ. It should also teach you what belongs to you. Then comes the challenging part—Boot Camp. Here are a few pointers to understand the process:
Mind Renewal: Just as your identity changes from civilian to soldier, so it is with the spirit. You have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light! Praise God!
Tongue Transformation: For your identity to be established, you need to internalize God’s word that affirms your identity. Make it a habit to confess God’s word daily. The more you do it, the easier it becomes to acquire the mind of Christ. It also becomes easier to think like Him (Joshua 1:8).
Hatred of Sin: To advance in the Lord’s Army, start by loving righteousness. Understand His calling by hating iniquity (sin). As you do, the oil of joy will pour over you. You will experience God more deeply in your life. More to come.
I am crucifiedwithChrist: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. ( Gal 2:20 )
The book of Galatians authored by the Apostle Paul, raises an intriguing question: Was Paul literally crucified? To clarify, Christ’s crucifixion occurred before Paul’s conversion, and tradition holds that Paul was beheaded in Rome. So, what exactly is Paul referring to?
Firstly, self-crucifixion is impossible. The Holy Spirit guides us to this spiritual crucifixion. This transformative process is often painful, involving the adoption of a new lifestyle and the breaking of old habits. As the saying goes, old habits die hard.
Change is challenging, which is why Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to help us. If you’re finding change painful, you’re not alone. Even Jesus endured suffering to learn obedience.
Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; (Hebrews 5:8)
Many well-meaning saints get confused with the suffering for Christ. They compare it to being sick. Christ in his time on earth did not suffer sickness. He suffered heartbreak and persecution. He was rejected, especially by those who were closest to him. His own best friend Judas betrayed him. Friends, we must go through these times of suffering so we can develop obedience to God.
Crucifixion is painful and we all have a cross to carry. The good news is that as we reckon ourselves dead and walking in resurrection life, there is joy. We can rejoice in that we have a seat in heavenly places. A place where we can hear the voice of the Father. A place where we can enter into the rest of the Lord and enjoy our salvation. So, like Paul, take inventory of your life. Declare your identity with Christ through the cross and you will never be the same.
Podcasting can be a good source of income if you know how to access it to your advantage. Many have created a podcast and have made a lot of money. A key point to remember in helping people create a podcast, you need to put aside a get-rich-quick mentality. In fact, you should be willing to do it because you love to talk. Quick bucks are not the goal here.
Podcasting requires time, patience, and diligence. There are many subjects to pick from, which we call a niche. My favorite is Christian ministry, although I have dabbled in other fields like classic TV and movies. To tell you the truth, I have never made any big money in that field. Usually, I have not stayed on podcasting for a long period of time. I prefer to write and do live streaming.
Tools To Have In Podcasting.
If you want to start a podcast, make sure you have a blog to go along with it. Perhaps I am biased, but WordPress is my favorite. Blogger blogs from Google are my second favorite. Blogger blogs are easy to assemble. You can reach a large audience if you type your blog on a frequent basis. It is important that you grow your audience through your blogs.
Another way is to create a Facebook page. Make sure you grow your page with family and friends. Write something that you are passionate about. A rule of thumb is to be familiar with what’s trending. Sometimes, when I want to have more visitors, I use keywords. Make sure you get familiar with how SEO works.
Twitter is also a great way to get exposure. When you start your Twitter page, make sure you look for like-minded individuals. As you interact with them, you can grow your audience. Finally, YouTube and Rumble are good sources for getting your podcast noticed. All of the above are good tools, but patience and diligence are the key factors in getting your podcast noticed. As always, include the podcast on your blog and other places on the web. Hope this helps someone. God bless.
Final Key Points.
Passion Over Profit: Emphasize the importance of starting a podcast. You should do it because you enjoy talking about your chosen topic. It should not be just for making money.
Niche Choice: Highlight the importance of choosing a specific niche that you are passionate about. Examples include Christian ministry or classic TV and movies.
Consistency and Patience: Stress that podcasting requires time, patience, and consistency to build an audience.
Blog Integration: Recommend having a blog to complement your podcast, with platforms like WordPress and Blogger being good options.
Social Media Engagement: Suggest using social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Rumble. These platforms can help you grow your audience and increase exposure.
