Legacy Riders CMA Chapter# 1365

An Overflow
John Ogden Sr
March 8, 2022

“On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of His heart will flow rivers of living water’” (John 7:37-38, NKJV).

There are three points in this setting of scripture; first, we must realize the need. Christ says, if we thirst, then come. Second, He makes a commitment to us that there is water for those that are thirsty. Third, He says not just water is available, but a river that will flow from our hearts. The choice is ours. We can have a sip, or we can have the freshness of the power of God with a never-ending flow from the throne room through our hearts to not only minister to our needs but to the needs of those around us. Why would we want anything less than the flood of God?

As with all of God’s principles, we are responsible for seeking Him first and dying out to self. This puts us in the position of having the floodgates open. Viewing the flow of the Spirit of God as a river, we can sit on the bank and die of thirst when there is a river of plenty at our fingertips. To experience the river of plenty, we must choose to move from the bank to the river. It is like having the Word of God in our hands but not allowing the Spirit of God to quicken it for our use. The Bible is only words until the Spirit of God makes them alive and fresh in our lives. There is a stream that brings life to all who find it. There must be a hunger and thirst for the fullness of God and the experiences of an overflowing river in our lives. We must be found in Christ. We must move and live and have our being and desire in Him.

Are you in the river or sitting on the bank? I encourage you to make a fresh commitment today and allow the Spirit of God to wash away all that would restrict the flow so that God may take us to the next level.

Transforming the New Man
John Ogden Sr
February 16, 2022

“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (John 6:38, NKJV).

There are four steps involved in transforming the new man. We must first realize we are not our own and we have been bought and paid for with a price that we could not pay. We should be slaves to our Lord and Savior with that in mind. The only rights and privileges we have are those in Him, which gives us access to an abundant life as described in John 10:10.

In John 6:38, we see that Jesus did not come to do His own will but to do the will of the Father. Our first stage in the transformation and growth process is to realize that we are not to do our own will but only God’s will. Our will must decrease, and His will and plans must increase. Therefore, we should seek Him and His Kingdom first, and then everything else will be added.

“Then Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner’” (John 5:19, NKJV).

The second step in the transformation process requires us to be in a relationship with our Lord. A relationship where we not only know what He is doing and where He is heading, but also where our doing is based on His direction for our lives and for what He has called us to do. In this phase, we begin to reach a place where we hear His voice and move in harmony with Him.

“I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him” (John 8:26, NKJV).

The third step in the transformation process is being a vessel of honor that would take the true Word of God to the world. To take the Word to those that are hurting and those that need the Good Message. We see Jesus proclaiming the Father as the one true God in this verse. We see Him as a witness to the world.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain” (John 12:24, NKJV).

The fourth step in the transformation process is when we come to the place where we are willing for everything about us to die off so everything about Him can be perfected in us. Again, the Scriptures have much to say about the war between the flesh and spiritual man. Even though we accept Christ as our Savior, the battle continues to rage. The only way to conquer the flesh is to reach a place where we say with our hearts, “Lord, I unconditionally give my life to You to be used according to Your will. I only have one desire, which is for You to accomplish Your will in me. Lord, I ask that by Your Spirit that You mold me according to Your will. Break me in the areas that need to be broken and remold me as the potter would mold a new vessel. I truly want Your perfect will in my life and nothing else.”

I realize this process is not easy, for I, like you, am going through the breaking process. But, oh how I thank God for finding me worthy to be broken! Are you willing to be broken and perfected for the cause of Christ so others may know the life-changing power and the blessings of being a child of the King?





John and Becky Ogden,
John is the CMA CEO/Chairman of the Board of Directors.

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Who Is Your Guide?
John Ogden Sr
June 15, 2021

“Thy word have I hidden in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11, KJV).
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105, KJV).

The answers to the issues of life are found in God’s Word. It is as relevant today as it was when it was first written. Living a Christian life requires that we give up our rights and become slaves to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Having the opportunity to pray and talk with many people, I am always amazed that we seemingly are our worst enemies. We get ourselves in all kinds of difficult situations and then look to God for help. While it is always good to take our needs to the Lord, we should also be allowing Him to direct our lives.

