Category: Paul (Apostle)

Blessed or Blissed?

R. Mangold

The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. Proverbs 10:22

It is a gross misconception when we equate God’s blessings with God’s sanctioning. Even Jesus decried this delusion when he said, “For he (God) maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matt. 5:45).

False teachers presume to preach a gospel of prosperity and mislead millions into believing if you’re blessed you must be pleasing to God and conversely, if you’re not blessed, you must not have enough faith. This is a miscarriage of the Gospel that Jesus taught…Blessed are the poor, the mournful, the meek, the merciful, and the persecuted! (Matthew 5)

This list reads like a “who’s who” of mistreated, brokenhearted, and the socially outcast of our day. What the world views as weakness, God sees as a trust in His Strength that is made perfect in weakness. What the world sees as poverty, God sees as being an heir to the Kingdom of Heaven.

God does indeed bless His people in so many ways, but if we’re so infatuated with the blessings rather than the “Source” from whom all blessings flow, we’re in extreme peril of being “blessed” rather than “blessed!”

For an expanded version of this post please visit Rodger’s Rants, Writings, and Rambles

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

"Timely" Advice from our Biblical Ancestors

R. Mangold

Time is priceless yet it costs us nothing.

You can do anything you want with it, but you can’t own it.

You can spend it, but you can’t keep it.

And, once you’ve lost it there’s no getting it back.

Our biblical ancestors have some “timely” advice for us…

  • David resigned himself to the fact his “times” were in God’s hands. (Psalm 31:15)
  • Queen Esther convinced she had come to the kingdom “for such a time as this,” risked execution to save her people, siting, “if I perish, I perish!” (Esther 4:14)
  • James postulates our lives are just a vapor appearing for just a “little time.” (James 4:14)
  • Paul admonished the Ephesians to “redeem the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:16)

Only God occupies all space and time…we don’t! Our days are numbered. If you’re delaying your decision and postponing your purpose, remember, you’re not guaranteed tomorrow. Don’t wait any longer! God can do more with what’s left of your life than everything you’ve accomplished up to this point!

No one knows the day nor the hour of Christ’s return. We must be ready at a moment’s notice…He came for someone today!

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

STIR IT UP!

R. Mangold

In 2 Timothy 1:1-6, Paul tells Timothy, the faith that was in your Grandma, and your Mama….I now see is also in you! So this is a gift…passed down from generations. Someone said, “If you ever see a turtle on a fencepost, you know he didn’t get there by himself”.

None of us started out with our own ‘stuff’! Just like the son of Aaron the High Priest. The only anointing upon him was what soaked into the clothes he now wore…FROM HIS FATHER IN MINISTRY! Only AFTER you walk under HIS anointing, do you get your own anointing! That’s where “double portion“ comes from! Nobody can pray it on you! You receive it by manifesting as a faithful son in ministry!

There are gifts passed from generations, deep inside of you…It was there when you were born! You’ve been studying generational curses; you NEED to study generational BLESSINGS!

As you reach adulthood, all the gifting that was apparent in you as a child, has a tendency to get covered up with A LOT OF STUFF….THAT’S why Paul told Timothy…STIR UP THE GIFT!

STIR IT UP, CHILD OF GOD!

By Rev. J.S. Willoughby – To read other posts by Rev. J.S. Willoughby visit his blog at http://jswilloughby.wordpress.com

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

Big Lessons in Small Packages – The Tongue (Verbal Bullying)

R. Mangold

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindles! James 3:5-12

As kids, when bullies called us names, our standard retort was, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me!”  Those words, while meant to volley back against insults, often fell on the deaf ears. According to the School Bullying Council, every day some 160,000 students stay home from school afraid of bullies. With the advent of social networking, there has been an increase in teens committing suicide because of “words” posted on sites like Facebook by “cyber-bullies.” Yes, when taken to heart words can hurt…even kill.

Paul described these “verbal bullies” as “tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not (I Tim. 5:13).” Our words can be as sharp and cutting as any dagger. How tragic would it be, if as Christians we were guilty of bullying fellow Christians? Not physically, but verbally and mentally, isolating them from the body of believers cutting them off from their source of vital spiritual strength. We’re all admonished to “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” (Eph. 4:29)…Oh be careful little tongue what you say!


“Serminute” Series – Big Lessons in Small Packages

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

Big Lessons in Small Packages – The Lilly

R. Mangold

“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Matthew 6:28 – 30 (NKJV)

“Indeed the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame of which I heard.” After a thorough investigation of her own, the Queen of Sheba was left in a state of bewilderment over the sheer enormity of Solomon’s Kingdom, wealth, and wisdom. First Kings Chapter 10 attempts to inventory Solomon’s earthly treasure, but even that could not adequately capture “Solomon’s glory.”  Even more baffling is Jesus said, “Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like” one of the lilies of the field! Yes, the beauty of ONE lily exceeded that of Solomon in “all his glory.”

