December, 2006
God's
Sovereignty & Salvation
Jesus answered, "I
am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through
me....... Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father....." (John 14:6; 9b)
God's sovereignty
extends over all things. He is omnipotent---all powerful, no plan of His can be
stopped. He is omniscient---all knowing, so nothing is hidden from His sight.
And He is omnipresent---which means that all things exist in His presence.
Everything in both the natural and spiritual realms, including our salvation are
under His complete control.
Scripture describes
mankind as having hearts that are deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9), minds that suppress
the truth (Romans 1:18-19), and wills that have turned away from God. (Isaiah
53:6) The Lord however, is continually seeking us. He has issued a universal
call inviting everyone to freely come to Him. (John 3:16) He has said, "it
isn't His will that any should perish (2Peter 3:9), nor does He take pleasure in
the death of the wicked. (Ezekiel 33:11) And the Lord desires that all come to a
knowledge of the truth, meaning, that there is only one God manifested in
three persons, that sin separates us from Him, and only faith in Jesus Christ
reconciles us to Him. (1Timothy 2:4-6)
Scripture teaches also,
that none of us seek after God (Romans 3:11); so there is no way we can take
credit for our salvation. The desire to know Him comes from the Holy Spirit's
work of convicting hearts of sinfulness and providing the faith to believe in
Jesus as Savior and Lord. (Ephesians 2:8) May I say, salvation is all of God
from start to finish. Before the foundations of the world, God chose a people
for Himself from among the ungodly. (Ephesians 1:11; Romans 4:5) Friend ask the
Holy Spirit to help you grasp the awesomeness and immensity of divine grace,
love, and mercy. May God bless you.
December, 2006
An
Astronomer's Model
I
read a story not long ago about a man named Johannes Kepler, who was a German
astronomer living in the 16th century. Kepler had a friend who did not believe
in God, his friend believed that the universe came into existence by itself. So,
Kepler made a model of the sun with the planets revolving around it to prove his
point. His friend thought the model was just beautiful, and wanted to know if
Kepler had made it or if not, then who did? Kepler answered, "No one made
it, it made itself." His friend replied, "Nonsense. Tell me who made
it." Kepler then said, "Friend, you say this model could not make
itself. It is but a weak imitation of this great universe, which you believe did
make itself.
May
I say, no rational person would have believed that Kepler's model could have
made itself. Yet today we find many scientists believe exactly that... that the
universe and mankind came into existence by accident. Dear friend the universe
was not an accident and neither are you or your life. Your life has meaning. You
are here because God created you, and therefore, your life has great reason and
purpose behind it, and ahead of it. For the King of the Universe said, "For
I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper
you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah
29:11) You think about that.
November, 2006
A
Body Needs To Know
Do you not know that
your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have
received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore
honor God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Many people say they
have the right and freedom to do whatever they want with their own body. This
is a lie from the pit of hell and smells like smoke. People who think they are
free to do as they please, are in fact enslaved by their own lust.
May I say child of
God, Christ's death freed us from sin. The Holy Spirit seals, fills, and lives
in us; therefore our body belongs to God. If we truly love God we will not
violate His standards for living, and when we do, we will repent and seek His
forgiveness, which He has promised to give. (1 John 1:9 If we confess our
sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from
all unrighteousness). May God richly bless you.
November, 2006
IN
NONESSENTIALS! " LIBERTY"
Accept him whose
faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. ROMANS 14:1
We learn from this
verse that, we are to receive the weaker brother in a cordial and gracious
way, not with a spirit of critical analysis or an attitude of superiority.
Paul says we are not to quarrel about issues that are matters of opinion.
Differences in nonessentials should not be feared or avoided, but accepted and
handled with love.
