The Source of Your Help

There are so many places we can look for help. We can look to our families, our friends, community outreach programs, and of course the church. Many of these sources will gladly reach out to help you when you are in need or are in trouble. As a matter of fact the Bible instructs us to help our brothers and sisters when they are in need. There is absolutely nothing wrong with looking to these sources for assistance, comfort and encouragement. Where we go wrong many times is when we make these sources our only source....our primary source. When we reach out to others to help them, we must make sure we are motivated by the Lord and depend on the Lord in leading us in how we go about helping them. We we look to others for help we must understand that our ultimate help comes from God and man's abilities are limited and many time futile to provide the degree of help that we need. Let us remember that whether we are providing help or seeking help that the ultimate source of that help comes from God himself and only He can provide complete rescue in our time of trouble.

Join me this week as I minister from the Word of God concerning, "The Source of Your Help".

More on Sunday's Message "The Time of Need"

Grace & Peace, Saints!

I wanted to take a moment to clarify a statement I made in Sunday's message "The Time of Need". The statement I made was that "...Temptation is not sin, but yielding to temptation is sin..." I also stated that sin hasn't taken place when you're tempted, but sin takes place when you commit the act. What I failed to do was clarify when the actual act of sin has been committed.

What must be understood is that the act of sin does not have to be physical to be committed. Sin is a motivation of the heart. The key in determining sin is the intents of the heart. Let's use Matthew 5:27-28 as an example. "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."

Now, while I still believe that temptation in and of itself is not sin, the clarification must be made by what I mean when I say it's how you 'respond' to temptation that determines when it becomes sin. "Responding" does not necessarily mean physically committing the act. Responding can be mental, or emotional. Taking a look at Matthew 5:27-28 we see that subject of adultery. Now, we will all agree that adultery is sin, however, we cannot say to ourselves (or anyone else) that adultery has not actually taken place because you did not physically engage in sexual relations with someone who is not your legal spouse. According to Jesus, anyone who looks upon a woman (or man) "to lust after her (him)"..... This means that a person is looking at another person with the intention of committing adultery if the opportunity presented itself. So if the opportunity never presents itself has sin taken place? YES! Because the person's HEART committed to the act long before their body did sin has still taken place.

Let's use another example. Let's say you see a friend's wallet left out with a wad of money sticking out. You know he wouldn't suspect you if you took it so as you motion to grab the cash, he walks in before you can take hold of the money. No harm, no foul, right? No, ...... the full intent of your heart was to steal your friend's money and what kept you from it was not your devotion to God or your spiritual power to resist temptation, but because you were about to be caught!

So, my brothers and sisters, if I was not clear before, please forgive me as I make it abundantly clear that sin lies in the thoughts and intents of the heart. By the way, it is not you who determines if those thoughts or intents are sin... the Word of God sets that standard (Hebrews 4:12)

Check your hearts friends... examine your motive+s... and follow the Word of God, "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." (1 Corinthians 10:12) Do not for one moment think that you can allow lust (which is not limited to sex, but includes all other worldly desires that can entice us) to fester in your mind. The moment you chose not to take captive the thoughts that come to tempt you, sin has taken place and therefore according to James 1:15, "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."

God Bless you all, and thank you for your commitment to the Truth of the Word of God and your faithfulness to the Ministry of Ruach! Keep yourselves in the Love of God!

In Christ,

Marlon Brocco, Pastor
Ruach Ministries

The Time of Need

We all experience a time of need in our life. We all experience temptation and trials and we always need God. Even Jesus experienced trials and temptations and in that time of need we must learn to approach God with those needs. Join me for this week's message, "The Time of Need"

Intimate Purpose

Praise the Lord, Saints! The Lord definately blessed our service today! I truly believe that the Word was a blessing to us all.

There are so many voices and influences in life that it is sometimes hard to determine what God's purpose is. We try to find his purpose in so many different places and can still miss it. Join me this week as I help distinguish the difference between God's Presence and His Purpose in, "Intimate Purpose" God Bless!