Brandon Phillips

May 02

God’s Amazing Grace

By Brandon Phillips in Devotional, Music

Grace is defined as getting something you don’t deserve. If there is one word that describes the Christian faith the best it is grace.

Grace - we don’t deserve forgiveness.

Grace - we don’t deserve to be loved by God.

Grace - we don’t deserve Jesus sacrifice.

Grace - we don’t deserve the blessings he bestows.

Grace - We don’t deserve to be in a personal relationship with THE holy God.

Grace - because of our sin, we don’t deserve anything but death.

That is why grace should be a word that makes us crumble in humility before God. I know what kind of man I am, the natural thoughts of my heart apart from God’s intervention are only evil continually(Genesis 6:5). But because of His grace I can have a new heart (Ezekiel 26:36). With that new heart I can praise Him although imperfectly. I can still praise him and thank him for HIS grace that he has poured out on us lavishly. (Ephesians 1:3-6)

3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.[c] 5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One. Ephesians 1:3-6

Grace is easy to sing about because when we truly grasp the weight of the word we can’t help but praise HIM. As you worship today, remember it is a lifestyle (Romans 12:1-2). A lifestyle lived by grace through faith(Ephesians 2:8-9), not because we deserve it or earned it. Let’s be an example of grace to those around us. Pointing others to the amazing grace of God.

May 01

Battle Belongs

By Brandon Phillips in Devotional, Music

We live in a very defensive society. In today’s climate you have to be very careful what you say as to not offend someone. It does feel like we are in a battle with serious consequences. A battle of moral and ethical implications. Biblical values vs world values which are normally diametrically opposed.

We can work ourselves up with fear and anxiety worry about the outcome of this war. There will be victories on both sides but each time we feel like we are loosing it can be overwhelming as we wonder “where is God in all this?”

The answer. Right where he has always been.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever Hebrews 13:8

Even though scripture says that and factually we know God is there sometimes we can feel like the psalmist in Psalm 69…

Save me, God, for the water has risen to my neck. I have sunk in deep mud, and there is no footing; I have come into deep water,
and a flood sweeps over me. I am weary from my crying; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.

It is very easy when we feel this way to gear up and fight. But it is God that will fight our battles. We can have confidence that when we go to God on our knees he will hear us. When we are humble and submit to His plan he is always faithful to work things our for our good. (Romans 8:28) Maybe not how we want it but, His way is always better.

Mar 25

Kingdom Mindset – Merciful

By Brandon Phillips in Devotional, Family

Looking at attitudes that are befitting of those who follow Christ, I hope you notice that there is a strong sense of humility in each one. Humility is a quality that Jesus exhibited most frequently and at great cost. It was a model that he wants us to follow.

Mercy is a byproduct of being in right relationship with others. The Hebrew word for mercy, (Hessed) that is used here talks about a loyal love that is reserved for one’s closest to you. The challenge for believers is that this is the mercy that is expressed to everyone. When you express mercy to everyone then they should respond in kind to you as well.

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.

James 2:8

The problem is our version of mercy today is so conditional. We only give mercy if we think the other person is worthy of our mercy. We hold grudges and condemn. It is rare to find someone who give mercy freely.

When we do not give mercy freely, we are holding on to a poison that can be toxic to our soul. The person whom we are withholding mercy or forgiveness from probably doesn’t even realize the stress we are under. We must be careful to guard against that and let go of the wrong and forgive and move on.

“Holding a grudge doesn’t make you strong; it makes you bitter. Forgiving doesn’t make you weak; it sets you free. “ Dave Willis

When we consider and apply this to our thoughts on mercy we can begin to feel a sense of how special giving and receiving genuine mercy can be to both parties.