The Love of God in Us - Panola County Daily Devotional Extension

When we look at the ABC's of the Christian walk we are looking for a focus, an objective, a goal: something to strive for.  This walk isn't made from works, mind you, but most certainly is evidenced by them.  So what are we looking for?  What can we focus on in our own lives?

Two Sections of scripture come to mind:  II Corinthians 10:3-5 and Romans 12:1 & 2.

This week, We've been taking steps to share what the Lord has give us here.  We pray that it has shed light in your heart and that today we can add to that in the name of Jesus.

Tuesday we looked at Romans 12:1 and saw that Paul was Calling the Roman Believers to do submit to God; "I Beseech you Brethren".  We found out that our submission to God is produced in us "by the mercies of God".  

Wednesday, yesterday, we talked about how real sin is in our own lives and that when dealing with other's we must keep that in mind, "Looking at specks past our planks"

Today we explore in our brief time: The Love of God In Us. For more on today's message click the BLOG link @ ChristCarriesMe.org

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                All of Scripture reveals to us that God’s will in the earth is to be glorified by His creation – you and I as a born-again believer, have the key and the access to grant His requirement: worshipping in Spirit and in Truth.  Don’t let the doctrine of man sway you, dear believer.  If the Lord says you can talk in other languages, believe that, if He says that you can pray in the Spirit without understanding and then pray FOR understanding afterwards then by faith DO THAT!  Trust that you’ll receive what your spirit has spoken in conversation to the Lord.  If you believe that God has said (to do) and it lines up with His word, do it BOLDLY and quickly.  I promise you this, by follow the commands of Jesus to Love God first, you will get to know Him.  Begin loving on God by pouring out in prayer and using His word (the Bible).  He will disciple you in how to approach, with understanding, His character AND you’ll love your neighbor as yourself.

                Following the first commandment of Jesus, to Love God first, is something that increases in us, grows, until we leave this earth.  The increase of our love is by God’s revelation: it happens within our relationship with Him.  It is impossible for man to completely know the depths of the Love of God, for God is Love.  HIS depths are unfathomable to us!  How could our finite minds wrap around the infinite?  Think of it: as a child of God, you have an inheritance that is infinite.  Infinite.  Would you like to hear the good news?  WE HAVE ACCESS TO IT ALL BECAUSE OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD WITHIN US!!!  Let me see if some Word can help us grasp this… 

“We love because He first loved us.” – I John 4:19 MEV

So, the cause of my love for Him is His for me?  What a spark!  Does this mean: My love for Him is full & complete or He doesn’t love me at all?  Well, not exactly: Our love for Him is instant in that we have met someone that Loves us completely but as time goes by and He continues to love us our love for him grows as we discover more of Him. 

First, there is the initial sanctification of man to Him in salvation: A man can “will” a change by putting pressure on his nature.  He’ll even show change but the moment he releases the pressure he’s back to square one.  When God changes our Nature (in salvation [new heart, new mind]), this radically changes our desires to be aligned with His.  Then, the process of continued sanctification excels and we move on from Faith to Faith and from Glory to Glory.  The more revelation and understanding I have of His love FOR me, the more I’m enabled to retain and to share His love – with Him.   Did you see that?  It’s His love shed abroad in our hearts that makes the difference.  We don’t have it in and of ourselves.  Being born again sets us into our access of the things of the spirit realm by our born-again spirit (“inner man” Eph 3).  THEN AND ONLY THEN can we Worship in Spirit and in Truth.  It is our born-again spirit that has access to the Throne Room, it is there we commune with God, it is there that our RELATIONSHIP is: it cannot exist without it – God is a Spirit & God is Love. 

                Hold on, let’s go deeper:  If God is love and we are one with Him, who is it that loves others and how is it that we love others as ourselves if we ourselves can’t even love ourselves?!?! Did you see that?  Praise God for Revelation Knowledge of the workings of the Kingdom!  It is GOD who loves us and it is GOD who loves others – we are a vessel for HIM, not for us.  When we are full of self,   we have NOTHING to give and when we are full of Him we STILL have NOTHING to give – That's why Hebrews calls us to strive to enter His rest! HE loves others through us while we rest in Him.  We simply yield and become a conduit of His “electric” power.  We are the connection from the place where He is in the Throne Room and the place where we are in the earth realm: a true "manifestation of the sons of God."

