The Christian Corner Ministries

Make Us One.

And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. ( Mark 3:25)

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 an abomination unto the Lord; and a false balance is 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.

(1) https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10656219.2013.768173

Song- Make us one—https://youtu.be/kEjaiOvPcbg?si=lLz0hnzs3HynyvPO

The Power of Jesus’ Word: Lessons from Mark 4:35-40 and Matt 8:8

And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. ( Mark 4:35 )

The Lord has impressed me to talk on the subject concerning going to the other side. As you read Mark 4:35-40, Jesus was with his disciples on the ship. He told them to go to the other side because he was supposed to continue his ministry on another place.

As they sailed, A great storm met them. The disciples panicked, but what did Jesus do? He was asleep on the ship. I have watched a documentary called the Deadliest Catch. It shows ships fishing for crab on the Bering Sea and how they struggle against storms and blizzards. Sometimes, the water would seep in and start to get the ship flooded.

Imagine being on the ship with Jesus, and it starts rocking by the waves and winds. Soon, the ship starts to get flooded. Your reasoning would say—Let’s get out of here and head back to shore. The disciples panicked and woke up Jesus. Jesus was not afraid. Why?

He gave out the word–Let us go to the other side. His word had power and in spite of the circumstances, they would arrive at the other side. There was one thing that needed to be dealt with and it was fear. When you have fear, it will short circuit your faith and lead to disaster.

We know the end of the story. Jesus rebuked the winds and the sea and there was a great calm. Afterwards, Jesus rebuked his disciples for their fears–Why? Again, he had given the word to go to the other side. After the winds calmed down, Jesus went with his disciples to fulfill his ministry on the other side. ( Mark 5)

Learn To Receive His Word.

Another example was the centurion who had his servant sick. Let’s look at the verse below-

The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. ( Matt 8:8 ).

Do you see something interesting here? The Centurion asked and received the word of healing that was sent to heal his servant? Ps 107:20 says that he sent his word and healed them. Jesus was impressed and rebuked his people for not having the faith of this centurion. Jesus called this act–Great faith!

I recognize that it is hard to develop faith. The major cause is that our minds need to be renewed. Sometimes, unbelievers are quick to receive miracles and Christians have a hard time due to unbelief, religion and traditions. This centurion had no covenant with God like the Jews but he believe in the word of deliverance.

We are conditioned to believe that if it comes to pass, it’s God’s will but if it’s not, It was not God’s will. Just because your prayers got hindered does not mean that is not God’s will to heal you. The disciples could have turned back from their destination and say–Oh, well, it’s not God’s will. Meanwhile, the Madman of Gadara would have remained demon possessed, tormenting the inhabitants of that land.( Mark 5)

Beloved, I know that there are times in which God will change circumstances to protect us. I’m sure we have heard stories in which many were spared getting in an airplane that crashed. I’m convinced that people who spend their time praying in tongues have probably stood in the gap and protected those people from danger.

The other side of the coin is that God wants us to know his will. When you spend your time renewing your mind, it will get you to the point where you will know God’s perfect will for your life. Then, when circumstances that contradict the word come, you can be at peace and believe God to get you to the other side.

What’s on the other side? Deliverance from the flesh, getting healing, and financial provision to name a few. The Holy Spirit revealed to Jesus ahead of time of his ministry to the Madman of Gadara. Beloved, the Holy Spirit wants to show you your future. He wants to help you fulfill your calling. I will finish this study with Rom 12: 2. Now is the time to renew your mind like never before. Your future depends on it.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. ( Rom 12:2 )

My Strategies To Maintain My Health And Well-Being.

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (1 Cor 6:19)

Maintaining health and well-being can be a big challenge for some. I say whatever works for you is fine. Everyone has their own strategies. I have been blessed to see 68 years in my life with no major sicknesses in my body-Thank God. The only thing that I have to wrestle with is staying active.

