Because it is hard to be holy like Jesus Christ

* Luís Alberto Alves

It is famous text in 1 Peter where God says to be holy like Him. Many Christians wonder how? Some define the impossible task because we live in a world inundated by sin. They classify the task impossible and prefer to remain with one foot in the church and one in the pleasures of the world.

It is not easy to obey this commandment of God. But the Christian must strive to escape the clutches of evil. To circumvent the pitfalls of adultery, whether male or female, because otherwise will please the darkness, interested only in increasing the volume of souls in hell.

 Certain people do not want to forsake sin. They became accustomed to the mud and fleeing of Heaven clean water. Like the villain who has horror of honesty. Prefer the ease of the crime, where you get easy money while working need to pour sweat.

Every day we get up we pray to the Lord for us to approach more and more of his character. It is difficult, but He will reward our efforts. We can not settle for the error and throw away good practice. After all in heaven there is no dirt.
* Luis Alberto Alves is pastor

How long you book God?

* Luís Alberto Alves

Think carefully before you answer: how long you reserve for God in their daily lives? Five minutes, a half hour, an hour or more. Or remember Him when the callus on the foot hurts. The man is funny. In good times never think of Jesus Christ. His eyes are the navel.

In churches I realize this harmful behavior. As a pastor I know well the behavior of sheep. Few surrender of truth, assuming serious commitment to the Lord. Show interest in learning the Gospel, to become warriors of this wonderful army.

People, rich or poor, famous or anonymous, they seek excuses for anything but to explain the estrangement from God. They claim lack of time. As? To talk with our Father? In a candid conversation you can see that they love the Lord just to solve their problems.

So do not find time to talk with God through prayer. They prefer to spend hours on end in social networks or even wasting precious hours in gossip. Less talk to God and tell Him how much is your precious friendship. When you're well off, God, in the view of these people, is negligible.
* Luis Alberto Alves is pastor

What God has joined together no man put asunder

* Luís Alberto Alves

Today marriage is seen by most Christians as something broke. Not worth spending time. Forget fast the oath at the altar and the Word of Jesus Christ: "What God has joined together no man put asunder." Because of the advancement of technology, many men and women were living alone next to each other.

Dialogue is replaced by social networks. The famous WhatsApp took the place of yummy chat that every husband and wife need to be, supported on the shoulder of another. Speaking of future plans, the work routine or college and how to continue fulfilling the tasks that Jesus has placed in our hands.

Unfortunately the few couples to cool. They are prostrate to the sameness of the world. Decide to give credibility to the dubious quality television programs, leaving the Gospel of the Lord's side. It is in this fateful hour that Satan and his demons begin to gain ground to destroy marriages.

The Christian must always resist the appeals of darkness. In the first crisis should never opt for the end of the marriage. We must fight and ask for wisdom to Jesus Christ to stop the evil designs in married life. God is not a liar. When he joins someone in marriage is for eternity.
* Luis Alberto Alves is pastor

Because we prefer Tarshish instead of Nineveh

* Luís Alberto Alves

How often we prefer going to Tarshish than facing difficulty and fear to reach Nineveh? In preaching the Gospel we opted for the facilities, leaving in the background the difficulties. They bother us. After all, what is the reason to seek headaches?

The famous story of the prophet Jonah, God asked to go to Nineveh to take his word, but received a refusal. There was resistance to end up thrown to the waters of the Mediterranean Sea, end up swallowed by a great fish and understand how great the Lord's purposes.

In our life we ​​will never want to go to Nineveh. There is a place of struggle, hardship and apathy. Tarsis is our comfort zone. Where everything flows normally, without any risk to life. Not wasp box. Rather, it is apparent place full of peace and harmony.

But one day Jesus Christ will it take away from Tarsis to send to Nineveh, even for that your comfort zone becomes a boiler about to believe that the enemy tries against you. The Lord has not called us to preach the Gospel only in Tarsis, but also in Nineveh.
* Luis Alberto Alves is pastor

Forgiveness, powerful weapon against the darkness

* Luis Alberto Alves

The fuel Enemy is the existing hatred in the heart. The raw material used by Satan to keep the Christian's entrance into glory. You're right. If God is love, who are we to continue immersed in anger sludge. Few know the intensity of forgiveness against the darkness.

As a logical question, if God is love, it is obvious that the Devil is hatred. The opposite. Never he will like something that has the primacy of the Lord. His proposal is to the contrary always. Feeds revenge, as a means of returning evil double.

The famous Lord's Prayer, one of the verses says that we ask the Lord to receive your forgiveness, as we forgive our debtors. Most Christians do not forget the attacks of enemies. Prefer iron law and fire to resolve the situation.

