Tag: Joy

The Testimony of the Lord is sure

Posted on by ascendthehill

“Who against hope believed in hope… and being not weak in faith… He did not stagger at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God.”

from Romans 4:18-20

The above scripture is in reference to Abraham, the father of our faith. The Bible is very clear about the shortcomings of our forefathers. It shows where Abraham lied a couple times and where he doubted if the promise would happen. Except, in this retelling of Abraham’s story, those moments are not even mentioned. It seems that God did not even care to bring them up. Why? Because God is love, and love keeps no record of wrongdoing. Love sees the best even when the opposite is showing itself. Love perseveres.

It’s amazing the way God sees things versus the way the accuser sees them. God sees past our shortcomings and sees the finished work of His Son Jesus. The accuser, however, only focuses on our failures and tries to disqualify us based on that.

You see a moment in your life does not define who you are. It’s only a moment. Those were only moments in Abraham’s life, and his story did not end there. God continued to encourage and speak to him, and Abraham believed in the One who promised.

Don’t let satan continue to accuse you for things that have happened. People may bring up your shortcomings and failures, but those people are only looking at the flesh. God never said that flesh would inherit the kingdom.

Zaccheus, A sinner Son

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich. Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, and he was unable due to the crowd, because he was short in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up a sycamore tree in order to see Him, because He was about to pass through that way.

And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”

And [Zaccheus] hurried and came down, and received Him joyfully.

When the people saw this, they all began to complain, saying, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner!”

But Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I am giving to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone, I am giving back four times as much.”

And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

NASB, Luke 19:1-10

When Jesus called out to Zaccheus people in that community began to bring up all his sins and shortcomings. Do you think that the Lord didn’t know about Zaccheus’ sins before he had called him? Of course, he did. He knew exactly who Zaccheus was and what he had done; yet, this knowledge did not prevent the Lord from calling him. It may have offended everyone around Zaccheus, but God’s choice remained the same.

While the rest of the town was saying he was a child of the devil, Jesus declared his true identity over him. Jesus, contrary to public opinion, continued to affirm Zaccheus. Once Zaccheus finished speaking Jesus continued with his redemptive purpose in Zaccheus’ life. He declared plainly for all the accusers to hear, “…[Zaccheus], too, is a son of Abraham.”

God’s testimony is a more sure word than human verdicts

“But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.”

NKJV, 1 Corinthians 4:3

People may cast judgment toward you, but God’s word is the only one that matters. There may have been times when you were wrongfully accused or rightfully condemned, but God holds the final say in all things. It was the Law that condemned the woman caught in adultery, but Jesus Christ, the Son, set her free (see John 8:1-12). You see human judgments are just that, human. They do not hold the final verdict, that belongs to God alone. People may judge and cast stones without giving any grace, but remember “Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ” (from John 1:17).

God’s testimony is much more gracious towards you than you may believe. He is the savior, who came into this world to seek and save that which was lost. You may be like Zaccheus, listening to the crowd calling you a sinner unfit to have Jesus in your home, but Jesus is calling you a son. Turn off the noise of this world, and cling to the voice of your savior.

“For I know nothing by myself; yet I am not justified by this: but he that judges me is the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 4:4

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. (NLT, Proverbs 4:23).

People may continue to speak against you. People may partner with the devil and bring up all your sins. People may condemn you and throw rocks at you, but don’t allow that to penetrate your heart. If the devil can get a person to believe from their heart the accusations spoken against them then he can try to set the course of their life.

“But be on guard against people, for they will hand you over to the courts and flog you in their synagogues”

Jesus our Divine Judge, Matthew 10:17

“…But take courage; I have overcome the world!” (Jesus, the Savior).

You may have found yourself in a position where you’ve believed the accusations from your heart. If you have found yourself beaten down by the accuser, believing the lies that he has spoken over you do not lose hope! Even there our savior’s hand is reaching out to keep you!

“For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.”

NKJV, 1 John 3:20

Stand strong before God and believe in his steadfast love and devotion toward you. God’s promises never fail. Continue to seek his face. He sees you. He’s always been faithful. He’s never failed. His mercies are new every morning!

I love you guys! When the world is against you and people have judged you harshly just remember the Holy Spirit’s testimony of your story is much different than you think. God doesn’t hold things against you. “…[Love] keeps no record of wrongs” (from 1 Corinthians 13:5) and our God is love! Keep pressing in He is for you! He loves you more than you could know!

A Piece of Earthly Wisdom: aka A Demonic Doctrine

Posted on by ascendthehill

How can the wisdom of this world be demonic?

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.

James 3:14-15

First, I want to clarify why earthly wisdom is a doctrine from devils. The wisdom of this world denies its Creator. It leaves your destiny in your own hands. The wisdom of this world is all about self. It’s your promotion and what you can do to achieve your potential. me, Me, ME. That’s what it’s all about, self… For greater clarification of the wisdom of this world being demonic in origin, I will take you to Jesus’ rebuke of Simon Peter.

From that time forward Jesus began to show unto his disciples, how that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, "Let these things not come near you, Lord: this shall not happen to you." 

But he turned, and said unto Peter, "Get behind me, Satan: you are an offence to me: for you do not savor the things that be of God, but those that be of men."

(Matthew 16:21-23).

