ftpthemovement

[ftpthemovement]

Role Call

Battle is what a warrior craves, not the delicacies of kings. Even if the title is given, earned or taken, expansion is the beating heart of one who is sent to serve. Since the beginning of time we were called by God himself to subdue the world and bring it into submission, to duplicate his image. Is this our daily routine as followers, or have we fallen off the path?

If we are truly saved men are these daily routines how we choose to honor him? When our country went to war with Vietnam, men went from living in peace, to going to basic training and then war. How much more so, are we to live on mission for the one who laid his life down for us, so that we would do the same for others? Look at your daily routines, is that what Christ died for? Are you inline with denying yourself daily or are you chasing after the world and what it has to offer? Paul, who came before us said,

“What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭7:29-31‬ ‭

His messages is pure and out of love. His intention was to reveal to us that the less we are concerned with the ways of the world, the more opportunity it we have to serve the Lord. Yet, we use our time to chase women, drink, fall into lust, and useless debauchery. Not even in heaven will we married, nor will any of the earthly desires we have now last. All of it will pass away, and heaven and earth will be made new once agian. Only the word of God will remain, which is not of this world, but works diligently through us to lead others to the forgiveness, righteousness, and grace that we have found through the Holy Spirit.

So why do we seek a name amongst the dead? Why chase the fame of mere corpses? The spirit is the only thing that lasts, so why not pull others back from the flames and serve The Lord with all of your heart? What is a new promotion if it’s not for God, whats a child if it’s godless, whats a wife that isn’t sent from above, whats a relationship that isn’t blessed, whats a brother who isn’t sold out for the mission? They are all together useless and a chasing after the wind.

I don’t speak to shame you but to remind you that a credit score and a new car with a nice house, a vacation for the family isn’t the life Christ died for. He died so that you to could experience a life led by the Holy Spirit, so that you would have forgiveness of sins, to be able to partner in the harvest and lead people back to our Father in heaven.

Do you not hear how the lord speaks of the rich? Have you studied the word to understand? We are the rich! We are in a first world country among the top 10% of earners in the world if you make 20k or more a year. It might be hard to imagine that to be true if you have never left the United States, but it doesn’t stop the facts from being true. So you have a hard time giving? You have difficulty because you have extended yourself beyond your means? Is this not shameful enough to even be mentioned?

What kind of disgrace is it, to be the richest in the world and to live beyond your means? What honor does it bring God when you don’t extend your hand to your brothers in need? What blessing is bestowed upon those who don’t have the ability to hear the word, because you would rather fund a new hobby then to see help a dying child in need? You may not see it, but it’s happening every day with every choice you make not to take the responsibility of the blessing you have been given.

Communication and connection is at the highest level it’s ever been. We have the ability to leverage massive opportunities as a collective if we would collaborate and walk as the unified body of Christ. If we let our actions preceded our words, they would be worth more than their weight in gold. In this information era talk is cheap and passivity is excused regularly because it’s a common action of the masses. We talk and lack follow through. We trade our opportunities for comfort, and then complain when we realize we have not given our all.

Warriors fight and leaders lead. The passion is not to bleed on the battlefield but to continually wage war, expanding, subduing and conquering for the kingdom of heaven. Your warm beds are like open graves, your luxuries are wasteful, and your desires lead to death. All these things are all together useless if not leveraged for the expansion of Gods kingdom.

When did you see Christ let up and get comfortable? When did he set the example for us to follow by indulging in the world? At what point did he say that he was going to do his own thing? Did you not die to self and become alive through Christ at your baptism? Did you not renounce your old ways to serve Christ daily? If all things are possible through God who gives you strength, then where is your excuse?

I do not stand accountable for you in your day of judgment. Though we have passed from death to life, we will give an account of our time before our father to be rewarded for what we have done. What will it feel like on that day knowing you didn’t give your all? What will it be like standing before Gods greatest warriors, knowing you could have done more, and chose not to? If it is possible, would you want to spend eternity remembering how you chose to spend your time.

It’s will not my fault the path you choose, nor am I God or standing in judgment against you. Im likened to a road sign, a warning on a path to destruction. Slothful self indulgence does not serve your spirit, it’s only a temporary release for the flesh. The enemy knows that and consistently wants you to trade your internal inheritance for temporary satisfaction. But if the spirit of a God is in you, If you crave the battle and go to war. Not as men of flesh wage war, but as through the spirit that leads to righteousness. Go make disciples, go subdue and conquer the world duplicating the image of God daily!

If you have become lazy, complacent, self loathing, and pitiful, make the change or prepare for the flames. Our father does not delight in lukewarm watered down versions of his word. He craves the pure unapologetic unashamed disciples who lay their lives down daily in servitude to our Father in heaven.He requires mercy of sacrifice, not words over deeds. We have called to be his ambassadors, called to follow the example that he sent while he was here on earth. We now have the opportunity to finish the mission, and finish it strong.

So what are you chasing that’s not God? What are you desiring other than seeing people find him? What are you serving that is ultimately serving yourself? Where do you want to be in life, chasing the wind or gaining eternal reward. Who do you serve?

May God make these words clear to you, may they sear your conscious to the core. I pray that repentance shakes the walls of your heart and that you depart from any unrighteous ways. I pray you are blessed for all of your days. May the lord bless you and keep you, and prepare you for all that is to come. May you lay your lives down daily in servitude out of love for one another, honoring our father in Heaven with every thought, word, and deed. May the day come that you are lucky enough to leave this place and be with our father in Heaven. Those in the flesh may weep and wail, but the gates of hell cannot stand against the firm foundation that God has provided us. Now is the time given to us, now is our chance to serve. It’s time to finish the mission.

To live is Christ, to die is gain. -ES

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Expectation The Mother of Disappointment

Once you have Christ in your life, as you walk in relationship with him he begins to give you wisdom. He gives wisdom, not as the world gives wisdom, but as the spirit sees fit to allow you to operate properly in this world of sin. Once you begin to have a godly understanding of how things work, it’s easy for us to fall into the trap of expectation. What I'm talking about is when you place your expectations on people and not God. That’s where things can get rough.

I’ve learned over the past few years that having expectations of others ends up being the mother of all disappointment. Its hard to find a balance especially in the work world where things have deadlines, and quotas have to be met. Even in relationships with friends and loved ones. But, unless these people have the Holy Spirit and are walking in relationship with The Lord, you cannot expect them to share in the same level understanding of things if it had not been revealed to them.

It’s easy to forget after several years of walking with Christ, it may even seem simple to you, but its unknown to them. It's easy to misunderstand that people in the world will not be able to operate in accordance with the law of God because they have do not have the Holy Spirit to do so. This is why scripture says we should all do the work of an evangelist. What’s an evangelist? It derives from the Greek word “euaggelistés”, meaning to bring good tidings. When read in proper context, it means that you are to spread the good news of God's offer of salvation through the finished works of Jesus Christ. Doing the work of an evangelist reminds you to have the same mindset as Christ, “Forgive them Father for they know not what they do.”

When you adopt this mindset ahead of time, you are proactively preparing yourself to be free from the expectations of others, knowing that you are stepping out in a world that does not know the love of Christ. Your God-given opportunity is to show them what that looks like, by placing your expectations on him and not the people in this world. The power that’s in you is greater than what’s in the world. The only way you can lose it is by giving it away to someone who doesn’t understand. Why would you trade your peace for self persecution? I’m not sure, but we do it all of time time. Well, what makes it so bad?

It’s because you know better, and they don’t. You can say they should know better on the basis of ethics and moral law. But without the Holy Spirit, they do not have a renewed mind. They are not working their salvation out in fear and trembling. They don’t wake up to serve God, they wake up to serve themselves. When people are self-serving, moral law fits their opinion of that day on the basis of what they want, when they want it, and how they want it. It is self-seeking, not willing to submit to God's law.

So who fault is it when you lose your cool, is it God’s fault? He gave his son to set the example for how you should operate. You should be setting an example for people that don’t know him through your life well-lived. If that’s the case, is it the other person's fault if they’ve never truly seen what an actual representative of love looks like? Or is it on you, the one who has the spirit of God, who knows the will of God, and has been given the ability to do what Christ did and far greater? The answer is pretty clear.

Should you be condemned, by no means! What you should do is feel inspiration and excited that you have the ability to pave the way for people to find the same freedom and purpose in Christ that you have found. The lost look to your good conduct and wonder what it is that you have that they don’t. “How can he have peace when all hell is breaking loose?” “How to he bless others when they curse him?” “How does he turn the other cheek and do everything without arguing grumbling, or complaint?” “How does he walk fearlessly with a smile, when the whole world is crumbling around him?”

All thanks be to God, It doesn’t take very much light to illuminate a dark place. So when you let your light shine it encourages others to do the same! Sure some run from the light because they don’t want their evil deeds to be exposed. But others run to the light because it’s salvation and the answer to their problems and they know it! All men want unfailing love, and that only comes from love, forgiveness, generosity, and compassion. These are all fruits of the spirit that lead them to find salvation through Christ. Not some guy who claims to be a Christian, that gets pissed off evey time other people do him wrong. What if these hardships are actually opportunities for advancement?

Think about the question I juts asked for a few minutes. Have you ever wondered if God uses the shortcomings of others to bring you closer to your walk with him? The Bible says, He uses all things towards the good of those that love him. What the enemy uses for your destruction God uses to bring about good in your life. So, what if God intentionally allows you to go through hardships because he knows that you will crush them in the face with the love of Christ? What if he allows you to destroy what the enemy uses to hurt you, and in doing so your actions are seen by the list and it helps lead them to Christ?

Think about what a testimony others would have of you if you choose to operate in the spirit of God at all times. “When bad stuff happens, he crushes it with good.” “The other day a guy cussed him out in traffic, and he reasoned with the man, and reminded him who he was in Christ.” “He saw a guy pissed off at the gas station and instead of being rude, he paid for them and gas, and the mad guy just started crying.” “He saw a couple of men struggling, and gave them a hundred dollars a peice, and wept with them in the middle of a parking lot.” “He goes to the city at night, and spends time with people in drug-infested places where prostitution runs ramped and helps save people.” “He went to the hospital, and prayed for a dying man, and that man was healed!”

