Your Spiritual Boost for Today by Pastor Sal Garcia

 "Waiting Before God"

Goal for Today: To wait before God in prayer and to learn to silently surrender ourselves to God in prayer.

^{Bible Promises for today:}

I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints. Psalm 52:9

"Truly my soul silently waits for God;From Him comes my salvation. Psalm 62:1

"My soul waits for the Lord More than those who watch for the morning— Yes, more than those who watch for the morning." Psalm 130:6

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength." Isaiah 40:31

"It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23


Thought for the Day: In all of hurrying and business today, let us not forget that in order to give to others we must first receive new grace and virtue from. Just like virtue went out of Our Lord Jesus when the woman with the issue of blood touched the hem of his garment, and Jesus perceived that virtue had gone out of Him, so also a certain amount of God's grace and virtue leaves the believer each day. Therefore, let us spend time "waiting" silently before God, to surrender our life  completely to God in prayer, and also to receive new grace and virtue each day.

Suggested Prayer: "Dear Lord. Help me to begin my day with a good season of prayer. In fact, help me to pray until I can't pray anymore. Then help me to take my Bible and read until I can't read any more. After that, help me to take my hymnbook from the shelf and sin until I can't sing any more. Then, help me to just sit "in silence" before you and let You love me. Amen."

~ by Pastor Sal Garcia

Day 23: The Gospel according to MJ or #23

Day 23: The Gospel according to MJ or #23


"MJ". Number 23. Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player to ever play the game. Kobe Bryant is an incredible athlete, but Jordan is the essence of greatness on the basketball court. "MJ". Those two letters represent the man that spent 8 hours every day perfecting his basketball game during the height of his basketball career. Eight hours every day! Eight hours shooting free throws, jumpshots, layups, dunks, and three-pointers. That's 56 hours a week, 224 a month and 2, 912 hours a year! "MJ!" The greatest player to ever play the game of hoops apparently understood that being the best in your profession, trade, or career demands ultimate dedication, sacrifice, and effort. No one can ever be the best at what they do by simply doing nothing. The dictionary is the only place in the world, where success comes before work. Rest assured, if you want to succeed in life you will have to work hard! Think Big! For today's devotional, let's study the Bible's "MJ", Michael Jesus, and discover how spending one hour a day in prayer and Bible study can put you at the top of your spiritual game.


Michael - Another name for Jesus in the Bible


The Bible's "MJ" is Michael Jesus. You see, Michael is another name for Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Bible. There are five Bible texts that refer to Michael as the archangel, prince, great prince, or one of the chief princes.  Let's read them and study them to discover this Biblical truth.

1. Daniel 10:13
   But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.
   

2. Daniel 10:21
   But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth. (No one upholds me against these, except Michael your prince.
   

3. Daniel 12:1 “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book.
   

4. Jude 1:9
   Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
   

5. Revelation 12:7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought.

 These are the five texts the refer to the archangel or prince Michael in the Bible, but how do we go from Michael as a prince and archangel, to Michael being another name for Jesus?  Let's look at these texts more carefully, but also look at two additional texts.


First, let's look at 1 Thessalonians 4:16.

"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first."

In this text, Paul the apostle under inspiration writes that when Jesus returns the second time and the righteous dead are resurrected, they will be resurrected with the shout of Jesus, and with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. Notice an additional text in John 5:25-28.

"Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation."

This amazing texts reveals that the righteous dead will be resurrected at the voice of Son of God. It is the voice of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who resurrects the righteous dead from their graves. When we put this text with the one in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 which says, "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first," we discover that the archangel (or the chief or head of the angels; the Commander and General of the Angels) is none other that Our Lord Jesus Christ. This title of archangel, does not signify that Jesus is a created being (as angels are). But instead, Jesus is the head or chief of the angels in Heaven. Thus the title, "archangel", meaning first in importance.


As Adventist Christians, we also believe and understand that the Great Controversy which began in Heaven is between Christ and Satan, and that it began in Heaven with a war between Christ and Satan. Revelation 12:7. Thus it makes perfect sense for Michael to fight against the Devil or Satan (the Dragon in Bible prophecy), if Michael is another name for Jesus. Notice it again.

"And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought."

The name "Michael" in Hebrew means, "Who is like God?" either as a question or as a statement. So in other words, the name "Michael" is a question, meaning "Who is like God?" Or it can be a statement, which means "Who is like God!" In the Bible, whenever there is a battle between the Devil and God's people and Michael shows up, Michael always wins! He always wins the battle against the Devil and the Devil's Opposing Powers. I believe Michael is another name for Jesus based on the texts of the Bible, rather than believing the Michael is just another angel in Heaven, like Gabriel. Please study the Bible texts carefully, then ask God to guide you and lead you.


I like the way the It is Written bible study, "Unsealing Daniel's Mysteries",  Lesson 10 - Without a doubt, explains the Bible truth of "MJ" or Michael Jesus. Notice it below.

"There is a great deal of misunderstanding in the Christian world on the identity of Michael. Just who is this Michael? What does His name mean? The name, “Michael,” means, “one who is like God.” Michael is mentioned only five times in the Bible. Besides Daniel 10:13, 21, the other references to Michael are found in:

• Revelation 12:7-9—Michael commands the angels and has the authority to cast Satan out of heaven.
• Jude 9—Michael has the authority to raise Moses from the dead.
• Daniel 12:1, 2—Michael delivers His people in the time of trouble and has the power to resurrect the dead.