May I say, there are
many questionable areas in the Christian life (gray areas) where there is no
specific command from God's Word to guide us. For example; A believer may
choose to be a vegetarian because he or she is of the opinion that red meat
could harm the body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Another believer
may not share this view, believing the protein from red meat, within
moderation, is necessary to maintain sound physical health, which would also
glorify God. Again one believer might abstain from drinking alcohol, and
another see nothing wrong with drinking in moderation. Who's right? Grace says
there is liberty to do either!
Child of God, if you
were to ask six believers to list 10 things they deem to be unacceptable
Christian conduct, not directly addressed in God's Word, I believe you will
find each list would differ dramatically. What one believer would find
acceptable another would find unacceptable, which is fine, as long as they
don't impose their convictions on another brother or sister in Christ. The
text teaches; we are to respect one another's convictions even though they may
not be the same as our own.
Sadly, many believers
establish unspoken rules to measure whether or not others are spiritual. But
spirituality is not trying to conform to someone's list of do's and don'ts.
This is nothing more than a form of legalism! The spiritually-minded person is
a person who desires for his or her life to be conformed to the image of
Christ by the inward working of the Holy Spirit. When we are walking in the
fullness of the Spirit our attitudes and responses will always be in line with
the Word of God. We will consistently esteem others better than ourselves. We
will value our freedom in Christ, yet be very careful never to misuse it. You
think about that.
October, 2006
Obey
& Leave The Consequences To God
May I say, we are to obey God and leave all the
consequences to Him. ["Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice
and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all
people; for all the earth is Mine." EXODUS 19:5] What an amazing
thing to be called the "special treasure" of God! Obedience brings
blessing, and far more blessing than we can imagine. The Bible says in Genesis
15 and 17, that God made a covenant with Abraham, promising to make his
descendants into a great nation. Here that promise is being realized as God
restates His agreement with the Israelite nation, the descendants of Abraham.
In verse eight of the text above; the people promised to
obey Him. But the good intentions of the people quickly wore off, and they
soon were back living in disobedience. The question for today child of God is
this; When you placed your trust in Christ and received Him as your Lord and
Savior, did you not at that time commit your heart to Him? Did you not commit
to follow Him no mater what? The bottom line for you and me is this; are we
holding up to our end of the bargain? You think about that, and I will to.
October, 2006
The Law Of
Sowing
You reap what you sow, more than you sow, and latter than
you sow. [ "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man
sows, that he will reap." GALATIANS 6:7] This principle applies to
everyone, both Christians and non-Christians alike. This principle is
irrevocable; there is no escape, either for the believer or for the
unbeliever. It is a law of life. May I say, every action has results. If you
sow to please self, you'll reap a crop of sorrow and evil. If you sow to
please God, you'll reap joy and everlasting life. The fact that we reap what
we sow is good news for those who sow good habits, but a frightening thought
for those currently involved in ungodly activities. We cannot sow crabgrass
and expect to reap pineapples. We cannot sow disobedience to God and expect to
reap His blessing. What we sow we reap. Let us not deceive ourselves; we will
reap the harvest of our lives. What kind of seeds are you sowing friend?
September, 2006
TO
THE END OF THE EARTH
"But you will
receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses
in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the
earth." (Acts 1:8)
The book of Acts
records the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ, from the city of Jerusalem
to the whole province of Judea, and Samaria, and ultimately through out the
Roman Empire and beyond. These first-century Christians were sold out for the
cause of Christ. They transformed their world, as their lives became living
epistles of the good news of Jesus Christ.
May I say, God has
called us to a life style of evangelism, in which we build relationships with
non-Christians. These friendships in turn become natural bridges for
communicating the gospel. Child of God take a close look at Colossians 4:2-6
to learn how to become more effective as an instrument of the Holy Spirit, in
bringing others to Christ. And remember! your task is not to convince people,
but to testify of the truth of the Gospel. May God bless you.
September, 2006
God's
Highest Priority
Our intimacy with God...His highest priority
for our lives...determines the impact of our lives. [Then God said, "Let
Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion
over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over
all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." GENESIS
1:26] When God created us, He made us like Himself, therefore we have the
capacity for close, personal fellowship with Him.
