http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelations%206-11&version=NIV
Last night we saw the ending of a year. Many people gather together on December
31st to celebrate. However, it's not the ending that is celebrated, but rather the beginning of a new year. A year that holds new hope, new possibilities, things that are unseen yet to come.
As we read through the book of Revelation, we also consider endings - the ending of our journey together through the Bible. But more importantly, the end of time. The book of Revelation is sometimes difficult to understand and brings many questions. Exactly how will the end times look? Will we are Christians go through much suffering before Christ's return, or will we be swept up and spared experiencing some of the events described in Revelation. Is the book even meant to be taken literally - is it prophetic? When will Christ return? These are questions to which we have no answers.
But there is one thing for certain and worthy of celebration - Revelation and the end of the world do not represent an ending - rather they represent a beginning. They are not a beginning of new hope or new possibilities, but of all things made new. Hope will be fulfilled in eternity with Christ through whom all things have been made possible.
There will be a day, my friends, when Christ will return - when we will reign in Heaven and on earth. What a day of celebration that will be. I long for that day because I know that no matter what happens in my life in this coming year - perhaps things hoped for, maybe desires of my heart fulfilled - nothing can or will compare to the fulfillment of all hope, of all desires. Nothing can compare to living in the presence of my living God for eternity - to gaze upon his face and his glory - to bask in his perfect love. I cannot wait to celebrate that day with you, when we seen the evidence of things hoped for - a day when the unseen becomes seen and will remain for all eternity. There are many things unknown about that day, but I am certain that I will see you there, and that together we worship at the throne of Jesus Christ, praising him and saying:
"The Kingdome of the world has become the king of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will regin for ever and ever." - Revelation 11:15
The Lord Reigns, precious ones, now and forever. Celebrate!
Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels
Friday, December 31, 2010
Revelation 1-5
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%201-5&version=ESV
Revelation 3:15-16 "I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth."
God would want you on fire for Him or cold against Him than you being in the middle and lukewarm, right? Doesn't the above passage state this? Let's take a closer look.
Laodecia was between 2 cities, Hierapolis to the north and Colossae to the southeast.
"In Hierapolis, six miles to the north, there was some famous springs, hot springs. In fact, they were one of the most well-known and popular places for healing. The water was hot and you went there and sat in that water and it had therapeutic power. It is still used today. Hierapolis had hot water and that hot water was therapeutic.
In Colossae, ten miles south and east, there was a cold stream. We learned that the stream was perennially running and perennially cold like typical water that flows from the high mountains. That water was thirst quenching. That water was famous because of its cool, clear character.
They didn't have the hot therapeutic water of Hierapolis and they didn't have the cold clear refreshing water of Colossae, they had the foul, dirty, tepid water that flowed for miles through an underground aqueduct. It wasn't hot and it wasn't cold. Not hot enough to relax and restore, not cool enough to refresh and quench. Laodicea couldn't provide the refreshment of Colossae, it couldn't provide the healing of Hierapolis. Its lukewarm water was absolutely useless. Any visitor who came there who wasn't used to the stuff would put it in his mouth and immediately emit it, spit it out." (From John MacCartthur : http://www.gty.org/Resources/Sermons/66-14_Laodicea--The-Lukewarm-Church-Part-1)
Keith Krell from Bible.org states, "It is unlikely that Jesus preferred hostility to half-heartedness. A better way to understand these verses is to see both “cold” and “hot” as positive terms. Cold water refreshes, hot water heals, but lukewarm water does neither."
So, the interpretation held by so many appears to be in error. By digging deeper, and understanding the context of the passage, we can learn what John meant when He wrote this to the church of Laodecia back in roughly 95 AD.
God wants us to be of use to Him. Friends as we approach 2010 I hope that you will pray to the Lord that you would be of use to Him, and not useless like the waters at Laodecia.
One way to be of use to Him, is to continually read His Word each day as you have done this year. I want to commend y'all for reading the Bible this year with us. But don't be proud of yourselves. This is only one year. You have a life time left to study God's Word. George Mueller, known for his ministry to orphans, read the Bible through over 200 times, half of these times on his knees. He said he knew of some 50,000 specific answers to prayer...requests to God alone!
How great is that? Friends, this is probably the eighth or ninth time I have read the Bible through. Each year I make a goal to read the Bible through in the coming year, in addition to studying for my small group.
I would like to share with you some reading plans for 2011:
http://www.navpress.com/dj/content.aspx?id=138
In addition, my former girl friend, and now fiancee, and I are going to read the One Year Bible NIV together this year : http://www.amazon.com/One-Year-Bible-Compact-NIV/dp/1414306415/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1293805184&sr=8-1#_
This is how I usually enjoy reading the Bible. Reading some of the Old Testament, some of the New Testament, and a Psalm and a Proverb. In this way you are daily feeding on different parts of God's Word.
We chose the Chronological Reading Plan, as it would fit best with the plan of trying to read the Bible together as a class this year.
Regardless of what plan you choose, the most important thing is to pick a plan and to continue reading the Bible through in 2011 and beyond.
If you miss a day, don't beat yourself up on it. Try to catch up if you can, or just read the day's reading in your plan. But as you grow in your knowledge of God's Word you won't want to skip a day, you will become as Peter described:
"Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good." (1 Peter 2:2-3)
Friends, you can not grow as a Christian if you do not read His Word. For so long I did not heed this truth. But by God's grace, I now long for the pure spiritual milk of His Word.
It has been an honor for me to blog with y'all this year as we have read through the Bible together. It has been challenging and very rewarding for me. I was given the honor to write on some of the greatest chapters in the Bible.
As we begin 2011 tomorrow, friends I am praying that you would seek the Lord, grow in His love, and seek to become more like Christ.
Thanks again for reading the blog with us and sharing your comments with us. May you live a life that is pleasing and glorifying to the Lord in 2011.
"The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." (Numbers 6:24-26)
Soli Deo Gloria. (which means in English "Glory to God alone")
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
Revelation 3:15-16 "I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth."
God would want you on fire for Him or cold against Him than you being in the middle and lukewarm, right? Doesn't the above passage state this? Let's take a closer look.
Laodecia was between 2 cities, Hierapolis to the north and Colossae to the southeast.
"In Hierapolis, six miles to the north, there was some famous springs, hot springs. In fact, they were one of the most well-known and popular places for healing. The water was hot and you went there and sat in that water and it had therapeutic power. It is still used today. Hierapolis had hot water and that hot water was therapeutic.
In Colossae, ten miles south and east, there was a cold stream. We learned that the stream was perennially running and perennially cold like typical water that flows from the high mountains. That water was thirst quenching. That water was famous because of its cool, clear character.
They didn't have the hot therapeutic water of Hierapolis and they didn't have the cold clear refreshing water of Colossae, they had the foul, dirty, tepid water that flowed for miles through an underground aqueduct. It wasn't hot and it wasn't cold. Not hot enough to relax and restore, not cool enough to refresh and quench. Laodicea couldn't provide the refreshment of Colossae, it couldn't provide the healing of Hierapolis. Its lukewarm water was absolutely useless. Any visitor who came there who wasn't used to the stuff would put it in his mouth and immediately emit it, spit it out." (From John MacCartthur : http://www.gty.org/Resources/Sermons/66-14_Laodicea--The-Lukewarm-Church-Part-1)
Keith Krell from Bible.org states, "It is unlikely that Jesus preferred hostility to half-heartedness. A better way to understand these verses is to see both “cold” and “hot” as positive terms. Cold water refreshes, hot water heals, but lukewarm water does neither."
So, the interpretation held by so many appears to be in error. By digging deeper, and understanding the context of the passage, we can learn what John meant when He wrote this to the church of Laodecia back in roughly 95 AD.
God wants us to be of use to Him. Friends as we approach 2010 I hope that you will pray to the Lord that you would be of use to Him, and not useless like the waters at Laodecia.
One way to be of use to Him, is to continually read His Word each day as you have done this year. I want to commend y'all for reading the Bible this year with us. But don't be proud of yourselves. This is only one year. You have a life time left to study God's Word. George Mueller, known for his ministry to orphans, read the Bible through over 200 times, half of these times on his knees. He said he knew of some 50,000 specific answers to prayer...requests to God alone!
How great is that? Friends, this is probably the eighth or ninth time I have read the Bible through. Each year I make a goal to read the Bible through in the coming year, in addition to studying for my small group.
I would like to share with you some reading plans for 2011:
http://www.navpress.com/dj/content.aspx?id=138
In addition, my former girl friend, and now fiancee, and I are going to read the One Year Bible NIV together this year : http://www.amazon.com/One-Year-Bible-Compact-NIV/dp/1414306415/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1293805184&sr=8-1#_
This is how I usually enjoy reading the Bible. Reading some of the Old Testament, some of the New Testament, and a Psalm and a Proverb. In this way you are daily feeding on different parts of God's Word.
We chose the Chronological Reading Plan, as it would fit best with the plan of trying to read the Bible together as a class this year.
Regardless of what plan you choose, the most important thing is to pick a plan and to continue reading the Bible through in 2011 and beyond.
If you miss a day, don't beat yourself up on it. Try to catch up if you can, or just read the day's reading in your plan. But as you grow in your knowledge of God's Word you won't want to skip a day, you will become as Peter described:
"Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good." (1 Peter 2:2-3)
Friends, you can not grow as a Christian if you do not read His Word. For so long I did not heed this truth. But by God's grace, I now long for the pure spiritual milk of His Word.
It has been an honor for me to blog with y'all this year as we have read through the Bible together. It has been challenging and very rewarding for me. I was given the honor to write on some of the greatest chapters in the Bible.
As we begin 2011 tomorrow, friends I am praying that you would seek the Lord, grow in His love, and seek to become more like Christ.
Thanks again for reading the blog with us and sharing your comments with us. May you live a life that is pleasing and glorifying to the Lord in 2011.
"The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." (Numbers 6:24-26)
Soli Deo Gloria. (which means in English "Glory to God alone")
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
2 John, 3 John
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20John,%203%20John&version=ESV
2 John 6-11: "And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works."
Are you loving Christ? By obeying His commandments we demonstrate our love for Christ to the world. We will not do this perfectly, as we all are sinners, but as we abide in Christ and ask that the Holy Spirit help us in obeying Christ, we should see in ourselves a more eagerness to obey Christ and pursue holiness an purity and a more eagerness to hate sin, and to avoid it and kill it in our lives at all costs.
In the Scripture quote above, I also would like to mention the verses that talk about going ahead and not abiding in the teachings of Christ. In our world today, there are so many self-help books that promote wisdom. This is man-made wisdom. There are many Christian books as well, that often times do not reflect accurately the truths of Scripture.
Now, I have read many Christian books, and I am a fan of the ones that exalt Christ and His Word. So, when doing your readings in 2011, seek out books that exalt Christ and His Word.
Read the Word first, and analyze what you have read via the lens of Scripture. In doing this, you will develop a more biblically based worldview in this culture that is immersed in post-modernism which relativizes the truth.
Thanks be to God that Jesus Christ is the truth.
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
2 John 6-11: "And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works."
Are you loving Christ? By obeying His commandments we demonstrate our love for Christ to the world. We will not do this perfectly, as we all are sinners, but as we abide in Christ and ask that the Holy Spirit help us in obeying Christ, we should see in ourselves a more eagerness to obey Christ and pursue holiness an purity and a more eagerness to hate sin, and to avoid it and kill it in our lives at all costs.
In the Scripture quote above, I also would like to mention the verses that talk about going ahead and not abiding in the teachings of Christ. In our world today, there are so many self-help books that promote wisdom. This is man-made wisdom. There are many Christian books as well, that often times do not reflect accurately the truths of Scripture.
Now, I have read many Christian books, and I am a fan of the ones that exalt Christ and His Word. So, when doing your readings in 2011, seek out books that exalt Christ and His Word.
Read the Word first, and analyze what you have read via the lens of Scripture. In doing this, you will develop a more biblically based worldview in this culture that is immersed in post-modernism which relativizes the truth.
Thanks be to God that Jesus Christ is the truth.
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
First John
Today's passage: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%201-5&version=NASB
1 John 5:12-13 “He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
How do you know if you have eternal life? What does a child of God look like? What kind of indicators are there in the life of one who walks in the Light? Here are some verses from First John that can answer those questions.
1:5 “God is Light”
1:9-10 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us” Denying that we have sin, is a denial that we need Jesus as our Savior. A child of God admits that there is sin in his life
1:7 "If we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” A child of God knows that he/she is cleansed of our sin by our Savior, Jesus Christ’s blood.
3:10 “By this the children of God are obvious and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.” We can habitually practice sin or we can habitually practice righteousness. A child of God chooses to habitually practice righteousness.
