http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2016-17&version=NIV
I did new member counseling with a high school girl and a friend after church one day, and they brought to my attention a whole new version of the Attention Deficit Disorder diagnosis. They proudly told me that they had ADOS? "ADOS", I asked, "What's that?" Their response was that it stood for Attention Deficite Oooohhhh Shiney, and went on to explain that they often find when they are talking to someone and see something bright and shiney or interesting, that it totally distracts them. I laughed with them and decided I could probably self-diagnose myself with that - as I'm sure many of us can.
In Luke 16, Jesus tells several parables that warn us about the dangers of untreated spiritual ADOS. The first is the parable of the Shrewd Manager. At the end Jesus warms us that the love of all things bright and shiney and the love of God cannot co-exsist for it is possible to serve two masters. Loving the bright shiney things is called spiritual adultery by James in James 4:4 where he says, "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred towards God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God."
Jesus uses the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus to drive his points home. A story that we, in the wealth and luxury of America, would be wise to tune into. The rich man in the story had everythings he could want - lived in the lap of luxury. But the lap of luxury kept him from crawling into the lap of God. He was distracted by all of the bright shiney things of the world that he had no need and no want for God. He didn't need God to fill him because he had so many options of other things. I imagine that if his mind ever turned towards thoughts of God that it quickly turned aside when something bright and shiney arrived on the scene.
Contrast the rich man to Lazarus. Lazarus had nothing - not even his health. The only thing he had to cling to was God - and cling he did. He had no physical wealth, but he was a spiritual millionaire with rich, rich, heavenly rewards. On the other hand, Lazarus was spiritually bankrupt, reduced when he died to being a spiritual beggar.
Living in America makes this story so relevant and this warning one what we must heed. We live in a nation of great wealth - wealth we often take for granted. While we often think we are better off or more blessed than those living in other nations, I'm not sure this is the case. Our physical wealth leaves us so vulnerable for developing a good strong case of ADOS. When we have so much, our need for God becomes secondary. When we have so much, we often fail to reach out until we have something (our health, a job, a loved one) taken from us. As a result, we are in danger of missing amazing spiritual richness both here on earth and in heaven.
I pray, my sweet friends, that you would ask God to open your eyes to those things that distract you from seeking after him. You might be surprised that it isn't money or objects - it could be things that are inately good but have become an idol - a relationship, a person, a child, success, a good name, or even ministry. I pray that your heart would be moved to lay those things at the foot of the cross and let God decide what to do with them so that you hands are open to carry the cross and your heart free for the treasures God desires to give to you. I pray that you would seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, resting in the promise that all other things will be added to you as well. I pray that you would ask, seek, and knock on God's storehouse door for those things that would make you spiritually rich. There is nothing else that satisfies.
Which will it be, my friends - what will you desire most. Spiritual riches and worldly riches? The choice is in your hands.
"Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Liste, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your sould will delight in the richest of fare. - Isaiah 55:2
Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels
Saturday, October 30, 2010
All That I Have Is Yours
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2014-15&version=NIV
'My son', the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.' - Luke 15: 31
I was blessed to grow up in a Christian home with amazing parents in a fairly sheltered area (dairy farm in the middle of Nebraska). Because of those things combined with the grace of God, I never really went through a period of rebellion or walking away from God. So I never really related to the story of the prodigal son - or at least not the son who left. To be honest, I related very well to the older brother who stayed at home and continued to work for his father. Quite frankly, the rebellious son made me a little mad - I could connect to what I now realize is a 'self-righteous' anger of the older brother.
Here's how that played out in my life. As mentioned earlier, I am most like the older brother that stayed home. I worked hard for my heavenly father, I tried hard to be very obedient, thinking that by doing those things I was being a good daughter. I realize now that I spent a lot of time trying to prove to him that I was worthy of his grace, favor, and blessings. And to be honest, it was tiring. But then I would watch people who had walked away, who had walked in rebellion, turn to God and he would shower down amazing blessings - both spiritual and physical. Their faith exploded, they basked in God's grace and rested in his mercy. And they received lavish blessings that my heart so greatly desired.
"Not fair!" I wanted to shout. How was it that I lived what I would say was 'close to God', walked the way he commanded me to, was obedient and even more so worked so hard for his kingdom, and yet he never even gave me a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But I still didn't get it, I kept working while - worked harder still. Certainly I could prove to God that I was deserving. Certainly I could figure out how to get him to finally open up his hand and kill the fatted calf for me. In the end, I only ended up more exhausted and still without what I desired.
Finally one day I remember sitting down on the floor in my bedroom to pray - a prayer that eventually turned into gut-wrenching tears of frustration, exhaustion, and even anger. I remember crying, "Lord, I don't get what you want from me, because I have nothing left to give." And I very distinctly heard God whisper, "Now, sweet girl, I have something I can work with." And then he began forming in my mind a picture of what his grace, true grace, was all about. He led me to understand that all along everything he had for me was mine - all I had to do was ask. He made me see that is was a free gift - that he didn't want to give it because I worked for it because he wanted me to know his love. He didn't want to give it because I deserved it - for that was impossible - and besides, he wanted to the glory for this amazing gift and had no intention of sharing it with me. For the first time I got that I could simply ask my father for his lavish gifts and expect that he would answer, simply because he loved me, because I was his daughter, and he desired to share everything he had with me.
That was a faith-defining moment in my life. I was filled with such an amazing peace and an indescribable joy - and I think I literally felt the chains of legalism that bound me to striving to earn God's favor for so long just fall off. I remember getting up off of my floor and just pacing through my house as my mind formed around this new freedom, around what this meant for me. I paced because it was so amazing and so transforming that I couldn't sit still. And while my feet where pacing, my heart was dancing. Such an amazing, amazing grace - a free gift from a lavish, loving father.
My friends, I pray that whether you relate best to the rebellious son or the older son, that you would know and understand the grace of your Daddy God. It is a free gift - one he delights to give because he loves you so deeply. It doesn't matter whether you've walked closely to him or walked away from him. He celebrates you because he has adopted you. He's a Daddy God who only asks one thing - that you decide to dwell in His house, in His love, knowing that all that he has to offer is yours.
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" - 1 John 3:1
God's blessings precious ones!
Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels
'My son', the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.' - Luke 15: 31
I was blessed to grow up in a Christian home with amazing parents in a fairly sheltered area (dairy farm in the middle of Nebraska). Because of those things combined with the grace of God, I never really went through a period of rebellion or walking away from God. So I never really related to the story of the prodigal son - or at least not the son who left. To be honest, I related very well to the older brother who stayed at home and continued to work for his father. Quite frankly, the rebellious son made me a little mad - I could connect to what I now realize is a 'self-righteous' anger of the older brother.
Here's how that played out in my life. As mentioned earlier, I am most like the older brother that stayed home. I worked hard for my heavenly father, I tried hard to be very obedient, thinking that by doing those things I was being a good daughter. I realize now that I spent a lot of time trying to prove to him that I was worthy of his grace, favor, and blessings. And to be honest, it was tiring. But then I would watch people who had walked away, who had walked in rebellion, turn to God and he would shower down amazing blessings - both spiritual and physical. Their faith exploded, they basked in God's grace and rested in his mercy. And they received lavish blessings that my heart so greatly desired.
"Not fair!" I wanted to shout. How was it that I lived what I would say was 'close to God', walked the way he commanded me to, was obedient and even more so worked so hard for his kingdom, and yet he never even gave me a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But I still didn't get it, I kept working while - worked harder still. Certainly I could prove to God that I was deserving. Certainly I could figure out how to get him to finally open up his hand and kill the fatted calf for me. In the end, I only ended up more exhausted and still without what I desired.
Finally one day I remember sitting down on the floor in my bedroom to pray - a prayer that eventually turned into gut-wrenching tears of frustration, exhaustion, and even anger. I remember crying, "Lord, I don't get what you want from me, because I have nothing left to give." And I very distinctly heard God whisper, "Now, sweet girl, I have something I can work with." And then he began forming in my mind a picture of what his grace, true grace, was all about. He led me to understand that all along everything he had for me was mine - all I had to do was ask. He made me see that is was a free gift - that he didn't want to give it because I worked for it because he wanted me to know his love. He didn't want to give it because I deserved it - for that was impossible - and besides, he wanted to the glory for this amazing gift and had no intention of sharing it with me. For the first time I got that I could simply ask my father for his lavish gifts and expect that he would answer, simply because he loved me, because I was his daughter, and he desired to share everything he had with me.
That was a faith-defining moment in my life. I was filled with such an amazing peace and an indescribable joy - and I think I literally felt the chains of legalism that bound me to striving to earn God's favor for so long just fall off. I remember getting up off of my floor and just pacing through my house as my mind formed around this new freedom, around what this meant for me. I paced because it was so amazing and so transforming that I couldn't sit still. And while my feet where pacing, my heart was dancing. Such an amazing, amazing grace - a free gift from a lavish, loving father.
My friends, I pray that whether you relate best to the rebellious son or the older son, that you would know and understand the grace of your Daddy God. It is a free gift - one he delights to give because he loves you so deeply. It doesn't matter whether you've walked closely to him or walked away from him. He celebrates you because he has adopted you. He's a Daddy God who only asks one thing - that you decide to dwell in His house, in His love, knowing that all that he has to offer is yours.
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" - 1 John 3:1
God's blessings precious ones!
Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels
Friday, October 29, 2010
Luke 12-13
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2012-13&version=ESV
Luke 12:8-10 "And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven."
The Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Have you committed this sin? This has caused so many Christians consternation that they may have blasphemed against the Third Person of the Trinity.
I think today we should really try to understand what this blasphemy is. So below is the study note from the ESV Study Bible on verse 10 of the twelfth chapter of Luke:
Luke 12:10 Speaks a word against … will be forgiven versus blasphemes against … will not be forgiven. Jesus closes this occasion of teaching his disciples (v. 1) with one of the most enigmatic, debated, and misunderstood sayings of his ministry. Key to understanding this passage is the distinction Jesus makes between, on one hand, the extreme case of blasphemy against “the Holy Spirit” and, on the other hand, the lesser case of speaking in an dishonorable way against “the Son of Man.” One who asks to be forgiven for disrespectful words hastily spoken against Jesus (the Son of Man) will be forgiven. (Note, e.g., Peter's rejection of Jesus [see 22:54–62] and his subsequent restoration [John 21:15–19].) But blasphemy against the Holy Spirit—that is, the persistent and unrepentant resistance against the work of the Holy Spirit and his message concerning Jesus (cf. Acts 7:51)—this, Jesus says, will not be forgiven. The person who persists in hardening his heart against God, against the work of the Holy Spirit, and against the provision of Christ as Savior, is outside the reach of God's provision for forgiveness and salvation. Christians often worry that they have committed this sin, but such a concern is itself evidence of an openness to the work of the Spirit (see also notes on Matt. 12:31–32 and Mark 3:29).
Friends the conviction you have if you are a Christian is conviction of the Holy Spirit. And thus having such conviction proves you have not committed this blasphemy.
Should we now sin more because we know we can't commit this blapshemy. Of course not.
Instead, pray that the Holy Spirit would make your heart soft toward His convictions. That you would have a repentant heart, and not a prideful one.
Our God is a God of grace. The same grace that is involved in our justification is involved in our sanctification.
Don't think that you are justified and then you can live like a pagan. That kind of justification is often based on a false profession of faith. A true justified Christian will bear fruit and live an obedient live towards Christ. Not perfectly obedient, but one should be growing in obedience. Friends, people have devalued God's grace. They have taken it for granted.
God's grace radically changes our disposition towards sin and self, and changes it towards holiness and God. Pray to God today that God would continually work on your heart so that you would love what He loves and hate what He hates.
I saw a short clip on YouTube yesterday that talked about people who are in sexual sin and know they are wrong, but they still do it. Here is what the author wrote, and I find that it pertains not only to sexual sin but all sin, so read this and aplly it to the sin or sins you are struggling with:
For those who have no desire to change you should ask yourself why. Why do I want what I know is wrong? Behind the answer to this question is evidence that we cannot change ourselves. Our desires are depraved. Someone outside of ourselves must change us. We don’t just need forgiveness: we need transformation. For someone who does not want to repent of sexual sin or any other sin that is habitual, this is the place to start.
Titus 2:11-14 "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works."
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
Luke 12:8-10 "And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven."
The Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Have you committed this sin? This has caused so many Christians consternation that they may have blasphemed against the Third Person of the Trinity.
I think today we should really try to understand what this blasphemy is. So below is the study note from the ESV Study Bible on verse 10 of the twelfth chapter of Luke:
Luke 12:10 Speaks a word against … will be forgiven versus blasphemes against … will not be forgiven. Jesus closes this occasion of teaching his disciples (v. 1) with one of the most enigmatic, debated, and misunderstood sayings of his ministry. Key to understanding this passage is the distinction Jesus makes between, on one hand, the extreme case of blasphemy against “the Holy Spirit” and, on the other hand, the lesser case of speaking in an dishonorable way against “the Son of Man.” One who asks to be forgiven for disrespectful words hastily spoken against Jesus (the Son of Man) will be forgiven. (Note, e.g., Peter's rejection of Jesus [see 22:54–62] and his subsequent restoration [John 21:15–19].) But blasphemy against the Holy Spirit—that is, the persistent and unrepentant resistance against the work of the Holy Spirit and his message concerning Jesus (cf. Acts 7:51)—this, Jesus says, will not be forgiven. The person who persists in hardening his heart against God, against the work of the Holy Spirit, and against the provision of Christ as Savior, is outside the reach of God's provision for forgiveness and salvation. Christians often worry that they have committed this sin, but such a concern is itself evidence of an openness to the work of the Spirit (see also notes on Matt. 12:31–32 and Mark 3:29).
Friends the conviction you have if you are a Christian is conviction of the Holy Spirit. And thus having such conviction proves you have not committed this blasphemy.
Should we now sin more because we know we can't commit this blapshemy. Of course not.
Instead, pray that the Holy Spirit would make your heart soft toward His convictions. That you would have a repentant heart, and not a prideful one.
Our God is a God of grace. The same grace that is involved in our justification is involved in our sanctification.
Don't think that you are justified and then you can live like a pagan. That kind of justification is often based on a false profession of faith. A true justified Christian will bear fruit and live an obedient live towards Christ. Not perfectly obedient, but one should be growing in obedience. Friends, people have devalued God's grace. They have taken it for granted.
God's grace radically changes our disposition towards sin and self, and changes it towards holiness and God. Pray to God today that God would continually work on your heart so that you would love what He loves and hate what He hates.
I saw a short clip on YouTube yesterday that talked about people who are in sexual sin and know they are wrong, but they still do it. Here is what the author wrote, and I find that it pertains not only to sexual sin but all sin, so read this and aplly it to the sin or sins you are struggling with:
For those who have no desire to change you should ask yourself why. Why do I want what I know is wrong? Behind the answer to this question is evidence that we cannot change ourselves. Our desires are depraved. Someone outside of ourselves must change us. We don’t just need forgiveness: we need transformation. For someone who does not want to repent of sexual sin or any other sin that is habitual, this is the place to start.
