“…it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” ~1 Peter 1:16

What does holy mean? I did some research and found that it is defined as having a moral standard of living, Christ-like in character, separate, pure, set apart. It was defined in spiritual terms, as a spiritual position or state of being. And while I agree with those definitions, I think too often we think that holiness is merely a spiritual thing. Meaning, if we attend church, read our bibles, serve in ministry, don’t cuss or drink, or commit other sins (that we’re aware of), we believe we have achieved holiness. Today I’d like to discuss another side to holy living; the reality that to be like Christ, we have to attend to not just the spiritual, but the physical.

The word says in 1 Corinthians 6:19 “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.” It goes on to tell us in the 20^th verse of the same chapter that we were bought with a price; to honor God with our bodies. If we are going to be Christ-like we must honor him not just with our spirits, but with our physical temples as well.

Many of us, try as we like, are only half-holy. We know the word. We haven’t skipped over this scripture in the bible, so what keeps us from taking care of the Lord’s temple? What is really holding us back from the place of complete holiness to God? I think it’s our hungry hearts and our aching spirits.

Despite the billions spent on diet and health products, Americans are more overweight than ever. The problem of obesity is epidemic. The solutions of diet and exercise are not the singular remedy. The root cause has to be addressed to really get a handle on the problem. It’s not just a love of food, or a lack of discipline. We like to blame it on those things because we often don’t like to talk about the real reasons we overeat. Usually they’re intensely personal. Here are a few:

• We need comfort when we’re stressed, tired or overworked. We know this, because we call the foods we reach for comfort foods.
• We are depressed or anxious.
• We need to anesthetize pain from abuse: current or past. Self-medication.
• Boredom. Our lives are unfulfilled.

We have to break these cycles of destructive behavior or they will destroy us. Obesity, irregular insulin levels, fatty levels in the blood all beat the temple God has given us down to a battered pulp. Then what do we do with our battered bodies? The battered body is sluggish and tired. It doesn’t want to go to mid week services, or even interact with its children. The battered body doesn’t want to make love to its spouse. It’s too beat up to enjoy life fully. Additionally there are obesity related diseases like diabetes, heart diseases, certain cancers, joint deterioration and more aliments that tear at the temple and keep us from being whole in our physical person.

In my novel, Secrets and Lies, the character Jonah Morgan is not overeating, but he is using another unhealthy coping mechanism: alcohol, and lots of it. Jonah’s heart is hungry for a relationship with Christ; his spirit is aching from the burden of un-forgiveness. His childhood pain is tearing him apart, so much so that he has completely checked out emotionally and physically on his family. He can’t sleep at night. He’s tired. His hungry heart and aching spirit have created a battered body.

Jonah’s alcoholism is an unhealthy, addictive behavior. So is overeating. Anything we do in excess is gluttony. Gluttony is the sin that keeps us from achieving true holiness. If you’re overweight or you engage in some other activity that negatively affects you physically, get at the root cause of your problem. Find out what’s eating you before it literary gobbles you up.

Let’s discuss this. Have you ever compared substance abuse to overeating? Do you think this comparison is accurate? Can a person’s heart be completely surrendered to God if they have an eating problem? Share why you agree or disagree. Feel free to share your testimony in this area or a plan for change.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rhonda McKnight is the owner of Legacy Editing, a free-lance editing service for fiction writers and Urban Christian Fiction Today, a popular Internet site that highlights African-American Christian fiction. She’s the vice-president of Faith Based Fiction Writers of Atlanta. When she’s not editing projects, teaching workshops about writing or penning her next novel, she spends time with her family. Originally from a small, coastal town in New Jersey, she’s called Atlanta, Georgia home for twelve years. For more information, visit http://www.RhondaMcKnight.net.

We have known for years that numbers are special to God. They are all through his divine plan for this world and the New Jerusalem to come. Some of the numbers that we can identify within the Bible are 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 24 and 50 to list a few. We walk in the blessing of God based partly through numbers.

The number 10 represents the perfection of divine order. When we look at the year 2010, we need to understand its significance and what it means to us. Every year, every decade, and every century marks something significant to God. Numerically 0-10 represents every numeric value in the English number system. So then when we get to 10 we have covered all the numeric symbols that would be used. It is important that the people of God take this year seriously and walk in the blessings of God with great expectations.

We can literally go through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation and find God using the number 10 as a variable in his blessing formulas. Let’s take a few minutes and go through the Bible.

Genesis 5:14
And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years: and he died.

Genesis 8:5
And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen.

Genesis 50:26
So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

Exodus 26:1
Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them.

Exodus 34:28
And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.

Joshua 24:29
And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old.

1 Samuel 21:11
And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

2 Kings 20:10
And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees.

Psalm 90:10
The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

The above are just a few scriptural references for the record. As you can see, the number 10 plays an important role in biblical history.

Cain, Joseph and Joshua received their years of living plus ten. It was the tenth month that water finally receded enough for land to appear again after the flood in Noah’s time. God gave Ten Commandments to Moses that we still honor today. The tabernacle of God was surrounded by ten curtains. The Holy Ghost fell upon those in the upper room ten days after Jesus ascended back to glory. In Malachi chapter 3 we find that if we follow the principle of tithing God will opens windows of blessing for us. What is tithing a tenth of what we earn.

This is the year for divine perfection in your ministry, finances and life in general. Just like the receding of the waters believe God for the pulling down of strongholds, debt payoffs and cancellations so that you can tread above waters again. God wants to make a profound statement through you and in you that will be everlasting from generation to generations. God caused fire to fall down from heaven ten times. (Gen19:24, Lev 9:24, Lev 10:2, Num 11:1, Num 16:35, 1Kings 18:38, 2 Kings 1:10, 2 Kings 1:12, 1 Chron 21:26, 2 Chron 7:1) each time was a statement to prove to the opposition that he is God alone. God wants to burn some things off of you and from around you that your adversaries will know once and for all that you serve a true and living God.

Beloved this tenth year in 2000 is the completion and promotion for all of the saints who have been going through hell. Lift up your heads oh ye gates and the king of Glory shall come in! This is your year to be blessed tremendously above all that you can ask or think!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Pastor Sam Livingston is a seasoned pastor, lecturer, teacher and Author of “The Essentials of Fellowship”. He is married to Meraldine Hicks Livingston and blessed to have two children, Sammy K Livingston Jr. and Candace I Livingston. Pastor Livingston is a graduate of NC A&T State University; B.S., Webster University; Business Administration, MA and he is a student at Luther Rice Seminary’s Master of Divinity program. Total Package Ministry airs via television bi-weekly throughout Coastal South Carolina. He thanks God for the opportunity to carry the healing ministry to a hurting nation.

Ever wondered where your faith would measure on a faith scale? No seriously what would it measure on a God faith scale? Most of us would probably rate ourselves much higher than the actual reading. The truth of the matter is that we boast faith but when we are tested we often fail.

One day in a teaching session with his disciples Jesus began talking about forgiving. “Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!” (Lk 17:1). Jesus said that offences will come. I don’t care how isolated we live from society there will always be opportunity to sin because people and the adversary will put stumbling blocks before you. Somebody is going to offend you, somebody is going to cross your path plus the will to sin is always present. This is why we must terminate the old sin nature daily.

In the next four verses Jesus continued talking about what happens to the one who orchestrated the offense. Her said “It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.” (Lk 17:2). Often times we overlook the person causing one to sin but Jesus made it clear what happens to the offender. But wait a minute; He said that we are to forgive them if they repent. Can we really forgive them or is the forgiveness momentary?

Verse three however said to “…If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him…” The kind of rebuking that Jesus had in mind is surely not what runs through our mind when we get angry. This is not the time to give them a piece of your mind or to sneak in what you really want to say to him or her. The correct way to rebuke a brother can be found in Paul’s letter to the Galatians. This is a clean and accurate way to correct a wrong; “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted” (Gal 6:1). The first think that we must possess in trying to help one that has been overtaken in a fault is a sound spiritual mind. Good intensions help but it is not the key here you must be in a Christ frame of mind because the conversation could easily go south otherwise. We should be Godly enough to identify the issue, and rebuke the person in the spirit of meekness considering that it could have easily been us. Jesus said if they repent forgive them.

Forgiveness can be a very difficult thing for so many of us which can lead into so many other things. You are not the only one who has problems with this. In Luke 17:4-5 we find this; "And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith”. This is powerful because here we have the apostles who had spent all of their time with Jesus. They gave up their occupations to follow him but this teaching stomped them on forgiveness because they said “Lord increase our faith”. In plain and simple terms they were saying we have a problem with this because there are still some folks that we don’t know how to forgive or else they just did not want to forgive.