2:5-6 “but whoever keeps his Word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. by this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.” Jesus is our perfect example. He was a loving and righteous servant, who walked in obedience to God. A child of God follows in Jesus' footsteps as an obedient servant to God.
2:15 “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” God, not the spiritual and physical things of this world should have our love. He is the first love of a child of God.
3:18 “Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. We will know by this that we are of the truth.” You’ve heard the saying actions speak louder than words. A child of God shows love through actions.
3:23 "This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.” A child of God believes in the name of Jesus Christ and the power of salvation that lies in that name.
4:14-15 “We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” The child of God not only believes in the name of Jesus, but confesses that He is Savior and Lord.
The best part about being a child of God is 1 John 3:1 “See how great a love the father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God”. Have you thought much about that love? It’s a love so wide and deep and intense that it’s unfathomable. It’s a love so pure and perfect that He gave you a gift that you absolutely don’t deserve. He gave you forgiveness and mercy and grace. He snatched you out of darkness and into His Light and poured his perfect Love into you so that you might have eternal Life with Him. Think about that. It’s pretty powerful stuff. How great is the love that He lavishes on you that you are called His child. Let that sink in.
You can know that you are a child of God by looking at the evidence in your life. If you are a child of God, let the unspeakable joy that comes from that knowledge sink into the depths of your being. If you are not a child of God, admit to Him that you are a sinner and that you know that you need Him to. Tell Him you want to be His child and that you want Him to be Lord of your life. Turn your life over to Him and ask Him to guide you in displaying the characteristics of a child of God. When you pray that prayer, listen quietly as the angels rejoice because God’s eternal Kingdom family has just grown to include you!
Submitted by Kelly Coxe
1 John 5:12-13 “He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
How do you know if you have eternal life? What does a child of God look like? What kind of indicators are there in the life of one who walks in the Light? Here are some verses from First John that can answer those questions.
1:5 “God is Light”
1:9-10 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us” Denying that we have sin, is a denial that we need Jesus as our Savior. A child of God admits that there is sin in his life
1:7 "If we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” A child of God knows that he/she is cleansed of our sin by our Savior, Jesus Christ’s blood.
3:10 “By this the children of God are obvious and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.” We can habitually practice sin or we can habitually practice righteousness. A child of God chooses to habitually practice righteousness.
2:5-6 “but whoever keeps his Word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. by this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.” Jesus is our perfect example. He was a loving and righteous servant, who walked in obedience to God. A child of God follows in Jesus' footsteps as an obedient servant to God.
2:15 “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” God, not the spiritual and physical things of this world should have our love. He is the first love of a child of God.
3:18 “Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. We will know by this that we are of the truth.” You’ve heard the saying actions speak louder than words. A child of God shows love through actions.
3:23 "This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.” A child of God believes in the name of Jesus Christ and the power of salvation that lies in that name.
4:14-15 “We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” The child of God not only believes in the name of Jesus, but confesses that He is Savior and Lord.
The best part about being a child of God is 1 John 3:1 “See how great a love the father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God”. Have you thought much about that love? It’s a love so wide and deep and intense that it’s unfathomable. It’s a love so pure and perfect that He gave you a gift that you absolutely don’t deserve. He gave you forgiveness and mercy and grace. He snatched you out of darkness and into His Light and poured his perfect Love into you so that you might have eternal Life with Him. Think about that. It’s pretty powerful stuff. How great is the love that He lavishes on you that you are called His child. Let that sink in.
You can know that you are a child of God by looking at the evidence in your life. If you are a child of God, let the unspeakable joy that comes from that knowledge sink into the depths of your being. If you are not a child of God, admit to Him that you are a sinner and that you know that you need Him to. Tell Him you want to be His child and that you want Him to be Lord of your life. Turn your life over to Him and ask Him to guide you in displaying the characteristics of a child of God. When you pray that prayer, listen quietly as the angels rejoice because God’s eternal Kingdom family has just grown to include you!
Submitted by Kelly Coxe
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
2 Peter, Jude
Today's passage: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20peter%201-3;%20jude&version=NIV
Jude and Peter are calling Christians to fight in the midst of intense spiritual warfare. The attack is coming through apostates – those who abandon true biblical faith, teaching lies, twisting scripture and denying Christ as Savior.
It’s interesting that both authors give us a detailed description of the apostates, rather than a description of their false teachings. The lies and false teachings have changed over the years, but the character of the false teacher remains the same. We will often be able to tell an apostate by their character. They are ungodly, morally perverted, rebellious and corrupt. They are self seeking, arrogant speakers who deny Christ as Savior. They are flatterers, mockers, ignorant, fault finders who cause division.
These apostates teach lies and the only way to know that they are lies is to know truth. Peter and Jude both motivate us to continue to build our knowledge of true doctrine as a defense against false teaching. Satan twisted scripture in order to tempt Jesus in the wilderness, but Jesus’ knowledge of true doctrine allowed him to defend against his lies.
Jude also encourages us to defend ourselves from the apostates:
“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. (Jude 20-21).
We are to keep ourselves in the love of God. In order to keep ourselves in the love of God, we must know God. We must know who he is and what he has done and what he will do. We must build our faith and build our relationship with God. We must know that we have the promise of eternal life because of His grace, through our faith. We must know truth and defend ourselves against lies.
Do you know any apostates? We are surrounded by them – talk show hosts, authors, radio hosts, motivational speakers, movie producers, professors, and even pastors will have us believe that we that we should seek to satisfy our fleshly desires and that we don’t need a Savior or that there are multiple saviors. Like Jesus, we must arm ourselves with the knowledge of His love and saving grace in order to defend ourselves and fight the good fight.
Friends, our time of reading the Bible together is drawing near its end. I encourage you to earnestly pray for God to build your desire to continue reading his Word. Pray that you will continue seeking knowledge of Him and his love. Pray that He will guide you in your next step in studying his word. I will pray these things for each of you as well. We must remain steadfast in our defense against lies so that we do not fall prey to them.
Today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe
Jude and Peter are calling Christians to fight in the midst of intense spiritual warfare. The attack is coming through apostates – those who abandon true biblical faith, teaching lies, twisting scripture and denying Christ as Savior.
It’s interesting that both authors give us a detailed description of the apostates, rather than a description of their false teachings. The lies and false teachings have changed over the years, but the character of the false teacher remains the same. We will often be able to tell an apostate by their character. They are ungodly, morally perverted, rebellious and corrupt. They are self seeking, arrogant speakers who deny Christ as Savior. They are flatterers, mockers, ignorant, fault finders who cause division.
These apostates teach lies and the only way to know that they are lies is to know truth. Peter and Jude both motivate us to continue to build our knowledge of true doctrine as a defense against false teaching. Satan twisted scripture in order to tempt Jesus in the wilderness, but Jesus’ knowledge of true doctrine allowed him to defend against his lies.
Jude also encourages us to defend ourselves from the apostates:
“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. (Jude 20-21).
We are to keep ourselves in the love of God. In order to keep ourselves in the love of God, we must know God. We must know who he is and what he has done and what he will do. We must build our faith and build our relationship with God. We must know that we have the promise of eternal life because of His grace, through our faith. We must know truth and defend ourselves against lies.
Do you know any apostates? We are surrounded by them – talk show hosts, authors, radio hosts, motivational speakers, movie producers, professors, and even pastors will have us believe that we that we should seek to satisfy our fleshly desires and that we don’t need a Savior or that there are multiple saviors. Like Jesus, we must arm ourselves with the knowledge of His love and saving grace in order to defend ourselves and fight the good fight.
Friends, our time of reading the Bible together is drawing near its end. I encourage you to earnestly pray for God to build your desire to continue reading his Word. Pray that you will continue seeking knowledge of Him and his love. Pray that He will guide you in your next step in studying his word. I will pray these things for each of you as well. We must remain steadfast in our defense against lies so that we do not fall prey to them.
Today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe
Monday, December 27, 2010
2 Timothy
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+1&version=ESV
2 Timothy is Paul's goodbye letter of encouragement and exhortation to Timothy who has been given the task of continuing to shepherd believers into deeper fellowship with God.
3:16-17 sums up how Timothy and all of us can trust in the Bible which is our guidebook as it is God's written commandments.
"16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."
There are different ways that God's Word can influence and impact us, but there is always vibrant and fresh truth in the Bible. We only have a few more days with this guided blog, but we need to constantly come in contact with the Word or we will quickly lose sight of reality.
The Word is a powerful sword that can cleanse us from iniquity as it draws us closer to Christ and equip us for working out our salvation each and every day. God's Word is living and alive and is given to us so that we can live an abundant life based on faith and not on fear.
As we look forward to 2011, we all must evaluate our lives and see if we are aligning with the Word or the world. What are we allowing to guide us and what are we pursuing?
2 Timothy is Paul's goodbye letter of encouragement and exhortation to Timothy who has been given the task of continuing to shepherd believers into deeper fellowship with God.
3:16-17 sums up how Timothy and all of us can trust in the Bible which is our guidebook as it is God's written commandments.
"16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."
There are different ways that God's Word can influence and impact us, but there is always vibrant and fresh truth in the Bible. We only have a few more days with this guided blog, but we need to constantly come in contact with the Word or we will quickly lose sight of reality.
The Word is a powerful sword that can cleanse us from iniquity as it draws us closer to Christ and equip us for working out our salvation each and every day. God's Word is living and alive and is given to us so that we can live an abundant life based on faith and not on fear.
As we look forward to 2011, we all must evaluate our lives and see if we are aligning with the Word or the world. What are we allowing to guide us and what are we pursuing?
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Promises Laid Hold of by Faith
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2011-13&version=NIV
I absolutely love Hebrews 11 - often referred to as the "Hall of Faith". Reading it reminds me of the turn my own faith has taken over the years. For too many years I walked not be faith, but by hope. Not the kind of hope referred to in verse one, for that is a certain hope that stands on faith in a certain God. My hope was more of a 'I hope God promised this' or 'I hope I matter enough that God would do this for me', or a 'Show me the evidence so that I might have hope' type hope. But that is really no hope at all.
Over the years, though, God has refined my faith, and I've began to understand what it means to walk in the type of faith that "is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see"(Hebrews 11:1). Here are some of the things that I've learned:
Promises are laid hold of by faith. That's the bottom line. It's not about earning God's favor (I've certainly tried that). It is not about the fact that God favors certain people either. It is simply a matter of faith. The problem is that too often we are all too happy to walk by faith - as long as we can see the action. But that is not faith at all - it simply is believing what we are seeing. Faith is believing that God is moving on your behalf even if you cannot see it. Faith is taking God at his word. Faith is walking in obedience and confidence that God is a God who keeps his promises - and I assure you He is - you simply need to read Hebrews 11 to see it - and know that God is the same God yesterday, today, and forever Hebrews 13:11).
God will give you the strength to hold on to his promises if you ask. I can remember two different times when I asked God to just assure me he was working even if I couldn't see. One day I specifically asked God to help me believe he was working on my behalf on something I was waiting on. Two minutes after praying that I walked into our work room at school and one of my fellow teachers said, "Listen to this, I think it is for you", and started reading a devotional someone sent her. What she read to me was this, "I am working on your behalf, even when you cannot see what I am doing." God will give you the strength to hold on when you walk in faith.
Long delays do not make the promise less valid - rather they are part of God's perfect plan for a greater display of his glory. Consider the story of Abraham - how much more glorious for a child to be born when it seems impossible. Consider Daniel in the lion's den - how much greater the glory when he is among the lion's then if he never was thrown into the den. Consider Lazarus being raised from the dead. How much greater the glory when God creates life after the body already stinks. Indeed Jesus declared that he was glad he wasn't there before Lazarus was dead for the sake the the disciples, so that they may believe. He also said, "Did I not tell you if you believe you would see the glory of God?" (John 11:40).
My precious friends - of this I am sure and certain - God is a God who keeps his promises - they are laid hold of by faith and faith alone. And if you believe, I am absolutely certain that you will see the glory of God. I pray that you would know this also, I pray that you would seek God first in all you do, that you would come to know him so well that you can walk in faith in the unseen until the day that it becomes seen. And I pray, precious friends, that you will share your story and God's glory with all who hear what he has done for you.
Be encouraged, be blessed my precious friends.
"I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." - Psalm 27:13
Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels
I absolutely love Hebrews 11 - often referred to as the "Hall of Faith". Reading it reminds me of the turn my own faith has taken over the years. For too many years I walked not be faith, but by hope. Not the kind of hope referred to in verse one, for that is a certain hope that stands on faith in a certain God. My hope was more of a 'I hope God promised this' or 'I hope I matter enough that God would do this for me', or a 'Show me the evidence so that I might have hope' type hope. But that is really no hope at all.
