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A Great Hoax

Filed under: Searching For Purpose? — Leave a comment

September 12, 2012

by DJ Martin (SingleFocus Ministry®)

Now, after God had created man from the dust and given him authority and then fashioned Eve to be a helpmate to Adam, which means that she also had authority, the sly snake (the devil in disguise) challenged the word of God and promised Adam and Eve that not only would they have authority, but if they followed his word rather than the word of their Creator God, they would be gods (Gen 3:1-5). Now, the Creator, by the word of His mouth, provided them a place to stay, abundant food to eat and water to drink. God appointed a mist to come over the garden to nourish the plants (God’s supernatural sprinkler system). All they had to do was name the animals and smell the flowers, have leisurely walks and talks with God, and admire the beauty of Gods handy work; and have as many babies as possible and enjoy the process as much as they wanted. After they ate the forbidden fruit, at the swaying of the devil, their life took a decidedly disconcerting turn. They no longer had authority. If they wanted a nice place to stay, they had to build it themselves by the toil of their hands, because the only true God, their Creator, evicted them from the garden. If they wanted flowers to smell or food to eat, they had to plant the gardens themselves by the sweat of their brow and the toil of their hands. If they wanted to water their garden or water to drink they had to find water and figure out a way to get the water to the garden. They could have as many babies as they wanted, but the process would not always be pleasant and the love for one another would not always be a pleasant experience. Adam and Eve… some “gods”! Needless to say, listening to the devil was a horribly bad move (Genesis 3:16-19).

Undeniably their cunning advisor, the sly snake (a.k.a. the devil), did not merely misspeak; he knew all too well what the result would be, if one of God’s creation decided that he would be god (Isaiah 14:12). He suffered a similar fate, but on a grander scale and awaits an even more ghastly fate. The results of his rebellion has yet to reach its final outcome (Isaiah 14:16, Revelation 20:10). Maybe he is the author of pride and arrogance. I don’t know, but I know that he is the first recorded con on earth. He is the master of great hoaxes’ and cons. I’m sure that he is proud, but it has placed gullible men and women in position of devastating eviction and spiritual bankruptcy with eternal grievous consequences. Cons tell you a story sprinkled with truth and overloaded with an appeal to your preferences: those things that look, sound and smell good to you. They appeal to your self-adoration, selfishness and your lust for power, position and wealth. Take the “Prosperity Preachers” as an example. They meet in a church and sprinkle a few words directly from the bible and tell you that you are supposed to be wealthy. Take a survey. What percentage of their church membership is wealthy? Regardless of the percentage, I am sure that no one in that church is wealthier than that pastor.

Assuredly demonic proud and arrogant cons are in the world always spinning a great hoax; however, it used to be that the notable ones were countable on our hands. There was Hitler who said all the right things when running for office, but carried out a decidedly demonic agenda when he assumed power and position. The word of God declared that the children of Israel are his chosen people and He has a covenant with His people. Hitler convinced the people that the Jews were the cause of their problem (real or imaginary). Though the word of God says that He made man and woman and said it was good, Hitler said that there was a better race of people: everybody that looked like himself. There was Karl Marx who taught that wealth should be equally distributed, though God has said that He gives power to make wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18) and the poor will be with us always (Mark 14:7). You see, the common thread among deceptive cons is that they always challenge the word of God.

I could go on, but I never thought that I would see the gregarious level of people buying into a con like I’m seeing in the last of the 20^th century and the beginning of the 21^st century. I’ve seen the removing of God from the schools which were established so that young kids could read the bible for themselves. I’ve seen the judicial system challenged to remove the display of the Ten Commandments which our laws are based upon. I’ve seen school systems and its teachers bully and degrade young students, if they bow their heads to say grace or make any reference to God in their school paper. I’ve worked in the same office with people who say there is no God when even the demons tremble at His name. How foolish, if there was no God, why would the devil challenge His word? But just the other day, at the Democratic convention, as they announced their platform, there was no acknowledgement of God at all. There was a lot of mention of the government which is now become an idol. It was when they recognized their error that I was most grieved. I was shocked and troubled when I watched them bring to their delegates the opportunity to acknowledge God, at least once, in their platform by a voice vote. They had to take the vote three times and when it was declared that the ‘Yes’ had the vote, the Almighty, Creator of the heaven and earth, the true and living God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ was ‘booed’ by His created (“God is no joke (Galatians 6:7)”). To make things worse, in the days thereafter, the feeble attempt to explain their position on why God should be left out was foolish regurgitation of the words fed to them by the great con, the devil. I can’t say that we were not warned, because Paul told us that a day like this would come (2 Timothy 3:4); but I never thought that I would ever actually see a group of people in this country where there is a church or two on almost every corner, stand up and ‘boo’ the name of God. I just thought that this would never happen in my life time!

After I read their platform, decidedly they might as well have left God out, because the platform tremendously challenges the word of God. Their platform challenges God’s definition of marriage, His value on life from the womb to the grave, His intolerance of immorality, His provision, His appointed role for Government and His ability to keep and preserve all that He has created (Nehemiah 9:6). I mean this is a master con being played on people of a nation which God established to be a vision of hope for those who are oppressed all over the earth. But to cap it off, I was tremendously sadden to hear the national leader infer that he could harness the sun and the winds and the soil; (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/28/us/politics/28text-obama.html ); roll back the specter of a warming planet and slow the rise of (www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/03/obamas-nomination-victory_n_105028.html) the oceans and heal our planet. And then he reiterated, just the other night, saying that global warming was something he could prevent. It was then that I saw a man who has fallen for the same con Adam and Eve fell for: “you can become as gods”. And we know what happened to them…

It’s not so much that he and others have fallen for a great hoax. As noted; it’s the same old con. I dare say that we all fall for some kind of con, but this con and hoax is on such a grand scale that it could break a great nation which has been shaped with purpose and tremendously benefited from the grace and mercy of God. It’s about the individuals who, because of pride and arrogance, refuse to admit that they have been conned by the devil. Because of their pride and arrogance, they won’t reach out and take the nail scarred hand of the one who can save and deliver us from the depths of our sin, because they are blinded by their selfish desires and cannot see His stretched out hand nor the quicksand that they are standing on. It is He who can give us a redeemed life and wash us from our sins in His own blood and make us kings and priests unto God and His Father (Revelation 1:5-6). So, I pray for them and I pray for all men and women who have fallen for the con of that “sly snake”. I pray for this nation and the church, because in that auditorium at the convention were preachers and evangelist, deacons and deaconesses, and lay men and women of God. Have you noticed who the devil started working his con on? It was Adam and Eve, a man and woman who before the fall were close to God, second only to Christ. Think about it. It’s the Theistic ones who are called by His name who have to be conned, because the ungodly world is already narcissistic.

I don’t know about you, but when I realize that I’ve been conned by the devil, I get upset with myself, for falling for it. But thanks to the grace of God, I fall to my knees and beg His forgiveness, and I declare that God’s word is true: if we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9)! Consequentially, somehow, my relationship with Him grows closer and stronger. This is my prayer for each person.

Oh how He loves us and gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to be crucified, buried and resurrected for such a time as this; so that, if we confess our sins and turn from our wicked ways, God will hear our prayers, and forgive us of our sins, and He will heal our land (2 Chronicles 7:14)!

Alleluia, Salvation and glory; honor and power to the Lord our God, the only true and living God! The omnipotent Lord God Reigns (Revelation 19:6)… And that’s no con!

“…For thou [art] great, and doest wondrous things: thou [art] God alone.” Psalm 86:10

That’s Todays’ Single Focus…

see my original creative gift ideas: http://www.zazzle.com/dmartinpub/?pg=1#homeProducts

Tags: Adam, challenge the word of God, con, heal our land, hoax, Prosperity, proud and arrogant, sly snake, Today's Single Focus, would be gods

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Keys

Filed under: Searching For Purpose? — 1 Comment

August 14, 2012

by DJ Martin (SingleFocus Ministry®)

Have you noticed that you really don’t appreciate the value of keys until you need them and don’t have them or you’ve lost them?