Titus 2:11-14 "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works."
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Luke 10
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2010&version=ESV
In Luke 10:25-37, we have the story of the Good Samaritan. It is one of the most well known parables that Jesus ever told.
It is known by both believers and unbelievers. It is so well known, that a lot of us take it for granted. We say, "Yeah, yeah, the good Samaritan. We ought to be good to everyone."
But friends this parable is so much more than that. The Samaritan showed a sacrificial love to the man on the side of the road, whereas the priest and the Levite both ignored the man.
Instead of looking at who is our neighbor, we ought to look at how neighborly we are. Look at verses 33-35:
"But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back."
This is really amazing the kind of love the Samaritan showed this man. Not only did he pick him up on the side of the road, he took him to an inn and cared for him all night, and then the next morning paid for the room, and then said to the innkeeper to continue to take care of him and that he would pay him when he got back. How incredible this is!!! He basically is giving the innkeeper an open check to spend whatever he needs to on this man, and no telling, the innkeeper could have been corrupt.
What makes this story even more telling about the love we should have for others is that it was a Samaritan who showed it to this man. Samaritans were looked down upon and despised by the Jews.
In 722 B.C. when Assyria invaded Northern Israel, they took some of the Israelites away. To the ones who stayed, they intermarried with the Gentiles who now lived in the land. This was abhorred by the Jews.
In John 8:48 the Jews speak to Jesus, "The Jews answered him, "Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?"
So there was nothing worse than being a demon possessed Samaritan.
Freinds, there is so much more to the story that we could touch on and meditate on. But what strikes me is the quality of love the Samaritan showed the man on the side of the road. It really puts me to shame. I know I do not love like that. I wish I did, but I don't. Only by the power of the Holy Spirit and by Christ abiding in my heart, can I even try to do this.
I would like to close with some comments by John Macarthur from a sermon on this story:
It is excellent!!
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
In Luke 10:25-37, we have the story of the Good Samaritan. It is one of the most well known parables that Jesus ever told.
It is known by both believers and unbelievers. It is so well known, that a lot of us take it for granted. We say, "Yeah, yeah, the good Samaritan. We ought to be good to everyone."
But friends this parable is so much more than that. The Samaritan showed a sacrificial love to the man on the side of the road, whereas the priest and the Levite both ignored the man.
Instead of looking at who is our neighbor, we ought to look at how neighborly we are. Look at verses 33-35:
"But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back."
This is really amazing the kind of love the Samaritan showed this man. Not only did he pick him up on the side of the road, he took him to an inn and cared for him all night, and then the next morning paid for the room, and then said to the innkeeper to continue to take care of him and that he would pay him when he got back. How incredible this is!!! He basically is giving the innkeeper an open check to spend whatever he needs to on this man, and no telling, the innkeeper could have been corrupt.
What makes this story even more telling about the love we should have for others is that it was a Samaritan who showed it to this man. Samaritans were looked down upon and despised by the Jews.
In 722 B.C. when Assyria invaded Northern Israel, they took some of the Israelites away. To the ones who stayed, they intermarried with the Gentiles who now lived in the land. This was abhorred by the Jews.
In John 8:48 the Jews speak to Jesus, "The Jews answered him, "Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?"
So there was nothing worse than being a demon possessed Samaritan.
Freinds, there is so much more to the story that we could touch on and meditate on. But what strikes me is the quality of love the Samaritan showed the man on the side of the road. It really puts me to shame. I know I do not love like that. I wish I did, but I don't. Only by the power of the Holy Spirit and by Christ abiding in my heart, can I even try to do this.
I would like to close with some comments by John Macarthur from a sermon on this story:
"By the way, that's how God loves us. This is not an allegory about that. But that is how God loves us. And there stood Jesus before him, ready to offer him mercy, ready to offer him grace, ready to offer him forgiveness if he only would repent and admit what he knew was true. But as we move through the life of Christ toward the cross, the hearts get harder and harder and harder.
The end of the story, the end of the encounter is Jesus saying, "Go and do the same." Did he? No. Could he? No. Would he repent? Apparently not. Will he inherit the Kingdom of God? Of course not. Who will? Those who repent of their lack of love toward God and others, cry out for mercy and forgiveness from the Christ who has paid the penalty for that forgiveness through His death on the cross.
Father, we thank You for the richness of this story. And we acknowledge that when we receive Your mercy and when we receive new life in Christ, we are given a divine enablement to love You and to love others. But that love is not perfect. We don't love You perfectly. We don't love others perfectly. And so we not only were saved by grace, we stand in grace, we live in grace. Even if we were to break our alabaster box and wash the feet of Jesus with our tears, we would not love Him or You the way You deserve to be loved. Even in our most magnanimous acts of kindness and our greatest acts of generosity and mercy toward others, we never really get to the place where we love them the same way we love ourselves. We always put limits on how much we love someone else, particularly a stranger and an enemy. And so we all fall short, we all are guilty. We repent, we ask for mercy and forgiveness. Lord, help us to get to the point where we turn to Christ for our salvation and then having been given a capacity to love, even though it's not all it should be, may we increase in our love for You and our love for others as measured by our limitless devotion to give to You what You deserve, to give to others what they need. We pray in our Savior's name. Amen."
If you would like to read the whole sermon, you can find it here:
http://www.gty.org/Resources/Sermons/42-144_The-Good-SamaritanIt is excellent!!
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
John 9-10
Today's passage, John 9-10: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%209-10&version=NIV
John 10:37-38 "If I don't do what my Father does, then don't believe what I say. But if I do the same things my Father does, then you should believe in the things I do. You might not believe in me, but you should believe in the things I do. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father."
Actions speak louder than words. Several times in the gospel, Jesus says, “Look at what I do, to know if I am telling the truth.” Jesus’ actions and his words go together, which means His identity has integrity. His works were a part of his ministry and testimony of God’s love. His works revealed to others that God was in Him. They were evidence of His love for His father.
But we’re human. We get tired and stressed and we make mistakes. We lash out at others. We give in to lusts. We let pride steal our joy and the joys of others. Often our actions don’t reflect the love we have of our Father.
How do you handle it when your actions don’t serve as a testimony of God’s love? Do you apologize? Do try to make it right again? Do you pray for God’s guidance to remedy the situation? Do you look for an opportunity to minister as you make amends?
We were created to do good works (Ephesians 2:10). We were created so the light of God could shine though us and others would see God and praise Him (Matthew 5:16). Take some time to reflect on your own actions. Do they serve as a testimony of God’s love? Do they provide evidence of your love for God? Do they glorify God? Commit to being intentional in you actions so that they glorify God. Ask God to make you aware of the actions in your life that don’t glorify Him. Ask God to build a love for Him in your heart so that your actions glorify Him more and more every day.
Today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe
John 10:37-38 "If I don't do what my Father does, then don't believe what I say. But if I do the same things my Father does, then you should believe in the things I do. You might not believe in me, but you should believe in the things I do. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father."
Actions speak louder than words. Several times in the gospel, Jesus says, “Look at what I do, to know if I am telling the truth.” Jesus’ actions and his words go together, which means His identity has integrity. His works were a part of his ministry and testimony of God’s love. His works revealed to others that God was in Him. They were evidence of His love for His father.
But we’re human. We get tired and stressed and we make mistakes. We lash out at others. We give in to lusts. We let pride steal our joy and the joys of others. Often our actions don’t reflect the love we have of our Father.
How do you handle it when your actions don’t serve as a testimony of God’s love? Do you apologize? Do try to make it right again? Do you pray for God’s guidance to remedy the situation? Do you look for an opportunity to minister as you make amends?
We were created to do good works (Ephesians 2:10). We were created so the light of God could shine though us and others would see God and praise Him (Matthew 5:16). Take some time to reflect on your own actions. Do they serve as a testimony of God’s love? Do they provide evidence of your love for God? Do they glorify God? Commit to being intentional in you actions so that they glorify God. Ask God to make you aware of the actions in your life that don’t glorify Him. Ask God to build a love for Him in your heart so that your actions glorify Him more and more every day.
Today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe
Monday, October 25, 2010
John 7-8
Today's passage, John 7-8: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%207-8&version=NIV
As Jesus revealed more about who He is, where He came from and where He was going, opposition from the Jews continued to increase. In John chapters 7 & 8, although they sought to arrest Him, they had not yet seized Jesus. Why is this? Jesus answers in 7:6 when he says that His “time has not yet come”. In 7:30 they were “seeking to arrest Him, but no one laid a hand on Him because His hour had not yet come”. Basically, God wasn’t finished yet. God had a plan and His plan would unfold on his perfect timeline.
Jesus came to earth to walk as a man, be tempted as a man, to serve as a minister of God’s love, and to train up his disciples. He came to feed the hungry and heal the sick. Most importantly, He came to serve as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. It wasn’t enough for Jesus to rot away in jail or be silenced in some other way; Jesus had to be crucified as a perfect, unblemished sacrifice for our sins. But in John 7-8, His hour had not yet come. God’s timing would allow for just the right amount of opposition to build up, while at the same time allowing just enough time for Christ to fulfill His ministry on earth.
It’s amazing to think that this infinitely wise and unfathomable plan was devised way back in Genesis. God’s not making this stuff up as He goes along. He knew exactly what second, of what minute, of what hour that Jesus’ time would come. And in His amazing providence He moved in the hearts of believers and non believers and orchestrated the details of His plan so that Jesus would not be seized until his hour had come. Every second of Jesus life was precious and had purpose. We would do well to remember this about our own lives. As Christ followers, our lives are precious and purposeful as well. We were not put on earth to be useless, but to be useful in His infinitely wise and unfathomable plan. Take some time to talk with God and ask Him to open your eyes to the specifics of your part of that plan. Ask Him to open doors for you to be useful. Ask him to reveal to you opportunities to take part in changing lives and populating heaven. This is a prayer that He loves to answer!
today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe
As Jesus revealed more about who He is, where He came from and where He was going, opposition from the Jews continued to increase. In John chapters 7 & 8, although they sought to arrest Him, they had not yet seized Jesus. Why is this? Jesus answers in 7:6 when he says that His “time has not yet come”. In 7:30 they were “seeking to arrest Him, but no one laid a hand on Him because His hour had not yet come”. Basically, God wasn’t finished yet. God had a plan and His plan would unfold on his perfect timeline.
Jesus came to earth to walk as a man, be tempted as a man, to serve as a minister of God’s love, and to train up his disciples. He came to feed the hungry and heal the sick. Most importantly, He came to serve as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. It wasn’t enough for Jesus to rot away in jail or be silenced in some other way; Jesus had to be crucified as a perfect, unblemished sacrifice for our sins. But in John 7-8, His hour had not yet come. God’s timing would allow for just the right amount of opposition to build up, while at the same time allowing just enough time for Christ to fulfill His ministry on earth.
It’s amazing to think that this infinitely wise and unfathomable plan was devised way back in Genesis. God’s not making this stuff up as He goes along. He knew exactly what second, of what minute, of what hour that Jesus’ time would come. And in His amazing providence He moved in the hearts of believers and non believers and orchestrated the details of His plan so that Jesus would not be seized until his hour had come. Every second of Jesus life was precious and had purpose. We would do well to remember this about our own lives. As Christ followers, our lives are precious and purposeful as well. We were not put on earth to be useless, but to be useful in His infinitely wise and unfathomable plan. Take some time to talk with God and ask Him to open your eyes to the specifics of your part of that plan. Ask Him to open doors for you to be useful. Ask him to reveal to you opportunities to take part in changing lives and populating heaven. This is a prayer that He loves to answer!
today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe
Matthew 18
Todays passage: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%2018&version=NIV
Matthew 18 begins with an admonition to have a child like faith. We must come to God on His terms and trust fully in Him. It is not our works that save us, but belief that God’s love wishes to embrace us and call us His children. Dave Riggle preached on the importance of accepting our new name as a child of God and this passage resonates with that message. Child like faith and humility are requirements for coming to God. In fact, when we are older and think we are self sufficient, it is only difficult to turn away from that feeling of importance and realize that we are just clay in the Potter’s Hands.
We also see a dire warning about the consequences of harming children and not allowing them to come to the Father. Children have a very special place in God’s heart and He wants us to realize this. They are not to be maligned or trivialized but welcomed into the kingdom. This is one reason why it is so important to support the church’s children’s ministry and this year you can volunteer with Angels of Light or the Christmas show where puppets are used to tell the story of God’s Son to children of all ages. Each time you can minister to the little ones and bring them to Jesus, you can rest assured that you are advanced the kingdom and doing the will of God. We have gone to minister to the children at the Salvation Army several times this year and the children appreciate the attention, listen to the message from God’s Word, and echo back the love that is shown to them. Prayerfully consider how you can minister to the little ones in the next few months.
The passage wraps up with the importance of forgiving one another because God has forgiven us such a great debt. God is Light, God is Love, and God is Life. He has forgiven us an enormous debt and we should ponder His Love for us. This Love should compel us to seek Him and worship Him. When we seek and worship God Almighty, He will stretch out His arms of love, embrace us, shelter us with His wings, and keep us from a multitude of sins.
Today's post submitted by Joseph Konieczka
Matthew 18 begins with an admonition to have a child like faith. We must come to God on His terms and trust fully in Him. It is not our works that save us, but belief that God’s love wishes to embrace us and call us His children. Dave Riggle preached on the importance of accepting our new name as a child of God and this passage resonates with that message. Child like faith and humility are requirements for coming to God. In fact, when we are older and think we are self sufficient, it is only difficult to turn away from that feeling of importance and realize that we are just clay in the Potter’s Hands.
We also see a dire warning about the consequences of harming children and not allowing them to come to the Father. Children have a very special place in God’s heart and He wants us to realize this. They are not to be maligned or trivialized but welcomed into the kingdom. This is one reason why it is so important to support the church’s children’s ministry and this year you can volunteer with Angels of Light or the Christmas show where puppets are used to tell the story of God’s Son to children of all ages. Each time you can minister to the little ones and bring them to Jesus, you can rest assured that you are advanced the kingdom and doing the will of God. We have gone to minister to the children at the Salvation Army several times this year and the children appreciate the attention, listen to the message from God’s Word, and echo back the love that is shown to them. Prayerfully consider how you can minister to the little ones in the next few months.
The passage wraps up with the importance of forgiving one another because God has forgiven us such a great debt. God is Light, God is Love, and God is Life. He has forgiven us an enormous debt and we should ponder His Love for us. This Love should compel us to seek Him and worship Him. When we seek and worship God Almighty, He will stretch out His arms of love, embrace us, shelter us with His wings, and keep us from a multitude of sins.