Over the years, though, God has refined my faith, and I've began to understand what it means to walk in the type of faith that "is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see"(Hebrews 11:1). Here are some of the things that I've learned:
Promises are laid hold of by faith. That's the bottom line. It's not about earning God's favor (I've certainly tried that). It is not about the fact that God favors certain people either. It is simply a matter of faith. The problem is that too often we are all too happy to walk by faith - as long as we can see the action. But that is not faith at all - it simply is believing what we are seeing. Faith is believing that God is moving on your behalf even if you cannot see it. Faith is taking God at his word. Faith is walking in obedience and confidence that God is a God who keeps his promises - and I assure you He is - you simply need to read Hebrews 11 to see it - and know that God is the same God yesterday, today, and forever Hebrews 13:11).
God will give you the strength to hold on to his promises if you ask. I can remember two different times when I asked God to just assure me he was working even if I couldn't see. One day I specifically asked God to help me believe he was working on my behalf on something I was waiting on. Two minutes after praying that I walked into our work room at school and one of my fellow teachers said, "Listen to this, I think it is for you", and started reading a devotional someone sent her. What she read to me was this, "I am working on your behalf, even when you cannot see what I am doing." God will give you the strength to hold on when you walk in faith.
Long delays do not make the promise less valid - rather they are part of God's perfect plan for a greater display of his glory. Consider the story of Abraham - how much more glorious for a child to be born when it seems impossible. Consider Daniel in the lion's den - how much greater the glory when he is among the lion's then if he never was thrown into the den. Consider Lazarus being raised from the dead. How much greater the glory when God creates life after the body already stinks. Indeed Jesus declared that he was glad he wasn't there before Lazarus was dead for the sake the the disciples, so that they may believe. He also said, "Did I not tell you if you believe you would see the glory of God?" (John 11:40).
My precious friends - of this I am sure and certain - God is a God who keeps his promises - they are laid hold of by faith and faith alone. And if you believe, I am absolutely certain that you will see the glory of God. I pray that you would know this also, I pray that you would seek God first in all you do, that you would come to know him so well that you can walk in faith in the unseen until the day that it becomes seen. And I pray, precious friends, that you will share your story and God's glory with all who hear what he has done for you.
Be encouraged, be blessed my precious friends.
"I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." - Psalm 27:13
Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels
Friday, December 24, 2010
This Baby Changed It All
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%207-10&version=NIV
Last night I went to a Christmas Eve service with my family. It was a sweet service - my sister Jana sang in the praise band, we sang Silent Night by candlelight and drove home through lightly falling snow flakes. Couldn't ask for much more - I'm content with my Christmas Eve experience. But what we celebrate should not merely leave us content - it should leave us forever changed. Indeed, as so aptly proclaimed in the Christmas Eve service, "This baby changed it all". This 'baby' is not to just be celebrated at Christmas. He is Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. He is worthy of or worship, our adoration, our highest praise. Why? Because when Christ comes in, we are forever changed.
How appropriate it is that today, as we celebrate Christ's birth, we study these particular chapters in the book of Hebrews. They give us an accurate understanding of how Christ Jesus, God became flesh, stepped down in the perfect example of humility forever changed our relationship with God, our hearts, our hopes, our eternity.
Christ brought to us what Hebrews describes as "a better hope by which we draw near to God" (7:19) Perhaps the best way to describe the what changed is that grace - in the form of Christ - entered into our relationship with our Holy God. In fact, Christ made it possible for each of us to be in direct relationship with God. We not longer need a High Priest who met ancestral requirements to approach God for us. We no longer are required to make daily sacrifices to atone for our sins - but rather through Christ who is a High Priest forever, we are now each called a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God (1 Peter 2: 9). Made holy through the atoning blood of Christ, we are able to enter the presence of God. Perhaps more amazing, he in fact invites us to approach his throne - with freedom and with confidence (Ephesians 3:12)!
I'm not sure we often stop to ponder how amazing that gift is to us. Imagine not being able to have the freedom to go directly to God with your prayers? Imagine not having the Spirit of God living inside of you to guide, direct, comfort, instruct. Through Christ we read that now the Spirit of God puts God's laws directly in our minds, writes them directly on our hearts - and we become a people who are allowed to know God in a personal love-relationship - and He calls us His. Our very lives and how we live each day - are changed because of God coming down not just to live among us, but to die so that we could be made holy and his Spirit could live within us.
I encourage your as your read today, to take note of how much changes when Christ comes in. If you've read the Old Testament with us, reflect back to the laws, the regulation, the sacrificial system, to how God spoke only through prophets of his choosing. Consider how very different your relationship with God is. It requires only faith. He speaks directly to your heart. He dwells within you until the time where we dwell forever in his presence.
I thank God, on this day when we celebrate his birth, for his love for me - and you - every day. That he draws near to us the minute we draw near to him. That he not only allows us, but encourages us, and even commands us to come to him with not just our needs but also our deepest desires. I worship not the Christ child this day, but my risen and victorious Lord who goes before me in battle, supplies all that I need, is a husband and provider, a daddy God, and faithful God who fulfills all of his promises. I pray that I always stand in awe and amazement about the way he loves me, the way he speaks to me, the way blesses me, and that this Holy God would delight in calling me daughter. I pray this also for you.
Blessings precious ones and Merry Christmas! I pray that you would see and know more of God this coming year than every before - that he would rock your faith in a way you never imagine. He is, after all, the God of exceedingly abundantly more. He is, after all, the God that came down and changed everything!
Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels
Last night I went to a Christmas Eve service with my family. It was a sweet service - my sister Jana sang in the praise band, we sang Silent Night by candlelight and drove home through lightly falling snow flakes. Couldn't ask for much more - I'm content with my Christmas Eve experience. But what we celebrate should not merely leave us content - it should leave us forever changed. Indeed, as so aptly proclaimed in the Christmas Eve service, "This baby changed it all". This 'baby' is not to just be celebrated at Christmas. He is Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. He is worthy of or worship, our adoration, our highest praise. Why? Because when Christ comes in, we are forever changed.
How appropriate it is that today, as we celebrate Christ's birth, we study these particular chapters in the book of Hebrews. They give us an accurate understanding of how Christ Jesus, God became flesh, stepped down in the perfect example of humility forever changed our relationship with God, our hearts, our hopes, our eternity.
Christ brought to us what Hebrews describes as "a better hope by which we draw near to God" (7:19) Perhaps the best way to describe the what changed is that grace - in the form of Christ - entered into our relationship with our Holy God. In fact, Christ made it possible for each of us to be in direct relationship with God. We not longer need a High Priest who met ancestral requirements to approach God for us. We no longer are required to make daily sacrifices to atone for our sins - but rather through Christ who is a High Priest forever, we are now each called a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God (1 Peter 2: 9). Made holy through the atoning blood of Christ, we are able to enter the presence of God. Perhaps more amazing, he in fact invites us to approach his throne - with freedom and with confidence (Ephesians 3:12)!
I'm not sure we often stop to ponder how amazing that gift is to us. Imagine not being able to have the freedom to go directly to God with your prayers? Imagine not having the Spirit of God living inside of you to guide, direct, comfort, instruct. Through Christ we read that now the Spirit of God puts God's laws directly in our minds, writes them directly on our hearts - and we become a people who are allowed to know God in a personal love-relationship - and He calls us His. Our very lives and how we live each day - are changed because of God coming down not just to live among us, but to die so that we could be made holy and his Spirit could live within us.
I encourage your as your read today, to take note of how much changes when Christ comes in. If you've read the Old Testament with us, reflect back to the laws, the regulation, the sacrificial system, to how God spoke only through prophets of his choosing. Consider how very different your relationship with God is. It requires only faith. He speaks directly to your heart. He dwells within you until the time where we dwell forever in his presence.
I thank God, on this day when we celebrate his birth, for his love for me - and you - every day. That he draws near to us the minute we draw near to him. That he not only allows us, but encourages us, and even commands us to come to him with not just our needs but also our deepest desires. I worship not the Christ child this day, but my risen and victorious Lord who goes before me in battle, supplies all that I need, is a husband and provider, a daddy God, and faithful God who fulfills all of his promises. I pray that I always stand in awe and amazement about the way he loves me, the way he speaks to me, the way blesses me, and that this Holy God would delight in calling me daughter. I pray this also for you.
Blessings precious ones and Merry Christmas! I pray that you would see and know more of God this coming year than every before - that he would rock your faith in a way you never imagine. He is, after all, the God of exceedingly abundantly more. He is, after all, the God that came down and changed everything!
Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels
Hebrews 1-6
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%201-6&version=ESV
Hebrews 1:1-4 " 1Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs."
Jesus is God. That is what made His sacrifice sufficient to cover our sins. Our sins are imputed to Him, and His righteousness is imputed to us when we place our faith in Him.
Friends, I know many of you are with friends and family tonight. The giving and receiving of gifts, the family traditions, the seeing of family from far off, the music, the Christmas Eve Candle light services; these all are great traditions.
But these do not make the reason for Christmas. The reason for Christmas is that God became flesh, and dwelt among us. He was totally man and totally God at the same time. He was tempted but He did not sin. He gave His life for ours, so that we who believe in Him and the sacrifice He made on the cross for us, might live eternally with Him. That is the reason for Christmas.
As Paul writes so eloquently:
"Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:15)
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
Hebrews 1:1-4 " 1Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs."
Jesus is God. That is what made His sacrifice sufficient to cover our sins. Our sins are imputed to Him, and His righteousness is imputed to us when we place our faith in Him.
Friends, I know many of you are with friends and family tonight. The giving and receiving of gifts, the family traditions, the seeing of family from far off, the music, the Christmas Eve Candle light services; these all are great traditions.
But these do not make the reason for Christmas. The reason for Christmas is that God became flesh, and dwelt among us. He was totally man and totally God at the same time. He was tempted but He did not sin. He gave His life for ours, so that we who believe in Him and the sacrifice He made on the cross for us, might live eternally with Him. That is the reason for Christmas.
As Paul writes so eloquently:
"Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:15)
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Titus
Today's passage: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=titus%201-3&version=NIV
Most Christians have experiences in the past that we’d like to forget. There was that time in life where sin sucked you in like quicksand leaving you stuck there until you were rescued. You couldn’t swim your way out, all you could do was grab on to the vine of Life that dropped down from heaven and allow yourself to be pulled out of the pit of sin. Once you were rescued and all cleaned up, your first reaction was probably to try to forget about that horrible place and hide that time of life away in shame.
But Titus 3:3-7 reminds us that we should never forget where we came from:
“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:3-7 (NIV)
God rescued us because of his unconditional love and mercy. His plan for our lives includes using our pain and our past. Our past is part of our testimony. It is a reminder of how gracious and merciful our God is. When we consider the depth of the mercy and grace that we have received, it can motivate us to share some of that mercy and grace with others. When we remember that we were rescued out of that pit of sin because of his grace, and not because of our own righteousness or goodness, we are able to receive others with love and compassion rather than with judgment and contempt.
He rescued us through the gift of Jesus Christ and gave us hope for eternal life. We didn’t earn it; we don’t deserve it; and we should never forget it. Take time to celebrate what He’s done for you in your life. Share your story with others so that they can have the hope in eternal life too!
Today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe
Most Christians have experiences in the past that we’d like to forget. There was that time in life where sin sucked you in like quicksand leaving you stuck there until you were rescued. You couldn’t swim your way out, all you could do was grab on to the vine of Life that dropped down from heaven and allow yourself to be pulled out of the pit of sin. Once you were rescued and all cleaned up, your first reaction was probably to try to forget about that horrible place and hide that time of life away in shame.
But Titus 3:3-7 reminds us that we should never forget where we came from:
“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:3-7 (NIV)
God rescued us because of his unconditional love and mercy. His plan for our lives includes using our pain and our past. Our past is part of our testimony. It is a reminder of how gracious and merciful our God is. When we consider the depth of the mercy and grace that we have received, it can motivate us to share some of that mercy and grace with others. When we remember that we were rescued out of that pit of sin because of his grace, and not because of our own righteousness or goodness, we are able to receive others with love and compassion rather than with judgment and contempt.
He rescued us through the gift of Jesus Christ and gave us hope for eternal life. We didn’t earn it; we don’t deserve it; and we should never forget it. Take time to celebrate what He’s done for you in your life. Share your story with others so that they can have the hope in eternal life too!