These verses clearly reveal that Michael is one of the many names of Jesus. Jesus is the Lamb, the Lion, the Rock of Ages, the Lily of the Valley, the Rose of Sharon, the Door, the Way, the Truth and the Life. When Scripture uses the term, “Michael,” to refer to Jesus, it reveals Christ as the “Mighty Conqueror.” Don’t let the expression, “Michael the Archangel,” (Jude 9) confuse you. The word, “archangel,” means the “commander and chief” or the “head” of the angels. Jesus is not an angel. He is the divine Son of God. He never had a beginning and will never have an ending (Revelation 1:8). He is eternal (John 8:58). He participated with His Father in this world’s creation (John 1:1-3). He existed before the angels and created them (Hebrews 1:3, 4)."

So Michael the archangel in the Bible is another name for Jesus Our Lord and Savior. He is the only one in all of the Bible, "Who is like God!" This makes sense because the Bible teaches that Jesus is "holy, undefiled, separate from sinners" and that "He is the only mediator between God and man." When you see Jesus, you see the "express image" of who God is, because Jesus is God. He is one of the three members of the Godhead. How fitting then, that Michael be another name for Jesus: "Who is like God?"


The Gospel according to MJ or Michael Jesus


Bringing it all together, "what difference does it make if Jesus is Michael or if Michael is someone else?" Well, remember Michael always wins when He shows up to fight the devil and his forces? The good news is that if today you are being harassed or buffeted or beat up by the Devil and his messengers, there is one "who is like God" who can come to your aid and your side and fight and win the battle for you. If Michael is Jesus, why don't you ask the real "MJ" to come to your rescue once again and to win your battle and struggle for you? It is Homosexuality? Lesbianism? Pornography? Lust? Premarital Sex? Liquor? Tobacco? Marijuana? Gossip? Pride? Arrogance? Self-Righteousness? Whatever it is today, Jesus or Michael can win the victory for you. How? Here are two promises of the Bible for you today, a promise you can go to the bank with:

"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" Romans 8:31-32

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" Romans 8:37

The Victory can be yours today because you have Michael, the chief of the angels to be on your side. If you ask Him today, and He will give you the victory. 

Conclusion


Remember the 8 hour Michael Jordan  the Basketball player spent each day working oh his game. Eight hour may seem like a lot of time each day to spend perfecting your relationship with Jesus Christ for eternal life. However, God is not asking you just for eight hours a day. He wants your entire life and your entire heart. He says, 

"My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways."Proverb 23:26

Jesus actually asks us to spend  at least one hour watching (or praying) with Him each day. 

"Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?" Matthew 26:40

That's  just 7 hours a week, 30 hours a month, and 365 hours a year! 365 hours a year, or 9 weeks off from from your  40 hour work week or school week to pray with Jesus! Amazing!


Ellen G. White, the messenger of the Lord, encourages us to do the same each day.

"It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it point by point, and let the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones. As we thus dwell upon His great sacrifice for us, our confidence in Him will be more constant, our love will be quickened, and we shall be more deeply imbued with His spirit. If we would be saved at last, we must learn the lesson of penitence and humiliation at the foot of the cross" Desire of Age, p. 83. 

So, spend an hour, with your Savior and Friend, "MJ", Michael Jesus today, and watch Him win all of your battles for you every day!

~ Pastor Sal Garcia

Day 22: Searching for God

Day 22: Searching for God

Where would you look if you were searching for God today? Would you go to a temple, a church, a synagogue? Would you go to a Christian Science Room, The Church of Scientology, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, The Roman Catholic Church, Kingdom Hall (Jehovah's Witnesses), or The Seventh-day Adventist Church? Where would you begin to look? Would you go seeking in Eastern Religions like Buddhism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Confucism, or others? Would you explore religions like Judaism, Islam, or perhaps resort to Atheism, Hedonism, or Agnosticism? If you had to find God on your own, where would you start? If you had to find God on your own, would you ever find Him? In a culture and society with multiple religions and philosophies, would you find God? I'm not really sure whether we would find Him or we could ever be sure that we had actually found Him. After all, how would we know if the God we discovered and learned about was actually the true God and not some fake or pretender? The Good News is that you don't need to worry about finding God today, since over 2,000 years ago He came to this earth to reveal His love for you and me. There is no need to search for God today or be a spiritual seeker for the unknown God, since God Himself came down to earth in the person of Jesus Christ more than 2,000 years ago and revealed his existence and love for manking. Let's look at the amazing self-revelation of this awesome and loving God.

God's self-revelation


While there are may things in nature and in human relationships that reveal things about God, the greatest revelation of God is the person of Jesus Christ. Notice what these two verses reveal about God.

The heavens declare the glory of God;
   the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalm 19:1


For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." Romans 1:20

 Nature reveals that God exists. In fact, the Bible states that every person knows in their hearts that there is a God. Even atheists, skeptics, and agnostics. All we need to do is open our eyes and behold the evidences all around us. However, that revelation of God is imperfect. We could never arrive at the truth that God is love. 


Only in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ do we discover that God is love. 

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word." Hebrews 1:1-3

Amazing! God chose to come down in the person of Jesus Christ and tell us that He exists and that He loves us so much. So much in fact, that He was willing to die on a cross. On the Cross he was asked, "So how much do you love sinful human beings?" Then Jesus, stretched out his arms wide and said, "I love them this much!" And then He died. 