Let me explain–In January of this year, I retired from a non-profit job to go into full-time ministry. I do a lot of writing and teaching online, but have a hard time being active. Lately, I discovered that I was getting stiff and had some mobility issues. Not long ago, I decided to start walking and doing stretching exercises. It is amazing what a few minutes of exercising can do.

Soon, I noticed that I was more flexible and had some mobility in my body. After a while, I could touch my toes. Friends, it is never too late to exercise. Don’t let your age be an hindrance.

Another item that I want to recommend is to decrease your sugar intake. This year, my 36 year old son who lives with us was diagnosed with diabetes. Having this news, he had to re-adjust his eating habits. I decided to join him eating sugar free foods and I have noticed that my digestion has greatly improved.

So, that is it-for now. What are your strategies to maintain your health and well being? Enclosed is a video that can help you stretch those muscles and have fun exercising. (1) Inquiring minds want to know–God bless.

(1) https://youtu.be/y4A3mdG5zbQ?si=KtsDn0Lldb-ry04w

God’s Word Is Medicine

My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. ( Proverbs 4:20-22)

In this post, we are going to discuss healing. I pray that these biblical teachings on healing will help people obtain answers to their prayers. I understand the frustration that comes with unanswered prayers. The good news is that it is God’s will that we be healed!

Let’s start with the above verses. In Proverbs 4:22, part of the verse says–Health to all their flesh. The word health comes from the Hebrew word Marpe and one of its definition is medicine. In fact, in the Spanish bible, the word health is translated as Medicine. Let’s address some points about healing–

God’s medicine heals the broken Heart–This is emotional healing. Many in the body have been hurt emotionally. Emotional hurts can open the door to physical sickness as well as cripple the believer spiritually. Proverbs says a wounded spirit who can bear? The word spirit is translated as the seat of emotions. (Mind, thoughts, and desires) Jesus has come to heal the brokenhearted. It is important to get healed in the emotional realm to avoid the root of bitterness in our lives. (Heb 12:15)
Jesus as your doctor. This can be a slippery slope for some. We have many well-known preachers who preach God’s will to be healed. TV ministries are full of testimonies of how God has healed many believers and unfortunately, we see a lot of Christians who confess and stand on God’s word and nothing happens. Soon they are frustrated, turn away from God or make excuses for God.

Friend, God’s word works all the time and he doesn’t need our excuses on why it’s not his will to heal. Again, God’s will is to heal. Here are some tips to help you receive from God his healing power. First, God works through doctors and medicine. The fact that you go to a doctor doesn’t mean that you have no faith. A good Christian doctor can be your best friend. A point to remember is that one of Jesus disciples was a doctor by the name of Luke.

My wife is a rare breed. (Smile) She has taken a stand for the Lord and very rarely does she sees a doctor. More than 30 years ago, she got a report of a crippling disease. The doctor told her that she was destined to be in a wheelchair. She rejected that negative report. Standing on the word, she confessed the healing scriptures from the word and she got healed! In fact, her faith has helped me get healed from Asthma many times.

Count the cost.

The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear? (Prov 18:14)

Aside from my wife, I have seen how many trust the Lord as their doctor. They rely on the Lord for their healing. In doing this, there is a fight of faith. I have seen how in spite of pain, my wife trusted God for healing and she got results. I have news for you–Inside your spirit, you can go through pain in your body.

It explains how many believers went to their deaths praising God during Roman times. Enduring torture, they would not turn back and their praise strengthened them. Praise is a powerful tool. It will help strengthen your spirit and open the door for miracles.

A New Identity.

What’s the story behind my nickname? I will start with encouragement. I was at a low point in my life when the Lord gave me my nickname. Before I elaborate on this, let me share an important point in the Bible. As I study the word, Jesus would change the names of some of his disciples because it had a meaning. Words are powerful.