Today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
1 Timothy
Today's passage: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20timothy%201-6&version=NIV
…set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12
After asking countless times if he could have some ice cream, my little 3 year old niece looked at her brother and said “Bubba, just be patient”. Those are some wise words from a 3 year old. She had heard them many times from her mommy. She often repeats phrases and gestures that she hears her parents say. Children are like little sponges. They imitate your actions, words, and your reactions. Most parents want to be good role models for their children and quickly learn to be careful what they say and how they act around their children.
As Christians, we are called to be good role models. Many people don’t know what Christianity is all about, so rather than study or ask questions, they just watch other Christians to see how they live their lives. This is quite bothersome, because many self-professing Christians don’t live their lives any differently than the rest of our society. Often Christians are viewed as judgmental and hypocritical.
Being a role model is a task that we must take seriously. We are under a microscope whether we like it or not. Of course, because we are human, we will never be perfect role models. We will make mistakes, say the wrong things, & make poor choices, but when others see us take responsibility for our mistakes and allow God to redeem them, we can still set a good example. As the end of 2010 grows near, reflect back on your own life as a Christian role model. Do others see you as faithful and pure? Do people experience the love of Christ through you? Are your words encouraging and edifying, bringing glory to God? What about your conduct? Would people describe you as moral, ethical, honest? People are watching and you might be the only view of Jesus they get. Ask God to lead you in becoming an imitator of Christ so that you may become an example for others.
Today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe
…set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12
After asking countless times if he could have some ice cream, my little 3 year old niece looked at her brother and said “Bubba, just be patient”. Those are some wise words from a 3 year old. She had heard them many times from her mommy. She often repeats phrases and gestures that she hears her parents say. Children are like little sponges. They imitate your actions, words, and your reactions. Most parents want to be good role models for their children and quickly learn to be careful what they say and how they act around their children.
As Christians, we are called to be good role models. Many people don’t know what Christianity is all about, so rather than study or ask questions, they just watch other Christians to see how they live their lives. This is quite bothersome, because many self-professing Christians don’t live their lives any differently than the rest of our society. Often Christians are viewed as judgmental and hypocritical.
Being a role model is a task that we must take seriously. We are under a microscope whether we like it or not. Of course, because we are human, we will never be perfect role models. We will make mistakes, say the wrong things, & make poor choices, but when others see us take responsibility for our mistakes and allow God to redeem them, we can still set a good example. As the end of 2010 grows near, reflect back on your own life as a Christian role model. Do others see you as faithful and pure? Do people experience the love of Christ through you? Are your words encouraging and edifying, bringing glory to God? What about your conduct? Would people describe you as moral, ethical, honest? People are watching and you might be the only view of Jesus they get. Ask God to lead you in becoming an imitator of Christ so that you may become an example for others.
Today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe
Monday, December 20, 2010
To Live is Christ, To Die is Gain
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians&version=ESV
Paul was imprisoned here on earth and was longing to be with the Lord, but he was certain that his earthly stay was fruitful because of the Philippians and other believers who received the gospel of truth. He was a faithful steward of all of the riches Christ entrusted to him and knew that he would not be ashamed when he had to give an account at the judgment seat of God Almighty when all his works would be on display. Part of his legacy would be the hearts that he affected and his love for the Philippians is clearly displayed in this letter.
Are we making an impact in such as way that others can clearly see God's glory in our lives? Do we display the love that comes from coupling knowledge and discernment together? Neither of them alone are sufficient, but only when faith brings forth works does our salvation become evident and the fruits of the Spirit become abundant. Salvation is a gift given by the death of Christ on the cross when the Savior of the world humbled Himself and poured Himself out as a drink offering to the Father. This gift, though, needs to become part of who we are and so they and you are admonished to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." God works and requires us to work as well and we must never treat lightly the cost of our salvation.
When worldly pleasures are calling out to us, we must remain ever mindful of eternity. All of us are running after something, whether it is the race of mercy that ends in hearing the Lord say "Good and faithful servant, enter into My rest" or the race of destruction where we pursue what seems to satisfy the belly and our sinful cravings but results in hearing "Depart from me, for I never knew you." Will we be radiant jewels in the crown of Christ or will we be branches fit for nothing except for feeding to the fire? Paul knew was it was to run the grueling race of an evangelist and an apostle and he was satisfied that his efforts were not in vain.
We must never think that we have attained the prize this side of eternity but must stay vigilant in the midst of darkness and pain. God's Word provides the life of fellowship and comfort while we trod upon this lonely sod and catch glimpses of the glory of the King of kings. One day we will have our eyes opened to the full glory of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost and we will cry out, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts."
I close with Chapter 4, verses 4 through 8.
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
Paul was imprisoned here on earth and was longing to be with the Lord, but he was certain that his earthly stay was fruitful because of the Philippians and other believers who received the gospel of truth. He was a faithful steward of all of the riches Christ entrusted to him and knew that he would not be ashamed when he had to give an account at the judgment seat of God Almighty when all his works would be on display. Part of his legacy would be the hearts that he affected and his love for the Philippians is clearly displayed in this letter.
Are we making an impact in such as way that others can clearly see God's glory in our lives? Do we display the love that comes from coupling knowledge and discernment together? Neither of them alone are sufficient, but only when faith brings forth works does our salvation become evident and the fruits of the Spirit become abundant. Salvation is a gift given by the death of Christ on the cross when the Savior of the world humbled Himself and poured Himself out as a drink offering to the Father. This gift, though, needs to become part of who we are and so they and you are admonished to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." God works and requires us to work as well and we must never treat lightly the cost of our salvation.
When worldly pleasures are calling out to us, we must remain ever mindful of eternity. All of us are running after something, whether it is the race of mercy that ends in hearing the Lord say "Good and faithful servant, enter into My rest" or the race of destruction where we pursue what seems to satisfy the belly and our sinful cravings but results in hearing "Depart from me, for I never knew you." Will we be radiant jewels in the crown of Christ or will we be branches fit for nothing except for feeding to the fire? Paul knew was it was to run the grueling race of an evangelist and an apostle and he was satisfied that his efforts were not in vain.
We must never think that we have attained the prize this side of eternity but must stay vigilant in the midst of darkness and pain. God's Word provides the life of fellowship and comfort while we trod upon this lonely sod and catch glimpses of the glory of the King of kings. One day we will have our eyes opened to the full glory of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost and we will cry out, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts."
I close with Chapter 4, verses 4 through 8.
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Praying For All The Saints
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+1&version=NIV
"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of rayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." - Ephesians 6:18
Monday night I will celebrate the Christmas Holidays with a group of three other women who I call my prayer girls. For almost a year now we have met together every other Sunday to pray with and for one another. At first this time was like an appointment to keep - a commitment I made to friends. But that rapidly changed for all of us as we would walk away from the time together totally refreshed and filled with this amazing peace. Now it is a time I hunger for - often it is like the air I breathe.
The prayer room at church has become our sanctuary, our secret place, our Holy ground where we come before the throne of God. And God meets with us there - every time. He has heard our prayers and answered. We've seen answers to small prayers, answers to prayers we've prayed for each other, for our families, and for others. He answered and is answering prayers about deep desires of our hearts. Our Father has surprised us, awed us, comforted us and moved us. We've shared tears together in this room - sometimes those of sadness and frustration - but more often they are tears that we've learned to call "Holy Spirit" tears as we are moved so deeply by God's presence and his love for us.
There have been times when Satan has strongly opposed us. There was a particular time of discouragement when we all stubbornly determined that we would not give up - that we would not be defeated. That we would stubbornly approach the throne and not give up. One sweet girl always reminds us that the battle is fought on our knees - and we are reminded that victory is already won through Christ Jesus. God has honored our stand together.
This is not to say that each of us does not spend time daily alone in prayer - because we all also realize that we cannot walk by the faith of each other, but we each must seek to know God personally and individually. But there is this amazing beauty to be found in praying with and for one another. These women spur me on in my faith. On days that I struggle I remember that the girls are praying for me also, and I'm encouraged. Often during the week we continue to share our requests for one another.
We will not give up praying together - this little group and our time together has been one of the largest blessings of my life and builder of my faith. And so I encourage you also, friends, to pray with one another. Not only because our wise, wise God commands us to do so in his word, but because he showers down abundant blessings that have less to do with answers he brings and more to do with the privilege of approaching his throne.
My prayers go beyond our little group. Many of you have been in my prayers. Certainly I have prayed often for all who read this blog. Several days ago I shared a thought with some friends in our class - so I appologize to those who are reading it twice. However, it explains, I think, why prayer for one another is so important - why it goes far beyond the answers. Here is what I shared:
For whatever reason I have a lot of people in my world right now that have very heavy things happening to them - a lot of sickness, a lot of needs. So I've had the privilege the last several days to carry people before the throne of God - a lot of praying in my car as I've driven back and forth from work, while I worked out, or while I stood in my kitchen and cooked.
Last night when I went to bed, I just had this amazing peace and contentment - beyond what I usually have - and wondered exactly where that came from. And then I realized (or maybe God reminded me), that because I've been praying for others so much the past couple of days, I have spent a lot of time in his presence. The peace, the contentment - even joy in the midst of the sadness I have for my friends comes from just simply being in the presence of God as I pray for them.
I guess I share that just to share that taking time to pray for friends benefits me far beyond seeing God's answers and watching him move. It puts me in his presence - and at his right hand are eternal pleasures. Let us not, sweet friends - give up on sharing our needs, our wants, our desires with one another - least we lose the opportunity to see God move in the lives of each other as he answers prayers. Let us not give up on praying for one another, least we lose the joy that is found in the presence of our daddy God.
That, my precious friends, is why it is my privilege and pleasure to pray for you.
"You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." - Psalm 16:11
Blessings to you my friends!
Carol
"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of rayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." - Ephesians 6:18
Monday night I will celebrate the Christmas Holidays with a group of three other women who I call my prayer girls. For almost a year now we have met together every other Sunday to pray with and for one another. At first this time was like an appointment to keep - a commitment I made to friends. But that rapidly changed for all of us as we would walk away from the time together totally refreshed and filled with this amazing peace. Now it is a time I hunger for - often it is like the air I breathe.
The prayer room at church has become our sanctuary, our secret place, our Holy ground where we come before the throne of God. And God meets with us there - every time. He has heard our prayers and answered. We've seen answers to small prayers, answers to prayers we've prayed for each other, for our families, and for others. He answered and is answering prayers about deep desires of our hearts. Our Father has surprised us, awed us, comforted us and moved us. We've shared tears together in this room - sometimes those of sadness and frustration - but more often they are tears that we've learned to call "Holy Spirit" tears as we are moved so deeply by God's presence and his love for us.
There have been times when Satan has strongly opposed us. There was a particular time of discouragement when we all stubbornly determined that we would not give up - that we would not be defeated. That we would stubbornly approach the throne and not give up. One sweet girl always reminds us that the battle is fought on our knees - and we are reminded that victory is already won through Christ Jesus. God has honored our stand together.
This is not to say that each of us does not spend time daily alone in prayer - because we all also realize that we cannot walk by the faith of each other, but we each must seek to know God personally and individually. But there is this amazing beauty to be found in praying with and for one another. These women spur me on in my faith. On days that I struggle I remember that the girls are praying for me also, and I'm encouraged. Often during the week we continue to share our requests for one another.
We will not give up praying together - this little group and our time together has been one of the largest blessings of my life and builder of my faith. And so I encourage you also, friends, to pray with one another. Not only because our wise, wise God commands us to do so in his word, but because he showers down abundant blessings that have less to do with answers he brings and more to do with the privilege of approaching his throne.
My prayers go beyond our little group. Many of you have been in my prayers. Certainly I have prayed often for all who read this blog. Several days ago I shared a thought with some friends in our class - so I appologize to those who are reading it twice. However, it explains, I think, why prayer for one another is so important - why it goes far beyond the answers. Here is what I shared:
For whatever reason I have a lot of people in my world right now that have very heavy things happening to them - a lot of sickness, a lot of needs. So I've had the privilege the last several days to carry people before the throne of God - a lot of praying in my car as I've driven back and forth from work, while I worked out, or while I stood in my kitchen and cooked.
Last night when I went to bed, I just had this amazing peace and contentment - beyond what I usually have - and wondered exactly where that came from. And then I realized (or maybe God reminded me), that because I've been praying for others so much the past couple of days, I have spent a lot of time in his presence. The peace, the contentment - even joy in the midst of the sadness I have for my friends comes from just simply being in the presence of God as I pray for them.
I guess I share that just to share that taking time to pray for friends benefits me far beyond seeing God's answers and watching him move. It puts me in his presence - and at his right hand are eternal pleasures. Let us not, sweet friends - give up on sharing our needs, our wants, our desires with one another - least we lose the opportunity to see God move in the lives of each other as he answers prayers. Let us not give up on praying for one another, least we lose the joy that is found in the presence of our daddy God.
