​Over the last few years, it has become popular again to protest and voice displeasure with things that are not in line with one's views, whether political, social, or even religious.  As Americans, this opportunity is given to voice concern or displeasure with the freedom to do so.  
            The complexity of this situation arises when people declare they are Christians but protest the King of Kings, Jesus Christ, within their own lives.  No doubt, some will protest in public, voicing their views against certain Christian beliefs or the organization of a Christian event, all while declaring they love Jesus or that they go to church.  Other forms of protest come in not being people of the Word of God, not being faithful to God's house or His doctrines, willingly living contrary to His Word, living for self rather than living for God, and making time for everything in life except God.  
            These are key indicators that the fruit a tree is producing is not aligned with its declaration (Matthew 7:15-20; 2 Corinthians 13:5).  A person cannot protest having a king in their life and still believe they are in a proper relationship with Jesus.  This is hypocritical.  Jesus is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, whether people allow Him to be in their lives or not (Revelation 19:16; 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 1:5; Revelation 17:14).  Not allowing place for Jesus in one's life as Lord, King, and Master voids having Him in His proper role.  Jesus is to be one's Savior, but having Him as King and Master reflects an ongoing relationship that is proper.  
            Many people like the idea of Jesus as long as He is in the role they desire Him to be in, which, for many, is not King and Master.  The Bible reminds Christians that they are to be living sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2), slaves to Jesus Christ (Matthew 6:24), self-deniers (Matthew 16:24-26; 2 Corinthians 5:15), connected to Jesus to live (John 15:1-8), belonging to Jesus (Romans 14:8), led by Jesus (Psalm 23:1-6; Hebrews 13:20; John 10:11; 1 Peter 5:4; John 10:14), and submitted to Jesus as King (Philippians 2:9-11; Colossians 1:13-14; Revelation 17:14; Matthew 28:18; John 18:36-37; Ephesians 1:20-22).  It is the rebellious at heart who choose not to submit to Jesus as King, yet desire to have the fire insurance of not going to Hell by declaring a relationship with Him.  
            A person can declare they have a relationship with a famous person, but if that famous person does not know their name, there is no relationship.  Some people declare they have a relationship with Jesus, yet by their own choice of not allowing Him to be King of their life, He does not know them (Matthew 7:21-23).  May more people who have protested Jesus as King allow Him to be the King of their lives.  
            May the protests of Jesus' authority, influence, and power stop in the lives of those who declare themselves to be Christians, and may they submit to Jesus as King, allowing Him the proper role within their lives.  This strengthens the body of Christ, allows churches to have the authority they are designed to have, and shines a light in the darkest days for the glory of God.  
            No matter who denies the King, "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15).  For more information about Abundant Grace Church, visit agcsparta.org. 

​In modern times, the feel of Christianity has taken, as one minister referenced, a cruise ship feel that flees the storms of life rather than the spiritual battleship that is made for winning wars for their nation.  Christians are ambassadors of Christ to the world and represent God's kingdom (2 Corinthians 5:20; Ephesians 2:19).  Some churches, not all, have turned toward entertainment, catering, the amusement park, and a customer-driven atmosphere rather than the God-honoring, Holy Spirit-led, obedient to the Word of God, needing Jesus for salvation doctrine established within the Bible.  When the church is more about the people who are gathering, it is no longer God's service but customer service (1 Peter 2:9; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22-23; Romans 12:1-2).  People gripe and complain about the things they do not like and expect the next gathering to be more of what they desire, or they want a refund of the money they have put into the organization, like the customer service of a store.  Or worse, the people threaten not to return, taking away business from the pastor as the store manager.  Also, like the cruise ship mentality, these moments of gathering are getaways from reality to feel better about oneself, rather than understanding how to apply the Word of God to oneself for better results in life's battles that come for everyone, regardless of religious preference.  Christians should be students of the Word, soldiers of Jesus Christ, and led by the Holy Spirit and not the flesh (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Timothy 2:15; John 8:31; Joshua 1:8; 2 Timothy 2:3; Ephesians 6:11-18; Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:16-18; John 14:26; John 16:13).  