"The true Watchers and Prayers" (Part 4) Has Your Newness Worn Off?

 

This is the 85^th letter: 

Text for the day: 2 Corinthians 5:17 (King James Version)

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.

 

Our Theme for the day: “The true Watchers and Prayers” (Part 4)

Has Your Newness Worn Off?

 

Our Devotional

 

 Some years ago a well know minister was caught by the F.B.I for stealing thousands of dollars from his church. If that wasn’t enough to bring shame on the name of Jesus, through their investigation they found out he was not just stealing but having sex with some of the women in the church. Now this servant leader who was married had lost his way like so many others through cherished sins. Today we look at part four in our series called “The true Watchers and Prayers.” Our devotion today looks at Watch, lest evil passions should overcome you, instead of you subduing them. If you allow your passions to flare up and do nothing to restrain them, you may find yourself committing things you thought you would have never committed. Today sad to say there are some servant leaders who have fallen to their passions. They have committed sins against their own bodies, because they have given in to their passions. Paul warned Timothy in 1Timothy 5:22 and his words also warn us as servant leaders today, to keep your self pure. You cannot continue to flirt with temptations and not expect to eventually be burned by sin. Paul realized the dangers that one's own desires can lead a person into sin.

That is why Paul said in I Corinthians 9:27 that he constantly kept himself under subjection to God less he fall. Firstly, let none flatter themselves that sins cherished for a time can easily be given up by and by. This is not so. Every sin cherished weakens the character and strengthens habit; and physical, mental, and moral depravity is the result. Secondly, you as a servant leader fall into sin because of your own evil passion. Thirdly when you as a servant leader fall because of your evil passion to sin, you become a snare to those who are looking on. Not just to those who know about the fall when it happens, but sometimes it takes years before some people can get over your fall. You may repent of the wrong you have done, and set your feet in right paths; but the mold of your mind and your familiarity with evil will make it difficult for you to distinguish between right and wrong. Not that you will never do right again, but you will be tempted like you never expected before you sinned. Through the wrong habits formed, Satan will assail you again and again, until God gives you total victory and peace.  Yet some will not heed the Holy Spirits warnings. They will continue to stroke and fondle their passions until they fall into sin.

There are many servant leaders who have a misconception about how far you can go without going too far with their passion. My word to you today is, don’t play with it, because it will kill you. Satan has been multiplying his snares in -----; and professed Christians who are superficial in character and religious experience are used by the tempter as his decoys. This class, are always ready for the gatherings for pleasure or sport, and their influence attracts others. Young men and women who have tried to be Bible Christians are persuaded to join the party, and they are drawn into the ring. They do not prayerfully consult the divine standard, to learn what Christ has said in regard to the fruit to be borne on the Christian tree. They do not discern that these entertainments are really Satan's banquets, prepared to keep souls from accepting the call to the marriage supper of the Lamb and preventing them from receiving the white robe of Christ.

Many servant leaders who should be leading those whom God has given them charge over in the government, school, work place, home, and churches. Have become confused as to what is right for them as servant leaders to do. Let us pray that God would give a divine touch to the mind of all His called out servant leaders. Remember, "Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against all the devil’s schemes. Paul’s words to those in 2 Corinthians 5:17 are still applicable to us, “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.” The question today is, has your newness worn off? If it has there is still time to come back, won’t you come home.

 

Join us next time for another ray of sunshine from Garden Ministry.

 

We are into our 20th week since starting Garden Ministry; it is growing with new people asking to subscribe to it each day. If you are gaining spiritual muscle mass, and strength through Garden Ministry, and would like to help some-one else gain Spiritual muscle mass and strength also. Then send Garden Ministry your Testimony at, http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ . Garden Ministry would love to share your Testimony with our faithful viewers and readers. So ask yourselves, which letter or message from Garden Ministry helped you to hold on to your faith, or helped someone else hold on to theirs? Look up and push on in the name of Jesus. This week-end let us find someway of which we can unite our communities, and help them find Jesus. Don’t stop preparing yourselves for further service in the Lord. Don’t Give Up. Look Up!     Our Prayer for today: Lord give strength to all your servant leaders today, who are being tempted by the devil to give in to their passion. Help them to be over comers so your truth can march on. In Jesus name Amen.     Remember, you’re the only Jesus some will ever see.   If you are blessed by these “uplifting gems”, share them.   These letters are written by Elder Kevin Santucci   For further information, comment or requests, E-mail Garden Ministry: http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/   Garden Ministry would love to thank you today for your prayers and continual faithfulness of sharing these letters with others like your self. Thank you for your insightful comments to Garden Ministry. If you love to leave a comment, go to our website at http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ and then comment, follow the directions and then you will be finished. Truly I am encouraged how little can become much when you place it in the master’s hand. To all our faithful readers on behalf of the Garden Ministry team, we wish you Gods riches Blessings.

