Mornings With Jesus

In today’s episode, we are going to pick up where we left off yesterday and answer the question of where did sin come from.

We will also be exploring the question: if sin is so bad, why does it feel so good? 

Sin is fun for a season, but once that season is over, there is Hell to pay!

The truth is The enemy only shows you the thrills and the fun, but he doesn’t show you the lasting consequences or how it will affect everyone else! 

Satan is known in the scriptures as the father of lies. Jesus said he has been lying since the beginning. 

However, this wasn’t always the case. God created him as a beautiful angel.

Listen to these passages in the book of Isaiah and Ezekiel 

“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”

Isaiah 14:12-14 KJV

“Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.

Ezekiel 28:11-19 KJV

It really is a sad story, but it was in this fallen state that the enemy met Adam and Eve in the garden and deceived them into eating the forbidden fruit.

The Bible says that Eve saw the fruit, that it was pleasant to the eyes, so she took it and ate it and gave it to Adam who was with her.

Now I’m sure at that very moment, the fruit tasted quite delicious, and it did open their eyes to a whole new world - something they hadn’t known before.

But it wasn’t what they expected and attached to it was an onslaught of negative feelings and consequences.

Satan is a perverter, he excels in taking the things that God has created as good and wholesome and SIN-sationalizing them, overloading the pleasure centers of your brain and body but then leaving you with the lasting consequences!

I have struggled with this many times during my life and perhaps the best example I can give is when I was hooked on drugs. 

That very first time I got high and even several times after, there weren’t any visible side effects. 

“For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Today marks the beginning of a very special week here on Mornings With Jesus, which I am calling SIN week: Learning to overcome sin with the Son, S O N!

As we launch off into sin week, it’s important for us to know what sin is and how it got here in the first place.

To answer that first part, 

According to the Bible, sin is transgression against the law.

However, the Bible also says sin is not charged against anyone where there is no law.

Now the law did not come about until the time of Moses, but we know that the effects of sin were felt way before Moses, right after Adam and Eve disobeyed God. 

They were kicked out of the garden of Eden and so much evil persisted from that time on…

There was so much evil that God destroyed all mankind save Noah and his family in the flood.

With all that said, there seems to be a contradiction at play:

If sin doesn’t exist without the law, why would God bring the law to mankind? 

The simple answer is this: 

the Law was given as a gracious act of God to show mankind their depravity, to show them their need for a savior! The Law was given to show mankind the reason for the death and destruction that was reigning on the inside of them, of us!

Now I actually posed this question to the Lord and He gave me an awesome illustration to better drive home the fact of how gracious of an act it was that God would bring the law to us.

Let’s suppose you have something lodged deep in your throat, a quack toy of some kind. You have no idea how it got there, it happened to fall in your mouth one day while you were napping and lodged itself there. Ever since that time, when the moment is just right, you make a squeeking sound. This has been getting steadily worse and yet you have no idea where it is coming from or what is causing it!

One day, someone comes along, a doctor, and says, “I think I know what may be causing this, come to my office and let me perform  an Xray!” 

Relunctantly you agree to go. While there however, the Xray snaps a photo of what is going on inside your throat! 

It becomes quite clear that there is something lodged in there! Upon closer examination, you find that of all things it is a small quack toy belonging to your child!

Apparently, while you were napping away in your chair, your child was playing on your lap and stuck this toy down your throat!

Within this story, the child represents Adam and Eve. They were playing around with the toy that God told them not to mess with and it lodged itself deep within the heart of mankind! 

The Bible says, by one man’s disobedience, sin entered the world! 

But it doesn’t stop there! Although it very well could have. God could have just left us in our mess. After all, we were the ones to forsake Him and His command, not the other way around!

Instead, in His lovingkindness, He came along with His Xray machine, the law, and presented it to Moses, of all people, a murderer wandering in the desert!

What an awesome God we serve, who instead of utterly forsaking us, not only showed us an Xray of what was going on inside of us, the sin problem, but also became sin for us to loose the pangs of death, Hell, and the grave!

In this first episode of sin week, SIN-gular, it is vitally inportant that we realize that God is so kind! 