SEO and Keywords: Mention the importance of understanding SEO and using relevant keywords to attract more visitors.
Examples and Inspiration: Give examples of your own podcasts to inspire others.
Hope this helps. If you need some extra help, feel free to send me an email. Here are some examples of my podcast.
As I was studying Ps 43, I noticed some interesting patterns. The author brings out Injustices, lies and Oppression. ( Ps 43: 1-2) These items caused him to mourn. Maybe perhaps he lost a loved one because of a grave injustice. In our society, it is not rare to see people commit all kinds of crimes. They get arrested and the next day, they are out in the streets again. How many times have we watched disturbing videos online? They show a multitude of people coming into a Supermarket and causing great plunder and destruction.
The ripple effects of this is that the insurance goes up. The company profit margin is affected. Prices go up as well. Eventually, the Supermarket business winds up moving out of the neighborhood leaving people oppressed and sad. Services like medication and food are no longer available within walking distance.
Light at the end of the tunnel
Just when Ps 43 paints a dreadful scenario, there is hope. Verse 3 says send out your light and truth. We know that the Bible (God’s word) is truth. Truth is good but unless it walks hand in hand with light, it will not make much of a difference. Beloved, always remember one word from God can change your whole life. He is our light and that light will bring revelation to his word.
Notice, he brings out the places of worship—
1- Holy Hills- Seeking God in high places. Dare to take your seat along heavenly places. When you are seated in high places, you get to see the whole picture. The Holy Spirit knows the beginning and the end. He will teach you how to pray and reveal his mysteries to you.
2- Tabernacles- Fellowshipping with the saints. There are times in which needs are fulfilled just by fellowshipping with the saints. I once remember that a beloved brother gave me a nice cash gift. Other times, during prayer, healing has been manifested. It is good to be at the place where the Holy Spirit directs you to go.
3- Altar- When you hear the man/woman of God sharing the word. Many times, a word coming from the pulpit can be what you need to keep on facing life’s toughest challenges.
4- Harp- Praise and worship brings about strength and the presence of the Lord. It will certainly change your atmosphere and leave you refreshed. Habakkuk 3:17-18 paints a beautiful picture of trusting God. Habakkuk did not allow the lack of his physical provision to decide his joy. He was determined to rejoice and delight in the God of his salvation. He trusted that provision would come from up high.
At the close of Psalms 43, the author spoke to his soul. It looked like his answer to prayer was not manifested, but he did not give up. He was determined to press thru and wait on the Holy Spirit to lead him to the answer. So, the word for today is press on–Victory is yours!
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. (Ps 42:11)
In this study, we are going to look at the subject of creating your own atmosphere. Ps 42 was written by the sons of Korah. They served in the musical aspect of the temple worshipping the Lord. In Ps 42:11, they are talking to their soul.
Man was created in three different beings. ( I Thes 5:23) These are defined as Spirit, Soul and Body. The soul is where the seat of emotions lies like thoughts and desires. The sons of Korah knew that they could not afford the luxury to let discouragement and despair creep in. They knew they had to change the atmosphere or it would even affect their health.
Scripture teaches us that we have the mind of Christ. The word Christ is the Greek word for anointing. That anointing would be a yoke-breaking, burden removing power of God that is available for you to release it. That anointing lives inside of you. The word says that Greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world.
In this day, do not allow discouragement or the issues of life to steal your joy. Use the power to bind and loose the power of God in your behalf. Speak the word to your soul (Mind, will and emotions). Declare that you have a merry heart. Declare that you have a continual feast. It is interesting that the word Feast in the Spanish Bible is translated as fiesta (Party).
It is time to party. Why? Because when you party and delight yourself in the Lord, he gives you the desires of your heart. Praise and worship is powerful. David had a 24 hour praise and worship center and as a result, his kingdom became powerful. Praise and worship brought forth the birth of King Solomon. His kingdom experienced peace and there was no lack.
Jesus is the life of the party. Learn to party with the Holy Spirit. It will create an atmosphere of excitement and life. So, decide today to change your atmosphere. Blessing are waiting in store for you. God bless.
In this post, we are going to discuss the power of Unity. In these last days, the body of Christ must be united like never before. The evil one wants to split the body of Christ by division and tradition among other things. Why must we be united?