 

“The true Watchers and Prayers” (Part 3) "Foolish Pride"

This is the 84^th letter:

Text for the day: Proverbs 16:18
Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Our Theme for the day: “The true Watchers and Prayers” (Part 3)

“Foolish Pride”

Our Devotional

There are two words in the English language which most people get mixed up on, proud and pride. What is the meaning of these two words? To be proud of something means feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth. It also means having or showing a proper pride in oneself, one's position, one's family, etc. But to have pride is to be disdainful in your behavior or treatment; insolence or have arrogance of demeanor; Being haughty in your bearing of others; having self-gratulation, and self pride. The Bible strongly reproves pride. Let us not mix up with the pride that cause you to have self esteem, which cause you to believe that you can do what ever you put your mind to. Oh no. We ought to watch, lest pride should find a place in our heart. Whenever pride and ambition are indulged, the life is marred, for pride, feeling no need, closes the heart against the infinite blessings of Heaven. He who makes self-glorification his aim will find himself destitute of the grace of God, through whose efficiency the truest riches and the most satisfying joys are won. But he who gives all and does all for Christ will know the fulfillment of the promise, "The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and He added no sorrow with it." Proverbs 10:22.

With the gentle touch of grace the Saviour banishes from the soul unrest and unholy ambition, changing enmity to love and unbelief to confidence. When He speaks to the soul, saying, "Follow Me," the spell of the world's enchantment is broken. At the sound of His voice the spirit of greed and ambition flees from the heart, and men arise, emancipated, to follow Him. The perils of the last days are upon us. Those who live to please and gratify self are really dishonoring the Lord. God cannot work through those who have pride, for they would misrepresent Him before those who are ignorant of the truth. Sometimes it may be necessary for God to remove from you blessings which, instead of improving you in your life and service of Him, you have used for the gratification of selfish pride. Parents should rebuke pride in your children. But to most mothers they frequently set the example of pride to their children, sowing seed that will spring up and bear fruit. The harvest will be plenteous and sure. It is much easier to teach a child a lesson of pride than of humility.

But Gods word is still sure; pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. Pride early fostered in the heart will remain there; and nothing but the Holy Spirit can eradicate it. Remember a man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. (Proverbs 29:23)
In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them. (Proverbs 14:3)
The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined. (Psalm 10:2) But God hates pride. "And all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly will be stubble; and the day that cometh will burn them up.

As you can see pride is dangerous because it masquerades itself in many ways to include seemingly spiritual ways. Pride takes the focus off of God and puts it on self and if the Christian falls for it, he or she will even use their church service as a masquerade for their indulging in pride. In the Bible, Satan was the first one to fall into pride and it transformed him from an angel of light to one of darkness. (Ezekiel 28:17)
Today the Lord is saying; “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the forward mouth, do I hate. (Proverbs 8:17) If the motive of all our life is to serve and honor Christ and bless humanity,…. then the dreariest path of duty will become a bright way-- a path cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in. {TMK 176.4}

Join us next time for another ray of sunshine from Garden Ministry.

Join us next time for another ray of sunshine from Garden Ministry.

We are into our 20th week since starting Garden Ministry; it is growing with new people asking to subscribe to it each day. If you are gaining spiritual muscle mass, and strength through Garden Ministry, and would like to help some-one else gain Spiritual muscle mass and strength also. Then send Garden Ministry your Testimony at, http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ . Garden Ministry would love to share your Testimony with our faithful viewers and readers. So ask yourselves, which letter or message from Garden Ministry helped you to hold on to your faith, or helped someone else hold on to theirs? Our Prayer for today: Lord, we are weak beings, keep us from the spirit of pride that we may do your service. Remember, you’re the only Jesus some will ever see. If you are blessed by these “uplifting gems”, share them. These letters are written by Elder Kevin Santucci For further information, comment or requests, E-mail Garden Ministry: http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ Garden Ministry would love to thank you today for your prayers and continual faithfulness of sharing these letters with others like your self. Thank you for your insightful comments to Garden Ministry. If you love to leave a comment, go to our website at http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ and then comment, follow the directions and then you will be finished. Truly I am encouraged how little can become much when you place it in the master’s hand. To all our faithful readers on behalf of the Garden Ministry team, we wish you Gods riches Blessings.