Conclusion

So how about it? Today you don't to go out and try to find God, since He has already chosen to reveal Himself to us in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the greatest revelation of God. If you want to discover today who God is, then study the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and begin to have a personal relationship with Him today! Then, find a church that believes that teaches what the Bible records that Jesus taught and believed. If you desire to find God today, follow Jesus Christ and His Word! 

Day 21: The Most Important Truth in the World

Day 21: The Most Important Truth in the World

What’s the most important truth in the world that can revolutionize your life today? Winning the Lottery? No, since many lottery winners end up losing their millions in a couple of years, broke, and worse off than they were before. Discovering that the girl or guy you drool over each day also likes you and wants to get to know you? Well, it all depends, since he or she can break your heart and leave you crying and sobbing on your pillow in just a couple of dates. Turning 18 and becoming a legal adult? Ok, you can do everything your tempted to do by the Devil and peer pressure, but being an adult carries with it increased responsibilities (have you heard of getting a job and going to college) and now crimes carry a severe punishment (no more juvenile hall or detention centers; you are going straight to jail as an adult!). So, neither sex, money, nor power is the most important truth in the world. Instead, the most important truth in the world has to do with what God did for you in the past, what he wants to do for you today, and what he promises to do for you in the future. Are you ready to discover that truth? Read on!

The Most Important Person in History

Who is the most important person that has ever lived? How does one go about deciding who has lived the most important life in the history of the world? Well, billions of people have lived throughout the over 6,000 – 10,000 plus years of human existence on earth that the Bible and Ellen G. White suggest. Darwinian evolution on the other hand suggests that the Early Hominids lives around 6 to 8 billion years ago. Remember “Lucy” in Biology class? (http://www.biology-online.org/10/14_early_hominids.htm). However as Creationists and Bible believers, we are choosing to believe what the Bible tells us and not what Charles Darwin proposed. Let’s think about some of the most important people that have ever lived on earth.

We could start off with Political leaders like Stalin, Hitler, or Pacifist Leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr., or Mahatma Gandhi. We could also think of religious leader like Pope John Paul II, Mohammed, Siddhartha Buddha, Confucius, Abraham, Moses, Jacob, or the Apostle Paul. When we think about whom the most important persons to ever live were, the one factor that is important is “influence” and impact. Who has been the most influential person to ever live? If we decide just based on influence and having the greatest impact on mankind, then it would have to be Jesus Christ. No one else even comes close to the impact that He has had on the history of mankind. His influence has been felt in politics, governments, nations, people, and persons. Almost every sector of our lives has been impacted by the life of that one solitary individual: Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Go outside and see how many Christian churches you find just in your neighborhood. Probably many! His influence continues even today more than 2,016 years after his birth (in 5 B.C.), and 1980 years since his death (in 31 A.D.). His life and teachings continue to shape the lives of people in the Western World, the Christian Church, and Political and Religious Leaders. He is by far the single most important person to have ever lived on planet earth. If you are ready to accept that truth, then let’s move on the most important event in the history of the world. If not, then take some time to think about the influence of Jesus Christ today in our world, and even in your life and family. When you are ready, then move on to the next section.

Facts about Jesus Christ

1. He was born in Bethlehem, Ephratah in small city in the country of Israel.
2. He never attended college or a university.
3. He never wrote a book.
4. He never taught a college class or university lecture.
5. He never traveled more than 200 miles from his place of birth.
6. He was never married.
7. He never used the Internet, a cell phone, or satellite television.
8. He was never on the Local news channel.
9. He only lived for 33 years.
10. He was a Jewish Carpenter.
11. He spent 3 and ½ years doing Christian Ministry (Healing, Teaching, and Preaching).
12. He spent most of his 3 and ½ year ministry teaching and training 12 hardheaded men (most fisherman, tax collectors, one a zealot, the other a treasurer and business minded man).
13. His life, teachings, and ministry have revolutionized our world and had the greatest impact on our world than anyone else who has ever lived before.

Here is an amazing poem on the impact of the life of Jesus Christ to meditate on this day! 

One Solitary Life

Nearly two thousand years ago in an obscure village, a child was born of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village where He worked as a carpenter until He was thirty. Then for three years He became an itinerant preacher.

This man never went to college or seminary. He never wrote a book. He never held a public office. He never had a family nor owned a home. He never put His foot inside a big city nor traveled even 200 miles from His birthplace. And though He never did any of the things that usually accompany greatness, throngs of people followed Him. He had no credentials but Himself.

While He was still young, the tide of public opinion turned against Him. His followers ran away. He was turned over to His enemies and sentenced to death on a cross between two thieves. While He was dying, His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth – the simple coat He had worn. His body was laid in a borrowed grave provided by a compassionate friend.

But three days later this Man arose from the dead – living proof that He was, as He had claimed, the Savior whom God had sent, the Incarnate Son of God.

Nineteen centuries have come and gone and today the risen Lord Jesus Christ is the central figure of the human race. On our calendars His birth divides history into two eras. One day of every week is set-aside in remembrance of Him. And our two most important holidays celebrate His birth and resurrection. On church steeples around the world, His cross has become the symbol of victory over sin and death.

This one Man’s life has furnished the theme for more songs, books, poems and paintings than any other person or event in history. Thousands of colleges, hospitals, orphanages and other institutions have been founded in honor of this One who gave His life for us.