We’re easily impressed with the immense wealth of Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, but in “all their glory” they pale when compared to ONE that is arrayed by God’s beauty. If you’re a child of God, don’t you dare stoop to compare yourself to the fleeting fortune and fame of this world. We are sons and daughter of the MOST HIGH GOD!

You may be struggling now, but Apostle Paul said in Romans 8:18, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

“Serminute” Series – Big Lessons in Small Packages

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

Big Lessons in Small Packages – A Child

R. Mangold

13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. (Mark 10:13 – 16)

One of the most profound of all “Big Lessons in Small Packages” has to be this portion of Jesus’ teaching. The “adults” were quick to shoo away the children assuming they would be more of a nuisance to Jesus. There were only a few times Jesus was this “displeased.” One such episode resulted in Jesus quite literally “turning the tables” on “religious” professionals of His day. The impact of Jesus’ words regarding children had virtually the same effect.

By no means was Jesus saying become childish, in fact, Paul said to put away childish things (I Cor. 13:11). Rather Jesus was teaching us to strip away the pretense we display as adults; afraid to convey any sign of tenderness, love, and humility. As adults, we’re constantly on guard, always in control, have all the answers, and put on a strong front. Tragically, we keep a tally of those who’ve wronged us, harboring grudges, we lash out in anger, we distrust, we retaliate, we remain bitter. But as children, we were quick to love, quick to forget, and quick to move on. These qualities and childlike nature give us a glimpse into the beautiful Kingdom God is preparing for His “children!”

“Serminute Series” – Big Lessons in Small Packages

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

Great Givers

R. Mangold

Great givers hold nothing back.

They go the extra mile –

Cheerfully.

Their motives are pure,

Their commitment is sure.

Sacrifice is not a stranger,

Nor is it a burden.

They gladly spend and are spent.

They see the end of the matter

And count that joy worth

Every investment.

The reward they seek

is an

Eternal “Well Done!”

Great Givers:

Jesus

Stephen

Paul

Mary (& her alabaster box)

Jonathan

By: Sis. Marjorie Kinnee –  For more visit her blog at http://phebeblog.blogspot.com/

Sis. Marjorie Kinnee attends New Life Apostolic Church in Detrot, MI and is a published Apostolic Author and Managing Editor of the Apostolic Writer’s Online

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

Big Lessons in Small Packages – The Rabbit

R. Mangold

There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise…The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks; (Prov. 30:24-28)

This particular species rabbit (coney) resides near rock formations and crevices of mountains. Ill-equipped to face predators, the coney surrounds itself with protection and can quickly evade capture by hiding amongst rocks. What great wisdom may we glean from our “feeble” friend the rabbit? 

  • Not quick to defend itself
  • Sometimes it’s better to flee (youthful lusts)
  • Holding his peace allowing God to fight his battles
  • No greater protection and defense than God

Ironically, David, Israel’s most courageous king was quite the “rabbit!” 

  • “My rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust;” (Ps. 18:2)
  • “Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” (Ps. 61:2)
  • “My defense; and my God is the rock of my refuge.” (Ps. 94:22)
  • “Rock of our salvation.” (Ps. 95:1)

Apostle Paul spells it out better than anyone who our true “Rock” is…they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. (I Cor. 10:4)

“Serminute” Series – Big Lessons in Small Packages

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

A Friend Named "Failure"

R. Mangold

II Cor. 12:9 – And he said unto me [Paul], My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

  • If Failure exposes our weakness…
  • If Failure removes the veneer of pride and selfishness…
  • If Failure causes God’s strength to be perfected in us…
  • If Failure draws us closer to God…

Then Failure is our friend!

These famous people defined their failure as…

  • “Failure is only the opportunity to begin again, only this time more wisely.”– Henry Ford

  • “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”– Thomas Edison

  • “If you have made mistakes, even serious ones, there is always another chance for you. What we call failure is not the falling down, but the staying down.”– Mary Pickford

  • “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan

A Time to Forget

R. Mangold

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 3:13-14)

Paul was relentless in his pursuit of God! However, If he was ever going to become for God, all that God intended him to be…

There were 3 things that Paul HAD to forget….

  1. He had to forget his past accomplishments.
  2. He had to forget his past crimes against the Truth.
  3. He had to forget the wounds in his life caused by others.

By Guest Author Rev. Jim Willoughby – Long-time friend and co-laborer in Christ, Rev. Jim Willoughby has inspired literally thousands with his anointed preaching, powerful discernment, and laser-sharp focus on winning the lost for Christ. We want extend a very warm welcome and heart-felt thanks to Jim for his contribution to Serminutes, and we look forward to many more to come! Visit Bro. Willoughby’s Blog at http://jswilloughby.wordpress.com/

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold