When you think of the Church (the individual believers in the Work of Jesus Christ) and the Great Commission to Go and make Disciples of all Nations, what does that mean? Most Christians first think of Evangelism! While preaching the Gospel is our message and the Holy Spirit moves upon the unrepentant, unbelieving heart, there is another aspect of Evangelism that I desire to share. Listen to this passage and ask yourself this question; does my Church practice this type of evangelism and discipleship? 1Corinthians 14:19 “But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue. 20 Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. 21 In the Law it is written: “Through men of strange tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me,” says the Lord. 22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers. 23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24 But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, 25 and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!” Now I am not at this time going to debate Speaking in Tongues verses prophesying, for the text indicates both Spiritual gifts. I am going to point out the verses 24 and 25! The Greek word for prophesying is propheteuo, which means to foretell events, divine, speak under inspiration, exercise the prophetic office. Can you imagine what would happen in our Churches if this Spiritual gift was sought and practiced in our Churches today? If the Spiritual gift was practiced and given by the Holy Spirit to men who are an inspired speaker, unbelievers who visit would be “convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, 25 and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!” Is your Preacher inspired by the Holy Spirit to exercise this gift in your Church? I have preachers and laymen exclaim to me all the time, “where is the power in the Church like that in the early Church”? Well maybe it is because belief in the Power of the Holy Spirit and the use of Spiritual gifts are not sought by believers! Evangelism and Discipleship are brothers. One cannot exist without the other! Both should be and must be implemented in the Church in order to fulfill the Christ mandate to Go! We all want to see lost people come into the Church and “fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!” I for one love to see the Transformation take place in the hearts of lost and unbelieving souls! Let us all stop and pray the Holy Spirit bestow the gift of prophesying in our Church for the Glory of Jesus Christ!
Posts Tagged ‘Commandments’
Discipleship through Spiritual Gift of prophecy!
Posted in Inspiration, tagged bible, christ, Christianity, Church, Commandments, God, Inspiration, jesus, religion, Spiritual Gift on January 17, 2011| 2 Comments »
Do you KNOW the Holy One?
Posted in Inspiration, tagged bible, christ, Christianity, Commandments, Faith, God, hell, Inspiration, jesus, religion, truth on January 8, 2011| Leave a Comment »
There is a burden upon my heart that I am compelled to share. Are you Reflecting the Holiness of God? Have you felt, yes felt, the Holy Spirit move in your heart lately? Do you have Intimacy with God your Creator daily? Does it bother you that some of your loved will burn in Hell unless they come to know Christ? Are you obedient to the Commands of Christ? Do you even care? Do you know God? Do you know Him, not just know about Him? If we as “Christians” are not motivated to do something for our Master Jesus Christ every day then I will say to your face you are out of step with the Living God and need to repent! Yes, turn from complacency or “Lukewarmness” and turn back to God through Jesus Christ! Revelation 3:15 “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm– neither hot nor cold– I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Is your Love for Jesus stronger now than yesterday? He wants us to be filled with His Grace and Spirit. The problem usually is distractions. You know, TV, Sports, school, work, vacation….always draws us away from Him who died for us! Our Father in Heaven wants Intimacy with us! He wants us to know Him as well as we know our kids, spouse and friends! We spend time with those we love but what about the One who IS LOVE? Listen to why Jesus came to the Earth. John 17:20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” Do you Love Him? Do you know Him? Jesus told us that if we loved Him we would obey what He Commands! So are you walking obediently? Have you done anything in your life recently to bring Glory to Jesus Christ, that He may give that Glory to the Father who sent Him? Can you hear the Sweet Whisper of the Holy Spirit? Does your heart burn for Jesus? Listen and Focus your attention on this verse of Holy Scripture; Hebrews 12:2 “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” If you are growing weary and losing heart, it means you have taken your eyes off Jesus! Do not relax your mind! Do not harden your heart! Psalm 51:8 “Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you. 14 Save me from blood-guilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. 15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” I will close by sharing this thought from D.L. Moody “The Spirit of God first imparts love; he next inspires hope and then gives liberty; and that is about the last thing we have in many of our churches. Set yourself on fire and people will come just to watch you burn!”
After Thanksgiving, now what?