Take Adam, in the Garden of Eden, for example. Adam was in charge. He ruled the world. He held the keys! He walked and talked with the Creator God who said that whatever Adam called it, that’s what it would be (Genesis 2:19). He was free to enjoy everything in the world except the fruit of one tree (Genesis 2:16). But, when he and Eve, his wife, fell for the cunning deceit of the devil (Genesis 3:1), that one tree became his downfall. He traded ruling the world; enjoying all the richest and fullness thereof; and close relationship with the powerful creator of the world for the fulfillment of a desire for the fruit of one tree. He allowed the word of God to become debatable (Genesis 3:1-4)…As a result; he gave up his authority and turned the keys over to the devil. All because he ate from the one and only tree he was cautioned against. One tree…!

Esau, the oldest of parental twins, held the keys of the blessings of Isaac, his father; he had the birthright. After his father’s demise, Esau would become the lord over Jacob, his brother; everyone and everything that Isaac had. He would also enjoy all the richest and pleasures that came with it. Jacob and Esau were the classic example of sibling rivalry. Jacob was a serious-minded con who had a great appreciation for the value of things, like the birthright…but he didn’t have the keys! Esau was a macho man. He was rugged, outdoorsy and adventurous. While Jacob stayed around his mother and close to home, Esau would be out challenging the wild kingdom. One day he returned famished from one of his adventures. Esau was so hungry that he thought he would die! Jacob, a good cook, was cooking on this particular day. Esau pleaded with Jacob and bargained with his brother for a bowl of soup. Recognizing his hunger, Jacob cunningly asked his brother to trade his birthright for one bowl of soup (Genesis 25:31)…and he did. Esau, who didn’t take it seriously (until he needed it), traded his blessing (Hebrews 12:16), his right to rule and right to enjoy all the pleasures that came with rule for one bowl of soup! Unwittingly, Esau gave Jacob the keys to his birthright, his blessing; for one bowl of soup. One bowl…!

There was a time when ‘Black Americans’ had no keys. They had no rule and were denied a birthright. They have come a long way from the bondage of slavery, because of great men like the ‘White American’ and Republican politician, Abraham Lincoln, who gained position to turn the injustice around…and he did! Thousands of ‘White Americans’ shed their blood for slaves to be unshackled and given keys of freedom from bondage. However, after conceding that they should be free, half of the country reserved their privilege of being equal. Though emancipated and given the keys of freedom, they continued to be treated like they were when they were slaves. They didn’t make them work for nothing, but they withheld keys of dignity and rule. They couldn’t live in the same neighborhood; they couldn’t vote; or go to the same church. They were no longer slaves by the law of the land, but they were conditioned to live within the slave mentality.

Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. expressed that his dream was that man would be judged not by the color of his skin, but by the depth of his character. The problem was that in half the country, the character of a ‘Black American’ man was shredded. American children of all ethnicity were taught that the ‘Black American’ man was lazy, criminal and deserving of no respect as a fellow human being; unable to rule and undeserving of the keys. Then they positioned and conditioned him to fulfill the caricature. Like a generational curse, they wouldn’t give him a lucrative job or distinguish position, because of the color of his skin; and then they boxed him in so that he would have to leave his family so that the wife could collect governmental provision, like food stamps and welfare checks. And he always called the White American’ man “Boss”; a reminder that he was free, but not equal…he could not rule! Rather than give them keys to economic viability, they cunningly tore up the Black American Family and made many of them wards of the state. But the ‘Black American’ Churches and their Pastors, recognizing the value, began to head up the fight to grab hold of the keys…and they did! Brave men and women like Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. eventually changed things. Then visual reminders of the slave mentality, like “Colored only” signs, began to come down and ‘Black Americans’ in all the country were able to vote and be elected without restrictions. They were given the keys of rule.

Christ told the church that he has given them the keys (Matthew 16:19) of the kingdom… However, where the ‘Black American’ Churches took hold of the God-given keys of freedom and rule, too many of them turned over their keys to the politicians who were primarily on ‘one side of the political ticket’. Forgetting that God gave them the keys, ‘Black American’ Pastors developed and continued the habit of allowing politicians to stand in their pulpits; and every election time, their congregation obediently voted for any and every politician that was allowed in their pulpit. The character of a man and God’s view on the matter began to be less important than their ethnicity, political affiliation and the pleasurable sound of cunning words promising governmental provision for all their wants. Even though; it was that ‘one side of the political ticket’ politicians who stood on the steps and said they would not integrate their schools and were former KKK leaders and members who withheld the keys, noticeably, national ‘Black American’ politicians, from that ‘one side of the political ticket’ (in general) started speaking their slave mentality language at every election: “Vote for me, the other guy will not give you provision, because of ethnic and social bias.” Disgracefully, former ‘Civil Rights’ leaders are accepting pay from the ‘Boss’ to say what the ‘Boss’ says to say to the ‘Black American’ constituency…and many call themselves “Reverend.” When you have once powerful preachers of the gospel of Jesus Christ preaching the doctrine of politicians every Sunday morning and at funerals too, apparently somebody traded their keys for a con (Luke 11:52). Jesus said He knows what you need, but seek His kingdom and righteousness first and all these things will be added to you (Matthew6:33); what you need He will provide! He gave you the keys! Somewhere along the way, too many ‘Black American’ politicians have traded concern for ‘Black Americans’ to not mentally live as slaves for their own personal desire for worldly riches…And you can tell that they are cunning their ‘Black American’ constituency, because every election time, they have that same theme “ethnic and social economic bias” (Genesis 3:5) and God’s view is debatable (Genesis 3:1-4). Unwittingly, too many Pastors and their churches have traded their keys of the kingdom for their bondage to the government(Luke 4:5-8). They are being conned by the devil, and his cons come in all colors; just like the colorful snake in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1).

Landlords rent out houses or apartments and every once in a while they have to take back the keys and make the tenant vacate the property, because of their property destruction, continuous tardiness or not paying the rent. How long have the same politicians been given the keys, yet instead of building up the Family they are helping the destruction of it and now supporting the redefinition of marriage and the infanticide of ‘Black American’ babies? They have been in office for decades and the issue is still the same…could it be time to take back the keys? I’m not saying that they shouldn’t participate in the voting process, but I am saying that it’s time to give the keys to those who have a desire to make you economically viable; restore the family; value you as a human being and not as a con’s “mark”; and not consider the word of God debatable! It seems to me, that the same ‘one side of the political ticket’ that institutionalized bigotry and denied their right to rule (withholding the keys) is still exercising bias, boxing them in with cunning and disguised words promising all their provisions while killing their babies and destroying their families; enslaving the minds of ‘Black Americans’…stealing their birthright (Luke 11:52). Maybe we should take a closer look at the character of a man and not his ethnicity, social economic status and/or political affiliation. I’m just saying that maybe we need to take back the keys!

Now that they have kept the Black American Family tore up (72 percent of ‘Black American’ children are in a single parent household.*) and unemployed (14.4% of the unemployed are ‘Black Americans’ **); the cunning ‘one side of the political ticket’ politicians are talking class bigotry. I do not resent my neighbors (of all ethnicities) down the street who have keys to million dollar homes and top of the line automobiles. I try to find out how they did it and seek the glory of God as I follow the process of hard work and faith, because I want keys like that. Let’s face it; even though the politicians have it, they don’t intend on helping ‘Black American’ ‘wards of the state’ to get it (Beware of holes in fences. People don’t naturally come into America to be enslaved, but to be free…)! Furthermore, we aren’t employed by the poor…I thank God for the rich who have employed me!

Surely (as some already have) all will break away from mental and fiscal governmental dependency, enslavement and idolatry; cease from being conned and recognize the value of the keys; because the Creator created all men to rule and be free… it’s our ‘birthright’! As truth is revealed, it’s clear that it’s time to take the keys back! Jesus says the truth will set you free (John 8:32). “Whom the Son set’s free is free indeed (John 8:36).” That’s where you start taking the keys back: knowing the truth and the value of the keys! Christ is truth and light! Let Christ set you free! That’s why He died on the cross (John 19:18) for you and me. If you know Christ as your personal Savior, consider His point of view as non-debatable (He cannot lie (Titus 1:2 )) and as more valuable than ethnic and political points of views or desire for gain. Politicians are saying, “vote for me and let me feed and clothe you; let me decide how and whether you live or die according to your ethnicity, social economic status and /or political affiliation.” God says that “I am all that you need. I am your provider (Philippians 4:19); I will give you ‘life’ and life more abundantly (John 10:10)!” Make a decision to value the keys and seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness and “all these things will be added to you (Mathew 6:33 )!” Let God be your governing authority, your source…your provider!