All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the governments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned have not changed the course of history as much as this One Solitary Life.

Borrowed with permission from http://www.why-jesus.com/history.htm.

The Most Important Event in History

I hope that by now you have come to believe and accept that Jesus Christ has had the greatest impact on the greatest number of people in the history of our world. I also hope that you have been growing in your faith and in your relationship with God during these past 21 days of this 30-day spiritual journey. I hope that by now, you have discovered that God is unconventional and is interested in saving you for eternity! The ball is in your court and in your hands. It's your move!

Have you ever thought about what is the most important event in the history of mankind? For some, it’s the invention of the computer, for others smart phones, and for others Facebook. For adults, it might be the invention of the television, radio, the airplane, the car, or diapers!

However, when we stop and think about the events that have occurred in history from God’s point of view, the most important event to ever have occurred is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ Our Lord and Savior! Hands down, that is the most important event in the history of the world, and the most important event from God’s perspective. Check out the following Bible texts that describe the importance of this event.

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

“Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” 1 Corinthians 1:20-25

Evidently, the most important event in world history is the death of a man who was a Jew, who God chose to be the Savior of the world. This event is greater than anything else in the world. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ have influenced millions of people to give their lives for worthy causes, and to die for their faith in Jesus Christ as the Messiah and Savior of the world. His death is a fact of history. NO one denies that He died at the hands of the Romans, accused by the Jewish leader of His day. His life and death are facts of history. However, His resurrection is a matter of faith. While there is great and ample evidence that Jesus Christ resurrected from the grave, His resurrection is a personal matter of faith. No one can convince you to believe that Jesus resurrected from the grave and is alive today, unless you believe that God exists and that miracles can happen. Only you can allow the Holy Spirit to impress your heart with the truths about the resurrection contained in the Holy Bible. If truth were told, there is an empty tomb in Jerusalem, with a sign posted, “He is not here. He has risen!” Throughout history, people who have come to believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ have been willing to die for their faith and relationship with Jesus Christ. They have come to experience the power and personal presence of the living Christ in their lives and in their hearts. “He is not here. He has risen!”

For more evidence on the resurrection of Jesus, see Josh McDowell’s web page:

(http://www.josh.org/site/c.ddKDIMNtEqG/b.4172665/k.4AD0/Evidence_for_the_Resurrection.htm)

The Most Important Truth in the World

Ok. So Jesus is the most important person to have ever lived. His life and teaching have impacted the greatest number of people on earth. His death and resurrection are the greatest even in the history of mankind. So what? What difference can that make in my life today? I need something today that can impact my life and help me to survive in this rat race that we live in. Daily, we are bombarded with ads, commercials, and TV shows that tell us that we can’t be happy unless we buy the next new computer, smart phone, car, or look like “Kim Kardashian”, “Snooky”, Justin Beiber, or 50 Cent. I hear you saying, "I need to know what is truth. I want something that is true and that can help me to live my life as a high school or college student, undergoing peer pressure, the temptation to work on Sabbath, dealing with thoughts of depression, suicide, guilt, etc. Therefore, what is the most important truth in the world?" Take a wild guess.

If Jesus is the most important person to have ever lived, and if his death and resurrection is the most important event to have ever taken place, what could be the most important truth in history of the world and for your life and mine? Here it is, never forget it!

“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.” 1 Timothy 1:15

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

“In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:9-10

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

Here is the most important truth that  in the world that can revolutionizes your life today! Jesus Christ, the greatest person to ever live also died for you so that you can enjoy eternal life with God throughout all eternity! His death on the Cross of Calvary in your place is the most important truth in the world. He loves you so much, he not only came to impact the history of the world, the events in the history of our world, but he came to die in your place and for your sins so that you can be in Heaven with Him one day soon. What great love God has for you! What an amazing truth that can help you in your life today! If God loves you and has a place for you in Heaven, what can keep you from accepting and living like a Heaven bound Christian today?

Conclusion

This truth can make a great difference in your life today. If you feel unloved, it reminds you that God loves you no matter what. If you feel guilty because of sin, it reminds you that God is in the business of forgiving and saving sinners. If you feel lost in the world of fashions, ideas, and popularity contests, remember that God has your picture in His wallet. You are special to him, and because this truth is real, it can help you to live your life in a richer and more meaningful way. Make no mistake about it. Jesus is real. Heaven is real. Forgiveness is real. Eternal life is real. Why don’t you make it real in your life and heart today?

Practical steps 

 1. Focus each day to live and learn something about Jesus Christ, the greatest person to ever live. Read something about his life and teachings in the Bible every day.

2. Study the events connected with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They are able to change your outlook in life. Remember. Jesus’ followers and friends can never die (John 11:37), but instead they can only sleep. And sleeping isn’t always that bad, for there is a waking up time. Jesus will come again one day soon to awaken them out of  their temporary sleep!

3. Study the books of Romans and Galatians to learn about what is means to be “justified by faith.” It is an amazing truth of the Bible to know that God not only forgives  our sins, but  he acquits us also. It's  as if we never did  it to begin with. The truth of justification by faith will change you, and help you to be a more loving, caring, and a nicer person. God’s love in you will overflow into the lives of others.

4. Purpose to live like Jesus Christ each day. Follow His teachings and example. You can be a Christ-ian because you talk and live the truths of Jesus each day of you life.