Verse 11 gives us instructions on dealing with sin. It says that we are to hide God’s Word in our heart that we may not sin against Him. Romans 12:1, 2 states, we are to renew our minds by the reading of the Word. God’s Word is meant to be hidden in our hearts and to be the compass of our lives that we may know the good and acceptable will of God.

Verse 105 states that the Word is to be a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Many times in my own life, when things become difficult, I realize that I have allowed myself to drift from the place that God has called me to be. I am always thankful that Jesus stands willing, with arms outstretched to receive me, as well as you. But, a better place to be is to have God’s Word planted and watered (through reading it) in our hearts, so that our paths may be straight. There is no foundation beyond God’s Word. We need the Word of God to overcome the world.

Are you continually hiding His Word in your heart that you may know His will? Are you being led by the Word? Is your path being illuminated by God’s Word? May we be challenged to read and meditate on God’s Word for the directions of life!

Shout for Victory
John Ogden Sr

“He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah. God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet” (Psalm 47:4-5, KJV).

We find throughout the Old Testament that many times victory over the enemy started with a shout by God's people. Verse four says that the Lord will choose our inheritance. What a fantastic place to be! To be in a position where we are not choosing, but we are allowing Him to choose. I am often asked – How can you know the will of God? For some, this is a highly complex question. For me, it is simple. I start each day with a prayer that says, "God will You direct my footpaths today?" If we allow God to direct our footpaths every day, then days turn into weeks, weeks into months, and months into years. We simply walk in the plan of God and the inheritance into which He has called us.

On a quiet Sunday afternoon, I remember when there was no one in our home but Becky and me. We were going through some difficult times (as we all do). Out of the quietness, I heard her shout and take authority over the enemy's attacks and proclaim the victory in Jesus. She told satan if he thinks he has won this battle, he is sadly mistaken. She would be victorious in Jesus, and if satan thought that he had won, that battle had just begun. This preceded three and a half years of intense prayer and believing in God. We were victorious in Christ, and it all started with a shout and a belief that we shall be victorious in Jesus.

What areas in your life have you held bound? In what areas are you struggling? What situations seem impossible? I encourage you within your spirit and within your flesh, take authority, and deal with the situation with a bold, strong leap of faith. Rise from where you are, move mentally and physically, begin to walk, talk, and pray with the authority of Heaven.

As Christians, we have the right and the authority to take control of situations in our lives, the enemy's attacks, and be victorious. Maybe it is time that you say, "I am not taking it anymore. I am standing firm in the person and the authority of Jesus Christ." I challenge you to move in faith, believe God, and watch what He will do in your life.

Be Still
John Ogden Sr
May 31, 2021

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10, NKJV)!

“Be still, and know that I am God.” When we are in God’s presence, there is perfect peace. In the fast-paced lives that we live, peace is a precious commodity. Everywhere I go and every place I minister, I meet people who are stressed with the cares and the pressures of this life. It would seem that the number one issue of life is anxiety or anxiousness that produces fear and robs us of the peace of God.

Throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry, He pointed the hurting to the peace of God. He spoke peace into the storm on a raging sea. He spoke peace into a man called Legion. He spoke peace to the Samaritan woman at the well. He spoke peace to Lazarus and his family. He spoke peace and hope into the lives of the people He touched. Today He speaks peace to every individual who would be willing to receive.

To sense the peace of God, we need to take time each day and do as verse 10 says, “Be still.” For it is in the stillness and quietness that we experience the presence of God. At this time, we come to know God as a friend, Savior, and the One we can trust with all of the cares of this life. I challenge you to take a few moments today and just be still and think about the goodness of God. In that stillness, may He remind you that He is God! It is at these times that we build a relationship with God. May His peace and His presence go with you today.

Weekly Devotion

Strength That Trusts God
John Ogden Sr
May 26, 2021

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (Psalm 18:2, NKJV).

We see great accomplishments throughout the Bible where there is great faith in God. We also see failure where there is a lack of faith in God. It is one thing to say that God is my strength, and I will trust in Him; it is another to be in a place of faith and trust. When Abraham failed to trust God, he lied to the Egyptians about Sarah. When Abraham trusted God with his beloved son, Isaac, placing him upon an altar, he truly began to step into his destiny with God.

When the nation of Israel failed to trust God, they were not allowed to enter into the Promised Land. Forty years later, when they trusted God, a new generation went into the Promised Land led by Caleb and Joshua, who had faith in God’s ability to defeat the enemy.