Wouldn’t these be things worth being known for, other than walking around being angry because people don’t know any better? You can become so bitter and calloused in this world so quickly if you aren’t careful. Even people with the best of intentions can become immersed in selfishness the second they feel wronged. They can lash out and speak evil things, or even worse. But was this Christ's response when he faced hardships? Is that the example he set on the cross for us to follow?

No, not even close! In fact, he sets quite a different example, as he endured all the hardships a man could face and did so without sin. Imagine coming into a world knowing you are going to give your life for people who are going to kill you. You recruit 12 guys that eventually would all betray you. Even the closest one to you would go on to say that he doesn’t even know you while you're being taken away to be murdered. Not only that, but you have done no wrong, yet your flesh is ripped open in the public square with a cat of 9 tails, to where your intestines and bones are all showing. You then have a bag placed on your head and punched in the face while being asked to prophesy who his you. Once your face is beaten beyond recognition you then have a crown of thorns placed on your head and forced to carry a very large piece of wood up a hill the Romans called the place of the skull. Golgotha.

There your naked body is then hammered to this piece of wood and shoved down into the ground. Your body is put on display for all to see as people hurled insults at you and cursed your name. Doing no wrong, he never lifted a finger to harm any one of them yet instead said, “Forgive them Father for they know not what they do.” Is that what you say when you get cut off in traffic? Is that the example you have when your conworker talks bad about you you? Is Christ example the one you follow when you are being wronged by people in the world? What example are you setting as a follower of Christ?

Someone might say, “Well, that’s Christ the son of God of course he can do that, I’m just a human.”

Yet God has thrown your sins as far from the east is to the west, blotting out all transgressions so you would be able to walk blameless in his sight. Then he placed the Holy Spirit in you to give you the ability to do the same things Christ did and far greater. Leaving us void of any excuse. So why do we keep falling short and giving or power to the enemy, instead of triumphing over him? We know that the power of making that choice is given to us through our freewill. So what can we do to remind ourselves in the moment of adversity?

I could write a bunch of bible verses with scripture that would help, but I’d rather you search for them on your own. Instead, I want to share with you what I think can help solve the root issue, and not just cut off the branches. The root is found in Christ sacrifice on the cross. It’s where God gave me revelation to the ways of man, and how to overcome the enemy by the blood of Christ. It reveals the way of the world and how we have the ability to operate in it, free of guilt and condemnation, in the full power of the Holy Spirit.

Remember when I asked the questions earlier, “What if God allowed hardships to come, so you could overcome them?” What if he is pleased to watch you crush hell for a living, therefore as you chose to walk in maturity he entrusts you to overcome adversity so that you would inspire others? Well, keep those questions in mind as I reveal to you an amazing revelation God gave to me of Christ's sacrifice.

It says in scripture, though Christ was the son of God, he learned obedience through suffering. The suffering he faced in the world, always led him to draw near to God at all times. As he progressed he would go on to see that the world had nothing of value to offer him and that all the goodness of creation was enveloped in God himself. Christ was able to experience the goodness of friendships, and then watch them turn on him, lie, and abandon him. He got to experience the love of a family and to see them think he was crazy when his time had come. He got to experience a life that was lead to bless the same people who would call him the prince of demons, a liar, a false prophet, and eventually hunt him down, and murder him. That’s suffering for sure.

When we carried his cross to Golgotha, he was then crucified next to two other men. I imagine Christ in the middle, and one man on either side of him. One man said remember me in heaven, and the Lord told him that he would join him in paradise that very day. The other man spits accusations and curses, he was rebellious even unto death. The revelation God gave me is that these two men represent the way of the world. Even in death some will see God in you, and repent, while others will see him in you, and resent you for it.

Scripture says, “Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?”2 Corinthians‬ ‭2:15-16‬ ‭

Christ's sacrifice on the place of the skull gave me the understanding that the daily battle is in the skull. It’s the battle of our minds. As we operate in the world we have the daily choice to become bitter and become consumed by the ways of the world, or to turn from our ways and repent. Christ gave his love and is long-suffering hoping all come to repentance. We on earth are given the ability to lead others to him while we are here. If we are focused on Christ, we won’t have expectations of others to prove themselves, because everything we need is found in God. Asking other to prove themselves to you, is arrogance, and placing yourself in the mercy seat of judgment that belongs to Christ and Christ alone. We all fall short daily, someone proving themselves to you, if you juts operating in the spirit of fear that comes from the enemy. When rooted in love you keep no records of wrong and walk feee of judgment. The two are not the same.

Review:

Golgotha= The place of the skull. The battle of the mind.

The Repenting Man= Salvation through faith. He could not get off the cross and do good, or make right of his wrongs. Instead through faith and faith alone, he was able to be forgiven and go to heaven. (If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.) Romans 10:9

The Resentful Man= His mind was the way of the world. If you are who you say you are, then prove it!

Christ= The sacrifice for all mankind. He is long-suffering hoping all come to repentance. He came into the world to set the example that we should follow through his actions. We can clearly see how we are to operate in the spirit of God, and lead others to him.

Daily we deal with “Golgotha,” the battle of the mind. When faced with adversity we can either give in to the ways of the world or crush the enemy through the power of Christ that lives in us. Our focus shouldn’t be on our shortcomings, but on our savior instead. Knowing with full confidence that our right standing isn’t on the basis of our behavior but on our beliefs in our savior. If we believe in Christ we will walk how he walked on earth. Therefore, faith is not about behavior modification, but walking in relation. Out of that relationship comes a life of love, care, generosity, and compassion, that can only truly be expressed by one who operates in the Holy Spirit through faith in God.

The answer to not having expectations of others is by walking in relationship with Christ. He endured more than we can ever think or imagine. He, by setting the example frees us from the obligation of the flesh, and empowers us to walk in the spirit he paved in us through our faith. Our faith activates the power we need to overcome the adversity we face daily. Each adversity is an opportunity not to succumb, but to shine. Adversities are only stumbling blocks to those that are perishing, but they are steps of success for those willing to let their light shine. The battle is in your mind.

Do you choose to resent or repent? Be sour or walk-in power? Focus on your behavior or your Savior? Take the opportunity to whine or shine? The choice is yours, the time is short, what are you gonna do with the life God gave you? -ES

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THE BEST ONE YET

Speak as if it is so. Do not speak problems, speak solutions. Pray the power of the Holy Spirit to be put into motion. Faith is not for what we can see, but to the unseen. For we know that God lives in us through his spirit, and we have the ability to operate in the same power as Christ.

The vision God has placed in your heart is not by mistake. You must feed it and nurture it. It’s not your dreams, or passions in your flesh that I’m talking about. It’s the vision he places in you to see his will be done on earth as it is in heaven. It’s for you to identify the difference between a spirit of love and discernment.

Does the vision God have you have to do with spreading the gospel to all nations, making disciples, and baptizing in the name of The Father, The Son, and the Holy Ghost? Do the things you visualize have a use as a resource to help further God's will for your life, or are the personal desires you have that wage war against your spirit? You will know the vision is of God when it lines up with his word and his calling for your life.

The Bible says the sheep know the Shepard’s voice, and that the enemy parades himself around as an angel of light. Though the children of God will not listen to a stranger's voice, they only respond to the shepherd's voice. This is a major indicator of knowing the difference between God's word, and the word of the world. One will lead to eternal life and a reward in heaven, the other leads to death.

Once you understand the vision, you must speak to it, as though it already was in existence. Just as a baby is produced in the womb and must be pushed out through action, so is the vision God gave you. The Holy Spirit gives life to the thought, and you must birth it through faith working itself out through action. Some thoughts are of God others aren’t of the flesh, the word of God, the spirit of God, and prayer will always keep you inline.

Once you have spoken it into existence, you begin the process of birth pains. These are leading up to the glorious moment of accomplishment, where the struggle will disappear the moment you lay eyes on the completed task at hand. But unlike any other example, I can find, once you give birth to that idea and it becomes a reality, you will quickly be given another to bring into existence.

This is what I believe our life cycle is all about. We were created to walk in relations with God and participate in the ability to have visions and make them a reality. Just as we have been called to multiply and subdue the earth, we have also been called to do the good works God has pre-destined us to do before he laid the foundations of the earth. Notice that the work was Preakness before we were?

That means God had a mission, a purpose, and a calling for us to walk in relationship with him through the finished works of Jesus Christ. So at the appointed time, God would provide the opportunity for us all to come to repentance. Based on where we are in all of creation, we have the opportunity to finish the mission of completing the good works God has for us before Christ return.

Now when you get visions from God, and you know they are from him and not of your own fleshly desires, I personally believe this is God giving you a flash look at the work he had prepared for you. He is encouraging you to have the faith to bring his mission to fruition. I’ve also noticed for me personally, he will give me visions much larger than what I personally can accomplish myself. This requires me to step out of my comfort zone and operate on the faith he has called me to walk in.

This is where we have to have a relationship with our Father in Heaven because without faith you will fail. He says when you pray, believe that you have already received what you are praying for, and then you will have it. Notice how that leaves absolutely no room for doubt or failure. You are simply speaking to the vision God birthed through the Holy Spirit. When you speak to that vision, you take authority over it through faith. Faith is the key that gives that thought the ability to come to fruition. The actions that follow, will bring that vision to completion.

Many of us have a thought that God gives us and we let go of it just as quickly as it came to us. Often times it’s because we choose fear over faith. Fear kills the vision, faith activates the vision because faith is the authority needed to start the working process. Without faith, you could just write your visions off as a daydream, because the enemy comes and snatched the vision away because you gave him the authority to do so through fear. How so?

The enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. He is the chief of liars and parades himself around as an angel of light. God's power is activated in your life through faith, and you give the enemy power to operate when you choose fear. When you have faith, you have the ability to walk in the supernatural gifting of the Holy Spirit. Faith activates that ability because the spirit of God is not limited by the realm of the flesh. However, whenever you operate in a spirit of fear, you are activating the authority of the enemy, because fear is rooted in a lack of God's provision.

Scripture say's the one who operates in fear, has not been perfected in love. Fear itself is rooted in punishment, but Christ paid the price for us to be free from sin, death, guilt, and condemnation. When we place our faith in God's finished works through Christ, we have the ability to walk in relationship with God through the Holy Spirit he placed in us. That means God works in us the same way he did Christ to bring his world to completion.