This is why the ABC's are so important: Romans 12:1,2 and II Corinthians 10:3-5:

Remember: the increase of our love is by God’s revelation in relationship.  Loving others starts with loving God.  You cannot love them without ministering to Him first.  

I thank you for joining me today, I'm JD and I call you Blessed and Highly Favored!
  

miséō Conquered

Miséō is the Greek word for "hate" that we see in I John 2:9:

8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
                                                I John 2:8-11 KJV

Strong's defines it as "to hate, pursue with hatred, detest or to be hated, detested."  That's quite a strong word!
As believers we use the word "hate" way to loosely.  "I hate that!" or "I hate it when you do that!" or "I hate broccoli!" This morning hear the creativity in the words you're speaking. Know that by the Words God spoke creation came to be and think on that for a moment.  Let's ask ourselves: "How much DOES my mouth define my reality?"
So that being said, how many of you have something against another believer?  The Word tells us that he who hates is darkness.  Now, I'm not saying that you aren't saved because of it but I can say this: I wouldn't wander to far from the wall your hand is on..  Have you ever turned the lights out at night in the living room and for a second couldn't see a thing but began to wander towards the hall or bedroom?  How many of you know that those who are blinded are led by their feelings?
But there is a seriousness that needs to be dealt with here.  We, as believers, are called to "make our calling and election sure" and to "work out [our] salvation with fear and trembling" so IF we have hatred towards a brother or sister it's time for a heart check!
"But Bro Pierce, I said the prayer of salvation and I got baptized at the church.  I know I'm saved and that's all there is to that!"    Do you?  Now, I'm not going to question your confession because I'm not qualified to do so; but you should...  We must test ourselves to know that we are in the Faith!  Better to test and find ourselves lacking than to not test and find ourselves, without reprieve, in hell.
If you ever come to a place where you are questioning whether or not you're saved, know that it's not God's Ability that's in question. He is able to save to the Utmost!  When you question, and you should do so, do so with an expectant heart.  Doubt, in this sense, is not your enemy. Unbelief is the enemy, Faith and Believing is the friend, doubt notes a place in between the two.  Wouldn't you rather know that you don't know and be able to search for the answer or would you rather find yourself in an eternal bind?
We've used the example of "hate" here because hate is of a nature that we as believers have been freed from. It is but a portion of iniquity and transgression.  That nature is the old nature and the new man, formed in God's image, born again, new heart, new mind, new you is forged in LOVE.  The strongholds of pain and bitterness of our past is something that, now that we are the Lord's, we have the authority to rip down!  This reminds me of the Promised Land, a biblical type and shadow of salvation: Did Israel gain all of the Promised Land? Yes!   In one day or by battle after battle? That's right, they fought for it, they took ground with effort and it took effort to take the ground and keep it!
Is "hate" a city on the hills of your Promised Land?  Can you name it? Define it?  Know it in and out?  Then strategize in prayer with the One Who gave you the victory over it and DEFEAT IT!  What darkness exposed by light remains?  Darkness cannot exist in the presence of light!  In fact, darkness is but an absence of light!  Turn the light on and let's roll on the the next city!  TAKE THE GROUND AND POSSES IT FOR IT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO YOU BY PROMISE!
Amen!  The moment Jesus was raised from the dead Satan was done!  We have to renew our minds ( from the Word of God) that our source is Jesus and that the Spirit of God is within us!  We declare the glory of the Lord over you today! We believe that we receive the manifested presence of God, the manifested goodness of God, and the manifested power of God!

Be blessed!  We love you!

Ministry Update - June 2017

     We Praise God for you! This past 2 weeks has been crazy with little office time to sit and write.  It is VERY encouraging to us to see fruit of God produced in others and to be a catalyst for that is humbling.  I guess we never really know which moments in our lives count for someone else in an eternal way.