"The true Watchers and Prayers" Part 2 (Kept in Check)

This is the 83^rd letter:

Text for the day: 1 Corinthians 4:6

And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

Our Theme for the day: “The true Watchers and Prayers” Part 2

(Kept in Check)

Our Devotional

Today we look at part two in our series called “Watching and Praying.” As we saw yesterday there are so many things in which we must watch out for less we fall. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. (1 Corinthians 10:12) - Another in the line of those is Flattery. This act is a serious matter of which all need to watch themselves for. Flattery, adulation or blandishment is the act of giving excessive compliments. To most people who speak on behalf of someone or introduce them, they do nothing more than flatter their listeners with notions of the facts that are believed to be favorable to the hearer without certainty of the truthfulness of the notions conveyed. On this point many have been lad astray never to come again to a humble spirit in Christ Jesus. Flattery is a part of the world's policy, but it is no part of God’s policy. Through flattery poor human beings, full of frailty and infirmities, come to think that they are efficient and worthy, and become puffed up in their fleshly mind. Paul understanding this very thing said to the people in 1 Corinthians 4:6 that no one should be pushed up to become puffed up against another.

Because they will become intoxicated with the idea that they possess ability’s beyond what they really have, and their religious experience becomes unbalanced. Another reason why we must watch flattery, is that the listener to flattery will after a period of time become converted to what is being said and think the person is more than what they really are when they are not. Many youth have been flattered that they have a natural gift or ability; by there ability they think they have arrived, but they become the victim of pride, and then destruction. True success can only be attained through diligent training and culture, learning the meekness and lowliness in Christ. Today there are many who think there is no necessity of putting there mind to the task of mastering what they do; and before they are aware, they are fast in the snare of Satan. But God will permit you to be attacked by the enemy in this way, in order to help you understand your weakness, and His great love to you. If you are going to dwell with the angels in Heaven, then its time to put away all flattery from your lips, for it is Satan's work to flatter.

Take a look at the poor, weak, and fallen, they generally think enough of themselves. Every one needs to know that Flattery is not in the mouth of the converted Christian. They have learned that it leads to a perverted mind and does not lead to meekness and humility. Yet there are thousands of men and women who love to be praised, and it is too frequent the case that servant leaders love it too. Their vanity is gratified by it, but it has proved a curse to many. If you desire to help someone today reprove them, by this you will help them. Because flattery will only paralyzes them, and finally cause their ruin. “A great wrong has been done in this way. All should think and speak modestly of their own capabilities, and should be careful not to encourage pride and self-esteem in others.”— (5T 478) - Finally the results of the danger of flattery by others are also the results of self flattery. It is difficult for us to understand ourselves, to have a correct knowledge of our own characters.

The Word of God is plain, but often there is an error in applying it to one's self. There is liability to self-deception and to think its warnings and reproofs are not speaking to me. But the Bible says "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9). Self flattery may be construed into Christian emotion and zeal. But it is synonyms to self-congratulation, self-satisfaction, self-praise, self-glorification, self-aggrandizement, self-glory, self-promotion, boasting, bragging, and conceit, which is all vanity. Self-love and confidence may give us assurance that we are right when we are far from meeting the requirements of God's Word. As servant leaders, and those who are longing for our saviour’s soon coming, its time to keep ourselves and those under or above us in check.

Join us next time for another ray of sunshine from Garden Ministry.

