Posted on by Christian Armetta

No Condemnation

Romans 8:1-4

Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus, 2 because the Spirit’s law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 What the law could not do since it was limited by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending His own Son in flesh like ours under sin’s domain, and as a sin offering, 4 in order that the law’s requirement would be accomplished in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 

no condemnation

Through tear-filled eyes, the believer gathers enough strength to take the first step in his self-inflicted room of guilt. “It’s dark in here!” he exclaims, without any awareness that he’s not alone. A voice trickles from the shadowy distance, “You’ll never escape! You invited us here and we aren’t leaving.” The voice multiples as it rebounds across a hollowed shell.

His eyes fail to adjust to the darkness and fear begins to grip his body as it slithers up from the abyss. “Where am I?” the believer states with the faintest of intent. “You created this place; you know it well!” replies the adversary. With profound uncertainty, the believer walks in the direction of the crippling voice. He comes face to face with the spirit of shame who is guarding a locked and battered door.

“You don’t have the key so there’s no use trying to open it,” says the spirit. With a trembling outstretched hand, the believer frantically turns the knob without release. “You’re wasting your time,” mocks the evil one. In a distraught state of mind, the believer pounds and knocks with his last shred of strength in unison to the enemy’s laughter. “I give up! I’m trapped!” exclaims the believer. He slumps down as his fists slide off the door. Sweat drips from his chin and tears fill troughs within the flooring left by battered attempts to escape.

In complete surrender, the softest of touches brushes the believer’s shoulder. With his last ounce of strength and will, the believer turns to seek the origin of the touch. The radiant light blinds him as he utters, “I cannot look at it!” The Savior says, “Do not be afraid my child. I am near to the brokenhearted.”

The Savior carries the wounded believer to the now vacant door. “But Jesus, I tried; I did! I tried and couldn’t open the door.” Jesus said, “Dear child, you were seeking an earthly key that doesn’t exist! This door can only be opened through my sacrifice!” Jesus reached for the handle which perfectly matched his nailed-pierced hand. The door reacted with submission and opened with ease. After passing through, the believer respectfully asked, “Where did you find me, Lord?” Jesus answered, “In the darkest of places where Satan keeps you in bondage…your mind.”

_________________________________________

Dear friends, there is NO condemnation for those who call Jesus their Lord and Savior. Release the chains through the authority we have in Jesus Christ and refuse to be bound by your own thoughts and shame. Christ came to set the captives free!

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

Posted on by Christian Armetta

Committed

Nehemiah 4:7-14

7 When Sanballat, Tobiah, and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed, they became furious. 8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw it into confusion. 9 So we prayed to our God and stationed a guard because of them day and night.

10 In Judah, it was said:

The strength of the laborer fails,
since there is so much rubble.
We will never be able
to rebuild the wall.

11 And our enemies said, “They won’t know or see anything until we’re among them and can kill them and stop the work.” 12 When the Jews who lived nearby arrived, they said to us time and again, “Everywhere you turn, they attack us.” 13 So I stationed people behind the lowest sections of the wall, at the vulnerable areas. I stationed them by families with their swords, spears, and bows. 14 After I made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the great and awe-inspiring Lord, and fight for your countrymen, your sons and daughters, your wives and homes.”

commitment

I received such encouragement from this passage. Nehemiah was under great oppression and discouragement that we would have given our complete empathy and understanding if he had decided to quit. Nehemiah was facing opposition from within his own community and most certainly from outside his tribe. Yet, his drive to continue in the face of dire opposition come from the Lord. We can learn a lot from this!

God spoke to Nehemiah and nothing was going to stand in his way from accomplishing this God-sized task. We learn, however, that the road was not easy. Many came against him, and it would have been easy to question God’s plan. My prayer is that we stand firm on the solid rock of our Savior and press forward when called accordingly.

Nehemiah 2:17-20 says, 17 So I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins and its gates have been burned down. Come, let’s rebuild Jerusalem’s wall, so that we will no longer be a disgrace.” 18 I told them how the gracious hand of my God had been on me,and what the king had said to me.