     Ministry is a calling for sure: you have to know that you know or else you’ll let the vision slip from you.  I believe that we received the vision in 2011 for this ministry.  Even the name Christ Carries Me was given then.  It’s easy to see that God is with us because of the connections He’s made in relation to the vision.


     For instance: Hellen and Robert Howell and Anne and Al Sherril, two couples, both were
volunteers at Coffield for over 20 years.  They faithfully, week by week, went to the Coffield Boot Camp.  Even on Christmas day, there they were, it was a Saturday, second nature, no questions!


This has impacted us greatly to see people with hearts of gold that go.  Now we see Bro Robert and Sis Hellen pretty much once a month minimum and we are involved in street ministry together as a band (Vessels of Clay) among other things.  Family ties are made in the Blood of Jesus!

The street ministry is called Jesus Burger.   Yeah,  Jesus Burger!  It’s really simple.  The place it’s held is spotted, prayed and fasted over, cross-walked (with giant crosses these guys go door to door and knock on ‘em to love people), finalized and then the events start in that place and continue month to month.  They are usually held in the neighborhoods where the need is and the ministry is “free clothes, live music, free meal.”   Ministers like us are EVERYWHERE and you have a place wherever you go no matter where you are if you're in the Call.  We go and are present and accounted for.  When the meal is served we eat and fellowship with the people.  In the pictures you see, we’d be overdressed for a Jesus Burger… It's not about show, it's about relationship. Check out that LOGO!
 We’re blessed to be a part of that Ministry – On Mission Ministries out of Treasure Church, Longview Texas.  They multiply them in cities all over this area every weekend… Amazing people.

We went to the Boyd Unit a couple weekends ago too.  We RV’d like a pro!  Anne and Al and Hellen and Robert and I all stayed overnight because the service time is 7 am.  Robert, Hellen and I went to Tenn Colony directly after that, met up with David and went in to the TC @ Coffield for services.

God is good and faithful to supply open doors to us as we go along.  It’s really something to go and testify or to give a word to someone the Lord shows you.  God is SO good.

    Most recently we've connected with Mike Barber Ministries and Bill Glass Behind the Walls.




      We send our love to Mike Barber Ministries. We LOVE Sean and the team over there… Their hearts are for God and His in the jails… it’s a big deal, really.  We've entered in with them twice and look forward to working with them MUCH more in the near future.

     Mickey Webb wrote to us and suggested we touch base with Volunteer James Guerra.  Well we reached out to him through Mercy Heart where he was at last we knew and he called us back.  He’s now the area director for Bill Glass Ministries and he just so happens to have an event in our area coming up and needed help laying the foundations.  It is SO awesome the way God works.  They’re coming to the Henderson area and need over 200 volunteers to come along.  Here’s James and I at our meeting last week.  We’re excited to be a small part of what God is doing state-wide.  Fear not!

     We've been in talks with Kevin Brown.  He and his wife, Debra, are precious to us.  Also Sister Gardner, who is a mighty woman of God and since her husband Anthony passed away, she’s stood strong! She misses him greatly.  The way I figure, he’s missed by many.  Pastor Gardner, was a man you knew to approach well as the Spirit of the Lord was with him.  So, Kevin and I talk regularly.  He gave me a life verse one day in the beginnings of the Ministry vision and didn’t realize it at the time (Genesis 28:15).  That verse stuck with me HARD.  He is doing well and is working to get in to the prisons and volunteer also.  He’s as stout in the Lord as always and he still has a big head! (physically LARGE) 😊



TESTIFY!
        Leaving the old life behind is evidence of a true move of God.  It didn’t happen for me until then and I tried to do it on my own.  We were working in the ministry, laying hands on the sick, casting out devils, all that but so did the people in the book of Matthew BEFORE the Holy Ghost and the Salvation of Man!!!  I read once the verse “...but Lord, didn’t we cast out….  Yes, but depart from Me for I never knew you.”  WOAH! That frightened me to no end when I saw that!!  That was the beginning of what I call my “conversion”.  It was the truest point of my life in that I was able to see God as Holy and me as NOT AT ALL WORTHY.   But praise GOD for His Grace (Luke 11:5-13)!  After that experience, the Word came alive, my prayer life began to matter and the prayers I asked I could see being answered, God got involved…  I told God in that deepest pit, “Father, this is what I can do with my life.  I can’t.  You have to!”  and that, my friend, was it.  But HE had to bring me there, you know?  The thing is, now that I know church is full of messy people (As I was one and still am) I can go without being mad at the “hypocrites”.  Where else you want ‘em to be?  HOLY GHOST SETUP! YEAH!