It was a singular act of disobedience that thwarted mankind into the depths of despair called sin, BUT praise be to God Almighty, because it was His singular act of Love sacrificing Himself for all mankind that provided a way for us to be free from the chains of sin! 

Listen,

If/Then

“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”
‭‭John‬ ‭15:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

How many times have you caught yourself saying things like, If this or that happens then this or that will happen? For instance, “If I made more money then I would be secure,” or “If I found the right person, then I would be happy,” or “If I found the right church, then I would be able to flourish...”

The possibilities of if/then scenarios are endless and if we’re honest with ourselves, we’ve all made them at some point in our lives, even in our walks with the Lord. :) 

Listen, be encouraged, the Bible is chock full of if/then’s. However, the if/then’s I am referring to are meant to bring about God-inspired, Holy Spirit induced, Biblical results in your life! :) 

God is so good and I love how he doesn’t simply leave us alone to figure things out on our own - He has given us clear directions through His Word! 

Living a victorious Christian life isn’t about wishing things could be different or hoping beyond hope that things will change, it's about taking God at His Word, standing on His promises which are always yes and amen, and believing them in spite of how things might look or even feel. 

Jesus said, if you abide in me and my words abide in you then you shall ask what you will and it will be done! Now that’s an awesomely amazing if/then!

Be encouraged, God is for you! He wants to see you succeed in every avenue of life! 

Stop wishing and start speaking the Word of God! 
Stop hoping things will change and start believing they will!

Expect good things!

If you do, over time, not overnight, then you will begin to see change and ultimately be a better witness for Jesus! 

If God be for you, then who can be against you! ;) 

Remember: What you make happen for others, God will make happen for you!

In Christ,

Joshua Scott Zeitz 

“Be a Window”

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1:27‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭2:20‬ ‭KJV

When I was a child and someone would stand in front of the television during movie night or one of our favorite shows, the snarky remark to say them was, “You make a better door than a window!”

In other words, “Move! I can’t see!” This was before rewind tv, if you missed something during the show, you had to wait until the re-run or be lucky enough to have a VCR tape in to record it. 

In regards to our walk with Christ, are we standing in the way? Are we allowing others to see Him through us? As a younger Christian, much of my focus was on myself - my victories, my prayers being answered, my healing, my blessings, my dreams, my calling, and so forth.

As I’ve walked with the Lord for several years now, my priorities have changed. I’ve begun to realize that it’s not about me. Jesus was our prime example - He who thought it not robbery to be equal with God took upon Him the form of a servant! Paul was continually identifying as a servant of Christ, going so far as to say that he was being poured out as a drink offering for those under his care.

I want to encourage you today! Be a window! Allow others to see Jesus through you. How? By becoming a servant! The Bible says the greatest among you is the greatest servant. :) 

In a world where people’s cameras are always running both figuratively and literally looking most times to catch you doing something wrong, let them catch you doing something right - serving, giving, imitating Christ! 

It’s so easy to be a door, to be conformed to this world, allowing its influence to mold us - “look at my house, look at my car, look at my new hairstyle,” etc. and there’s nothing wrong perse with any of these things, but they serve as doors, barring others’ view from what’s important JESUS! 

Be encouraged today! Be a window! What we make happen for others, God will make happen for us! 

In other words, Move out of the way, ;) the world needs Jesus :) 

Remember, What you make happen for others, God will make happen for you!

In Christ, 

Joshua Scott Zeitz

“Therefore become imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]; and walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:1-2‬ ‭AMP‬‬

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭1:8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

If you’ve been around the church for any length of time, perhaps you’ve heard the old adage, “bloom where you are planted.” Simply put, it means to make use of right where you are instead of always desiring to be somewhere else. It can apply to many aspects of life but today I want to encourage you in your spiritual life, your personal walk with Christ. :)

Listen, we all have coulda, shoulda, wouldas. We all have God-given desires that seem at times they are never going to come to pass. Sometimes we get grandiose ideas of saving the world, doing something meaningful with our lives, making a lasting impact, leaving a legacy, and so forth.

These are all well and good and keep dreaming and hoping as high as you can! We serve a great big God who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we could ask or think according to the power working in us - Ephesians 3:20, BUT if we aren’t careful, we can miss Him in the everyday. 

