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Tarnished Gifts

Ecclesiastes 3:11

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Spiritual-Gifts-Sermon

Satan is a liar! In fact, he is the father of all lies. John 8:44 says, “…for he is a liar and the father of lies.” I begin with this emphatic statement because I’m tired – tired of watching Satan kill, steal, and destroy in plain sight. I’ve learned recently that we all listen to his lies from time to time. So…we must get real, be honest, and embrace our calling as valiant warriors.

As believers, we ARE gifted! We are given the Holy Spirit to perform supernatural abilities to further God’s kingdom, not ours. However, Satan has done a good job at tarnishing these gifts and making them useless or ineffective at best. It should not be surprising that these gifts frighten the kingdom of darkness. The same God who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you and me!

Romans 8:11, “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.” I quote this Scripture often because frankly we need to be reminded of its power! Satan clearly knows this kind of power because he remembers losing the keys of death that day. Therefore, he is spending an enormous amount of time whispering lies and tarnishing your gifts to make you ineffective for God’s Kingdom.

So what do we do? Be encouraged! You might feel like you are far from God’s grace. You might feel as though your gifts are so broken and tarnished that they cannot be repaired so why try. Speak truth over your situation and allow the Holy Spirit to resurrect your gifts and talents just like He resurrected our Savior. This is what I know – God creates beauty and that includes you – don’t listen to anything else!

Challenge: Place your tarnished gifts and talents at His altar and allow Him to resurrect them to perfection for His purpose!

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

Posted on by Christian Armetta

Driving in Reverse

Hebrews 13:5

5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

living in the present

We’re moving, YES…but in the wrong direction! Wake up! Face forward and drive in the direction God has designed.

-Narrative-

You’ve convinced me that I was destined to be someone that I’m not! My mind scatters into countless pieces of possibilities. I see puzzle pieces floating above with self-defeating labels. My eyes are drawn to the bleeding ink of failure, loser, weak, incompetent, and sinner. These pieces congregate together and begin to fit tightly into one picture – my past. But I’m moving in the right direction, right? “Yes!” says the evil one. “Then why do I feel so defeated by my own desires and passions?” “Keep looking into your rearview mirror and the answers will become clear,” exclaims the author of all lies. The mirror widens as my focus intensifies. I ponder countless life decisions and fall deeper into despair. “If only I had pursued that career,” exclaims the weary one. Satan is now fully in control as your life moves forward but you are driving in reverse.

Dear friends, stay alert! 1 Peter 5:8, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” The enemy wants more than anything to get into the driver’s seat and convince you to drive in reverse! You cannot use your spiritual talents to impact the Kingdom of God when you are focused on the past and driving in reverse.

Remember – you are exactly where you’re supposed to be because God is ultimately in control. Your struggles and encounters can and will be used for good when you focus on Christ and drive forward! Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Therefore, stop analyzing the past. Tear down the rearview mirror and drive in the direction of Christ. He will use all of you to glorify His name if you surrender the keys!

Question: Does your “Spiritual Gear Selector” say “R – Reverse” or “D – Drive”?

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

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Requirements to Please

Micah 6:6-8

With what shall I come before the Lord
    and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
    with calves a year old?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
    with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
    the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God.

walk humbly

I’m first in line – yep, that’s me! The one yearning to follow the rules because I’m a rule follower to the core. This trait can be both a strength and a weakness at times. Sadly, there are millions just like me who attempt to apply this trait in pleasing God. However, I’m here to tell you that this is impossible because there is not one worldly thing I can bring to God’s throne worthy enough to receive sanctification; instead, I must bring my heart.

What will it take? Will God be happy if I bring Him ten thousand rams? What if I brought Him one hundred vats of the finest fragrances the earth could supply? Will that be enough? Wait! – I’ve got it! He must like precious elements so I’ll bring Him tons of gold; that most certainly would impress Him, right?

Please forgive my sarcasm. However, do you know what I really envision when we speak of such things? I see God shaking His head and saying these words…

“I created all of those things, and they are obedient to me because even the rocks will cry out if praises are withheld from your tongue. However, there is one thing I created that you must choose to give up yourself – your soul. Whenever that occurs, you no longer live and my Son, Jesus, lives in you. This is the only pleasing sacrifice worthy enough to receive my acceptance. The rams, precious fragrances, and elements are already mine, but you must choose to give me your heart. Without this self-surrender, you remain lost and your worldly gifts are worthless.”

I’m afraid millions of us are churning the sanctification jar

hoping our efforts will turn into acceptance.

Hosea 6:6

“I don’t want your sacrifices—I want your love; I don’t want your offerings—I want you to know me.

~God doesn’t want your “rams;” He wants your surrendered love.

~God doesn’t want your money to fulfill a duty; He wants a relationship.

So…Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly with Your God. Remember, it’s never about you or the “things” you can bring. It’s all about the one thing you can’t live without – Jesus!