What was his offense towards Peter? That he thought and dwelt on the things of this world. What was the topic that Peter was addressing? Jesus’ torture and death. We want our family and friends to live long and prosperous lives so why is this an offensive mindset? Because it’s all about this earth, and getting the most out of this earth. Peter was rebuked and called Satan because his thoughts (at that time) were steadfastly on the affairs of this earth. This is why earthly wisdom is demonically inspired.

Subtle Lies From Demons

“Surround yourself with prominent people in your community and you will go higher in that community…”

Demonic Rhetoric

I have heard this and similar expressions come from Christians. Honestly, it disturbs me. Isn’t this the same thing the children of this world do? It seems to me that it is.

“Surround yourself with well-to-do people and you will also rise to the top with them.”

More Demonic Rhetoric

This mindset has held the church back from being the city on a hill the Lord has called us to be. We need to get back to the teachings of the Bible.

But the wisdom from above is first pure…impartial, free of hypocrisy

“My brothers and sisters, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and is dressed in bright clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes also comes in, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the bright clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters: did God not choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court? Do they not blaspheme the good name by which you have been called? If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the Law as violators.”

Holy Inspiration, James 2:1-9

It’s the disregarded that many Christians cast to the side that God is after. Stones disallowed indeed by men (see 1 Peter 2:4). Seeing how our messiah was an outcast and chose a bunch of outcasts it’s a wonder this kind of teaching gains speed in the church.

I’m so glad our Father chose the foolish, the poor, the disregarded, and the children to confound the “put-together” people of Jesus’ time.

“I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.”

Jesus the Son of God, Matthew 11:25-26

And he will do it again. Remember his word,

“For this reason also, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill, and some they will persecute.”

Jesus the Messiah, Luke 11:49

Final admonition

We need to wake up and smell the broken. Jesus is here for them, but instead, we turned Christianity into a networking club about who you know… it’s a shame really. I wonder how often the Lord or one of his angels has come into a church as an unrefined person and sat there in the service waiting for people to receive him?

“For if you love them which love you, what credit is that to you? for sinners also love those that love them. And if you do good to them which do good to you, what credit is that to you? for sinners also do even the same. And if you lend to them of whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.”

Jesus the King of kings, Luke 6:32-36

Love you all!

Life and Death (the Power of Our Words)

Posted on by ascendthehill

Speak life!

I love you all! Thank you for watching.

The Power to Subvert Kingdoms

Posted on by ascendthehill

Pointing out a problem without giving a solution always leads to one or more of the following: discouragement; anger; bitterness; hopelessness; fear; anxiety; helplessness; unworthiness… the list goes on. The thing is, pointing out a person’s problem doesn’t really help them, it just leaves them wanting. With no solution, facing these problems seems daunting and turns into fear and discouragement.

These problems scoff and laugh at us. They blaspheme the armies of the living God as we sit on the sidelines shaking in fear, too afraid to say anything against the insults and blasphemous slander. Just like Goliath, they stand in the way of God’s kingdom, openly opposing its advancement.

David believed in the Solution more than the problem. He didn’t ignore the problem and act like it wasn’t there. He addressed the issue by faith. He knew there was an issue, but he knew his God was bigger than the problem. David when looking out at this giant saw an enemy of God’s people and knew “if God be for us, who can be against us” (from Rom. 8:31). He gave his fear to the Lord instead of fearing this Philistine. He glorified the living God and said, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

When David looked out he saw a problem, but he did not shrink from it. He glorified God and knew the God who delivered him from the paw of the lion and the bear will deliver this Philistine into his hands. We look at David like he had courage in himself to do this great feat, but we so easily forget that David is a man just like me and you. His courage was not in himself, he just believed in God. It’s very easy to exalt a champion of the Lord’s, and they are champions indeed, but their victory didn’t come from themselves it came from believing in God. As we think about the great cloud of witnesses that went before us, let us be reminded that they accomplished everything through faith in the living God. So, we must be victorious through faith in the living God as well.

“Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:”

Hebrews 11:33-39

God Is Light

Posted on by ascendthehill

The biggest takeaway from Christianity is: God is good; mankind is evil; God is faithful; mankind is unfaithful; God is righteous; mankind is unrighteous; God justifies the ungodly; mankind is unable to be godly without God.


If your theology points toward human effort and the establishment of your own goodness (especially that over God’s) then you are wrong. Everyone wants to try very hard to be righteous through their own effort, but never really trust in the righteousness of God.
I will be as direct and honest as I can be. MOST Christians believe that they have good standing with God by their own merit. Now most Christians would argue and say that they do not. But, a good portion of Christian teaching is how the recipient of grace must behave himself to be in good standing with God.

Do you want power? Fast, pray, and live a holy life then maybe God will send it. Do you want fellowship with God? Fast, pray, and live a holy life then maybe God will talk to you. Do you want anything from God? Well, you must live according to how a “good” person lives, and then God will give it to you…

The reason why sinners and publicans enter the kingdom of God before the “righteous” is because they rely on God being morally good over their own moral goodness. Many will declare their acts of love and devotion toward God (i.e. prayer, fasting, religious works), but I WILL ALWAYS DECLARE GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS!

The God who is light in whom there is no shadow of turning. The God who, despite myself, loved me and gave me new life. The God who has remained faithful even when I was unfaithful. The God who believed in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself. The God whose devotion toward me has far surpassed any feeble devotion I have shown him. I will DECLARE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS!! I will declare him to my brothers! Jesus is LORD and I have found favor in him!

All those who trust in anything besides the righteousness that is the LORD’s will fall.