5. Meditate on Jesus' sacrifice for you on the Cross. When you feel lonely or unworthy or sad, His death on the Cross will remind you that He cares and loves you every moment of each day!

~ Pastor Sal Garcia

Day 20: God's Direct Number

Day 20: Dialing God's Direct Number 

Goal: To dial God's Direct number every day.

Thought for the Day: As believers in the Gospel, we have direct access to God through prayer at every moment of the day. Therefore, pray, and “call on Jesus” at all times. 

Text: Jeremiah 33:3

God’s Direct Line

Wouldn’t it be great to have God’s direct cell phone number today? You could drop him a message or send him a text message at any time of the day, knowing that He is always available twenty-four hours a day. You would feel comfortable and safe, knowing that “He is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” You would feel at home knowing God wouldn’t gossip or share the secrets and struggles in your life. God’s direct phone number … who wouldn’t want to have it? It would be sort of like having a “Life Line” on the hit show, “Who wants to be a Millionaire?” A life line … Do we really need one today? What difference would it make in your life if you had one? Would you resort to God’s direct number more often if you had actually had it?

Jeremiah 33:3 is God’s direct phone number, and it is easy to remember. Jeremiah 33:3. Three three three. Here’s what it says:

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”

Here is God’s direct line. It is an open invitation to come boldly and daily to the Great Giver of Gifts and the Healer of broken hearts and spirits. It is an invitation to enter into an ongoing conversation with God. God wants to hear from us. He wants to hear our victories, struggles, joys, triumphs, and sorrows. The great news is that God is always available to us through prayer. When we feel discouraged, God encourages us through prayer. When we feel sad, God gives us joy through prayer. When we have grown pessimistic because of circumstances, God changes our outlook and makes us optimistic through prayer. Prayer changes things. Prayer changes people. Prayer changes the world. It’s a wonder we don’t pray more.

So there you have it? God’s direct cell phone number is now in your hands. When you call, he will answer you. He will not have his secretary or an angel answer on His behalf. No, no, no. Your prayer is so important that God Himself wants to hear it for Himself and answer you personally. His line is open twenty-four hours.

Dial those Digits

How do we get started? What are the ABC’s of prayer? Here is a short summary of biblical principles for prayer, God’s direct line:

1. Pray to God the Father. In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus taught us to pray to God the Father. His example is our model for talking to God every day in prayer. Matthew 6:9; John 14:13-14

2. Pray in the name of Jesus’. Jesus encouraged us to ask in His name. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are a family. When you pray in Jesus’ name, it’s like calling your best friend’s father and asking him to do something for you because you know his very own son. Praying in the name of Jesus is the signature that Jesus asks us to sign each prayer with. It means believing, accepting, and experiencing Jesus as the Messiah, Christ, and Savior of the world. John 14:13-14

3. Pray to God yourself. Since there is no longer earthly mediators between God and man, pray to God yourself. You don’t need to go through a pastor, priest, or bishop. You pray, and watch the difference it makes in your life each day. 1 Timothy 2:5

4. Pray every day. Make communication with God a daily joy, not a task. If you had the phone direct phone number of the Commander and Chief of the United States of America, the U.S. President, don’t you think you would call him every day, especially if he is your very best friend? 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Luke 18:1

5. When you pray, tell God what is on your heart and mind at that very moment. Peter prayed, “Lord, Save me!” When he was drowning. Jesus prayed that the cupnof suffering might pass from Him, when he was in Gethsemane approaching the crucifixtion. When you pray, don’t tell God what you think He wants to hear, tell God what is really going on in your life. Tell Him your fears, worries, triumphs, joys, sorrows, and ask Him to give the assurance of His eternal Presence. Jeremiah 33:3

6. Believe that prayer works! “Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be opened to you.” These are the words of Jesus. Prayer works not because of magical words or how worthy you may feel. Instead, prayer works because God, the Creator and Only Circumstance changer in the universe, is the recipient of every prayer uttered in faith, trust, and simplicity. So pray, and see miracles happen in your life! The greatest miracle may be God’s grace, faith, and love in your heart today! Matthew 7:7-11.

God’s Desideratum

God’s greatest desire, His Desideratum (Latin for greatest desire), is to dwell and live among his people. In today’s terms, we could say “God’s greatest desire is to hear from you each day in prayer.” Dial his direct line, and speak to him in prayer. Every day, receive his text messages delivered directly to you in the Bible. So are you ready? We have talked a bit about God’s Direct Line. How about trying it for yourself? The secret of prayer is in doing it, not is learning or hearing about how it works. May you be blessed today as you dial God’s direct number in prayer and tell God what is in your heart and on your mind.

Conclusion

God’s number. It sounds to easy. You can just dial those numbers and God will answer on the other line. Scared? You don’t have to be. God, the one who loves, is waiting to hear from you today. In fact, your phone call in prayer will bring joy to God’s heart.  “He rejoices over you with singing!” Zephaniah 4. So go ahead, dial God’s number and talk to the Most Powerful and the Most Loving person in the world today: G-O-D .