Challenge: What are you offering to God? [Things, rituals, or yourself]

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

Posted on by Christian Armetta

The Road Less Traveled

Exodus 13:17-18

17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.

long road

~But I know best! — Sadly, most of us find ourselves in this very situation. We are standing at a crossroads problem solving the quickest and easiest way to get from point A to point B in life. However, God has already gone before us to protect us! Deuteronomy 31:8 says, “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Why, therefore, do we spend so much precious time “evaluating” a plan that has already been designed for our best spiritual and physical outcome? – Interesting! Why, then, do we fail to spend that time in prayer humbly seeking God’s guidance and will?

This devotion pierced my heart! I want to spend a life full of His purpose – not mine! If this means taking the road less traveled then I’ll pack extra shoes and go. I pray that we all see God’s hand in our current circumstances. We truly don’t have to understand why God has placed us on this particular road. We TRUST that He has gone before us to PROTECT us.

Psalm 100:3, “Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”

Challenge: Do you see God on your long road?

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

Posted on by Christian Armetta

Unshakable

Hebrews 12:25-29

25 Make sure that you do not reject the One who speaks. For if they did not escape when they rejected Him who warned them on earth, even less will we if we turn away from Him who warns us from heaven. 26 His voice shook the earth at that time, but now He has promised, Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also heaven. 27 This expression, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what is not shaken might remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us hold on to grace. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

unshakable

During a summer family vacation several years ago, my son was able to experience recreational gold panning at a local park in Arkansas. He could barely contain his excitement as the anticipation of finding the “world’s largest nugget of gold” filled his imagination. Hours were spent panning that day. Granted, he did not find the world’s largest nugget of gold – or any gold for that matter. Yet, the smile on his face did not change. He remained excited through the anticipation. Not only was it pure entertainment and simple fun, there was a sense of excitement through anticipation. After reading Hebrews chapter 12, I could not help but relate this to God’s character as well.

You see, in order to pan for gold, you place deposits in a large pan which naturally contain rocks, pebbles, sediment, and other debris. You then agitate these deposits with water. Gold will naturally sink to the bottom due to its weight (i.e., higher specific gravity). Deposits with low specific gravity will simply spill out of the pan; these deposits cannot handle the agitation and are tossed aside.

The day will come when God calls the trumpets to sound and heaven and earth will shake; this is a promise. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, proclaimed the good news while on this earth, and His voice shook the earth at that time. Lives were changed and people were saved. Yet, some still rejected Him. He has promised that there will come a day when He will not only shake the earth but also heaven. My prayer is that you do not reject His free gift of grace through salvation. Through His acceptance, we receive “high specific gravity” and therefore will not be shaken when God, the all consuming fire, comes down. We know, as believers, that the Holy Spirit lives within us. Therefore, we cannot be moved as we hold firmly to grace the day both heaven and earth shake.

Thought: In my heart, I truly believe God has the same smile of anticipation as my son had panning for gold that hot summer day. Instead, God is anticipating the return of His children into His arms. As the all consuming fire shakes the earth and heaven, will you still stand or be tossed aside?

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

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True Love

John 3:16

For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

cross

During the Valentine season, we are bombarded by the world’s view of love: red and pink hearts, Cupid, bows and arrows, roses, balloons, and chocolate. Yet, I was reminded of God’s view of true love while pulling up today’s Bible verse. I am afraid that believers are becoming desensitized to this most powerful verse. I’m also afraid that we fail to meditate on this verse when it comes to mind because we think we truly understand it. I’m here to say that this verse never gets old. In fact, nothing in the Bible is capable of “getting old.” Jesus, the physical manifestation of the Word, is the same yesterday, today, and forever! Therefore, it’s breathes forever and never will die.

This passage above is beyond timely. I encourage you to focus on God’s truth this Valentine’s day. The truth is God loved the world so much that He sent His One and Only Son to take away our sins in order to restore a broken relationship with our Creator. This my friends is true love because He did this while we were still sinners!

~Roses will die yet my God’s true gift of love lives forever.

~Valentine’s day cards will be thrown away yet my God’s true gift of love lives forever.

~Balloons will deflate and fall to the ground yet my God’s true gift of love lives forever.

~Chocolates will spoil and be thrown out yet my God’s true gift of love lives forever.

I am thankful for God’s true love. If you desire such an unfailing love, draw near to Him and He will draw near to you!