Let’s start with Peter. His name originally was Simon. Let’s look at these verses below–

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. ( Matt 16:16-18)

The Greek and Hebrew meaning of Simon means to hear. Notice what Jesus did, He changed Simon’s name to Peter which means a rock. ( Matt 16:16-18) This is important because as he experienced a name change, it helped Peter to grow spiritually and become rock-hard in his faith. He went from becoming a hearer to a doer.

Again, words are powerful and Jesus knew that. As we study the life of Peter, he was put under pressure when they arrested Jesus. As they carried Jesus away, he was approached by a certain maiden and was recognized as one of his disciples. He denied knowing Jesus.

This caused Peter great sorrow and he wept bitterly ( Luke 22:61-62). He was wounded emotionally, left the faith, and went back to fishing. Hurts and wounds can affect your walk with the Lord. Peter probably had a hard time forgiving himself. After the Lord resurrected, he looked for Peter.

When he found him, he got restored and got right with the Lord. Jesus knew ahead of time that Peter would need a word of encouragement. In these verses below, we see the compassion of our Lord. Before his betrayal, He starts by calling him by his former name Simon (2x).

This was done to call him to attention. He had forgotten that his name was changed to Peter ( Rock-hard faith ) and was starting to go back to his former life. Jesus gave him a prophetic word of how he would be sifted by the evil one but to take heart, he had prayed for him.

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. ( Luke 22:30-32 )

Peter became a hearer (Simon) and not a doer. He allowed the prophetic name change to slip by him and when he was tested, his faith failed him. The word of the Lord is a sure word of prophecy. Thank God Jesus prayed for him. He does the same for us, too when our faith fails. That is good news!

A word for me.

My personal testimony of my name change came when I reached the age of 60 years old. I thought my life was over and I had done all I could for the Lord. I started to get discouraged until God spoke to my spirit–I am not done with you. I have just begun my work in you.

He further added these words—You shall be called Caleb. If you search your Bible, Caleb was Joshua’s partner and was used in his later years for God’s glory. The amazing thing is that my son’s name is Joshua and he is one of my closest supporters in the ministry.

I am not saying that every believer should have a nickname. God can still use you as you are. Remember, you have the name of Jesus. You are hid in him and that should be more than enough. More on this teaching on the video provided below. God bless.

Dealing With Issues.

I was asked by my word press family-What Bothers Me And Why. I can name a few items below–

Do as I say not as I do. I see this on many jobs that I have worked in the past. Some people are quick to get on your case but when you catch them on a mistake, they laugh it off.
Child Abuse. Parents who physically and emotionally put down their children. Children are precious and tender. They need care and proper upbringing. Remember, they are our future.
People who are not upfront with you. I would rather have someone tell me the truth, even though it might hurt than to smile and talk behind my back.
Injustice. I personally saw a friend of my son confess to a crime that he did not do because his lawyer was court appointed. He was a teenager and the lawyer told him that since it was his first time, that he should confess to the crime and the judge will go easy on him. Court appointed lawyers do not care for their clients and unless you have a ton of money, it’s hard to see justice.

Well, that’s it for my list of complaints for the day. Let’s hear from you–What bothers you and why?

10 things that are certain.

I was asked by my word press friends to name 10 things that are certain. Without sounding too spiritual, here are my top ten that are certain-

Dental visits.
Identity theft
Taxes
Death
Bills
Sorrow
Joy
Rude People
Nice people
Sunday drivers

My favorites on my list is Nice People and Joy. Now, I want to hear from you. What are the 10 things that are certain? God bless.

You Are A Candle-Part 2

“The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.” (Prov 20: 27)

In our last post, we saw how God sees us as candles. A candle should be lit in order to be a light in the darkness. The Lord compares our Spirit man as a candle and he provides the light so we can see the real You inside. The Word of God says that we are hidden in Christ (Col. 3:3). Our spirit is in union with Christ.