Today's post submitted by Joseph Konieczka
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Faith That Moves Mountains
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2017;%20Mark%209&version=NIV
"I tell you the truthy, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
The above scripture sounds like a strong basis for a 'Name It and Claim It' gospel. Out of context, one can easily walk away believing that if you have faith - if you just believe enough, then you can make anything happen in your life. After all - God's word says that nothing will be impossible. Which is why it is SO important to always read and understand the context of any given passage. So let's look at the context of this one.
As you've read, there was a boy who had a demon in him. The disciples tried to heal him, but they could not. Jesus could and did. Which prompts the disciples' question, "Why couldn't we drive it out." The account in Matthew records that Jesus responded with "Because you have so little faith." In the Mark account he first responds with, "Because this kind can only come out by prayer." The bottom line is that the disciples both lacked the faith and failed to access the power source. Perhaps they forgot by whose power they were able to heal and started to believe they could do it on their own. Perhaps they got so focused on trying to heal the boy that they forgot that prayer and the power accessed through it was essential to the formula. So they got a reminder and a lesson essential for their future ministry.
And then Christ continues to remind them that with faith, anything is possible. Why, then, do I say that we can't expect the 'anything' we are praying for in our life if we pray with enough faith? Let's go back to the context. Jesus is talking about prayers of faith that have to do with work in God's Kingdom. The faith and the prayers aren't about or for self. They are Kingdom prayers for Kingdom work.
So we learn - faith that moves mountains is faith that can overcome barriers - through prayer - when we are working for the will and the Kingdom of God. This type of faith remembers it's power source accessed by prayer. This type of faith knows and believes that God can and will. This type of faith seeks and speaks of the glory of God. Indeed - if you want to see God move mountains, if you want to see his power, if you want to see him rock your world, if you want to see his glory, then get involved in Kingdom work. Seek God's will, his way, his glory in every aspect of that work, and nothing will be impossible for you!
Blessings precious friends!
Today's blog was submitted by Carol Bartels
"I tell you the truthy, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
The above scripture sounds like a strong basis for a 'Name It and Claim It' gospel. Out of context, one can easily walk away believing that if you have faith - if you just believe enough, then you can make anything happen in your life. After all - God's word says that nothing will be impossible. Which is why it is SO important to always read and understand the context of any given passage. So let's look at the context of this one.
As you've read, there was a boy who had a demon in him. The disciples tried to heal him, but they could not. Jesus could and did. Which prompts the disciples' question, "Why couldn't we drive it out." The account in Matthew records that Jesus responded with "Because you have so little faith." In the Mark account he first responds with, "Because this kind can only come out by prayer." The bottom line is that the disciples both lacked the faith and failed to access the power source. Perhaps they forgot by whose power they were able to heal and started to believe they could do it on their own. Perhaps they got so focused on trying to heal the boy that they forgot that prayer and the power accessed through it was essential to the formula. So they got a reminder and a lesson essential for their future ministry.
And then Christ continues to remind them that with faith, anything is possible. Why, then, do I say that we can't expect the 'anything' we are praying for in our life if we pray with enough faith? Let's go back to the context. Jesus is talking about prayers of faith that have to do with work in God's Kingdom. The faith and the prayers aren't about or for self. They are Kingdom prayers for Kingdom work.
So we learn - faith that moves mountains is faith that can overcome barriers - through prayer - when we are working for the will and the Kingdom of God. This type of faith remembers it's power source accessed by prayer. This type of faith knows and believes that God can and will. This type of faith seeks and speaks of the glory of God. Indeed - if you want to see God move mountains, if you want to see his power, if you want to see him rock your world, if you want to see his glory, then get involved in Kingdom work. Seek God's will, his way, his glory in every aspect of that work, and nothing will be impossible for you!
Blessings precious friends!
Today's blog was submitted by Carol Bartels
Saturday, October 23, 2010
It Takes Empty Hands to Carry The Cross
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2016;%20Mark%208&version=NIV
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” – Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:24
I have to admit I’ve been holding on to some things pretty tightly that made the whole cross carrying thing a little difficult. To deny one’s self means to stop making self the object of one’s life and actions. I’d like to think that I don’t do that, but this week God had a talk with me about this – to be honest he stepped on my toes a little because what he had to say to me I didn’t want to hear. There were things I was clinging to that were not the cross. There were things I held in my hands that I was only willing to put into his if he wanted to do the same thing as I wanted. I was praying, “they will be done as long as they will is my will”, rather than asking him to conform my will to His.
But here’s the problem – when you cling to stuff so tightly, those things get burdensome and I was so weary. I thank God that his mercies are new every day, that he is a patient and compassionate God who will bring us back to where we need to be. I am so thankful he is a daddy-God who lovingly – even though it sometimes hurts – forces us to open up our hands and give what we cling to so that we can wrap our arms around his knees, lay our heads in his lap, and rest so that we again can find strength and empty, able hands ready to pick up the cross.
So the above verse resonated loudly with me this week – and reminded me of something I wrote several years ago. A lesson that I needed to re-learn and one I feel is worth sharing:
It’s interesting to see what little children will hold on to for security. For some, it is a favorite blanket – I know some parents who have bought several of the same blankets so their child can have one while they wash the other – or in case one is lost. Some carry a doll, some a Teddy Bear. My nephew has to hold on to a cloth diaper when he goes to sleep. For me, it was what I called my “widow piwwow” (little pillow in adult language). Some children must have their source of security just at night – but I know others – like Linus from the Peanuts cartoon, that drag theirs will them everywhere they go. And usually it is literally dragging behind them because their little hands are busy and full of other things.
I wonder if we don’t treat Christ and the cross a little bit like Linus’ security blanket. We drag it behind us for security while our hands are busy holding on, controlling, manipulating and working out the details of our lives. One night I was reflecting on Luke 9:23 which says, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” I found myself writing this prayer in my prayer journal, “Lord, help me to pick up my cross every day and follow you” and then added, almost like a post script, “help me to lay down my desires so that I may do so.” And that’s when it struck me – in order to pick up my cross and carry it high as my banner, my hands have to be empty. I can’t hold on to my desires with one hand and pick up the cross with the other. I can’t hold on to my worries and my desires and pick up my cross at all. To carry a cross, it takes empty hands. We have to be willing to lay down the other things we thought we wanted to hold on to, or we’ll simply be a Linus dragging the cross through all the dirt, mud, and gunk we encounter.
The other verse that was on my heart was from 2 Timothy 1:12 – “Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that his is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.” When a little child grows weary, they often times will hand over everything they’re trying to carry to a parent, who they know can keep it safe, so that their arms are free to fully embrace that security blanket they carry. They don’t question the parent before they hand over what they consider the treasure worthy of their protection – even though so often is as simple as a handful of pennies or a pretty rock they found along they way. They have a child-like trust – they KNOW their parent will guard their treasure.
How often do we carry something we think is so important but in God’s eyes is simply a pretty rock or and old, worn out blanket that keeps us from fully embracing our source of security? And unlike that child, how often do we fear handing it over to God for safe keeping and so trudge along carrying our worthless treasure and dragging our cross behind us.
Are you willing to walk with your cross dragging behind you through the mud – or as one who desires to be a disciple, will you hand over your treasures to the God whom you have believed? After all – it takes empty hands to fully carry the cross.
Lord, forgive me – how silly I have been. Give me a child-like faith that is willing to let you carry everything else – to simply empty my hands so that I can pick up my cross. Lord, may I seek every day to know you more, so that I can say like Paul, I KNOW WHOM I HAVE BELIEVED. Lord, may I be convinced that you are able to guard what I have entrusted to you – and may I be willing to entrust it all. Lord, I want empty hands every day that are ready to fully embrace the security of the cross.
Blessings sweet friends - I pray that our Daddy-God helps you release your treasures to his hands, because he is MORE than able.
Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” – Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:24
I have to admit I’ve been holding on to some things pretty tightly that made the whole cross carrying thing a little difficult. To deny one’s self means to stop making self the object of one’s life and actions. I’d like to think that I don’t do that, but this week God had a talk with me about this – to be honest he stepped on my toes a little because what he had to say to me I didn’t want to hear. There were things I was clinging to that were not the cross. There were things I held in my hands that I was only willing to put into his if he wanted to do the same thing as I wanted. I was praying, “they will be done as long as they will is my will”, rather than asking him to conform my will to His.
But here’s the problem – when you cling to stuff so tightly, those things get burdensome and I was so weary. I thank God that his mercies are new every day, that he is a patient and compassionate God who will bring us back to where we need to be. I am so thankful he is a daddy-God who lovingly – even though it sometimes hurts – forces us to open up our hands and give what we cling to so that we can wrap our arms around his knees, lay our heads in his lap, and rest so that we again can find strength and empty, able hands ready to pick up the cross.
So the above verse resonated loudly with me this week – and reminded me of something I wrote several years ago. A lesson that I needed to re-learn and one I feel is worth sharing:
It Takes Empty Hands To Carry a Cross
It’s interesting to see what little children will hold on to for security. For some, it is a favorite blanket – I know some parents who have bought several of the same blankets so their child can have one while they wash the other – or in case one is lost. Some carry a doll, some a Teddy Bear. My nephew has to hold on to a cloth diaper when he goes to sleep. For me, it was what I called my “widow piwwow” (little pillow in adult language). Some children must have their source of security just at night – but I know others – like Linus from the Peanuts cartoon, that drag theirs will them everywhere they go. And usually it is literally dragging behind them because their little hands are busy and full of other things.
I wonder if we don’t treat Christ and the cross a little bit like Linus’ security blanket. We drag it behind us for security while our hands are busy holding on, controlling, manipulating and working out the details of our lives. One night I was reflecting on Luke 9:23 which says, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” I found myself writing this prayer in my prayer journal, “Lord, help me to pick up my cross every day and follow you” and then added, almost like a post script, “help me to lay down my desires so that I may do so.” And that’s when it struck me – in order to pick up my cross and carry it high as my banner, my hands have to be empty. I can’t hold on to my desires with one hand and pick up the cross with the other. I can’t hold on to my worries and my desires and pick up my cross at all. To carry a cross, it takes empty hands. We have to be willing to lay down the other things we thought we wanted to hold on to, or we’ll simply be a Linus dragging the cross through all the dirt, mud, and gunk we encounter.
The other verse that was on my heart was from 2 Timothy 1:12 – “Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that his is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.” When a little child grows weary, they often times will hand over everything they’re trying to carry to a parent, who they know can keep it safe, so that their arms are free to fully embrace that security blanket they carry. They don’t question the parent before they hand over what they consider the treasure worthy of their protection – even though so often is as simple as a handful of pennies or a pretty rock they found along they way. They have a child-like trust – they KNOW their parent will guard their treasure.
How often do we carry something we think is so important but in God’s eyes is simply a pretty rock or and old, worn out blanket that keeps us from fully embracing our source of security? And unlike that child, how often do we fear handing it over to God for safe keeping and so trudge along carrying our worthless treasure and dragging our cross behind us.
Are you willing to walk with your cross dragging behind you through the mud – or as one who desires to be a disciple, will you hand over your treasures to the God whom you have believed? After all – it takes empty hands to fully carry the cross.
Lord, forgive me – how silly I have been. Give me a child-like faith that is willing to let you carry everything else – to simply empty my hands so that I can pick up my cross. Lord, may I seek every day to know you more, so that I can say like Paul, I KNOW WHOM I HAVE BELIEVED. Lord, may I be convinced that you are able to guard what I have entrusted to you – and may I be willing to entrust it all. Lord, I want empty hands every day that are ready to fully embrace the security of the cross.
Blessings sweet friends - I pray that our Daddy-God helps you release your treasures to his hands, because he is MORE than able.
Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels
Friday, October 22, 2010
Matthew 15, Mark 7
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2015;%20Mark%207&version=ESV
Mark 7:20-22: "And he said, "What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."
Do you remember when you were a kid and you heard the saying, "Sticks and stones but may my bones, but word will never hurt me"? How untrue this is.
When we are younger we are often very mean in how we talk of others. And as we age, what comes out of our moth is indicative of the condition of your heart.
As Jeremiah wrote: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can
understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9)
When is the last time you gossiped about somebody? Or have you told a risque joke, or made a comment that could be suggestive or have a double-meaning, or mean-spirited?
I'll tell you about myself. Probably about 12 or 13 years ago when I started coming to Second Baptist, I would really like to joke around, and a lot of my jokes were at others expense. I didn't feel the jokes were too harsh, and a lot of the fellas thought it was funny, so I joked that way.
But my relationship with the Lord was not where it is today. A Sunday school teacher called me "The Knife" because I could be so cutting with my humor and remarks. I thought it was funny at the time, but the Holy Spirit began to do a massive work on my heart.
God convicted me in that what I was saying really was a reflection of my inward character, and I did not like that at all!!! Not so much did I not like it for my sake, but I realized that it was devastating my witness for Christ.
So the Lord has really worked on me in this area. I am very careful in what I say. I will not lie, in that sometimes I am tempted to fling a one-liner, but before I speak rashly I really have come to think and pray if it will be edifying speech for others. If it is not, then I don't say it.
As Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:29, "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."
I am in no ways perfect in this. Some times I slip, but I am much more cognizant of it, and if I do speak in such a way, then I seek to repent of the sin and ask for forgiveness from those I have offended as soon as possible. I have really prayed to the Lord to incline my heart to His, to think my thoughts after Him, to take my thoughts captive to Christ before speaking to others, and just when I am joking around with friends.
You may say, "Russ, you are being too harsh. Too much of a prude. Come on, everyone tells the lurid joke of off-color joke once in a while." Well, my friend, each time you do that, you are showing the condition of your heart.
Again in Ephesians, Paul specifically writes about this when he says,
"Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving." (Ephesians 5:4)
You know, when the Lord started to work on my heart in this area, I was afraid that I would not be as funny anymore or as much a part of the group anymore. But friends, that has not been the case.
Now, I am not saying I am funny. But the Lord has developed my character so that I don't need to tell jokes or comments of the sort I used to. When you are obedient to Christ, God will work in you to maximize your talents, personality, and character.
I feel I can have more fun than I did back then and I am not doing it at any one's expense.
So friends, pray to the Lord that you would be more cognizant of what comes out of your mouth via your speech. Pray to the Lord that your speech would be used for edification and not mocking, praise and not slander, thanksgiving and not complaining.
As John Newton, the author of the hymn Amazing Grace, once wrote:
“I am not what I ought to be. . . . I am not what I wish to be. . . . I am not what I hope to be. . . . Yet . . . I am not what I once was . . . and by the grace of God I am what I am.”
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
Mark 7:20-22: "And he said, "What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."
Do you remember when you were a kid and you heard the saying, "Sticks and stones but may my bones, but word will never hurt me"? How untrue this is.
When we are younger we are often very mean in how we talk of others. And as we age, what comes out of our moth is indicative of the condition of your heart.
As Jeremiah wrote: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can
understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9)
When is the last time you gossiped about somebody? Or have you told a risque joke, or made a comment that could be suggestive or have a double-meaning, or mean-spirited?