The lack of faith throughout the Israelite army allowed a nine-foot man to send fear into the army of God, making them a cowardly bunch of men. Through faith, a small shepherd boy defeated a giant and set an entire army free.

When Elijah trusted God, he won one of the most astounding battles – defeating over 400 prophets of Baal. When Peter trusted God, he achieved a feat no other man had accomplished – walking on water. The significance is not walking on water but faith in God. In every case, where faith is the ingredient, faith makes the difference. It is not faith in us but in God that will always carry us through. Doubt will always sink us, but we get to choose whether we rise to the occasion or sink. Faith in God will make the difference.

Be Anxious For Nothing
By: John Ogden Sr
May 18, 2021

The greatest need that I see among both Christian people and non-Christian people alike is peace. While we as Christians are guaranteed the peace of God, we do not always live in that state. Philippians 4:6-8 (NKJV) states, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things.”

When we do not have the peace of God in our lives, there is a multitude of things that can cause this, including our relationship with God, our faith in Him, and how we view our circumstances.

I have the opportunity to pray for a large number of people in this area. God always comes through and brings peace. I sometimes am saddened by the fact that many people go back to the same things that robbed them of their peace. Verse 8 is key to having the peace of God once we have accepted Him as our savior. You will note that these scriptures deal totally with meditating on the positive things. While it is true that we live in a real-world with real problems, these need to be handled in accordance with God’s word. We can train ourselves to meditate as the scripture says on the positive while being confident that our Lord and Savior will work things out for our good.
�My question for you, “Are you allowing God to lead your life in accordance with these scriptures?” If you are, you already have the abundant peace that He said we could have. If not, I challenge you to begin to live in this area.

“Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved. I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life” (Philippians 4:1-3, NKJV).

It is amazing what the Holy Spirit will accomplish through us as we minister and work together in unity. The fourth chapter of Philippians is known as the chapter on peace. Paul starts this chapter by encouraging two people to not only be of the same mind, but be of the same mind in the Lord. This reminds me that as brothers and sisters working together, we must be of the same mindset, and that mindset must be the mindset of Christ. Satan’s tool to disrupt the work of Christ is to cause Christian brothers and sisters to not be in unity. Unity of the Spirit comes through humility and a life of preferring our brothers or sisters before us. What could we accomplish in any city if all of the churches could come together for the common cause of reaching the lost for Jesus? I am excited about what God has done through CMA, but we could be even more effective if the unity of Christ was prevalent in every person and every chapter. This can only happen when we make this a matter of prayer for ourselves and those around us.

What about with our families? We face many opportunities for division – relationships between husbands and wives who, for some reason, God chose to make us with different thought patterns; the raising of our kids, etc. Satan wants to bring division in every area of our lives. Unity starts with an inner reflection and allowing the Holy Spirit to change us. In this walk of faith, we may never reach perfection, but there can be a continual growth of the spiritual person and a determination to work and love in unity.

“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith” (Philippians 3:7-9, NKJV).

These scriptures deal with having the righteousness of Christ and being found in Him. We must be in Him in order to have His righteousness. This only comes as we become immersed in Him. There is a place of rest and faith in Jesus Christ that can only be experienced by putting Him first in all that we do – it is being found in Him. So often in life’s difficult situations, we cry out to God, and rightfully so, but He reminds us that He is always there, that He is always in the storm, that He is always the peace of the storm, and that He is always there to conquer the adversary.

As Christians, He dwells within us, but we only know that He is there when we are found in Him. There is a secret place of hiding in Him. John 12:24 (NKJV) states, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” God wants us to see that we need to die out to ourselves to be resurrected in Him. We must come to a place where the natural life ceases, and by the power of God, we are resurrected into a life where God rules and reigns.

Do we long for Him? Our longing for Him can only be satisfied when we are found in Him. If we truly want to know Him, then we must yield to Him and obey Him. Only the cries of the Spirit of God within us can bring us to this place. Only when I cease to try to be righteous within myself and totally yield to Him and His righteousness will I experience the secret place of God. What a blessed place it is to be found in Him. My prayer for you, as well as myself, is that we be found in Him.

Background Check
John Ogden Sr
April 29, 2021

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13,14, KJV).

