This message was delivered by Carter Conlon at the Times Square Church in Manhattan on the Sunday after the 9/11 attacks and is still such a powerful word even today. It is my prayer that you let the message shared here truly sink into your heart and let it cause you to RUN.
If you would like to listen to the full message that was given that day you can listen to it here:
It’s funny I thought to myself that there’s no way it’d been much over a month since I posted anything here but then after realizing my son just turned a month old, I realized I was wrong.
Time flies faster and faster each year, I never believed it when I was younger but now I do. You know that song “I wish I knew what I knew now when I was younger”, that’s been my song here lately. It might not have helped me to know what I know now then but it might have… It’s just one of those things!
Now comes the time to introduce my son, Samuel, to the world.
Yep there he is! Handsome little fella isn’t he? I can’t take all the credit but he’s got my hands and feet no doubt!
Today won’t be long but I just wanted to share something that has been on my heart here lately. In Numbers 23:19 it says, “God [is] not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do [it]? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”
God is not a man. Mike Murdock said this is the most important scripture in the Bible. After really letting it sink in, I have to agree with him. It’s so important to realize that God is not like us. He can’t speak something and it not happen.
In Genesis, God said let there be light and there was light. Then he said let there be water on the face of the deep and the oceans were placed on the earth. What God speaks happens.
I saw a rainbow the other day on my wall from the sunlight and it made me remember God’s promise to never destroy the earth with a flood again. He spoke it so it will never happen again. (Genesis 9:11)
God’s word is full of promises. I found this website and I’d like to share it with you.
Download and print the sections you need for your life and use these promises from God’s word to build your faith. God is bound by His word and whatever you need from Him, if you ask Him in faith, you can have it. (John 16:23)
I encourage you to stand on God’s promises that are found in His word. God is not a man that He can lie. If you will build your faith by reading the word of God, you’ll find that God is able to do everything His word promises He’ll do. (Ephesians 3:20)
23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
Don’t you just long for home sometimes? I often find such comfort in knowing that this world is not my home. This world is not all there is! In fact, our life here doesn’t even show up on the scale of eternity.
So many people get so caught up in this life that they forget the real truth that soon they’ll be in eternity. I’ve come to the realization within myself that only 3 things will matter in eternity:
Nothing else will matter. I share things about God here to encourage you and push you to strive to be what God’s called you to be. If he’s called you just to be a mother or giver, do it with all your heart.
Finding God’s will for your life is the most important thing you can do. When you step into His perfect plan and will, you will be able to watch great things begin to unfold in your life. The only way to find who you are is by serving Jesus Christ whole-heartly.
Never before has a generation had such a problem finding their identity as our generation. There so many TV, music, and fashion icons, that it’s left a generation desperately trying to find themselves. The only place you’ll truly find yourself is in God.
I challenge you to go deeper in your walk with God and discover who He wants you to become. Forget what the world says or does, find out what God says. At the end of your life, all that matters is if you did God’s will for your life. Can you say you’ve been doing His will?
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
This an amazing passage if you really take in what Paul was saying. In verse 16 he says, “Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh:..” He’s saying we don’t know anyone by their outward appearance.
Then he continues, “…yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.” Here he’s admitting that he used to know Jesus by his outward appearance but he doesn’t know him by his outward appearance anymore. See Paul had a close encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus and now he doesn’t view Jesus just as a regular man anymore.
Verse 17 is where he explains why he doesn’t look on any man’s outward appearance. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” When you get saved, you become brand new. God brings out His spiritual eraser and erases all your mistakes, sins, and failures. You get a clean slate on life, a chance to start over with your life.
The only person that wants to force you to remember your past is satan. He tries so hard to make you feel guilty and condemned because of the sins you’ve committed. The reality you have to realize is that we’ve all sinned and fell short of glory (Romans 3:23). Jesus was the only man to walk the earth without sinning. Every single person has sinned and you have to tell satan that he’s a liar and he’s not keeping you down.
I love to think about Isaiah 43:25 which says, 25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. When we ask for forgiveness with a sincere heart, our sins are blotted and will never be remembered by God.