He will walk right by us and we will have our heads so high in the clouds dreaming or so low to the ground sulking that we miss Him. Listen, be encouraged today God can be found all around us! All we have to do is keep our eyes open! 

Jesus told His disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until they received power and then they would BE witnesses. He didn’t say anything about DOING, He said Being. That means there’s a God part and there’s our part.

Our part: show up, God’s part, show out! 

That’s awesome news because Jesus made it abundantly clear that without Him we can do nothing, we need Him, every hour, every moment, we need Him! We prepare the horse for battle, but victory is of the Lord!

Listen, I want to encourage you! Perhaps you are in a place of waiting right now and the temptation to uproot, leave, and look elsewhere is strong, and there is a time for that, but if your only reason to leave, to give up is hoping that it gets better on the other side, you may miss Him! 

He said I will never leave you! I will never forsake you! And oftentimes it's in the everyday mundane hum-drum of life when He shows up - be ready! 

Bloom where you are planted. First in Jerusalem then Judea then Samaria than the uttermost parts of the earth. :) We can all do to learn more of this especially in these crazy times of pandemic and fear we are living in - it’s the people in our own homes, our workplaces, our churches, our very own backyards that are watching us - their camera is always running and we are called to BE witnesses! 

BE encouraged today, there’s so much Jesus to be had right where you are! Don’t keep hoping and wishing to be somewhere else all the time, don’t be that person that always looks for the bad, looks for the trouble around you, looks for the faults - BE that witness who sees Jesus, and then you will be ready to share Him first in Jerusalem, then in Judea, then in Samaria, then in the uttermost parts of the earth.

Bloom where you are planted!

Remember: What you make happen for others, God will make happen for you!

In Christ,

Joshua Scott Zeitz 

In Everything!

“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

God is good and He is good all the time! James 1:17 says that every good and every perfect gift comes from Him. Therefore it is imperative that we know He is the blesser - He is the answer - He is our solution!

Sure there are bad things that happen to good people and in spite of these things, we can be thankful and praise Him! Why? Because He is for us! John 16:33 says in this world we will have trouble but then Jesus encourages us to take heart because He has overcome the world!

1 John 4:4 says greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world!

Psalm 34:19 says many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers them out of them all!

In everything, not for everything, we can praise the Lord because He is good and good all the time! We can know that He has our backs! He is our loving heavenly father who desires to see us blessed, whole, healthy, prosperous, delivered, free, full of joy and so much more!

Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him, Us! To bring us joy, not depression! It was the Great Exchange - our mess, our filthy rags for His robes of righteousness! Our shame and guilt for His Peace!

Be encouraged today, no matter what circumstance you find yourself in, no matter how dark it seems or feels, Jesus paid the ultimate price to give you hope and a future, that’s the Good News! 

Therefore in spite of whatever goes on in this crazy world and yes it's a crazy world, we can be thankful and full of life ready to share with others the reason for our Peace, His name is Jesus!

No matter what happens, please know that God is for you, not against you! He isn’t bringing about death or curses or pain or trouble or temptation - these things are of the world, NO! He is our ever-present help in times of trouble! He is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother! He is our rock, our refuge, under His wings we can trust! 

In times of trouble, turmoil, and temptation Run to Him, not from Him! Don’t blame Him, claim Him - He is your solution, and IN everything gives thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you :) 

Remember: What you make happen for others, God will make happen for you!

In Christ,

Joshua Scott Zeitz 

“And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus is awesome! He specializes in and suddenly’s. The disciples hadn’t a clue of what to expect when He told them to tarry in Jerusalem, they simply obeyed. In their minds, they wondered if God was at that point going to bring down the hammer from heaven and establish His earthly kingdom, but Jesus told them to wait for the promise.

Most scholars say they waited for 7-10 days in the upper room. They prayed, ate, communed, slept, rinse and repeat. They even dealt with the matter of replacing Judas in their ranks. The Bible says they were all in one place in one accord but 10 days - a lot can happen in that span of time, I mean we’re talking about Peter here who denied Jesus, told Him he wasn’t to suffer on the cross, ran back to fishing even after seeing Jesus raised from the dead! 

