Time To Meet Your Maker!

Ben Komanapalli Jr.


Another year has come to an end, and here we are starting a new one. For almost everyone reading this, we have been at this place at least a dozen times. Looking back at our lives, some of those moments were great but some were pretty bad. In fact they were so bad that we wanted to forget all about it when we entered the New Year.

As this new year begins, most of us close certain chapters of our lives and open new ones; we also plan on changing things. All of us have want to become better than we were in the past year.

As we come to that time of the year again, I have a simple question to ask: Who is making you?

Let me explain. In Acts 26:13-18, we see Paul recounting his conversion story to King Agrippa. In verse 16, it is important to see what Jesus says to Paul during the encounter. Jesus says, "I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness...."I want you to focus on the words 'to make you.'
My question to you as a leader is more specifically this: Are you letting Jesus make you?

All of us live in a very fast paced world. There are many responsibilities that we as leaders have in the world today. There are things that need to be accomplished, vision to be cast, money to be raised, conflicts that need to be resolved etc. We need to do all of these things as good leaders.

However, the most important thing is to let Jesus make you the man or women He has called you to be. We can only lead other people as well as we can lead ourselves; the most important thing in leading ourselves is to let Jesus make us the people He has called us to be.

There is always the temptation for us to do the work of God more than we let God work in us. Bill Hybels once said, "The way I was doing the work of God was destroying the work of God in me." I heard that statement about two years ago and it has stuck with me. I believe it is a dangerous place for us to be when we are more excited about a book, album, project, program or an event than about spending time with Jesus and letting Him work on us.

As we plan, strategize, evaluate, set goals and recharge our batteries to make ourselves better leaders for next year, make it a priority to make this year the year where you let Jesus make you the person He has called you to be. Planning and setting goals are very good things but letting Jesus make you is the God thing. He desires to make each one of us. He sees much more in us than we can see for ourselves. We must stop resisting the things God wants to do in our lives. No matter where you live or what kind of organization or ministry you might be leading, if there is one thing we are to do as Christian leaders it is to let Jesus make us.

We might not have had an encounter with Jesus in the way Paul did on his journey to Damascus, but we can all remember the time when we received Jesus as the Lord and Savior of our lives or the time when the call of God became very real. This is a good time to go back and remember the purpose for which Jesus saved you and to let Him make you.

Here are a few suggestions:

1. Take some time to think about the moment when the purpose of God became clear to you. What is it that He has purposed for you?

2. Become very intentional to let Jesus make you into the person He has called you to be during the next year. Write down some of the areas that He really needs to work on.

3. Thank God for the opportunity He has given you to serve people for His kingdom and Glory.

What To Do in Times of Trouble

Image by laurenmarek via Flickr

Bishop Keith Butler

For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 4:15 (KJV)

Do you know what time it is? It is time to give God thanks because He is your Deliverer! In the time of trouble, you have to abound in thanksgiving to God. Thank Him for protection. Thank Him for provision. Thank Him for your food. Thank Him for your job. Thank the Father whether or not it looks like things are working. When you do, you release His ability and power.

In 2 Corinthians 4:16 it says, "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not s een: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." (KJV)

We have no need to faint and no need to fear. When we are in Christ, we don't gauge our future by what the stock market does. We don't gauge our future by what the news reporters say. We gauge our standing in this life by the word of God which lives and abides forever.

So I'm telling you today, don't look at all the things you are reading in the newspaper. Instead look to God. You may not see God, but you know He's there. You know He makes a way for you. So begin to thank Him for doing it right now.

In 2 Thessalonians 1:6 it says "it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you." In other words, God is going to trouble your trouble. In 2 Thessalonians 2:2 it says, "That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand ."

So, know what time it is and don't be troubled. Don't be frightened. Don't be full of fear. God is pleased by our thanksgiving, and He will move in our situation. It is time now to thank God for delivering us by His mighty power!

Scripture References: 2 Thessalonians 1:6; Acts 16:25-26

Get It To Give It

Pastor Andre Butler

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” --2 Corinthians 9:8

There is no more important time to line up with God’s financial system than now. In this time of financial crisis, many are in fear. They are concerned about how the struggling U.S. economy is affecting them. The thing about fear, though, is that it is selfish. It only thinks about me and mine.

Fear is the opposite of faith, and it is motivated by selfishness which is the opposite of love. Yet, God’s Word teaches us that we receive from him by faith and that our faith works by love.

God’s financial system works for you when you focus on the needs of others rather than your own. Matthew 6:33 teaches us to ‘seek first the kingdom of God’ and then ‘all these things will be added to you.’ Philippians 4:19 has a promise from God to meet all of our needs regardless of what’s going on in the economy.

