C H O F Ministry

Tag: sin

  • “A New Beginning”

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    Our spiritual topic this morning is entitled:

    “A New Beginning”, and this morning’s verse is Lamentations 3:23.
    This morning’s verse reads this way:
    “They are new every morning; Great and beyond measure is Your faithfulness.”
    When I was growing up, one of my favorite T. V. shows to watch was “I Love Lucy”. Lucy (Lucille Ball) was one of the funniest women to grace this earth. She would always find herself is some type of hilarious situation that involved her landlord friends Fred and Ethel Mertzes (William Frawley and Vivian Vance) or her husband Ricky (Ricky Ricardo). But, by the end of each episode, her situation would get resolve and her landlord friends and husband would forgive her, and she would have a new beginning with no mistakes to be funny all over again during the next episode.
    I love that thought!!! You know, a new episode in life. Forgiven. A new beginning. With no mistakes charged to our life’s account.
    Beloved, today is a new day!!! A new day a when we can start our new beginning. We all make mistakes. Romans 3:23(NLT) tells us this. The Word says: “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”
    But because you have sinned doesn’t disqualify you from life!!! When it comes to sin, God’s forgiveness is what enables us to start each morning with a clean slate. Jeremiah 31:34 and Hebrews 8:12 says: “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”
    Sure, some of us have made wrong choices in our lives, but our past difference of opinion, conducts or activities doesn’t have to define our future in God’s eyes.
    Beloved, when we repent, He chooses to remember our sins no more. Not like a lot of men, women, boys and girls. Many will try to keep you subjected and use what God has forgiven you for. Many will  insult you and ostracize you as if they have never committed a sin. John 8:7-11 (AMP) says: (7) However, when they persisted in questioning Him, He straightened up and said, “He who is without [any] sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” (8) Then He stooped down again and started writing on the ground. (9) They listened [to His reply], and they began to go out one by one, starting with the oldest ones, until He was left alone, with the woman [standing there before Him] in the center of the court. (10) Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” (11) She answered, “No one, Lord!” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you either. Go. From now on sin no more.”]
    Beloved, there’s always a “new beginning.” When we ask for His forgiveness, we take a first step toward restoring our relationship with Him and with others. 1 John 1:9 says: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”.
    Lamentations 3:23 tells us that God’s compassion and faithfulness allows us a new beginning each and every day.
    Prayer:
    Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you once again for allowing me to set one of Your Spiritual breakfast tables.
    In Jesus’ name I pray Amen and Amen
    * After each CHOF Bible Fellowship Sunday Morning teaching I present to you “CHOF Ministry’s Sunday Morning Reflection.” I will give you my brief observation of the CHOF Bible Fellowship Sunday Morning teaching. While you are there you can also read  prayers, Bible verses, and even devotions.
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    Have a Blessed Sunday Everyone. 😀

  • CHOF Ministry’s Sunday Morning Reflection on “Be Hesitant to Criticize Others”

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    Welcome to CHOF Ministry’s Sunday Morning Reflection

    This morning I will observe this morning’s CHOF Bible Fellowship Teaching: “Be Hesitant to Criticize Others”

    In today’s CHOF Bible Fellowship Sunday morning Bible  teaching we saw our Lord’s disapproval of a hypercritical or judgmental attitude. You know Beloved, it’s extraordinary how we can have a perfectionistic attitude toward others yet ignore the glaring faults we possess.

    The Pharisees of Jesus day were sarcastic in their attack on the sins of others while superficially unaware of their own faults. In seeing the pretense of these hypocrites, Jesus gave a series of rebukes one of them was in Matthew 23:25-26 Jesus Said: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean”.

    Beloved, the Greek word hypocrite means “he that wears the mask”. Mask were used by actors in plays. The private lives of hypocrites don’t match the image they project for public view. Beloved, the Christian walk should lead to greater integrity and transparency. To avoid hypocrisy, it’s essential that we confess our sin and rely on the Spirit to help us live holy lives. Galatians 5:16 says: “But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts].”
    Ephesians 5:18: Do not get drunk with wine, for that is wickedness (corruption, stupidity), but be filled with the [Holy] Spirit and constantly guided by Him.)” And 1 John 1:9 says: “If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own nature and promises] and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose].”

    Romans 3:23 uncovers every one of us. We all fall short of the graciousness of God. That’s right, we all have said something dumb or stupid about someone, then find ourselves hypocritically doing or saying the same thing.