God created and gifted each one of us with a purpose (2 Timothy 1:9). That purpose is not to be beggars or wards of the government, but free to use our gifts and prosper from it and He provides all that we need! He owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalms 50:10) and all things were made by Him (John 1:3)! Let God be your one source and He will give you abundant life, no matter your ethnicity or social economic status! He has the keys! Which king, president, prime minister, reverend or politician has recently volunteered to be beaten and die to give us the keys…? Christ did (John 3:16)! He loved us so much that He volunteered to be beaten; to be bound to a wooden cross and to die so that we could have the keys of freedom, rule, blessings and everlasting life… no matter our ethnicity, social economic status or political affiliation. He died so that we could have a close relationship with the mighty God and enjoy all the pleasures that come with it!

Before you allow yourself to be conned out of valuable keys for one tree; for one bowl of soup; or one governmental provision; for one bag of richest; or one distinguish position; for one ethnicity; or one desire; for one …think! “Are you trading your close relationship with the Almighty God and all the pleasures and riches that come with it; Are you trading your ‘birthright’, your blessings, your freedom; are you trading your keys…for one (Hebrews 12:16) ?” Look at what Christ wants to freely put into our hands…the priceless keys of the kingdom…!

You see, with the keys, whatever you call it, that’s what it will be…!

“And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:19

Keys….

That’s Today’s Single Focus…

see my original creative gift ideas: http://www.zazzle.com/dmartinpub/?pg=1#homeProducts

References:

http://www.blueletterbible.org/search/translationResults.cfm?Criteria=keys&t=KJV

*http://newsone.com/1195075/children-single-parents-u-s-american/

**www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf

http://money.cnn.com/2012/07/06/news/economy/black-unemployment-rate/

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Forgive???

Filed under: Hope for a struggling Marriage, Staying Together, Uncategorized — 3 Comments

March 28, 2012

by DJ Martin (SingleFocus Ministry®)

Picture this… Your mother gets pregnant with you while engaged to be married to another man. She marries a man who is not your father and you are born while your mother is traveling with her husband to pay his taxes. Before they can get to a hospital, you are born in a barn full of smelly animals and placed in their eating trough and wrapped in dead men’s’ clothes. Then you are raised in the ghetto. While an infant, your dad suddenly decides to leave the country and moves your family in the middle of the night, because of a dream. As your family leaves your home country, the government there is killing infant and toddler boys of your ethnicity and age.

You are older now and you answer God’s call to teach and preach the word of God and His kingdom. But you are disliked and hated by fellow clergy. The religious call you names. They criticize the kind of people you are from and they criticize the kind of people who follow you: former prostitutes; thieving tax collectors; fishermen; everyday laborers; people who maybe are unschooled and of little means… As multitudes, including rich and judicial, begin to follow your teachings and your name is mentioned everywhere, the established clergy become jealous and begin to actively plot your demise.

You have a faithful group of men who go with you wherever you go. However, the clergy gets to one of the men with offer of money. This trusted friend eats supper with you and then betrays you the very same night. So while you are praying, in the middle of the night, they arrest you without charge. They don’t give you time to seek a lawyer, but take you from court to court until they’ve come up with a federal charge. While in federal custody you are judged innocent, but the judge hears the voice of a paid mob crying “Give him death!” Therefore the judge sentences you to die for an unjustified cause.

You never have a trial by a jury of your peers; and you aren’t even given a public defender. You are never given an opportunity to face your accuser of this trumped-up federal offense. While in custody, the guards spit upon you and ridicule you and beat you until you are unrecognizable. Then they parade you, bloody and bruised, to the place where they will put you to an agonizing death. As you are dying, a group of people stand mocking you. While you are dying and being mocked, you look to the heavens and speak to your God and say (where you can be heard), “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

What? Come again! Forgive? Excuse me, but…? That’s most extraordinary, but that scenario is based on a true story about Jesus Christ! He endured the ridicule, the beating and the death as punishment for our sins. He stood in our place, because we stand guilty as charged. No matter what the charge, we are worthy of death (Romans 6:23). However, because of what He endured, we are forgiven and can have an eternal relationship with the Almighty God. Now we are called to show that same grace and forgiving attitude. We are called to forgive. Are you in the midst of a relational conflict? Are you having sleepless nights? Do you have an ulcer attack or severe headache every time you think about what someone did to you? Maybe there always seem to be a confrontation with your loved one or with anybody. Are you struggling with getting your needs met? Is your marriage falling apart? Are you angry all the time? There could be many reasons for your struggle, but you may want to start with un-forgiveness.

It’s His will.The principle reason we should forgive is, of course, because Christ paid the price for everyone’s sin; past, present and future, and it’s His will for us to do so: “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses ( Matthew 6:14-15).”

Avoid Torment.The Apostle Peter asked how many times a brother can sin against him and he forgives him? Christ replied “…Seventy times seven.” He gives an illustration of a servant who asked his benefactor for forgiveness of his debt and upon receiving mercy, the servant then went to those whom he was a benefactor and showed no mercy. Word got back to his benefactor about this shameless behavior. His benefactor, angered by this, withdrew his mercy and gave him over to tormentors until he paid his debt. Then Christ summed up the moral of the story by saying: “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if you from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses (Matthew 18:35).” A word sticks out in this passage: ‘tormentors’. This is an overlooked factor in the lack of forgiveness. The one who does not forgive will face torment. Torment is: to inflict pain, torture or anguish on somebody or something. Notice that Christ says that the one who does not forgive becomes the tormented, because He said that just as was done to that unforgiving servant, so will it be done unto you, if you do not forgive. Forgiveness is essential to avoid “tormentors” Remember you were asked, “Are you experiencing conflict or confrontational relationships, etc.?” This is a form of torment. You want to punish or you want God to punish someone who has wronged you, but you wind up being tormented, because you have not forgiven them. You’re the one having sleepless nights, because of anger. You’re the one who gets ulcers or headaches from the sight or thought of the offender, because of bitterness. You’re the one who can’t seem to get along with anybody. You’re paying for the offense done to you.

Receive forgiveness. In this same passage is found the third principal reason to forgive: so that you can receive forgiveness from God, because the mark is missed everyday by saying something inappropriate; or not forgiving someone; or whatever…. You know this. That’s why we pray” Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” Christ infers that He will not forgive the unforgiving. “And when you stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any: that your Father also in heaven may forgive you your trespasses (Mark 11:25).But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (Matthew 6:15).”

Don’t be used by the devil. Paul gives a fourth principle for forgiveness and explained this as he counseled the congregation at Corinth about a very real situation with one of the parishioners in 2 Corinthians 2:7-11. Apparently the parishioner had committed a sin for which the church rendered a punishment (probably excommunication for a period) which he served. Now that he has repented and served his time of punishment, Paul instructs them to forgive him of his trespasses and show him the love of Christ before his heart despairs. In other words, he had served his punishment with hopes that he would be forgiven and welcomed back into the church family as a repentant soul with renewed passion to walk in the Spirit. However, if the congregation does not welcome him back, but still holds his misstep over his head, he will despair and probably turn from God and the “Church “rather than turn to God. Then Paul makes a startling statement that you don’t often hear preached or taught. He says: You must show him the forgiveness and love of Christ “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. (2 Corinthians 2:11).” Un-forgiveness is a device of the devil. So not only does God leave the unforgiving to tormentors but the devil uses the un-forgiveness to snare the un-forgiven. Either way the unforgiving loses, because the Christ life suffers in the life of the believer be they un-forgiving or un-forgiven. The fourth reason to forgive is so as not to be a party to the devices of the devil.

Avoid pride and arrogance. Before Christ died we were all absolutely subject to the wrath of God. We were all subject to punishment, because as Paul said, we were: …”fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, abusers, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, extortionist, etc. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).” But Christ took upon Himself the punishment of us all. So that when we come before God, we can ask for forgiveness and expect to receive it, because of the shed blood of Christ. If God has forgiven you, then you ought to forgive others. It becomes a sin of arrogance and pride if God has forgiven someone, but we infer that God is wrong to forgive that person by not forgiving them ourselves. We’re saying by our un-forgiveness that we know better than God, what or who should be forgiven. I remember dating a guy who told me of his past sins. Everything was lovely until he told me that. Then we started having senseless arguments. The relationship got very shaky. One day the Spirit of God said to me, “I have forgiven this man, who are you to not forgive him?” This was his past that I held against him. I didn’t know him then! Yet I had the gall to not forgive a man who was forgiven by God. Because of un-forgiveness, I was subject to torment; our relationship became suspect; and my un-forgiveness was an act of pride and arrogance which almost became a device of the devil.

The Holy Spirit will help. You have to lay pride aside (Matthew 5:41) and forgive (seventy times seven) even when it seems unforgivable (Matthew 18:22); show grace and mercy as Christ has shown to us; and love the way Christ loved us (John 14). If you forgive, you will see a marked transformation for the better in your relationship with God and others. Not only that, but you will get off of stress medication. When you forgive, you will be released from your tormentors. Not everyone or everything is easy to forgive. When the Spirit of God confronts me with the fact that I have not forgiven, it is usually someone or something that is difficult to forgive. Sometimes we have difficulty forgiving ourselves or we have difficulty in accepting God’s forgiveness. The offender may be dead. They may be habitually abusive. They may be betraying. They may be an institution/organization or someone we don’t know personally. So we have to pray to God for His help. When I have difficulty in forgiving, I pray, “Lord it is my will to forgive _____ (name of the offender) for his/her/their offense________ (name the offense) against me; because it is Your will that I forgive. Please give me Your kind of forgiveness.” We can’t be obedient and forgiving without the help of the Holy Spirit. Allow the Holy Spirit to take control so that you can live this Christ life.

The Forgiver gives new life. If you can’t let go of bitterness toward someone whom you feel may have rejected you or disrespected you, or betrayed your trust, or offended you, or just flatly wronged you, you no doubt are facing torment. It is obvious by your relational difficulties: you are a casual church goer when you used to be a regular attendant; and you are difficult to be around, because anything someone says is taken negatively by you. These are signs that you are in torment and you may have some forgiveness issues. The only way you are going to be loosed from your tormentor is to acknowledge your sin of un-forgiveness and decide to do the will of God by taking your un-forgiveness to Christ. The Holy Spirit is willing, and able to help you to forgive. Then before you know it, your tormentors will leave and your prayers will be answered. You will shed pride and arrogance and you will begin to see clearly the grace and merciful hand of God miraculously operating in your life. Remember Christ died on the cross so that we can have forgiveness of the Father which will give us access to a relationship and eternal life with the Father. Christ, the son of God, arose from the dead on the third day with all power in His hands, thereby, giving us the ability to walk in overcoming victory. He was the blood sacrifice for our sins, past, present, and future. We must believe that God forgives us and we must seek to forgive as He has forgiven us. Thank God for His incomprehensible love and forgiveness. Because of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and forgiving; and the Great Forgiver releases us from torment and gives new life. Praise God and Amen!

“And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32

That’s Todays’ Single Focus…

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Tired of being the Punch Line?

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December 31, 2011

by DJ Martin (SingleFocus Ministry®)

They say that true life is a comedy… But, when will we get tired of being the punch line in the devil’s joke? I mean, he is going around causing all kinds of havoc in relationships and laughing all the way to heaven, telling the joke to God (Job 1:6) and guess what…we’re the punch line of each joke (Job 1:11). For example: I was idealistic, determined to financially promote the kingdom of God. I got to working overtime, and my ideals became a joke in the devil’s comedy routine. I forgot the reason and purpose and just worked for the money. At the end of the year I found out that I supported the government more than myself. And I can’t say that the kingdom received any financial benefit. The joke wasn’t on me… My selfishness, greed, self-gratification and my lack of trust in God was the story and I was the punch line.

In the beginning God officiated the marriage of Adam and Eve (Gen 2:24). Nowadays some men are telling the ladies, “Lets live together first.” That’s the fad today. The world has all kinds of excuses for ‘shacking’ instead of marriage. You’re led to believe that it is temporary, but how long has it been now? Have you set the date yet? Only heaven knows who you could be married to by now… The joke is not on you… It’s your world view; your selfishness; your self-gratification; your lack of trust in God, His love and His will that is the punch line of the devil’s cruel joke.

God said, “be fruitful and multiply (Gen 1:28).” Some years ago some people determined to get rid of as many Black American babies as possible through wholesale abortion (genocide). Teenagers are having premarital sex, abortionists are living in mansions and the teenagers’ adult lives have become shaky, because of possible side effects from abortion: emotional stress, barrenness, cervical cancer, breast cancer, and death… ‘Pro-choice’ marketing helps them to feel comfortable and you can’t watch anything on secular TV without viewing sexually suggestive commercials. Even the kids’ TV sitcoms subtly promote promiscuity. There are other minority groups out numbering Black Americans, because too many are choosing to behave immoral and consequently participate in abortion (there have been approximately 13 million Black American babies aborted since 1973 according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control). There are some church elders recommending abortion and there is government support (Planned Parenthood) paying for it. The joke is not on these young women… It is their naivety, self-centeredness; self-gratification; recklessness; maneuverability; vulnerability; poor self-esteem; disobedience and lack of trust in their parents’ sound advice; and their lack of trust in God, His love and His will that is the punch line in the devil’s cruel comedy routine.

God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16). Therefore, He has the Bible full of relational wisdom and self-growth counsel from Genesis to Revelation. However, all kinds of turmoil are being stirred up in marriages: adultery, financial struggles… high stress situations! Sometimes it is a matter of un-forgiveness; selfishness and pride; and lack of discipline or self-control. It probably could be remedied by giving God sovereignty in your life; studying individually and collectively the word of God and applying it in your relationship. Sometimes couples find themselves in a heated argument about dinner, discipline of children, a new purchase, a relative coming to visit, scrambling the eggs or boiling the eggs… I mean, have you ever stepped back and looked at what you’re arguing about? But then there is always someone who comes along who understands you better than your spouse. Stop! Don’t fall for that! When some person of the opposite sex comes at you when there is conflict in your marriage, that’s a clear sign that you are about to become the punch line in the devil’s comedy routine. You’re not the joke, but your selfishness and pride (it’s my way or the highway attitude); your unwillingness to forgive (which God requires before He hears our prayers) and/or your self-centeredness (instead of focusing on the will of God) is the punch line in the devil’s cruel comedy routine.

I have too many family, friends and acquaintances whose lives and relationships are the punch lines of the devil’s cruel comedy routine. Christ made the ultimate sacrifice and paid the price because, it is the will of God that no man parish (2 Peter 3:9). He extends love, grace and mercy to each of us each and every day. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the church (Ephesians 5:25). That’s seeking the will of God, then sacrificing for her good, forgiving and showing grace and mercy. Wives are to submit to their husbands as unto the Lord (Ephesians 5:22). Christ submitted to God the Father. It is more than about you and your spouse’s personal preferences. Children are to obey their parents in the Lord (Ephesians 6:1). We all are to love our neighbor as ourselves. That’s seeking their good and not their harm. It must start with the focus on the sovereignty and will of God. After His extraordinary sacrifice and obedient submissiveness to God’s will by dying on a cross, Christ arose from the dead in power and victory. All things are under His feet (1 Corinthians 15:27). We may be the unsuspecting punch line, but God is not mocked (Galatians 6:7). We who are in Christ are victorious in Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57). Your life story is written with a happy ever after ending (Romans 8:37). But, if you are not discerning, you will find yourself continuously being the punch line in the devil’s cruel comedy routine.

Notwithstanding, not all is a result of selfishness, but some is due to wickedness at the hands of evil people who live to prey on the innocent, undiscerning and vulnerable. Victims can be assured that “vengeance is mine” says the Lord (Romans 12:19). The Apostle Paul said that God would eventually make the disobedient believe a lie and He will turn them over to a reprobate mind (Romans 1:28). You’ve seen adulterous Pastors teach the word, shout and go on like nothing is wrong, because they don’t know that the Spirit has left them. You’ve witnessed the immoral or addicted sing or play the piano every Sunday Morning. They spout the word of God eloquently and get all emotional as they sing or play the keyboard, but they have no idea that the Holy Spirit has left them (Judges 16:20), because they continue to live the worldly lifestyle and they haven’t been ‘zapped’ by God. They have been given over to the devil as a punch line in his cruel comedy routine!