God’s ultimate goal for your financial life isn’t that you just receive abundantly but that you give abundantly. God’s plan for your life is that you be a generous giver-- someone who is so abundantly blessed that you are able to give abundantly for God’s purposes. Jesus said in Acts 20:35 that it is better to give than to receive.

God wants you going through life experiencing the superior joy that comes from giving and that is one of the reasons why He wants to get abundance to you. Even more importantly, He’s thinking of those who are without in this life, especially those without Him, who will benefit from your generosity.

God understands that for you to be able to give abundantly, you must receive abundantly. You must Get it to Give it! One of my desires is to get to a place financially where I can GIVE $1 million a year for God’s purposes. My goal is to give abundantly, not just receive abundantly for my purposes. And when (not if) the time comes that I am receiving from Him on that level, it will be vitally important that I remember the purpose for it coming into my life.

Whatever God has given you, some of it is in your hands simply for you to give to His purposes. Remembering the purpose for the money God has given you is an important step in lining up with God’s system. It’s when God knows that you truly understand this principle that He will trust you with more.

In this time of recession stop focusing on your financial needs and look around for someone that you can help with whatever God has placed in your hands now. Doing just that will position you to GET even more so you can GIVE more in the days to come!

Empowered By His Spirit

Brenda Gittens


"At that moment the Spirit of the LORD powerfully took control of him, and he ripped the lion's jaws apart with his bare hands. He did it as easily as if it were a young goat." (Judges 14:6).

In the Old Testament, we see many examples of where the Spirit of God would often come upon people, so that they could perform or accomplish specific duties or tasks. All of these moments and experiences were special, but the Spirit of the Lord almost never remained upon someone indefinitely.

There was one young man in the bible named Samson, who was blessed by the Lord as he grew up and the Spirit of the Lord began to take hold of him. One day on his way to a city named Timnah, he was attacked by a lion. The Spirit of the Lord came upon him and he tore the lion's mouth in two with his bare hands!

Sponsor AdAside from that incident of shutting the lion's mouth, he also triumphed over the Philistines because God's Spirit empowered him (Judges 15:14-20), and he became the judge of Israel for twenty years, and the Spirit gave Samson the strength and ability to subdue great numbers of his enemies and to accomplish great victories.

However, in the New Testament, after Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to help His followers, things did indeed change. Peter replied, "Each of you must turn from your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you and to your children, and even to the Gentiles - all who have been called by the Lord our God." (Acts 2:38-39).

We no longer need to wait for His Spirit to come upon us, for the Holy Spirit lives and dwells in all believers and worshipers. Today, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to resist the devil, accomplish, and perform great things for God. What a privilege we have - to be the temple of the Holy Spirit!

Today let's praise the Lord for the Spirit, who "helps us" and "pleads for us." And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don't even know what we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will. (Romans 8:26-27).

The Spirit helps us to overcome temptations, triumph over evil and other things that will try to destroy us. Praise the Lord for the Holy Spirit that lives within us each and every day, and helps us to crucify and take off the old nature and put on and wear our new nature in Christ!

We are empowered by His Spirit!

The Holy Ghost Is Still In The Life-Saving Business

Bishop Keith Butler

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Romans 8:26 (KJV)

The Holy Ghost still is in the life-saving business. I'm going to say it again. The Holy Ghost is still in the life-saving business. Remember what Jesus was anointed with in Acts 10:38? It says, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and power, who went about doing good. All of the healing that Jesus did was a result of being empowered with the Holy Ghost.

Now, let me ask you this question. Are you filled with the Holy Ghost? If you're filled with the Holy Ghost then get both hands up. And thank the Lord that He filled you with the Holy Ghost. Thank Him for giving you the Holy Ghost. Thank Him that the Holy Spirit of God is within you. Greater is he that's in you than he that's in the world. We've become too casual about being filled with the Holy Ghost... we really have.

Sponsor AdWe've become too casual about Him, bless God. I mean, we ought to recognize who it is that's on the inside of us. That's God on the inside of you. That's God, the God, via the Holy Ghost is on the inside of you, glory to God. And He's greater than the one on the outside. They may say your situation is terminal. But He's greater than the one on the outside. But they may say there's no cure. He's greater than the one that's on the outside. But they don't know what it is.

Well, bless God, He's still greater than the one on the outside. Greater is He that's in you than he that's in the world. It's about time you started acting like that, about time you started talking like that's so. It's about time you started praising God like that's so. It's about time you start seeing victory like that's so. It's about time you get up anyway and dance like it's so. Glory to God!

Well, Romans chapter 8:26 says, "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." The literal Greek text says here that the Holy Spirit takes hold together with us against our infirmity.