That means we are partners in God's harvest. This partnership allows us to freely walk in faith, void of fear, guilt, and condemnation. This freedom comes from denying ourselves daily picking up our cross and following God. We do so by putting to death the ways of the flesh and its self-seeking thoughts, and we live for the good of others through Christ's finished works.

I hope you are beginning to see what all this looks like. When you have faith, you walk in relationship with God. When you walk in relation God gives you the vision (a seed) of the work he has called you to do. When you come into agreement with him through faith you plant that seed in your mind and you begin to take action. Your action is you nurturing and watering that seed through your actions of faith. Then at God's appointed time, it will sprout out and grow up into full fruition.

Once the harvest comes it will feed you and those that God has intended it for. Then another season comes, and more thoughts are given to you by God. Now that you have seen and tasted that the Lord is good, it is an encouragement for you to bring faith to the next thought because now you know the fruit that each vision from God bears.

It’s the work hard, of course? But his yoke is easy and his burden is light. What’s hard is always doubting your vision. Doubt is the beginning root of fear. Where God has called you to plant wheat through your faith, you give authority to the enemy to plant weeds through your doubt. Doubt then becomes fear, fear leads you to isolation, and isolation leads you to death. You take a man's faith, he’s left with fear. You dwell on fear long enough and it produces anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, and thoughts that are unnatural. Those unnatural thoughts lead you to believe no one understands or gets you and then you feel alone and isolated.

Scripture says it’s not good for man to be alone. Given enough time, left to your thoughts that are rooted in fear. The enemy will come to try and destroy you. Why? Because he knows the power that you are capable of when you walk in faith, and that’s a threat to his plans. His plans are to destroy what’s good. He spreads lies, he is the accuser, he is the lack of forgiveness in a world full of hate. He is the spirit of iniquity that is at work in all of us that choose not to walk in accordance with God's love, by being living representatives of Christ's finished works.

So there you have it. Those are the two opportunities that we have here on earth. Walk-in a relationship with God and have a bold faith-filled life of opportunity and fulfillment. Or, deny God through our actions and live a life full of fleshly desires, fueled by doubt and fear. Leading us to be complacent and ineffective for the kingdom of heaven.

Through it is natural to have the feeling of doubt and fears, you have been given the Great Comforter, the Holy Spirit as a deposit guarantee reminding you of your enteral inheritance. That means you should not give a moment's notice to fear and doubt. Instead, when God gives you a vision, and you feel doubt and fear, you should allow it to thrust you forward into action. Why? Because if the enemy wants you to feel that feeling, that means God has something prepared for you greater than where you are now.

Yea, I said it. God placed everything amazing on the other side of fear. It’s the test that separates the flesh from the spirit. God has not given the flesh the authority to operate in the power of God, only men of faith can do that through the spirit God placed in them through the finished works of Jesus Christ. When you feel the fear, it’s an indicator of the enemy being present. You overcome him by resisting him through faith. Faith activates the thought to come into fruition, and your actions bring it to completion.

So to make it simple when you feel fear you crush it with faith. How do you crush? By activating your faith through taking action. When you know God has brought you to it, he will bring you through it. He gives you the opportunity to use your free will to choose him and crush the devil by completing the finished works he has predestined for you before the foundation of the earth was laid.

Yea, every time you crush fear in the face, you are honoring God through your obedience to his call of faith. To love what he loves, to hate what he hates, to walk in relationship with your Heavenly Father and sharing in communion through a life lived well, by honoring his son's sacrifice. That’s the opportunity you have as children of God. To walk in a life of love, excitement, and opportunity; and to crush hell for a living! How amazing is that? Christ died because he knew that you would have the courage to look fear in the face and say, “Not today, through the finished works of Jesus Christ you have been conquered!”

Sin and death have lost their sting. Christ has paved the way to victory! Though we have trials and troubles, the tribulations of this world do not supersede the love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness of the finished works of Christ. You have the ability to walk in all the power of Christ Jesus. As Christ is in heaven, is how you are on earth in Jesus name. Take the reigns of faith and conquer hell for a living. Pulling others back from the flames and equipping them and empowering them to walk in the fullness of the Holy Spirit. The love of Christ has made manifest in us a spirit that cannot be overcome by the evil of this world.

That’s why the enemy tried to cause you to doubt the word of God, to get you distracted with the ways of the world. If he can get you focused on temporary desires, get you compiling about shortcomings, can place doubt in your heart, he knows that you yourself will use your freewill to thwart the mission God has for you.

But, when you surround yourself with true men of God who do not lack zeal of the Holy Spirit, it compels you forward, spurring you to do the good works God has prepared for you. Today you have the option of fear or faith? Obedience or disobedience? Crush hell for a living, or let doubt stop the plans God has for you? Take hold of the vision and activate it through faith, or written it off as a daydream and stay living quietly in fear? God or the enemy? Life or death? It’s up to you to choose.

God loves you so much he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him shall have enteral life. Those that believe in him will walk as he walked. They will be men of faith who are here to finish the mission Hod has placed in their life. They will be known for their love through action, and they will be perfected in love. Which means they will not operate in a spirit of fear or doubt. You will know them by the fruit they bear. Will you be numbered amongst the righteous children of God, or trade your internal inheritance for a life of cowardly fear? -ES

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You are loved beyond your wildest dreams. The sacrifice that Christ made on the cross was to set you free from a life of guilt, shame, condemnation, and judgment. He came so that you would live a life of abundance, free from fear and the ways of wicked men. He came to set the example of the life you should live that is pleasing and honorable to God.

Men make the choice daily, second by second, of who they choose and what they represent. Every-time we open our mouth we are wielding one of the most powerful weapons we have accessible to us. Our words have the ability to shape the world as we know it. They can control masses of people, countries, armies, animals, etc. It is such a powerful force, it can sway the hearts of even the most resentful men.

Scripture says that men desire unfailing love. That means at our root core, every one of us long to be loved free from judgment, free from guilt, and free from the condemnation of sin and the fear of death. Christ came and set the example of what that looks like by laying his life down for us. In doing so, he gave the commandment to love one another, that the world would know his followers by how they loved one another.

If our words and our actions are seasoned with grace and focused on love, we produce a harvest that leads to righteousness. When we allow ourselves to operate outside of those key disciplines set by Christ, we are operating in the realm of the flesh. The flesh is not pleasing to God, because it is rebellious to his will. He came so that we would live operating in the spirit, and put to death the deeds of the flesh.

Once the spirit of God is in you, the flesh and the spirit are at war with one another. The spirit is the deposit guarantee that you have eternal life, and an inheritance set aside for you in the life to come. The flesh however is a constant reminder of death. It is always trying to get you to trade your hope in the victory to come, for the short term temporary satisfaction that the world has to offer.

Another major struggle you will find when denying yourself daily and picking up your cross is the shortcomings you experience in your own hometown, and among your own family. Scripture says, that a prophet won’t receive a prophet's reward in his own hometown, or in his own family. For many, this is where they drop the ball. They like to apply all that scripture has to offer in accordance with their faith, but here’s where most decide to stay, trading away the hard scripture for an easy excuse.

But not me, I’m going to address these hard scriptures. Because unlike most who shy away from the truth and try to sell you a watered-down version of scripture that fits their comfort zone, I’m gonna give you the real.

The Bible says “everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.” Matthew 19:30

Where in scripture have you heard of a return on your investment like that other than the tithe? Ever wonder why the reward is so great? I believe it’s because he knows that’s where all of the excuses start to flood in. Men always use the ways of the world that seem right to a man but ultimately lead to death. They say they can’t because of their family, wives, children’s, jobs, circumstances. Forgetting that Christ says, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters--yes, even their own life--such a person cannot be my disciple.

Most like to leave that part out of their daily remembrance. Through some do understand the accuracy of the translation to mean, “love less than,” they still choose to avoid the truth by setting up excuses using scripture such as

“Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” 1 Timothy 5:8

They cling to this verse for the safety of the security found in their excuse. But what does scripture say about the work that God requires?

“Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.””‭‭John‬ ‭6:27-29‬ ‭

So if the work God requires is to believe in the one he sent, then we are to believe in Jesus Christ and his finished works. Yet scripture says, “whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.” (1 John 2:6) So how did Christ live?

We can see in scripture that John The Baptist clearly knew what to expect from how the messiah would live. So he sent his servants to question Jesus, so Christ told them to report to him this, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.”

If we are to live how he lived, Is this the work you are doing in your life? Is this the job you are dedicated to? Let’s look a little further into the scriptures to see the work Jesus has called us to do:

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matt 28:19-20

“He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name, they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”” Mark‬ ‭16:15-18‬ ‭

Is this the work you are dedicated to on a daily basis and do these signs accompany you in your daily walk with Christ? I know it’s easy to avoid the tough truths of scripture. It’s even easier to want to go do what you want to do and trade the truth for a lie. But, in the end, these are the words of God, the very same God that told us to calculate the cost of what it meant to follow him.

Yet, you still have so many who refuse to answer the call, especially those who use providing for their family as a scapegoat. Even though there is more than enough scripture provided above to convict them to repent, maybe it’s best to include this one as well.

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:26-34‬ ‭

Isn’t it wild what happens when you read scripture in proper context, and not through a filter of comfort!? I’ve found that scripture without a doubt, never leaves room for an excuse. Why? Because God predestined you to be adopted into sonship to complete the works he had prepared for you before he laid the foundation of the earth. So when we choose him, we operate in his will, but when we choose the flesh, we operate in the will of the enemy. God doesn’t leave room for excuses, he gave his son so you wouldn’t have any. Instead, that you would come to the understanding that a life of discipline and obedience through the Holy Spirit, leads to a fulfilling life of love, grace, mercy, and peace for eternity.

Sin ultimately created the separation between us and God, but Jesus bridged the gap so that we have access to the father for all of eternity. He didn’t lay his life down so that we would eventually go to heaven. No, he laid his life down to free us from the power of sin and death, to walk as his living representatives here on earth. He commissioned us through the power of the Holy Spirit to finish the mission most call “The Great Commission.” To walk as living representatives of love through action and truth. Spreading the good news of the gospel to all creation, baptizing them in the name of the Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Are you willing to face the hard truths of scripture? Are you willing to walk like him and not just talk like you know him? What are you willing to give up to complete the mission? Are you willing to deny yourself daily and pick up your cross, or are you going to keep saying you have faith, but your actions don’t follow the way of truth?