That, my precious friends, is why it is my privilege and pleasure to pray for you.
"You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." - Psalm 16:11
Blessings to you my friends!
Carol
Friday, December 17, 2010
Acts 27-28
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2027-28&version=ESV
Acts 28:25-31 "And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet:
“‘Go to this people, and say,
You will indeed hear but never understand,
and you will indeed see but never perceive.
For this people's heart has grown dull,
and with their ears they can barely hear,
and their eyes they have closed;
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.’
Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.” He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance."
As we finish our readings in the book of Acts, we read that Paul has finally made it to Rome.
He has met with the Jews and he has preached the Gospel to them. Let's look at how he evangelized.
First, he evangelized Biblically. Acts 28:23 states, "When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets."
Friends, this is how we are to evangelize as well. You might say. "Well what about what Jesus has done in my life? Or the experiences I have had?"
Those can be shared no doubt, but of first importance is the Biblical Gospel message. Evangelism today in many aspects is man centered and not God centered. People want to be saved not to glorify God but to have their needs and wants met. Friends, this is not what salvation is for. Salvation is to bring glory to God.
As we have been reading the Bible through this year, the knowledge we are gaining from our time in the Word will help you in becoming a more effective evangelist. When you speak the Word of God, you come across more authoritative and persuasive, than if you merely speak of personal experiences.
Paul also preached boldly. Acts 28:30-31 states, "He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance."
Friends, knowing the Word of God enables you to preach Christ boldly. I can attest to this personally. Before I studied the Word, I would try to talk to others about Christ. I would tell them that Christ loved them and that He died for their sins. But that is about all I could share with them. I knew minimal Scripture.
Now, by the grace of God, I can share with people about Jesus directly from His Word. I can tell people what God says about His only begotten Son. And then I can share personally how the truths of God's Word have transformed and are continuing to transform my life.
I am nowhere near as bold as the Apostle Paul. But I strive to be. After all, Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 11:1 "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ." Did you get that?
Not only are we to strive to live a sacrificial life like Paul, we are to love like Paul, and evangelize like Paul.
Man made evangelistic methods will come and go. But evangelism based on the Word of God and modeled after Apostolic teaching will endure.
As Isaiah wrote,
"A voice says, “Cry!”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”
All flesh is grass,
and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower fades
when the breath of the LORD blows on it;
surely the people are grass.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever." (Isaiah 40:6-8)
Friends, thank God today for the example of the apostle Paul. We should strive to imitate his holiness, godliness, and efforts to evangelize the world.
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
Acts 28:25-31 "And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet:
“‘Go to this people, and say,
You will indeed hear but never understand,
and you will indeed see but never perceive.
For this people's heart has grown dull,
and with their ears they can barely hear,
and their eyes they have closed;
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.’
Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.” He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance."
As we finish our readings in the book of Acts, we read that Paul has finally made it to Rome.
He has met with the Jews and he has preached the Gospel to them. Let's look at how he evangelized.
First, he evangelized Biblically. Acts 28:23 states, "When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets."
Friends, this is how we are to evangelize as well. You might say. "Well what about what Jesus has done in my life? Or the experiences I have had?"
Those can be shared no doubt, but of first importance is the Biblical Gospel message. Evangelism today in many aspects is man centered and not God centered. People want to be saved not to glorify God but to have their needs and wants met. Friends, this is not what salvation is for. Salvation is to bring glory to God.
As we have been reading the Bible through this year, the knowledge we are gaining from our time in the Word will help you in becoming a more effective evangelist. When you speak the Word of God, you come across more authoritative and persuasive, than if you merely speak of personal experiences.
Paul also preached boldly. Acts 28:30-31 states, "He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance."
Friends, knowing the Word of God enables you to preach Christ boldly. I can attest to this personally. Before I studied the Word, I would try to talk to others about Christ. I would tell them that Christ loved them and that He died for their sins. But that is about all I could share with them. I knew minimal Scripture.
Now, by the grace of God, I can share with people about Jesus directly from His Word. I can tell people what God says about His only begotten Son. And then I can share personally how the truths of God's Word have transformed and are continuing to transform my life.
I am nowhere near as bold as the Apostle Paul. But I strive to be. After all, Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 11:1 "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ." Did you get that?
Not only are we to strive to live a sacrificial life like Paul, we are to love like Paul, and evangelize like Paul.
Man made evangelistic methods will come and go. But evangelism based on the Word of God and modeled after Apostolic teaching will endure.
As Isaiah wrote,
"A voice says, “Cry!”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”
All flesh is grass,
and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower fades
when the breath of the LORD blows on it;
surely the people are grass.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever." (Isaiah 40:6-8)
Friends, thank God today for the example of the apostle Paul. We should strive to imitate his holiness, godliness, and efforts to evangelize the world.
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Acts 24-26
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2024-26&version=ESV
Acts 26:19-21 "Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance."
Deeds in keeping with your repentance. We talk about repentance so often. Many people use the term flippantly.
Bob Deffingbaugh from Bible.org writes,
Friends, repentance is a gift from God, not just something to say when you have messed up.
Paul writes in 2 Timothy 2:25 " correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth"
The Abstract of Principles of the Southern Baptist Seminary states that,
"Repentance is an evangelical grace, wherein a person being, by the Holy Spirit, made sensible of the manifold evil of his sin, humbleth himself for it, with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self-abhorrence, with a purpose and endeavor to walk before God so as to please Him in all things. "
Evangelical Christianity today is pervasive with cheap grace. God's death just covered us from our sins, but does not lead to a transformed life, is how many Christians live out their faith today.
Is this how we are to live out our faith? Lord, I ask you to grant us the gift of repentance, so that we would live a life inclined toward you and not toward ourselves.
John 3:30 states "He must increase, but I must decrease."
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
Acts 26:19-21 "Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance."
Deeds in keeping with your repentance. We talk about repentance so often. Many people use the term flippantly.
Bob Deffingbaugh from Bible.org writes,
"Paul’s message was clear and simple: repent – turn to God – and demonstrate your repentance by works that are consistent with it. This sounds a good deal like the preaching of John the Baptist:
2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” . . . 7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Therefore produce fruit that proves your repentance” (Matthew 3:2, 7-8).
To repent is to change one’s mind, and one’s course – to turn around. In particular, Paul calls upon his audience to change their minds about Jesus, just as he had done. Jesus is alive. He is the promised Messiah. He is God’s only provision for man’s salvation – for the forgiveness of sins and the assurance of eternity in heaven.
Christians will be tempted to understand Paul’s words differently than an unbeliever would. (Remember that Paul is speaking to a group of unbelievers.) He is not preaching “easy believism” or “cheap grace.” Like our Lord, Paul wants it to be very clear that trusting in Him puts one on a very different path. It was a path of darkness; it is now a path of light. It was a path leading to death; it is now a path leading to life. It was a path which was under Satan’s control; it is now a path of submission and service to God. It was a path of ease and comfort; now it is a path where one must “take up their cross and follow Jesus.” Faith in Jesus is a change in direction which will lead one through much opposition. That, I believe, is what Paul wants potential believers to know.
Friends, repentance is a gift from God, not just something to say when you have messed up.
Paul writes in 2 Timothy 2:25 " correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth"
The Abstract of Principles of the Southern Baptist Seminary states that,
"Repentance is an evangelical grace, wherein a person being, by the Holy Spirit, made sensible of the manifold evil of his sin, humbleth himself for it, with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self-abhorrence, with a purpose and endeavor to walk before God so as to please Him in all things. "
Evangelical Christianity today is pervasive with cheap grace. God's death just covered us from our sins, but does not lead to a transformed life, is how many Christians live out their faith today.
Is this how we are to live out our faith? Lord, I ask you to grant us the gift of repentance, so that we would live a life inclined toward you and not toward ourselves.
John 3:30 states "He must increase, but I must decrease."
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
Prayers for You
http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=Colossians%3B+Philemon&qs_version=NIV
I wonder if Paul was writing to the church in America today if his letter wouldn't be similar to what he wrote to the church in Collosse. His concerns for the church centered around his concern for the false teachings that were occuring within the church. The false teachings were wide in variety - but each took away from the supremecy and adequacy of Christ and focused instead on human traditions and philosophies. The people in the church were being pulled away from God's truth - and Paul's heart was that they would remain steadfast in their knowledge of God and God alone. His heart is that the would know that Christ Jesus is more than adequate in all things.
I know, precious friends, that we struggle today against the same pull of false teachings, beliefs, and messages that the church in Colosse did. In fact, with the rise of technology and media, we are inundated with false messages today at a rate and quantity that is far beyond that of any other previous period in history.
And so as I read Colassians, I resonated with Paul's words for the church - for while I don't claim to be close to being anything like Paul or have any ministry at all that might be like his, I find my heart for those who read this blog is similar to his for the church of the Colossians. And so today, as we near the end of our journey together through God's word, I want to share with you my heart and prayers for you.
First, I know that I speak for all of us who have blogged this year when I say, "We always thank God, the Father of our Lord jesus Christ, when we pray for you (and we do pray for you), because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints - the faith and love that springs from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the ord of truth, the gospel that has come to you." - Colossians 1:3-6
Please know that I have not and will not stop pryaing for you and "asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding" (vs.9). I pray strength, power, and endurance over you.
Like Paul, it is my hope that I have been able to present to you the word of God in it's fullness - that I have been able to admonsih and teach you with wisdom so that you are presented perfect in Christ. This certain is not done by any power in my as I write - or in Russ or Kelly or Joseph - but through the amazing power of the word of God and the Spirit. Please know that it is in absolute humility that we have shared with you.
I pray that you are encouraged in heart and united in love, so that you may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that you may now the mystery of god, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (2:2-3). There is no worldly knowledge or wisdom, no wise and persuasive words that can surpass the wisdom of God. Eve was fooled into believing that knowledge outside of God was desirable. I pray, friends, that the knowledge of God would be enough for you. I pray that you would continue to live in him, being rooted and built up in him, strengthened in faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. (2:6)
Friends, press on in your study of God's word. Press on in your pursuit of God - seek his face, seek him first, being confident that in Christ you will find all things. Seek God's truth, walk in God's truth - not the world's. "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." (2:8)
My precious ones - what I pray for you more than anything else is that you would know that in Christ all the fullness of God lives in bodily form. Because you are in Christ, you have been given this fullness. Oh how my heart yearns for you to live from the center of Christ who fills you. How I long for all of us to know that there is nothing - no man, no woman, no child, no money, no car, no house, no job, no drug, no drink, no food, no possession, no accomplishment, no recognition - that can fill us and make any one feel complete. Fullness is found ONLY in the in whom all the fullness of God dwells. Only Christ is your fullness. He is adequate. If you reach out to him each time you fill empty, he will fill those places.
There are so many other things that I desire and pray for you my friends. Press on in the word, press on in truth, press on in the perfect merciful love of Christ and let the world become only a place in which you dwell. Live in unity, teach and admonish one another, submit to one another, work with all you heart as if you are working for the Lord. Make the most of ever opportunity with outsiders. Be filled with grace and salt. Stand firm.
Grace be with you.
I wonder if Paul was writing to the church in America today if his letter wouldn't be similar to what he wrote to the church in Collosse. His concerns for the church centered around his concern for the false teachings that were occuring within the church. The false teachings were wide in variety - but each took away from the supremecy and adequacy of Christ and focused instead on human traditions and philosophies. The people in the church were being pulled away from God's truth - and Paul's heart was that they would remain steadfast in their knowledge of God and God alone. His heart is that the would know that Christ Jesus is more than adequate in all things.
I know, precious friends, that we struggle today against the same pull of false teachings, beliefs, and messages that the church in Colosse did. In fact, with the rise of technology and media, we are inundated with false messages today at a rate and quantity that is far beyond that of any other previous period in history.
And so as I read Colassians, I resonated with Paul's words for the church - for while I don't claim to be close to being anything like Paul or have any ministry at all that might be like his, I find my heart for those who read this blog is similar to his for the church of the Colossians. And so today, as we near the end of our journey together through God's word, I want to share with you my heart and prayers for you.
First, I know that I speak for all of us who have blogged this year when I say, "We always thank God, the Father of our Lord jesus Christ, when we pray for you (and we do pray for you), because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints - the faith and love that springs from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the ord of truth, the gospel that has come to you." - Colossians 1:3-6
Please know that I have not and will not stop pryaing for you and "asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding" (vs.9). I pray strength, power, and endurance over you.