 Dearest Reader: That's our update.  Know that we’re praying for you.  We Love you.  Peace!


Genuinely,

Rev JD Pierce
Executive Director
Christ Carries Me Ministries
p: +1 903.265.4424  f: +1 903.900.4981
a: Post Office Box 354, Carthage, Texas 75633-0354
w: ChristCarriesMe.org   e: JD@ChristCarriesMe.org

Report from Gilmer - Jesus Burger Success, yet again!

     When the Lord woke us up a little after 4 am, the first call in our spirit was to pray that God would come down in Gilmer and for fare weather.  Laying in bed, before our feet hit the floor physically our hearts entered the Throne Room spiritually.  PRAISE GOD for His love and His faithfullness to grant us entrance to such marvelous moments!  As if standing on the streets of Gilmer we spoke to the wind and rain calling it to be dispatched elsewhere for a while today, that the Lord's business might transact there.  Instantly a conviction and a searching rose within me.  "Am I coveting the power of God here?  'Father, I'd rather your pureness than power.  Would you forgive my flesh for longing to see Your power?  Lord, give us fare weather, just as we've spoken, but help me maintain pure motives.'".  I felt released there, as if that matter was settled.  It was.

This is the view of the weather over Gilmer from about 20 miles away.

     It rained on me from the time I left the house until I finished taking these images.  I rejoiced in the LORD when on the distant horizon I saw that He'd breathed and the wind and the rain obeyed.  When we finished up near lunch, it was  blue sky's and cirrus clouds. 

Awesome God.

Here is the video of Jesus Burger Gilmer.  These are only the moments seen on the platform, it was here that ministry flowed from.  You should have seen what we didn't get on tape!  God was there all day!  

We love you!  Thank you for supporting us, in Jesus' Name

God, We Need You - DailyDevo, 05/18/17

as broadcast on KGAS, recorded live in studio.

https://youtu.be/Wl8pIy7YjuU

Opprotunity: Evangelism 101 and deployment. SAVE DATE

We're looking for men to gear up for a day in the prisons.

 Bill Glass - Behind the Walls is coming in force for the Kingdom and they are inviting YOU to participate! 

Below is a video for you to share, Bro Guerra from BGM sent it to us and we added in information at the bottom of the screen for you to use in the sign up process.
Also, James has plenty of materials to get people involved:  I have a folder for pastor's and will be visiting with a few friends soon.  We love you and we bless you in Jesus' name!  (video is 3 mins)

Bill Glass Promotional Video

Christ Carries Me Ministries YouTube Channel

Direct Link to Sign up!

 

If you need more information, follow the link to sign up or call us here at Christ Carries Me Ministries 

...but not with thy sword, nor with thy bow.

 

"And I sent the hornet before you, which drave them out from before you , even the two kings of the Amorites; but not with thy sword, nor with thy bow." Josh 24:12

Read Joshua 24:1-15

You want to win a war but you don't want to service God?

"It's not my war. The battle is the Lord's!" has become cliche and we've lost the understanding of how our pride and arrogance impact the spirit of our words.

     "It's not my war." should come to mean, 

"How dare I think for a moment that something God has chosen to glorify Himself with, the victory over my enemies, is something I can take credit for." 

     Joshua gathered all of Israel together because what he had to say was important (v1).  He then, with authority, announced and imparted the vision and majesty of Who God is and had been to the people (vv. 2-13) and then brought the responsibility of each person to light with a commission, a plan of action, a call (vv. 14-15).

Today, were is the Spirit of the Lord in Power in our meetings?  What is it that is needed to reveal the fear of the Lord in our congregation? Why, it's the Lord Himself, coming down, being present, holiness manifested!  It's a place we've heard about.  It's a place some of us have experienced a portion of in our lives.  It's a place people talk about.  Where is it right now?