Practical Steps

1. Pray in the morning when you arise.

2. Pray in the evening when you prepare to end your day.

3. Pray in between at every moment and in every place possible.

4. Pray for your family and friends.

5. Pray for strangers and your enemies.

6. Pray for yourself.

7. Pray the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6)

8. Pray the Great Prayers in the Bible: John 17, Daniel  9, Nehemiah 9.

~ Pastor Sal Garcia

Day 19: The Deep things of God

Day 19: The Deep things of God

Ok. So you have been a Christian for some time, or are thinking about becoming one. Remember, that a Christian is one who knows, loves, and follows Jesus Christ. Some people think a Christian is someone who reads the Bible, goes to church, doesn’t steal, lie, commit adultery, or one who does good moral deeds. However, doing good moral deeds doesn’t make you a Christian. It only makes you moral. Today there are a lot of good moral atheists who do good deeds but do not have faith in Jesus Christ. Who is a Christian then? A Christian is someone who knows, loves, and follows Jesus Christ. You may have grown up in the church and a Christian home and consider yourself to be Christian, but the real question is “are you A CHRISTIAN?” Have you made the decision for yourself, or have you been following or believing in Jesus because your parents do? Today is a great day to choose to follow Jesus because you want to and because you have decided to.

The ABC's of the Christian Faith

Obedience is the sign of spiritual maturity. While some people think that knowledge or understanding Bible prophecy is the sign of spiritual maturity, the Bible tells us that in the spiritual realm “the opposite of ignorance is not knowledge buy obedience.” It’s not how much you know, but how much you use. Are you growing as a new believer or as a Christian every day of your life? As a leader, are you growing every day of your life and ministry, or are you just repeating your first year of leadership over and over again for 5, 10, 15, or 20 years? Think about it?

Our Bible passage today is based on Hebrews 5:11-13.

“We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.”

The writer of book of Hebrews, which many believe to be the apostle Paul, tells his readers that though they ought to be growing spiritually and becoming spiritually mature by eating a spiritual diet that consists of solid food, they still need to go back and drink milk as new babes in Christ because they have failed to grow spiritually. What are those elementary truths that Paul is referring to? We find the answer in Hebrews 6:1.

“Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God.”

According to Paul, the elementary teachings about Christ are repentance and faith in God. Repentance, we know to be a gift from God, and faith is likewise a gift. New believers should study and learn about how to experience repentance from sin and how to grow in their faith in God. However, Paul is upset with readers because they are no longer new babes in Christ. Instead they have been in the faith for some time now and it is apparent that they are not growing spiritually which leads them to a life of obedience. They need someone to teach them the ABC's again and to give them spiritual milk instead of solid food. Just like it’s ok for a baby to drink milk, a new believer needs to drink in the ABC's and elementary teachings of God’s Word. However, once the new believer becomes mature in Christ, he or she needs to move on to solid food, i.e., the deep things of God.

The Deep things of God

I like what Howard Hendricks says in his book, “Living by the Book.”

“The Bible was written not to satisfy your curiosity but to help you conform to Christ’s image. Not to make you a smarter sinner but to make you like the Savior. Not to fill your head with a collection of biblical facts but to transform your life.” (p. 19)

Life transformation is what God is after. Like a loving father and parent, God first gives us spiritual food that is easy to eat, and then after we have grown by practicing obedience to His Word, He gives us something heavier. However, the goal and object of Bible study is always the same: To make us more like the Loving Savior! So how about it? Are you ready today for the Deep things of God?

1 Corinthian 2:9-11 speak about the deep things of God and how we can discover them.

“However, as it is written:
   “No eye has seen,
   no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
   what God has prepared for those who love him”^]—
 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.
   The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.”

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived the things that God has prepared for those who love him. However, as a follower of Jesus Christ, God reveals them to you by the person of the Holy Spirit. As your teacher and guide, the Holy Spirit leads you to discover and understand the “Deep things of God.” What are the deep things of God? I think we can start by defining what are not the deep things of God. The deep things of God are not mysterious things that only a select group of people can understand. In the first century, the Gnostics believed that there was a special hidden wisdom that only a few received. God’s deep things are not like that. They are available for all to receive, experience, and live. The deep things of God are not necessarily difficult to understand, but may take study, work, and prayer to understand more clearly. 

Perhaps Peter wrote about Paul’s writings this way, referring to them as “hard to understand.”

 “Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. “ (2 Peter 315-16)

With the aid of the Holy Spirit, we can understand the deep things of God more clearly. He teaches us and guides us into understanding God’s truth more fully, including the deep things of God.

^"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." John 14:26

"But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come." John 16:13

So what are the deep things of God? It all depends. While for some they are Bible prophecy, with dates, and doctrines, for others the deep things of God are the incarnation of Jesus Christ, the Holy Trinity or Godhead, the nature of Jesus Christ, and the plan of salvation. Karl Barth, the imminent theologian of the 20^th century was once asked what was the greatest discovery he had made about God and the Bible in his many years of studying, teaching, and writing about theology and God. The old professor said, “Jesus Loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.” Wow! These are the words of a children’s Bible song coming from the mouth of the greatest theologian of the 20^th century! Amazing!

The deep things of God lead you to want to follow Jesus more closely in your life. I would suggest to you that some of the deep things of God that He has chosen to reveal to us are:

1)     The Plan of Salvation

2)    The Nature of the Godhead (Trinity)

3)     The nature of Jesus Christ

4)    The Incarnation of Jesus Christ

5)      Others

Becoming a Deep person of Faith

Deep things require deep minds and deep persons of faith. You can become one today. Remember that a person of spiritual maturity is not someone who knows a lot, but someone who lives what they believe. A deep person is someone who has a longing and thirst for God, and is not satisfied with the superficial. Someone who is “deep” is not satisfied with reading a Bible commentary or hearing a sermon. A person that is a deep thinker wants to study the Bible for themselves, and wants to have God teach them personally one on one. For that reason we need pastors, teachers, and evangelists to help teach God’s people “How to study the Bible” for themselves. Today God is looking for deep Christians to reveal to them the deep things “of God.” 