Selfish or selfless? Pick up your cross and deny yourself daily, or say you believe and not walk as he walks? Trade the hard scriptures for a bubble gum gospel that fulfills your carnal desires, or stand in front of God and hear, “Well done my good and faithful servant?” -ES

[ftpthemovement]

You still talking sh*t?

If God came to you and said, “everything you speak over your life is going to happen,” would you change what you talked about?

What if I told you that your words are one of the most powerful gifts from God that you have? What if I told you that you can use them to yield the most amazing life you’ve ever dreamed of, or to speak misery straight into existence. What if I told you the words have to do with the outcome of everything in life, would you believe me? Scripture says the word of God became flesh and dwelt among us, (John 1:14) and that man is not to live on bread alone, but every word of our living God. (Matt4:4) What if Christ being the word, came to show us how to have the same power he had here on earth through activating our faith through the words we speak. Are you starting to see things unfold?

Scripture shows us that not only we’re we given the ability to walk in the same power as Christ here on earth, but that he has given us the keys of the kingdom, whatever we loosen on earth will be loosened in heaven, whatever we bound on earth the will be bound in heaven. (Matt 16:19) That is if we had faith the size of a mustard seed that nothing would be impossible for us. (Matt 17:20)

“If you can believe, all things are possible to those who believe.” I didn’t make that up, that’s Mark 9:23 to be exact. So what are you believing God for? What are you speaking into existence over your life today? What is the path God has called for you to take and make your reality? Are you taking ownership of it through faith, or operating out of a spirit of doubt?

These are good questions to start with when you are trying to keep track of your walk. But, I believe the biggest part of having the true success you are looking for is to speak it into existence. You have the ability to speak into the depths of what is not, and make it so. Don’t believe me? Ephesians 5:1 tells us to be imitators if God, right? What happens when Jesus uses his words of faith to speak to blind men, dead men, the fig tree, the weather, the centurion, and so on?

The very first thing you see when miracles start to happen is Christ speaking words of faith to bring into existence what was not, and making it so. Believe me or not, it doesn’t matter to me, but I’ve seen first hands accounts of it happening my entire faith walk. Even in just my daily speech, the things I spoke about in faith, without doubt, would come to pass for my benefit. Things that God knows my heart desires, he brings them to fruition.

Am I highly favored, of course, I am! But, God doesn’t show favoritism, I’ve just learned to take extreme ownership of my words, and put them into action through faith. When you believe you have the power of Christ living within you and that all things are possible for you, you don’t allow room for doubt. Doubt is the enemy, the enemy is distraction. When you speak faith-filled words and put them into action, you crush the enemy's neck with your faith, leaving no room for oxygen to feed doubt.

When you take extreme ownership over excuses, your viewpoint on the world begins to change drastically. You realize the world's resources are for you to use to honor God. Like a painter who uses paint to a blank canvas, I use the world's resources to paint a picture of what a ridiculously successful life of faith looks like. When you begin to understand these laws, you learn to use your favor to bless others.

Many will be naysayers because they have taught themselves to live a life dependent on fear, doubt, shortcomings, and excuses. They have trained themselves into this thought process, and refuse to take ownership of that fact, therefore they stay in this condition or become worse. I lived just like this for over 15 years. It’s only when you truly realize the gift of the spirit God placed in you, that you begin to operate in mountain-moving faith! The only way to do that is by taking extreme ownership over your faith, by speaking it over your life, and putting it into action through your belief!

All of that sounds great, but how do I actually implement that into my life?

I want you to imagine every word you speak is a seed. Every time you speak a positive word or a negative word, it is released into the world and begin to grow. Your daily actions water those seeds and help bring them into fruition. Once it comes time to harvest, what kind of fruit will you be eating, the fruit of faith or the fruit of fear?

Today you have the power of life and death in your tongue, (Proverbs 18:21) which harvest do you want to yield, which fruit do you want to eat? The keys to the kingdom are in your hand, and nothing is impossible for you. You have the ability to do what Christ did and far greater. This isn’t a motivational speech, it’s all scripture being stated as a call of action.

Are you going to make moves or make excuses? Are you going to operate out of a scarcity mindset or an abundant one? Are you gonna move mountains or complain they are in the way? By your faith it will be done to you, how great is your faith? If every words a seed, what harvest is your life producing? Are you being pro-active or reactive? Are you operating in the spiritual laws of generosity, or holding back? Are you even taking the time to ask yourself the right questions, and then take the right actions? Are you just gonna go back to your phone and start scrolling, praying to God for things to change, but you stay the same? Are you going to take action and boldly speak powerful words of faith, take the keys to the kingdom, and show the world what a real man operating in faith looks like? The choice is yours as always, every second of every day, with every single word that you say. Own them or they will own you. -ES

[ftpthemovement]

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalms 19:14

Every day we wake up we have the ability to transform our lives and the lives of others. We can create positive outcomes or subject ourselves to negative ones. Some of us decide to allow the outside world to affect us by giving them our peace. While others decide to control the outcome of the day by being proactive and taking extreme ownership. It’s best to make the choice now, not to let the former affect you, even though it’s likely the majority of the people you come in contact with will fall into this category.

So what do we do to keep our peace? We proactively control our words and we make the best of every encounter we have with people. What I mean by that, is we can control the outcome of almost all the ongoing communication we have with others. How do we do that? One way, I’m going to y’all about today is keeping a book on others.

Why in the world would you keep a book on others? Well, number one, to remind yourself how people operate, number two, to save yourself from running into any potential hazards in communication. Scripture says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” Php2:3 If we are to esteem others higher than ourselves, it’s best to serve them in a way that helps make life go smoother for everyone. That way the words that come out of your mouth and the meditation of your mind will be sound and acceptable in the sight of the Lord.

Let’s break down some examples. Let’s say one of the superiors in your office an absolute monster before lunch, after lunch they seem to be a little easier going and more approachable. When would be the best time for you to approach that person? Why put yourself in a position to incur harm unless absolutely necessary? Regardless of how you feel they should act, isn’t it wise to make mental note of their personality, and esteem them higher than yourself through acts of selflessness instead of selfishness?

I’m sure you could give them a piece of your mind on workplace ethics and how they made you feel, but wouldn’t it be better to set a good example before that approach? People tend to notice when you are being genuine and going out of your way to serve them. Something about true love, care, and generosity, tends to get noticed when it doesn’t come from a heart of expectation. Normally people are willing to let their guard down and be receptive to criticism when someone is willing to bridge the gap to see why they are the way they are. But let’s stay on topic and give a less vague example:

Your wife and you haven’t gotten along for a long time and you both have your reasons. If you set and took the time to look past the grievances you have with one another, you could probably start to identify the things you know she likes and appreciates. Now, you could just complain and moan because she’s not gonna care to do the same in return, or if you do those things it’s still not going to change, but, that’s just you being selfish and having a heart full of expectation on a person instead of God. At least take the time to make the book, and go apply the things you know are applicable.

What are the things that you know she loves? What is her favorite food or choice in entertainment? What are things that would help her pick up around the house? What are ways that could serve her that she would truly be thankful for no matter if she expressed it or not? What could you say that would help brighten her day? Etc etc.

Trust me I know that blanket statements don’t work in every situation. But in statements like the one, I’m making people always have an additional point and counterpoint for every lazy motive they have. They normally take an exorbitant amount of time exposing how they’ve been wronged and why they feel how they feel. These people tend to look for as many ways possible to justify their shortcomings by making excuses. Keeping a book is not for those people.

Those people will keep a book on you alright. It won’t be a book to help the situation, it will be a book to keep a note of everything you’ve ever done wrong to hurt them. A book for them to justify their rationale and stay the same on the bitterness and resentment. The book I’m talking about isn’t for people who like living with excuses, it’s for people who still care enough to make a change. When you take the time to keep track of emotions, verbal cues, trigger points, likes, dislikes, interests, and dislikes, you begin paving the way to successful communications with each entry.

Once you have enough information on the people you have relations with, you can truly begin to control the outcome of almost every situation you enter into. It allows you to operate smoothly and without the risk of losing your cool and saying things you don’t mean. It allows you the freedom to operate around trigger points and avoid insteps. After a while, you begin to actually have fun serving others because in return you do see that it yields incredible returns.

The only problem when tend to run into is our own tongue. The tongue itself is one of the hardest things to control. When taking action use it as little as possible. But, If you have to use it, it’s best to have a mission in mind to esteem others higher than yourself. This proactive commitment saves you a lot of heartaches when you know how to use it right.

So, if you want the word of your mouth and the mediation of your heart to be acceptable to Christ, esteem others higher than yourself. Stay prayed up going into, in, and out of each situation. If for some reason you find yourself in trouble, shut your mouth, and walk away! You got this, now go take what you have and apply it to your everyday life. Go write the book to help be a positive influence on others and esteem them higher than yourself. Watch what the outcome ends up being when you truly have zero expectation of others, but place all of your expectations on God! -ES

[ftpthemovement]

CLEAR CONSCIENCE

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans‬ ‭12:1-2‬ ‭

Sounds different than gathering with a band and singing worship songs together, right? Offering our bodies as living sacrifices is what actual worship God is supposed to look like. Wonder where they preach that? How do we offer our bodies as a living sacrifice? By not being conformed by the pattern of this world, but by being transformed by the renewing of our minds.

But, where does the renewal of our minds come from? It comes from having a clear conscience in knowing that when we accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, we were given a new life in Christ. Scripture says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

Something I’ve never really heard preached on is the transition from being lost to found. We always hear of the amazing stories of radical transformation, as if no one ever again struggles. I believe that’s the fake face of religion. Sure, I believe it’s possible for some to just be radically transformed, I wouldn’t put a limit on God. But for the rest of us, I think something needs to be said about the struggle. Paul himself, God's chosen apostle to send to the gentiles has struggled, and he had a radical personal encounter with Christ. He goes on to say:

“We know that the law is spiritual, but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.” Romans‬ ‭7:14-25

Take note of how the man who writes nearly 1/3 of the New Testament battled and struggled with sin. To believe you no longer have sin, and to not be sin conscious are two entirely different things. The law brought all of mankind into sin consciousness so that they would understand the true repentance of living a life by faith through the finished works of Jesus Christ. See, the answer comes in the very next verse, which is the beginning of Romans 8.