They said, “Let’s start rebuilding,” and they were encouraged to do this good work.

19 When Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard about this, they mocked and despised us, and said, “What is this you’re doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”

20 I gave them this reply, “The God of heaven is the One who will grant us success. We, His servants, will start building, but you have no share, right, or historic claim in Jerusalem.”

Nehemiah did not rest upon his own strength or his own understanding. His strength came from the Lord. Therefore, no level of spiritual oppression was going to stand in his way. When pressed on all sides, how do you react? Do you crumble in your own strength or stand firm on the solid rock of Christ?

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

Posted on by Christian Armetta

Audience

Acts 16:25-30

25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; 26 and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened.27 When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!”29 And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

listening

For starters, I’m highly impressed that Paul and Silas were still awake at midnight. I would have been in my third dream by then. Secondly, I’m even more impressed that they were having an all out worship service in the middle of their prison cell at this hour…all joking aside…we can learn some valuable lessons in this passage.

I was touched to the core after reading this passage today. During seasons of trials, our human nature tends to offer security in self-pity and seclusion. However, we see both Paul and Silas doing quite the opposite – praising during their storm. Not only were they beaten with rods and imprisoned unfairly, they were also chained within the inner prison and guarded fiercely. I cannot fathom – honestly.

Yet, we are given a beautiful example of giving God the glory in all our circumstances – the good, the bad, and the ugly. Here, not only do we learn how to praise during the storms of life, we also learn a very valuable lesson in being Christ-like examples. In the passage above, we see that Paul and Silas were praying and singing…”and the prisoners were listening to them.” How many times do those around us listen to our complaints instead of words of praise when we are in valley? [Convicted-yes I am] 

Paul and Silas demonstrated one of God’s greatest promises – He works all things for good for those who love Him.

In the midst of their storm, they praised!

In the midst of their storm, people listened!

In the midst of their storm, God arrived!

In the midst of their storm, they ministered!

In the midst of their storm, people were saved!

I have been challenged to be this kind of disciple for Christ. We do NOT want to miss an opportunity to minister, share, and deliver through our Savior Jesus Christ. May God receive all the honor and praise while we are on the mountaintops and while we are in the valleys. The lesson remains the same – people are always watching and listening. Our actions and words should remain consistent – always pointing to Christ.

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

Posted on by Christian Armetta

Teamwork

James 5:16

16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

prayer for one another

“You can’t possibly tell anyone!” says the evil one. “You know what they will think of you if you tell them the truth,” the deceiver continues. The brokenhearted one sits in silence as he contemplates his actions. The pretender wraps his devious intentions into the weary one’s emotions. The poisonous gestures seep from the evil one’s nature. He strategically encircles the vulnerable soul. He leans in and whispers with heated breath, “You’re not who you think you are! You are a hypocrite, slanderer, gossip, and most certainly — lost!” The injured one slumps in his chair in a form of acknowledgement. He surrenders, “I guess you’re right.”

Dear friends, this might be your story. If not, it is most certainly the story of someone around you! As brothers and sisters in Christ, we cannot stand for this. We must fight for each other. The passage above says we need to confess our sins to one another. Why is this? I am far from a biblical scholar. However, I know two spiritual facts from this passage. First, chains break when sin is confessed. Secondly, evil scatters when the prayer of a righteous believer covers you.

Do not listen to the lies of the evil one any longer. You are a son and daughter of the King. You, my friend, are victorious over the evil one in the powerful name of Jesus Christ. Therefore, let us come together in unity with the Holy Spirit to confess our sins, grow in Christ’s likeness, and bask in His forgiveness.