This setting of scripture is interesting because the apostle Paul, before his conversion, persecuted the Christians. If I could take the liberty to summarize, I believe that Paul is saying where a person has been is not important, nor is a person’s past important. What is important is where a person is going, the direction in which his life is heading. I believe the Spirit of God would remind us that those past disappointments and failures are in the past when we have committed our lives to the Lord.

I meet many people who have come to a place of repentance and have received the forgiveness that can only come through Jesus Christ but are still dragging the dead man of the past with them. It is hard to move forward when you are dragging a dead person. Jesus would have us set free from the past in order to accomplish what He has called us to do. We should not look back and regret the past, but we should press forward and grab hold of the future and promises of God that lay there. Satan would have us live in the past and therefore be defeated, causing us to be of no value to the Kingdom of God.

If you find yourself in a situation where you have not dealt with the past and allowed the Lord to restore you, then do so. He stands with open arms, willing to see His kids be overcomers. When we have accepted the forgiveness of Christ with a repentant heart, the account has been settled. The Spirit of God that dwells within you and me as a son or daughter is the same force that moved across the earth in Genesis when it was void and without form and created something out of nothing. That is a picture of you and me when we accept the redemption and restoration of God in our lives. We may have been, in some eyes, a nobody in the past, but in our Lord and Savior, we are no longer a nobody, but we are a SOMEBODY. We have become joint-heirs with Jesus Christ. When we take our rightful place in the family of God, we have the authority by the blood of Jesus to be more than conquerors and fulfill His divine plan in our lives.

I challenge you to examine your lives today and allow the Spirit of God to do a work in you. Lay hold of the promises of God and take back what has been stolen. We have the right, and the authority, to be world-changers!

Weekly Devotion

Our Attitude Will Determine Our Success
John Ogden Sr
April 7, 2021

“But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice” (Philippians 1:12-18, NKJV).

In this setting of scripture, as well as many others, we catch a glimpse of Paul’s heart and attitude. Nothing can take the place of a positive attitude in Christ; not education, not wealth, not prestige. More than any other factor, our attitude will determine our success both in the natural and in the spiritual.

We see in verse 12 that Paul is reminding the Philippians that what has happened to him has turned out for good. In verse 17, we are reminded that Paul’s imprisonment is for the defense of the Gospel. In verse 18, we catch a clear glimpse of his attitude when he says that he will rejoice. His attitude and his mission ensured his success through the calling of Christ.

We know in Paul’s life that he was beaten, shipwrecked, thrown in prison, and much more, but he always remained true to his calling and never wavered in the face of difficulties. His positive attitude showed through in every circumstance. He never surrendered to the circumstances and always stood fast. This is a reminder to us that we should never surrender to our circumstances, for when we do, we are at the mercy of what happens to us. We need to be true to our calling and purpose in life, knowing that Jesus, Who began a good work in us, will complete it.

Paul’s attitude helped him to conclude that it did not matter what happened to him or those around him so long as he stayed true to his purpose and calling. May we be reminded that our attitude is controlled by us and we get to choose whether we will go forward with singleness of mind and a great attitude toward our God-given purpose here on earth. May we choose today to cultivate and keep a great attitude!

“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.” (Matthew 28:6)

This is the game changer! The moment that literally divides history between BC and AD. Generations looked forward to this day for centuries, and generations will continue to look back on it until the end of time. It is the moment that changed everything – the moment that confirmed every promise.

It is the resurrection of Jesus Christ!

This weekend we get to celebrate Easter and all that it means to those who believe in the Lord. The only reason we can look at the cross, a symbol of excruciating pain, punishment and humiliation, with joy and hope is because of what happened on one over 2,000 years ago. In Jesus’ own words recorded in Matthew 20:28, “… the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” He came to earth as the humble child of a virgin, lived a perfect and sinless life dedicated to teaching about God, was falsely accused and executed and, most importantly, after three days in the tomb He rose!

Christ’s resurrection not only fulfills prophecy, but it proves his divinity and identity as the Messiah and Savior. Simply put, only God has power over death. This is so pivotal to what we believe as Christians that in one of his letters to the early churches, the Apostle Paul writes, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.”

But He is risen indeed! Jesus died as the perfect sacrifice to take the world’s debt of sin and pay it in full with His very life so that by believing in Him as Lord and Savior we can be forgiven and brought near to God.