Knowing that we were created in God's image
gives us a sense of self-worth. Human worth is not based on possessions,
achievements, physical attractiveness, or public acclaim, no! it's based on
being made in God's image. To look down on someone is to criticize what God
has made and the abilities He has given that person. May I say, that in
Genesis 1:31 God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. Child of God
you are part of God's creation, and He is pleased with how He made you. If at
times you feel worthless or of no value, remember that you are valuable to God
and that He created you for a reason. Don't let Satan steal that truth from
you. May God bless you.
August, 2006
JESUS
IS INDEED GOD
In the beginning was
the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the
beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing
was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
(John 1:1-5)
Jesus is the eternal
and living Word. Fully God and fully man, the God man. The Bible teaches that
in Christ, God personally revealed Himself in human flesh. Note! to see Him is
to see God (John 12:45; 14:9)-to receive Him is to receive God (Mark 9:37)-to
know Him is to know God (John 8:19)-to honor Him is to honor God (John
5:23)-and to reject Him is to reject God (Luke 10:16). May I say, He is the
vine, the source of life; we as believers are the branches, the channels of
His life so to speak.
The Christian life is
Jesus, living His life in and through us as we walk in dependence upon Him. It
is only as we draw our life from Him that we bear lasting fruit. "I have
been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The
life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and
gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). Child of God, to what extent are
you looking to Jesus as the true source of your security, significance, and
fulfillment? You think about that.
August, 2006
A
LOOK AT GENUINE FAITH
In the same way,
faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (James 2:17)
As the body without
the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. (James 2:26)
James says in his
epistle that "faith without works is dead." May I say that genuine
faith inspires godly action. True faith will always manifest itself in
works of faith, otherwise it is not real faith at all. Note! if you will the
character of real faith....(1) Genuine faith endures trials. Trials are bound
to come, but real faith will face them head-on and develop endurance....(2)
Genuine faith understands temptations, and will never consent to our lust and
thereby slide into sin....(3) Genuine faith harbors no prejudice, faith and
favoritism cannot coexist....(4) Genuine faith has the power to control the
tongue. this small but powerful part of the body must be held in check, and
only grace working through faith, can accomplish it....(5) Genuine faith acts
wisely. It gives us the ability to choose heavenly wisdom that brings life and
to reject earthly wisdom that brings death....(6) Genuine faith produces
separation from the world and submission to Christ. It gives us the ability to
resist the devil and draw near to God....(7) Finally, genuine faith waits
patiently for the return of the Lord. Troubles and trials may cause us grief,
faith in the return of Christ stifles our complaining. Child of God, we need
to give praise to God, who is the author and finisher of our faith, for He is
faithful even when we are not. You think about that.
July, 2006
Building
Confidence
Such
confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are
competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence
comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant---not
of the letter but the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
(2 Corinthians 3:4-6)
Confidently
trusting the Lord is the only way to go. When our reliance is on God, we
experience spiritual growth, personal achievement, peace, freedom, and joy.
Our confidence in God is built through a process; meditating on His Word,
knowing who He is, and drawing near to Him through prayer. Note! we can lose
our confidence in Him by focusing on circumstance rather than Jesus; by
allowing unconfessed sin in our life; and by heeding worldly advice.
Child
of God as confident follows of Christ; it is not who we are, what we believe
about ourselves, or what strengths and abilities we have that matter, but it
is God's presence, His provision, and power that counts. My question is; how
much do we trust Him? Is our confidence Christ-centered or self-centered? May
I say developing a wholehearted trust and reliance on Jesus is what brings
about Christ-centered confidence. You thank about that.
I
can do everything through Him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13) Union
with the living exalted Christ is the secret of being content and the source
of our confidence, and abiding strength. Praise His Holy Name, amen.