When a Christian to realize that forgiveness can destroy and cause great damage in hell, will instead use forgiveness. But its effect is complete when there is nothing within our interior. He came out in full. Lost in time. Forgive those who hurt you.
* Luis Alberto Alves is pastor

Deceitful and corrupt is the heart

* Luís Alberto Alves

Who better knows our heart than Jesus Christ? Highly corrupt, is capable of creating images of situations in the future will become tragic. Example: do you lust after women or men that God has not reserved to you. It works saying that everything is good for your life.

How often have you not fed passion for work colleagues, school, college or even within the church? About to finish watching great service and keep thinking about that person, as if she were truly make you happy. Things of the heart.

Most murders are committed supported by sentimental reasons. The murderer believes in the voice of your heart and goes to the abyss. After committing the crime comes repentance. Too late. The misfortune is consummated. So it is not advisable to accommodate the desires of the heart.

The good Christian must be kept of appeals that body, capable of causing revolutions or tragedies. In fact, the most dangerous people are emotional. Do not think to make the decisions. Suddenly to the confrontation without measuring the consequences. Prefer to hear the voice of Jesus Christ.
* Luis Alberto Alves is pastor

It's hard to be the salt of the earth

* Luís Alberto Alves

In the crazy world we live in today it is difficult to keep Christian salt of the earth. Imagine your teen and young, constantly bombarded by social networks, newspapers, magazines, television and gossip from friends about the alleged prejudice to continue browsing the boat commanded by Jesus Christ. Logo is branded a fanatic and crazy, so go out of the mundane rules.

Salt is a substance that leaves no doubt about the flavor. When you enter the food or any other kind of food, put his mark. It's not like chayote adopting any flavor, depending on the circumstances. Today, many Christians act this way, copying the ways of the world.

Few assume salt posture. Be different, not to mingle with the crowd only interested in blessing, leaving in the background the benevolent. It's the high price we pay when we assume the posture of salt this planet, immersed in darkness and deceit, where the right is wrong and wrong is right.

As hard as it is to salt the situation, do not give up my brothers to continue acting like salt: a presence strongly. Not among the majority of the team. Never forget that it was a lot of people have asked and demanded the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Be the salt in everything, especially in your family.
* Luis Alberto Alves is pastor

Are you a Christian wave?

* Luis Alberto Alves

In evangelical churches we find various types of Christians. The most common is currently the wave Christian. Be young, adult or old. It is present in various types of congregation. It is not difficult to identify. Just a few minutes of attention in the parking lot, in the cafeteria, or even before starting the service.

Try not be wrong with the world. Inside the church is pure fire. Says well Hallelujah, praise the Lord, amen, holy is the Lord. Impacts even the hardest heart. For a few minutes we think being next to someone extremely Christian. true worshiper. But everything is facade. Good actor. You know pretend to worship God.

From the outside, away from the eyes of the pastor does not hesitate to scold the co-worker, and want to invite to a night at the motel women who appear in front of you. Drink, smoke, use drugs and to wish evil for others. Criticizes the services. Call the pastor's face, speaking of fidelity to Jesus Christ.

At a time of the year goes to Sunday school, school of theology, will retreat to the long holidays, it appears to read the Bible. In other dives deep into the dirt of this world. Acts like the wicked and even refuses to say who is a Christian. That's when descends on the lowest rung of unbelief. Are you a Christian wave?
* Luis Alberto Alves is pastor

The love of God is not the one who loves the world

* Luis Alberto Alves

The feast of the flesh, that is, the carnival is over. And many Christians took well, since last Friday to vent joy .... the blocks and samba schools. To pack drank too much, aiming hold processions, sometimes under more than 40 ° C, as occurred in Rio de Janeiro and cities in northeastern Brazil.

Others spent the night in front of the television watching the parades, no difference with people in the world, unaware of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When asked, they responded to parade or watch party hosted by the samba schools was not a sin. God knew their hearts.

 Unfortunately it is the team of Christians without any commitment to the Word of the Lord. Never read the Gospel of John, where Jesus clearly says that people who love the world have no part with Him. There is something more mundane than the carnival? Where dark spirits are revered in parades.

In this Sunday, many Christians appear to worship the same dog with the tail tucked between his legs. Will ask God for forgiveness. They will make vows to act properly. A minority to comply with the agreement, but the other party in 2017 will repeat the same mistake now. Is Christian wave, now is in the arms of the Lord now in the enemy arms. In which arm you today?
* Luis Alberto Alves is pastor

Where is the joy?

* Luís Alberto Alves

In Brazil and in several countries in Latin America and even in Europe begins to Carnival party. It's time for some people to seek joy. There, wrapped in fantasy, according to the depressive, you can feel the sweet taste of happiness. Sometimes packed with various types of drugs.