 Listen, I want to encourage you today! It’s in the mundane, the hum-drum of everyday life that we can see the Lord move in some mighty ways, we just simply have to align ourselves through obedience to His Word :) 

Make a habit of praising Him, singing, worshiping, praying, Bible reading, doing these things might not seem like a lot, but they are positioning you to receive...

Imagine, and suddenly, so and so is put in your path and you are ready to share the gospel with them! and suddenly, so and so is having a bad day and you’re able to encourage them, lift them up, pray for them, buy their groceries, fix them a meal...

The disciples were in that upper room waiting for something they didn’t understand “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.” That same day Peter, that's right Peter!! stood up and preached the gospel with such passion that 3,000 people got born-again! 

Be encouraged today, you may not be slaying giants, taking over cities, or tearing down mountains in the natural but when you lift up the name of the Lord in praise when you set yourself to intercede for others in prayer when you worship the Lord like David did in the book and Samuel with all your might, you are setting yourself up to receive an and suddenly and if just one person comes to the Kingdom as a result, there’s a party going on in Heaven! 

Be encouraged, the Joy of the Lord is your strength!

Remember: What you make happen for others, God will make happen for you!

In Christ, 

Joshua Scott Zeitz

The Famous One!

We, humans, are an interesting bunch :) We are constantly attempting to put ourselves in categories, ranks, groups - I’m this or I’m that...

The biggest pitfall of social media or any venue really that involves people - going to church, going to the store, going to work, is the tendency to compare ourselves with others - to begin the categorization process - They are this or they or that, what about me...

I love Jesus!

His call is to the “whosoever!”

This morning I am reminded of how He entered such a venue of people - a room filled with His disciples, and instead of comparing and contrasting, He wrapped a towel about His waist and one by one, went about the room washing their feet!

What an awesome servant Jesus was while on this Earth, and He is our prime example :) 

I want to encourage you today!

Are you born-again? Do you know Jesus as Lord and Savior? 

If so, the Bible says you and I have the mind of Christ!

We don’t have to compare ourselves with others - money, job, success, clothes, cars, house - we are accepted by the Best, who cares about the rest!!! (Pastor Jim)

Jesus’ call is not to people of prestige or poverty, His call is to the whosoever...

Every once in a while, I have to remind myself,

That I am who He says I am!

I can do what He says I can do!

And that my life is hidden in Him!

When I said yes to Jesus, I said no to self, to comparing and contrasting...

My call is simple, to be like Jesus!

He is Number One, He is the Famous One!

Venues of people are not for comparing, they are for serving - the next time you find yourself in one, whether online or in-person, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

(Philippians 2:5-8) KJV

Remember: What you make happen for others, God will make happen for you!

In Christ,

Joshua Scott Zeitz 

“Interrupted”

Some of my best moments with Jesus have been in the quiet moments of a simple task like washing the dishes, sweeping the floor, baking some cookies or a cake...

It’s in these moments of quiet and work that I have been visited by the Lord the most!

Oftentimes these events have been to help someone else. For instance, while baking a cake to give to someone or sweeping the floor for a ministry - it’s in this moment of servitude to another where the Lord has shown up and I get an overwhelming sense of His presence!

These moments are awesomely beautiful!

To “feel” God is not something to necessarily seek after (God is a Spirit, not a feeling), nor is it a measure of His presence in our lives by any means. He says that He will never leave us nor forsake us! 

If we are born-again, we are never alone, no matter how we “feel.”

Yet when these moments do happen, I welcome them with open arms! And it’s in these moments when, if we will take the time to allow ourselves to be “interrupted” by God we can be changed for eternity!

It’s in these moments where God is always trying to get something to us!

Jesus never ceases to amaze me - His lovingkindness, longsuffering, His tender mercies toward me are overwhelming and especially at times when I know that I know I don’t deserve it - getting impatient with my wife, children, doing or saying things I shouldn’t...

It’s in these quiet moments where I am surrounded by His presence in a strong way where I am reminded of His love for me, of what He thinks about me, of who I am to Him, of who He is, of how He changed me, and all I can do is raise my hands up in surrender to Him, basking in His presence, worshiping Him, singing/saying praises to His name.

And while I magnify Him, He molds me a little more into the image of Himself!

What a beautiful exchange, to be “interrupted” by the Master! 

