RELIGION, RELATIONSHIP AND GOD

Praise the Lord everybody. If you are saved or if you have been around Christians you have heard about the importance of having a relationship with Jesus Christ. You may ask yourself “how do you have a relationship with God? Why would God take time out from His busy schedule to spend time with me?” First, we must define a relationship.
The Dictionary states that Relationship: means, 1. the condition or fact of being related; connection or association.
2. Connection by blood or marriage; or kinship.
3. A particular type of connection existing between people related to or having dealings with each other: has a close relationship with his siblings.
4. A romantic or sexual involvement.
Let us look at numbers 2 and 3; these are the two that come closest to describing the relationship we should have with God.
 First of all, having religion does not mean you have a relationship with God. See Matthew 7:21 – 23   21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Religious works and/or ceremony do not equal a relationship. First, we must be covered and washed in the blood of Jesus before we can even be recognized by God. A real Intimate personal relationship with God starts with accepting Christ as your Lord and Savior and then a strong prayer life. How much time you spend with God in your prayer closet is an important factor. Jesus prayed every chance He Got. See Matthew 26:37-39. We must realize that God wants to fellowship with us see Genesis 3:8 and John: 16+17, we are his creation.

The number one benefit of being in right relationship with God is it comes with a gift, and that gift is salvation from our sins, allowing us to have everlasting life in His presence. Without this, we would die in our sin and spend eternity in Hell. Romans 6:22, 23 states 22 but now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

When we are in a relationship with God we not only receive the gift of eternal life but He gives us the power to live a Christ-like selfless life and a helper to lead us on our journey. See John 14:26.

Being in a right relationship as opposed to being on the outs with God is the most important thing a man can do for his eternal security and for his family. David said in Psalms 37: 23-25 23 the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.
24 Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

The benefits of a relationship with Jesus are too many to count, this is just a little something to get your attention,

         God Bless You All, Brother Darrell, Speaking Off The Wall

THE PASTOR OF PRAYER

Praise the Lord everybody, I pray you are all enjoying God’s blessing. I have been sitting here for a few hours now thinking back to when I first got saved. It was a hot summer day in August 1992, I had been running the streets of New York for almost four years chasing the “dragon” known as crack cocaine. This day I walked into a large church someone told me about called Times Square Church, with the hope of scamming them out of some money but God had another plan. As I told the lady at the desk my story she looked deep into my soul and then she said: “We don’t give money out anymore.” My heart dropped and then she picked up her bible and read to me “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you”(Matthew 6:33) I immediately broke down and began sobbing uncontrollably. I was a broken man. As I cried she led me through the "sinners’ prayer" and I gave my life to the Lord and then she sent me to see a man that would change my life, Pastor Billy White.

Pastor White was a true believer and a man of Prayer. He held the unofficial title of “Pastor of prayer” at the time and also pastored the churches homeless outreach and soup kitchen. Billy White taught me the importance of prayer and the power of prayer. He taught me how to “pray through” in other words to pray until something happens. Pastor White was a little pale looking man about 35 years old who was constantly fighting off some kind of cold, drinking hot tea and knocking back ginseng and cold medicine. Despite these things he was a powerful man of God.

Before we would open the doors to the soup kitchen / coffee house ministry he pastored to let the homeless and those in need come inside to eat, Pastor Billy would give us a sort of pep talk sermonette and then he would lead us in prayer for what seemed to be about two hours. We would be in their corporately praying, tearing down strongholds and binding up dark spirits and losing the power of the Holy Spirit so that our outreach would go forth without incident. Pastor Billy taught me the importance of spiritual warfare. After all the prayer that went on in our little Chapel/ cafeteria you could feel the prayer as soon as you walked in and we never had an episode of violence there in all those years.

Pastor white was the first to recognize my calling and it is because of him I am known as a praying man today. Billy White passed away about ten years ago but I will never forget his zeal and his fiery prayers. He had a burden for the homeless and addicts. Getting them into discipleship programs including myself who he got into a place called Timothy House, one of the best programs in New York at the time. I flourished there as God groomed me for such a time as this. I thank God for Billy White and the training I received under his ministry and that training is still with me today. I pray you all find your own Billy White someday and if yours is still alive send them some love their way while you still can.

              God Bless you All, Brother Darrell, Speaking Off the Wall