July, 2006
HOPE
OF GLORY
"We
exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our
tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and
perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not
disappoint." [Romans 5:2-5]
The
security that every believer has in his or her salvation is founded on the
fact that God is the author of their salvation, every aspect of it is solely
the work of God, and therefore cannot be lost. The final work of God's great
salvation is the ultimate glorification of every Christian: "Whom God
foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son,
that He might be the first born among many brethren; and whom He predestined,
these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He
justified, these He also glorified" [Romans 8:29-30].
May
I say, that Scripture teaches that salvation is anchored in the past because
Christ made peace with God at Calvary for our sins, that it is anchored in the
present because Christ continually intercedes for every believer and
establishes our standing in grace. Note that in verses 2 through 5 Paul
proclaims, salvation is also anchored in the future because God promises His
children that one day they will be clothed with the glory of His Son.
The
Greek word for "exult" in Romans 5:2 refers to jubilation and
rejoicing. Every believer ought to rejoice in the future rather than fearing
it, because Jesus Christ has secured our hope, in fact Christ is the guarantee
of our hope because He Himself is our hope (1 Tim. 1:1). Don't miss what Paul
says in Romans 5:3-5; Paul states in these verses, that our afflictions for
Christ's sake produce increasing levels of spiritual maturity. That means we
can rejoice in tribulations that come upon us because of our relationship to
Christ. Child of God as you continue to pursue holiness, the more you will be
persecuted and troubled, but the greater will be your hope as you see God
sustain you by His all powerful grace. You think about that.
June, 2006
More
than conquerors
Romans 8:31-35, 37-39
What shall we then
say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
He that spared
not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him
also freely give us all things?
Who shall lay any
thing to the charge of God's elect?
It is God that
justifieth.
Who is he that
condemneth?
It is Christ
that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of
God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Who shall separate
us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution,
or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Nay, in all
these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am
persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor
powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor
any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which
is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
June, 2006
Why
do people not respond to the gospel?
Paul
said "if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are
perishing" (2 Corinthians 4:3). May I say the problem was not with the
message or the messenger, but with the hearers headed for hell. The preacher
cannot persuade people to believe; only God can do that.
Paul
also says Satan has blinded the minds of the unbeliever (verse 4). Satan blinds
men to the truth of God's Word through the world system he has created. The
majority of people have the mind-set that is expressed by this world system.
Without a godly influence, man left to himself will follow that system, which
panders to the depravity of humankind and deepens their moral darkness.
"For
we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus" (verse 5). False teachers
accused Paul of preaching for his own benefit, yet they were the ones guilty of
doing so. Paul never promoted himself, but always preached Christ Jesus as Lord.
Notice verse 6, "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of
darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the
glory of God". The same God who created physical light in the universe must
create supernatural light in the soul of the unbeliever before that person can
respond to the gospel. Child of God we are to be faithful, to proclaim the
gospel of Christ, and leave the results to God. You think about that.
May, 2006
OUR
LIBERTY IN CHRIST
God's
purpose with regard to the liberty of the believer in Christ is summed up in
Galatians 5:13. "For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not
turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve
one another.
Here
is an admonition so simple that no believer can misunderstand it, so
comprehensive, that it covers the whole range of the believer's behavior
toward his fellow brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ.
God
intended that the Christian life should be dynamic, that we should sit under
the teaching of the Word of God, understand and apply its meaning and
implications, and serve God and fellow believers. If we would stop and
consider the fact that God has entrusted us with liberty, and freedom as full
grown sons, while yet beset by temptation and sin. If we would contemplate the
infinite love and the infinite cost involved in bestowing this liberty upon
us. If we would stop and reflect on the truth that this liberty and freedom
was given to us in Christ Jesus; (as those who have been crucified, buried and
raised with Him, to walk in newness of life)--if we would take the time to
consider all of this, it becomes evident that the only right use of liberty is
as the Scripture says; "but through love serve one another."