We're so busy and caught up in our phones and computers!  Even now as I type this message I feel His conviction!  We should call facebook and twitter what they really are, "Anti-Social Networks" because what they do is allow us to show a face without action, a mask, the VANITY OF OUR MINDS rather than the evidence of our walk!  Oh Lord help us to seek You!  Lord help us to find You!  Lord, call us into times of prayer and fasting that are unheard of today!  Lord, help!  Come down! Lord, please!

Reader, don't you want to feel the cleansing power of the presence of the Lord corporately?  Would you like to see your husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters flee from sin as if they'd seen the devil himself in it?  THAT is revival, THAT is what happens when God Steps Down.
Have you tried to help them? Have you cried trying to get them to listen?



It's time abandon all our own devices and minister unto the Lord.  "If My people," the Lord said, "which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 


#Commission - Time to pray without ceasing.

When God Stepped Down from Heaven by Duncan Campbell
Topic: Revival History   
Description: Listen to this first-hand account of the Lewis Revival during the early 1950s. Duncan Campbell was God's instrument in this extraordinary awakening. In this tape Campbell recounts point-by-point this three-year movement of the Holy Spirit over the Hebrides Islands. Thousands were converted, conviction overwhelmed villages, outward sin disappeared, and prayer meetings were packed! Your heart will be thrilled as you listen to this tape about this heaven-sent revival in Lewis. 

You mean "always" always?

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

 II Thes 5:16-18 KJV


     How we spend our time in life makes the difference.  The days are passing moment by moment and our life script is being recorded in indelible ink by the very finger of God Almighty.  "Consider the ant..." the Proverb instructs us, consider the ant indeed...


It seems to me that one little ant all alone carrying a grain of sand doesn't constitute much of a threat to humanity, but that's not the only grain he's going to tote!  Fire ants were introduced to the US in the 30's. Little biting critters in the Ports of Alabama and today that little grain of sand has expanded their territory to cover over 1/2 the United States! 

That being said, considering the ant, every thought is as a grain of sand, every moment is a placement or displacement of the ground we're standing on. 

The Word tells us to REJOICE ALWAYS, always is a lot of time and a lot of that time we're disobedient to that command and in doing so we lament, regret, grieve and weep instead!  

To PRAY WITHOUT CEASING is cited: how hard do we struggle to find 2 1/2 hours with God a day in this age?  Even if we mumble "Lord Jesus, guide me." every 15 minutes that's still disobedience!  

GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES: are you thankful reading this right now?  

All of this to prove that man can't do it and if it's to be done that God must! 

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.   Galatians 5

 "Walking in the Spirit" is, I believe, what Jesus was doing when He said, "even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.". and it is what we are commanded to do:

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.   John 4

 Part of our recovery program teaches that we must "turn over our will and our life to Jesus Christ".  It is a teaching on submission.  If we get turned around and start focusing on submitting one to another it gets hard but when we focus on submitting to God and get THAT right the "one another" part comes naturally as that battle is fought and won at the cross rather than on this battlefield called "one another".   There is more here to dig into but another time perhaps.  We'll leave you with this:  You can walk in the anointing of God

Will your harvest come from non-believer kindness?

     I believe that we'd all like to believe in humanity as a people but then it smacks me in the face that left to ourselves we'd revert to bludgeoning one another in the head with clubs.  The Word of God tells us that we are to love one another and that instruction is purposeful.  There is no instruction that I've found for us to love ourselves... obviously, we have that one covered.  Cynicism aside, we all struggle to bring the flesh into subjection to the Spirit if the Lord Jesus is our Lord and Savior.  It is something that we all aspire to, this "being Christ-like" and it is a wonderful thing to see others grow into His likeness.  It is also VERY encouraging to hear that you've grown from someones perspective.  But, what about non-believers?  Can they be kind and love others?  Can they be "Christ-like" without Christ? 
     After reading a blog post today I sat in my office and cried a little:  Someone has taken the time to put together content in a blog that shows acts of love, one for another, in this world in a way that just makes sense, naturally.  It's not performed, it's not staged, it's not "hold on, do that again for the camera!" stuff, but moments.  These moments are people being good people for no real measurable gain.  I don't know that these men, women, and children were all non-believers but I do know that some of them were.  How does this kindness speak?  What does it say?   There's no mention of Jesus, no religious form to it, just an act of kindness or a gift from the heart given.
     What are we doing as believers to act like this?  How is Christ's image being portrayed in your life today?  If we are, and WE ARE, in His image and don't do what He did then we're showing others that Jesus isn't Who He is but something else entirely.  We must become the examples of kindness and love.  We have to become the catalyst for change if a lasting change is to be made.
     Today, stop someone with a grimace and ask if you can pray for them. 