Where do you stand today are there some folks that you need to forgive so that you can move on with you spiritual growth? We cannot be promoted to the next spiritual grade if we are still flunking Forgiveness 101! The apostles were flunking and they were walking with him in the flesh. Confront your offender forgive them and move on.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Pastor Sam Livingston is a seasoned pastor, lecturer, teacher and Author of “The Essentials of Fellowship”. He is married to Meraldine Hicks Livingston and blessed to have two children, Sammy K Livingston Jr. and Candace I Livingston. Pastor Livingston is a graduate of NC A&T State University; B.S., Webster University; Business Administration, MA and he is a student at Luther Rice Seminary’s Master of Divinity program. Total Package Ministry airs via television bi-weekly throughout Coastal South Carolina. He thanks God for the opportunity to carry the healing ministry to a hurting nation.

Satan wants you to doubt God. If the devil is successful in getting you to think contrary to what the scriptures say about you, then the battle is already half won. No one can convince you that you are what they say you are. You must first believe that you are what they say before they say it to you. You have already engaged in a battle with the words that they bring to you in your mind. If you believe the lie that is hatched in your mind, then you will believe the lie the person speaks to you.

For example, when Goliath confronted the children of Israel they hid in the trenches. He said to the children of Israel, “Send me out someone that may fight against me. If your champion defeats me, then we Philistines will serve you, but if I defeat your champion, then you will serve us. Send me out a man.” The Bible says they were all afraid because of his appearance. No one had tested him in battle, nor did they know the capabilities of this giant. There was no one around that said I saw him win every battle he ever fought or for that matter, any battle he ever fought. Goliath may have simply frightened all of his enemies by his appearance without ever being tested. That’s why the Bible tells us not to believe every spirit.

Just because the devil comes against you doesn’t mean he’s going to beat you. You are listening to the ravings of a lunatic rather than standing on the promises of God. Goliath said, “I will defeat your champion” and everyone just said, “Well, I guess we are going to lose if we try to fight him.” I wish the children of God had Caleb with them. Caleb had no fear for his enemies. In fact, at eighty years of age, Caleb told Joshua that he wanted his land now and that he was well able to fight for it.

When the enemy comes against you, he doesn’t remind you that Jesus beat him on the cross; that with his stripes, you are healed; that by his blood, you are washed; that with his resurrection, you are justified; that with his ascension, you are glorified.

And having spoiled principalities and powers, he (Jesus) made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it (Colossians 2:15).

Satan comes at you and tells you that you can’t win in the situation that you are facing. He tells you that you are always going to be poor; you’re always going to be sick because it was in your family. He doesn’t tell you that you’re in a new family. He doesn’t tell you that you’ve been adopted. He doesn’t tell you that you have a new bloodline. You believe his lies because they come at you where you live. When the enemy hits you where you live, move to a higher place. And if he hits you on the next level, move to another level. Eventually, you will be seated in heavenly places; a place where he can’t reach you anymore.

As Christians, we must learn how to move in the spiritual. Without this knowledge, we will forever be at the mercy of Satan. He is a lying, scheming, deceiving, egotistical enemy. Satan cannot tell the truth; he doesn’t want the truth; he does not want you to know the truth at all.

He is angry that he did not have enough sense to keep his position in heaven; he’s angry that you and I have tapped into what he used to have (the anointing). As a result, he consistently tells us that we do not have a right to walk in the newness of life that God has given to us. Satan wants us to worry because worrying hinders faith. He wants us to be sick because sickness destroys God’s temple. He wants us to be defeated because he’s defeated. He wants us to be sad because he’s mad. He wants us to be disgusted because he’s been destroyed. The Word of God is clear when it says, “I [Jesus] am come that you might have life and that you might have it more abundantly.” Jesus did not come to keep you in bondage. He came to give you life. He came to put a spring in your step, joy in your spirit, hope in your heart, and praise in your lips.

As you read these words, purpose in your heart that you will rise above the snares of the devil and walk in the realm of God’s peace.

When the enemy brings negative or bad things against you, walk in the peace of God. When you feel like you can’t make it, walk in God’s peace. Victory begins in the mind!!

