Jerusalem - Holy Land
Monday, February 13, 2012
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Tied-up Faith
One of the biggest challenges to Christian faith is indecisiveness.
An indecisive person never knows what they want. They have no goals, no vision, no understanding of God's will for their life. And that's because they have a faltering personality. They are uncertain about everything they do. They are unable to firmly say, “Yes” or “No”.
How can God use someone that is indecisive?
Someone who is like the waves of the sea, indefinitely moving forward and backwards.
Jesus’ followers must to live from faith to faith.
However, the undecided or wavering live from one indecision to the next, even when it comes to making small decision like what clothes or shoes to wear.
Having Jesus as your Savior does not cancel out this kind of behavior. Many times, it may even get in the way because you feel like things will eventually change on their own. You end up waiting for Divine magic.
This type of Christian, consciously or unconsciously, becomes Satan’s ally by helping him harvest those who have a sincere faith. Because they pass along their indecisiveness, fear, insecurity and weakness to others.
This is why few conquer by faith, and many fall away from the Christian faith.
James considers this kind of person to be “a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” James 1.8
“…and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4.8
A double-minded person is someone who pretends and has mixed feelings, but ends up doing whatever suits them better.
What good is it to believe in the Word of God, in the Lord Jesus and not be decisive about defining your faith?
What good is it to believe in God, and not make that belief clear, objective and incisive to the world and to hell?
Try looking for someone in the Bible that was used by the Holy Spirit and had an indecisive personality and faith?
Through Paul, God Himself said:
“One person esteems on day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.” Romans 14.5
And you, my dear friend, what is your faith?
Until when are you going to falter between two opinions?
Bishop Macedo
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Looking Inside of You
By looking at this beautiful baby, you are able to see purity on her face. Even if you spend a whole day looking at her you will never feel tired because she looks so cute, so innocent and very simple with no make-up to enhance her beauty. Try to imagine this baby with some lipstick or mascara or powder or fake eyelash. Will she really need them? I know that your answer is NO! But, where does this beauty come from? It comes from inner simplicity.
When a person is truly transformed by the Holy Spirit, this change makes her to become pure and simple which reflects in her exterior. She has become more confident to spread her beauty wherever she goes, exactly like this baby. Many people spend money with special treatments, plastic surgeries, cosmetics and other elements trying to look young or to enhance their beauty. Is it wrong? Of course not, everyone has the right to be the way he/she likes but if one invests only on the his/her appearance and s/he does nothing to change his/her inside, then all the efforts and investment will be as good as nothing. However, if one holds grudges, is envious, has a lot of hate or has anxiety this is what will be reflected externally. Therefore, it is important to ask the Holy Spirit to transform you so you can possess that natural beauty. You won't depend on a red, brown, grey or any colored lipstick to make you look beautiful. Remember, babies don't put on any make up and they are all beautiful.
Bishop Carlos Da Costa