I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of being the punch line in the devil’s cruel comedy routine. This new year, let’s resolve to be alert and discerning. Let’s obediently prioritize and honor our commitment to God and in all our ways acknowledge Him (Proverbs 3:6). In every temptation or turmoil, let’s pray for discernment to know whether it is a test from God or a temptation from the devil (James 1:1-15). Whichever it is, let’s resolve to handle the situation the way God would have us to. Let’s pray for His guidance and direction; study His word so that we can handle any relationship the way He teaches; and trust Him for the victory (John 16:33)! Let’s put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:11); thank Him for the victory by faith; and apply His word at all times. Sometimes you have to go the second mile (Matthew 5:41): forgive (seven times seventy) even when it seems unforgivable (Matthew 18:22); show grace and mercy as Christ has shown to us; love the way Christ loved us (John 14); and focus on the promised victory (Romans 8:37) even though it looks like imminent defeat. We must resolve to have faith in God and establish that God’s way is better than the writer of Soap Operas; soft porn movies; TV sitcoms; politicians, champions of ungodly causes or doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1). And finally, let us resolve to no longer allow our selfishness, greed, self-gratification, disregard for the will of God, un-forgiveness, and our pride to become the punch line in the devil’s cruel comedy routine. In Christ we are victorious and that’s no joke!

“For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, [even] our faith.”1 John 5:4

That’s Todays’ Single Focus…

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Tags: abortion, center for disease control, cruel comedy routine, genocide, Grace and Mercy, hates divorce, husbands, love, no joke, SingleFocus, Tired of being the punch line, Today's Single Focus, victory, wives

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His Backside

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August 29, 2011

Moses with the tablets of the Ten Commandments, painting by Rembrandt (1659) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

by DJ Martin (SingleFocus Ministry®)

Moses was born at a time when all Hebrew boys were targeted for full term abortion (Exodus 1:16), but his life was saved. After three months of his life, he was placed in the water inside a basket and rescued by the princess of Egypt, raised by his birth mother and lived in the palace of Pharaoh (Exodus 2:2-10). Now a grown man, Moses, in defense of one of his fellow Hebrews, killed an Egyptian, but escaped punishment as he fled out of Egypt into the desert. From living in the palace of Pharaoh to living in the desert, Moses dwelt in the land of Midian as a husband, a father and a shepherd of sheep and goats. It was there that God revealed Himself to Moses in a burning bush which would not be consumed. God called Moses to deliver His people from the oppression of Pharaoh in Egypt. So at 80 years of age, Moses crossed the desert sands into Egypt and gained audience with Pharaoh. Moses saw the mighty hand of God send plagues of all kinds upon Egypt, but sparing his people from those very plagues. After Pharaoh finally heeded to God’s request and let His people go, Moses led six hundred thousand of the people (not counting the women and children) away from oppressive Egypt. They were preceded with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, only to find them up against the Red Sea and chased by Pharaoh’s army behind. Moses saw God open the Red Sea and the people cross that Sea without getting their feet wet, but Pharaoh’s army drowned in that very sea (Exodus 14:28-29). During their journey, Moses frequently talked with God up close and personal upon Mount Sinai. Every time he did, Moses returned to the people changed, both spiritually and physically. Without him saying a word, it was obvious that Moses had been in the presence of God. However, one day Moses told God that he wanted to see His face. But God said, “You cannot see My face: for there shall no man see Me, and live… And the LORD said, Behold, [there is] a place by me, and you shall stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while my glory passes by, that I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and will cover you with my hand while I pass by: I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back parts: but My face shall not be seen (Exodus 33:20 & 23).” So as Moses stood in the cleft of the mountain and God passed by, Moses saw His backside.

One morning I knelt to pray. However, every time I started to make supplication and intercession all I could do is give thanks. Every time I would go to open my mouth in petition I would see where I used to be and where God has brought me to. Every time I would start to make a request, I would see the trouble I had been thru and see how the hand of God brought me victoriously out. On this morning, when I called upon His great name, I would remember the times He rescued me, delivered me, my friends and my love ones. Every time I would start to plead for His mercy and grace all I could do is remember how He showed me mercy and grace on yesterday. I would remember the times when I didn’t have the money to pay my bills, but God mysteriously would have someone put funds in my mailbox. I would remember the times when accusations were brought against me, but God compassed me with His favor. I would remember the times I didn’t leave to start a long or short trip at the time I had planned, but along my way, God showed me an accident I missed being involved in, because He is omniscient. I would remember the times my enemies sought me out to solicit my prayers. I would remember when I had no job, but God provided enough funds to pay my car off. Then at the right time and the right place God provided employment. I would remember the times when the Doctors said that I was sick, but God healed me. I would remember the time I was in a car accident, but God kept me safe. I started reflecting on His grace and mercy and realized that He is my constant rescuer, my shield and my fortress. I didn’t realize that all the time God was present until this particular morning that I knelt to pray…

Obviously, I’ve never seen His face nor have I met and talked with God as much as Moses did. I have not seen the years that Moses saw nor performed such a great rescue mission. But I’ve seen the evidence of God doing the impossible and I’ve seen His hand of deliverance. I’ve lived in the embrace of His mercy and grace. He has shared with me things I couldn’t paint a picture of nor write a description of. I’ve seen Him blaze a trail for me and cover me under the protection of His wings. I’ve experienced the evidence of His healing mercy and His saving grace. He has been my faithful provider and constant guide. I’ve seen evidence of His presence and benefitted from His favor. Even so, there have been times I have experienced His mercy and grace and did not realize that He had been there until I’ve had a quiet moment to reflect on my journey. It’s then that I see the evidence that God had been there each step of the way and would give Him praise.

Moses stood in the cleft of a rock as God passed by covering his eyes so that all he could see was God’s backside. How incredible! For Moses to feel His hand cover his face and then get a glimpse of His backside is extraordinary! As I knelt there, like the one leper who returned to Jesus (Luke 17:15-16), all I could do was give Him thanks! In the midst of praise I realized that I too have seen His backside. As He passed by He rescued me, saved me, delivered me, comforted me, provided for me, healed me, guided me, and countless other acts of love, grace and mercy. As I reflected on each time victory was achieved, there was no doubt that God had been there. The evidence of His presence: the victory, the overcoming, the deliverance, the healing, and the provision. It was neither by my might nor power, but by the spirit of the true and living God. It is all evidence that God passed by and I have seen His backside. Thank God, it is truly by His overwhelming love, grace and mercy that He passed by. It is indeed a blessed, grateful and wise person who recognizes the grace and mercy of God in their life. God has come to my rescue so many times. I have seen His glory. He has shown me His backside!

Just yesterday I turned the corner in my new car and did not see the car coming at me, yet we both safely continued traveling without having an accident; I tripped coming out of a store and did not fall nor break an ankle; I paid my bill; I experienced God’s favor and someone brought me lunch; I talked to my sister who confirmed God’s healing presence in her life; though I experienced some disappointments, I have this peace that surpasses understanding; I went to sleep and no one disturbed my rest…

Thank You Jesus! He is still showing me His backside!

“God [is] our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1

That’s Todays’ Single Focus…

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Tags: evidence, full term abortion, Grace and Mercy, healing, His Backside, Moses, Mount Sinai, omniscient, Pharaoh, pray, Red Sea, Today's Single Focus

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There’s Nineveh and There’s Us…

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August 6, 2011

by DJ Martin (SingleFocus Ministry®)

Nineveh, capital of the Assyrian Empire, was wicked and violent. They were a mighty and brutal people with a population of nearly a million. The people were known for their cruelty: skinning their captives alive or maiming them or blinding them. They seemed to be especially cruel to the people of God. As a matter of fact one of their Assyrian kings was so arrogant that he stated: “Who [was there] among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand (2 Chronicles 32:14)?” The Ninevehites worshiped idols such as Ishtar, the goddess of fertility, love, war, and sex, whose cult involved prostitution. They were so violent and such a threat to Israel that the people were not safe just walking outside their city gates. Yet when Jonah reluctantly went to Nineveh to preach their fate at the hands of the true and living God, these people not only did not kill the messenger, they listened and believed Jonah. And their idol worshiping king, declared a fast. Not only did the people fast, but all their livestock also. This city who did not know Jonah’s God, fasted and prayed to the true and living God and at the command of their king who hoped; “Who’s to say that God will not change His mind and relent and turn away from His great anger, that we may not perish (Jonah 3:9)” Mercifully, God honored their fast and repentance, and spared Nineveh.