I'll tell you about myself. Probably about 12 or 13 years ago when I started coming to Second Baptist, I would really like to joke around, and a lot of my jokes were at others expense. I didn't feel the jokes were too harsh, and a lot of the fellas thought it was funny, so I joked that way.
But my relationship with the Lord was not where it is today. A Sunday school teacher called me "The Knife" because I could be so cutting with my humor and remarks. I thought it was funny at the time, but the Holy Spirit began to do a massive work on my heart.
God convicted me in that what I was saying really was a reflection of my inward character, and I did not like that at all!!! Not so much did I not like it for my sake, but I realized that it was devastating my witness for Christ.
So the Lord has really worked on me in this area. I am very careful in what I say. I will not lie, in that sometimes I am tempted to fling a one-liner, but before I speak rashly I really have come to think and pray if it will be edifying speech for others. If it is not, then I don't say it.
As Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:29, "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."
I am in no ways perfect in this. Some times I slip, but I am much more cognizant of it, and if I do speak in such a way, then I seek to repent of the sin and ask for forgiveness from those I have offended as soon as possible. I have really prayed to the Lord to incline my heart to His, to think my thoughts after Him, to take my thoughts captive to Christ before speaking to others, and just when I am joking around with friends.
You may say, "Russ, you are being too harsh. Too much of a prude. Come on, everyone tells the lurid joke of off-color joke once in a while." Well, my friend, each time you do that, you are showing the condition of your heart.
Again in Ephesians, Paul specifically writes about this when he says,
"Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving." (Ephesians 5:4)
You know, when the Lord started to work on my heart in this area, I was afraid that I would not be as funny anymore or as much a part of the group anymore. But friends, that has not been the case.
Now, I am not saying I am funny. But the Lord has developed my character so that I don't need to tell jokes or comments of the sort I used to. When you are obedient to Christ, God will work in you to maximize your talents, personality, and character.
I feel I can have more fun than I did back then and I am not doing it at any one's expense.
So friends, pray to the Lord that you would be more cognizant of what comes out of your mouth via your speech. Pray to the Lord that your speech would be used for edification and not mocking, praise and not slander, thanksgiving and not complaining.
As John Newton, the author of the hymn Amazing Grace, once wrote:
“I am not what I ought to be. . . . I am not what I wish to be. . . . I am not what I hope to be. . . . Yet . . . I am not what I once was . . . and by the grace of God I am what I am.”
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
John 6
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%206&version=ESV
The sixth chapter of the Gospel of John is a wonderful chapter. It begins with the feeding of the 5,000, and then proceeds to tell us that Jesus is the bread of life. It tells us so many more wonderful things that I wish I could write of but for brevity, I will have to let you read the chapter to find them out for yourself.
And in this chapter, you can see how the sovereignty of God and the human responsibility of man intersect.
After the people had seen the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 they ask Jesus, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" and He responds:
"This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." (John 6:29)
Now look at the following verses and note where Jesus talks about the sovereignty of God and human responsibility:
"All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out."
(John 6:37) - Sovereignty of God
"And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. " (John 6:39) - Sovereignty of God
"For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." (John 6:40) - Human Responsibility & Sovereignty of God
"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day." (John 6:44) - Sovereignty of God
"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life." (John 6:47) - Human Responsibility
So you can see that while God is sovereign and in control we are still responsible to believe in Christ.
I have become so convicted that people today do not value God's sovereignty. I used to fight so hard for the doctrine of free will. Now, I fight for the doctrine of the sovereignty of God. I want to be complete in Christ. He called me, He regenerated me, He justified me, He sanctifies me, all I have is from Him.
Jesus talks about this in the latter part of the chapter about how we can do nothing in our flesh to achieve salvation.
"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life." (John 6:63)
Friends what we do in the flesh is no help at all!!!
Paul echoes this when he writes:
"So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy." (Romans 9:16)
Friends read chapter 6 tonight again. Ponder and meditate on the great riches and spiritual truths in this chapter.
Be thankful that God loved us first before we loved Him. I am thankful that He chose me, and God does not make wrong choices.
If you are a believer thank God that He chose you. Rejoice in this. Thank Him continually for this.
If you have not placed your faith in Christ, then I ask that you pray to do so. If you do place your faith in Him, know that the Holy Spirit of God has worked in you to bring about this faith in you. And rejoice in that and live a life of obedience and thankfulness towards Him for opening your eyes to comprehend and then appropriate the truths of the Gospel to your own life.
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
The sixth chapter of the Gospel of John is a wonderful chapter. It begins with the feeding of the 5,000, and then proceeds to tell us that Jesus is the bread of life. It tells us so many more wonderful things that I wish I could write of but for brevity, I will have to let you read the chapter to find them out for yourself.
And in this chapter, you can see how the sovereignty of God and the human responsibility of man intersect.
After the people had seen the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 they ask Jesus, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" and He responds:
"This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." (John 6:29)
Now look at the following verses and note where Jesus talks about the sovereignty of God and human responsibility:
"All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out."
(John 6:37) - Sovereignty of God
"And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. " (John 6:39) - Sovereignty of God
"For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." (John 6:40) - Human Responsibility & Sovereignty of God
"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day." (John 6:44) - Sovereignty of God
"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life." (John 6:47) - Human Responsibility
So you can see that while God is sovereign and in control we are still responsible to believe in Christ.
I have become so convicted that people today do not value God's sovereignty. I used to fight so hard for the doctrine of free will. Now, I fight for the doctrine of the sovereignty of God. I want to be complete in Christ. He called me, He regenerated me, He justified me, He sanctifies me, all I have is from Him.
Jesus talks about this in the latter part of the chapter about how we can do nothing in our flesh to achieve salvation.
"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life." (John 6:63)
Friends what we do in the flesh is no help at all!!!
Paul echoes this when he writes:
"So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy." (Romans 9:16)
Friends read chapter 6 tonight again. Ponder and meditate on the great riches and spiritual truths in this chapter.
Be thankful that God loved us first before we loved Him. I am thankful that He chose me, and God does not make wrong choices.
If you are a believer thank God that He chose you. Rejoice in this. Thank Him continually for this.
If you have not placed your faith in Christ, then I ask that you pray to do so. If you do place your faith in Him, know that the Holy Spirit of God has worked in you to bring about this faith in you. And rejoice in that and live a life of obedience and thankfulness towards Him for opening your eyes to comprehend and then appropriate the truths of the Gospel to your own life.
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Today’s passage, Matthew 14, Mark 6, Luke 9: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%2014,%20mark%206,%20luke%209&version=NIV
What does it mean to be considered a great person? The world honors many great people such as athletes, CEO’s of major corporations, super models, movie stars and musicians. They are all considered great because of their knowledge, power, talents and abilities. Some people even honor the guy with the most toys or the girl with the best shoes as the greatest person.
But God looks at greatness in a far different way:
“An argument started among them as to which of them might be the greatest. But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side, and said to them, "Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; for the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great." (Luke 9:46-48)
The one who is least is the greatest. That’s so counter to our current culture! Jesus set a perfect example of how to live as a great man. He was born into a stable and placed in a feeding trough. He didn’t live in a fancy home or acquire wealth during his time on earth. He was sent by his Father to descend from the comfort of heaven into a world full of sin where he would be persecuted and crucified like a criminal. During His ministry, Jesus fed the hungry, healed the sick and cast out demons. He dined with tax collectors and prostitutes. He put others needs before his own. He loved the unlovable. He was the ultimate servant. But what made Him the ultimate servant wasn’t what He did, but rather, the condition of His heart while he did it. He did it all for love. He did it all to glorify His Father. He didn’t serve others in order to elevate himself. He served to elevate the Father who sent Him.
Philippians 2:5-8 explains:
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!"
This is the perfect picture of what a great man looks like. Jesus took on the nature of a servant and he humbled Himself in obedience. Take some time for prayer and ask God to begin working with you to build a heart of a humble servant. Ask him to reveal opportunities to serve and open those doors for you. Create a partnership with the Lord and redefine greatness in your heart!
Today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe
What does it mean to be considered a great person? The world honors many great people such as athletes, CEO’s of major corporations, super models, movie stars and musicians. They are all considered great because of their knowledge, power, talents and abilities. Some people even honor the guy with the most toys or the girl with the best shoes as the greatest person.
But God looks at greatness in a far different way:
“An argument started among them as to which of them might be the greatest. But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side, and said to them, "Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; for the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great." (Luke 9:46-48)
The one who is least is the greatest. That’s so counter to our current culture! Jesus set a perfect example of how to live as a great man. He was born into a stable and placed in a feeding trough. He didn’t live in a fancy home or acquire wealth during his time on earth. He was sent by his Father to descend from the comfort of heaven into a world full of sin where he would be persecuted and crucified like a criminal. During His ministry, Jesus fed the hungry, healed the sick and cast out demons. He dined with tax collectors and prostitutes. He put others needs before his own. He loved the unlovable. He was the ultimate servant. But what made Him the ultimate servant wasn’t what He did, but rather, the condition of His heart while he did it. He did it all for love. He did it all to glorify His Father. He didn’t serve others in order to elevate himself. He served to elevate the Father who sent Him.
Philippians 2:5-8 explains:
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!"
This is the perfect picture of what a great man looks like. Jesus took on the nature of a servant and he humbled Himself in obedience. Take some time for prayer and ask God to begin working with you to build a heart of a humble servant. Ask him to reveal opportunities to serve and open those doors for you. Create a partnership with the Lord and redefine greatness in your heart!
Today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe
Monday, October 18, 2010
Matthew 10
Today’s passage, Matthew 10: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%2010&version=NIV
In the end of chapter 9, Jesus encouraged the disciples to pray: “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Today’s passage opens with God’s answer to their prayers - the disciples would be the workers that would harvest the field. In Chapter 10, Jesus ordains the disciples and gives them specific instructions regarding their commission.
You might be thinking – well I’m no apostle, so I don’t know how this passage can be useful to me. But as a Christian, don't you have a desire for others to be saved? Charles Spurgeon said "“Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you are not saved yourself. Be sure of that.” It's a natural result of salvation to want to share the message of love and grace so that others can join us in God's kingdom! We all become ministers of Christ, therefore, we too can learn from this commissioning.
I think the most important lesson from this ordination lies in what occurred leading up to it. Before Jesus ordained the disciples he developed a relationship with them and he equipped them. He armed them with faith through the miracles they witnessed. He infused them with a passion for love as they witnessed the love and grace that he poured out upon the people of the land. He built in them a respect for his authority to forgive sins. He endowed them with knowledge of the mysteries of God’s word. He taught them privately and through his public sermons about the kingdom of heaven. Through constant and direct access to Jesus Christ, they were equipped with everything they needed to fulfill their commission.
As ministers of Christ, we are equipped in much the same way. We have direct access to our precious King through prayer. We have the opportunity to witness the miracles of God through His Word. We have access to scripture that reveals the love and grace and mercy of our God who sent a Savior to redeem us. Through spending time in the word of God and in prayer and worship, we become equipped with all that we need to share the good news of our Savior with others.
Most importantly, in commissioning his apostles, he equipped them with his power. He gave them the ability to heal physical and spiritual illnesses and the ability to cast out demons. He also empowered them with the “Spirit of the Father” who would give them words to speak.
As ministers of Christ, we have the power of the Holy Spirit living inside of us. The moment you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and turned your life over to Him, you were indwelt with the Holy Spirit. His power lies inside of you and has been given to you so that you can live a godly life and be a minister of Christ. (1 Cor 3:16 & 2 Peter 1:3).
All these gifts of knowledge and power that God gives is pointless unless we build a relationship with Him. Jesus was able to ordain his disciples because they had developed a relationship of love, faith and respect. The disciples had a desire to be used by God as his apostles and they took an active part in learning who God is and what He is all about. In order for God to use us, we must do the same. We have to trust that he will equip us and allow Him to develop our gifts in us. We have to take part in learning who God is and what He is all about so that we can share that wonderful news with others. I encourage you to persevere in your reading of God’s word. Be intentional about making time to build a relationship with God and learn about who He is. If you don’t know who He is, how can you share with others? Allow God to equip you so that you can influence the population of the Kingdom of God!
Todays post submitted by Kelly Coxe
In the end of chapter 9, Jesus encouraged the disciples to pray: “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Today’s passage opens with God’s answer to their prayers - the disciples would be the workers that would harvest the field. In Chapter 10, Jesus ordains the disciples and gives them specific instructions regarding their commission.
You might be thinking – well I’m no apostle, so I don’t know how this passage can be useful to me. But as a Christian, don't you have a desire for others to be saved? Charles Spurgeon said "“Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you are not saved yourself. Be sure of that.” It's a natural result of salvation to want to share the message of love and grace so that others can join us in God's kingdom! We all become ministers of Christ, therefore, we too can learn from this commissioning.
I think the most important lesson from this ordination lies in what occurred leading up to it. Before Jesus ordained the disciples he developed a relationship with them and he equipped them. He armed them with faith through the miracles they witnessed. He infused them with a passion for love as they witnessed the love and grace that he poured out upon the people of the land. He built in them a respect for his authority to forgive sins. He endowed them with knowledge of the mysteries of God’s word. He taught them privately and through his public sermons about the kingdom of heaven. Through constant and direct access to Jesus Christ, they were equipped with everything they needed to fulfill their commission.
As ministers of Christ, we are equipped in much the same way. We have direct access to our precious King through prayer. We have the opportunity to witness the miracles of God through His Word. We have access to scripture that reveals the love and grace and mercy of our God who sent a Savior to redeem us. Through spending time in the word of God and in prayer and worship, we become equipped with all that we need to share the good news of our Savior with others.
Most importantly, in commissioning his apostles, he equipped them with his power. He gave them the ability to heal physical and spiritual illnesses and the ability to cast out demons. He also empowered them with the “Spirit of the Father” who would give them words to speak.
As ministers of Christ, we have the power of the Holy Spirit living inside of us. The moment you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and turned your life over to Him, you were indwelt with the Holy Spirit. His power lies inside of you and has been given to you so that you can live a godly life and be a minister of Christ. (1 Cor 3:16 & 2 Peter 1:3).
All these gifts of knowledge and power that God gives is pointless unless we build a relationship with Him. Jesus was able to ordain his disciples because they had developed a relationship of love, faith and respect. The disciples had a desire to be used by God as his apostles and they took an active part in learning who God is and what He is all about. In order for God to use us, we must do the same. We have to trust that he will equip us and allow Him to develop our gifts in us. We have to take part in learning who God is and what He is all about so that we can share that wonderful news with others. I encourage you to persevere in your reading of God’s word. Be intentional about making time to build a relationship with God and learn about who He is. If you don’t know who He is, how can you share with others? Allow God to equip you so that you can influence the population of the Kingdom of God!