And I use the term “interrupted” with this caveat - It may feel at times like I am being interrupted on my side of things, but really I am being visited by my Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus!

From time to time I will “interrupt” the sleep of one of my children early in the morning to take them out for donuts or a special treat.

As they have gotten older it “feels” more to them like an interruption, but usually, after they get the sleep out of their eyes and realize that I am there to bless them only, they have a change of attitude and perspective. :) 

They are slowly beginning to realize that these moments are priceless, spending time alone with their dad - I am teaching them to cherish these times because they don’t always happen.

When it comes to my relationship with my heavenly Father, and with Jesus, the more mature I get in Him, I am realizing that the quiet moments alone with Him are priceless! 

It’s in these moments where I receive the strength and faith and confidence to tackle whatever life throws at me!

It’s in these moments where I see Him more clearly and in turn, I am able to share Him more clearly with others.

I am so thankful to Jesus, to my Heavenly Father for loving me, for allowing me into their inner circle! 

What about you? 

Do you need some rest today? Do you need some quiet time with your Heavenly Father? You might not always “feel” Him, but I do encourage you to reach out to Him, to others, put as much Word in you as possible, and be ready,

The heavenly Father loves to “interrupt” His children :) 

Remember: What you make happen for others, God will make happen for you!

In Christ, 

Joshua Scott Zeitz

“Thought it not Robbery”

Revelation 5 is my favorite chapter in all the Bible. :) 

It’s so majestic and showcases Jesus in such a powerful and humbling way!

John looks on as the scene is set in chapter 5 with God sitting on the throne holding a book.

The book is described as having writing within and on the backside and sealed with seven seals.

Suddenly a strong angel proclaims with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book and loose the seals?”

It’s such a cut-to-the-heart question! 

It takes me back to when Jesus is kneeling on the ground after having been approached by accusers of the woman caught in adultery.

Jesus makes a simple statement, “He who is without sin, let him cast a stone.”

Knowing right well that no one there was worthy, Jesus is able to minister to the woman in a powerful way!

Here we see the angel asking a simple question, but with it comes such a thought-provoking and humbling realization that no one is worthy!

In fact, the Bible says, no man in Heaven, or on Earth, or even under the earth was worthy to open the book OR to look upon it!! 

It’s in this moment that John feels the weight of hopeless despair that is mankind without the intervention of Jesus!

And he wept much...

Comfort comes to John when one of the elders standing by tells him not to weep because there is One worthy - the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book and loose the seven seals! 

Every time I read this chapter, it brings tears to my eyes because I know that without Jesus, I am lost! 

I am reminded of God’s grace and something powerful I heard a preacher say many years ago, “God did not sit behind some plate glass window and hand us a prescription for our malady, He got in our mess!”

Philippians 2:6 tells us that Jesus “thought it not robbery,” to be equal with God - He was God and He knew it! He said to the religious people of the day, “Before Abraham was, I AM.”

Yet before we see His triumphal entry in Revelation 5, we see Him described in Philippians as taking on the form of a servant, making Himself of no reputation!

Think about that! 

The same God who is described as having 10,000 times 10,000 and thousands of thousands of angels singing His praises in Revelation 5 is the same God who wrapped a towel about Himself and washed the dirt and animal waste from His disciples’ feet!

He is the same God who took the time to kneel in the dirt and save the woman caught in adultery!

He is the same God who cared enough to step into my jail cell and save me! 

I love Jesus! He is our prime example of what it means to be like God and He was not about His rights, His fame, His own desires, He was all about others, serving them and pouring Himself out for them, for me, for you! 

Today, take a moment and just bask in the goodness and grace of our loving Savior!

The way up is down.

To be like Jesus is to carry our cross daily, to serve others, to yield our desires, our rights, to His Kingdom! 

He will never let us down and the rewards are always well worth the sacrifice! 

He is worthy and so are you through what He has done! 

Are you weeping today? Are you hurt or lonely or afraid? 

Weep not for the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David has prevailed to open the book and loose the seals!

You may not like the page you are on, but the chapter isn’t over! 

I sure hope this has encouraged you and brought some eternal perspective your way today :) 

Remember: What you make happen for others, God will make happen for you! 

In Christ,

Joshua Scott Zeitz