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans‬ ‭8:1-6‬ ‭

Look at the insight given to us by God! What an amazing opportunity we have through the finished works of Christ to live productive fulfilling lives of peace through the spirit placed within us. That peace replaces the sin consciousness so that we don’t become unproductive self-loathing buckets of excuses. Instead, it empowers us to go out and change the world.

See Paul knew that the struggle was there, in fact, he was so zealous in his walk with the Lord, that he says God gave him a messenger of Satan that tormented him to keep him from becoming conceited. He goes on to say he begs Christ to take it away, but the Lord answered, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭12:9-10‬

Are you starting to see the picture come together? Sin isn’t the issue, it’s been overcome in by the finished works of Christ. The issue is not taking ownership of the fact.

I would love for you to stop and realize that extreme ownership of the truth is what leads to a clear conscience, and a productive life of representing the Lord through love action, and truth. Since we know a clear conscious is the key, let’s revisit the top verse one more time in closing.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans‬ ‭12:1-2‬ ‭

True worship= Offering your body as a living sacrifice, by not becoming conformed by the pattern of this world.

Renewing of your mind= Taking ownership of the fact that Christ finished works have set you free from the power of sin and death. This results in you living a productive life that glorifies God through your words and your deeds.

Taking ownership of a clear conscience is what allows you to test what God's will is. Because you will be operating in the context the Holy Spirit has designed for you, for the rest of your days. I’m gonna leave you with a couple of scriptures for those of you that choose to take action over making excuses. My prayer today is that you will take extreme ownership of the insight, revelation, and knowledge that you have been given today. That the Lord will make it plain to you, so that you will be productive through the finished works of Christ, not reliving past struggles.

Sin is coursing through your veins, but the spirit God placed in you has freed you from the power of sin and death and leaves you void of an excuse. You know have the ability to complete the works God predestined for you before he laid the foundations of the earth! Though sin is still at work in the world, you can boast in your weaknesses through a clear conscious knowing that God's power is made perfect in your weakness!

How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.Hebrews 9:14

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:22

Having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.1 Peter 3:16

So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.Acts 24:16

Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. Hebrews 13:18

For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you. 2 Corinthians 1:12

The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:5

Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 1 Peter 3:21

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7

Grace and peace be yours in abundance. I’m thankful to know you’re already taking this and putting it into action! -ES

[ftpthemovement]

STAYING FOCUSED

"Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires, but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 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. Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him, we cry, “ Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” Romans‬ ‭8:5-17‬

You know that the change is real because you are not who you were, but you’re not yet the man you want to be. I believe that ultimate fulfillment comes when we recognize the passion is in the pursuit. When we take our eyes off of our shortcoming and focus on our savior, we are enabled to live the life God has called us to live, through the finished works of Jesus Christ.

Do you still fall short? Of course, but now you can clearly identify the difference between living for yourself and being submitted to Christ. Think about it, before you were saved, did you understand the gospel how you do know? Even as a new believer without much wisdom, much of us should be able to clearly identify the difference in how you were versus how you are now, within a short amount of time.

My point is, don’t beat yourself up and lithe I’m self-pity. It makes you unproductive in your walk. Instead know that when you draw near to him, he draws near to you. You should ask him to crave his word like newborns crave milk. Mankind was not created to live on bread alone, but every word that comes from the mouth of our living God. You cannot be focused on sin and your savior at the same time. One will always take presidency over the other. The choice is ultimately yours.

God loves you so much that he gave you the free will you choose between him and sin. He always provides a way out of temptations and in fact he never tempts you himself. Scripture says that it’s your own temptations that lead you to sin, and when sin becomes full-grown, it leads to death. That’s all out of personal choice. We don’t have to choose the ways of the flesh because God gave us everything through the spirit he placed within us, to live godly productive lives that glorify him.

So, if you find yourself running off the rails, check your faith walk. Are you gathering with people that keep you focused on the word? Are you listening to scripture to understand it, to seek the will of God for your life? If you’re near the tower, you’ll pick up the signal, if you’re far away you’ll not know what’s being said. Are you willing to use your free will to bridge the gap? God did this by giving his only son so that you may have life and life abundantly. That abundant life only comes through the finished works of Jesus Christ.

That means it is reserved for those who choose to deny themselves daily, pick up their cross, and follow Christ's example. Here on earth, we have the ability to share in the harvest, by spending our days here on earth being a blessing to others. I don’t mean good deeds that help people, I mean spreading the good news of the gospel through love, action, and truth. There’s a difference trust me! One comes with expectations of reciprocation, the other out of an overflowing heart filled with love, grace, mercy, and, forgiveness.

We have been called to be the torchbearers of our generation, a city on a hill for all to see. We have to let our light shine before we can encourage anyone else to do the same. If you lite that flame with fuel based on motivation and self-effort, it will surely burn out fast. But, if you lite it with the fuel that comes from the Holy Spirit placed inside you, it will never die out. All of eternity you will shine like the stars in the great expanse.

I pray today you find peace of mind and focus. I pray you make the choice to diligently pursue Hods will over your life, by surrendering your way for his. Just as a closed mouth doesn’t get fed, the spirit can’t spread unless someone has the courage to tell others what drives them. May your actions speak first, and your words follow, full of love and edification through the Holy Spirit. We are here for a limited time, it’s time to shine! Forget what the world and its people that belong to it think, for it is wasting away. God will create a new heaven and a new earth, and there you will be with the bold men and women of faith, who had the courage to stand tall and represent God through the finished works of Jesus Christ. Grace and peace be yours in abundance, so it’s so in Jesus precious and holy name. Selah

[ftpthemovement]

Love one another

“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James‬ ‭2:14-17‬ ‭

Ever witnessed people roll up their window to a homeless person while waiting in line to turn into the church? I wonder if they knew scripture says, “Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.” Proverbs‬ ‭21:13‬ You ever seen people who proclaim Jesus all day, but when it comes to giving, they find every excuse not to part ways with their money? I wonder if the knew scripture says, “whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” 2 Cor 9:6 What about A self proclaimed Christians who just refuse to help other people in need? Well, if you have, by the time we I done writing this you will clearly be able to identify the difference between how religious people act, verses people who have a true relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Religion is, “I wanted a bicycle but I was broke. So instead of saving up, I stole a bike, and then asked God for forgiveness.” Real follower of Christ is, “ I surrender my life to the will of God, through the finished works of Jesus Christ. I live to dedicate my life to spreading the good news of the gospel through love, action, and truth.” Can you see the stark contrast? The one who follows Christ will live how Christ lived, and in accordance to the calling God has placed on their lives. Gods will has a lot to do with how you treat other people. In fact, he says, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35

Love, whats love?

Well, In a world where the word love gets tossed around back and forth, how can we clearly define what love actually is? Ive come to find that true love has a name and that name is Jesus Christ! He literally set the living example of how we should conduct ourselves by walking out his teachings through action and truth. His example displayed on the cross shows us exactly how we should esteem others higher than ourselves, walk in love and forgiveness, by laying our lives down for one another accordance to his will.

In fact, scripture says “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.” 2 Peter 1:3 That sounds great, but what’s that look like in action, and how can I apply it to my life? The answers are found In the word of God and through the Holy Spirit God placed in us when we dedicated our lives to serving him through the finished works of Jesus Christ!

Since faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Rom 10:17)I’m going to supply you with several verses that span across the entirety of the Bible. These verses will help you have a clearer understanding of what it actually looks like to walk in love, not just say I love you. When you put these into action, people will clearly be able to see that you are not juts a religious person claiming Jesus for the convenience of association. They will see that you are a living representative of Gods love through the finished works of Jesus Christ!

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” 1 John‬ ‭3:16-18

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4:8-10‬ ‭

“Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”‭‭Psalms‬ ‭82:3-4‬ ‭

“Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James‬ ‭2:15-17‬ ‭

“It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.” Proverbs‬ ‭14:21‬ ‭

“In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”” Luke‬ ‭10:30-37‬

“Honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” Matthew‬ ‭19:19

“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”— when you already have it with you. Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you. Do not accuse anyone for no reason— when they have done you no harm. Do not envy the violent or choose any of their ways. For the Lord detests the perverse but takes the upright into his confidence.” Proverbs‬ ‭3:27-32‬ ‭

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. “If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” Isaiah‬ ‭58:6-11‬ ‭

“Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.”‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13:1-3‬ ‭

Last but not least!

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. James 1:27

All praise be to God, this should begging to show you what an actual follower of Christ looks like. If you have been curious to how and what you should be doing, or what walking in love looks like, you can get a clear understanding by juts the few verses provided above! I pray that something written here sticks with you as you go about living the rest of your days here on earth! You have the ability to change so many lives with the spirit that God has placed in you!

Today is the day to stop settling for mans religion and start showing the world what it looks like to walk in relationship with God through the finished works of Jesus Christ! God has provided us with everything we need to complete the mission he has set before us! I pray that you find the encouragement to pursue the path of righteousness that has been displayed to you today, and that we as the collective body of Christ can find unity through the love of our actions. You are blessed beyond your wildest dreams, and you are loved more than you can ever imagine! Let’s go out in the world today with a renewed mind and spiritual vigor, with the mindset of being a blessing to everyone we come in contact with! Adversity, trouble, and trials will come, but Christ overcame the world, and the spirit he placed in us is stronger than the one in the world! So let’s get out there and be the change we want to be, let’s go be FTP!!

[ftpthemovement]

Anything worth doing is worth evaluating. Learning how to ask yourself good questions reveals the motives of your heart and your trajectory. I’ve come up with a series of questions that cover an array of topics that I think will relate to most people’s lives. The questions you see below, are a basic template to get you started. If you have some important questions that come to mind, please feel free to add them! If you think they are really good, share them with me over social media!

I believe with these questions given below you will be able your hone in your focus, and find out what’s really important to you. These should be able to help you strategize a plan to eliminate distractions, and focus on the things that are most important to you and the mission God has given you!

Relationships

* What relationships do I value?

* Out of these relationships which do I want to focus on the most?

* What relationships honor God and his calling on my life?

* Is the time I’m spending with these people leading me down the path God wants me to go?

* Who builds me up and energizes me?

* Who is vexing and a hindrance to my progression?