We are into our 20th week since starting Garden Ministry; it is growing with new people asking to subscribe to it each day. If you are gaining spiritual muscle mass, and strength through Garden Ministry, and would like to help some-one else gain Spiritual muscle mass and strength also. Then send Garden Ministry your Testimony at, http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ . Garden Ministry would love to share your Testimony with our faithful viewers and readers. So ask yourselves, which letter or message from Garden Ministry helped you to hold on to your faith, or helped someone else hold on to theirs? Our Prayer for today: Lord, help us to speak of others only as you would do. Remember, you’re the only Jesus some will ever see. If you are blessed by these “uplifting gems”, share them. These letters are written by Elder Kevin Santucci For further information, comment or requests, E-mail Garden Ministry: http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ Garden Ministry would love to thank you today for your prayers and continual faithfulness of sharing these letters with others like your self. Thank you for your insightful comments to Garden Ministry. If you love to leave a comment, go to our website at http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ and then comment, follow the directions and then you will be finished. Truly I am encouraged how little can become much when you place it in the master’s hand. To all our faithful readers on behalf of the Garden Ministry team, we wish you Gods riches Blessings.

"Watching and Praying" Part 1

This is the 82^nd letter:

Text for the day: Mark 13:33

Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

Our Theme for the day: “Watching and Praying”

Our Devotional

Five mouths have gone by since we started Garden Ministry, and one may ask where the time has gone. Today we begin a new series called “Watching and Praying.”

“Take ye heed, watch and pray,” in Mark 13:33 was the words of our Lord and Saviour spoken to His disciples about two thousand years ago. In the setting of this scripture, Jesus was opening the understanding of His disciples to the fall of Jerusalem. He was also unveiling the prophecies of the time of the end, and His second coming to take his faithful children home. In chapters eleven and twelve we see Jesus in conflict with the scribes and Pharisees, and now as if to say to His disciples, take your eyes of those earthly leaders, who do nothing else but talk about those who are working for my kingdom, and serve themselves. Pick up your heads because a better day is coming. In Matthew 24:42 notice how Matthew enforces the word watch in the same setting. “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” The admonitions to “take heed” and to “watch and pray” constitute the theme of Mark 13:33. Firstly, why should you watch?

You are to watch because Satan is working to eclipse the glories of the future world from you, and to attract your whole attention to the things of this life. Secondly you are to watch lest Satan gain access to your mind, and sow bad ideas in your mind and cause you to grow and yield an abundant harvest of unrighteousness. The third reason why we should watch is lest you should speak hastily, fretfully and impatiently. The apostle Paul said that we should shun all fidelity to our fellow man; by doing this we are adorning the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. (Titus 2:10) Little do we realize, but everyone who names the name of Christ is to adorn the doctrine of Christ our Saviour by a well-ordered life and godly conversation, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit. Some may not worry about these blessings, but by possessing these, you will have favor both with God and with men. It is said that, “words spoken hastily wound and bruise souls, and the deepest wound is made upon the soul of the speaker.” (OHC 274)

The gift of the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit to Christ is of greater value then the ornament we pay so much for to wear. To everyone who is a servant leader there will come to your experience today something that will provoke, or stir you to anger, and if you are not under the full control of God, you will be provoked when these things come. But allow the meekness of Christ to calm your ruffled spirit, control your tongue, and bring you back into subjection to God. Learn how to bear with the rudeness of others. You may be misjudged by others, but bear it in Jesus name, and have pity for those who utter hasty, unadvised words. Avoid speaking words which stir up strife, but rather suffer wrong than do wrong. God requires every one of His servant Leaders, as far as is possible, to live peaceably with all men. “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” Romans 12:18

Join us next time for another ray of sunshine from Garden Ministry.

We are into our 20th week since starting Garden Ministry; it is growing with new people asking to subscribe to it each day. If you are gaining spiritual muscle mass, and strength through Garden Ministry, and would like to help some-one else gain Spiritual muscle mass and strength also. Then send Garden Ministry your Testimony at, http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ . Garden Ministry would love to share your Testimony with our faithful viewers and readers. So ask yourselves, which letter or message from Garden Ministry helped you to hold on to your faith, or helped someone else hold on to theirs? Our Prayer for today: Lord, help us use our talent of speech to present Christ as the sin-pardoning Saviour today, instead of pulling one another down. Remember, you’re the only Jesus some will ever see. If you are blessed by these “uplifting gems”, share them. These letters are written by Elder Kevin Santucci For further information, comment or requests, E-mail Garden Ministry: http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ Garden Ministry would love to thank you today for your prayers and continual faithfulness of sharing these letters with others like your self. Thank you for your insightful comments to Garden Ministry. If you love to leave a comment, go to our website at http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ and then comment, follow the directions and then you will be finished. Truly I am encouraged how little can become much when you place it in the master’s hand. To all our faithful readers on behalf of the Garden Ministry team, we wish you Gods riches Blessings.

