What mountain?

black and teal mountain
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Zechariah 4:7Amp

‘What are you, O great mountain [of obstacles]? Before Zerubbabel [who will rebuild the temple] you will become a plain (insignificant)! And he will bring out the capstone [of the new temple] with loud shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’”

Zerubbabel was the governor of Judah and led the first captives back from Babylon. He was also placed by God in the position of rebuilding the temple that was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. After the foundation was laid, many where discouraged by the lack of progress (Zechariah 4:10). They despised the day of small beginnings. No doubt Zerubbabel was discouraged a feeling pretty defeated. There was a mountain of opposition in his way. Not only was this already an overwhelming task, he also had enemies fighting tooth and nail to halt the work, and even his own people were growing restless with the lack of progress! Just when it seems all hope is lost, staring at this great mountain of problems, a word from the Lord comes and asks, “what mountain?”. We’re not faced with building a great temple in our walk with Christ, but we’re called to build. Jude 1:20-25 tells us to build ourselves up in faith and lead others to Christ! 1 Peter 2:5-9 teaches that each believer is a spiritual stone that make up a spiritual house to offer spiritual sacrifices to God. This can be a daunting task seeing how the enemy (satan) is constantly opposing our efforts. Our enemy throws so many obstacles in our way that just living a Christian life seems impossible. These mountain of problems mean nothing when we quit looking at how big the problems are, and begin to remember how big our God is! Mark 11:23 teaches us to speak to the mountain not examine and dwell on it. With just a little faith in the power of God we can speak to the mountains in our way and tell them to move! What is that mountain in your way of living a godly life and being an effective witness? It can be removed! However it’s only by the power of God. (Zechariah 4:6) Here’s the GOOD NEWS!
Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.
Isn’t it great the God’s power works in us through the Holy Spirit? Speak to your mountain that hinders your walk with Christ and do the work God has called you to do! You may see a mountain of problems in your way but God says, What mountain?

God said Zerubbabel would complete the work and he did. God’s word also says the work began in you through Christ would be finished. (Phil 1:6). The mountain in front of you today will become nothing more than a plain if you’ll just believe! And you’ll be left saying, What Mountain?!

Go Anyway

a person in blue and black long sleeve shirt praying
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Luke 7:36-39

And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat.And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

All too often someone walks through the doors of a church and get shamed by looks of disgust. That’s exactly what was going on here. This Pharisee offered Jesus a meal at his home. The guest where nice well put together religious types. How dare this sinful woman come in unannounced and have the audacity to bother Jesus! I find it rather interesting that the woman in the scripture isn’t named. Some say she could be Mary Magdalene others say Mary of Bethany. But it could be anybody. The fact remains that this happens even today. Satan uses these hateful looks and snarky remarks to hinder the “unchurched” from showing up. Luke19:10 and Luke5:32 clearly teach that the unrighteous is who Christ is after. And remember also Romans3:23 which states that all have sinned. Never let the nasty looks keep you from Christ. So you’ve made a mess of your life, GO TO CHURCH ANYWAY! You’re not really in the clique at church so you’re not sure if you’d be welcome at the next event. GO ANYWAY! You may think you can’t understand the Bible. GO STUDY ANYWAY! Maybe satan has burdened you down with guilt over your sin and he says you shouldn’t pray. GO PRAY ANYWAY! So you’re a drunk, so you’re an addict, so you’re having marital problems, so you’re a SINNER, you feel that because of this you’re unworthy to go to Jesus. GO TO HIM ANYWAY!!! Never let anything or anyone keep you from Christ, he came for you. You’ll never clean yourself up, only Christ can do that. The word of God teaches us that we can come to Christ just as we are. It also promises, that if we come in faith we will leave changed for the better. The religious leaders condemned this lady, but Jesus commended her and forgave her sins. He will comfort you too!

Matt 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

GO TO HIM ANYWAY!!!