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

Posted on by Christian Armetta

True Life

Ephesians 2:1-10

From Death to Life

2 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins 2 in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler who exercises authority over the lower heavens, the spirit now working in the disobedient. 3 We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, 5 made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! 6 Together with Christ Jesus He also raised us up and seated us in the heavens, 7 so that in the coming ages He might display the immeasurable riches of His grace through His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— 9 not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.

looking to heaven

There are so many awesome principles, promises, and proclamations in this passage. For starters, “You are saved by grace!” I cannot tell you how peaceful that promise resounds in the ears of a perfectionist like me. In life, my greatest peace comes when I know I have reached the “end of me.” Sadly, I think I’m playing the spiritual control game very well – only to recognize too late that God is in control the entire time; therefore, I am only battling myself through the deception of the evil one. God simple says, “Let go my child. It is a lot easier on my side!” He’s always right!

The greatest lesson I continue to learn in reading God’s word is the overt evidence of spiritual war. We clearly read in the beginning of this passage that there is a ruler who exercises authority over the lower heavens, which is the same spirit working in the disobedient. This is the same ruler who entices us to walk in the ways of the world and not of Christ. But — praise God — Jesus took our place even while we were dead in sin.

We should, therefore, spend our time on this earth worshiping the one true King and sharing His love to the ends of the world. In fact, this passage says that we were created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

“We are His creation…” [pause] – Naturally, the ruler of this earthly world would do everything in his power to destroy God’s handiwork. In fact, he prowls around with this as his main goal – to destroy God’s people, deceiving us to follow the ways of the world. I am thankful that I submit to God’s free gift of grace. There is absolutely nothing I can do to “make-up” for being a sinner. God only demands acceptance by faith. The ruler of this world has lost! Yet, he will continue to deceive and battle God’s people. Do not allow the evil one to deceive you into legalism and traditionalism.

This passage, along with many others, clearly shows the invisible war. Dear friends, I pray that God unveils your eyes to the spiritual battles that compete for your devotion. As believers, we are no longer slaves to sin. We are alive in Christ! Are you alive in Christ? What do you need to release today?

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

Posted on by Christian Armetta

Things Above

Colossians 3:1-11

Living as Those Made Alive in Christ

3 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

walking in freedom

I’m walking in a minefield of worldly intentions! Each step marred with the grasps of evildoers. Jealousy, pride, and unforgiveness appear to cushion my gait one step at a time attempting to regain my focus away from Christ. The veil is lifted and the sense of sure-footedness is in fact deception. The pillow of lies masks the reality of treading on bones and nails – death! The environment quickly unravels into spiritual war.

The Holy Spirit assists me in tightly securing my feet with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. Laced with authority and a readiness that is strengthened through Christ’s promise, dry bones are made alive again. The deceived now becomes the warrior. As I set my gaze firmly on the cross, the things of this world begin to cascade off my joints freeing a once frozen soul. Spiritual freedom abounds and Christ is gloried throughout the land.

Dear friends, I strongly encourage you to read and meditate on this passage. How does this passage speak to you? Does the world still have a stronghold in your life? Most of us would say, “Absolutely not!” However, if we truly dissected our daily lives, most of us would find many examples of worldly living. In fact, we would find more than fragments of this world embedding into our soul, we would find large pieces that represent such things mentioned in this passage: evil desires, rage, greed, and filthy language to name a few.

Does this make us bad? Actually, this makes us a sinner in need of Christ’s redemption! We must take off the mask of deception. As believers, we must still take up our cross daily. We make choices every single day. These choices not only impact our witness but they either build up or tear down the temple of God. I encourage you to evaluate what you give permission into your life. Rebuke the excuses and set your feet firmly on the Rock!

Question: Is there anything in your life that you need to release to Christ?

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

Posted on by Christian Armetta

Salty

Matthew 5:13

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”

salt and light

I had a dear friend return from a mission trip in Peru. Days after her return, these words rang loud and clear as she exclaimed, “I cannot readjust to the ‘luxury’ of this life we have!” This is someone who is describing living in a rural town lacking many amenities. Yet, my friend had an encounter. She saw the face of true poverty and need, and God melted her heart instantly. She used her spiritual gifts in a mighty way. She was uninhibited because she was set free! She tasted God’s presence and it wasn’t about the things of this life. Instead, it was about being His example.