The Holy Ghost gets with us and helps us against that thing coming against you. That is, if you'll make use of Him, He's there. But He's a gentleman. He won't force himself on you. He won't cause anything to happen unless you connect your faith with his power. But He's there. He helps against your infirmities. That word infirmities there means weaknesses, lack of strength, and inability.

At Midnight

Elder Marquis Boone

People of God, adversity comes in many shapes forms and fashions. These perplexing, confusing, and mystifying predicaments show up at the most inconvenient and awkward times in our lives, and the frustrating thing is that adversity does not need an invitation to enter your home.

One moment life appears to be serene, calm, peaceful and quiet; then the next moment we find ourselves caught in the middle of the storm. For some of us life is just one storm after another.

One of the strange things about this season is that it seems like it is lasting forever. One of the purposes God has for our lives is that we grow to maturity in our faith in Him and not in stuff or in people. You know your faith is maturing by what you do and how you act during your storm and in your problem.

And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, "Do yourself no harm, for we are all here." Acts 16:23-28 (NKJV)

Here in the book of Acts we find a story about the Apostle Paul and Silas who find themselves in what seems to be a storm. Paul & Silas were called by God to take the gospel into the region of Macedonia. However, when they got there, instead of wide open doors, like they might have expected, they ran into a season of opposition!

They are locked up and in chains because they were at the place God wanted them to be, doing the very thing God told them to do. What I love about Paul and Silas is that they still had faith in God. The text does not say they were crying and angry but that they were praying and singing praises.

This is my favorite part of the text, it says "but at midnight". I know you have heard people say that midnight is the darkest hour and it's when you're at your lowest, but what I want to point out here is that midnight is also a transition period. It is the transition from an old day to a new day. It can confuse you because when you think of transition you think of a sudden, rapid change.

Midnight transition is very minute because nothing really changes but the time. I want you today to put all your faith in God no matter how it looks my sister and no matter what they say my brother. Don't allow the code red to detour you because there is a transition about to take place in your life but you have to trust God.

Remember you are where He wants you to be. It's not time to put your faith in the things you see but put to your faith in the God who holds you in His hand.

Promises Of The Father

Dr. Zachary Tims, Jr.
In Acts 1:1-4, Jesus lovingly encouraged His disciples before He ascended into heaven. "...And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father..."

God is a covenant keeping God. He will keep his promises and the assurance of his Word over your life forever. When Jesus spoke these words to His disciples, it was time for Him to go to the Father in Heaven and be seated at the right side of His throne (Hebrews 1:3).

Jesus told them in John 14:18, "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." His divine preparation for the future of the church relied on instilling confidence and assurance in these disciples. Although the Holy Spirit had not yet come, Jesus wanted to let them know they would not go on without His help. He would be with them always.

Jesus, couldn't be everywhere at all times when he was on this earth. He took on human character which had finite limitations. But the promise of the Father, through the Holy Spirit, made Christ able to minister to us everywhere. He is making intercession for the saints of God while we are at work, to our children while they are in school, covering the lives of our spouses on the other side of town, even our mothers and brothers in far away states.

Yes, He is everywhere and ever making intercession from heaven's vantage point. What does this mean for the church today? It simply means that God has your BACK!

It means that the Fatherhood of God covers and keeps us protected under His divine plan for our lives. As Jesus Christ has ascended into Heaven and sat down at the right hand of the Father, He is still working on our behalf, praying for us and helping us. He sees the adversities, the trials of life, and how the devil is attacking us.

We don't have to quit, give up, or fall short of the glory because by faith, we can stand the heat and we don't buckle under the pressure or throw in the towel by backsliding. Sometimes it feels like God is not there and we feel forsaken. Remember that God was there with the three Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace. Although he wasn't revealed until the heat was at its highest, God will also be the fourth Man in our fiery furnaces of affliction.

We cannot live by feelings, therefore we must live by faith.

A good parent starts to prepare dinner for their children when anticipating a time when they will be hungry. Yes, we can believe God is in the kitchen getting things together. He has our best interest in mind. He won't let the enemy destroy us, no matter what it seems like, or how distressed our situation may get. He won't hide from you like some people do when you are going through. People will leave you but not Jesus Christ. He will not leave you comfortless.

In closing, how do we know Jesus is praying for us? We should not be alive today. We deserved to go to hell for our sins. We shouldn't have made it this far. Through all His sacrifice and suffering on our behalf, He gave us the saving grace to be saved, sanctified and set free. Just keep your faith alive, read the promises in the Bible, mark them out for your personal affirmations and declare them over your life daily.

As you keep moving forward and pressing your way, God has your back. No matter what season of life you are in now, the key is to wait, because God will not leave you alone.

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31.