Mat 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Mat 5:15 Nor do men light a lamp and put it under the grain-measure, but on a lampstand. And it gives light to all who are in the house.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.
There are few metaphors that Christ could have used that are as powerful as calling his followers “Salt” and “Light”! Keep in mind that he was not talking to a select few but verse 1 of this chapter tells us that He went to a mountain to address the multitudes that followed Him.
He is very clear that we His people have been endowed with the ingredients that will “influence” those all around us. Very few things can influence the taste of food like salt. The same is true for light. Things may look one way in the dark or in the shadows but if we really want to see what something is made of, all we have to do is put the right amount of light on it.
In regards to men and women, light will show this dark world just how dark it really is. When a true believer is present, they need to say very little for their light to shine and to cause others around to notice the difference. In fact, the darker the environment you work or study in, the less effort it takes for your light to shine!
Keep this in mind while you are at work or at school. Let your light shine. “Let” is an expression that requires willingness on your behalf. Let the dark world around you see your good works. You don’t have to tell them about it, let them see it!
The Lord is counting on us today! Be a light and be a leader in whatever environment you are in.
Have a Victorious day!
-Pastor Terry
]]>Mat 4:12 But when Jesus heard that John was thrown into prison, He went back into Galilee.
Mat 4:13 And leaving Nazareth, He came and lived in Capernaum, which is on the seacoast, in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali, …
Mat 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, Repent! For the kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
Wow! The Kingdom of heaven is “at hand”! Huhhhmm.. Now what does that really mean? Well, one of the inferences is that it is “available”! The Kingdom of heaven is available! And it’s available to you and to me! This dear friend is a tremendous motivator for you and I to repent!
I know that we often think that we should repent because if we don’t we will perish or if we don’t then “God’s gonna get cha”! But wait! I think these words of Jesus are words of love and opportunity not just words of warning.
If we repent (which means to do a 180 degree turn away from our sin from the heart) then we are able to access the benefits of the Kingdom. We can get in on what the Lord is doing! This is a great motivating factor. Not because I must turn or burn alone but because since the Kingdom is at hand, i.e., available-- Jesus doesn’t want us to miss it!
The Kingdom of heaven brings with it opportunities for us to be positioned under the government of God. This is a righteous government. This is a holy and just government that will always require that justice will be executed towards its citizens. As a citizen of the Kingdom, the King of that Kingdom will see to it that justice is administered on our behalf.
That my friend is a reason to repent! The Kingdom of heaven is available! Don’t miss it!
Have a Victorious day!
God Bless!!!
]]>Pastor Terry Wayne Millender, Senior Pastor of Victorious Life Church
Mat 4:1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit up into the wilderness, to be tempted by the Devil.
Mat 4:2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterwards hungry.
Mat 4:3 And when the tempter came to Him, he said, If You are the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
Mat 4:4 But He answered and said, It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God."
In this statement we see that Jesus made it very clear that what we need to live off of transcends natural food. Although natural food is vital to the health and well being of our natural bodies, it is absolutely not enough to sustain the total being of man.
It is amazing to me how secular society will emphasis the need to eat right, diet and exercise. In fact, since these things are good for us, I totally agree with the notion. I also know however that all of this will still not produce maximum living!
Jesus said it best, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God."
We need the word of Almighty God in order for us to live the way God intends for us to live. In fact every word that comes out of the mouth of God via the Bible is pack full of spiritual nutrients that will cause us to live life to the full!
Do yourself a favor; spend time in the word of God. Read it out loud so you can digest it with your ears. Let these things sink deep down into your heart by way of your ears.
When we do this we will begin to experience the next level of Maximum Living!
Stay Encouraged, we are more than conquerors!
Abiding in the Love of God,
-Pastor Terry
In the below account of scripture, Jesus humbled Himself and came before John the Baptist to be baptized in water by him. John knew that Jesus was the Christ and that He is by far the greater of the two. He was unwilling to baptize Christ because he too walked in humility.
Even though John had the greatest influence of any spiritual leader of his day, he was willing to back off and give place to the ministry of Jesus when it arrived on the scene.
Mat 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water to repentance. But He who comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire;
Mat 3:13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to Jordan, to John, to be baptized by him.
Mat 3:14 But John restrained Him, saying, I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?
Mat 3:15 And answering Jesus said to him, Allow it now, for it is becoming to us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he allowed Him.
Jesus, although He is very God manifested or made known in a human body, He knew that He had to be baptized by John so that all righteousness could be fulfilled. He knew that it was ordained that He was to be baptized by John. The incredible thing is that after He was baptized He was promoted. This is when the Spirit of God came upon Him for service.
In order for righteousness to be fulfilled, a divine cooperation between leaders is often required. We must be willing to cooperate one with another so the best that God has can be revealed!
Be a light and be a leader—the world around you is waiting for YOU to arise!
Sharing In the fear of God,
-Pastor Terry
]]>Mat 4:8 Again, the Devil took Him up into a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
Mat 4:9 And he said to Him, All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.
Mat 4:10 Then Jesus said to him, Go, Satan! For it is written, "You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve."
Mat 4:11 Then the Devil left him. And behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
This account of the encounter between the devil and God is so enlightening. Notice that the enemy made his appeal to be worshipped after showing Jesus all the “stuff” or “possessions” that could be his if He were to do so. Believe me when I tell you that this same tactic is what is used to seduce people young and old today.
He is making promises to those who will bow to him instead of to the living God. So watch the series of events. He shows Jesus all the Kingdoms and the glory of them meaning the splendor and beauty of them and then says that he would give this to him if he would worship at his feet.
Well, to show you how desperate satan is to be worshiped, he forgot that what he had promised Jesus was already His…LOL! In fact, he made the very kingdoms the enemy was promising him. How ridiculous!
Jesus did not have to think twice about this because there was no attraction to what was being promised if it had to come by way of misplaced worship!
Jesus quickly hit him with the word and reminded the enemy of what is written! In short, He made it known that worship is reserved for God alone! Worship is towards the Father!
Keep this in mind when you are offered something in exchange for your allegiance to the enemy. He will promise you anything in exchange for your worship. The key to remember is that worship is reserved for God alone!
He is the only one who appreciates our worship and He is definitely the only who is deserving of it!
Walking in total victory today and you worship the Father with all of your heart, mind and strength!
Have a Victorious day!
-Pastor Terry
]]>