The things we often complain about are in fact bathed in richness when we look at them through God’s eyes. This is exactly what happened to my friend. Her eyes were unveiled to a believer’s real purpose on this earth – to be the salt and light wherever we are.

You do not have to travel to a third world country to be needed nor do you have to travel very far to see the blessings around you. No matter where you are, you have a purpose. We are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus. I pray that we see His plans unfold through our lives as we touch those around us.

I am afraid that these “luxuries” have masked our perceptual reality. Everything is relative and Satan knows how to deceive us with this very thing. You may be looking at your neighbor who just purchased an expensive car and think, “That’s the example of luxury.” Yet, there is someone looking at you saying the same thing because you simply have running water, indoor plumbing, and electricity [think about it].

Satan has done a good job distracting you from the main thing – being the hands and feet of Christ – being salty. We spend an exorbitant amount of time comparing ourselves to others and to that I say -“Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” (Matthew 16:23).

Today, as we celebrate Thanksgiving. I am beyond thankful to my family and friends. Above all things, I am thankful for my Savior, Jesus Christ, who died on a cross to take away my sins. Even more, he walked out of His tomb three days later holding the keys to life and death – victoriously! There is no greater story! I pray we remain focused on Christ in order to be salt and light to those around us. You lose your saltiness and flavor when you start focusing on yourself and listening to the lies of the devil. Give thanks to the Lord for His faithfulness and mercy in forgiving us. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8)

Question: Are you salty for Christ?

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

Posted on by Christian Armetta

Full-Bodied Flavor

Revelation 3:15-22

15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne,just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

tea

According to Merriam-Webster, full-bodied means, “The general impression of substantial weight and rich texture; having importance, significance, or meaningfulness.” There is great significance in this definition when it applies to Christianity…in fact, the Bible says so!

My friends Sarah F. and Catherine P. have reignited my love for hot tea. There is nothing like sipping hot tea to reinvigorate your senses especially during the 3:00 p.m. slump. When brewed properly, one receives the full-bodied flavors in tasting notes such as sweet, nutty, citrusy, fruity, and malty just to name a few. Now granted…this is not a blog on tips for preparing tea; yet, there are amazing parallels between brewing tea and your Christian walk.

As believers, we have such potential. In fact, the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the grave lives in you and me. Romans 8:11 says, “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” To that I say, we have more than “just potential”…we have an unimaginable destiny in Christ!

When you buy a box of tea, the teabag has such great potential. It has the ability to transform water into full-bodied flavor that changes the palate of the receiver. However, if the tea remains in the box (i.e., dark) then it will slowly waste away until expiration – unused, untouched – failing to reach its full potential as originally designed by the maker.

Some of us actually want to use the tea. We get it out of the box; we see the potential but we fail to heat up the water to the right temperature, and the tea sits in a lukewarm bath failing to extract all its rich benefits into the vessel. The tea is described as flat, tasteless, and thus spit-out. The receiver’s desire fades and thus remains untouched.

Then, there are those connoisseurs that have studied and prepared. They are masters at extracting the bull-bodied flavor of every type of tea. They know exactly what to expect because they are trained. They are bold in their approach because they know what works. They take every opportunity to talk about it even with people who have never even tried it before because they cannot contain their excitement. They describe how rich and satisfying it can be when completed properly, at just the right temperature, to extract all the right flavors.

Are we still talking about tea? I would say NO. In fact, we never were. This mimics our Christian walk perfectly. I encourage you this day to be a connoisseur of Christ. Study the Word and be bold in the faith. Take up your cross and crucify the flesh. Mark 12:30-31 says, “30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Friends, you cannot be lukewarm and follow these commands. If you present as lukewarm, then you are not giving your “all” as described in this passage. You are missing your unimaginable potential as designed by the Maker. I pray that God tastes and smells the sweet notes from our full-bodied flavor as we present our lives as a living sacrifice for Him!