Here we are a nation birthed by the spirit of God. A nation established on the precepts of the Bible. Now in this 21^st century, a nation full of idolatry and immorality. Here we are a nation suffering barrenness in the field as they kill babies every minute. Our teenagers are dying violently because of lawlessness or substance abuse. Our land is burning from wild fires and/or from lack of rain. Cities are being wiped out by floods. Unemployment is climbing and homeless shelters are growing in occupancy. As government grows, economy declines and poverty rises, just as Nineveh surmised, we need a heavenly intervention! This is a nation with more believers in the true and living God then not. Surely if anyone should believe that fasting and prayer is our hope, it would be the people of this great nation. In hope that God will see our sincere repenting hearts, who knows if He will change His mind and relent and turn away from His great anger and not destroy this nation? Surely He will answer our prayers, have mercy on us and rescue this land, and let there be peace and prosperity again, if we repent and turn from our wicked ways. This is my prayer. This is my hope!

“If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

That’s Today’s Single Focus…

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Tags: Assyria, Burning, Fasting, Fires, God, Heal the Land, Hope, Idolatry, Jonah, Nineveh, Not Destroy, Prayer, Repent

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My Gift Ideas

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July 30, 2011

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Searching for Gideon

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July 4, 2011

by DJ Martin (SingleFocus Ministry®)

As in the days of Gideon, in the midst of intimidation and great financial oppression, the people of God tremble. I guess they are so busy trembling or hiding or trying to make ends meet while the enemies of God party and have plenty to eat, they neglect to teach their children about their God; His miracles and His precepts. They have become so busy trying to work and glean enough to feed their family, they just don’t have time to train up their children and they have forgotten that God is able and He is our very present help! Therefore, they have become comfortable walking with the ungodly, sitting at the table of the scornful. They have adopted standing in the way of sinners as a normal lifestyle (Psalms 1:1). They have become undercover children of God. Daily standing in the face of the sinful, because of intimidation and rulings made by the unrighteous judicial systems and Corporate Codes of Business that threatens dismissal if you dare call ‘sin’ sin. Believe it or not, there used to be a time when righteousness prevailed. As a matter of fact, righteousness had somewhat of high regard just 38 months ago.

In the beginning of this great land, though the men had their individual shortcomings, they had enough sense to acknowledge the Lord God and the truth of His precepts. They built this nation on Biblical Doctrines. So that there should be no questioning, they crafted the constitution based on Biblical principles. Yet, today in this country we have someone who swore on the Holy Bible that he would protect the constitution only to later decide what is constitutional or not and declare that he would not defend what he thinks is unconstitutional though the doctrine by which the constitution was crafted was the Holy Bible. So we retreat and now it is very hard to tell the sheep from the goat (Mathew 25:32). Churches open their doors every week and pray prayers like “bless them and bless me.” Where is our Gideon; someone who has the boldness of Paul to go right down into the heart of the temple of evil and cause a stir in the people, because he preached Jesus Christ? “Lord where is our Gideon?”

Christ has given us the key that will bring heavenly intervention. Shouldn’t there be collective prayers like John the Baptist would pray publically and boisterously? Shouldn’t those times of collective prayer from the saints be: “tear down the gangs in our neighborhood; pluck them out by the roots”; or “Lord, pull down the stronghold of wickedness in high places”; or “Lord, rebuke the spirit of immorality in leadership and among the people”; or ““Lord, rebuke and uproot the baby murdering factories in the neighborhood”? After all, the scripture says that we are the “overwhelming conquerors (Romans 8:37).” Jesus says that whatever we bind will be bound in heaven and whatever we loose will be loosed in heaven (Matthew 16:19). Like Paul says, “What are they going to do, kill us?” To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2Corinthians 5:8). What are they going to do, beat us? “I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Romans 8:18).”

The reality is that the church is somewhere blending in with the world culture. The church is thrashing wheat in a winepress (Judges 6:11). The church is setting up the idols of the enemies of God right next to Him (Ezekiel 43:7–8). There are a few, as it were, like voices crying in the wilderness. However, the media makes fun or reveals the sin of the righteous who dare say something; subjecting them to ridicule. But God is not mocked. So now: states are in drought condition; states have cities that are being overrun with wildfires or flooding; a loaf of bread is as the price of a gas tank fill up in some places; states are publically welcoming immoral lifestyles and the cost of health care is sky rocketing; etc.

Like in the days of Gideon, if the nation needs a deliverer, when God sends an angel in search of him, He will not find him leading a concert of prayers, because his family blends in. Because God’s people seem to be blended in with the enemies of God; he will be found somewhere thrashing wheat in the winepress.

Wherever he is, we sure need him now! I constantly pray, “Lord where is our Gideon?” He’s not that man who leads national political groups with lying speeches. He’s not that man who makes eloquent speeches in the pulpit and hobnobs with the rich and the famous. He’s not that man who has a national syndicated religious broadcast who preaches sermons like: “Send me your money and you will become prosperous.” He’s not that man who promises righteousness in Congress, but sooner than you can turnaround, begins to look like the same “ol’ usual wickedness” in high places. My constant prayer is: “Lord, where is our Gideon?”

Graves are full of shorten plots because they are killing our babies while fighting for the lives of animals. The graveyards are growing while the plots are shorter because teenagers are dying of overdose and criminal mischief. Lord why aren’t the churches praying aggressive prayers? Why is wickedness allowed to prevail in the church like with the sons of Eli in the days of Samuel? Lord where is our Gideon?

Every once in a while, I hear of a boy or girl who boldly defies the government and rulings of the unrighteous judges and prays at their graduation ceremony. Every once in a while I hear about a bold youngster who defies the rulings of unrighteous judges and bows their head to say grace over their lunch. Perhaps we have to wait a little while longer. Perhaps among the brave youth of God there is our Gideon! I’m hoping that God reveals him sooner than later..!!

“And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD [is] with thee, thou mighty man of valor.” Judges 6:12

That’s Today’s Single Focus…

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Tags: God is not mocked, Today's Single Focus

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Chosen for an Extraordinary Day

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June 10, 2011

by DJ Martin (SingleFocus Ministry®)

It was just an ordinary day in the life of a criminal…or was it? After being found guilty, his trial was recessed until the next afternoon as the judges reconsidered the case overnight. At least 37 votes convicted him, and sentence was deferred until sunset. But this ordinary day in the life of a criminal was the day that his sentence would be carried out. He was most likely not a Roman citizen, for his sentence was the dreaded most awful, horrific and shameful which was reserved for foreigners who were violent criminals and robbers. He was a thief and sentenced to death by crucifixion on what to him must have been an ordinary day in the descending life of an ordinary convicted criminal. But how is it that this particular criminal… this thug was chosen to die on this day? He was stripped and tied to a post where he was beaten by two soldiers with leather straps which had bones or iron balls on the end. Then they made him carry his own crossbeam upon his shoulders all the way to Golgotha’s Hill, wearing the sign around his neck, declaring his guilt. The sign would later be clearly displayed over his head (Matthew 27:37) after they nailed him to the wooden cross. There he was: naked and his shame and guilt exposed for all to see… including the Son of God.

Who was this thief (Matthew 27:38)? Who was he to have been chosen to hang on the cross within speaking distance to the only begotten Son of God? Clearly he was not just another ordinary thief. I’m sure that it was not because he performed great things for God or gave to charity or had been baptized. Surely he was a picture of those for whom Christ died. He was a recipient of the grace of God. This man was guilty of a crime worthy of death (“for the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23(KJV)).” There he was; a part of a clear illustration of the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9). There he was; confessing that he was guilty, worthy of his punishment and acknowledging that Christ was the sinless sacrificial Lamb of God : “And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss (Luke 23:41(KJV)). ” Then he acknowledged that Christ was the Son of God: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom (Luke 23:42(KJV)).” And now, this ordinary criminal became a part of an extraordinary event: though sentenced to die, he received salvation and eternal life; “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in Paradise (Luke 23:43(KJV)).”

Too many tend to be like the second criminal. He was guilty and dying for his offence, in the presence of one who could give him a home in paradise, but he continued to be ordinary. Arrogant and scornful to the very end, he made no confession of guilt, but appeared to think that Christ was just an ordinary good man who exaggerated his ability. This thief was an ordinary sinner looking for any other way to escape the consequence of his actions (Luke 23:39); not realizing that the only way he could be saved is to acknowledge the ransom paid by God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.