The local church is the place of calling up higher to meet God rather than catering to the flesh (Hebrews 10:24-25; Philippians 3:14; Colossians 3:1-2; Colossians 3:16; Galatians 6:2; James 5:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:11).  The people of Israel are rebuked for not answering God's call to come up higher (Exodus 24:12-18; Exodus 32:15-19; Deuteronomy 5:1-5; Deuteronomy 9:9-12; Exodus 19:16-17; Exodus 20:18-21).  Instead, they chose for their pastor, Moses, to answer the call and bring them His message. While Moses spends time with God, the people make their own god to worship from what they desire to see and experience.  With this in mind, it was not a worship issue but an issue of who they were worshipping.  People who think more about their experience in church rather than their time with God prove by their own actions that they are more of a god in their life than the Almighty God found within the Bible.  The spiritual battleship church may have a harder exterior in appearance, but the safety of that ship carries those on board to victory and toward home safely.  Inside this ship is food to live on, water to be clean, opportunities to learn strategies for the war, and a fellowship of other soldiers who have been through war but have achieved victory because of the ship's general, Jesus Christ.  The names have a difference as well.  The name cruise ship is separated, emphasizing the cruise rather than the ship, while battleship is brought together for a purpose and strength.  Even when storms hover over the battleship, there is safety inside for those who choose to remain.  In the battles and storms of life, the choice one makes of which ship to take determines the outcome of not only the life that now is, but that of the one to come.  Choose wisely for yourself and for those who follow you.  For more information about Abundant Grace Church, visit agcsparta.org. 

​The Christian name gets thrown around a lot during various seasons or when meeting some people.  With this comes those who are true Christians letting someone they meet know who they are in a quicker manner than taking longer to figure it out, while others use this label as a cloak to hide under to gain trust because they have ulterior motives.  This article has a focus on the trees that have the label of Christian but do not have biblical practices of conduct.  A Christian does not make a sale to or buys from someone by cheating them (Leviticus 25:14; Leviticus 19:11).  A Christian does not have false balances to tip the scale toward themselves at the disadvantage of others (Proverbs 11:1).  A Christian does not have a love for money perverting their heart by embezzeling money or using other practices to collect gains that does not belong to them (1 Timothy 6:10).  A Christian does everything in word and deed giving glory to God through Jesus Christ because they are biblical in their conduct (Colossians 3:17).  A Christian remembers it is God Who gives them the ability to gain wealth, not through selfish means (Deuteronomy 8:18).  A Christian does not lie to others because they are renewed into the image of Christ (Colossians 3:9-10).  There are things that the Lord hates which include: a prideful attitude, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood through murder or murdering a person’s reputation, a person who comes up with evil plans, a person who is quick to do evil, a person who bears false witness through lies, and a person who brings division among the body of Christ (Proverbs 6:16-19; Exodus 20:16).  A Christian builds the things in life through their own hands, not unbiblical practices (Proverbs 24:27).  A Christian does not look like the world’s standard of practices but proves what is acceptable to God (Romans 12:2).  A Christian does not rob someone of wages worked (Leviticus 19:13).  A Christian works for their money because the quick methods will vanish (Proverbs 13:11).  A Christian lives in the freedom of truth and not using the freedom to cover up their evil (1 Peter 2:16).  One may ask, why is there such a focus on this topic?  Many people, believers and unbelievers alike, have been on the receiving end of trees with a Christian label but have been done wrong in business.  This is not aligned with the biblical practices and does not reflect how true Christians should handle themselves.  This article has three purposes.  One is to call out those who are practicing unjust methods under the name of being a Christian.  The second is to encourage those who are practicing proper Christian methods.  The third is to let others know when they see or hear of a Christian person, judge the actual fruit of their life and business practices to see whether they are hiding behind the label of being a Christian or reflect the Bible in their conduct.  Every practice discussed here is not only for people in business but for all business conducted by people.  Especially in today’s time, people are turning a deaf ear and a blind eye to Jesus because some members of the body of Christ do not represent Him properly.  May Christians be more like Christ and less selfish, doing things their way.  When Christians do things God’s way, it brings true wealth that remains, a good reputation, and a clean and clear conscience before God.  For more information about Abundant Grace Church, visit agcsparta.org.  