Officer joins prayer unexpectedly...

Tell them that you love Jesus and that Jesus has provided relief and peace for them and ask them if they need or want some of that.  We yelled across a parking lot just the other day to a young man sitting on the curb, "Hey bro! We got coffee, cookies, and some Jesus in here if you want some!" and he laughed and came for the coffee, left with Jesus!  Amazing opportunities await you today.  Relationships that last a lifetime are connected in these moments.  We call you today to service.  We love you

Comments? Questions? Let's talk. We want to hear testimony of your application!

"If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them..."

This morning, a reading that blessed my heart:

John 13:1-17 J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)

Jesus teaches his disciples humility

13 ^1-5 Before the festival of the Passover began, Jesus realised that the time had come for him to leave this world and return to the Father. He had loved those who were his own in this world and he loved them to the end. By supper-time, the devil had already put the thought of betraying Jesus in the mind of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son. Jesus, with the full knowledge that the Father had put everything into his hands and that he had come from God and was going to God, rose from the supper-table, took off his outer clothes, picked up a towel and fastened it round his waist. Then he poured water into the basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel around his waist.

⁶ So he came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
⁷ “You do not realise now what I am doing,” replied Jesus, “but later on you will understand.”
⁸ Then Peter said to him, “You must never wash my feet!” “Unless you let me wash you, Peter,” replied Jesus, “you cannot share my lot.”
⁹ “Then,” returned Simon Peter, “please—not just my feet but my hands and my face as well!”
¹⁰ “The man who has bathed,” returned Jesus, “only needs to wash his feet to be clean all over. And you are clean—though not all of you.”
¹¹ (For Jesus knew his betrayer and that is why he said, “though not all of you”.)
^12-17 When Jesus had washed their feet and put on his clothes, he sat down and spoke to them, “Do you realise what I have just done to you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘Lord’ and you are quite right, for I am your teacher and your Lord. But if I, your teacher and Lord, have washed your feet, you must be ready to wash one another’s feet. I have given you this as an example so that you may do as I have done. Believe me, the servant is not greater than his master and the messenger is not greater than the man who sent him. Once you have realised these things, you will find your happiness in doing them.

Knowing He had everything, he chose to cleanse the ways and means this walk requires.  SELAH, ya'll.  SELAH.

Ministry Report and Encouragement

Today's Little Lesson
Good morning!

      Coffield Unit, Tennessee Colony, TX
07/31/2016

Dearest Friends:
                We’re writing to report to you on Kingdom.  Hallelujah.  Yesterday we visited the Coffield Unit Trusty Camp.  This is the largest prison in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and if you’ve never been to a prison before I’m certain that fact alone can be intimidating.  This, for me, was a big deal.  You see, I served much of my prison time there on that unit.  I’m finding that God is faithful more and more.  This day was no different:
                I want you to understand that the very life you lived before Christ is changed by Christ and those that knew you then, when they meet you now, are also greatly impacted by the witness of Christ.  It’s amazing that it’s not us and it’s not our efforts but the Lord and His glory and His purpose that causes such a great witness.  You can be going through hell on earth and literally I mean and walk into a space where you were the old you and the LORD will still blow their minds of the change by His power and His Spirit.   Encouraging to know that holding on and not giving up and stepping out on faith and on the Word of God has fruit.  That’s our ministry today.  Your effort isn’t vain.  Your effort, seen or unseen, is fruitful because HE causes it.  He knows how to move, he knows how to take you around the enemy, he knows how to hide you and give you peace and joy that is every-flowing.  THIS BATTLE IS NOT YOURS BUT THE LORDS AND YOU DON’T HAVE TO FIGHT IT JUST HIDE BEHIND THE THRONE!!!   GLORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Genuinely,

Bro. J. D. Pierce
President
Christ Carries Me Ministries
Phone: 903.265.4424
Email: Service@ChristCarriesMe.org

Christ Carries Me Ministries
Post Office Box 354, Carthage, Texas  75633
You received this message from Christ Carries Me Ministries because you are subscribed to the Newsletter email list.