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

Posted on by Christian Armetta

Arrow

Proverbs 3:5-6

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 
6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
arrow.jpeg
[Narrative] – My prayer for my dear friend K.T.
I thank God in advance for this blessing! Thank you Lord for faith.
“For I will form you in your mother’s womb my child, and you will fly like a mighty arrow to accomplish My will for your life,” says the Lord. The child replies, “But Father, here in heaven, there’s such great peace and wonderment as we revel in your glory.” The Lord replies with great authority, “Yes, my child, but much will be required of you as you walk the earthly sod. You will see My face in the mountains. You will hear the call of Yahweh in the rocks. You will smell the sweet fragrance of salvation in the rain. You will touch my heart when you willingly accept my Son, Jesus, as your own, and you will taste a sweetness greater than honey when you experience true faith without sight.”
The child rests upon God Almighty’s shoulder basking in thought. The Lord caused a deep sleep to fall upon the child. As the child rests, two young men approach. “Sleep tight my child; we will await your return with mom and dad,” they state without moving their lips. God’s light of familial connection immediately bonded the three before this child was sent into the womb. The eyes of the Lord pierced forward and addressed His target with perfection. The bow did not shake. As the arrow was drawn closer to His face, He kissed the child with protection. The arrow released with God’s speed…and an infant cry was heard as a mother and father held their precious child.
————————————————-
I am so thankful for God’s purpose! May we never forget that we came into this world with God’s precision as the master Archer. Be blessed this day! No matter how many times the enemy uses his fiery darts to disrupt your course, God will use all things for His good because He created your course from the very beginning. Praise God!
Thankful,
Christian Armetta
Posted on by Christian Armetta

“The Puzzling Puzzle! Is Christ Divided?”

~Written by my dear friend Ms. Rita Harris~

1 Corinthians 12

Spiritual Gifts

12 Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this. 2 You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols. 3 So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.

4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. 5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. 6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. 8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. 9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. 10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. 11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

One Body with Many Parts

12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.

14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. 15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?

18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part! 20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”

22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. 23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, 24 while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. 25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. 28 Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church:

first are apostles,
second are prophets,
third are teachers,
then those who do miracles,
those who have the gift of healing,
those who can help others,
those who have the gift of leadership,
those who speak in unknown languages.

29 Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? 30 Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! 31 So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts.

But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all.

___________________________________________________________

puzzle

Have you ever picked up a single puzzle piece and said, “What an amazingly beautiful work of art?” Probably not! Most of us realize that the beauty of a puzzle can only be accomplished by putting each piece in its proper place.  As a matter of fact, the designer’s intention when making each part was to ensure that each piece would be joined together to become one awe-inspiring picture of perfection.
Once the pieces are connected and each are in their proper place, a masterpiece appears. Even though each piece has a distinct shape and cut in order to fit into the bigger picture, if they remain in pieces (divided) its beauty cannot be displayed.
The Apostle Paul addressed division in his first letter to the church at Corinth.
He asked if Christ divided? In the High Priestly prayer in John 17, Jesus prayed for unity in the body; He prayed that we would be one even as He and the Father are One.
Even though we are different, we are all part of One body in Christ.
In 1 Corinthians 12, we see that each Christian is a unique part of the body of Christ with different callings, gifts and such. We are called to be united, connected and joined…and when we are, we will clairvoyantly bring Glory to God! The Lord looks at His body and He sees His Beloved Son! This is the most beautiful puzzle ever!
Our challenge is to eradicate division in the Body. Romans 16:17 says to mark them that cause division and avoid them. 2 Timothy 3 says to turn away from those who have a form of godliness and deny the power thereof. Remember, we’re not wrestling against people; we’re fighting the invisible kingdom of Satan. Ephesians 6: 11-12, “Put on the whole Armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places.”
“We must endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace! There is One body and One Spirit, just as you were called in One hope of your calling; One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism; One God and Father of All, who is above All and thru All, and in you ALL.” Ephesians 4:3-6
Let’s put on and keep on the Armor of God and do our part so that the Body of Christ will be a brilliant work of Art for all to see!
Much love and blessings,
Rita
Posted on by Christian Armetta · 1 Comment

Battlefield of the Mind

Ephesians 5:20

“Giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

light and darkness

You lurk outside my prayers waiting to distract. Your slithering approach gives you away. Yet, your goal was accomplished – eyes off the cross. The Holy Spirit announces your purpose, and you cannot hide – so – you strike! You lurch forward and fangs appear with discernible purpose to kill and destroy. However, there will be no flinching for fear is silent in the presence of God. There is utmost protection under the shadow of the Almighty! Warrior angles encircle the darkness and eradicate evil’s purpose – God remains fully in control and at the center of it all!

Dear friends, negative speech masquerades as a viper. Ephesians 4:29 says, “No foul language is to come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.” There are multiple problems with a negative tongue. First and foremost it is not God-honoring and does not represent the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Secondly, it strikes spiritual venom in the minds and hearts of those listening to you.

I beseech you dear friends to remove negative speech from your lips. Seek God’s protection over your words and fully represent the characteristics of Christ in your mission fields (e.g., work, school, home, etc.). Seek to build others up instead of tearing them down. Avoid entangling others by spewing negative speech out of anger, bitterness, jealously, and pride! Most certainly, please do not be a stumbling block to those around you.

Challenge: Avoid negative speech and gossip. Commit to these verses and build others up!

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

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