Todays post submitted by Kelly Coxe
Mark 4-5
Today's passage: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark%204-5&version=NIV
Parables and Healings
Mark 4 is a chapter of parables. Many times in the Bible, there are passages that are explained at a later time with additional context. For example, the prophecies of the Messiah and the end times that were originally given in the Old Testament were expounded in the New Testament by Jesus, the Gospel writers, or Paul. It is also important to understand cross references, where other sections of Scripture are related to a passage you are studying. This is especially true when a parable and its explanation are given. We are privileged in this respect as Jesus spoke in parables to the masses and explained them to the disciples. With the Bible in written form, we have an even greater advantage; we can see the way that Christ taught his disciples and we can ponder the Words of our Lord over and over again. Remember, Jesus is the Word made flesh and the Bible is God’s Word given to us for our salvation and sanctification. Today we live in a world of stone and metal, but the parables return us to a simpler way of viewing the world. All of God’s creation has a purpose and we need to be willing to listen to the simpler stories of the Bible and allow them to penetrate the soil of our hearts.
Mark 5 also provides a glimpse into the depth of Christ’s healing power. Many times we read about unclean spirits being sent out of people, but here we see the full extent of the healing. Jesus healed the man filled with a legion of demons, restored the man to his right mind, clothed him, and even brought him back into fellowship with his family. Verse 19 instructs the man to return to and proclaim the good news about God’s mercy.
Jesus draws many to Himself and He is willing to heal, but we must be willing to believe. Do you have a faith that trusts and seeks God? Are you willing to take a step of faith and reach out as Christ calls you? Jesus is no respecter of persons as we see He heals the demon possessed man, a woman made unclean by uncontrollable bleeding, and a leader of the synagogue.
We also see difference responses to Christ’s ministry in these chapters. Do you listen and not understand, do you act out of fright, do you laugh and ridicule, or do you have the faith of a child and know that God alones has the power to heal and save?
Today's post submitted by Joseph Konieczka
Parables and Healings
Mark 4 is a chapter of parables. Many times in the Bible, there are passages that are explained at a later time with additional context. For example, the prophecies of the Messiah and the end times that were originally given in the Old Testament were expounded in the New Testament by Jesus, the Gospel writers, or Paul. It is also important to understand cross references, where other sections of Scripture are related to a passage you are studying. This is especially true when a parable and its explanation are given. We are privileged in this respect as Jesus spoke in parables to the masses and explained them to the disciples. With the Bible in written form, we have an even greater advantage; we can see the way that Christ taught his disciples and we can ponder the Words of our Lord over and over again. Remember, Jesus is the Word made flesh and the Bible is God’s Word given to us for our salvation and sanctification. Today we live in a world of stone and metal, but the parables return us to a simpler way of viewing the world. All of God’s creation has a purpose and we need to be willing to listen to the simpler stories of the Bible and allow them to penetrate the soil of our hearts.
Mark 5 also provides a glimpse into the depth of Christ’s healing power. Many times we read about unclean spirits being sent out of people, but here we see the full extent of the healing. Jesus healed the man filled with a legion of demons, restored the man to his right mind, clothed him, and even brought him back into fellowship with his family. Verse 19 instructs the man to return to and proclaim the good news about God’s mercy.
Jesus draws many to Himself and He is willing to heal, but we must be willing to believe. Do you have a faith that trusts and seeks God? Are you willing to take a step of faith and reach out as Christ calls you? Jesus is no respecter of persons as we see He heals the demon possessed man, a woman made unclean by uncontrollable bleeding, and a leader of the synagogue.
We also see difference responses to Christ’s ministry in these chapters. Do you listen and not understand, do you act out of fright, do you laugh and ridicule, or do you have the faith of a child and know that God alones has the power to heal and save?
Today's post submitted by Joseph Konieczka
Sunday, October 17, 2010
The Faith/Miracle Connection
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2013;%20Luke%208&version=NIV
"And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith." - Matthew 13:58
As we read through the gospels, we read about the many miraculous works Jesus did as he walked this earth. But at the end of Matthew 13, we hear of the many miraculous works he did not do - and in his own home town, of all places. That's right, he didn't do miracles for the people who probably thought they knew him best. And maybe they did know him - but there's a huge difference between knowing God and believing God. And it is the belief that Jesus was interested in.
Matthew emphasizes the close relationship between faith and miracles. And indeed, based upon the previous verse and the other miracles of Jesus, we can see that He was often moved to act based upon the faith of the one making the request. In Matthew 8:10-13 he praises the great faith of the centurion asking for healing for his servant and promises him that, "It will be done just as you believed it would." When he heals the woman with the issue of blood in Matthew 9:22, he says, "Take heart my daughter, your faith has healed you." Later in the same chapter he asks the blind men who come to him for healing, "Do you believe that I can do this?" When they answer with "Yes Lord", he touches their eyes and says, "According to your faith will it be done to you" (Vs.28-19). This is not an exhaustive list - but it makes the connection between faith and the miraculous works of Jesus quite clear.
But why was faith some important. Performing miracles was one method Jesus used to prove he was the Messiah, so why not just perform the miracle any way? I can think of at least three reasons:
It honors God. The faith of the people Jesus healed was honoring because it took Jesus at his word. It was based on the character of Jesus and the word of Jesus - not on what he did for them. And so it is with us. God wants us to believe he is the God he says that he is, that he will do the things he says he will do, and put our weight firmly down on that without having to have proof. No doubt, the proof will come because when we put our faith in God and walk according to it, there is always blessing that follows. But their is a pattern that runs throughout scripture - faith, obedience, blessings. Taking God and his word, walking and acting according to the belief, and receiving that which he has promised.
It creates a faith that puts hope on the right object. It helps us to keep our eyes focused on Jesus - not on the things that He will do for us. If we put our hope in the thing we want Jesus to do for us, and not in Jesus himself, we've put our hope - and our faith - on the wrong object. Misplaced hope is quite dangerous - it makes an idol of the thing hoped for. And what happens when we receive it and it does not make us feel the way we thought it would? Where are we then? Our hope must be in Jesus Christ. We must seek his face more than we seek his hand.
It has eternal consequences. Faith is not meant to be momentary - it is meant to carry us through the rest or our lives and into eternity. It is meant to put our eyes on the things that are unseen so that we continue to walk with confidence towards our heavenly reward. It is meant to carry us through not just this one trial in life, but every trial in life. And so we place our eyes on God's character, and not on his activity. The people in Jesus home town knew his character - and they weren't interested. They only wanted to know what he would do for them. God desires that we know him, serve him, take him at his word and walk with confidence in who he is so that we are those who believe and are saved. Hebrews 11:6 tells us, "Without faith it is impossible to please god, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." But notice, the reward is not for those who seek a reward, but for those who earnest seek HIM. He is both re warder and reward.
I pray, my precious friends, that we would be ones who want to know God personally. I pray we are the ones that he would encounter and say, "it will be done according to your faith." I pray that we would ask - as we read yesterday - for those Spiritual blessings that would build our faith, before we ask for those things that are miraculous but only physical. I pray that we would seek a faith that makes us approach God boldly as confident children of the King. I pray that he would build us into a people of such great faith that it would be written of us, 'He did many miracles among them because of their great faith.'
Press on, precious friends!
Here's a little homework assignment if you want to read ahead - spend a few minutes in Hebrews - especially the end of chapter 10, all of chapter 11, and the very beginning of 12. Here you will find great encouragement to persevere in faith.
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." - Hebrews 11:1
Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels
"And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith." - Matthew 13:58
As we read through the gospels, we read about the many miraculous works Jesus did as he walked this earth. But at the end of Matthew 13, we hear of the many miraculous works he did not do - and in his own home town, of all places. That's right, he didn't do miracles for the people who probably thought they knew him best. And maybe they did know him - but there's a huge difference between knowing God and believing God. And it is the belief that Jesus was interested in.
Matthew emphasizes the close relationship between faith and miracles. And indeed, based upon the previous verse and the other miracles of Jesus, we can see that He was often moved to act based upon the faith of the one making the request. In Matthew 8:10-13 he praises the great faith of the centurion asking for healing for his servant and promises him that, "It will be done just as you believed it would." When he heals the woman with the issue of blood in Matthew 9:22, he says, "Take heart my daughter, your faith has healed you." Later in the same chapter he asks the blind men who come to him for healing, "Do you believe that I can do this?" When they answer with "Yes Lord", he touches their eyes and says, "According to your faith will it be done to you" (Vs.28-19). This is not an exhaustive list - but it makes the connection between faith and the miraculous works of Jesus quite clear.
But why was faith some important. Performing miracles was one method Jesus used to prove he was the Messiah, so why not just perform the miracle any way? I can think of at least three reasons:
It honors God. The faith of the people Jesus healed was honoring because it took Jesus at his word. It was based on the character of Jesus and the word of Jesus - not on what he did for them. And so it is with us. God wants us to believe he is the God he says that he is, that he will do the things he says he will do, and put our weight firmly down on that without having to have proof. No doubt, the proof will come because when we put our faith in God and walk according to it, there is always blessing that follows. But their is a pattern that runs throughout scripture - faith, obedience, blessings. Taking God and his word, walking and acting according to the belief, and receiving that which he has promised.
It creates a faith that puts hope on the right object. It helps us to keep our eyes focused on Jesus - not on the things that He will do for us. If we put our hope in the thing we want Jesus to do for us, and not in Jesus himself, we've put our hope - and our faith - on the wrong object. Misplaced hope is quite dangerous - it makes an idol of the thing hoped for. And what happens when we receive it and it does not make us feel the way we thought it would? Where are we then? Our hope must be in Jesus Christ. We must seek his face more than we seek his hand.
It has eternal consequences. Faith is not meant to be momentary - it is meant to carry us through the rest or our lives and into eternity. It is meant to put our eyes on the things that are unseen so that we continue to walk with confidence towards our heavenly reward. It is meant to carry us through not just this one trial in life, but every trial in life. And so we place our eyes on God's character, and not on his activity. The people in Jesus home town knew his character - and they weren't interested. They only wanted to know what he would do for them. God desires that we know him, serve him, take him at his word and walk with confidence in who he is so that we are those who believe and are saved. Hebrews 11:6 tells us, "Without faith it is impossible to please god, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." But notice, the reward is not for those who seek a reward, but for those who earnest seek HIM. He is both re warder and reward.
I pray, my precious friends, that we would be ones who want to know God personally. I pray we are the ones that he would encounter and say, "it will be done according to your faith." I pray that we would ask - as we read yesterday - for those Spiritual blessings that would build our faith, before we ask for those things that are miraculous but only physical. I pray that we would seek a faith that makes us approach God boldly as confident children of the King. I pray that he would build us into a people of such great faith that it would be written of us, 'He did many miracles among them because of their great faith.'
Press on, precious friends!
Here's a little homework assignment if you want to read ahead - spend a few minutes in Hebrews - especially the end of chapter 10, all of chapter 11, and the very beginning of 12. Here you will find great encouragement to persevere in faith.
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." - Hebrews 11:1
Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels
Saturday, October 16, 2010
The Right Way to Pray
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2011&version=NIV
Entire books have been written on prayer. Many books have been written on prayer. So I don't pretend to be able to address the topic in one short blog. However, no one can teach us to pray better than Jesus. And he does teach us in Luke 11:1-13. Let's look at some of the amazing truths about prayer in this passage.
First, note why he is teaching his disciples to pray. In verse one, we learn that they asked him to. There are two things that I love about this. First, I believe they asked him to teach them to pray because they saw the power of prayer in his life. The reason I believe this is because right before we read that they asked him to teach them, we read that he had just finished praying. I can picture the disciples - maybe from a distance, or maybe they got to hear his prayer - watching and perhaps listening and being so moved by the prayer that they deeply desired to pray like that. I'm certain this isn't the first time they say him pray, and I'm sure they saw the power of prayer in his life. And so the wisely and boldly asked him, "Lord, teach us to pray." Secondly, I love that Jesus immediately honors their request because he see a truth that we can apply to our own faith-walk. This truth is that when we ask for something that would grow or increase our faith and relationship with God, he will ALWAYS answer that request because it is absolutely a prayer that is according the will of God. He wants nothing more for us to learn about him. So perhaps today your prayer, like the disciples, should be "Lord, teach me to pray."
Next, from this passage we learn how to pray. Here are the things we learn:
We learn from the Lords prayer that we are to approach God in a position of a heart that honors him as Lord and King as Jesus says to pray, "Father, hallowed by thy name."
We learn to ask for God's will to be done in our lives and that he would dwell among us as we are taught to pray, "your kingdom come".
We learn to approach with boldness and persistence. In the story about the one who approaches his friend and midnight in vs. 5-13, that we can and should approach with boldness and persistence as we read the words in vs. 8, "I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs". Jesus also encourages boldness in verse 9 where he says, "Ask and it will be given you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be open to you."
We learn to ask for daily needs and the needs of others as we pray, "give us this day our daily bread". And again in the story, the man is asking for bread, not for himself, but for his friend who is on a journey. It also occurs to me that often we think the bread Jesus refers to is about physical needs and provision, but when I think about Isaiah 55:2, that says, "Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen to me and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the riches of fare." I wonder if Jesus wasn't referring to prayer for spiritual needs for ourselves and our friends who are on their faith journey. Are you praying for the faith of your friends and family?
We learn to ask for forgiveness, for the willingness to forgive others, and protection from temptation as we read verse four, "Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation."
We learn the absolute best thing, the highest good we can ask for - the Holy Spirit. Have you asked God to give you the Holy Spirit? I find it interesting that scripture clearly says this is the best things we can ask for and the thing that our good Father desires most to gift us with (vs. 13), and yet it took so many years of my life for me to learn to pray for the Holy Spirit. But I can tell you, that it is now something I ask for daily for I find that without this gift, I am of now use in God's kingdom, not use to others, and no use to myself. Why is this such an amazing gift? Because God's word tells us that the Holy Spirit is our guide, our comforter, our teacher, the one who knows our hearts and God's and can conform our will to God's. He is the provider of wisdom and discernment, counsel and power, knowledge and fear of God. He is the one who changes us from the inside out, renews our minds, gives us the ability to love and power to carry out the tasks God places before us - and oh, so much more. He is God with us - God within us - a deposit given as a guarantee of our salvation. He is our intercessor who prays for us when we don't know how to pray and who prays for us according to the will of God. He is the one that teaches us all things. Oh yes, the Holy Spirit is a good and amazing gift. And the most beautiful thing is that when you pray for the Spirit, you get to experience all of those things God's word says that He is.
Friends, I pray to day that you boldly approach the throne of grace with confidence. I pray that you would know that there isn't a right time, a right way, or right words to pray but that God hears all of your prayers all of the time and acts on them. I pray that the Spirit would place inside of you the desire to boldly ask for your daily needs, but to ask much more for the bread that fills - for those spiritual needs that the Father is so please to give to you. I pray that you would pray for an increase knowledge of God, His will, His word, His Spirit - and that God would rock your faith as a result.
Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels
Entire books have been written on prayer. Many books have been written on prayer. So I don't pretend to be able to address the topic in one short blog. However, no one can teach us to pray better than Jesus. And he does teach us in Luke 11:1-13. Let's look at some of the amazing truths about prayer in this passage.
First, note why he is teaching his disciples to pray. In verse one, we learn that they asked him to. There are two things that I love about this. First, I believe they asked him to teach them to pray because they saw the power of prayer in his life. The reason I believe this is because right before we read that they asked him to teach them, we read that he had just finished praying. I can picture the disciples - maybe from a distance, or maybe they got to hear his prayer - watching and perhaps listening and being so moved by the prayer that they deeply desired to pray like that. I'm certain this isn't the first time they say him pray, and I'm sure they saw the power of prayer in his life. And so the wisely and boldly asked him, "Lord, teach us to pray." Secondly, I love that Jesus immediately honors their request because he see a truth that we can apply to our own faith-walk. This truth is that when we ask for something that would grow or increase our faith and relationship with God, he will ALWAYS answer that request because it is absolutely a prayer that is according the will of God. He wants nothing more for us to learn about him. So perhaps today your prayer, like the disciples, should be "Lord, teach me to pray."
Next, from this passage we learn how to pray. Here are the things we learn:
We learn from the Lords prayer that we are to approach God in a position of a heart that honors him as Lord and King as Jesus says to pray, "Father, hallowed by thy name."
We learn to ask for God's will to be done in our lives and that he would dwell among us as we are taught to pray, "your kingdom come".
We learn to approach with boldness and persistence. In the story about the one who approaches his friend and midnight in vs. 5-13, that we can and should approach with boldness and persistence as we read the words in vs. 8, "I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs". Jesus also encourages boldness in verse 9 where he says, "Ask and it will be given you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be open to you."
We learn to ask for daily needs and the needs of others as we pray, "give us this day our daily bread". And again in the story, the man is asking for bread, not for himself, but for his friend who is on a journey. It also occurs to me that often we think the bread Jesus refers to is about physical needs and provision, but when I think about Isaiah 55:2, that says, "Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen to me and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the riches of fare." I wonder if Jesus wasn't referring to prayer for spiritual needs for ourselves and our friends who are on their faith journey. Are you praying for the faith of your friends and family?
We learn to ask for forgiveness, for the willingness to forgive others, and protection from temptation as we read verse four, "Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation."
We learn the absolute best thing, the highest good we can ask for - the Holy Spirit. Have you asked God to give you the Holy Spirit? I find it interesting that scripture clearly says this is the best things we can ask for and the thing that our good Father desires most to gift us with (vs. 13), and yet it took so many years of my life for me to learn to pray for the Holy Spirit. But I can tell you, that it is now something I ask for daily for I find that without this gift, I am of now use in God's kingdom, not use to others, and no use to myself. Why is this such an amazing gift? Because God's word tells us that the Holy Spirit is our guide, our comforter, our teacher, the one who knows our hearts and God's and can conform our will to God's. He is the provider of wisdom and discernment, counsel and power, knowledge and fear of God. He is the one who changes us from the inside out, renews our minds, gives us the ability to love and power to carry out the tasks God places before us - and oh, so much more. He is God with us - God within us - a deposit given as a guarantee of our salvation. He is our intercessor who prays for us when we don't know how to pray and who prays for us according to the will of God. He is the one that teaches us all things. Oh yes, the Holy Spirit is a good and amazing gift. And the most beautiful thing is that when you pray for the Spirit, you get to experience all of those things God's word says that He is.
Friends, I pray to day that you boldly approach the throne of grace with confidence. I pray that you would know that there isn't a right time, a right way, or right words to pray but that God hears all of your prayers all of the time and acts on them. I pray that the Spirit would place inside of you the desire to boldly ask for your daily needs, but to ask much more for the bread that fills - for those spiritual needs that the Father is so please to give to you. I pray that you would pray for an increase knowledge of God, His will, His word, His Spirit - and that God would rock your faith as a result.
Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels
Friday, October 15, 2010
Matthew 11
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2011&version=ESV
Matthew 11:27: "All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."
Matthew chapter 11 is such a great chapter. Many know it for the familiar words of Jesus when he said:
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)
Yet, how often it is that so few people quote Matthew 11:27? God is sovereign. He chooses who will believe in Him. He regenerates them. He gives them the faith to believe. He sanctifies them. He redeems them. He adopts them into His family. And He will ultimately glorify them when they go to Heaven for eternity.
Now, I am not saying that we have no responsibility. We have human responsibility. From our perspective, we are the one's who put our faith in God. Whereas in reality, God worked through the Holy Spirit to enable us to place our faith in the saving work of Jesus on the cross.
Friends, I must admit it. I love the doctrine of predestination. Why? Because God does not make wrong choices. I, a sinner, left to my own devices, could have chosen to follow a cult or some false religion.
But by the Grace of God, He chose me before the foundation of the world to believe in Him. (Ephesians 1:3-5)
Some of you might being saying, what if God did not choose me? Friends, the Word of God says that any one who believes in Him will not be ashamed. People go to Hell because of unbelief, not because God did not choose them. Search the Scriptures and you will see this is the truth.
Theologians for centuries have tried to reconcile the doctrine of predestination with free will. My understanding, and I will admit it is from a Calvinistic understanding, is that we are fallen. We do not have free will. If we had free will, we would have the will to not sin. Who has the will to not sin? None of us.
Instead of rejoicing in the free will of man we should be rejoicing in the sovereignty of God. The same God who chooses, predestines, elects, also saves, sanctifies, justifies, and Glorifies.
Every good gift comes from God above.
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
Matthew 11:27: "All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."
Matthew chapter 11 is such a great chapter. Many know it for the familiar words of Jesus when he said:
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)
Yet, how often it is that so few people quote Matthew 11:27? God is sovereign. He chooses who will believe in Him. He regenerates them. He gives them the faith to believe. He sanctifies them. He redeems them. He adopts them into His family. And He will ultimately glorify them when they go to Heaven for eternity.
Now, I am not saying that we have no responsibility. We have human responsibility. From our perspective, we are the one's who put our faith in God. Whereas in reality, God worked through the Holy Spirit to enable us to place our faith in the saving work of Jesus on the cross.
Friends, I must admit it. I love the doctrine of predestination. Why? Because God does not make wrong choices. I, a sinner, left to my own devices, could have chosen to follow a cult or some false religion.
But by the Grace of God, He chose me before the foundation of the world to believe in Him. (Ephesians 1:3-5)
Some of you might being saying, what if God did not choose me? Friends, the Word of God says that any one who believes in Him will not be ashamed. People go to Hell because of unbelief, not because God did not choose them. Search the Scriptures and you will see this is the truth.
Theologians for centuries have tried to reconcile the doctrine of predestination with free will. My understanding, and I will admit it is from a Calvinistic understanding, is that we are fallen. We do not have free will. If we had free will, we would have the will to not sin. Who has the will to not sin? None of us.
Instead of rejoicing in the free will of man we should be rejoicing in the sovereignty of God. The same God who chooses, predestines, elects, also saves, sanctifies, justifies, and Glorifies.
Every good gift comes from God above.
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Matthew 9, Luke 7
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%209,%20Luke%207&version=ESV
Luke 7:28 "I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."
This statement by Jesus really blows me away. That we are greater than John the Baptist.
Bob Deffingbaugh from Bible.org states:
"Because of John’s unique role as the last of the Old Testament prophets, the prophet whose mission it was to introduce Messiah, no one born of woman (to that point in time) was greater than he. And yet, as towering a personality as John was when viewed from the landscape of the Old Testament, even the least in the kingdom of heaven was greater than John."
Paul affirms this when he writes in Romans:
"16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him." (Romans 8:16-17)
The ESV Study Bible note on this states, "Those in the kingdom of heaven have the greater privilege because they have actually entered the kingdom (in its new covenant reality) and become partakers in the new covenant through the blood of Christ."
We are greater than John the Baptist and all of the Old Testament saints, because of Jesus. Because we have actually entered the kingdom of God. Take a deep pause and reflect on that.
Yes, there will be more to come. We will some day see Jesus face to face. We will one day get our resurrection bodies. But until then, there are certain aspects of the kingdom we are enjoying that the OT saints could not and did not experience.
We have the gift of the Holy Spirit, his indwelling presence that mediates Christ in our heart each day.
We have the gift of the completed canon of Scripture. We know what happened in the past, and we know we are to be ready for Christ's coming in the future.
We have the gift of the Body of Christ, the Church. Christ gave us the Body of Christ so that as believers we could do His work on earth and fellowship and build up one another.
Friends, take time and reflect on your position in Christ today. You are greater than John the Baptist, Moses, Jeremiah, and King David. But your greatness is not based on your moral qualities.
It is based on Christ. Thank Jesus today that you are a part of His Kingdom and ask Him in prayer that He would lead you to do work for His Kingdom as well.
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
Luke 7:28 "I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."
This statement by Jesus really blows me away. That we are greater than John the Baptist.
Bob Deffingbaugh from Bible.org states:
"Because of John’s unique role as the last of the Old Testament prophets, the prophet whose mission it was to introduce Messiah, no one born of woman (to that point in time) was greater than he. And yet, as towering a personality as John was when viewed from the landscape of the Old Testament, even the least in the kingdom of heaven was greater than John."
Paul affirms this when he writes in Romans:
"16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him." (Romans 8:16-17)
The ESV Study Bible note on this states, "Those in the kingdom of heaven have the greater privilege because they have actually entered the kingdom (in its new covenant reality) and become partakers in the new covenant through the blood of Christ."
We are greater than John the Baptist and all of the Old Testament saints, because of Jesus. Because we have actually entered the kingdom of God. Take a deep pause and reflect on that.
Yes, there will be more to come. We will some day see Jesus face to face. We will one day get our resurrection bodies. But until then, there are certain aspects of the kingdom we are enjoying that the OT saints could not and did not experience.
We have the gift of the Holy Spirit, his indwelling presence that mediates Christ in our heart each day.
We have the gift of the completed canon of Scripture. We know what happened in the past, and we know we are to be ready for Christ's coming in the future.
We have the gift of the Body of Christ, the Church. Christ gave us the Body of Christ so that as believers we could do His work on earth and fellowship and build up one another.
Friends, take time and reflect on your position in Christ today. You are greater than John the Baptist, Moses, Jeremiah, and King David. But your greatness is not based on your moral qualities.
It is based on Christ. Thank Jesus today that you are a part of His Kingdom and ask Him in prayer that He would lead you to do work for His Kingdom as well.
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Matthew 5-7
Todays passage: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5-7&version=NIV#en-NIV-23278
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus encouraged and instructed believers about important issues like witnessing, obedience, prophecy, anger, lust, divorce, integrity, retaliation, loving our enemies, caring for the poor, prayer, fasting, money, criticizing others, going to heaven, servanthood, and faith. As you read today’s passage, keep in mind what Jesus says in Matthew 5:17 - that He came to fulfill the law. Jesus is the personification of love and as you read today, you will see that love fulfills all aspects of the law. The fulfillment of the law requires taking the law a step further so that we don’t follow it for the sake of the law, but we follow it for the sake of love. For example, in Matthew 5:21 – 22, Jesus explains how the 6th commandment should be fulfilled with love:
"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.”
Just being angry is enough to have sin in your heart. Jesus taught that anger must be replaced with love and forgiveness. Jesus is just as interested in the condition of our hearts as he is in our actions.
At the end of chapter 5, Jesus refers to Leviticus 19:18 which says:
“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself.”
Jesus explains that this law is to be fulfilled with love in Matthew 5:44:
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
Quite frankly, some people are just hard to love, but Jesus commands us to be intentional about loving EVERYONE. We hate people for a lot of reasons - because of their skin color or their sexual preference; because they've mistreated or abused us in some way; because they don't have the same religious or political beliefs as we do; sometimes we even hate others because we are jealous of them.
What Jesus is asking might sound pretty impossible - and without Christ, it is. With Him, however, all things are made possible. So as you read today’s passage, think about how applying love to the Old Testament law allows it to be filled. Think about the areas in your heart where the law of love is not present. Ask God to get involved in your endeavor to use love as a fulfillment of the law. Ask him to nurture a desire in you; to build a strength in you; and to develop a heart in you that produces actions that demonstrate God’s love.
Today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus encouraged and instructed believers about important issues like witnessing, obedience, prophecy, anger, lust, divorce, integrity, retaliation, loving our enemies, caring for the poor, prayer, fasting, money, criticizing others, going to heaven, servanthood, and faith. As you read today’s passage, keep in mind what Jesus says in Matthew 5:17 - that He came to fulfill the law. Jesus is the personification of love and as you read today, you will see that love fulfills all aspects of the law. The fulfillment of the law requires taking the law a step further so that we don’t follow it for the sake of the law, but we follow it for the sake of love. For example, in Matthew 5:21 – 22, Jesus explains how the 6th commandment should be fulfilled with love:
"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.”
Just being angry is enough to have sin in your heart. Jesus taught that anger must be replaced with love and forgiveness. Jesus is just as interested in the condition of our hearts as he is in our actions.
At the end of chapter 5, Jesus refers to Leviticus 19:18 which says:
“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself.”
Jesus explains that this law is to be fulfilled with love in Matthew 5:44:
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
Quite frankly, some people are just hard to love, but Jesus commands us to be intentional about loving EVERYONE. We hate people for a lot of reasons - because of their skin color or their sexual preference; because they've mistreated or abused us in some way; because they don't have the same religious or political beliefs as we do; sometimes we even hate others because we are jealous of them.
What Jesus is asking might sound pretty impossible - and without Christ, it is. With Him, however, all things are made possible. So as you read today’s passage, think about how applying love to the Old Testament law allows it to be filled. Think about the areas in your heart where the law of love is not present. Ask God to get involved in your endeavor to use love as a fulfillment of the law. Ask him to nurture a desire in you; to build a strength in you; and to develop a heart in you that produces actions that demonstrate God’s love.
Today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe
Monday, October 11, 2010
Matthew 12, Mark 3, Luke 6
Todays passage: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%2012,%20mark%203,%20luke%206&version=NIV
Today, I’d like us to focus on Luke 6:1-11. In this passage, Jesus was being put under a microscope by the Pharisees, a sect among the Jews who were known for a strict and formal observance of the rituals, traditions and ceremonies of Jewish law. Twice in this passage, they accused Jesus of breaking the laws regarding the observance of the Sabbath: first, because his disciples harvested corn in order that they might eat, and second, because Jesus did the work of healing on the Sabbath.
A much more recent example of this kind of thinking occurred in the early 90’s. Three apartments in an Orthodox neighborhood in Israel burned to the ground while the rabbi tried to decide whether or not to call in the fire department. Apparently, observant Jews are forbidden to use a phone on the Sabbath because doing so would break an electrical current, which is considered a form of work.