As we use our prayer language, he lights up our spirit and allows us to see our hidden motives, presumptuous sins, and other areas that need correction. Praying in tongues is very essential for the believer to walk in the light. Back in the sixties, a popular song came out entitled: “Light my Fire” which was sung by the Doors.

Who Is Lightening Your Fire?

My question to you is–Who is lighting your fire? We need to realize that Jesus is the door (singular) and he is the one that lights our fire through the Holy Spirit. Be careful who you allow to light your fire. Brethren, there is such a thing as strange fire. Let’s look at the following verse below:

“And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not (Lev 10:1)”.

Nadab and Abihu were the sons of Aaron and were part of the priesthood. They decided to do things their way and offer strange fire which was not approved by God. As you read the rest of that chapter, they paid for that transgression with their lives. You may ask what is strange fire?

Strange fire is a carnal and Satanic type of fire; it begins with the tongue. James defines it as a fire. (James 3:6) When you gossip, use words to hurt others, or tear down a person behind his/her back, you are partaking of strange fire. Words can either build or tear down a person, church, or even family.

That is why it is essential to learn about praying in tongues. Scriptures tells us that the tongue no man can tame, but with God all things are possible. Using your prayer language will open the door to God’s mysteries and will allow you to discern the Holy from the Unholy.

Concluding thoughts

Ask yourself, am I allowing the Lord to tame my tongue? What can I do to always walk in the light that God intends for me? Is there any strange fire in me? Stay lit with the fire of God and keep your hands on the plow. Enclosed are two links that will expand on this important Biblical subject. God bless!

Video teaching on you are a Candle part 1 and 2-

(1) https://rumble.com/v56d5be-you-are-a-candle..html–Part 1

(2) https://rumble.com/v56xs6z-you-are-a-candle-part-2.html–Part 2

Security And Adventure

Today I was asked if I was seeking Security or Adventure. The answer to that question is none. As a Christian, I can have both..

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. ( Matt 6:33 )

Serving the Lord is an adventure. There is never a boring day with Christ. I believe the reason why people are frustrated and tired of living is because they have not found their true purpose and calling in life. If we spent some time seeking Christ instead of adventure or security, our lives can be rich and fulfilling. The good news is that we can have both worlds.

About the subject of security, it is an important thing to have. Insecurity can add to stress, sickness and despair among other things. The first rule of thumb to go by is to have peace. The peace that comes from above will cause you to relax and make better decisions. God will guide you with his Spirit.

He will give you the mind of Christ and that’s just the beginning of your spiritual journey. Personally, I have a lot to thank the Lord as far as security is concerned. He protected me when I got got shot a few years back in 1988. Fast forward to 2020, my son got shot 5 times. Another testimony on how God protected him. He is a walking miracle-Praise God!

These are among many testimonies of protection that we have seen in our lives to say that God is real. Once you taste of the Salvation of the Lord, you will never go back to the old lifestyle. Seek the Lord Jesus and he will add security and adventure in your life. God bless.

Time Management.

Time management. We all need it. In this time and age, we have a lot to distract us. I give thanks to the good Lord for all the technology that we have, but they can cause us to waste our time.

I heard the saying-“Time waits for no one.” To better understand time management, we need to go to the root of the problem. Identifying it will help us manage our time better. In my situation, I am retired and pretty much have control over my time. The habit that I have is that I am a night owl. I go to bed late at night.

I manage to get up at an early hour but during the day, I am tired. This state of weariness causes me to nap long hours. Add to this, distractions that come my way and by the end of the day, I have accomplished nothing. One thing I have to do is shake off my addiction to my smart phone and it’s apps. They can be a time waster for me.

I have seen some improvement in my life. During my time in the Navy, we used to have a POD ( Plan of the day ) and establish priorities. There have been times in which I have created my own POD to establish items of importance. Following such a plan makes me feel better because at the end of the day, I have accomplished my goals.

Now, I want to hear from you. What are your POD lists that you want to have? How do you manage your time? Inquiring minds want to know. God bless.