We must be united because we are the house of Christ. ( Heb 3:6) There are issues that this country is facing. We are called to be the salt of the earth. The Lord has given his body a mandate, occupy until I come. Beloved, if you are born again, your prayers are powerful especially when praying for our leaders in high places.
Scriptures tell us that God rebukes kings and princes for our sake. ( Ps 104:14-15) Our prayers can soften the heart of any leader to do the will of the Lord. The biggest problem is that we have lost focus on what we should be doing. First, our aim should be winning souls in our family and community. Second, we should be aware of things that are tearing the family and country apart with some important issues.
In some churches, talking about certain moral issues is a big no-no. Certain leaders have called it a political issue, but I disagree with this. These are social issues that need to be addressed from the pulpit. Another such issue is racism. Some media outlets have filled the body with lies that it is causing schism within the church. It is a sad state of affairs when we have people who love this country and are patriotic ( Including myself) and are labeled racist.
At the risk of being political, making America great is not going back into slavery. Making America great is remembering that it had a covenant with God. Remember, God made a covenant with Israel but America made a covenant with God. I realize that America is not perfect, but its belief in God made this nation blessed like no other.
The Two Sides Of The Cross.
Divers weights are anabomination unto the Lord; and a false balanceis not good.
( Proverbs 20:23)
First, I believe that neither the Donkey (Democrat) nor the Elephant (Republican) can save this country. Only the lamb ( Jesus) can make the difference. I believe in the power of prayer and there is an example of how God blessed Israel during Solomon’s reign. ( I Kings 4:26- 34 ) There was peace in the land and no man lacked anything.
God has promised to give us periods of heaven on earth. This was Israel’s period of peace and prosperity. Afterward, unfortunately, Solomon turned from God’s ways and heavily taxed Israel causing a split. Israel was never the same after the split. What can we learn from this?
Looking at the cross, we find that there are two sides–The Left and The Right. I realize that there are good, God-fearing people on both sides of the cross. Every day, accusations are going back and forth dividing even the church. If we as a church want to see revival in America, we must be willing to go to the center and embrace Jesus.
We must be like the thief on the cross who recognized his need for Jesus. At first, the scriptures show us that both were complaining and persecuting Jesus ( Matt 27:44) Some theologians believe that the thief who repented was on the right side. Jesus saw his heart and told him he would be with him in paradise.
Notice, he went from the right to the center. We in the body need to do the same. Let’s seek Jesus like never before. Let’s stop believing the lies of the Enemy. If we as a Body embrace Jesus, the Holy Spirit will make some of this country’s vital issues clear and we can see change come. Remember, United we stand, Divided we fall.
Conclusion.
Let’s sum this up by looking at some vital points-
1- A house divided will fall. We are the house of Christ. Unity is important especially in the church. Political division has no place in the church.
2- I know that racism has left deep wounds within the African and Hispanic community. I have experienced some racism as an Hispanic American while serving in the US Navy. As a Puerto Rican, I have learned to love my cultural background. As an American, born in the United States, I love this country despite its shortcomings. It disturbs me when people who want to make America great get accused of racism. Lies like that divide the church.
3- Brethren, realize that politically on the left as well as the right are good God-fearing Christians. In the example of the cross, Jesus was surrounded by two thieves on each sides. The two thieves were persecuting and complaining against Jesus, until one of them repented. The good thief moved from the right to the center and embraced Jesus! The formula to heal the Body from division is moving to the center and embracing Jesus. As we do this, God will open our eyes and bring us together.
4- God has called us to occupy until he comes. We as a nation have come a long way with the Civil Rights struggles and have seen some progress. It was during that time that the church came together and we saw some breakthroughs. If we allow divisions within the body now, we stand to lose this nation and our freedoms.
Please take some time and study the historical patterns of Germany. (1) It was a Protestant nation ( Christian ), and it allowed old hurts of the past from the Jews to fester in. As a result, Adolph Hitler rose to power. A whole nation was deceived, and it suffered as a result. Let’s learn from the lessons of the past. Pray for a United body and watch how God will bring restoration and healing to the church. We need it for such a time as this.
The Christian Corner Ministries 