Posted in Inspiration, tagged blessing, christ, Commandments, devotion, Faith, God, Holiness, Inspiration, jesus, religion, Thanksgiving on November 27, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Now that Thanksgiving is over what’s next? I would like to suggest something. In America we have a wonderful thing that was set up, maybe by inspiration or not, called the Holiday’s. Think about this: Thanksgiving comes first to turn hearts to giving thanks to God for all His Blessings from the past year. Then comes Christmas, which offers the opportunity for people to focus on the awesome gift of Redemption through the Birth, life and works of the Savior Jesus Christ. Then comes New Year which gives people the opportunity to start afresh. What a great opportunity to finish the year well and look forward to the next Year to worship and seek the Will of God. 1). Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and serve Him in every aspect of our lives. 2). Always give Thanks in every situation that arises in our lives. Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year, what a time to reflect on our relationship with God and our fellow man. Think about this passage of Holy Scripture; Psalm 119:9-18 “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. Do good to your servant, and I will live; I will obey your word. Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”
Let us all remember that stuff can never fill the emptiness in our souls but only the indwelling Christ! Happiness comes not in the possession of materials, but in the substance of Faith! People are empty inside, that is why are homes are full of stuff! As I watched the news last night and heard of people camping out at Malls and shopping centers for hours and sometimes days, I felt within my spirit a groaning for their souls. Some of these people never give Thanks for what they do have and would never come to a Church for a Faith lift! Always they have a desire for more stuff! Always have a need to get the best deal, even at the expense of running up debt! I would like to suggest a passage of Scripture to encourage all who will read this blog; 1Timothy 6:6 “But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” There is not enough room in your home to put stuff as you pursue Materialism! Has Christ no place in your life? Mark 8:36 “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” I pray we will pursue Christ First in our lives, then material possessions will seem less important! Christ shall provide all our needs according to His Riches in Glory!
Thoughts on Revival!
Posted in Inspiration, tagged blessing, Christianity, Church, Commandments, devotion, God, jesus, religion, repentance, Revival on November 20, 2010| 3 Comments »
Revival! Revival! Revival! Is there any doubt to the need for personal revival? We know as Christians that true Revival can only come to those who are Alive in the first place! We also know Him who said; “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” So I would like to ask a few questions and then share a few thoughts. Do you really want revival? Are you willing to do what is required? What is stopping you from being Revived in the first place? Are you willing to Stand in the Fire of Almighty God?
Most of my Christian life I have heard preachers, laymen and Pastors say the Church need revival. Many have said revival will only come through prayer. Some have said sing and Praise your way to revival! I am not going to debate their thoughts about revival. However, I would like to share my answers to the previous questions and hope you too will find yourself in a revival as I have found myself! I am a firm believer in the Transforming Power of Jesus Christ and the Fire He gives through the Holy Spirit. If I just pray for revival it will never come, because it has already been made available! You see the Holy Spirit is the Fire of God within the believer and He is Always Present. Do you really want revival? Then you are going to have crucify that which suppresses the Fire! Self, entertainment, pleasures, time, work, family and even Church can actually quench the Holy Spirit’s fire in your life! These things listed above are not evil but distract us from the Pursuit Holy Fire Revival! Most are not ready to give these things up to seek true revival. “We are dust and dust settles” is a quote from A.W. Tozer and speaks volumes about our comfort and complacency. If you want revival then you must be stirred up.
Are you willing to do what may be required to receive revival? I can assure you with all the authority of God’s Word that revival can and will never come without repentance! We can pray, fast, preach, teach, work in the Church etc. and revival will still not come. Repentance is a prerequisite for revival, just as Salvation. We must turn away from doing the same things over and over and expecting God to revive our mess! Listen to Jeremiah about this topic. Lamentation 3:16 “He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes. 17 And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity. 18 And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD: 19 Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. 20 My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me. 21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 22 It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Are you willing to be broken and contrite? Revival is always here! Renewal can be new every morning because of the Faithfulness of God!
So what hinders us from being revived in the first place? No time for contrition? Too busy? Fire of God too hot? Some of my hindrances from the past came from my selfish fear of surrender. God may require something from me. He might want me to do something I don’t want. Revival will never come until we are surrendered to the Spirit’s Fire! Yes, the surrender and contrition do come from much hard prayer and fasting but Revival will not arrive until I Surrender to the Spirit’s call. Which leads to the next question.
Are you willing to stand the the Fire of God and not just stand by the fire? The story of Moses has a lot to say about this. Remember when he went to God? He was called by God and had many objections. He had a confidence problem amongst many other self issues like we deal with everyday. He was standing in front of the fire of God as represented by the burning bush. He went to deliver Israel as instructed and came back to the Holy mountain. After much contrition and hardships Moses goes back to meet with God. The Lord gives the Commandments and then Moses spends time with the Lord. Then a really bad thing happened; Ex 32:1 When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.” Ex 32:6 So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry. 7 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt.” Moses then intercession for Israel and pleads for Mercy. Then Moses did something that we must do if we truly want Revival. We must not stand by the fire but go into the Fire! Ex 33:12 Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” 14 The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” 17 And the LORD said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” 18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” 19 And the LORD said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” 21 Then the LORD said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.” Moses , like us, stood on the edge of the Fire of God. But we, like Moses must jump into the Fire and see the Glory of the LORD! True Revival comes from a God who is like a Fire. Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.” We need Revival, Yes. But are we willing to pay the price?