It's total freedom, that is, when you can do everything. Even out kissing the mouth of men or women who have never met in life. It is the trance. As if the person were hypnotized, dreaming of something delicious and only she has the strength to stop the process.

Under the blessing of God Momo, for the carnival, responsible for this unholy party where any exaggeration is allowed. It is the refuge for lonely, unhappy, despised and even for someone in search of fame. There is the perfect showcase to show the world, even under the costume.

In fact, when we are in the ways of the Lord, we do not need these subterfuges. It is our joy, as written in his gospel. Jesus Christ fills our hearts with love. No need drugs, perversion or even live in a world of lies which lasts until Ash Wednesday.
* Luis Alberto Alves is pastor

The trials are to measure our faith

* Luís Alberto Alves

The 21-century Christians accept not face struggles. Hate trials. They are wrong with God when crossing storm or tsunami. In their opinion, Jesus Christ must work like lightning rods, avoiding any kind of difficulty. Everything must seem a piece of cake and honey.

Adopt typical behavior of babies. If they innervate when thwarted. The world needs to serve them. Only valid military in the army of the Lord, if any victories. Otherwise it is better to stay in the world. They never work for the Kingdom of God. Just spend time criticizing, saying that Jesus is wrong.

These are people who have not grown spiritually to understand the motives of the trials, the struggles against evil. It is through these clashes are occurring spiritual growth. The Christian is increasingly gaining the armor of the Lord to face the evil day.

We should never interpret the trials as God abandoning us. It does not prevent us we will not fall into the den of lions, but will be with us in there preventing us to be devoured. Only trials produce faith. The quiet sometimes serves for the Christian let the Lord's side.
* Luis Alberto Alves is pastor

We should keep us stuck in the past?

* Luís Alberto Alves

You should stay stuck in the past? God is pleased with this kind of attitude? No! Himself says in Isaiah the prophet that our past does not remember. Why do you keep insisting to keep the mind fixed in the works left behind?

The media, majority controlled by children of darkness, subtly encourage the creation of films, soap operas and miniseries highlighting the theme of praising the past. They try to show that at that particular time it was good. Disqualify the present, filling defects.

Within the evangelical churches there are several Christians lacking freedom from the past. Divorced or widows or widowers do not take thought the husband or wife. Forget the slavery of ill-treatment and all kinds of sorrow caused by that marriage or even living together.

We need to listen more to the voice of Jesus Christ. We focus on the future. That's when we will live in heaven, where there is no sorrow, hunger, pain, death and everything that makes us suffer in this world. When the evil trying to fill his head with sad memories of the time of your life. Just think of Jesus Christ. It will give you a present and future full of joy.
* Luis Alberto Alves is pastor

Are you a watchman Christian?

* Luis Alberto Alves

It is celebrated the passage from the book of Isaiah, where the prophet speaks of the duty watchman announcing the good news to the captives. It also highlights the importance of speaking of the Lord's love to the slaves of sin. If that person refuses to listen and dying, her blood will not be charged this watchtower, since the opposite can happen.

The problem is that few wish to take the watchman station. Just want the blessings, work to speak of the Lord's love is relegated. It leech Christian. Only pays attention to the words that can help you win benefits. Uses God as a bargain.

Jesus Christ called us to be watchtower. Get into the gap and announce that only the Son of God is sure of eternal salvation. Other options are mistakes, false propaganda. But few people understand this counsel of the Lord. They prefer to grow old sitting in the pews.

Many Christians refuse to take positions in the church. From the simplest, such as caring for children or even receive the brothers at the door with beautiful smile. The interesting thing for them is to find mechanisms to fatten the bank account and live eternal happiness. They are mistaken.
* Luis Alberto Alves is pastor

In which water fountain you drink?

* Luís Alberto Alves

The Word of God says that He is the source of living water and who drinks this water will never thirst. Have you taken this water or splashing fountains in dirty, contaminated with waste from the enemy? Jesus Christ specializes in quench the thirsty.

This time of year, especially in South America, thousands of people seek to kill loneliness headquarters in carnival celebrations, usually watered the drugs, alcohol and sex. It is someone empty of God's love. Imagine that in the crowd will have peace, but only find headaches.

The big problem of this equation is where to find the source of pure water. Some seek a line of cocaine, crack rock, marijuana cigarette or tablets or even sex with prostitutes or homosexuals. They are on the wrong track. There, the refreshing is short and fast.

The only able to kill indifference headquarters, sadness, melancholy, discouragement, apathy, desire to end her life or even come out firing at random, is Jesus Christ. Only the Son of God has in his hands the power to quench the thirst caused by evil. Chase that beautiful water fountain.
* Luis Alberto Alves is pastor