New Image Ministries

NO EXCUSE

Good morning all! Father, how could we ever see anything but Your love and goodness in our life? I pray that we would glorify You with praise and thanksgiving always, may our hearts be void of complaint or excuse so the world would know how great You are, let us be Your city on a hill that cannot be hid, Amen.



John 5



5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.



A certain man had been LAME for 38 years and could NOT walk.



6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time [in that case], he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?



When Jesus SAW him lying there and He knew he was there a LONG time and said to him, do you want to change?



7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.



The man with NO power avoided the question and began to make excuses and blamed others for getting in his way.



8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.



Jesus said, get up, pick up your bed and walk.



9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.



IMMEDIATELY the man was healed, he picked up his bed and walked, the same day was a day of worship.





Bottom line – Can you imagine lying on a bed for 38 years? Not being able to walk or enjoy life, just lying there captive while the world passes you by? That’s exactly what happened to a CERTAIN man, why is he called a certain man? When we choose to live like him, you can be CERTAIN of the same fate...LAME! Jesus knew he was there a LONG time, so He asked him will you be changed…hmm, the real question you want change or you want people to feel sorry for you? It was the latter because he began to make EXCUSES why he was lying on that bed for so long; the first excuse was nobody helped him and the second excuse was someone prevented him…translation…I’m this way because of others. The bed represents our consciousness, it’s lazy, it tells us lies, it’s the opposite of faith. [Pro 22:13 NLT] The lazy person claims, "There's a lion out there! If I go outside, I might be killed! Notice we’re lazy and NOT a sinner, we make excuses why we can’t do this or do that…we’re trapped, we’re trapped in that bed by whatever our conscience tells us. So, what’s the answer? Get up and pick up your bed…let it be a reminder that you have CONTROL over it, and it doesn't own you. [Isa 28:20 KJV] For the bed is shorter than that [a man] can stretch himself [on it]: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself [in it]. That bed is made for small people…IMMATURE, you know SMALL minded because your conscience is SHORT on faith and cover is NARROW minded, we’re so busy making excuses in life we leave NO room for God. You know who doesn’t fit in that bed? A BIGGER person, the one with a heart bigger than any excuse, a heart filled with so much love it drowns out every complaint and insult hurled by others. You want a bigger heart? One that is too big to be restrained by any bed? [Psa 119:32 NASB20] I shall run the way of Your commandments, For You will enlarge my heart. Will you RUN to love others? RUN to forgive others? Ain’t nothing lazy about that! You can have a BIGGER heart today; you hold the power NOT the bed. How long did it take for the Lame man to be healed? IMMEDIATELY!!! Did Jesus have to lay hands on him? NOPE!!! You and I hold the power right NOW and the only one holding you back is YOU!!! Notice the man believed if he got into that pool, he would be healed but he never touched the pool…hmm, I think sometimes we’re WAITING for the wrong thing, it may have worked in the past but not today. [Phl 3:13 NIV] Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. What’s holding you back from BIGGER faith? A BIGGER God? FORGET your yesterday, forget your excuse, forget waiting for a CERTAIN answer and STRAIN, REACH, EXTEND yourself for what is ahead. Is it possible your best days are ahead? [Job 8:7 NKJV] Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly. What are you waiting for? Pick up your bed and RUN, your BEST days are still ahead of you!





Point to Ponder – Who are you? [Rom 1:20 NIV] For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. You are HIS child with NO excuse, with ETERNAL power to get you through anything this world throws at you!





Let’s all rise up and live in power, In Him Phil Faith – Family – Friends

HIS HAND

Good morning, all! Father, thank you Lord for another day in Your kingdom. Thank You for Your provision, Your grace and Your word. We know You never leave our side, You walk with us wherever Your roads in life takes us. Remind us Lord when we face challenges, setbacks, hard times, to never let go of Your hand, Amen.



Ezekiel 47



3 Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?



Son of man, these people have set up idols in their hearts. They listen to things that will make them fall into a trap. Shouldn’t they seek Me first?



4 Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;



Tell them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: The people of Israel have set up idols in their hearts and fallen into sin, and then they go to a prophet asking for a message. So I, the LORD, will respond to based on the MULTITUDE of your idols.



5 That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.



I will do this to capture the minds and hearts of all my people because they are strangers to me because they listen to their idols.



6 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn [yourselves] from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.



Therefore, tell the people of Israel, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Repent and TURN away from your idols, and stop all your useless ways.