    Beloved, we all can be more gracious to others.

    Have a blessed time at your spiritual edifice.

    *Each Sunday morning I CHOF Bible Fellowship morning teaching can be viewed on the links below.

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  • “Breaking Bread”

    Romans 6 22 through 23

    BREAKING BREAD    🍞
    Beloved, people claim to be living on their own terms, they’re actually serving whatever their human nature craves. The penalty for that false sense of liberty is death.

  • “The 2 Rs”

    Bishop Houston's Monday Morning Blog

    You know Beloved, there are portions of the old Wilburn I don’t miss and don’t have intentions of reliving. I’ve had my share of struggles, like anyone in life, and I still have struggles.
    Beloved, there are parts of all our lives we want to be lifeless and remain lifeless. Sure, we could sidestep certain circles, so the past doesn’t reappear.
    Maybe you’ve dodged a family reunion or high school reunion because of this. Maybe you dodge certain towns or shopping centers because of whom you might bump into. Maybe one of these situation has recently happened to you. Maybe you found yourself in a circumstance that causes you to shield the new you because of the old you. Beloved, this is terrible and not the way God wants us to live!!!.
    As I was reading Luke chapter 8, verses 1-3, caught my attention.
    It said: Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, (2) and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, (3) and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means. Those 3 verses hopped right into my spirit.
    Beloved, Mary Magdalene was once demon possessed!!!. Sure, we’ve all read it, its been taught to us, and I’ve taught about her being demon possessed. But, as I looked closer at this verse, I feel that one of the reasons her demonic characteristic really doesn’t stand out with us is because she was never treated as one who had been demon controlled.
    For many of us when it comes to our old life, it wasn’t just one demon, but several!!! None of us want to be the poster child of one being demon controlled. But if there was ever one back in Jesus’ day, it was Mary Magdalene!!!
    Demon possession is something we don’t see much of in America, well, we don’t pay it much attention many don’t recognize it. But it’s real!! There maybe someone you know that you’ve stopped hanging with that are fighting real demons. Beloved, I’m very serious here about peopled being controlled by real demons. And It’s something you shouldn’t take too lightly either.
    Now, allow me to ask you a couple of questions right here: *Are you praying for people in the battles they are fighting? **Are you willing to extend to people the gift of the 2 Rs repair or reconstruct to bring them into your circle with full trust?”
    Many don’t focus on how severely demon-controlled Mary Magdalene was because she was never again treated as one who was demon controlled.
    You see, if that’s how people REALLY saw her, why would God make her one of the first (THE FIRST) eyewitness of the empty tomb? In the Bible we see her running saying, “the tomb is empty!!!” That would be crazy!!! LOL!!! To treat her as old demon-controlled Mary would have led to saying, there goes crazy Mary again.” To run and say to people, “Hey you guys, I talked to an angel, a real angel, JESUS IS ALIVE!!!!” People would have easily said “Yeah, right Mary!!! An angel or is it one of your demons again? Come on Mary come back to reality.”
    But instead, she was treated as someone that was made new by Jesus. Beloved, no human can be alive and dead at the same time. NO ONE!!! You’re one or the other.
    I read Romans 6:4-11 when people ask me to baptize them:
    We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (5) For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. (6) We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
    (7) For one who has died has been set free from sin. (8) Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. (9) We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. (10) For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. (11) So, you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
    Beloved, if you said yes to a relationship with Jesus, then let the past be dead. Live the new (different) life that Christ offers. The past life only brought death, so why go back? You’ve been made new, you’re now living, so LIVE Your Life!!!
    Beloved, do you know someone with a past? Remember, you have a past also? Do you treat them as you hope others would treat you? Or, are you someone that certain people want to avoid because you might bring up the past? Or because you might treat them as if the past is still the present? Can you see, how Christ is treating them regardless of their past?
    Beloved, complete forgiveness, full fellowship and relationship with God will help repair or rebuild a demon-controlled brother or sister who wants to get rid of their old sin nature. We should act like Jesus.
    Mary didn’t have to live spooked by her past. God put her in leadership positions. She was a vital part of what God was doing. She was the first woman to the tomb, she was at the cross, she was with Jesus as He was proclaiming the gospel. Jesus didn’t see her as a black sheep or hindrance to His message. In fact, she was made for the message because we serve a God of life change.
    Have a blessed week Everyone. 😀