​There are two things most people agree not to discuss when meeting new people or in a group setting: religion and politics.  For many people who declare their Christianity, they are a stronger political party person than a Christian.  This is viewed by people even within one church, dividing during election times over which party is best suited for the office being run for election.  Christians must remember that they should be Christians first, then see through their political lens.  Being a disciple of Jesus Christ will make the right or left disappear and leave the policies that either align with the Bible or are against the Bible’s commands.  The emphasis should not be on a party or candidate who is imperfect, but on the perfect Word of God and the perfect man, Jesus Christ.  Let’s examine the Word of God to see what it has to say about this and not take the author’s word for it.  Jesus says to seek the kingdom of God first, and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you (Matthew 6:33).  This verse lets readers know from the mouth of Jesus that in everything in life, people, especially Christians, are to seek God first, and then other things will be added to them.  This would include the wisdom of who aligns with God and who doesn’t to be a good leader or not.  Jesus also said His kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36).  In a time of seeking natural things, many Christians fall for the trap of being so naturally minded that they miss the heart of the kingdom of God, being witnesses of Jesus Christ to everyone around them by sharing the Word of God for eternal salvation, healing, and earthly help.  This is important because Jesus taught everyone how to pray by saying God’s kingdom come, His will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven (Matthew 6:10).  Christians should be holding to the principles and doctrines of the kingdom of God here on the earth, not holding to a particular party’s voting routine.  In Matthew 5:10, Jesus discusses the people who are blessed for being persecuted for righteousness’ sake, not for their political views.  More often than not, people voice their political views far above their faith in God, faith in Jesus, and faith in the Word of God.  This is backwards according to the Word of God.  For some, they may argue that religion has no place in politics, but that is incorrect.  Romans 13 discusses those who are in governing authority, given by God, to hold the standard of what is right, not according to the people’s views but according to God’s Word as His servants (Romans 13:1-4).  The heart behind the proper balance of this is to be a Christian with a worldview of how God sees things, then personal beliefs filling in the smaller gaps of the best ideas or methods to get God’s will done in the earth. When Christians miss this point, division comes based on earthly principles or ideologies, even in the body of Christ, and the spiritual enemy of God loves it so.  No matter what nationality a person may be, a Christian’s citizenship is not in this world, but in Heaven (Philippians 3:20; Ephesians 2:19).  The Apostle Paul even says to seek the things that are above, of God, and not of the things of the world’s system (Colossians 3:1).  This would include God’s policies and views as opposed to one political party or another.  May Christians be more God-like in their worldview to vote based on the Bible and less like the political party desiring their vote for power.  For more information about Abundant Grace Church, visit agcsparta.org.  

​As Christians live in the last days, there must be a seriousness about their relationship with God.  There must be a determination, a drive within them, an attitude of serving God with no option of turning back.  Christians should be the opposite of how the children of Israel acted coming out of Egypt and during their time in the wilderness.  Egypt is defined as troubles, oppression, anguish, pain, distress, or anxiety.  When Pharaoh let God’s people go, God led them through the wilderness toward the Red Sea (Exodus 13:18).  To even get to this point, the children of Israel had gone through water being turned to blood, an invasion of frogs, an invasion of gnats/lice, swarms of flies, pestilence of livestock, plague of boils, plague of hail, invasion of locusts, plague of darkness, and the death of the firstborns (Exodus 7-12).  None of these issues seems to be a victory in the making, yet there was a victory on the way.  To guide the children of Israel, God gave them a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21-22).  For everything God does for the children of Israel, crossing the Red Sea on dry ground, bringing water out of a rock, feeding them with heavenly bread, feeding them with quail from the sky, delivering them from Egypt, one would think these people would be so determined to serve God for the rest of their lives.  The children of Israel came out of Egypt in their bodies, but their hearts were still in Egypt.  They complained to either stay in Egypt or return to Egypt at least 12 times (Exodus 5, 14, 15, 16, 17, 32; Numbers 11, 12, 14, 16, 20, 21).  Let’s look at some of the reasons why the children of Israel wanted to leave God and go back to Egypt.  Their perception of a lack of food and water, instead of believing God who parted the Red Sea for them to supply their needs (Exodus 14).  Being put in difficult circumstances, instead of believing in God, who drowned an entire army that sought to kill them (Exodus 14).  They allowed doubt and fear to rule them, instead of walking in faith with the God who had proven Himself time and time again.  They desired to go back to Egypt after disagreeing with their God-ordained leaders instead of reminding themselves of their prayers for those leaders to deliver them from Egypt (Exodus 3:9-10).  The children of Israel wanted to go back to Egypt after getting bored with God and committing idolatry, and were confronted about their decision to turn away from God.  None of these reasons sounds legitimate, especially knowing how much God had helped them throughout this time in their lives.  For Christians on this side of the cross, not much has changed to some degree.  Christians still get bored with God and seek to be entertained, find another social event, or be religious by going to church, but still do not have a proper relationship with God.  Christians, at times, complain about the hard circumstances of people talking about them on social media or in the community.  Or they allow doubt and fear to creep into their lives, attempting to keep them from church or away from God.  Even when they disagree with God-ordained leaders in their lives, they desire to go back to Egypt.  Returning to Egypt looks like leaving the issues that cause pain, distress, oppression, and anxiety, but then returning to those very things when something arises that presents difficulty or discomfort.  God has not called His people to be comfortable, but to move forward with Him to victory (1 Corinthians 10:1-13).  For more information about Abundant Grace Church, visit agcsparta.org.  

​Over the last decade or two, discipleship has become a lost art or a dying biblical practice for the majority of Christians.  Even in the secular realms of business, apprenticeship has become a dying process.  While each of these processes is very similar, discipleship holds more to life’s successes than apprenticeship.  Since a majority of Christian leaders have become selfish, in tandem with a majority of Christians becoming more private, discipleship has taken a backseat, leading to more immature Christians struggling to obtain victory in many areas of life.  To understand this process, one must first define discipleship.  Discipleship is the process of one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another.  The picture painted by this process reflects a teacher and a student.  The teacher gives the knowledge, wisdom, and experience they have received to the student who has made it their goal to learn and receive from the teacher, to become a disciple maker themselves one day, or concurrently to their own discipleship.  When Christians become selfish and withdraw from other Christians, this hinders many biblical processes God instituted to not only help each individual, but also the body of Christ as a whole.  Let’s look at various Bible verses about discipleship.  Jesus gave authority and power to His disciples because they submitted to Him and were faithful (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8).  Jesus says to be His disciple, one must deny their sinful desires, do what God has called them to do, and follow Him (Luke 9:23; Matthew 16:24-25; Mark 8:34).  Discipleship requires faithfulness (2 Timothy 2:2).  Jesus requires His disciples to remain in His Word to know the truth (John 8:31-32; John 15:1-17).  Jesus requires His disciples to leave their old nature behind; this would be the sinful nature before being born again for Christians now (Luke 14:33; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 5:24).  Discipleship requires respect and honor for the disciple maker (Luke 6:40; Matthew 10:24; John 13:16-17).  Jesus gives Fivefold Ministers to help mature His disciples today (Ephesians 4:11-17; Proverbs 27:17; Hebrews 13:17).  Although there are no exact replicas, there should be some characteristics of imitation of the teacher during the discipleship process (1 Corinthians 11:1; John 13:15; John 13:35; Philippians 3:17).  Jesus declares discipleship will make the student into something better (Matthew 4:19; Mark 1:17).  Excuses hinder discipleship, and Jesus did not accept excuses (Luke 9:57-62).  Discipleship should include the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  Disciples are known for being faithful to the church and discipleship (Acts 11:26).  Disciples are not easily offended (John 6:68).  Discipleship is not selfish (1 John 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:8).  With so many Bible verses about this topic, there is a spiritual enemy that wants to prevent this process from taking place in the lives of Christians today.  When Christians understand the resources that have been given to them through God, they will be more victorious in their lives and testify more of God.  May all Christians begin to see the need for biblical discipleship again and start partaking of this resource to improve their walk with God.  May more pastors begin to use discipleship to make stronger Christians.  Discipleship is not a social gathering, but a gathering of a teacher with students who have determined to receive from the teacher God has placed in their lives to help them mature as Christians.  Food, games, and idle talk do not make discipleship, but can be used to fellowship as disciples and teachers.  May Christians get back to biblical discipleship, but also make the process a joy to participate in.  For more information about Abundant Grace Church, visit agcsparta.org.  