Like Paul, it is my hope that I have been able to present to you the word of God in it's fullness - that I have been able to admonsih and teach you with wisdom so that you are presented perfect in Christ. This certain is not done by any power in my as I write - or in Russ or Kelly or Joseph - but through the amazing power of the word of God and the Spirit. Please know that it is in absolute humility that we have shared with you.
I pray that you are encouraged in heart and united in love, so that you may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that you may now the mystery of god, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (2:2-3). There is no worldly knowledge or wisdom, no wise and persuasive words that can surpass the wisdom of God. Eve was fooled into believing that knowledge outside of God was desirable. I pray, friends, that the knowledge of God would be enough for you. I pray that you would continue to live in him, being rooted and built up in him, strengthened in faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. (2:6)
Friends, press on in your study of God's word. Press on in your pursuit of God - seek his face, seek him first, being confident that in Christ you will find all things. Seek God's truth, walk in God's truth - not the world's. "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." (2:8)
My precious ones - what I pray for you more than anything else is that you would know that in Christ all the fullness of God lives in bodily form. Because you are in Christ, you have been given this fullness. Oh how my heart yearns for you to live from the center of Christ who fills you. How I long for all of us to know that there is nothing - no man, no woman, no child, no money, no car, no house, no job, no drug, no drink, no food, no possession, no accomplishment, no recognition - that can fill us and make any one feel complete. Fullness is found ONLY in the in whom all the fullness of God dwells. Only Christ is your fullness. He is adequate. If you reach out to him each time you fill empty, he will fill those places.
There are so many other things that I desire and pray for you my friends. Press on in the word, press on in truth, press on in the perfect merciful love of Christ and let the world become only a place in which you dwell. Live in unity, teach and admonish one another, submit to one another, work with all you heart as if you are working for the Lord. Make the most of ever opportunity with outsiders. Be filled with grace and salt. Stand firm.
Grace be with you.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Acts 20-23
Today's passage: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts%2020-23&version=NIV
While reading today’s passage, I couldn’t help but sit in awe of Paul’s boldness. He was able to stand firm in his beliefs and remain true to his mission in the midst of intense persecution. It was his faith that allowed him to do so. He had faith in a sovereign, unchanging, all knowing, all powerful, forever true Lord. He believed firmly in God’s promises. He knew that God is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do. He knew that God’s ways are higher than our ways and that his wisdom is immeasurable, beyond our understanding. He believed that God has a plan for his people and that it is a good plan. Paul’s actions reflect his faith and God pulls out all the stops to protect Paul so that he may fulfill the mission that God has placed in his heart.
Here’s a word from Chuck Swindoll on Acts 23:
“Not one assassin but forty of them! Forty determined terrorists, operating under cover of secrecy. All of them vowing, "We will not eat or drink until we've killed him." The plan was treacherous and set in motion by those who wanted him dead. What they hadn't counted on was an unlikely ally for Paul. His nephew had overheard everything and made tracks to warn his uncle.
Remarkably, Paul's nephew plays a major role in his survival. He is not mentioned by name, and we never hear of him again. Then how did he know about the ambush? Only God knows.
Meanwhile, the Roman commander was feeling relieved, proud of his wise handling of the situation. His musings were interrupted by a reluctant knock at the door. The news couldn't be good. One of his centurions reports that the young man with him has some important information about a conspiracy to kill Paul. The Roman commander wasn't about to let some scrappy band of fanatics spoil his plan to bring Paul safely to Rome. So he pulled out all the stops.
Uniformed, armed, and trained soldiers. Four hundred and seventy-two to forty rag-tag conspirators. Nice odds. Talk about overkill. The guy would not be outdone. He made sure no one could get to Paul. Remember God's promise? "You must witness at Rome." This is just part of that divine plan. It was as if God said, "I know what I am doing. I will escort you down to Caesarea by the Sea with full protection. You are in My hand." A massive official escort—that would work just fine.
What a comforting story. Despite the odds stacked against him, Paul was never removed from God's protective hand. And neither are you.
Are you feeling alone, mistreated, misunderstood, forsaken? Remember this true account. God is at work. He's there, working behind the scenes. He'll work it out. He has a plan. Just when you're convinced the bottom is about to drop out from under you, He steps in and lifts you to safety. For Paul, he used an unlikely and virtually anonymous ally, a nameless nephew who comes out of the shadows at precisely the right time. God's timing is always perfectly synchronized with His will. Remember that. And be comforted.”
Paul had faith that God was in control and would fufill his promise to protect Him. I pray that as you reflect on this passage that you focus on your own faith and the resulting actions. Pray that God will build a faith like Paul’s in your heart…so that your actions for Him are bold; so that you may stand strong; so that you may join Him in increasing the future population of heaven.
Today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe
While reading today’s passage, I couldn’t help but sit in awe of Paul’s boldness. He was able to stand firm in his beliefs and remain true to his mission in the midst of intense persecution. It was his faith that allowed him to do so. He had faith in a sovereign, unchanging, all knowing, all powerful, forever true Lord. He believed firmly in God’s promises. He knew that God is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do. He knew that God’s ways are higher than our ways and that his wisdom is immeasurable, beyond our understanding. He believed that God has a plan for his people and that it is a good plan. Paul’s actions reflect his faith and God pulls out all the stops to protect Paul so that he may fulfill the mission that God has placed in his heart.
Here’s a word from Chuck Swindoll on Acts 23:
“Not one assassin but forty of them! Forty determined terrorists, operating under cover of secrecy. All of them vowing, "We will not eat or drink until we've killed him." The plan was treacherous and set in motion by those who wanted him dead. What they hadn't counted on was an unlikely ally for Paul. His nephew had overheard everything and made tracks to warn his uncle.
Remarkably, Paul's nephew plays a major role in his survival. He is not mentioned by name, and we never hear of him again. Then how did he know about the ambush? Only God knows.
Meanwhile, the Roman commander was feeling relieved, proud of his wise handling of the situation. His musings were interrupted by a reluctant knock at the door. The news couldn't be good. One of his centurions reports that the young man with him has some important information about a conspiracy to kill Paul. The Roman commander wasn't about to let some scrappy band of fanatics spoil his plan to bring Paul safely to Rome. So he pulled out all the stops.
Uniformed, armed, and trained soldiers. Four hundred and seventy-two to forty rag-tag conspirators. Nice odds. Talk about overkill. The guy would not be outdone. He made sure no one could get to Paul. Remember God's promise? "You must witness at Rome." This is just part of that divine plan. It was as if God said, "I know what I am doing. I will escort you down to Caesarea by the Sea with full protection. You are in My hand." A massive official escort—that would work just fine.
What a comforting story. Despite the odds stacked against him, Paul was never removed from God's protective hand. And neither are you.
Are you feeling alone, mistreated, misunderstood, forsaken? Remember this true account. God is at work. He's there, working behind the scenes. He'll work it out. He has a plan. Just when you're convinced the bottom is about to drop out from under you, He steps in and lifts you to safety. For Paul, he used an unlikely and virtually anonymous ally, a nameless nephew who comes out of the shadows at precisely the right time. God's timing is always perfectly synchronized with His will. Remember that. And be comforted.”
Paul had faith that God was in control and would fufill his promise to protect Him. I pray that as you reflect on this passage that you focus on your own faith and the resulting actions. Pray that God will build a faith like Paul’s in your heart…so that your actions for Him are bold; so that you may stand strong; so that you may join Him in increasing the future population of heaven.
Today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Romans 14-16
Today's passage: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%2014-16&version=NIV
We get so stuck in our own ways and beliefs that our convictions cause us to look down on, judge, and condemn other believers. This destroys the unity of the church and can destroy the faith of another believer. Minor disagreements will occur in the church and Paul gives us some advice about how to handle these disagreements:
1. We are not to judge each other. We serve God, He is our judge and only His judgment matters. We recently gave presentations and my students did peer evaluations. Some of the worst presentations were given high marks by the students, but they lacked in technical skill and content. How the students judged each others’ work didn’t matter in the end, because ultimately I graded them based on their use of their technical skills. The peer evaluations really didn’t matter at the end of the day. For the Christian, what matters is the judgment of our Lord. We are to please Him and not each other. Considering He is the only one who truly knows our heart, I’m glad that He is my judge, rather than my peers.
2. We are not to reject another believer because of small disagreements. We are also not to accept them in order to force our own convictions on them. This will just lead to a battle. We can’t force everyone to be identical in their convictions. The Holy Spirit was sent to convict us of our sins and guide us through our faith walk. He knows exactly what to lay on our hearts and when and how to do it.
3. We are not to treat others with contempt. Spiritual pride can make us hateful, something that Paul, as a former persecutor of Christians, was all too familiar with. Jesus is our example in how to treat others. He dined with tax collectors and prostitutes and the lowest of the low. He showed them love and compassion, never contempt. We are to treat each other in the same way.
None of this is to say that we can each pick and choose a series of our own beliefs and ways of worship. The Bible is God’s word and we are to use it as a guide to teach us the ways to live a righteous life and how to worship Him. Also, keep in mind that there are important, life-affecting, eternal truths that we must receive as we embrace our Savior. (The book of Romans does a wonderful job of explaining those truths. I encourage you to read it again!) Other issues need not be nitpicked to death. The disagreement Paul is addressing about what is clean to eat is dividing the church and Paul is just asking them to look at the big picture:
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.” (Romans 14:17)
“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15:5)
It’s all about God’s glory. It’s all about building the population of God’s Kingdom. Contempt, condemnation, quarreling and judgment don’t do anything for God’s glory. Encouragement, love, kindness, & compassion do everything to bring God glory. As Christians, we are to “encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). We can’t sweat the small stuff.
Today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe
We get so stuck in our own ways and beliefs that our convictions cause us to look down on, judge, and condemn other believers. This destroys the unity of the church and can destroy the faith of another believer. Minor disagreements will occur in the church and Paul gives us some advice about how to handle these disagreements:
1. We are not to judge each other. We serve God, He is our judge and only His judgment matters. We recently gave presentations and my students did peer evaluations. Some of the worst presentations were given high marks by the students, but they lacked in technical skill and content. How the students judged each others’ work didn’t matter in the end, because ultimately I graded them based on their use of their technical skills. The peer evaluations really didn’t matter at the end of the day. For the Christian, what matters is the judgment of our Lord. We are to please Him and not each other. Considering He is the only one who truly knows our heart, I’m glad that He is my judge, rather than my peers.
2. We are not to reject another believer because of small disagreements. We are also not to accept them in order to force our own convictions on them. This will just lead to a battle. We can’t force everyone to be identical in their convictions. The Holy Spirit was sent to convict us of our sins and guide us through our faith walk. He knows exactly what to lay on our hearts and when and how to do it.
3. We are not to treat others with contempt. Spiritual pride can make us hateful, something that Paul, as a former persecutor of Christians, was all too familiar with. Jesus is our example in how to treat others. He dined with tax collectors and prostitutes and the lowest of the low. He showed them love and compassion, never contempt. We are to treat each other in the same way.
None of this is to say that we can each pick and choose a series of our own beliefs and ways of worship. The Bible is God’s word and we are to use it as a guide to teach us the ways to live a righteous life and how to worship Him. Also, keep in mind that there are important, life-affecting, eternal truths that we must receive as we embrace our Savior. (The book of Romans does a wonderful job of explaining those truths. I encourage you to read it again!) Other issues need not be nitpicked to death. The disagreement Paul is addressing about what is clean to eat is dividing the church and Paul is just asking them to look at the big picture:
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.” (Romans 14:17)
“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15:5)
It’s all about God’s glory. It’s all about building the population of God’s Kingdom. Contempt, condemnation, quarreling and judgment don’t do anything for God’s glory. Encouragement, love, kindness, & compassion do everything to bring God glory. As Christians, we are to “encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). We can’t sweat the small stuff.
Today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe
Monday, December 13, 2010
Romans 11-13
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2011-13&version=ESV
God has kept a remnant of Israelites for Himself throughout all time. We as Gentiles need to reflect upon the sacrifice of the prophets and the faithful Jews who allowed the Gospel to be spread to us. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Elijah, Elisha, Daniel, and so many others paved the way for us to be grafted in by their faithful obedience to God's calling. Jesus wept over Jerusalem and in this Christmas season, it would be prudent for us to pray for the Jewish people, to pray that their eyes would be opened to the Messiah, and to anticipate what will happen when they have eyes to see and ears to hear. We must never forget God's kindness to the Gentiles as we celebrate the birth of Christ.