* Who’s left after answering these questions that I should spend my time around?

* Who out of these questions should remove?

Work

* What can I do to add more value to my workplace?

* Who should I be treating better at work?

* Who should I avoid that is a negative influence?

* How can I bless those at work that are my enemies?

* How should I spend my days off when I have some down time?

Health

* Am I making healthy choices when it comes to my body?

* If not, what can I do to improve those choices?

* Am I eating the correct foods to sustain optimal health?

* Am I tracking my macros/calories?

* Am I working out?

Spiritual

* Is my relationship with God where I want it to be?

* If not, what could I do to improve it?

* Am I gathering with others to get in the word of God?

* Am I helping others in my community? If not, what could I be doing?

* What am I doing to represent God to the people that He has placed in my life?

* Am I a positive influence and a light leading others to Christ daily? If so, how?

* If not, what could I do to improve that?

Goals

* What are my short term goals?

* What are my long term goals?

* What am I doing to make them a possibility?

* Is there any leverage I can create to accomplish them?

* Are you tracking your data and performance each week?

I left financial out because people’s views points differ along with serval other hot topics of interest. But, I believe these topics are a good starting point for you to begin with. So, take some time to evaluate yourself so you can keep track of where your at, verses where you want to be. Revisit this about once a week/month and you can track your data. I pray that this resource is put into action to help analyze your situation, and to spur you into good works that lead others to salvation!

[ftpthemovement]

Represent= Re-present

Gods love through action and truth, based on the finished works of Jesus Christ.

"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."”Mark‬ ‭8:34-38‬ ‭

Christ was walking to his death, knowing that what was to come was far greater than what he was leaving behind. He came to save the world from its wickedness, by setting the captives free. Those he sets free are free indeed. But free to do what? If you think it’s free to live however you see fit and then ask for forgiveness, then you have missed the point of Christ entirely.

See Christianity is us denying ourselves and picking up our crosses to follow God daily. Religion is, “I was broke so I stole a bike and then asked God for forgiveness.” The latter was the example set for me most of my life. It wasn’t until I personally read the Gospels to understand who Christ actually was, and the lives we have been called to live.

If you notice it says, “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.” This is referring to people who see Christ and make a conscious effort to deny him as lord and savior. Those that have understood the truth but choose to deny it’s power by living a life contrary to the life a god has called them to live. Someone might ask, well what about the people who have never heard the gospel, isn’t it unfair for them if they don’t know Christ? Scripture says,

“For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.” Romans 1:20

See, the ways of a mans heart were made wicked by man choosing flesh over God. But, we were been designed to walk in relation with God regardless if you have ever heard the gospel. You can look around and see that there is some thing much larger at play than what we ourselves have been able to create. In having this awareness there is a conscious choice being made to either pay homage, or serve self.

Now, that answer might not settle well with you, but it’s the very reason why Christ came is so that we have an example to follow. It’s our opportunity to take that example and become imitators of it. Scripture says those who love him will live how he lived. So, how did he live here on earth? He lived out his days in servitude, spreading the good news of the gospel through actions and truth. This is the example set, and this is what we should dedicate our time, talent, and resources to doing.

There is a lost and dying world out there that is praying and hoping for a savior. That savior already came and his name is Jesus Christ. He came and set the example for us to follow, so much so that when he left, God himself commissioned us in the place of his son. Not only did Christ sacrifice bridge the gap between God and humanity, he did so in such a way that God put the same spirit that was in Christ in us, so that we would do the same works Christ did here on earth and far greater. This spirit in us allows us to be one in Christ, as Christ is one in the Father. (Read John 17)

So, in reference to the beginning scriputure in this lesson ask yourself, are you ashamed of God and his word in this day in age? Are you living out your life as a man imitator of Christ? Are you choosing to stay quiet and not share the gospel through your a life lived in accordance to Gods will? People will know you by the fruit your bear, so when someone thinks of you do they think of Jesus? That might be a really good question to ask people that have known you for awhile. I wonder if some of you would be surprise at the answer, especially if you gave people the opportunity to be honest with you.

Imagine asking people, “If I was to die today, what would be the three to five things that you would you would remember about me? Or, if you had to sum up what I do on a daily basis, what would it be?” Wouldn’t it be amazing to get true unadulterated answers to those questions? Do you think God would be brought up at all in the questions being asked? Scripture says, they will know you by the fruit you bear, what fruit is on your tree?

It’s easy to fake generosity, it’s easy to proclaim Jesus but not walk out his love through action and truth. It’s really easy to claim God, then go do what you want to do and pray for forgiveness later. Ohh It’s real easy to appear godly and deny his power by using your position to entertain the lust of your flesh. But, when Christ looks at you what does he see? When you look yourself in the mirror, what do you actually see? Do you see a warrior sold out for the gospel who has died to self, and lives through Christ? Or do you see another man, claiming God and still walking in the ways of the world, doing what you actually desire, and saying “I’ll be better one day?”

Do you think people don’t see the truth? Do you actually think you can deceive people walking in the spirit? The world may fall for half hearted attempts, but the sheep know the Shepard’s voice. Those that truly follow Christ will live how he lived, walk how he walks. So why try and fake it, hoping to make it? There’s no reason to take on a form of godliness, but deny it’s power.

You have the ability to decide for yourself, but the time is coming when God will reveal that you either lived for him sold out and unashamed, or that you shrunk back like a coward. Calculate the cost Jesus said. Calculate the cost between fleshly desire and serving God. Hot or cold, if you are lukewarm he will spit you out of his mouth.

Today we have a choice to be the torchbearers of our generation. This can be the time where the greatest warriors ever known to man live, or it can be the generation who failed to represent God. Obviously we stand judgment for our own actions, but we can still spur each other into good works. Have we really come this far not to finish strong? Isn’t this the generation that needs to see love, care, generosity, forgiveness, and compassion, reign supreme? Don’t we have the same power Christ has in him to do what he did, and far greater? Then we are without excuse.

Today is they day, the second, and the hour, we make the conscious choice of life or death. Life, being a servant of God through living out the finished works of Jesus Christ. Death, having a form of godliness but denying it’s power through our actions. We have this choice every second of every day. The power entrusted to you through the spirit, is to set the example of what true love looks like by freeing the captives of this world. That true love has a name and that name is Jesus Christ. It’s time that we individually and collectively start serving him well.

I pray all of this finds a place in your heart, and that your actions represent Christ in all ways all of the days of your life. We all fall short of the glory of God daily, so don’t focus on your behavior focus on your savior. When you believe right you will live right. God will give you the understanding necessary to complete your mission and finish strong. Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

From the front line-ES

[ftpthemovement]

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10

It’s time to stop blaming God for the shortcomings in your life, and come to know the actual truth. God, through Christ alone, has come so that you have the ability to live an abundant life through faith. Scripture says, “in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 2 Cor 5:19. That means while there is still a portion of time called today, you have the ability to turn from your ways and seek God through the finished works of Christ. “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

There is no greater message for a time like this. Evil and corruption run ramped in the streets. We all are seeking justification of our actions, but peoplestick in their flesh are solely driven by their lustful carnal desires. They find no peace because they have no sense of moral law. Their law is the appetite of their flesh. They deny the power of the one true moral law giver, by the actions they choose. Just listen to the wordsof people’s mouth in the last days. Scripture says:

“In the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3:1-5

Well, if we are being honest with one another, the things listed above are starting to appear everywhere. It isn’t hard to tell that the actions of the flesh are causing hell on earth. Because of these things, the justful wrath of God will come upon the earth. Until that time comes, we are faced with dealing with the hardships until are departure or his arrival. But, the more turmoil and hardship we face as followers of Christ, the brighter we shine!

As unrighteousness increases, so does the hardness and the bitterness of the hearts of those who walk in the flesh. So, what do we do? Do we sit back and hide, go make little communities out in the woods to stay far away from the terrors of what’s outside of our front door? Or, do we gladly lay our lives down for one another out of love, knowing that Christ set the example we should follow? Obviously the latter!

It’s our God given opportunity to serve Christ with all that we have in this life. When you finally come to the end of yourself and your carnal desires, you realize all your pleasure and fulfillment in this life are wrapped up in serving God through the finished works of Jesus Christ. When you taste and see that the word of God is good, and apply it to your life, you will never want to trade righteousness for unrighteousness, clean linen for filthy rags.

He have been clothed in righteousness as co heirs and ambassadors of Christ. That means God lives in our bodies through the spirit he placed in us, to finish the work that he has called us to do. What in the world can compare to that? Nothing! But, when you are not surrounded with people that are edifying you in the world of God, you are left with people who are in the world pursuing the ways of the flesh. This leads to constant temptation and the opportunity to fall short due to lack of commitment. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Today is the day to be mindful of Christ sacrifice, be strategic in your movements, and walk in love in all situations. Don’t become emotionally reactive as one who is still subjected to the weakness of carnal desires. Instead, learn to proactively control your emotions for the benefits of others, creating experiences of love seasoned with grace. Those with understanding can control their environment, shaping culture and ethics through forgiveness, love, grace, and mercy. Don’t shrink back!

To those that are saved, boldly declare the finished works of Jesus Christ through love, action, and truth! Do not shrink back from doing good, break free from the ways of the world to pursue Gods righteousness through your actions. Now is not the time to loose your zeal, instead be fufilled by the power of God is that lives inside you. Spur one another into good works through meeting together regularly, replenishing each other through the word of God. Make a joyful praise unto The Lord knowing that he himself will soon reign justice on the righteous and the unrighteousness. Until that day comes, it’s our God given opportunity to pull others back that are running towards the flames.

To the unbeliever, you have the ability to have life and life abundantly through the finished works of Jesus Christ. Today is the day, now is the hour to humbly submit yourself before your creator and put on the clothes righteousness. You have entertained the desires of your flesh to only to come up empty handed. The hole that is inside of you that you keep trying to fill with the ways of the world, only gets bigger. That hole was only designed to be filled by Gods spirit through the finished works of Jesus Christ! That whole is called fulfillment, and when consumed by the spirit of God, it leads to eternal life.

You have forgiveness of sins, past, present, and future. You don’t have to get yourself right before you come to God. No one can get themselves right and that’s why we need God through the finished works of Jesus Christ! Stop beating yourself up over what you have done, how bad your past is, and all that has happened thus far. Instead, give it to God and turn from your ways to pursue his. Then you will trade in your guilt, shame, and condemnations, for conviction, forgiveness, love, grace, and mercy!