Strict observance of ritual and tradition does not allow for mercy and grace. What God desires is mercy, not sacrifice as we see in Hosea 6:6. Kindness and love to others is more important than religious rituals as we see in Isaiah 58. The Pharisees were so stuck on the letter of the law that they were filled with rage and they plotted to kill Jesus. Their hearts were so full of condemnation and judgment that there was no room left for mercy and love. Their focus on the letter of the law caused them to miss the beauty of a miraculous healing! They should have been celebrating the glory of God, but instead they were filled with rage. They missed out on an amazing opportunity for authentic worship!
Take some time to search your heart. Has legalism gotten in the way of love? Have you ever spent your worship time criticizing others? Has your heart ever been filled with judgment toward another who is on a different path in their journey of sanctification? Ask God to help you replace that criticism with his mercy and love. Ask him to fill your heart with compassion.
Today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe
Today, I’d like us to focus on Luke 6:1-11. In this passage, Jesus was being put under a microscope by the Pharisees, a sect among the Jews who were known for a strict and formal observance of the rituals, traditions and ceremonies of Jewish law. Twice in this passage, they accused Jesus of breaking the laws regarding the observance of the Sabbath: first, because his disciples harvested corn in order that they might eat, and second, because Jesus did the work of healing on the Sabbath.
A much more recent example of this kind of thinking occurred in the early 90’s. Three apartments in an Orthodox neighborhood in Israel burned to the ground while the rabbi tried to decide whether or not to call in the fire department. Apparently, observant Jews are forbidden to use a phone on the Sabbath because doing so would break an electrical current, which is considered a form of work.
Strict observance of ritual and tradition does not allow for mercy and grace. What God desires is mercy, not sacrifice as we see in Hosea 6:6. Kindness and love to others is more important than religious rituals as we see in Isaiah 58. The Pharisees were so stuck on the letter of the law that they were filled with rage and they plotted to kill Jesus. Their hearts were so full of condemnation and judgment that there was no room left for mercy and love. Their focus on the letter of the law caused them to miss the beauty of a miraculous healing! They should have been celebrating the glory of God, but instead they were filled with rage. They missed out on an amazing opportunity for authentic worship!
Take some time to search your heart. Has legalism gotten in the way of love? Have you ever spent your worship time criticizing others? Has your heart ever been filled with judgment toward another who is on a different path in their journey of sanctification? Ask God to help you replace that criticism with his mercy and love. Ask him to fill your heart with compassion.
Today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe
John 5
Todays passage: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%205&version=NIV
John is different from the other disciples. He is the beloved one who was given glimpses into the distant past and the distant future. He saw the Love of God before time began and was given words to speak about The Word. He understood that God is Love, Light, and Life as the 1 John sermon series asks us to remember. He saw the future when time itself will be rolled up and the new reality comes into being.
John saw Jesus in the past when the Word was with God, Jesus in the future when the Omega fully restores the plan of the Father for His children, and he saw Jesus in his present when the Word spoke words of life in the flesh to a dying world. Each glimpse of Jesus shows us that God dictates how we are to come to Him and that we must accept the gift He gives and then act upon that gift.
In the first half of John 5, we see another healing miracle where Jesus cuts to the heart of the matter and asks the man if he wants to be made well and then commands the man to act upon that desire. Jesus provided the power to heal but the man had to believe Jesus at His word. Later, Jesus told the man that although he was now physically well that there was a spiritual battle as well. We must always remember that there is not just a single reality to our current actions, but that there are eternal ramifications as well.
Another key item in this chapter must not be overlooked. Here we see that Jesus claims to be God the Son and that He clearly claims that He is equal with God and this is the reason why the Jews sought to kill Him. Jesus is not just a good man. He is not just a good teacher. He is the Son of God, the Word of God, is God, and that His Voice provides life to all who are willing to believe. The Son has been given tasks by the Father which require the Son to listen to the Father and exercise the authority given to Him by the Father. We will never fully understand this divine paradox of the Trinity and how God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit work together in our lives, but we have been granted sufficient revelation in the Scripture to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.
The Father gives life to us via the Son and we must listen to the words of Jesus, obey His commandments, and accept the judgment of the Son. Are we willing to listen and seek the will of the Father as Jesus sought the will of the Father? Will our works be a testimony to our belief in Christ as the works of Jesus bore testimony to the work of the Father?
God continually pursues us and woes us. He first loved us and sent His Son to demonstrate that love. Does His Love abide in us and does it bear fruit? These questions will come up time and time again in the Gospel of John, the letters of John, and the final book of the Bible, Revelation. We must rest at the bosom of Jesus and learn what it means to be called a beloved disciple as John rested, listened, and loved.
Todays post submitted by Joseph Konieczka
John is different from the other disciples. He is the beloved one who was given glimpses into the distant past and the distant future. He saw the Love of God before time began and was given words to speak about The Word. He understood that God is Love, Light, and Life as the 1 John sermon series asks us to remember. He saw the future when time itself will be rolled up and the new reality comes into being.
John saw Jesus in the past when the Word was with God, Jesus in the future when the Omega fully restores the plan of the Father for His children, and he saw Jesus in his present when the Word spoke words of life in the flesh to a dying world. Each glimpse of Jesus shows us that God dictates how we are to come to Him and that we must accept the gift He gives and then act upon that gift.
In the first half of John 5, we see another healing miracle where Jesus cuts to the heart of the matter and asks the man if he wants to be made well and then commands the man to act upon that desire. Jesus provided the power to heal but the man had to believe Jesus at His word. Later, Jesus told the man that although he was now physically well that there was a spiritual battle as well. We must always remember that there is not just a single reality to our current actions, but that there are eternal ramifications as well.
Another key item in this chapter must not be overlooked. Here we see that Jesus claims to be God the Son and that He clearly claims that He is equal with God and this is the reason why the Jews sought to kill Him. Jesus is not just a good man. He is not just a good teacher. He is the Son of God, the Word of God, is God, and that His Voice provides life to all who are willing to believe. The Son has been given tasks by the Father which require the Son to listen to the Father and exercise the authority given to Him by the Father. We will never fully understand this divine paradox of the Trinity and how God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit work together in our lives, but we have been granted sufficient revelation in the Scripture to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.
The Father gives life to us via the Son and we must listen to the words of Jesus, obey His commandments, and accept the judgment of the Son. Are we willing to listen and seek the will of the Father as Jesus sought the will of the Father? Will our works be a testimony to our belief in Christ as the works of Jesus bore testimony to the work of the Father?
God continually pursues us and woes us. He first loved us and sent His Son to demonstrate that love. Does His Love abide in us and does it bear fruit? These questions will come up time and time again in the Gospel of John, the letters of John, and the final book of the Bible, Revelation. We must rest at the bosom of Jesus and learn what it means to be called a beloved disciple as John rested, listened, and loved.
Todays post submitted by Joseph Konieczka
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Who are you in this story?
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%208,%20Mark%202&version=NIV
Today I’d like for us to focus on the story of Jesus calling Levi in Mark 2:13-17. Hear we find Jesus doing exactly what defines his very character and makes him look so very different from the other religious leaders of the time. He is eating with ‘sinners’. It is in this story (vs. 17) that we hear the words that are so beautiful because they are Jesus open invitation for us to eat with him – “I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinners”.
As I read this story today, I have shoes on my mind - maybe since I’m writing after I’ve been shopping and I’m such a girl! Or maybe because as I read the story I wondered whose shoes I was wearing the story – those of sinner? Or have I put myself in the shoes of the Pharisee? And could it be that Jesus might allow me to try on his shoes? So I ask you this - Whose shoes do you see yourself wearing in this story?
I think certainly we can and all do answer that we wear the shoes of the sinner, for we belong at the table of the sinners. But perhaps you find yourself in the sinner’s shoes and have not yet come to the table. The shoes you wear are comfortable, but they are old, and ugly, and they are beginning to smell. If you wear these shoes, you need to know today that Christ invites you to come to his table, to remove your shoes and allow him to wash your feet. He doesn’t ask you to clean up first, he just says come. Nothing you have or will do make you unfit for his table. Maybe I need to say that again – there is NOTHING that will keep Jesus from welcoming you to his table. Indeed, he says, “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” – Revelations 3:20.
Do you know what I love most about the fact that Jesus was eating with the sinners? Eating together was considered at His time to be a sign of friendship. Not only does Jesus invite you to his table, but he invites you as a friend. In fact, he came for that very purpose – to call the sinners. He invites you to eat with him and into a friendship that expects nothing, but instead offers unconditional love and acceptance. I wonder if that this very fact is why it’s hard for us to accept the invitation – because it is so amazing and unheard of. Human relationships almost always come with conditions. Relationship with Christ comes with none. He doesn’t expect us to bring anything to the meal, but offers to fill us completely on the only thing that satisfies – His love. We only must accept the invitation.
But perhaps your come to the table and have be eating with the Lord for a long while now. Could it be that Jesus is calling you to try on his shoes? They are humble work shoes – built to go the distance. They are the shoes of one who plays the role of the courier – one who will go out and invite sinners to the table. They are the shoes of one who will deliver the message of the gospel to those who have not heard. Is it time to put on the shoes of Jesus and through his power go out?
And I think we all have to check with ourselves to be certain we are wearing shoes at all. Maybe you’ve sat at the table, got comfortable, took your shoes off and then walked away from the table without any. Maybe you are like the Pharisees and you’ve been walking around without shoes because you quite frankly don’t see the need for them. Life is a beach, the ocean is your world, and your toes are in the sand. But maybe you forget that there are dangerous things hiding in the sand, that if you step but one foot off of the beach the pavement is so hot it will fry your feet. And foolishly you’ve forgotten that the winter is coming. Perhaps it is time to recognize your need for shoes and return to the table. Perhaps it is time to accept the invitation to stand firm with feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace (Eph. 6:15).
The most beautiful part about this whole story is it doesn’t matter which pair of shoes you find yourself wearing today – the invitation is open for you. Whether you are coming to the table for the first time, or getting ready to accept the challenge to invite others to come, or recognizing that the table of sinners is where you still belong, the invitation is always open.
I pray, sweet friends, that if you have not accepted the invitation to sit at the table with Jesus, that today would be the day that you do. I pray for those of us who have accepted the invitation, that we would welcome and embrace those who walk into the church to sit at the table with us. I pray that we would put an arm around them, eat with them, and call them friend as Jesus did. Lest we should forget, we share the table with them.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit (the spiritually needy), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn (over their sins), for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek (humble), for they will inherit the earth.” – Matthew 5:3-5
Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels. The parenthesis in the last scripture are mine, added to aid in understanding/interpretation.
Today I’d like for us to focus on the story of Jesus calling Levi in Mark 2:13-17. Hear we find Jesus doing exactly what defines his very character and makes him look so very different from the other religious leaders of the time. He is eating with ‘sinners’. It is in this story (vs. 17) that we hear the words that are so beautiful because they are Jesus open invitation for us to eat with him – “I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinners”.
As I read this story today, I have shoes on my mind - maybe since I’m writing after I’ve been shopping and I’m such a girl! Or maybe because as I read the story I wondered whose shoes I was wearing the story – those of sinner? Or have I put myself in the shoes of the Pharisee? And could it be that Jesus might allow me to try on his shoes? So I ask you this - Whose shoes do you see yourself wearing in this story?
I think certainly we can and all do answer that we wear the shoes of the sinner, for we belong at the table of the sinners. But perhaps you find yourself in the sinner’s shoes and have not yet come to the table. The shoes you wear are comfortable, but they are old, and ugly, and they are beginning to smell. If you wear these shoes, you need to know today that Christ invites you to come to his table, to remove your shoes and allow him to wash your feet. He doesn’t ask you to clean up first, he just says come. Nothing you have or will do make you unfit for his table. Maybe I need to say that again – there is NOTHING that will keep Jesus from welcoming you to his table. Indeed, he says, “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” – Revelations 3:20.
Do you know what I love most about the fact that Jesus was eating with the sinners? Eating together was considered at His time to be a sign of friendship. Not only does Jesus invite you to his table, but he invites you as a friend. In fact, he came for that very purpose – to call the sinners. He invites you to eat with him and into a friendship that expects nothing, but instead offers unconditional love and acceptance. I wonder if that this very fact is why it’s hard for us to accept the invitation – because it is so amazing and unheard of. Human relationships almost always come with conditions. Relationship with Christ comes with none. He doesn’t expect us to bring anything to the meal, but offers to fill us completely on the only thing that satisfies – His love. We only must accept the invitation.
But perhaps your come to the table and have be eating with the Lord for a long while now. Could it be that Jesus is calling you to try on his shoes? They are humble work shoes – built to go the distance. They are the shoes of one who plays the role of the courier – one who will go out and invite sinners to the table. They are the shoes of one who will deliver the message of the gospel to those who have not heard. Is it time to put on the shoes of Jesus and through his power go out?
And I think we all have to check with ourselves to be certain we are wearing shoes at all. Maybe you’ve sat at the table, got comfortable, took your shoes off and then walked away from the table without any. Maybe you are like the Pharisees and you’ve been walking around without shoes because you quite frankly don’t see the need for them. Life is a beach, the ocean is your world, and your toes are in the sand. But maybe you forget that there are dangerous things hiding in the sand, that if you step but one foot off of the beach the pavement is so hot it will fry your feet. And foolishly you’ve forgotten that the winter is coming. Perhaps it is time to recognize your need for shoes and return to the table. Perhaps it is time to accept the invitation to stand firm with feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace (Eph. 6:15).
The most beautiful part about this whole story is it doesn’t matter which pair of shoes you find yourself wearing today – the invitation is open for you. Whether you are coming to the table for the first time, or getting ready to accept the challenge to invite others to come, or recognizing that the table of sinners is where you still belong, the invitation is always open.
I pray, sweet friends, that if you have not accepted the invitation to sit at the table with Jesus, that today would be the day that you do. I pray for those of us who have accepted the invitation, that we would welcome and embrace those who walk into the church to sit at the table with us. I pray that we would put an arm around them, eat with them, and call them friend as Jesus did. Lest we should forget, we share the table with them.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit (the spiritually needy), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn (over their sins), for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek (humble), for they will inherit the earth.” – Matthew 5:3-5
Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels. The parenthesis in the last scripture are mine, added to aid in understanding/interpretation.
Taking Jesus at His Word
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%202-4&version=NIV
Today we read John 2-4. There are so many significant events that occur in these two chapters. We read of Jesus’ first miracle – the changing of water into wine. We see his zeal for his Father’s house, his encounter with Nicodemus where one of the most quoted passages of scripture – John 3:16 – is spoken. We hear John the Baptist’s testimony about the truth of Jesus Christ, read about his encounter with the Samaritan woman and how many Samaritans came to belief because of this woman’s testimony. And so there is much that I could write about. But what I’d like to focus on comes just at the end of our reading in John 4:43-54.