​To live in today’s time is very unique.  There are so many people who are divided, an increased amount of violence with the United States, political divides, religious separations, and so many other topics or situations that have proven to sever people and put them at odds with one another.  No matter the situation, the topic, or the differences, Christians should be working together for the glory of God (Ephesians 4:15-16; 1 Corinthians 12:27; Romans 12:4-5; Colossians 1:18).  More than any politics, more than seeing topics on a personal level, Christians should view everything in the world through spiritual eyes, knowing the return of Jesus is imminent (Romans 12:2; Colossians 2:3; John 16:13; Matthew 24:36; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 1 Corinthians 15:52).  The spiritual enemies of God and His people are focused on bringing so much division, not only among nations, but also on the division of soldiers within God’s army.  How can a divided army fight against an enemy (Romans 16:17-18; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13; Titus 3:9-11; Luke 11:17)?  How can soldiers warn of attacks by enemy forces when they are distracted by the petty differences among their own camp?  This is how the enemy works: by creating division among a church congregation, among the pastors of churches within a region, among the Christians within a region, and among the body of Christ in a nation and in the world.  Christians should be able to fellowship together with the common doctrines of Hebrews 6:1-2.  Those doctrines are repentance of dead works, faith toward God, baptisms, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment (Hebrews 6:1-2).  No matter a person’s denomination, Christians should be able to work together for the glory of God with these core Christian doctrines as their common ground.  Not everyone will interpret these doctrines the same in their smaller details, but gathering together under these beliefs will give the spiritual enemy of God and His people a black eye by their unified stand.  Spiritual enemies thrive on chaos and confusion.  God is not the author of confusion or chaos, but having things decent and in order (1 Corinthians 14:33; 1 John 4:1; 1 Corinthians 14:40).  Some people may think, how can I change the nation I live in?  Individuals don’t have to change nations.  Individuals can impact other individuals who begin to join together and impact other groups.  Those groups begin to carry a bigger voice, creating change and unifying on a larger scale.  David started impacting his nation by standing up to one person, Goliath.  Although in the natural mind Goliath seemed impossible to stand against, David knew spiritually he had the victory through God (1 Samuel 17:33; 1 Samuel 17:45-47; 1 Samuel 17:49-51).  His ability to stand on his faith in God brought victory and inspired an entire army to stand together (1 Samuel 17:52-53).  Eleven disciples began to change the world with their doctrines of faith after the ascension of Jesus Christ into what is now known as Christianity.  When Christians, whether a congregation member, church elder, or pastor, begin to stand for the truth of God’s Word, people will take notice and begin to join in taking a stand.  The choice is for each individual to make: remain divided as individual members in what should be a unified body, or find the common blood of Jesus that brings the life Christ offers and truly be His body.  In a world full of divided people, Christians should be united as one body under the head, Jesus Christ, glorifying God.  For more information about Abundant Grace Church, visit agcsparta.org.  