"Test Day"

 

 

 

This is the 81^st letter: 

Text for the day: 1Corinthians 10:13

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

 

Our Theme for the day: “Test Day”

 

Our Devotional

A group of students where sitting in their class room one morning, when the teacher walked in and said, today is your day, you are going to have a test. Not every one is ready for a test when it is called. Sometimes it can take over a month before most students are ready for a test. In the days of Christ the disciples asked Him would He teach them how to pray. As Christ looked upon them He knew that they needed to also understand there was an enemy also longing to lead them away from truth through temptations. As Jesus outlined for them the seven steps in a child of God’s prayer which is, “1) Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy NAME. 2) Thy KINGDOM come. 3) Thy WILL be done on Earth, as it is in heaven. 4) Give us this day our daily BREAD. 5) And FORGIVE us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. 6) Lead us not into TEMPTATION. 7) But deliver us from EVIL. In the six step Jesus taught his disciples to pray that, “He lead them not into temptation, but deliver them from evil: (Matthew 6:13)

Many have asked their pastors or teachers of the Bible for hundreds of years, does God lead us into temptation? The right answer to this question can be found in an understanding of the word temptation in the days of Jesus. Most of the New Testament was written in Greek. The word peirasmos in Greek means" experiment" and "experience" in English; which has reference to a testing, a trying out, a putting to proof by experiment. The same word is used to the disciples at the tragic moment in Gethsemane when they are asked to remain awake: "Pray that you may not enter into temptation." (Matthew 26:40) That night in Gethsemane was an unexpected test for them. The testing of once faith is precious to our heavenly Father. In persecution and trial, these are some of the greatest experiences one can ever be called upon to bare. James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, writes in the book that bares his name. “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers’ temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” (James 1:1-4)

“James goes on by saying, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. But does God tempt mankind? Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:12-15) There are many things that can hurt a servant leader’s creditability, or their integrity. This leads me to another point, the temptation of the love of money. Not that God doesn’t want his people to be blessed with all the blessings of life, He does. But when it comes to the thing we call money, or the instrument that men has created to differentiate between the rich and poor, or buying and selling, God gives strong council to beware.

“But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.” (1 Timothy 6:9) There is also the temptation of being in power. Not that God is against His children leading out, or governing. He is not against such a calling in life. But what God is against is the misuse, or wrong use of power. The flesh loves power, and Satan knows that, and if he could cause you to abuse your power, or covert those in power, then he can cause you to fall through the blindness of power. Many good man and woman have fallen in this area. My fellow servant leaders, God values you, and sees you not as you are, but what you can become as He allows temptations to come your way. The next time when your faith is tested remember, “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the Day of Judgment to be punished.” (2 Peter 2:9) Finally, the assurance from the Lord to you today is, “since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. (Revelation 3:10 New International Version)

 

Join us next time for another ray of sunshine from Garden Ministry.

We are into our 19th week since starting Garden Ministry; it is growing with new people asking to subscribe to it each day. If you are gaining spiritual muscle mass, and strength through Garden Ministry, and would like to help some-one else gain Spiritual muscle mass and strength also. Then send Garden Ministry your Testimony at, http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ . Garden Ministry would love to share your Testimony with our faithful viewers and readers. So ask yourselves, which letter or message from Garden Ministry helped you to hold on to your faith, or helped someone else hold on to theirs? Look up and push on in the name of Jesus. This week-end let us find someway of which we can unite our communities, and help them find Jesus. Don’t stop preparing yourselves for further service in the Lord. Don’t Give Up. Look Up!    Our Prayer for today: Please join us as we pray for oneness of word and action among believers, that others beholding may say I have seen a Christian.   Remember, you’re the only Jesus some will ever see.   If you are blessed by these “uplifting gems”, share them.   These letters are written by Elder Kevin Santucci   For further information, comment or requests, E-mail Garden Ministry: http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/   Garden Ministry would love to thank you today for your prayers and continual faithfulness of sharing these letters with others like your self. Thank you for your insightful comments to Garden Ministry. If you love to leave a comment, go to our website at http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ and then comment, follow the directions and then you will be finished. Truly I am encouraged how little can become much when you place it in the master’s hand. To all our faithful readers on behalf of the Garden Ministry team, we wish you Gods riches Blessings.