You have the ability to choose death or life every second of everyday. Let your will be his way, trading the old for the new, and you will reign over your pain. You will find the peace and comfort of a sound mind, Knowing that the finished works of Jesus Christ is now your mission. Now is the time to dedicate your gifting, talents, and calling to freeing others from the chains of unrighteousness that you yourself were once bound by.

Today is the day for both saved and unsaved to make a choice. Choose the world and it’s carnal desires, or choose to help save others by pulling them back from the flames. Will you be walking in selfishness, or laying your life down to selflessly serve others through love? The example you set people will follow, and the choice is yours to make every second of the day. So choose who you serve. As for me and my household, we serve the Lord. Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

From the front line, -ES

[ftpthemovement]

Godfidence

Have you ever seen someone who operated in faith that was able to consistently manifest their dreams into reality? What about a time where you may have seen someone speak faith filled words without doubt, and then saw it come to pass in their lives? When this happens in people’s lives unexpectedly, it’s often times written as coincidental or by happenstance. What’s really going on more often than not, people are unknowingly activating what I like to call, “Spiritual laws of faith.” Let’s see an example of what I’m talking about:

Scripture says, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24

The verse you see above, is a spiritual law. When you operate in faith, you are given access to these spiritual laws through the word of God. Once revealed, you are able to apply the principles of these spiritual laws into your life and reap the reward of them. Take the aforementioned verse right above this paragraph for instance. That’s literally the word of God being made manifest through Jesus Christ. If we believe in God and Gods word, than there is no reason to doubt it right? I mean what does the word say about the word of God?

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” Isaiah 40:8

The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations. Psalms 33:11

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

If His words are truth and the truth is never changing, then His spiritual laws are the same. If both have been brought about through his word in which we trust, then why would we not use our faith to activate them to the fullest extent possible? There’s a laundry list of other verse I can show you, but these but these verses alone should suffice. Each verse here provides you with enough understanding that if God said it, then it’s true, and it’s been given to you to use! You have complete and total access to each of Gods spiritual laws when you choose to put them into action through faith. But how do you do it?

You pay attention to scripture! Don’t let people take verses out of context and make up a fairy tell story for fiction. No, you allow scripture to interpret scripture, by reading it in its proper context. That means you need to read the first verse before, and the last verse after, at minimum! Now that we have included the first and last verse in addition to the verse previously referenced, let’s go back to scripture to see how we receive what we pray for!

“And Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."”Mark‬ ‭11:22-25‬

The result we want is to activate the spiritual law to receive what we pray for, right? Then lets break it down!

1. “Have faith in God.” Without faith how can you expect to revive anything?

2. Say. “whoever says to this mountain” You must actively use your faith through your words. Don’t just think it, proclaim it in Jesus name by saying it!.

3. “Do not doubt in your heart, believe it will come to pass”

4. “Ask for it in prayer, and believe you have already received it.”

5. Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."

Boom! Scripture properly being broken down to activate the spiritual law of receiving in 5 easy to understand steps! Did we create a magical formula for success? No, we simply read the word of God in proper context, without watering down scripture. Doesn’t sound like much of a secret to me. No need to write watered down books to sell half truths to the masses for mere monetary gain. That’s deception.

Sadly, many people buy those books with hopes that what’s written will work. Yet, when they try to activate the formulas many of them fail because they took spiritual principles of God and removed the author of life who spoke them into existence! These watered down formulas have an appearance of Godliness, but deny the power of faith in God. Good luck trying to activate Gods spiritual laws without having faith in Him, it ain’t happening.

If you’ve exposed yourself to these types of teaching, don’t loose faith because of misinformed or manipulative men. The word of God is alive and well, sharper than any double edged sword! He had you in mind before he laid the foundations of the earth. Since before your birth, he had created physical laws and spiritual laws for you to abide in accordance to his good will and pleasure. He gives richly to those who seek out his wisdom to understanding. Scripture says,

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew‬ ‭7:7-8‬ ‭

See! There’s another spiritual law! Scripture is filled with them, and now you know how to break them down to properly apply them to your life! It makes scripture the greatest pursuit on the planet when you understand that you have access to change your life mentally, physically, financially, and relationally, through the word of God. All of these spiritual laws are waiting on you to be activated through faith, resulting in living a life you could never imagine. As crazy as it sounds, all you have to do is believe.

My prayer today is that you realize you are loved more than you can ever imagine. That you stop being duped by watered down half truths, and pursue the righteousness of God through faith. I pray you will come to the knowledge of who you are, what you’ve been called to, and that you come into the full knowledge and understanding of how to take Gods word and apply it into your life! There is more love, grace, freedom, and wisdom waiting for you than you can ever imagine. In Jesus name I pray that he gives you insight, revelation, knowledge, and understanding to fully walk in the abundance you have been gifted through the finished works of Jesus Christ. Grace and peace be yours in abundance!

From the front lines, -ES

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What that tongue do!?

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45

Ever wonder why being around some people charged you up, and being around others brought you down? Don’t act like you haven’t ever had that feeling. You can say whatever affirmation you need to keep the positive vibes going, but what I’m talking about is true. 😂 There’s some people you get around and know matter how you spin it, they end up draining you of your energy. I used to not understand it until I started running across scriptures like:

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. Proverbs 18:21- Meditate on this!

Or

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18

My conclusion: People I liked to be around that gave me energy, were positive people that talked about goals, aspirations, accomplishments, strategies, and ways to stay positive. They talked about ways to stay positive mentally, physically, spiritually, and financially. They looked to add value and provide solutions, not make excuses or increase problems. Those people are givers! However, the people that drain me, (aka takers) are always talking about other people and their problems. They are focused on gossiping, lying, trying to make excuses and appear better than they are. They are always complaining, creating more problems than solutions. Basically they are just shit talkers.

Why call it that? Well, the definition of shit is: To expel feces from the body. I find that to be extremely fitting explanation, plus it’s kinda funny to me that some of y’all still trip out about this word. I don’t use it to cause you to stumble, I use it so you can see what the definition is and stop saying people are going to hell for using it in their speech. Anyways, I could list about 15 more things but instead, but let’s go to scripture instead and see what God has to say about the situation at hand:

“There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.” Proverbs 6:16-19

You could make a case that three out of the seven, possibly more, have to do with that mouth! These are the things God hates and finds an abomination! So if we know that “It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person,” Matt 15:11 then why do we keep running our mouths?

“I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matt 12:36-37

If you have read/believe in Gods word, then you already know what’s coming. Why not focus on letting “No corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29 Putting, “Away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 1 Peter 2:1 Knowing that, “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape”Proverbs 19:5

I’m not here to pass judgment, I make mistakes on the daily. I’m just here providing some knowledge from the scriptures and asking you to help hold me accountable as well! Better act like you know! “No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” James 3:8 But,

“Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.” Proverbs 21:23

So what do we do? Either stop running our mouths, or when we do, let it be edifying and for building one another up in love!

For, “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; 1 Peter 3:10

So let’s do it, let’s hold each other accountable to speaking life and love. Let’s forgive transgressions and be of use to one another through edification through the spirit that lives within us. If God himself keeps no records of our wrongs, we should do the same for one another, so that neither one of us falls into judgment! If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

So lets hold each other accountable by keeping one another in check. Here’s a couple of scriptures that actually read really well as a prayer when put together. Pay attention to the inserts I’ve placed and you’ll see what I’m saying:

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! Psalms 141:3Let (my) your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that (I) you may know how (I) you ought to answer each person. Colossians 4:6 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalms 19:14

Now this might help us along the way! I’d encourage you, that if you have anything that helps you keep you in check, feel free to share it with me on social media. I would live to see what you guys come up with! I wanna thank you as Walsh’s for taking the time to get your daily dose! I live you guys, and I know stuff is hard out there in the world, but that why God gave us each other. We are here to help spur each other on into the good works God has prepared for us, and to hold each other accountable, by uplifting each other through love. So let’s get out there and be the change we want to see, let go be FTP! -ES

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100 FOLD

““Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life.” Mark‬ ‭10:29-30

Once you’re sold out for the gospel nothing else really matters. Sure, some stumble and fall off the path along the way, but once you’ve tasted and seen that the Lord is good, you don’t ever want to go back to the way things were before. The way of the world has nothing to offer you any longer. Of course the persecution becomes weighty at times, but it’s nothing that you can handle through the so sort God has placed in you. Yet, one heavy roadblock always seems to stand in the way of your ministry once your saved. It’s trying to walk in the full power of Christ in your own home town and own home.

This is a topic that I used to struggle with for along time, until God revealed you me in scripture that, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home." Mark 6:4. See Jesus knew what I was struggling with, he too had the same issue in his earthly ministry. Christwas able to do miraculous signs and wonders, but when it came to his family and hometown, scripture says he couldn’t do much because of the people’s lack of faith.

Can you imagine that, all of the power of God manifest in Christ body, and they still choose to not believe it? Doesn’t sound much different than what happens nowadays though does it? Think about it, scripture says that we have the same spirit that lives in Christ, in us. Through that spirit we can do the same works he did in his earthly ministry and far greater. You ever wonder why you haven’t seen the power of God move in your life the way he did in Christ life while he was here on earth? Might be a tough one, but have you ever fully decided to dedicate yourself to the gospel in such a way that you decided to live how Christ lived here on earth?

Christ knew the issues we would face dealing with the comfort zones of our families and hometown. He knew it would be such a huge problem that he gave his word that those who left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, would not fail to receive a hundred times as much and eternal life.

If that’s the case, why aren’t we all jumping up and going on our way? I mean really, why would you not go? Is it because you doubt the word of God? Is it that you are so comfortable where you are, you decided not to live dependent on the great comforter to guide you?

I can only speculate, but I personally believe it’s probably because most people choose their comfort over their calling. The comfort of their family and hometown is really all that some people know. Maybe, they feel like because they have belief in God that they will go to heaven. So they have faith, and they try to do some of the Lords work, but they are limited because the lack of faith in their home/hometown. Why doesn’t it work?