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

In his latest book, Ingredients for Prayer: A Practical Approach for Maximizing Your Time with God, Rev. Lambert, details what he believes is the true purpose of prayer in contrast to the ‘give me syndrome’ of prayer that so many with financial woes seem to have. By using “The Lord’s Prayer” as a framework, he examines pieces of this prayer model to show ways to connect with God, like understanding the mind and will of God and becoming dependent upon and receiving the peace of God. Rev. Lambert says having a God-centered and not self-centered focus on prayer helps you to know that “[p]rayer is not about you. It is about the will of the Lord being done through you. To make supplication means that you should bring your request to the Lord; however, you must be sure that your request does not go against the will of the Lord.”

Rev. Eric A. Lambert Jr. responded to God’s call to Jesus Christ in 1971. From that time he was active in Christian ministry, serving in a variety of capacities at Deliverance Evangelistic Church, under the pastorate of the Rev. Dr. Benjamin Smith Sr. In 1987, after God’s leading, Rev. Lambert established Bethel Deliverance International Church in 1987 with seven committed believers, just north of his hometown of Philadelphia. In addition to pastoring, Rev. Lambert is fulfilling his apostolic calling, having planted a number of churches and developed pastoral relationships with both new and seasoned pastors. He remains committed to spreading the love of God to those who do not know Him while stabilizing and fortifying believers. This is evident not only in his church but in the messages of his books.

For more information about Ingredients for Prayer: Maximizing Your Time with God, visit http://ericlambertministries.com.

I feel a burden to share this with you, particularly because we are moving into the day of the supernatural and unfortunately, you and I have not been taught how to negotiate these waters of spiritual reality. Consequently, we vacillate between the land of reality (the spirit) and the land of the visible (the physical). We don’t know how to maintain spiritual stability in the spirit realm. It is from the realm of the spirit that everything originates.

Everything that occurs happens in the spirit first and then is manifested in the natural or visible realm. In fact Paul says we should not even look at the things that are visible but the things that are not seen (2 Corinthians 4:18). Why? It is the spiritual things which empower what we see.

Have you ever been confronted by an individual who may be challenging, threatening, or fighting you? What is our tendency? It is to fight the person, usually with no affect. The person facing you is not the problem. You are binding the wrong thing. We must realize that a spirit from the spiritual realm that has attached itself to that person. Your enemy is not flesh and blood. The Word of God is clear, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places] (Ephesians 6:12).” The person that’s harassing you is not your enemy. They are simply a tool. You can fight the person all you want but the enemy will just use another tool.

Until you learn how to deal with your enemy, you will always be a person who will never have consistent victory. The severity of the pain the enemy wants to inflict will determine the person he uses. If he wants to hurt you a little then he will use a stranger. If he wants to hurt you a great deal then he will use a friend. If he wants to deeply destroy you then he will use a family member or a husband or a wife. You and I must be mindful of the devils tactics when engaged in warfare. Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices (2 Corinthians 2:11). This battle will go on and on until we are safely in heaven, yet we are admonished by the Apostle Paul that we should stand and resist the enemy. Now we must examine just how we stand against the enemy.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints (Ephesians 6:13-18);

Now, what did the Apostle tell us to do? Put on the whole armor of God. What does the armor consist of? Truth, salvation, peace, righteousness, faith, the Word of God and prayer. Remember these items must be a part of your daily wardrobe. You must keep yourself clothed with the “whole” armor of God. It is critical that you have on the right clothes if you are to be successful in this battle.

Put on the armor and take off the old man. Who you used to be should have no bearing on your new life in Christ. As you prepare yourself for battle, stay focused on victory and you will be a winner in Christ.

Now, let me hear your war cry!

JESUS!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

In his latest book, Ingredients for Prayer: A Practical Approach for Maximizing Your Time with God, Rev. Lambert, details what he believes is the true purpose of prayer in contrast to the ‘give me syndrome’ of prayer that so many with financial woes seem to have. By using “The Lord’s Prayer” as a framework, he examines pieces of this prayer model to show ways to connect with God, like understanding the mind and will of God and becoming dependent upon and receiving the peace of God. Rev. Lambert says having a God-centered and not self-centered focus on prayer helps you to know that “[p]rayer is not about you. It is about the will of the Lord being done through you. To make supplication means that you should bring your request to the Lord; however, you must be sure that your request does not go against the will of the Lord.”