​With the hustle and bustle of coffee shops, apparel stores, getting the kids where they need to go, and so many other distractions, all the chaos can sometimes create a lack of focus on the important things.  Chaos is defined as a state of utter confusion; a confused mass or mixture; a state of confusion and disorganization; and the inherent unpredictability in the behavior of a complex system.  Chaos is designed by a Christian’s spiritual enemy to take the focus off Jesus Christ.  In the Gospels, Jesus tells His disciples, “Let us pass over unto the other side” (Mark 4:35).  As Jesus and His disciples get in the boat to travel across the water, a storm arises while Jesus slept creating chaos in the minds of the disciples (Mark 4:37-38).  This chaos proves to be too much for the disciples, making them believe they are all about to die (Mark 4:38).  They wake Jesus up for Him to intervene (Mark 4:38).  When Jesus gets up, He rebukes the wind, also known as the chaos creating doubt in the disciples’ minds, and then rebukes the disciples (Mark 4:39-40).  On the other side of the water, there was a man in desperate need of Jesus’ help to cast out demons, bringing life and freedom to the man (Mark 5:2-13).  Chaos is designed to take the focus off people getting help from Jesus Christ and placing it on the natural distractions going on that either please the flesh, but are still overwhelming, or situations that do not allow the mind to be at peace in God.  God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33).  Since chaos is defined as confusion, one could say God is not the author of chaos (John 14:27; 2 Timothy 1:7).  Another example of chaos is even found within the house of God as Jesus goes to the temple to worship (Matthew 21:12; Mark 11:15; Luke 19:45; John 2:13-17).  These passages display the chaos of God’s people being taken advantage of as they come into God’s house to worship and honor God.  For Jesus’ time, it was not the coin exchange that was a sin or the selling of sacrificial animals that was a sin, but the extortion of the people who had come to worship God and needed to change their coins to pay the temple tax or purchase the animals needed for sacrifice and could not bring the animals themselves (Leviticus 1:2; Deuteronomy 14:23-26; Isaiah 56:7; Hebrews 10:1-4).  When the focus is taken off God, and in today’s time Jesus Christ, the chaos in life wins along with the spiritual enemy of all Christians.  The house of God should not propagate chaos by adding all the distractions of the world and hindering the worship of God, hearing the Word of God, finding salvation, or being discipled by spiritual leaders.  Let the coffee shops have their own business.  Let the apparel stores have their own business.  Let the cause of the family being separated be for teaching purposes for age-appropriate lessons, not a babysitting session.  Let the distractions continue outside the local church, not inside.  With so much confusion, chaos, and distractions found in the world, let the world keep them, but may the local church refocus on Jesus, the Word of God, being discipled, being made into soldiers of the living God, and letting all the family learn how to have a right relationship with God.  In the middle of the storms of life, focus on Jesus to walk on the waves (Matthew 14:27-31).  For more information about Abundant Grace Church, visit agcsparta.org.  

​The Bible provides instructions to everyone, but especially to those who declare that they are born again through Jesus Christ.  Although the Word of God is very clear to have no other gods (Exodus 20:3; Isaiah 44:6; Isaiah 45:5; Deuteronomy 4:35), so many people in today’s time who declare their allegiance to God still place idols before them to worship.  Even in the days of Moses, people took things that were valuable to them, also having their ears, and made a golden calf to worship (Exodus 32:1-29).  Just as the people did then, so many still do, although the idols now may not be in a physical form, they are even stronger within the hearts and minds of people today.  The Apostle Paul describes the idols of today’s time to Timothy (2 Timothy 3:1-5).  The following is the list of idols Paul describes being found among the people.  The people are lovers of their own selves and reflect their self-love by ensuring what they desire is obtained or conducted rather than having love and compassion for others (2 Timothy 3:2).  The people are covetous, meaning they have a strong desire for material things (2 Timothy 3:2).  The people are boasters, meaning they brag about themselves or things in connection to themselves to place more value on their life (2 Timothy 3:2).  The people are proud, describing them as haughty or appearing to be above others (2 Timothy 3:2).  The people are blasphemers, meaning they misrepresent to others with intended harm to another’s reputation (2 Timothy 3:2).  The people are disobedient to parents, meaning they stubbornly refuse to obey parents or authority (2 Timothy 3:2).  The people are unthankful, meaning they are thankless or ungrateful (2 Timothy 3:2).  The people are unholy, meaning they are wicked (2 Timothy 3:2).  