Richard foster writes in his book, The Celebration of discipline:

“Superficiality is the curse of our age. The doctrine of instant satisfaction is a primary spiritual problem. The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people.” (p.1)

Are you among those deep people? The good news is you can be. Some people think that topics like “the love of God”, the Incarnation, faith, etc. are the ABC subjects for only new believers. They believe that the spiritually mature are those who study and understand Bible prophecy and difficult subjects like the Heavenly Sanctuary, the 2,300 days, etc. However, I have discovered that a deep person in spiritual matters has to do more with their passion and pursuit of God than with their knowledge of the Bible. 

In Psalm 42:1-2, David gives us an insight into what being a deep person in spiritual matters is all about.

“As the deer pants for streams of water,
   so my soul pants for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
   When can I go and meet with God?”

If your hunger and thirst for God are greater even than food or earthly gains, then you are becoming a deep person. You’re not satisfied with the superficial, but you long for a constant friendship and communion with God. You want to spend time with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in intimate communion. Nothing can separate you from God or His love.

Conclusion

Do you want to become a deep person? Not a person that knows all of the names of the judges or contestants on American Idol, or all of the new movies or video games that have come out this month. Instead, you want to be a deep person who longs and thirsts to be satisfied only with the presence of God in your life. You can, if you will come to Christ today just as you are, and drink of the water that He wants to offer you. 

“Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.” Revelation 22:17

Practical Steps

1. By God’s Grace, decide to be a deep person. Psalm 42:1-2. Don’t be satisfied with a superficial understanding or knowledge. Always take things to their logical conclusion. Don’t accept something just because your favorite Bible teacher tells you its true. Check it out for yourself. Deep people are not easily deceived. Superficial people are easily deceived. 

2. Deep people stay humble before God and others. Be humble, not proud. If God has blessed you with becoming a deep person, don’t let others know. Keep it to yourself, but when you are given the opportunity to speak or share with others, speak and share humbly in the name of Jesus’. Bless others with the things God has given you.

3. Don’t be so heavenly minded that you are of no earthy good. In other words, be the salt of the earth and light of the world. Go into your community and help someone in need. Don’t just study the Bible and wish you were already in Heaven. Many people all around you are going to hell. Do something about it! Let your theology and practice become one ministry. 

4. Read, read, and read. And turn your television and internet off. Don’t waste you time on things that will not make you a deep person. Read widely, and in many subjects and areas. God will use those things when you have stored them in your heart and mind. Think Big!

~ Pastor Sal Garcia

Your Daily Vitamin Boost by Pastor Sal Garcia, Non-ThD

Good Morning! Here is your WORD for today: JOB 19:25-27

"For I know that my Redeemer lives,
      And He shall stand at last on the earth;

  And after my skin is destroyed, this I know,
      That in my flesh I shall see God,

 Whom I shall see for myself,
      And my eyes shall behold, and not another.
      How my heart yearns within me!"

Thought for the day:

God, your Creator, is also your Redeemer. You belong to God twice since He created you and redeemed you by dying for you on the Cross. You were redeemed (bought back) not with corruptible things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ. By accepting God's gift of eternal life and walking in discipleship and fellowship with God, one day in the not too distant future, your will see God face to face. You yourself will behold him and not another. Jesus will no longer be our mediator, but instead our King and Lord only.

Suggested Prayer:

"Dear Lord,

Today I realize that I belong to you twice, first by creation, and second by redemption. Thank you that love me today and have a plan for my life. Thank you that you love me so much that you sent Jesus to die for me on a Cross. I am eternally grateful. By your grace, help me today to live as though I am a redeemed child of God. Help me to have joy, peace, and happiness as I go about my work and duties. I want to to see your face more in my life. Please open my eyes to behold your face. I'm looking forward to see you in person one day soon. Until then, I will continue to pray in Jesus' name.

With Love,

Your son or Daughter,

____________________

(put your name here)

Amen!

Your Spiritual Boost for Today by Pastor Sal Garcia, Non-PhD

<sup>Goal for Today: To live stress and worry free by focusing on spiritual matters instead of material things

Bible Promise for today: Matthew 6:31-33</sup>

"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.

Thought for the Day: By God's Grace, choose today to think and focus about heavenly and eternal things, instead of earthly and material things. Think about eternity, your salvation and assurance in Christ, and about Divine destiny. Think more about God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, and less about paying your bills and having more "stuff." Think about faith, forgiveness, and love instead of gadgets, sports, shows, or "soap operas."

Suggested Prayer: "Father in Heaven. Today, by your Grace, I want to focus on my destiny and on eternal things more than on earthly and temporal things. Help me to meditate on eternity and Heaven, and help me to choose today where I will spend eternity. Thank you for already choosing me in Christ. Bless me so that I can be a blessing to others today. In Jesus' name. Amen."

~ by Pastor Sal Garcia

Day 18: Lord, Lead me to My Destiny!

Day 18: "Lord, Lead me to My Destiny!"