Child
of God, it is important to remember that we are to exercise our liberty in a
lifestyle of usefulness for others, to stand fast in our God given liberty,
and to heed the exhortation: Take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours
become a stumbling block to them that are weak (1 Corinthians 8:9).
Paul
reminded the Corinthians in his letter to them that he had the right as an
apostle to live well and to expect them to care for his needs so that he might
"forbear working." He reminded them that they owed him their
financial support (1 Corinthians 9:1-14). But he also wrote to these same
Corinthians "Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all
things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ....For though I be free
from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the
more" (1 Corinthians 9:12-19).
Referring
again to the use of his liberty in Christ, Paul says: "All things are
lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me,
but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own, but every man another's
wealth" (1 Corinthians 10:23-24). We have been set at liberty, not that
we might indulge in the gratification of our own desires, but that we might
serve others. Scripture says: "it is more blessed to give than to
receive."
Thank
God, we have been called unto liberty. Through Christ we can breathe the air
of freedom, but to fully enjoy this freedom we must take care not to use it as
an occasion to serve self, but rather as the means by which, in love, we may
serve one another. You thank about that.
May, 2006
The
Believer's Relationship With The Holy Spirit
And
they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues,
as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:4
The
Holy Spirit appeared on the day of Pentecost, accompanied by extraordinary
manifestations of His presence. It is important to understand that these
manifestations were "sign" oriented, not "character"
oriented. The text does not say that after being filled with the Holy Spirit,
they manifested great patience, kindness, gentleness, ect. (i.e. the fruit of
the Spirit). Rather, it says they immediately began speaking in other tongues.
May I say, that is how the unbelievers who heard them knew that something
supernatural had taken place.
After
the Book of Acts, the whole concept of being filled with the Spirit drops out
of sight, except for one mention in Ephesians 5:18. In that passage, Paul is
talking about surrendering to the influence of the Spirit, not to the
indwelling ministry of the Holy Spirit. So what am I saying? Just this...we
need not ask God to fill us with the Spirit, because the Holy Spirit indwells
all believers in Christ. Paul wrote, "For by one Spirit we were all
baptized into one body...whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free...and
have all been made to drink into one Spirit" (1 Cor. 12:13). The apostle
John wrote, "By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because
He has given us His Spirit" (1 John 4:13). Christian believers everywhere
are filled with the Spirit.
Child
of God, the presence of the Holy Spirit is a source of great assurance. In
fact, "if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His"
(Romans 8:9). We know we belong to Christ because His Spirit dwells in us. You
think about that.
April, 2006
The
centrality of the resurrection
Do not be afraid; for I
know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here,
for He has risen, just as He said. (Matthew 28:5-6)
May I say the Christian
faith stands or falls on the resurrection. Without the resurrection, our faith
would just be a lot of wishful thinking, no better than human philosophies and
speculative religions. Paul knew that without the resurrection our salvation
could not have been possible. Paul was also convinced that the truth of the
resurrection must be believed or else salvation cannot be received: if you
confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God
raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved (Romans 10:9).
In spite of many
challenges from skepticism, persecution, heresy, and unfaithfulness, the
church through out the centuries has continued to testify to the reality of
Christ's resurrection. Paul and the other apostles, and every leader in the
early church continually preached Christ's resurrection. Actually, because the
church gathers on Sunday, the Lord's day, the first day of the week (when
Jesus rose), we are reminded of His resurrection every week.
We as believers should be
so captivated by the significance of the resurrection of Christ, that our
lives would manifest a solid witness to the power of the gospel of the risen
Christ. Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and life. He who believes
in me will never die" (John 11:25). Thank God, we have a living hope,
and a living Savior. Halleluiah! to the Lamb of God, praise His holy
Name, for He is worthy of our worship and praise. Can you say amen to that?
Remember child of God; who
loves you unconditionally, who died on a cruel cross and rose the third day
that you might have everlasting life. Give Him thanks right now and tell Him
how much you love Him. Prove your love by seeking to obey His will for your
life. You will be blessed for it. That's God's promise to you from His Word.