Bottom line – What if you believe a lie? Would it impact your life? The way you live? That is what Ezekiel is calling out in this passage, God is telling Israel they have set up idols in their HEART. How is that possible? [Phl 3:19 AMP] Whose fate is destruction, whose god is their belly [their worldly appetite, their sensuality, their thoughts], and whose glory is in their shame--who focus their mind on earthly and temporal things. You know how you make your belly…seat of emotions…a god? You LISTEN to it and when you listen to it you give it power and authority in your life NOT God. Of course, God is love…He wants only the very best for His children, so He warns us to TURN away from our idols…don’t listen to them. Why? Well first, what is the 1st commandment? “Thou shalt have NO other God before ME”…it’s number ONE for a reason. Once we break the first commandment, we have NO shot of getting anything right after that, scripture say we add sin to sin, makes sense if the first step I take is wrong then the second one will also be wrong. You know where those steps lead to? It says our FATE is destruction…we don’t realize were living a destructive lifestyle that leads to problems and they never seem to leave. [Pro 17:13 NLT] If you repay good with evil, evil will never leave your house. Evil will NEVER leave your house; we must TURN away our attention from these idols and turn our attention to God. Think about it, anything that God has to say must be TRUTH…scripture says it’s impossible for God to LIE to us. [Isa 44:20 NIV] Such a person feeds on ashes; a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say, "Is not this idol in my right hand a lie? Call me crazy but if God loves us, don’t you think He might be a bit upset if someone is lying to us? Especially when the one lying is ME!!! He tells us right here we’re holding a LIE in our RIGHT hand…the RIGHT always speaks of power and authority…Matthew says His sheep are on His right hand and the goats on the left…who are the goats? Those that don’t listen because they’re too busy butting heads-Ha! Do you remember when you were little holding your Father or Mother’s hand ? Sure, why? TRUST & LOVE, we found comfort and security. Think about it, can you hold your idol and God’s RIGHT hand at the same time? You can only trust one, love one. Do you suppose that’s why God said we’re STRANGERS to Him? If we truly knew the nature and character of God, why would we chase anything but Him? Why would we trust anything but Him? And even when we do God is sovereign…He will only do what’s best for us, He will NOT leave us strangers forever. And just like the Beatles song “I want to hold your hand” well so does God. [Hos 2:7 KJV] And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find [them]: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then [was it] better with me than now. Eventually we quit chasing our lovers…idols…we realize they don’t help and they don’t comfort and just like Gomer we return to our FIRST love because my life was better with Him than without Him. May we turn from all empty pursuits and return to only One who will truly love and comfort us always…hold His hand only.





Point to Ponder – You need help this morning? [Isa 41:13 NIV] For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. All you have to do is ask, God is always ready…He will grab your hand…No fear!



May we always hold His hand and never let go, In Him Phil Faith – Family – Friends

RULES FOR LIFE

Good morning, all! Father, thank you for a new day filled with Your promises. Promise of a better life, promise of a better us, promise of better faith. Your word declares that the heavens do rule, so we pray let it be. You alone are lawgiver and judge, so we trust you with our life and know that we’re in the best hands possible, Amen.





2 Corinthians 3



3 [Forasmuch as ye are] manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.



Clearly, your life reflects Christ which is meant to minister to others. It’s NOT some legal document written in ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It’s NOT written in stone, but on human hearts.



4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:



We are confident of all this because we trust God through Christ.



5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency [is] of God;



Not that we THINK we have earned anything on our own. Whatever we have it comes from God.



6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.



He has enabled us to help others by the new covenant. NOT some legal document, but of the Spirit: living by legalese destroys relationships, but the spirit GIVES life.





Bottom line – What are the rules to life? We all have them, some the same and some different depending on how you grew up. Brush your teeth, make your bed, do your homework, learn your memory verse, these of course are innocent and NOT exactly what Paul is talking about. He’s talking about living a legalistic life, you know let the punishment fit the crime sort of speak. Now in the church world we like to call it “reap what you sow”, but that is a legalistic mentality and certainly NOT what Jesus taught. [1Co 6:7 AMP] Why, the very fact that you have lawsuits with one another is already a defeat. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? The minute you take somebody to court you are already DEFEATED! Does that sound like God expects us to take legal action against one another? This is what Paul is saying in this text, our lives…the way we live…is a LIVING epistle to be read by the world. What rules did Jesus live His life by? [Jhn 5:19 NLT] So Jesus explained, "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. Did you SEE that? Jesus ONLY lived based on what He SAW His Father doing…witness of a life lived. Seriously, what is more impactful what I say or what you see me do? At work this is what we call “the audio DON’T match the video”, feel me? When Paul is writing about “the letter” he’s NOT speaking about God’s law, scripture says His word is tried and perfect so that’s NOT the problem. The letter he’s speaking of here is really speaking of entitlement, and if you think your entitled to something you’re THINKING is of your own sufficiency. Remember the two brothers fighting over their Father’s inheritance, what did Jesus say? [Luk 12:15 NLT] 15 Then he said, "Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you get. He told them BEWARE…translation…be on guard for oneself (i.e. for one's safety's sake of mind) so as not to violate others. What were the brother’s violating? The word written on their heart…LOVE! Do you think someone owes you something? Are you measuring how much you get? [Rom 13:8 KJV] Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. The proper Greek translation is NO man is owed anything BUT…which erases whatever came prior to that phrase anyway…we OWE each other LOVE; that’s it…full STOP! The letter…that mentality kills, bring death to our lives spiritually but the spirit gives NOT takes. The answer to the rules for life is…GIVE. You know when you start to GIVE? When you believe you have all that you need and you’re NOT owed anything because your SUFFICIENCY is from God. Rule #1 for life according to Jesus, it’s NOT measured by how much you GET. So maybe rule #2 is we measure by how much we GIVE? Hmm…reminder…we should do as we SEE the Father do. [Luk 6:38 NIV] Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. God will always give us the answer to life, what is the measure that God will measure back to you? It’s GIVE…that’s the measure NOT let me see how much I can get! I pray when people LOOK at our life they will see CHRIST running all over our life because we give so much, they don’t know where it starts or where it ends...just give!





Point to Ponder – What does God love? [2Co 9:7 KJV] Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, [so let him give]; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. No confusion here, be intentional with love and compassion it’s the only measure that matters to God…and don’t forget to smile.





Let’s His spirit rule our lives, In Him Phil Faith – Family - Friends