Here we read about Jesus returning to Galilee, his own country. The general attitude of those in Galilee was one of unbelief. They were very interested in the signs and wanders performed by Jesus, but not interested in him as the Messiah. One could say that they wanted Jesus for what he could do for them or give them, and not as Lord of their lives.
I wonder if, as God looks at the current state of the church in America, he sees a land filled with people who want a God that will serve them rather than to serve the living God. For that matter, I wonder how often our own faith reflects that of the Galileans. I know mine often has and it was very convicting when I realized the type of faith on which I was operating.
For years, I wanted God to do what I was asking him to do in my life so that then I would believe he truly was the God he said he was. I had an attitude of ‘if you will do this, God, then I will know how much you love me’ – as if God had to prove his love for me. Sadly, I was not willing to simply take God at his word. Certainly God’s word tells me over and over again how richly, abundantly, sacrificially, compassionately and passionately God’s love is for me. But for years I wanted to have a faith in the seen, not in the unseen – which really is no faith at all.
That is why the story of the royal official who sought healing for his son resonates so much with me. It was part of my shift of faith, for when I read it several years ago, my heart yearned to have a faith like his – one that took God at His word. And so that became my prayer. Let’s take a closer look at this story.
Among an attitude of disinterest in Jesus as Lord and Savior and a people who wanted only signs and wonders, we find a royal official for whom this is not so. Yes, he was seeking healing for his son, but he expected this healing because he already believed Jesus could heal and would heal. He came with belief – and he left with belief, before he saw any sign that Jesus would do what he asked.
My favorite words – the words that pierced me so deeply are in verse 50. After Jesus declares that his son would live, we read that, “The man took Jesus at his word and departed.” When I read that I wrote next to it, ‘Lord, I want a faith like that’. I want a faith that simple takes Jesus at his word.
See, if that had been me, I would have said something like, ‘Okay, thanks Lord. But can you tell me where you’ll be staying tonight in case it doesn’t work? Or can I have you cell phone number just in case he get’s sick again?’
But nope – that’s not how this man reacted. With or rock-star confidence he turns around and walks away. He did not need the benefit of a sign to make him believe. Indeed, faith based on signs and miracles is not true faith, which is why Jesus discourages it. It fails to honor God. But this man honored God because it was Jesus’ word that formed the man’s belief. It wasn’t until the next day as he neared home (the hike from Capernaum to Cana was about 20 miles) that he learned his son got well at the very time that Jesus had said that he would.
I want that type of faith. It’s the kind of faith that says, ‘the word of Christ is sufficient’. What is more miraculous about this man’s faith is that he barely knew Jesus – perhaps not at all. Yet he trusted him implicitly. We have the benefit of the full and complete revealed word of God. We have the ability to know Jesus personally. We have story after story of examples of how God has moved in the lives of others and in our own. And yet, I wonder if we trust the words of Jesus implicitly. I know there was a time I did not. I know that today, I am much closer to having that type of faith – primarily because I’ve been praying for several years now that God would build it in me – and his has and will continue this work he has started. He can and will do the same for you – you must simply ask.
Lastly, there are some simple yet essential truths as we look at this man’s approach to Jesus and his belief that I believe we can apply to our own life of faith.
First, he approached Jesus with expectation and asked boldly for what he needed. It’s interesting, because if he was a royal official, we was likely roman – a gentile. And yet, being outside of God’s family, he still approaches boldly. We, as member of God’s family, are told that we can and should approach the throne of grace with freedom and confidence so that we might receive the help that we need (Hebrews 4:16). Indeed, we are not to approach as hopeful beggars, but as confident children of the King.
Secondly, be took Jesus at his word. If we are to take Jesus at his word, we must know his word. We must know what he has said, what he has promised, we must know – as the official did – his reputation for being faithful to all of his promises and loving to all he has made (Psalm 146) and the we must put our weight fully down on the truth of God’s word.
He walked with confidence in Jesus word with no evidence. We also can walk with confidence that although we cannot see God working, he promises that he is. God’s word says that we are to put our faith not in things that are seen, but in things that are unseen – because that is what faith is. It is that kind of faith that honors God. Indeed, Jesus has declared, “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” – John 20:29.
My precious friends, I pray that God would build in each of us a faith that approaches the throne of faith with boldness and confidence, that takes God at his word and trusts not in things we can see, but in the unseen. I pray that each of us would hear the words of God, believe them, and turn around and walk in faith.
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” – Hebrews 11:1
God’s blessings to you, sweet friends.
Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels
Today we read John 2-4. There are so many significant events that occur in these two chapters. We read of Jesus’ first miracle – the changing of water into wine. We see his zeal for his Father’s house, his encounter with Nicodemus where one of the most quoted passages of scripture – John 3:16 – is spoken. We hear John the Baptist’s testimony about the truth of Jesus Christ, read about his encounter with the Samaritan woman and how many Samaritans came to belief because of this woman’s testimony. And so there is much that I could write about. But what I’d like to focus on comes just at the end of our reading in John 4:43-54.
Here we read about Jesus returning to Galilee, his own country. The general attitude of those in Galilee was one of unbelief. They were very interested in the signs and wanders performed by Jesus, but not interested in him as the Messiah. One could say that they wanted Jesus for what he could do for them or give them, and not as Lord of their lives.
I wonder if, as God looks at the current state of the church in America, he sees a land filled with people who want a God that will serve them rather than to serve the living God. For that matter, I wonder how often our own faith reflects that of the Galileans. I know mine often has and it was very convicting when I realized the type of faith on which I was operating.
For years, I wanted God to do what I was asking him to do in my life so that then I would believe he truly was the God he said he was. I had an attitude of ‘if you will do this, God, then I will know how much you love me’ – as if God had to prove his love for me. Sadly, I was not willing to simply take God at his word. Certainly God’s word tells me over and over again how richly, abundantly, sacrificially, compassionately and passionately God’s love is for me. But for years I wanted to have a faith in the seen, not in the unseen – which really is no faith at all.
That is why the story of the royal official who sought healing for his son resonates so much with me. It was part of my shift of faith, for when I read it several years ago, my heart yearned to have a faith like his – one that took God at His word. And so that became my prayer. Let’s take a closer look at this story.
Among an attitude of disinterest in Jesus as Lord and Savior and a people who wanted only signs and wonders, we find a royal official for whom this is not so. Yes, he was seeking healing for his son, but he expected this healing because he already believed Jesus could heal and would heal. He came with belief – and he left with belief, before he saw any sign that Jesus would do what he asked.
My favorite words – the words that pierced me so deeply are in verse 50. After Jesus declares that his son would live, we read that, “The man took Jesus at his word and departed.” When I read that I wrote next to it, ‘Lord, I want a faith like that’. I want a faith that simple takes Jesus at his word.
See, if that had been me, I would have said something like, ‘Okay, thanks Lord. But can you tell me where you’ll be staying tonight in case it doesn’t work? Or can I have you cell phone number just in case he get’s sick again?’
But nope – that’s not how this man reacted. With or rock-star confidence he turns around and walks away. He did not need the benefit of a sign to make him believe. Indeed, faith based on signs and miracles is not true faith, which is why Jesus discourages it. It fails to honor God. But this man honored God because it was Jesus’ word that formed the man’s belief. It wasn’t until the next day as he neared home (the hike from Capernaum to Cana was about 20 miles) that he learned his son got well at the very time that Jesus had said that he would.
I want that type of faith. It’s the kind of faith that says, ‘the word of Christ is sufficient’. What is more miraculous about this man’s faith is that he barely knew Jesus – perhaps not at all. Yet he trusted him implicitly. We have the benefit of the full and complete revealed word of God. We have the ability to know Jesus personally. We have story after story of examples of how God has moved in the lives of others and in our own. And yet, I wonder if we trust the words of Jesus implicitly. I know there was a time I did not. I know that today, I am much closer to having that type of faith – primarily because I’ve been praying for several years now that God would build it in me – and his has and will continue this work he has started. He can and will do the same for you – you must simply ask.
Lastly, there are some simple yet essential truths as we look at this man’s approach to Jesus and his belief that I believe we can apply to our own life of faith.
First, he approached Jesus with expectation and asked boldly for what he needed. It’s interesting, because if he was a royal official, we was likely roman – a gentile. And yet, being outside of God’s family, he still approaches boldly. We, as member of God’s family, are told that we can and should approach the throne of grace with freedom and confidence so that we might receive the help that we need (Hebrews 4:16). Indeed, we are not to approach as hopeful beggars, but as confident children of the King.
Secondly, be took Jesus at his word. If we are to take Jesus at his word, we must know his word. We must know what he has said, what he has promised, we must know – as the official did – his reputation for being faithful to all of his promises and loving to all he has made (Psalm 146) and the we must put our weight fully down on the truth of God’s word.
He walked with confidence in Jesus word with no evidence. We also can walk with confidence that although we cannot see God working, he promises that he is. God’s word says that we are to put our faith not in things that are seen, but in things that are unseen – because that is what faith is. It is that kind of faith that honors God. Indeed, Jesus has declared, “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” – John 20:29.
My precious friends, I pray that God would build in each of us a faith that approaches the throne of faith with boldness and confidence, that takes God at his word and trusts not in things we can see, but in the unseen. I pray that each of us would hear the words of God, believe them, and turn around and walk in faith.
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” – Hebrews 11:1
God’s blessings to you, sweet friends.
Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels
Friday, October 8, 2010
Matthew 4, Luke 4-5
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%204,%20Luke%204-5&version=ESV
Isaiah 4:16-22: "And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. [17] And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
[18] “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
[19] to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”
[20] And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. [21] And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” [22] And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph's son?”
This is one of my favorite stories from the life of Jesus. He is just at the beginning of his public ministry. He has come to Nazareth, and he reads from the scroll of Isaiah. And what words he reads.
To proclaim liberty to the captives, recovery of sight, set liberty to those who are oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. In Jesus' time these were promises of both physical and spiritual healing. Today, Jesus still offers this healing. In our time, most would say that Jesus offers first and foremost spiritual healing. Physical healing may come, but even Paul had physical ailments all though his life, so of this, we can not be certain. In heaven however, all will be healed both physically and spiritually. (See Revelation 21:1-4)
Can you imagine what the Jews thought when he handed them the scroll and he said today this Scripture has been fulfilled? Also, note that Jesus is quoting from Isaiah 61:1-2. He does not quote the end of verse 2, which reads:
"and the day of vengeance of our God"
Why? Because Jesus came the first time to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). But when he comes the next time, it will be a time in which he rectifies the wrongs of this world and he judges the world.
The picture of Revelation 19:11-16 is another favorite of mine of Jesus:
[11] Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. [12] His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. [13] He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. [14] And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. [15] From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. [16] On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
(Revelation 19:11-16 ESV)
Friends, Jesus freely offers his salvation to us. For those who are believers, live a life of obedience and thankfulness to him for what he has done for us. For those who are unbelievers, I urge you to consider the claims of Jesus. He is the living God and he wants to save you from your sins. Place your faith in him. You will not be disappointed. (Romans 10:11)
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
Isaiah 4:16-22: "And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. [17] And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
[18] “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
[19] to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”
[20] And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. [21] And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” [22] And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph's son?”
This is one of my favorite stories from the life of Jesus. He is just at the beginning of his public ministry. He has come to Nazareth, and he reads from the scroll of Isaiah. And what words he reads.
To proclaim liberty to the captives, recovery of sight, set liberty to those who are oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. In Jesus' time these were promises of both physical and spiritual healing. Today, Jesus still offers this healing. In our time, most would say that Jesus offers first and foremost spiritual healing. Physical healing may come, but even Paul had physical ailments all though his life, so of this, we can not be certain. In heaven however, all will be healed both physically and spiritually. (See Revelation 21:1-4)
Can you imagine what the Jews thought when he handed them the scroll and he said today this Scripture has been fulfilled? Also, note that Jesus is quoting from Isaiah 61:1-2. He does not quote the end of verse 2, which reads:
"and the day of vengeance of our God"
Why? Because Jesus came the first time to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). But when he comes the next time, it will be a time in which he rectifies the wrongs of this world and he judges the world.
The picture of Revelation 19:11-16 is another favorite of mine of Jesus:
[11] Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. [12] His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. [13] He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. [14] And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. [15] From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. [16] On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
(Revelation 19:11-16 ESV)
Friends, Jesus freely offers his salvation to us. For those who are believers, live a life of obedience and thankfulness to him for what he has done for us. For those who are unbelievers, I urge you to consider the claims of Jesus. He is the living God and he wants to save you from your sins. Place your faith in him. You will not be disappointed. (Romans 10:11)
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Matthew 3, Mark 1, Luke 3
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%203,%20Mark%201,%20Luke%203&version=ESV
Mark 1:14-15 "14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand;AH)"> repent and believe in the gospel."
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are known as the Synoptic Gospels. They have similarities, and yet are different as well. Matthew was written to a Jewish audience. Mark was written to more of a Roman audience, and Luke was written to more of a Gentile audience.
But that being said, they were also intended and written for us as well. In both Matthew and Luke there are genealogies of Jesus's birth. In Mark there is not.
The Gospel of Mark is a Gospel of action. Beginning in chapter 1, we read that the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the gospel.
Friends, this is how we are to continue to live. We need to keep on repenting and keep on believing in the Gospel. We repent of our sins and place our faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ at the beginning of our new life in Christ.
Yet, even though we are new creations in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17) we still sin. And when we sin, we need to repent of the sin and continue to believe in Jesus. No sin is to big to be covered by the Gospel.
Does this mean we should sin big, because we have a big Gospel that will cover those sins?
I think Jesus says it best:
"You are my friends if you do what I command you." (John 15:14)
Believe in Jesus and what He did for you on the cross. Don't ever take your eyes off the cross. Live a life of continual repentance and faith. This is the life of the Christian.
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
Mark 1:14-15 "14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand;AH)"> repent and believe in the gospel."
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are known as the Synoptic Gospels. They have similarities, and yet are different as well. Matthew was written to a Jewish audience. Mark was written to more of a Roman audience, and Luke was written to more of a Gentile audience.
But that being said, they were also intended and written for us as well. In both Matthew and Luke there are genealogies of Jesus's birth. In Mark there is not.
The Gospel of Mark is a Gospel of action. Beginning in chapter 1, we read that the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the gospel.
Friends, this is how we are to continue to live. We need to keep on repenting and keep on believing in the Gospel. We repent of our sins and place our faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ at the beginning of our new life in Christ.
Yet, even though we are new creations in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17) we still sin. And when we sin, we need to repent of the sin and continue to believe in Jesus. No sin is to big to be covered by the Gospel.
Does this mean we should sin big, because we have a big Gospel that will cover those sins?
I think Jesus says it best:
"You are my friends if you do what I command you." (John 15:14)
Believe in Jesus and what He did for you on the cross. Don't ever take your eyes off the cross. Live a life of continual repentance and faith. This is the life of the Christian.
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
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