It’s kinda common sense that the people you grew up around knew who you were while you were growing up. Some of them remember your past better than you do. Some of them have wild stories they like to bring up to make themselves feel better. They already have heard your “Once was lost but now I’m found story.” Some of them changed your diapers, some of them beat yourself ass for being a little hellion. How do you expect those same people to believe you have all the power of Christ living in you, and that you’re going to do what he did and far greater? Sure they will be proud of you, and give God praise that you follow him, but are you happy with not operating in the full power of the spirit? Staying in His hometown didn’t work for Christ, how are you gonna out do the one who gave you life? It’s worth taking some time to think about.

Say what you want, argue what you will, but it just isn’t happening. I’m not talking as one who doesn’t know, I’ve experienced it several times through my my walk. As hard headed as a person could be, I tried and tried over and over again, kicking at the goads like a madman. Almost always coming up empty handed. I’d see someone healed, I would lay hands on the sick, but that’s about it. Oddly enough that’s the extent of what Christ accomplished in his hometown.

I don’t expect you to take my world for it, but I do have some experience in this department. I became so sold out that I wanted to follow Christ to the best of my ability. So I made the conscious effort to sell all of my possessions including my home, to pursue the will of God. I am in no way boasting, all glory be to God he has allowed me to live fully dedicated to the his mission for my life, for over seven years. From sleeping on a cot in a car, to rooms smaller than a prison cell, garages, in and out of hotels alike. I’ve literally experienced what it is to have about as little as you possibly can have and live for Christ.

Out of all of it, the greatest thing I’ve learned in the past seven years, is that when you are 50 miles outside of your hometown, in places you are unfamiliar with, around people you don’t know, the power of God moves in your life in ways you could never imagine. You become immersed in the spirit, when all you have to rely on is your faith in the word of God. Distractions become minimal when you are living solely to spread the word. The apostles said if they had just water and clothing that it would be enough. When’s the last time you took that approach in life? When’s the last time you even left your state to go represent God in an unfamiliar place? I don’t want you to answer me, I want you to search your heart and make sure it’s in like with the will of God for your life!

My prayer for you today is to search your heart on what it means to have faith in God, vs living faith m out through love, action and in truth. I pray that God reveals your hidden areas of comfort, and exposes them to you so that you can deal with them in accordance to Gods will for your life. I pray you don’t miss out on a single opportunity to represent him to the best of your ability. I pray that when you read the word, you don’t read it in such a way that it entertains your comfort through the lens of complacency. Instead, i hope it is read and interpreted only through the spirit of God that lives within you.

As scripture says, no man should have to teach you, God himself writes his laws on your head and in your hearts. This is the time God gave you to be the torchbearer of your generation. He takes no pleasure in a timid spirit, or in those who shrink back. In fact, cowards are the first to enter into the lake of fire, in the second death. (Rev 21:8)

Since you know the truth, let it set you free from the chains that seek to bind you. Do not let the comforts and complacency of this world cause you to live a life of mediocrity when you were created to be so much more. Don’t forget who you are, and whom you belong to! Keep yourself around the brethren, spurring each other to do the good works God has had planned for you to do since before he laid the foundations of the earth. Never loose your zeal, It’s time to get out there and slay some giants. May you find everything you need from God through the finished works of Jesus Christ. Grace and peace be yours in abundance

From the front lines, ES.

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You mad bro?

What does the Bible say about anger?

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. James 1:19-20

Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man. Proverbs 22:24

A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression. Proverbs 29:22

A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back. Proverbs 29:11

What am I supposed to do in a situation where I’m face to face with a man with anger issues?

Whoop that trick, get em!!! No, there is a way that seems right to a man that leads to death and that’s probably it. Instead, you can either walk away, which solves 80% of the problem, or listen to what the Bible says over your natural carnal instinct! Which prob means you’re gonna end up walking away from the situation, and not throwing hands🚶🏽‍♂️>🥊

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” Romans 12:19

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1

What’s the word say about a man who is slow to anger?

Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. Proverbs 16:32

Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. Proverbs 19:11

Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. Proverbs 14:29

A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention. Proverbs 15:18

Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult. Proverbs 12:16

So what do you do if you find yourself being the one who is angry?

But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. Matthew 5:22

So chill, being focused on the spirit of God will bring relief to the situation. Don’t make permanent decisions over a temporary situation. Like stated before, it’s best to just walk away and remind yourself this is just one moment in one day, and it’s not gonna defeat you. Nobody can steal your peace you have to surrender it to them. Pride and arrogance will have you thinking different, but the will of God always leads to ultimate victory.

Remember, God never tempts you, but he will test you. Those that can be trusted with little, can be trusted with much. How do you expect God to give you the desires of your heart if you can’t even manage your emotions correctly. We all make mistakes, but choosing to go down the path of the wicked instead of the righteous is pointless. Think about it, most the things you get pissed about, you won’t even remember 5 years from now. Even if you do, it won’t be as bad as it is in the present moment.

Most the things people vent their anger about are minuscule and temporary. Normally they are self seeking in the situation and feel like they are not getting their way. Either that in most cases, or the feel they are experiencing an injustice which in some cases is very understandable. But we don’t fight evil with evil, we absolutely crush evil by doing good!

So remember, calm your ass down and don’t fret, it only leads to doing something that you will regret. There is no situation you can put yourself in where the risk of sin outweighs the reward of righteousness. So, don’t intentionally hang out with hot tempered people, when you know damn well that bad company corrupts good character. Scripture says in Proverbs 19:19 “Hot-tempered people must pay the penalty. If you rescue them once, you will have to do it again.” Why put yourself in that kind of position intentionally?

Just remember, if you find yourself in a situation, shut up, walk away, and thank God for the day. Keep your peace, hold your tongue, waiting patiently for Gods will to be done. His vindication far exceeds anything you could imagine. So relax big guy, eat a snack, drink some water, take some deep breaths, and walk away speaking words of love, forgiveness, and mercy. Five years from now you will have probably forgotten what you are mad about anyways.Woosah -ES

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Distractions.

Every day we wake up we are faced with the realities of the world we live in. Two competing voices always gauging for our attention. One the voice of the world, which is consistently grabbing at our attention everywhere we go; from the screens in our homes, the phone in our hands, to the billboards on the road, even the radio we listen to in the car. Two, the voice of freedom you find in those still small quiet places, that is the fuel to keep you going throughout the day. That’s the voice of God, and it always runs parallel with the word of God found in scripture. We know that the sheep know the Shepard’s voice, but how do we make time for Gods voice in a world full of distractions?

As simple as it may sound, it’s a three step strategy that leads to victory everytime. Acronyms, Affirmations, and Reminders.

Acronym:

Definition: An abbreviation formed from the initial letters of other words and pronounced as a word.

These work for me because I like to take as much information as I can, and deliver it in the shortest amount of time possible. In business, because of the technological advancements we have today, it’s said that we have shorter attention spans than a goldfish. That means you have about 8 seconds to catch an individuals attention when speaking to them. If that’s the case for engagement, imagine how short your attention span is when you are caught up in the frustrations of the world?

Because of this consistent battle, I sought out a strategy that would simplify a way for me to tune into to God quickly, while still accomplishing my daily tasks. That’s when God showed me a series of acronyms that keep me on track and help me accomplish his mission for my life. Now I’m about to share with you my acronyms, but I would suggest if they don’t hit home for you, you should definitely create a series of your own and share them! In fact, if your attention span has allowed you to stick around this long, I want you to come up with atleast one acronym and send it to me via social media! That way we can help each other out!

Without further ado, here is my list of 5 in order:

F.T.P. 17.5 S.C.D. F.E.E. D.C.T.

FTP = For the people. Because Christ laid his life down for me I’m going to lay my life down for others daily. FTP reminds me to represent Christ in every way, everyday of my life, to the best of my abilities. I implement this everyday as a reminder of why I’m here, what my mission is, and who I serve. So, if I’m ever finding myself in frustration, FTP is the first acronym out of the series that helps me stay grounded.

17.5

17, is a the biblical number of victory, and 5 is the biblical number of grace. So, when faced in with adversity I always remember that I have victory through Gods Grace at all time of my life. If faced with frustration I start with FTP and immediately go to 17.5. Goes a little something like this. “I’m here for the people, to represent Christ. Since I have victory through Gods Grace, I must show my adversaries the same love, grace, mercy and, forgiveness, that I myself have recieved through Christ.

S.C.D. = Stop chasing distractions. This one is for me anytime I get off track of the mission, which is often. This is the reminder for when you pick up the phone and all the sudden your scrolling for too long. Or if you realize you are spending too much time entertaining the competitive voice of the world. I immediately implement this as a reminder to let the meditation of my mind be pleasing to God, through holding all thoughts captive to Christ who strengthens me!

F.E.E. = Faith. Effort. Expectation

It is the reminder for the way things work in the world when it comes to anything you want to pursue. If I’m not chasing distractions, then I’m focused on having faith. My faith is not a real belief until it is put into action. When put into action, based on the word of God, I expect to see an outcome. If you put in the work you will reap the reward. You can read about paying the F.E.E. In depth on the previous blog post.

Last but not least is D.C.T.

D.C.T= Dreams come true. This is the reminder that when every aforementioned acronym is put in its correct place. God will give you the desires of your heart. It’s a constant reminder that the effort is worth the expectation, because the war has already been won.

In one short, these five acronyms line up to become one solid affirmation of inspiration that can help you throughout the day:

“I’m here for the people, to spread the good news of the gospel as a representative of love through action and in truth. I have victory through Gods grace, and I refuse to let the distractions of the world slow me down, stop me, or convince me of anything different. Through my faith, effort, and expectation of Gods finished works in my life, my dreams will come true, and I will finish the mission of completing the race set before me. In Jesus name!”

Now just set this as a reminder on your phone several times a day along with some encouraging scripture, and you will be well equipped to take on the world through the finished works of Christ. Remeber, acronyms, affirmations, and reminders! These are the weapons of Gods word necessary to win the war!

Today I’m praying that you create a strategy of set reminders that help you stay on track. In a busy world it’s easy to run off the rails, and never realize what happened until it’s too late. Since we are not created to live on bread alone, but every word of God, it’s my hope that you implement his word into your life daily. For me acronyms, affirmations, and reminders keep me consistent. Like I said before, If you guys have any acronyms that you would like to share, hit me up on social media! Love you guys, hope today’s the best day yet! -ES