Romans 11:33 is a verse that we should meditate upon as we ponder how great our God is. "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!" God's ways and mind are not our ways and we need to remember that intellect, logic, and human understanding can never truly fathom God's compassion on us. We were wild branches fit for nothing but the fire, but the Creator of the world reached down and began shaping us into vessels fit for His service. We must remember that we are living sacrifices and that His fire will cleanse, heal, and purify us so that we are a fragrant aroma to our Lord. It is also through this presentation of ourselves to the Almighty that we are given insight into the will of God. God's will is never flawed or incomplete; it is perfect, good, and acceptable.
We are members of one body and we are meant to help each other along the way. The last few weeks I have been on the road almost constantly and have sorely missed the fellowship of my brothers and sisters in the Lord. I've flown to Canada twice and am in Chicago this week. There is nothing like the icy cold wind that saps the warmth out of you to remind you just how much we all need the fires of Christian fellowship when we all present ourselves to the Lord and He binds us all together in a body that shows off His glory with honor, love, harmony, and generosity.
Chapter 13 brings to mind the monetary responsibility we owe to the government. We must always remember that God grants authority to those in power and He is the one who can move the hearts and minds of pagan kings and charts the course of history. Revenue, respect, and honor should be granted to those who are due them and in this day of sound bites, we must focus on Scripture and continue to pray for those in authority over us.
Romans 13 wraps up with the admonition to put on the Lord Jesus and not to gratify the desires of the flesh. Do our lives reflect the glory of God or do we display the corruption of fallen man?
God has kept a remnant of Israelites for Himself throughout all time. We as Gentiles need to reflect upon the sacrifice of the prophets and the faithful Jews who allowed the Gospel to be spread to us. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Elijah, Elisha, Daniel, and so many others paved the way for us to be grafted in by their faithful obedience to God's calling. Jesus wept over Jerusalem and in this Christmas season, it would be prudent for us to pray for the Jewish people, to pray that their eyes would be opened to the Messiah, and to anticipate what will happen when they have eyes to see and ears to hear. We must never forget God's kindness to the Gentiles as we celebrate the birth of Christ.
Romans 11:33 is a verse that we should meditate upon as we ponder how great our God is. "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!" God's ways and mind are not our ways and we need to remember that intellect, logic, and human understanding can never truly fathom God's compassion on us. We were wild branches fit for nothing but the fire, but the Creator of the world reached down and began shaping us into vessels fit for His service. We must remember that we are living sacrifices and that His fire will cleanse, heal, and purify us so that we are a fragrant aroma to our Lord. It is also through this presentation of ourselves to the Almighty that we are given insight into the will of God. God's will is never flawed or incomplete; it is perfect, good, and acceptable.
We are members of one body and we are meant to help each other along the way. The last few weeks I have been on the road almost constantly and have sorely missed the fellowship of my brothers and sisters in the Lord. I've flown to Canada twice and am in Chicago this week. There is nothing like the icy cold wind that saps the warmth out of you to remind you just how much we all need the fires of Christian fellowship when we all present ourselves to the Lord and He binds us all together in a body that shows off His glory with honor, love, harmony, and generosity.
Chapter 13 brings to mind the monetary responsibility we owe to the government. We must always remember that God grants authority to those in power and He is the one who can move the hearts and minds of pagan kings and charts the course of history. Revenue, respect, and honor should be granted to those who are due them and in this day of sound bites, we must focus on Scripture and continue to pray for those in authority over us.
Romans 13 wraps up with the admonition to put on the Lord Jesus and not to gratify the desires of the flesh. Do our lives reflect the glory of God or do we display the corruption of fallen man?
Saturday, December 11, 2010
A Rich Roman's Chapter
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%208-10&version=NIV
Wow - how does one blog on Romans 8? It is filled with so much truth - so many essentials for salvation and a life of faith. I'd love to point out my favorites that I believe are key truths:
8:1 - Therefore there is now no condemnation for those we are in Christ Jesus. Hear that and make sure your heart is certain of it - there is NO condemnation. When you, by faith, accept the salvation provided freely, your past - and the way you might screw up in the future - do NOT condemn you if you are in Christ Jesus. You don't have to clean yourself up or live up to a certain standard to received God's love and mercy - for it is FREELY given to all who open up their hearts to receive!
8:9 - You, however, are not controlled by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. In Christ, not only is there no condemnation for your past, but the Spirit of God living in you enables you to be changed in the present. From the inside out you are changed.
8:16 - The Spirit himself testifies that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings, in order that we may also share in his glory. By grace, we share all that Christ has - including eternal life in the presence of our Daddy God - oh how I long for that day! But what we inherit does not just come after we pass from this life. No indeed - all the promises of God for his children are for us TODAY! So while we might suffer in this life on earth - all of God's promises - both present and future - are for us.
8:26 - In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. This is my favorite Roman's 8 verse lately. I love the idea that when I can't seem to find my way through what is happening in my life or what I even should pray for, I simply say "I know that the Spirit intercedes for me when I don't know what to pray - and that's how I feel right now, so Spirit, I ask you to intercede. And then I ask you to create my prayers - prayers that are according to the will of God. Your words says that when we pray in the Spirit and according to the will of God, we have what we ask. Lord, I want to see answered prayers and so I ask Lord, that my prayers would be spirit created." So there's a glimpse into my prayer life and why I've come to treasure this verse.
8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose. All things, in your life, my friends can and will be used for good. Beautiful things, challenging things, devastating things, things that are your own fault, bad choices, good choices - ALL THINGS can be worked for your good and conformed to the will of God. Be certain, friends, that if God allows it, God can and will use it for His good, pleasing and perfect will. This, I believe, is core to perseverance as we walk in faith.
8:38 - For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. There is nothing, my friends, that can separate us from the love of God. Nothing. We are covered by the blood of Christ, so nothing we do can change how God loves us. Maybe you need to hear that again - nothing you do can change how God loves you. I worked with a client the other day who walked away from God for a while. She now feels like she needs to earn her way back into God's grace. Untrue! Nothing - not even our own actions - can change how much God loves you. If you walk away, he waits with open arms ready to embrace you - waiting for you to let him.
A Romans 8 summary: Christ died for you so that you would have freedom from the law and so that because your sins are covered, you have the Spirit of God living inside of you. This Spirit changes you from the inside out. You are not longer a slave to sin, but have the ability to see your life changed by God's power, in a way that you have been powerless to do yourself. Because Christ has given us his perfection, the Father embraces us as children and we have all that he offers and promises - both for this life and for eternity. He lives in us, He walks with us, He even prays for us. There is nothing in this life, nothing in this world, and even nothing that is not of this world, that can separate us from the love of God that we have through faith in Jesus Christ and his abundant sacrifice. God loves you - know it, live it, celebrate it!
Blessings to you!
Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels
Wow - how does one blog on Romans 8? It is filled with so much truth - so many essentials for salvation and a life of faith. I'd love to point out my favorites that I believe are key truths:
8:1 - Therefore there is now no condemnation for those we are in Christ Jesus. Hear that and make sure your heart is certain of it - there is NO condemnation. When you, by faith, accept the salvation provided freely, your past - and the way you might screw up in the future - do NOT condemn you if you are in Christ Jesus. You don't have to clean yourself up or live up to a certain standard to received God's love and mercy - for it is FREELY given to all who open up their hearts to receive!
8:9 - You, however, are not controlled by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. In Christ, not only is there no condemnation for your past, but the Spirit of God living in you enables you to be changed in the present. From the inside out you are changed.
8:16 - The Spirit himself testifies that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings, in order that we may also share in his glory. By grace, we share all that Christ has - including eternal life in the presence of our Daddy God - oh how I long for that day! But what we inherit does not just come after we pass from this life. No indeed - all the promises of God for his children are for us TODAY! So while we might suffer in this life on earth - all of God's promises - both present and future - are for us.
8:26 - In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. This is my favorite Roman's 8 verse lately. I love the idea that when I can't seem to find my way through what is happening in my life or what I even should pray for, I simply say "I know that the Spirit intercedes for me when I don't know what to pray - and that's how I feel right now, so Spirit, I ask you to intercede. And then I ask you to create my prayers - prayers that are according to the will of God. Your words says that when we pray in the Spirit and according to the will of God, we have what we ask. Lord, I want to see answered prayers and so I ask Lord, that my prayers would be spirit created." So there's a glimpse into my prayer life and why I've come to treasure this verse.
8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose. All things, in your life, my friends can and will be used for good. Beautiful things, challenging things, devastating things, things that are your own fault, bad choices, good choices - ALL THINGS can be worked for your good and conformed to the will of God. Be certain, friends, that if God allows it, God can and will use it for His good, pleasing and perfect will. This, I believe, is core to perseverance as we walk in faith.
8:38 - For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. There is nothing, my friends, that can separate us from the love of God. Nothing. We are covered by the blood of Christ, so nothing we do can change how God loves us. Maybe you need to hear that again - nothing you do can change how God loves you. I worked with a client the other day who walked away from God for a while. She now feels like she needs to earn her way back into God's grace. Untrue! Nothing - not even our own actions - can change how much God loves you. If you walk away, he waits with open arms ready to embrace you - waiting for you to let him.
A Romans 8 summary: Christ died for you so that you would have freedom from the law and so that because your sins are covered, you have the Spirit of God living inside of you. This Spirit changes you from the inside out. You are not longer a slave to sin, but have the ability to see your life changed by God's power, in a way that you have been powerless to do yourself. Because Christ has given us his perfection, the Father embraces us as children and we have all that he offers and promises - both for this life and for eternity. He lives in us, He walks with us, He even prays for us. There is nothing in this life, nothing in this world, and even nothing that is not of this world, that can separate us from the love of God that we have through faith in Jesus Christ and his abundant sacrifice. God loves you - know it, live it, celebrate it!
Blessings to you!
Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Romans 1-3
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%201-3&version=ESV
The book of Romans is called by many, the greatest letter ever written, and I do agree.
In the book of Romans, we have the most clear definition of what salvation is.
I remember a Pastor said this is the way he outlined Romans:
Romans 1-3 - The condemnation of man
Romans 4-5 - Sanctification
Romans 6-8 - Justification
Romans 9-11 - The vindication of the people of Israel
Romans 12-16 - Application
Now, this outline is not exact, but I have found it helpful to get a broad understanding of the major themes in the book of Romans and what chapters they are presented in.
Romans 1-3 is our reading for today.
In chapter 1, we learn that men suppress the truth and that all know there is a God but they suppress the truth because they do not want to be accountable to God.
This is a general knowledge of God, via creation, which is known as general revelation. Special revelation, or the Bible, is needed for salvation. So God uses creation to stir in our hearts our longing for Him, and then He uses His Word to tell us the salvific truths necessary so that we might believe in His Son and be saved.
In Romans chapter 2, we read that Jews and Gentiles both will be accountable to God. Being a Jew is not just being of the circumcision, but it is a matter of the heart wherein a man follows the Spirit and not the letter and he receives his praise from God and not man.
In Romans 3 we read that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,
"and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." (Romans 3:24-26)
This is probably one of the most beautiful and precise theological statements in the Bible. God knew that no one would ever be able to live a sinless life, save His Son. He knew that no one would be able to perfectly be able to keep the law, save for His Son. He knew that we would all be guilty and we would not be able to avoid the condemnation of His wrath, but through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ propitiated the Father, or satisfied the wrath of God. And by thus doing so, we have been justified by His grace as a gift through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Friends, I hope you will really ponder the truths of the book of Romans as we read through this great book over the next several days.
I wish I could write on the great chapter 8 of Romans, but alas, that falls to Carol.
I am grateful to God that the book of Romans is in our Bibles. By understanding its truths and applying them to our lives, we too, as Paul wrote, can say:
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith." (Romans 1:16-17)
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
The book of Romans is called by many, the greatest letter ever written, and I do agree.
In the book of Romans, we have the most clear definition of what salvation is.
I remember a Pastor said this is the way he outlined Romans:
Romans 1-3 - The condemnation of man
Romans 4-5 - Sanctification
Romans 6-8 - Justification
Romans 9-11 - The vindication of the people of Israel
Romans 12-16 - Application
Now, this outline is not exact, but I have found it helpful to get a broad understanding of the major themes in the book of Romans and what chapters they are presented in.
Romans 1-3 is our reading for today.
In chapter 1, we learn that men suppress the truth and that all know there is a God but they suppress the truth because they do not want to be accountable to God.
This is a general knowledge of God, via creation, which is known as general revelation. Special revelation, or the Bible, is needed for salvation. So God uses creation to stir in our hearts our longing for Him, and then He uses His Word to tell us the salvific truths necessary so that we might believe in His Son and be saved.
In Romans chapter 2, we read that Jews and Gentiles both will be accountable to God. Being a Jew is not just being of the circumcision, but it is a matter of the heart wherein a man follows the Spirit and not the letter and he receives his praise from God and not man.