You think about that.
HAPPY EASTER 2006....
April, 2006
A Godly Influence
Being a godly influence means helping others
understand who Jesus is, it means helping them grow in the Word, and
encouraging them to make God honoring choices. To be such a person, we must
have strong conviction, solid commitment, and steady courage.
In order to have a godly impact on others,
we must first be convinced that Scripture is true; that the Bible is
the inspired, and infallible Word of God. That there is absolutely no mistakes
to be found in the Bible. That so-called discrepancies are just things we do
not understand yet. (2 Timothy 3:16) Second the true God, the God
of the Bible, is triune in nature; that is, God is Three-in-One. God the
Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, and each member is fully divine.
(Matthew 28:19) Third eternal life is received only through faith in
Christ alone--there is no other way. (John 14:6) Salvation cannot be
earned, even by good works. (Ephesians 2:8-10) And fourth Jesus will
one day return for those who belong to Him, and He will take them with Him to
heaven. (John 14:2-3) But unbelievers will remain under divine wrath. John
3:36)
A good Old Testament example of conviction,
commitment, and courage is Daniel. He knew the biblical prohibition against
eating meat offered to idols. As a captive in Babylon, he faced a dilemma.
Since his meals were first offered to idols, he had to decide whether to obey
God's law and risk punishment from men, or adopt Babylonian ways and displease
the Lord. Daniel believed, and obeyed what the Scriptures said, and God
granted him favor. Our Father is also pleased with us when we trust in His
Word. Child of God how firm are your convictions? You need firm convictions to
be a godly influence. You think about that.
April, 2006
The
Story of The Rooster
The
story is told of a rooster who arose early every morning of his life to crow.
And every morning shortly thereafter, the sun would rise.
As
the months and years went by, the animals of the barnyard said, “Thank you
for bringing the sun up every day. We’re not worthy.” But one day, not
feeling well, the rooster overslept. Yet the sun came up anyway.
“You
fraud!” the animals said to the sleepy rooster. “You weren’t even out
here today. Yet the sun came up anyway.”
Although
at first, the rooster was embarrassed and depressed, he was eventually
relieved when he realized that, because he didn’t bring the sun up, the
world didn’t depend on him.
So,
too, there comes a point in a believer’s life when we realize our
Christian walk isn’t dependent upon us, but solely upon Jesus. May I
say, happy is the day when we truly understand that our relationship
with the Father has nothing to do with our attempts at being a spiritual
rooster bringing the sun up. Instead, it has everything to do with admitting we
would be in the dark were it not for the Son shining upon us all the days
of our life.
March, 2006
The
Potter's Wheel
Does
not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some
pottery for noble purposes and some for common use? (Romans 9:21)
You
turn things upside down, as if the potter were though to be like the clay!
Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, He did not make me? Can the pot
say of the potter, He knows nothing? (Isaiah 29:16)
Do
you ever feel you're not going anywhere, that you're going around in one big
circle, doing the same things over and over again? You don't seem to be going
anywhere but you still feel pressure! Consider this; The above Scripture says
that God is the potter and we are the clay. Question: How does a potter mold
clay? He puts it on a wheel and then spins it around applying pressure with
his hands. Through the pressure, the lump of clay is transformed into a
beautiful vessel.
So
when you feel like you're going around in a circle, remember the potter's
wheel. When you go through trials and suffering, and you feel the pressure,
don't get discouraged. It's there to change you. Let the circumstance and
pressure mold you into His image. Child of God, the purpose of your life is
not good times or bad times-- but to be molded into His image. It's the
difference between being beautiful and just being a lump of clay. You think
about that.