Since Christ’s resurrection is so crucial to God’s plan for the redemption of His people, He gave us massive amounts of evidence to be confident in it.

To begin, before the resurrection can be corroborated, Christ’s physical death must be confirmed. It is recorded in several eyewitness accounts that after Jesus breathed His last breath on the cross, the Roman soldiers pierced Him in the side to confirm His death. Between the crowd of onlookers, Christ’s accusers and the Roman soldiers (who were professionals at their job), there is no disputing that Jesus died that fateful day.

Next, all four gospel accounts of Christ’s life record that women were the first ones to discover the empty tomb. In these accounts, we see how the angel spoke to Mary Magdalene and explained that Jesus was no longer in the tomb because He had risen and would meet them again soon. This is significant because in the first century, culturally speaking, a woman’s testimony meant almost nothing in court in comparison to a man’s testimony. So if the disciples were lying about the resurrection, they certainly would have chosen “more believable” witnesses to convince others.

Also, if the empty tomb and resurrection were a lie, then the Roman government and the Pharisees would have found and produced Jesus’ body. The last thing they wanted was for followers to claim that Christ was God and had conquered death, which is why they posted guards outside the tomb. If there had been a body somewhere to find, they would have found it.

Finally, the most indisputable evidence of the resurrection was Christ’s appearances and interactions with people after His death. He appeared to His disciples for over a month before His ascension to heaven. Paul records that Christ also appeared to 500 witnesses after His resurrection, many of whom were still alive when Paul wrote his letter. In this way, there were many eyewitnesses who could attest that Jesus of Nazareth truly lived again after the crucifixion.

This barely begins to scratch the surface of the evidence we have surrounding the resurrection of Christ. While we can be confident in the resurrection because of the ample historical evidence there is to corroborate it, ultimately, our faith will always require trusting God and who He says He is.

So, Happy Easter! Let’s celebrate with hope and confidence knowing that our Lord has paid our ransom in full so that we can have life to the fullest in Him.

Confidence Beyond the Natural
John Ogden Sr
March 22, 2021

“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a new work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6, NKJV).

This is a very reassuring scripture. It lets us know that our confidence rests in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. How reassuring to know our confidence does not rest in man or in his abilities, but in the grace of our Lord!

This walk of life has many turns and some difficult paths, but our confidence rests in knowing that He who began a good work in us will perfect it. This is a growing process from a babe to a mature Christian. It helps to realize that the battle is not ours - the reputation is not ours, but His. He is more than able to see that our race is completed in Him. When things get difficult, as they sometimes will, it is reassuring to look towards Heaven and realize that if I will keep myself in His hands, all is well.

Are you resting in this confidence?

lways Moving Forward
John Ogden Sr
March 3, 2021

“As newborn babes, desire the milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2, NKJV).

We should always be moving forward in our Christian lives. Every day should be a day of growth and advancement in our Lord, Jesus Christ. There is only one direction from birth to heaven – forward. There are no “going back” days. Even in times of rest, we should be advancing in our spirit. If we live on the same plane day after day, our vision becomes weak, and we lose our vitality to advance. This is a dangerous place to be. This is a position that can cause backsliding.

The scriptures record our greatest advances and our most difficult times. It is not the easy times, but the hard times when God’s glory descends. We should be moving forward during times of testing and trials. As a matter of fact, it is during these times that God actually makes us into what He has called us to be. All reconstruction in our lives happens during difficult times. These are the most beneficial times of growth. In one of my most recent times of difficulty, a friend of mine asked me this question, “Did you think it would be easy?”

God does not call us to sit on the sidelines. He calls us to action. When we reach the place that we believe there is no hope, that is the time God makes us the person we need to be for that day and that hour. That is when we have a testimony and something to share about the life-changing power of Jesus Christ. As a matter of fact, James 1:2 says that we are to count it all joy. We are in a perfect place when we have done all we can do, and we must look to God for the answer. If we will allow God to, He will mold us and make us into His image.

Are you going through difficult times? Have you reached the place that you are willing to turn it all over to God? Is God calling you to a higher plane? If we are serious about being used of God, then He will be serious about taking us from one plane to another. We have a great calling and a great victory, but it can never be in us; it must always be in Him.

My prayer for you is that you will be what God has called you to be, and you will be willing to be used of Him even in the tough times.