After Adam and Eve paved the way for everyone being born a sinner destined to suffer the consequences of their guilt, God, our heavenly Father, dispatched His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to make our bond, but like the other thief, some people refuse to accept the fine paid. Instead many follow man-made plans and devices. They trust in delusional and irrational theories, and follow philosophers of demonic doctrine. Instead of simply acknowledging the price paid by Jesus Christ, some devise their own plans for redemption by meditation; chanting some nice sounding script; giving money to someone who promises riches in return; lobbying politicians; or praying to some man or woman whose bones have already been eaten by worms. There are others who think that they can eat their way to heaven or abstain (1Timothy 4:1-3) their way to eternal life. Yet, at Calvary, there on Golgotha’s Hill, this seemingly ordinary thief, hanging on a cross, taught us the extraordinary lesson that Salvation and Eternal Life is truly simple: acknowledge His deity and accept the ransom paid by Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God our heavenly Father (John 3:16).

You’ve probably tried all the hard things which give you an illusion of Self Righteousness, yet you are without salvation assurance. Why not try Jesus Christ (Romans 10:9)? What Do You Have to Lose? Christ has paid it all and like the thief who hung there beside Jesus Christ, you too have been chosen for an extraordinary day!

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

That’s Today’s SingleFocus…

see my original creative gift store: http://www.zazzle.com/dmartinpub/?pg=1#homeProducts

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Out of This World Super Bowl Party!

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March 26, 2011

by DJ Martin (SingleFocus Ministry®)

Super Bowl XLV has come and gone, just like the ice and snow. However, they are still talking about the Super Bowl in Cowboys Stadium. It’s not because it was the best Super Bowl game ever. They are still talking about it, because of controversy over the seating. Many of the fans did not get to sit though they paid for a ticket. Some of the fans drove thru the ice and snow for 27 hours to only get to the Stadium and either could not get in or could not get a seat. Some of those who got a seat, could not see the field nor see the giant TV screen. There was much drama on the field, but there was also a whole lot of drama off the field…

The off the field drama that especially caught my attention was the Super Bowl party which ‘the artist known as Prince’ threw at $1500 per ticket. What was perplexing was that the ‘artist known as Prince’ didn’t show up! Not only did the people buy the tickets, but they also purchased new clothes, jewelry and shoes for the event. I mean $1500 per person, and the host, the star, didn’t show up! I wonder what kind of food was served. No, I did not buy a ticket. I’m not one of his fans nor am I a fan of spending $1500 to go to a party!

The incident however, reminds me of the story Jesus told His disciples in Luke 14:16-24 He said that the Kingdom of heaven is liken to a certain man who threw this huge supper. He sent his servants to invite the VIP’s, the “best of the best” people. He invited the type of people who could pay $1500 a head though it was free. But each person was too busy or just gave excuses. They would not be going to his party. The man got angry, but determined to have the party, he sent his servants back into the streets with instruction to invite anyone and everyone. They invited people found on the highways. They invited people who couldn’t’ afford to pay to go, let alone afford to throw a party of their own. Those people showed up at the party. The man had paid for the food and drink. And he was there at the party.

One day there is going to be a great supper; a ‘out of this world’ Super Bowl Party!. There is going to be so much food and fellowship that it will be a thousand years before the party is over. And “The Host known as “the Prince of Peace” will not only host the party, He will be at that party! You won’t have to purchase a ticket, the Host purchased the ticket over two thousand years ago. He purchased enough tickets for all nationalities and ethnic groups. It doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor and you don’t have to be able to rent a limousine… The price has been fully paid! The Host paid it ALL. So don’t worry about pawning your jewelry; selling your car; or selling your blood. I don’t know what time the party will start, but when His servant invited me, I RSVP’d “YES” right away!

The price of the ticket came at a great sacrifice. You see, the Host had to agree to endure beatings, ridicule and humiliation. He was betrayed by a close acquaintance and turned over to law enforcement officials. He was taken from court to court (in the middle of the night)! Some of the very people He would invite to the party denied ever knowing Him. In order to make sure that you could be at this party with all-expense paid, this Host walked up a rugged hill with blood running down His brow. There at the top of that hill, they put nails in His hands and nails in His feet. They raised Him up on a wooden cross and while He hung there, necked and bloody, they mocked Him. He did all of this to purchase our spot as His guest at that great party. He died on that cross and was buried in a borrowed tomb. On the third day He arose from that grave with a personal ticket for each of us, having all power in His hands. Now, we have no excuse for not being at that “out of this world” Super Bowl Party!

Now that He is at His home, preparing that ‘Great Supper’, He has dispatched His servants all over the world, inviting every man, woman, boy and girl to this ‘out of this world Party’! Yet some refuse to come. You don’t have to buy new clothes; the Host has garments already prepared for you. You don’t have to rent a limousine; He will send a ride that is faster than any Concorde plane. And there will be kings at the table, but the King of Kings will be there to greet you. There will be lords there, but the Lord of Lord’s will be our Host. There will be a ‘out of this world Choir‘ providing the music. I tell you, this is a party that you don’t won’t to miss! Jesus Christ paid an awfully huge price to make sure you could be there! You don’t have to worry about seating. There will be plenty of room for you!

I know that His servant has extended you the invitation. Hey, I’m no fool! I got my ticket, how about you?

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

That’s Today’s Single Focus…

dmartinpub’s Store at Zazzle

Tickets for all superbowl travel, stay and events can be found at www.ytbtravel.com/2travelnow

36 Women In Sports We’re Thankful For In 2012 (bustedcoverage.com)
Denver wants to host 2018 Super Bowl (espn.go.com)
Kick off your Super Bowl party in style (cnn.com)

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Don’t Stop Dreaming!

Filed under: Searching For Purpose? — Leave a comment

February 2, 2011

DJ Martin (SingleFocus Ministry®)

Well…The championship games began and ended with the best Teams (on any given Sunday) still standing and headed for the Super Bowl. There were some interesting moments in the championship battles. The Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers game, for example. Chicago couldn’t get their offense going until they put in Caleb Hanie, the third string quarterback. I just know that he was living a dream which he had since childhood! Were it not for that last interception, we would have watched a miraculous comeback orchestrated by the ‘third string quarterback’! Unfortunately (or fortunately) Jay Cutler, their starting quarterback got hurt and could not finish the game and their second string quarterback was ineffective. Therefore, the head coach, Lovie Smith, put Hanie in the game and then we had a championship game well worth watching!

Do you feel like that sometimes? I mean, do you feel like a ‘third string quarterback’? You have dreams and aspirations, but it seems as if you are the only one with confidence in yourself. You go to auditions or you volunteer and someone else is chosen, because to them you are not quite “good” enough. Sometimes you get so angry that you start plotting or dreaming about how you’ll show them! But then you get so discouraged and sidetracked that you tire of trying and you stop dreaming… Caleb Hanie had been on the side lines for three years and I don’t believe he ever stopped dreaming! He probably dreamed it would be with the Dallas Cowboys , since he is from Texas. But I don’t think that it matters to him now. Most importantly is that after three years, his dream came true. He wasn’t victorious, but he got the opportunity to live out his dream! I’m just saying that; just because your dream is not coming true now, doesn’t mean you should stop dreaming; especially if it is a God-given dream. Take Abraham and Sarah for example. Notably God didn’t give Abraham a dream and a purpose until he was seventy-five years old (Genesis 12:4) and Sarah was sixty-four. God told him that he would be the father of nations. God continued to give him that dream and purpose, even at ninety-nine years of age. Abraham’s call was to literally fulfill the great purpose: “Be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28).” Not only were Abraham’s children (Genesis 15:5) going to be in the image of God physically, but they were to also exemplify the spiritual image of God (Leviticus 11:45).

It wasn’t until Sarah was ninety years old that Abraham’s dream came true. Abraham and Sarah (as we all do) thought that it was entirely up to them to fulfill the dream and purpose. Therefore, they did all kinds of things to make that dream come true years earlier, but all those attempts turned out to be a disaster and we’re still reaping the repercussions. It was not until Abraham was ninety-nine years old that Abraham heard, I mean really heard what God had said; “And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee (Genesis 17:6 (KJV).” God said that ‘He’ would make Abraham fruitful. They also thought that they were to determine the time and the place. But, it was God who would open her womb in the fulfillment of time. God gave the dream and He alone would appoint the time and place (Genesis 17:21). If He has given you a dream, yet you are frustrated about how long it is taking to see the fulfillment of that dream; stop, relax and let God bring it into fruition. It is not wise to stress yourself out because it is not happening as soon as you would like. Don’t give up or lose heart. If God said that it will be, believe me it will be (Numbers 23:19)! Unfortunately you don’t know the hour or even the year that it will come to pass; therefore, you must prepare yourself to be ready when that moment arrives. You have to study, practice and exercise, and develop your skill. So that in the moment of truth, when ever that is, you can make your family, and most importantly, your God proud! Whatever you do, you must keep the faith and believe God. You must not compromise your faith, but trust in Him while you wait.