You and satan are the only ones that can remind of your sins. God never will. Remember that today and each time you might feel condemned. Know that condemnation is not of God. Use these verses to conquer condemnation in your life:
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. – John 3:17
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. – Romans 8:1
13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
It amazes me how Paul could say “light affliction” in verse 17 above. He was in constant danger of death (v. 11) but that was just light affliction. He fully understood the kingdom of God because He knew that just like Romans 8:18 says the sufferings of this present world are not worthy to be compared to the glory that will be revealed in us.
I want to begin to strive to understand more about heaven each day. I believe that was Paul’s greatest secret. He kept his eyes on Jesus and his focus on heaven. It’s so easy to get distracted in our lives and it was even hard back then with Paul. He still discovered a way to keep his eyes on Jesus though.
We are so blessed to be able to live each day and we should make the most of our lives but at the same time this world is not our home. I think the biggest struggles most Christians have are rooted within their desires.
In Matthew 6:21 it says, Where your treasure is there your heart will be also. Not my words but Jesus himself. If you store up your treasures here on this earth then your heart is caught up in the world. If you store up your treasures in heaven then you are caught up in heaven.
The thing a lot of Christians miss is that we are not of this world. If you truly understand that, you’ll wake up each morning and live a worry-free life. Why? Think about it. The economy, president, or government doesn’t influence your life because you’re not of this world.
What happens in the world around us has no affect on us because our Father in heaven will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory. (Phillipians 4:19 ) If you can really grab hold of that scripture and run with it, your life will never be the same.
Nothing should be more important than your relationship with Jesus Christ. You can take away everything a man has but if he still has Jesus, he’ll just build it back. There’s not a possession in this world like that so don’t focus on this world, focus on Jesus.
I leave you with one of my favorite songs today. Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus:
8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me
Paul’s humility shines through with these verses. He was basically saying that he was not worthy to be an apostle when he is noted by many as the greatest apostle. He walked with true humility in his life.
The beginning of verse 10 is what we should all live by. “But by the grace of God I am what I am.” Grace is defined as underserved merit and we all have access to that grace. The grace and forgiveness of God is what makes us be able to stand before God as his children.
Paul realized the power in God’s grace by his statement at the end of verse 10: “yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me” Everything he did was done not within himself but by the grace of God that was with him.
I think that each of us should strive to obtain the same true humility Paul had and seek after the understanding he had of the grace of God. What a difference it would make. We’d be more grateful for what we’ve been given and we’d be more pleasing to God.
I challenge you to study the life of Paul and the grace of God. Our lives will never be same if we can just get half the understanding Paul had of God’s grace. The grace of God is what changes everything.
31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
Verse 31 above could be the best motto to live your life by in the Bible. How much more time and effort would we put into what we’re doing if we would just do whatever we do all to the glory of God? I know in my personal life a lot.
God desires us to be strong representatives of Him in this world. There are people all around you who are just going through life with no direction or vision. We are called to stand out and show them that there is a reason to live and that reason is to glorify God!
I challenge to do everything you do for the glory of God and see the difference it makes. I’m taking this challenge myself because through this revelation I know that it’ll make my life 10x better.
It isn’t easy to do everything for the glory of God but think about the power in doing whatever you do to glorify God. Knowing that what you’re doing is all for the glory of God. That’s powerful.
When you woke up and got out of bed it was for the glory of God. When you walked into your workplace and started working it was for the glory of God. When you prayed over your lunch today it was for the glory of God. When you do anything make it be for the glory of God!
What a difference that will make in our lives, if we just realize that we can make everything we’re doing be for the glory of God. Let’s live our lives for God. Regardless of what you do, do it for Him. He deserves all the glory and honor anyway so why not give it to Him.
I don’t know about you but God’s did a lot for me so the least I can do is live my life for Him. I’ll leave you with Romans 12:1-2 today because it is reasonable if God’s ever did anything for you.
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
1Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
2And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
3But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
Anyone who reads my devotionals knows that I love looking at different translations of the Bible and it is how God allows things to stick out at me sometimes. Another translation of 1 Corinthians 8:2 says, Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much.
When I read this it made me laugh a little. I began to think about how many times I’ve claimed to “know it all”. We all have at one point or another in our lives. We found out very quickly though that just like this scripture says, we don’t really know very much at all.