But
now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through
the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace,....(Ephesians 2:13-14a)
March, 2006
BE
FILLED
Therefore
do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be
drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and
making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things
to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one
another in the fear of God. (Ephesians 5:17-21)
Paul
tells us in this passage that true communion with God comes from being filled
with the Holy Spirit. Note! Paul is not speaking about the Holy Spirit's
indwelling or the baptism by Christ with the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9; 1Cor.
12:13), because every believer is indwelt and baptized by the Spirit at the
time of salvation. Paul is saying that believers should live continually under
the influence of the Spirit; by obeying the Word of God, pursuing pure lives,
confessing all known sin, dying to self, surrendering to God's will, and
depending on His power in all things. May I say being filled with the Spirit
is living in conscious presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, letting His mind,
through the Word, dominate everything that is thought of and done. Being
filled with the Spirit is the same as walking in the Spirit. The principle!
"complete surrender of self to the Spirit's control." The results!
"joy unspeakable". You think about that.
March, 2006
Self-righteousness it's
everywhere
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a
broken and contrite heart, O God you will not despise.. (Psalm 51:17).
Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee,
and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself:
God I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers,
adulterers--or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a
tenth of all I get. But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not
even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, God, have mercy on me, a
sinner. I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified
before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who
humbles himself will be exalted (Luke 18:10-14).
Self-righteousness is the conviction that one is better
than others--morally, spiritually, and theologically. It is the spurious view
that one is not like other people. Self-righteous people always think they
speak as outsiders of the human race.
Five facts you need to know about self-righteousness: (1)
It's subtle; you don't know it when you've got it. (2) It's
incremental; It never starts out as self-righteousness but as something
positive and good. (3) It's addictive; people love to point a critical
finger at the mistakes of others, and brag about themselves. (4) It's
indiscriminate; once you see it, it's everywhere and not just in religious
folks. And (5) It's terribly destructive.
Note! The tax collector did not think of himself as one
sinner among many, but as the sinner who was unworthy of anything from God.
Jesus said the tax collector went home justified. That means he received
forgiveness, and redemption. May I say, the Lord Jesus reminds us in this
parable, that it is a spirit of repentance, and self-humiliation, not a
critical or judgmental spirit that is acceptable to God.
Have you ever wondered child of God, why most of our
evangelistic efforts are ineffective? Could it be that un-believers see us as
angry, condemning, uptight, judgmental, self-righteous twits. I believe that
the reasons we can't forgive and why they are divisions among us, is because
of the sin of self-righteousness. And this after God tells us in His Word;
there is none righteous, not even one (Romans 3:10) and that all our righteous
acts are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).
Self-righteousness destroys relationships, and makes
genuine love impossible. It makes it impossible to love those who aren't
Christians and impossible to love those who are. God will forgive and restore
the believer who has been over taken by a judgmental spirit. If that believer
will acknowledge his sin and ask the Lord for the grace to repent. O thank God
for His all sufficient grace.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of
God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you. Amen.
February, 2006
As Events Unfold
Then the man bowed down his head and
worshipped the Lord. (Genesis 24:26)
In Genesis 24, Abraham sent his servant to
find a wife for Isaac. After asking God for help, the servant set out on his
journey to find a wife for Abraham's son. When it became obvious that God was
answering his prayer and leading him to the right girl, he didn't wait for the
final outcome, he thanked God as the events unfolded.
May I say, our lives are constantly in
process, and our prayers are always in the process of being answered,
according to the Lord's will and time table. Note! not our will or time table
but His. So why wait to thank God? If you have started praying over a concern,
pray with thanksgiving. If you begin to wonder why God delays His answer,
thank Him for His timing. If you sense Him answering your prayers, thank Him
for the first fruits of His grace. And when the answer is fully apparent,
rejoice in His goodness and thank Him for His providence and provision.