Lover of my Soul!
Posted in Inspiration, tagged bible, blood of Jesus, christ, Christianity, Commandments, devotion, Faith, God, religion on November 6, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Let us look upon the Author of our Faith! The Lover of our souls. The Master Teacher. The Prophet, Priest and King! The Holy One of Israel. The Righteous Redeemer! The Lord above all lords and the King Above all kings! The Wellspring of Righteousness! The giver of Wisdom and Knowledge. The Obedient Servant who Died on a Cross for your sins and mine! Do you know Him? What keeps us from loving Him and serving Him with all our hearts? Pride? Arrogance? Ignorance? Self-righteousness? False humility? Are the things in this world so appealing to your flesh that you see not your need for Saving Grace and Mercy? Has sin so served you well to the point that your heart is so hard not even the Holy Spirit can penetrate? Hebrews 3:7 So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, 9 where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did. 10 That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’11 So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.'”12 See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”
If you feel the Holy Spirit tugging at your heart, LISTEN and Respond! God never wants to do us harm. He is our Creator and He knows best! Psalm 103:11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 1Co 2:9 However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
These verses are Irrevocable Promises from Almighty God for those who choose to listen the Holy Spirit’s voice! Will you listen today? You may never have another chance to respond in humble repentance to the Only True and Living God who Loves your Soul! 1Peter 2:22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Homophobia, really?
Posted in Inspiration, tagged bible, blood of Jesus, christ, Commandments, God, Homosexuality, jesus, religion, repentance, truth on October 29, 2010| 4 Comments »
Waking up this morning was a delight! I know my Redeemer Lives! Since I gave my life to the Only Savior Jesus Christ, life has been tough but very rewarding. The only and greatest thing I have ever experienced is seeing my sins Washed away in the Divine Blood of Jesus shed on the Cross! As I drank my coffee this morning I was reading an article written by a Christian concerning homosexuality. He was debating and lamenting over the so called scientific evidence that homosexuals are born that way. I desire not to rant and rave about whether homosexuality is a sin or not, because that is a non issue with God! He says that it is a sexual sin, Period! What I do desire is to make a few comments that hopefully will clarify, for any Christian who reads this post, will agree with God. It matters not at all if you agree or disagree with me on any issue that God’s Word clearly tackles. A preacher friend of mine read the article about the scientific evidence that homosexuals are born that way and was somewhat perplexed stating; “if they are born homosexual then they are not responsible and we as preachers cannot address this issue because they cannot help themselves.” My jaw about hit the floor! After a few moments lamenting his ignorant statement I was compelled by the Holy Spirit to rebuke Him with the Truth in Love! Romans 3:20 “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. 21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” We are all born sinful and are in need of Redemption regardless of scientific evidence! Homosexuality is a sin, just as lying, cheating, stealing, idolatry, hatred, unforgiving, drunkenness and coveting. We must understand as Christians that homosexuals are born sinful just as you and I are born sinful. We all Must repent of sin and be Born again in Christ! There is an argument about whether homosexual is a choice. Well, hello! We all have a choice! Continue to live in sin and refuse New Birth in Christ and go to Hell or choose repentance and be Born Again! Many people try to justify their behavior by pointing to other behavior. Sin is Sin regardless! Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” 1John 3:8 “He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. 9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.” So the Truth is we Christians must Preach and Teach there is a New Life in Christ through Repentance and Rebirth! We Christians must not be homophobic or bashing them with Bible verses, for they cannot understand the Truth until they are Born again. We must Point them to Jesus! Show them how Jesus has changed your life! Show them they can also receive forgiveness. Tell them the Truth in Love. Tell them they Must be Born Again!
The Way of Peace!
Posted in Inspiration, tagged bible, blessing, christ, Christianity, Commandments, devotion, Faith, God, jesus, Peace, Prayer, religion, truth on September 22, 2010| 2 Comments »
Often we as believers are forgetful of the Lord’s Peace in our lives. At Bible Study last night I was compelled to share my personal testimony about the Peace of Christ. You can watch this study by going to www.proclaiminglight.com. I would like to share the Scriptures that were used during that Bible Study in hope that they may speak to your heart as they have mine. Isa 48:22 “There is no peace,” says the LORD, “for the wicked.” Isa 32:17 The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. Isa 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. Ps 119:165 Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. John 14:23 Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
25 “All this I have spoken while still with you.
26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable– if anything is excellent or praiseworthy– think about such things. Matthew 11:27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
These passages of Holy Scripture teach that without Jesus there can be no true Peace within the heart of man! Peace is not the absence of war, strife, stress, trials and sorrow. The Peace that Christ offers all people is quietness of the soul through a Right Relationship with Him. Notice this Invitation hat Jesus offers in Matthew 11:28-30. Do you need inner peace? Are you burdened with the stress of life? Do you feel fearful of what will happen tomorrow? Do you need refreshment for your soul? If so, then go to Jesus and He will provide True Peace in troubled times! I will close with the Words of the Prince of Peace; Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” May the Peace of the Lord Jesus be with you all!