As I’m continuing to grow up and now entering my mid-20’s, I’ve began to see that the true purpose of life is not to know it all. In fact, someone who lives to be 120 still won’t know it all. Things constantly change and the world around us changes as well. The best thing for us to do is take life as it comes.
Here it is double digits into February 2011, a brand new year, how fast time seems to go. Everyone always told me it would but I never believed them until now. Now I want to find the slow motion button on the controls of life and slow it down just a little. If it’s like I’ve heard though, it only gets worse and it will seem like someone pressed the fast-forward button instead.
James 4:14 says, 14Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. Life is like a vapor, it’s gone before you even know it.
My devotional today isn’t very spiritual but it just goes with my “No More Motions” theme. Don’t waste your life trying to know it all or trying to figure everything out. Regardless of how hard you try you’ll never know it all. It’s a goal that is sought after in vain.
Spend more time living and less time worrying about things. You’ll find out that your life isn’t so bad if you’ll just take the time appreciate EACH moment of EACH day. Why would try to do anthing else?
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.
Reading this scripture made me think about a powerful service I was in with Apostle Lem Brown in 2010. The things he shared were so powerful. He used the scriptures above during his message.
He began to talk about how that as Christians we have the spirit of God living in us. We are given the spirit of God to be able to understand the things of God. (v. 12) As Christians the more we allow the spirit of God to rise up in us, the more we understand the things of God.
The power is in verse 16 another translation reads, “How could they? For, ‘Who can know what the Lord is thinking? Who can give Him counsel?’ But we can understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.”
We have the mind of Christ as Christians and because of that we can tap into the things of God that this world will never have access to. It’s your choice to allow the mind of Christ to take over your life though. If you’re more caught up in the things of this world than the things of God, your mind is full of this world. The mind of Christ will be buried deep within you.
You can decide each day to follow Phillipians 4:8: 8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
That’s what having the mind of Christ is about! It’s thinking how Jesus would think, then allowing the spirit of God within you to rise up and take on every situation that may arise in your life. Before you think about what the world says about your situation, open your Bible and find out what God says about it. You’ll start seeing things differently.
It’s amazing how many Christians turn to the world for answers for their problems before they will turn to God. I’ve been guilty of it in the past myself but now each day I’m learning to be fully dependent on God in my life. When you put all your hope and trust in Jesus Christ, you can be sure that you will never be disappointed with the outcome.
Romans 14:8
8For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.
What peace and assurance there is in knowing that we belong to the Lord. Whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
I’ve wasted so much of my life worrying it’s embarrassing. It wasn’t until recently that I finally began to stop worrying about things. I’m a very analytical person and I look at the big picture way too much. So much so, that I forget the little things in life that mean so much sometimes.
Have you ever seen a rainbow in the sky? My wife and I saw one on the way home from the doctor’s office yesterday. I looked at it and told her I love seeing a rainbow because it always gives my faith a boost. I think about Genesis 9:11 which says, 11And I will establish my covenant with you, neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.
God made a covenant with Noah that he would never destroy the earth by flood again and He hasn’t and never will again. Growing up on the songs I always loved in church was “Standing On The Promises”. If we stand on the promises of God, we can walk THROUGH any situation or battle we face in this life.
I’d like to share a few of my favorite promises from the word of God.
Hebrews 13:5-6 — 5Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Malachi 3:10-12 — 10Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 11And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. 12And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.
John 14:2-3 2In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also
Luke 6:38 — 38Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
2 Corinthians 1:20 — 20For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
Matthew 28:20 — 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Whether we live or die we are the Lord’s. Being a child of God enables us to have access to God. Whatever you need in your life God has it and He wants you have it. It’s not all about eternity, there are plenty of promises that are meant for us while we are still in this world.
Stand on the promises of God that I’ve shared today and find your own personal favorites to stand on each day. God’s word is full of promises to His people. The final promise I’ll leave you with is: 1 Corinthians 10:13 – 13There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Regardless of your situation, there’s a promise in God’s word that will provide you a way out of it. You just have to be willing to read His word and find it.