A little about myself

A little of my testimony

My name is Rev Dev. For many I was a black sheep with no hope! I was raised in a broken home, where drugs and alcohol was the norm. I did however have family that took me to church. I give my life to Christ at a young age and was called to preach at 14. I was scared and ran from my calling. I allowed satan to drag me to the depths of sin. Before I was 18 I was an alcoholic and experimenting with drugs, with a DUI conviction on my wrap sheet. I turned my back to Christ and was a wreck. With my life completely in shambles and my name totally tarnished, Christ left the 99 and found this lost wayward sheep. Christ found me at my lowest point. I finally understood what God’s Grace truly meant at age 21. My savior Jesus Christ came to me despite the fact I turned from him. Now, I have a wonderful wife, and 3 awesome kids. I’m a Pastor of an amazing church. Because of Christ I recovered all that satan stole from me and more. It’s my hearts desire to share the gospel to those that believe all hope is lost. He leaves the 99 everyday for the 1 outcast!
Luke 15:7
King James Version
I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Little to give

John 6:9
Amplified Bible
9 “There is a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are these for so many people?”

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Perhaps you woke up this morning to start your day thinking that you were nobody special. Maybe you’ve taken inventory of what you have and who you are only to find that you lack the talent, charisma, or resources to make any impact in anyone’s life. You’ve possibly been looked down on by others that thought you were no count. I imagine this little boy felt the same. After all he’s just a kid. I’m sure he never dreamed the small lunch his mom probably packed for him would impact thousands that day. He more than likely dropped his head feeling completely useless as he heard the disciples of Christ pointing out the obvious that his lunch was inadequate. He was probably even very hesitant to give it to Christ when asked for it. But something happened that day that no doubt stuck with this boy the rest of his life. The little boy watched on in amazement as Christ continually break the bread and fish feeding thousands until they were all satisfied. As you read on even the naysayers that said it wasn’t possibly enough got a basket full. God knows what you have to offer this world and it is plenty to make an impact if you’d just trust him enough to turn it over to him. Offer up the little that you have to Christ and watch the amazing impact it can have on those around you. You’re not too young! You’re not too old! You’re not too broke! You’re not too damaged! You’re just what God needs to make an impact! LET GO AND LET GOD!!!

Romans 12:1
Amplified Bible
Dedicated Service
12 [a]Therefore I urge you, [b]brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship

GET UP!

Proverbs 24:16
Amplified Bible
16
For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again,
But the wicked stumble in time of disaster and collapse.

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Righteous in the biblical sense simply means right with God, morally sound, to be of justifiable conduct. Notice the righteous and wicked alike face disaster. To be righteous doesn’t mean you’ll never fall…. you’ll fall under temptation, you’ll fall due to mistakes, you’ll fall by being weighed down with pressures of everyday life, you’ll fall from the heartache of loss in this world, you’ll fall from the shock of catastrophic unforeseen circumstances, you’ll fall from anxiety of the unknowns that may come, and countless other reasons. When the righteous fall there is a feeling of failure and hopelessness as satan begins to kick you while you’re down. But the righteous have something the wicked don’t. A right fellowship with Christ which Proverbs 18:24 declares to be a friend closer than a brother. The friend we have in Christ reaches His hands down to the righteous to pick them up. Maybe you have fallen and you feel you’ve failed God too much to get up. I want to encourage you to grab hold of the hand of Jesus Christ, allow Him to help you up dust you off and TRY AGAIN! Get up child of God you are the son/daughter of the most high. Don’t dare wallow in the dirt of guilt and self pity. You are the righteous of God!

2 Corinthians 5:21
Amplified Bible
21 He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness].

Let’s Pray

James 5:17
Amplified Bible
17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours [with the same physical, mental, and spiritual limitations and shortcomings], and he prayed [a]intensely for it not to rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.

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When you study the life of Elijah you’ll find a man who got his feelings hurt, he got angry, sad, depressed (even to the point of death), he was fearful, had times of confusion, felt abandoned by his peers and God, he got burned out in ministry, and faced temptation to fold and quit daily. This person was exactly like us. Yet he seen great and mighty works of God that most Christians today can’t even imagine. What set him apart? 3 things come to mind. #1 he trusted in God’s ability to do all things, nothing was impossible with God in his eyes. He never questioned if God could come through. #2 he trusted in God’s willingness to work on his behalf in the midst of his troubles, he never questioned if God would come through. #3 he was bold yet humble enough to ASK GOD TO MOVE!

If you ever wanna see the mountain of troubles that hinder you move we must be willing, bold, and humble enough to ASK GOD to move on our behalf believing He can, will, and is moving as we PRAY! PRAY CHURCH PRAY!

Hebrews 11:6
Amplified Bible
6 But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him.

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