E. M. Bonds said, "Giving thanks is the
very life of prayer. It is its fragrance and music, its poetry and its
crown." Are you praying with thanksgiving, when making your request known
to Him? Are you praising Him while praying? Are you believing Him for answered
prayer? Is your heart fully devoted to Him alone? You think about that child
of God, I know that I need to think about it as well. "Neither prayer,
nor praise, nor the hearing of the Word will be pleasant or profitable to
persons who have left their hearts behind them." (C. H. Spurgeon)
February, 2006
The
Gospel of Freedom
I
have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me
and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if
righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!
(Galatians 2:20-21)
Jesus
does more than simply save people from the penalty of past, present, and
future sins; He frees men and women from sin's power every day. When Christ
died on the cross, God saw each believer crucified with Him so that sin's
power was broken. May I say the focus of the Christian faith is not dying, but
living. Note! Because we have been crucified with Christ, we have also been
raised with Him (Romans 6:5). This means we can say no to those things that
enslave others. Most unbelievers are trying to live smarter, find a purpose,
and be happy. On the other hand, believers have the secret of life from Jesus
Himself: "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me...and you will find
rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:29). Child of God, this is too big a
secret to keep quite. Open your Bible and pray that God would reveal a truth
you can share with someone today. The Gospel message we are called to declare
frees the enslaved and teaches victorious living. Let us be faithful to our
call. Amen.
January, 2006
Why
Should I?
Why
should I say I can't when the Bible says I can do all things through Christ
who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13)?
Why
should I feel I lack anything when God supplies all my needs according to His
riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19)?
Why
should I fear when God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love,
and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7)?
Why
should I be weak when the Lord is the strength of my life (Psalm 27:1; Daniel
11:32)?
Why
should I feel like a failure when I am a conqueror in all things through
Christ (Romans 8:37)?
Why
should I allow Satan supremacy over my life when He that is in me is greater
than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4)?
Why
should I lack wisdom when God gives wisdom to me generously when I ask for it
(1 Corinthians 1:30; James 1:5)?
Why
should I accept defeat when the Bible says that God always leads me in triumph
(2 Corinthians 2:14)?
Why
should I be depressed when I have God's loving kindness, compassion, and
faithfulness to give me hope (Lamentations 3:21-23)?
Why
should I worry when I can cast all my care on Christ who cares for me (1 Peter
5:7)?
Why
should I be in bondage when the truth has set me free (John 8:32)?
Why
should I feel condemned when there is no condemnation to them who are in
Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1)?
Why
should I feel alone when Jesus is with me always, even to the end of the world
(Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5)?
Why
should I be discontented when I can be content in all my circumstances
(Philippians 4:11)?
Why
should I feel worthless when Christ values me (1 Corinthians 4:5)?
Why
should I have a persecution complex, knowing that nobody can be against me
when God is for me (Romans 8:31)?
Why
should I let the pressures of life bother me when Jesus has overcome the world
and its tribulations (John 16:33)?
Jesus
said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it
more abundantly" (John 10:10). If you belong to the Lord rejoice now, and
give Him thanks, for He is worthy; Oh! praise His holy Name.
January, 2006
Joy Of
Obedience
Man has always struggled with obeying God's
commands. Many people today fall into the trap of viewing obedience as the
Pharisees did in Christ's day: The Pharisees were precise in their efforts to
follow countless guidelines for conduct and diet. Yet their great sin was to
focus on the letter of the Law while disregarding its spirit. The outward
behavior of these religious leaders appeared pious, but their hearts were far
from the kingdom of God. May I say child of God, true allegiance and commitment
to Christ, begins with our thoughts and continues all the way through to our
actions and attitudes.
Decide today that, regardless of your
circumstances, you will obey God and leave the consequences to Him. Just as
obedience brings the Father's blessings, disobedience results in lost of
fellowship and eventually the Father's chastising hand. Whether 5 or 105, God's
children will do well by learning to "trust and obey." You think about
that.
But if anyone obeys His Word, God's love is
truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in Him. (1 John
2:5)
But the man who looks intently into the
perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he
has heard, but doing it--- he will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:25)
The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy
to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
(Psalm 19:8)
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