“The Secret to happiness is in living for others.” Got that? In fact, your happiness and joy depend upon how long it takes you to make this discovery in your life. No, money will not buy you happiness. Sex, will not give it you either, nor will Power. Happiness is found only in serving “the least of these my brethren”, as Jesus once said. May I give you a piece of advice to discovering joy and happiness? Live for God. If you do, you will experience greater joy and peace than most people do today. Live for others, and you will be happier.

Your Mission and Purpose in Life

You were chosen by God before you were born. You have a divine mission and a special purpose in life. In fact, your time on earth was determined before you were born. David, the psalmist writes:

“⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
   all the days ordained for me were written in your book
   before one of them came to be.”

Nothing in your life is a mistake or accident. God knew all about it before it happened. You were created by God for a God inspired destiny. According to Anthony Destaffano, author of 10 prayers God always says yes to, a prayer that God always says yes to, is “Lord, Lead me to my destiny!” Since you have been destined for a divine purpose in your life, wouldn’t it make sense to ask God to lead you to discover your destiny and purpose in life? Your career, spouse, education are all important. But these are not your purpose or destiny in life. Have you ever thought about it before? Why did God put you on earth? What is your divine destiny?

You have been Chosen by God

The first great truth that assists us in discovering our destiny is knowing that we have been chosen by God in Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:11 says:

“In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.” 

Did you know that God chose you to exist, love, and know him? As you consider your destiny, remember that you have been chosen by God. The greatest obstacles and challenges you will ever face, you have already achieved by the fact that you were born and are here. The odds, were against you, but by God’s grace you arrived in this world as a Champion!

Your Steps are Ordered by God

Recognizing that you have been chosen by God leads you to live in such a way that you honor God. In fact, your every step has been ordered by God. Psalm 37:23 says:

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.” 

We know that we are not good on our own, but in Jesus Christ we are accepted, loved, and considered perfect because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. When we submit our life to Jesus Christ, God is able to bless and order every step we take. In discovering your destiny, do not fear where God may lead you. Sometimes, obstacles, challenges, and problems or setbacks are God’s way of setting you up for something greater. If you lose your job, your health, your family, know that God has not abandoned you. Instead of asking God, “Lord, why is this happening to me?”, ask God, “Lord, for what reason or purpose is this happening to me?” God will never let you go through something unless he wants to help you learn a lesson or prepare you for destiny and purpose. Everything in your life has a purpose. Stay on track, don’t deviate from God’s plan for your life.

Your Identity in Christ

As you follow and fulfill your destiny in life, you must always remember your identity in Christ. John 1:12 says:

"Yet to all who did receive him (Jesus Christ), to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."

Who you are is as important as what you are. If you become an attorney or physician at the cost of being dishonest, or embezzling thousands or dollars, lying, cheating, or stealing, you have compromised who you are in Christ. If you are giving your body away to multiple sex partners, not being financially responsible, or destroying your body with drugs and alcohol, you have forgotten that who you are in Christ is more important that what you are in life. You are a child of God, and a son and daughter of God. 

Don’t live in such a way that God can not bless you and lead you to fulfill your destiny. Instead live a unselfish regenerate life of whole hearted commitment to God, so that if God had to handpick someone to fulfill a divine mission for Him today (like He did with Abraham, Noah, Moses, Daniel, The Apostle Paul, etc.), He would choose you!

Your Amazing Destiny

My favorite text in all of the Bible, besides John 3:16 is Jeremiah 29:11. 

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

When you surrender your life to God, and make Jesus the Lord of your life, God has got your back. He promises never to leave you nor forsake you. God’s plans and purposes for your life are plans of peace and health, to give you an immediate optimistic future and a hope. His plans are to bless you so that you can become a blessing to others. 

If you don’t have a future today, God wants to give you a future. If you don’t have any hope today, God wants to give you hope. If you don’t have any peace today, God wants to give you peace. You just need to keep your eyes on Jesus and on your destiny that God has given you. You are God’s beloved, and He will do anything to make sure that you accomplish your mission in life. Even when it means being in a sinking ship with a sleeping Jesus, God has got your back, because it’s better to be in sinking boat with a sleeping Jesus and be within the circle of God’s will, than to be on dry land without Jesus and outside of God’s will. Stay inside God’s will for your life. Don’t compromise your destiny! 

In the end, what God thinks of you is more important than what your friends, teachers, or parents do. Make God the number one person in your life, and see How HE will lead you to fulfill your destiny!

Conclusion

May our prayer today be, “Lord, Make me a Blessing! Lead me to my Destiny! Help me to stay in the circle of Your Will.” When that happens, amazing things will take place in your life. You will experience greater joy, peace, and happiness, and you will live your life with more assurance, direction, and hope. God is able. Stay on track. Endure the course. Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!

Practical Steps

1. Receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit in your life. Acts 1:8. Be God’s hands and feet today wherever you are.

2. Choose to serve and honor God with your life. Joshua 24:15. Live for God’s Glory today . 1 Corinthians 10:31

3. Be a blessing to others today. Smile and be nice. If you do people will like you and be open to hearing about your faith in God. Never forget the Golden Rule. Matthew 5:12

4. Live to bless at least one person each day. Pray for your family, friends, and neighbors, and be a blessing in their lives. Don’t be a burden, but be a blessing instead. Get a job, go to school. Help your parents with the rent and living expenses. Be a busy body, not a lazy person. Give away money frequently. Never let money own you, instead you own it and manage it well.  1 Timothy 6:10; James 1:27.

  ~ Pastor Sal Garcia