The people are also without natural affection, meaning they are hard hearted, not allowing the God-given characteristics to be followed (2 Timothy 3:3).  This includes going against nature for sexual desires, going against parental instincts, and many other natural feelings God placed within each human as created by His design.  The people are trucebreakers, meaning they do not keep from fighting or arguing, but also maintain a disagreeable attitude (2 Timothy 3:3).  The people are false accusers, meaning they bring accusations that are untrue or have no merit (2 Timothy 3:3).  The people are incontinent, meaning they have no self-control (2 Timothy 3:3).  The people are fierce, meaning they are savage or not under human control, wild or rude (2 Timothy 3:3).  The people are despisers of those who are good, meaning they are hostile to virtue (2 Timothy 3:3).  This is displayed in marking as an enemy those who have morally good behavior or character.  The people are traitors, meaning they give one over to the enemy or are betrayers (2 Timothy 3:4).  The people are heady, meaning they are rash, quick, lacking caution (2 Timothy 3:4).  The people are highminded, meaning they inflate themselves or are conceited (2 Timothy 3:4).  The people are lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, meaning they have a greater desire of pleasing the natural senses than the amount of love for God (2 Timothy 3:4).  They also have a form of godliness but they deny His power from actually changing their lives to reflect true characteristics of belonging to Him (2 Timothy 3:5).  The people who reflect this list have allowed these characteristics to become idols in their lives.  May Christians only worship God and not the idols of the last days.  For more information about Abundant Grace Church, visit agcsparta.org.  

​As Thanksgiving has arrived on the calendar this year, it is a wonderful season to reflect on the things in life and the many blessings we have in our lives.  Having a family is a blessing.  Having a job is a blessing.  Having a home or a place to live is a blessing.  Having a church to attend is a blessing.  Having a pastor is a blessing.  Having brothers and sisters in Christ is a blessing.  Having bills that are paid is a blessing.  People should remember that there are things they have that so many other people do not.  If individuals are not careful, they may begin to see what they are missing more than how blessed they are with what they do have within their lives.  This can be a deception that begins to breed discontentment.  One of the best methods to overcome this problem is to be thankful.  To be thankful is defined as being conscious of a benefit received, expressing gratitude, or being glad.  The Bible’s definition of thanks is to be grateful, express gratitude, and be thankful.  In both of these definitions, people are to express gratitude for what they have received.  Christians, especially, should be thankful and give thanks unto God (Ephesians 5:20).  It seems to be a growing trend of skipping from Halloween to Christmas and leaving out Thanksgiving.  This typically reflects a celebration of darkness, then jumping to a celebration of giving gifts to others and receiving gifts.  For some people, during this time of year, they use the Thanksgiving holiday as a reminder to be thankful.  This should be a constant attitude within the hearts of the people to be thankful all year long.  Even with this mindset, a person does not have to be thankful “for” bad situations or bad things but be thankful “in” those situations (1 Thessalonians 5:18).  What is there to be thankful for “in” those situations?  If a person is a Christian, they have Jesus as their Savior (John 3:36), God as their Father (1 Corinthians 8:6), and the Holy Spirit as their Comforter (John 14:26) and Guide (Romans 8:14).  The will of Jesus Christ for His people is to be thankful by rejoicing and praying every day (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).  As Christians serve God and are faithful to Him, they begin to remember His benefits (Psalm 103:2).  This should be a motivation to serve God throughout the whole year and be thankful for Who He is, as opposed to only having this attitude one day on Thanksgiving.  When God’s people have the fruit of the Holy Spirit of peace (Galatians 5:22) and the peace of Christ rules their hearts there is a thankful attitude (Colossians 3:15).  Thanksgiving should not only be a time of gathering with family and friends to be thankful for them but also a time for those gathered to recount or testify of what God has done within their lives that they are thankful for (Psalm 9:1).  The best testimony that any person can have is to be thankful that God sent His Son Jesus to be beaten so His people could have healing in their bodies (1 Peter 2:24), gave His life as the Supreme Sacrifice for salvation (1 John 2:2), resurrected having dominion over death (Romans 6:9), and now sits at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 10:12).  With a life that is not perfect by their actions, but given power to overcome sin (1 John 5:4) and spiritual enemies (James 4:7), Christians should be thankful in today’s time.  For more information about Abundant Grace Church, visit agcsparta.org.