Study of Ten Commandments!
Posted in Inspiration, tagged bible, christ, Christianity, Church, Commandments, Faith, God, Holiness, jesus, religion, study, Theology, truth on July 17, 2010| 4 Comments »
Fathers, listen up!
Posted in Inspiration, tagged blessing, Christianity, Church, Commandments, Country, Family, Fathers, Holiness, jesus, religion, truth on June 21, 2010| 4 Comments »
This came from the back of a church bulletin and is worthy of our time to meditate and reflect. How to be a five star dad by Paul J. Twist:
It has been said, “The only things you can take with you to heaven are your children.” “Father’s Day is a good day for dad’s to examine their hearts and priorities, asking questions such as; 1. Am I the spiritual leader God wants me to be in my family? 2. Do I spend more time earning money than I need to provide for my family? 3. Do I value the friendship of others more than time spent with my own family? Often, mothers are thought of as the ones who have the greatest influence in training their children. But a few years ago, a study revealed a startling fact regarding Church attendance. When both parents attended Church, the study showed that 80% of the children also attended Church when they were on their own. When the mother attended with the children, but the father did not, only 30% of the children attended on their own. Yet, when the father attended Church with their children, without the mother, 70% of the children continued to attend Church when on their own, almost as high a figure as when both parents attended with them! A family does need a strong, faithful mother who takes time to pray for her children, and train them in the ways of the Lord. But the father needs to be the leader, and set the example by his own faithful Church attendance if his children are to follow Christ when they are older. They are more likely to do as you do than to do as you say and the result of your Godly example will follow you into Eternity.” Ephesians 6:4 “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” So now what are you going to do with this thought? God ordained the family unit and designated the father as the spiritual leader. We can see in our own Nation how the world views a fathers role in the family. But our thinking should not be as the world thinks but as God thinks! O fathers and mother, the ruin of your children or their salvation, will, under God, very much depend on you. -Spurgeon For you fathers out their, let me ask a question; do you pray with your children? I said with them not for them. Do you lead them in prayer? Why not? Wake up and swallow your Pride if you do not lead your children in prayer or to Church! I pray you so live, that when you stand over your child’s dead body, you may never hear a voice coming up from that clay, “Father, your negligence was my destruction. Mother, your prayerlessness was the instrument of my damnation. Fathers remember the survey that was just shared? Do you want your pride and slackness to be the destroyer of your children? Not to mention the destruction of your own soul! A mother is important for the children, but the father is the leader of both! God ordained the family unit. Can we undo what God has done? Only to our destruction as a family and then a Nation. Blessings to you fathers. Pr 20:7 “ The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.”
Sex for all!
Posted in Inspiration, tagged America, blood of Jesus, christ, Christianity, Commandments, Family, God, Holiness, pornography, religion, Sex on May 12, 2010| Leave a Comment »
What is one of America’s most lucrative exports? Pornography! This is a multi-billion dollar industry that is destroying the Moral fabric of our families and ultimately our Country. God has called us to live a holy and Godly life. God wants us to enjoy Him. God wants us to Love Him with all heart, soul, mind and strength. He wants us to Love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Pornography destroys God’s will for our lives. This destruction happens slowly and will ultimately leave a person empty, lonely and full despair! Why? It goes back to God’s Moral standard of the second Commandment found in Exodus 20. Here we find God speaking His Will concerning your relationship to Him. “4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.” You see, pornography is an image and God has said His Will for you is to not set an image before Him. Idiolatry is bowing down to and worshiping images. Paul the Apostle addresses it this way; Romans 1:18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities– his eternal power and divine nature– have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator– who is forever praised. Amen.” Images of the sexual nature is depraved and destructive. Remember God says He will “ visit the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me.” Not only does pornography rob you of your relationship with a Holy God but also affects your relationship with your children. America has an Image problem and that is Idiolatry! I must confess that I ave also been affected by this as well. I can remember the first time I saw a beautiful woman’s image in a magazine. Her image is still in my mind after some 30 years. See, the image stuck! At a Pastors meeting some time back, we were talking about pornography and the Pastor confessed he had a porn problem. We cried together and sought forgiveness through repentance. I you dear reader or someone you know has a porn problem, I want to share the only deliverance. John 3:5 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The first step to deliverance from Image worship is confessing and turning away from the destructive power of pornography. Being Born again in Christ means you have a change of mind, spirit and heart! The old self is gone, the new self has come! Become a new creation in Christ! There is no sin for which it is worth your while to be damned. -Spurgeon