[This blog was inspired by my friend Catherine Pabon who shared this word with me. Thank you Catherine.]

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

Posted on by Christian Armetta

Lens

Isaiah 1:18-20

18 “Come now, let’s settle this,”
    says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
    I will make them as white as snow.
Though they are red like crimson,
    I will make them as white as wool.
19 If you will only obey me,
    you will have plenty to eat.
20 But if you turn away and refuse to listen,
    you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies.
    I, the Lord, have spoken!”

God's eyes

Obedience through faith allows freedom from sin. Only the Father can transform crimson into white. There is no magic involved for only Satan is the author of deception. This transformation occurs through the lens of God’s Son Jesus Christ. As the Father looks upon His children, He sees purity because His lens (i.e., Jesus) is perfection and sanctification. We should walk in victory daily knowing that God has removed this burden of guilt and shame.

Psalm 103:12, “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.”

Psalm 32:1-2, “Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 2 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.

Therefore, resist the devil in Jesus name and he will flee from you so says the Lord (James 4:7). Satan is well aware that your mind is the battlefield. Remain strong, stand firm, and shelter in the Most High. “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

When you begin to feel ashamed, silenced, and restrained by the thoughts of your past transgressions, use the Sword of the Spirit to claim your victory over the evil one and walk in triumph for your Father in heaven sees you beautifully cleansed through the lens of His Son as white as snow!

Question: Do you struggle with forgiving yourself? Release the evil spirits of guilt and shame by calling out to the Lord. He will rescue you.

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

Posted on by Christian Armetta

Hide and Seek

Proverbs 8:17-21

17 “I love all who love me.
    Those who search will surely find me.
18 I have riches and honor,
    as well as enduring wealth and justice.
19 My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold,
    my wages better than sterling silver!
20 I walk in righteousness,
    in paths of justice.
21 Those who love me inherit wealth.
    I will fill their treasuries.

hide and seek

“Ready or not, here I come!” This phrase was often heard throughout our neighborhood as we all loved to play hide-and-seek. It was not uncommon to rush over to a friend’s house after school or spend countless hours during the summer break playing such games. Yet, God most certainly pierced my heart today relating His character to this game.

By definition, hide-and-seek involves a group of kids hiding while one person is designated to find them. The game starts off with the seeker counting with his/her eyes closed while countless children run purposefully to conceal their location within the environment. After announcing, “Ready or not, here I come!” the seeker sets out to find the camouflaged participants. The winner is usually the child who is found last…meaning, he did a superb job at hiding.

In reading through Proverbs 8 today, God taught me a simple and even humbling lesson concerning hide-and-seek. My Father loves those who love Him. He is the God of love and light. He wants to be found! Proverbs 8:17 clearly states, “I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me.” Yes and Amen!

Dear friends, can’t you see it now? During the game of hide-and-seek, God is the one standing right in the middle of the field shouting, “I’m right here! I’m so glad you were seeking me! There is no need to look any further. Come and rest in my shadow.” What a true blessing. [Yes, He didn’t follow the rules of the game but PRAISE GOD!…that’s the point.]

Honestly, this is one of the most peaceful messages I could ever hear. God wants to be found! There may be times when He appears quiet, but “…in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

I am beyond thankful that I serve a God that wants to be found. Why do we make it so hard? “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (Revelation 3:20). Again, Father God announces Himself in order to be known, “Here I am!” We are undeserving of such attention.

False religions will teach you that you must work to find God or ‘a god.’ The lost spend their time here on earth playing hide-and-seek with the devil! He pulls you away deeper and deeper by confusing you. Some believe their great works will open the last door which will reveal their god when in fact deception stares right back at them. The devil is the author of lies. In the game of hide-and-seek, the one and true God is out in the middle calling for you, “Here I am!” You just have to seek, He will reveal!

Thankful,

Christian Armetta