Grateful Ignorance

We would not wish to say that man cannot evangelize at all without coming to terms with this doctrine - the sovereignty of God; but we venture to think that, other things being equal, he will be able to evangelize better for believing it.  J.I.Packer.  - Let us embrace the revelations God has givin us according to his word and be willing to admit our ignorance concerning the deep things of God. After all, they're purpose is to bless and empower not to cause fear and confusion.

SAI

Word of Our Testimony

Today's Little Lesson
Good morning!

Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” John 4:39 ESV

     What strikes home here was that by her testimony many believed on Jesus.  It didn't take the word of Jesus or the word of a minister or even someone saying, "pray this way..."; it only took them hearing about His work and believing it to be true for the Word of God to say, "Many...believed in him..."
     Every person we meet needs the power of God in their lives.  We believe that giving testimony, testifying of what God has done for us, will give opportunity for someone we encounter to believe in the works of God and the love of Jesus Christ.

Application:     "Today, I will give someone my testimony in a public place that they and others that hear might believe."

Prayer:     "Lord God Almighty, I thank You for the mercy and grace to praise you're Holy Name.  You are worthy of all praise, glory, honor, and worship.  Bless You Lord!  My God, have mercy upon my soul and guide me into Your truths.  Lord provide to me the boldness to testify to those who need to believe in You.  Don't let me turn to the side or listen to the enemy's lies of doubt and unbelief.  Place resolve in my heart that You have prepared their hearts to be opened and that the testament of Your work in my life is the key.  Show me clearly the ones You would have me witness to and Lord, bring this to my remembrance.  Lord let this become a natural and every day resolve.  Provide me all the things I need to be a good steward of Your Word and Lord place in me the resolve and boldness to utilize those things to the fullest of the abilities You've provided.  I love You Lord.  Thank You.  In Jesus' name I pray.  Amen."

If you have any questions about today's study or would like to subscribe to future emails like this one, please feel free to contact us:
We welcome any questions or comments you might have.

Phone: 903.265.4424
Email: Service@ChristCarriesMe.org

Christ Carries Me Ministries
Post Office Box 354, Carthage, Texas  75633

Evangelize those in need...

   In reading Romans 1 this AM and I see many verses that we use to dismiss the responsibility of evangelism by.  Let me explain:  Say you know someone that doesn't know God.  They are living a life that doesn't glorify God (1:21), they think they know everything (1:22), etc...  So since we have an emotional investment in them and we've given one good attempt at loving them through one conversation, one time, they're just lost (v28) and we say "I tried, I give up"!
Then I read Romans 2:1-4.  Ouch...
Time to try again...

Read Romans 1:14-2:4

14I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 15So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed [it] unto them.
n1 in them: or, to them
20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
n1 so…: or, that they may be
21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things. 24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
n1 more: or, rather
26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; (to retain: or, to acknowledge)
n1 a reprobate…: or, a mind void of judgment or, an unapproving mind
29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
n1 without natural…: or unsociable
32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
n1 have…: or, consent with

Chapter 2

1Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 2But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 3And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God ? 4Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance ?

In reading Romans, the revelation is that the people that Paul are describing here is you and me.  Without believing, (Romans 4), and justification, (Romans 5), and the revelation of a need for a savior (7), and the reception of that Savior as He receives us as chosen, (8, 9, 10, 11) and the manifestation of the Christian life (CH 12 on) we are in some fashion a conglomeration of the devices listed here.  The depravity of mankind, without the LORD, exists.  Look at society's standards today and you can see just that.