Rev. Eric A. Lambert Jr. responded to God’s call to Jesus Christ in 1971. From that time he was active in Christian ministry, serving in a variety of capacities at Deliverance Evangelistic Church, under the pastorate of the Rev. Dr. Benjamin Smith Sr. In 1987, after God’s leading, Rev. Lambert established Bethel Deliverance International Church in 1987 with seven committed believers, just north of his hometown of Philadelphia. In addition to pastoring, Rev. Lambert is fulfilling his apostolic calling, having planted a number of churches and developed pastoral relationships with both new and seasoned pastors. He remains committed to spreading the love of God to those who do not know Him while stabilizing and fortifying believers. This is evident not only in his church but in the messages of his books.

For more information about Ingredients for Prayer: Maximizing Your Time with God, visit http://ericlambertministries.com.

Christianity is not a party. Walking with God is a lifestyle. As a result, things may go wrong. We have this belief that because we are born again that we will be free from trouble. The exact opposite is true. We are told in Psalms 34:19, “Many [are] the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” In the time of trouble, what will God do? Hide us. Our heavenly Father does not say that He is going to deliver us out of trouble, but He will hide us in the midst of it.

David said in the Psalms that he was young and is now old and never saw the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread. This does not mean we will not go through; it means God will not forsake us. It does not mean we will not lose something; it means we will not beg bread. It does not mean the enemy will not come against us; it means he will not defeat us. It does not mean we will not fight; it means we have the victory. It does not mean we will not feel like giving up; it means we will do all to stand. In essence, you can be in trouble, but the trouble does not have to be in you. We can have confidence and be at peace during trouble and afflictions, as we remember the promise of Psalms 34:19, “…Lord, delivereth [me] out of [it] all.” It is at this point that we have moved into the spiritual realm.

You will inevitably encounter people who will tell you that you are never to be down. The reality is that at times, as believers, we do not want to be bothered with God. There are times when God calls and we do not want to talk to Him. You may have asked Him to fix a situation that has grown worse, and we pout.

Your response may not have been the same as the response of Job “the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD (Job 1:21).” Instead you pull a Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20:9) and say “I am not going to pray anymore! I am not fasting any more! I am not going to church any more! I am not reading my bible any more!” The next day you come to your senses and say to yourself “What’s wrong in there? Something is wrong. Wake up in there soul! Why so cast down? Hope thou in God.“ You end your pity party and get yourself together. You know in whom you believe and you know that He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all you can ask or think according to the power that works inside of you (Ephesians 3:20).

If we are completely honest then we would admit that even Christians have moments when we doubt our salvation. You say to yourself, “Lord, I can’t be saved with all this stuff happening to me.” Then you look to your right and the drug dealer is prospering; you look to your left and evil people are prospering. Everywhere you look those who are against God are prospering. You ask yourself why you should keep living right before God in light of nothing going right in your life. All of a sudden, you are reminded of where God brought you from. You realize that you cannot turn back. You really have made up your mind to go to the very end. It is in these moments you have to ask God to keep you satisfied. Things may not be perfect in your life but it is better than where you were because God is going through with you.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

In his latest book, Ingredients for Prayer: A Practical Approach for Maximizing Your Time with God, Rev. Lambert, details what he believes is the true purpose of prayer in contrast to the ‘give me syndrome’ of prayer that so many with financial woes seem to have. By using “The Lord’s Prayer” as a framework, he examines pieces of this prayer model to show ways to connect with God, like understanding the mind and will of God and becoming dependent upon and receiving the peace of God. Rev. Lambert says having a God-centered and not self-centered focus on prayer helps you to know that “[p]rayer is not about you. It is about the will of the Lord being done through you. To make supplication means that you should bring your request to the Lord; however, you must be sure that your request does not go against the will of the Lord.”

Rev. Eric A. Lambert Jr. responded to God’s call to Jesus Christ in 1971. From that time he was active in Christian ministry, serving in a variety of capacities at Deliverance Evangelistic Church, under the pastorate of the Rev. Dr. Benjamin Smith Sr. In 1987, after God’s leading, Rev. Lambert established Bethel Deliverance International Church in 1987 with seven committed believers, just north of his hometown of Philadelphia. In addition to pastoring, Rev. Lambert is fulfilling his apostolic calling, having planted a number of churches and developed pastoral relationships with both new and seasoned pastors. He remains committed to spreading the love of God to those who do not know Him while stabilizing and fortifying believers. This is evident not only in his church but in the messages of his books.

For more information about Ingredients for Prayer: Maximizing Your Time with God, visit http://ericlambertministries.com.

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