During your wait, temptations will come; lucrative offers will come; and distractions will come to be a stumbling block. Keep your focus on the dream God has given you and do not stray from the faith. When Jesus came to be our scapegoat; that is to be the sacrificial lamb for our sins, there was a moment when they plotted to make Him king (John 6:15) and even Satan made Him magnificent and tempting offers (Matthew 4:8-10). Though Christ had to die on the cross, He would not compromise, He would not waver. He stayed true to His Father and determined to fulfill the call on His earthly life. It was termed as “for the joy set before Him, He endured the Cross (Hebrew 12:2 (KJV)).” After 33 years, He endured the cross, suffered and died, but on the third day, He arose from the dead (Matthew 28:6) with victory and power in His hands! This was the fulfillment of a promise made to Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:15). It was a long time coming, but Salvation has come (Acts 4:12)!

Remember the time Christ was at the wedding in Cana? His mother, Mary, approached Him about a dilemma the Host of the party was having. They had run out of wine. Jesus’ reply to her was “My hour has not yet come (John 2:4 (KJV).” You have a dream, but it has not yet come true. It most likely is because “Your hour has not yet come.” If God gave you the dream, He alone has determined the right time and the right place!

Whatever you do: Don’t get tired. Don’t compromise your faith in God and… Don’t stop dreaming!

” Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (Corinthians 15:58 (KJV)

That’s Today’s SingleFocus…

see my original creative gift ideas: http://www.zazzle.com/dmartinpub/?pg=1#homeProducts

An interesting Book is : Rudy by Sean Astin

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Suppose My Husband Has No Purpose?

Filed under: Searching For Purpose? — 3 Comments

January 10, 2011

DJ Martin (SingleFocus Ministry®)

I would venture to answer, “Impossible!” It is impossible for any creation of God to have no purpose! Unfortunately it is possible to not be operating in that purpose. Admittedly, there are men who misconceive or limit their purpose and neither do they pursue that purpose. They tend to think that going to work everyday is the totality of their purpose to the point of becoming a workaholic. There may be many reasons for this mindset. One is that they don’t spend time with Christian men in church or informally at lunch or dinner. With all these books on knowing your purpose, you would think that it would be impossible that any human being would lack the knowledge of their purpose. Is your husband a Christian? Well, let’s assume he is. Because irregardless, many men define their purpose according to what the world dictates. They get a sermon during the commercial when they watch Sports on TV; they get a sermon during lunch talks at the job; and their boss gives them a sermon. By the time they get home to you, their wife, they express negatively what they think their purpose is. They think that their purpose is to go to work, come home and read the newspaper or watch TV. They might express that their purpose is to eat the dinner you have hot and ready when they get home from work; or to support their hobby with their overtime money! They might behave as if they think their purpose is to dictate to you what your purpose is relative to making them happy. They may express that your purpose is to be under their authority. You would assist him in his purpose, but once a car is parked, their really isn’t a need for assistance to a parked car (I wonder if this is one of those irreconcilable differences that they put on divorce papers…). But then there are the husbands that go to church and have lunch with men of God and they think the same way as afore-mentioned. They never mention the word ‘purpose’. You love him, but his lack or misunderstanding of purpose is making your marriage like a ship on a stormy sea. Because you spend time in Bible study with women of God, you believe that you know your purpose. You have a dream, but your spouse does not or if he does, he hasn’t expressed it nor is he working on it.

We all must understand that purpose is given by the Ultimate Authority, which is the True and Living God. Unfortunately some people think that going to work is the sum of their purpose. This kind of thinking can become a resource or weapon in the cunning hands of the adversary (1 Peter 5:8). Is he interested in knowing his purpose which is beyond going to work everyday? If he is, then he should be asking the Ultimate Authority. You have to seek wisdom from God. Whatever you do, you don’t want to get worldly advice on what his purpose is. Your girlfriends don’t live with him or you, so they don’t know. You don’t want to make the mistake that Eve did (Gen 3:4); taking the advice of a snake. Because, then not only your husband, but you also will be living outside of the purpose and will of God.

Let me ask you, “Do you really know your purpose?” Do you really understand purpose? Does your spouse understand purpose? Every human being is a product and is created to be a conduit of one purpose and that’s God’s good pleasure(Eph 1:5). It could be that you and your spouse have mistaken ‘purpose’ for ‘ambition’. Your question may really be, “suppose my husband has no dream?”, because, we all have the same purpose. Perhaps you have a passion for using your gift in order to accomplish that purpose and your husband shows no passion or signs of using any kind of gift to reach that God-given purpose. So let’s identify purpose and you will see that your husband does indeed have purpose, but we must pray and encourage him to use his gift to accomplish that purpose. Look at Gen 1:26. God said, “Let us make man in our image.” Then He gave them purpose in Gen 1:28; “Be fruitful and multiply.” God charged mankind to multiply His likeness throughout the world. In Gen 2:24He designed the way in which this purpose would be accomplished; “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
Growing the population was ordained to be done in the context of marriage. Multiplying the image of God or growing the population is the purpose God gave to man. The world leaders and politicians need to make note of that as they spread this demonic doctrine (1 Tim 4:1) of abortion on demand and complaints about world population growth. They are very much on the wrong side of God’s purpose and will. Look at creation. God said, “Let there be” and vegetation, seas, stars, animals, etc suddenly appeared and was in existence at His word. However, with His hands, He personally shaped Adam and then this Great and Powerful God, bent down and breathed into his nostrils and man became a living soul (Gen 2:7). God is not only physical (John 1:14), but He is also Spirit. Our purpose, your spouse, and your purpose is to be fruitful and multiply the image of God, both physically through marriage; and spiritually through the word of your testimony (Matt 28:19). Multiplying His physical image is easy; it’s the spiritual image that is tricky. This is where ‘passionately using the gifts’ comes in. Conclusively, your spouse has purpose, he just doesn’t exhibit the ‘passionately use of gifts’ in order to accomplish that purpose. Are you passionately using your gift to accomplish that purpose?

It may boil down to the fact that neither of you see the true purpose. Your purpose is not to open a Bookstore or cut a Gospel CD. This is just the method by which you are to accomplish your purpose. Agreeably, your husband can’t achieve the purpose by watching TV or be worldly logical by trying to stop you from pursuing your God-given passion. He most likely doesn’t understand purpose. If you both understood purpose, then you both would pursue everyday life with passion. Actually going to the job everyday would become a mission. Going to the job everyday would become a spiritual passion. Not to just get paid, but to touch lives so that the spiritual image of God would be multiplied. The struggle is getting your spouse to comprehend that. This will necessitate much prayer.

Your life, his life, all our lives is about the Glory of God. How can you know your gift and use your gifts? How can you develop a passion to grow the kingdom? The first thing God did after establishing their purpose was to develop a relationship with Adam and Eve. Apparently God customarily walked with them in the cool of the day. This is where developing a passion, being gifted and given a dream starts; with a relationship with God. I’m not talking about a simple confessing with your mouth, “Sunday go meeting” faith. I’m talking about being full of the Spirit, “knowing ‘in your heart’ that you know”; consistently walking with, communicating with God; and ‘feeling His embrace’ kind of relationship (John 3:7). The kind of personal relationship that discerns His righteousness; hates what He hates; and passionately seeks His glory and will! Just think about the conversations God and Adam had in their walks through the garden. Not only did God give Adam direction, but He spent time with him. Adam spent time in His presence.

I guarantee that as soon as that personal relationship develops you will clearly understand purpose and God will reveal to you how to use your gift in order to achieve the purpose (Eph 4:1-12). He will give you a dream and a passionate pursuit of that dream by using your gift for the Glory of God (Matt 4:19)! You will then discover that ‘Purpose’ is more than a pursuit. It is a walk; a lifestyle; the air we breathe.

No creation is without purpose. True purpose is the product of a personal relationship with the True and Living God.

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, (Ephesians 4:1(KJV)

That’s Today’s SingleFocus…

A Book that might be helpful is: ‘The Kingdom Agenda’ by Dr. Tony Evans
'What A way To Live'