In Romans 3 we read that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,
"and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." (Romans 3:24-26)
This is probably one of the most beautiful and precise theological statements in the Bible. God knew that no one would ever be able to live a sinless life, save His Son. He knew that no one would be able to perfectly be able to keep the law, save for His Son. He knew that we would all be guilty and we would not be able to avoid the condemnation of His wrath, but through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ propitiated the Father, or satisfied the wrath of God. And by thus doing so, we have been justified by His grace as a gift through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Friends, I hope you will really ponder the truths of the book of Romans as we read through this great book over the next several days.
I wish I could write on the great chapter 8 of Romans, but alas, that falls to Carol.
I am grateful to God that the book of Romans is in our Bibles. By understanding its truths and applying them to our lives, we too, as Paul wrote, can say:
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith." (Romans 1:16-17)
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
2 Corinthians 10-13
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%2010-13&version=ESV
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 "For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ"
2 Corinthians 11:30 "If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness."
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
2 Corinthians 13:5 "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!"
2 Corinthians 13:11 "Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you."
2 Corinthians 10-13 is our reading today, and from it you can read the richness of Paul's writings.
I wanted to sample a few verses from each of the four chapters so that you could get a taste for them. DA Carson has written a book on these 4 chapters of 2 Corinthians titled, "A Model of Christian Maturity", and I think that is an excellent title for the contents of these chapters.
From destroying every argument raised up against the knowledge of God, to examining ourselves, to the last exhortation in 2 Corinthians 13 - to aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you, the qualities of a Gospel centered life abound.
Friends, as we enter the Christmas season and the New Year, reflect on these passages. Are you striving to live a mature Christian life?
You may be failing in this area, and to some extent, all of us are failing in this area, but by prayer and seeking fellowship with God, and renewing your mind with the truths of God Word, you can live a life of Christian maturity. A life that rests in Christ, is growing in Christ, is content with Christ, is in love with Christ, and is ready to die for Christ and live sacrificially for Christ and His Body, the Church.
I am far from this level of Maturity, but by the grace of God I would like to end with one of my favorite passages from the books of 1 and 2 Corinthians:
"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain...." (1 Corinthians 15:10)
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 "For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ"
2 Corinthians 11:30 "If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness."
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
2 Corinthians 13:5 "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!"
2 Corinthians 13:11 "Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you."
2 Corinthians 10-13 is our reading today, and from it you can read the richness of Paul's writings.
I wanted to sample a few verses from each of the four chapters so that you could get a taste for them. DA Carson has written a book on these 4 chapters of 2 Corinthians titled, "A Model of Christian Maturity", and I think that is an excellent title for the contents of these chapters.
From destroying every argument raised up against the knowledge of God, to examining ourselves, to the last exhortation in 2 Corinthians 13 - to aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you, the qualities of a Gospel centered life abound.
Friends, as we enter the Christmas season and the New Year, reflect on these passages. Are you striving to live a mature Christian life?
You may be failing in this area, and to some extent, all of us are failing in this area, but by prayer and seeking fellowship with God, and renewing your mind with the truths of God Word, you can live a life of Christian maturity. A life that rests in Christ, is growing in Christ, is content with Christ, is in love with Christ, and is ready to die for Christ and live sacrificially for Christ and His Body, the Church.
I am far from this level of Maturity, but by the grace of God I would like to end with one of my favorite passages from the books of 1 and 2 Corinthians:
"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain...." (1 Corinthians 15:10)
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
2 Corinthians 5-9
Today's passage: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%205-8&version=NIV
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
As children of God, we are blessed with a new beginning. A fresh perspective and a fresh start. With salvation comes the Holy Spirit – power beyond our imagination. Power to take our fresh start and make it count.
I love what Church Swindoll says about this verse:
Makes you think, doesn’t it? What are you doing with your new beginning? Are you relying on the power of the Holy Spirit to make the most of your new start? You were created for good works. You were created to share God’s love with the lost. You were created to display the fruits of the Spirit – patience, love, peace, joy, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. You are a new creation. Embrace it and make the most of it!
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
As children of God, we are blessed with a new beginning. A fresh perspective and a fresh start. With salvation comes the Holy Spirit – power beyond our imagination. Power to take our fresh start and make it count.
I love what Church Swindoll says about this verse:
“God steps in. Unannounced, He bursts into the soul, bringing forgiveness,
cleansing, peace, a whole new perspective and dimension. He calls it "eternal
life." New hope. New attitudes. New feelings. New direction. New destiny. The
newborn shakes his head, blinks, looks around at his first glimpse of new life,
and he can hardly believe it. And the world? Why, of course, it rushes on.
Unconcerned, busy, preoccupied; it has to "stay on schedule." Someone's eternal
new birth has occurred. Although it doesn't attract a second glance from those
standing around, God's kingdom is being silently enlarged. It happens every day
in our vast world. It even happened today. For all you know, maybe two minutes
away from your own front door.”
Makes you think, doesn’t it? What are you doing with your new beginning? Are you relying on the power of the Holy Spirit to make the most of your new start? You were created for good works. You were created to share God’s love with the lost. You were created to display the fruits of the Spirit – patience, love, peace, joy, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. You are a new creation. Embrace it and make the most of it!
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
2 Corinthians 1-4
Today's passage: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%201-4&version=NASB
What brings you comfort when you are suffering? Maybe you prefer a big hug from mom or a reassuring word from dear ole dad? Maybe a big tub of ice cream or a nice long soak in a warm bubble bath? Some people lose themselves in a nice long run in the park, and others find comfort in sex, drugs and alcohol. Still others just like to curl up on the couch with a blanket, a bowl of popcorn and some old movies.
Paul uses the word comfort ten times in five verses (2 Cor 1:3-7). His great comforter isn’t a gallon of Rocky Road ice cream or a bottle of whiskey. Paul finds comfort in “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3).
There are two experiences we can count on as children of God. One is suffering. The other is comfort. Paul found comfort in the knowledge that because he had suffered, he was able to comfort others. Second Corinthians 1:4 says God is the God of comfort, who “comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” God fills us with His comfort so that we may pour it out on others. Our experiences with suffering give us genuine, authentic empathy which allows us to comfort others.
Through his suffering, Paul also learned to depend on God: “indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead” (2 Corinthians 1:9). Suffering allows us to see God’s hand in our lives. Paul had seen God rescue him and others from hopeless situations more than once. These experiences taught Paul to trust not in himself, but in the Lord who is the giver of life, our creator and deliverer.
In times of suffering, the world offers many remedies, but as children of God, we have a remedy that is not of this world. We can look to a God who is never absent. He’s not to busy and there is no problem to small. He hears your cries and wants you to trust in Him and to look to him for comfort and guidance. Nothing of this world can fill you up like Him.
Today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe
What brings you comfort when you are suffering? Maybe you prefer a big hug from mom or a reassuring word from dear ole dad? Maybe a big tub of ice cream or a nice long soak in a warm bubble bath? Some people lose themselves in a nice long run in the park, and others find comfort in sex, drugs and alcohol. Still others just like to curl up on the couch with a blanket, a bowl of popcorn and some old movies.
Paul uses the word comfort ten times in five verses (2 Cor 1:3-7). His great comforter isn’t a gallon of Rocky Road ice cream or a bottle of whiskey. Paul finds comfort in “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3).
There are two experiences we can count on as children of God. One is suffering. The other is comfort. Paul found comfort in the knowledge that because he had suffered, he was able to comfort others. Second Corinthians 1:4 says God is the God of comfort, who “comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” God fills us with His comfort so that we may pour it out on others. Our experiences with suffering give us genuine, authentic empathy which allows us to comfort others.
Through his suffering, Paul also learned to depend on God: “indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead” (2 Corinthians 1:9). Suffering allows us to see God’s hand in our lives. Paul had seen God rescue him and others from hopeless situations more than once. These experiences taught Paul to trust not in himself, but in the Lord who is the giver of life, our creator and deliverer.
In times of suffering, the world offers many remedies, but as children of God, we have a remedy that is not of this world. We can look to a God who is never absent. He’s not to busy and there is no problem to small. He hears your cries and wants you to trust in Him and to look to him for comfort and guidance. Nothing of this world can fill you up like Him.
Today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe
Impossible Faith
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%204-7&version=NIV
I like to read about the faith of Abraham and the work God did in and through his life lived by faith. It always encourages me to read about God's promises fulfilled, though often circumstances prior to filling those promises looked impossible. I wish I could say that I had the faith of Abraham, but I don't think that I do. I am not sure I even come close. I'm not a faith rock star, but an Abraham wanna be. Anyone with me on that?
Here's why I feel that way. If you read Romans 4:18-22, we read that Abraham hoped and believed against all hope. What does it mean to believe against all hope? It means to believe in impossible circumstances. Abraham was promised that he would be the father of many nations. He was promised an off-spring. Yet his body is described as "good as dead" since he was 100 years old and his wife's womb was also dead. Still he believed. In fact, not only did he still believe, God's word says "Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised."
I wish I could ask Abraham how he did it. I want to know how one looks at impossible circumstances and still believes. All too often I look at my circumstance that aren't really all that impossible and if one barrier seems to be in the way, my faith wavers. What I'm learning though, is to grab hold of my faith again and what that takes is removing my eyes from the circumstances and putting them back on God. I think Abraham would tell me that when you put your eyes on God - the God who cannot lie, the one who is faithful and true, that your circumstances become inconsequential in comparison to God. For indeed, Abraham knew - and deep in my heart I know also - that God is not a God of the possible, but I God of the impossible. I love how Romans 4:17 describes God as Abraham believed - and then experienced - him to be. He believed in "the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were."
What an incredible truth that I pray, my friends, would plant deeply in your heart today and never be forgotten. Our God creates life when there is none - he calls things that are not as though they are and so they become. He did it at creation, he did it in the form of a little baby for a woman and a man who were as good as dead, he did it in the valley of dry bones, he did it in Elizabeth's womb, and when he raised Lazarus from the dead. Friends, he has done it time and time again in the lives of his people, and he will do it in yours and mine.
And friends, I also pray that you would hold on to the truth that the more impossible your circumstance, the more amazing it is when God moves. God's promises are an expression of His Holiness - their fulfillment a display of his glory. I once had a friend ask me about something that I am still waiting on if I wanted God to work in my life in a natural way or if I wanted him to work in a supernatural way? I will tell you today that while the waiting for promises to be fulfilled can be so hard, I would rather God move in my life in an amazing, supernatural way that bring him glory. I want to be able to speak not of a God of the possible, but of a God of the impossible. Abraham and Sarah waited many years for the fulfillment of God's promise. But imagine how that wait intensified their joy - and God's glory. I love what Sarah says - and I know what I will say one day when God steps into my waiting:
"God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me." - Genesis 21:6
My precious ones - I pray that God will bring you laughter in the near future, for he is a God who keeps his promises - he cannot help Himself - He cannot lie, and he is filled with love for you. He gives us a future because his work for us and through us - like Abraham - bring him glory, as we laugh in joy when our God of the impossible speaks life into our circumstances and calls things that are not as if they were.
I like to read about the faith of Abraham and the work God did in and through his life lived by faith. It always encourages me to read about God's promises fulfilled, though often circumstances prior to filling those promises looked impossible. I wish I could say that I had the faith of Abraham, but I don't think that I do. I am not sure I even come close. I'm not a faith rock star, but an Abraham wanna be. Anyone with me on that?
Here's why I feel that way. If you read Romans 4:18-22, we read that Abraham hoped and believed against all hope. What does it mean to believe against all hope? It means to believe in impossible circumstances. Abraham was promised that he would be the father of many nations. He was promised an off-spring. Yet his body is described as "good as dead" since he was 100 years old and his wife's womb was also dead. Still he believed. In fact, not only did he still believe, God's word says "Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised."
I wish I could ask Abraham how he did it. I want to know how one looks at impossible circumstances and still believes. All too often I look at my circumstance that aren't really all that impossible and if one barrier seems to be in the way, my faith wavers. What I'm learning though, is to grab hold of my faith again and what that takes is removing my eyes from the circumstances and putting them back on God. I think Abraham would tell me that when you put your eyes on God - the God who cannot lie, the one who is faithful and true, that your circumstances become inconsequential in comparison to God. For indeed, Abraham knew - and deep in my heart I know also - that God is not a God of the possible, but I God of the impossible. I love how Romans 4:17 describes God as Abraham believed - and then experienced - him to be. He believed in "the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were."
What an incredible truth that I pray, my friends, would plant deeply in your heart today and never be forgotten. Our God creates life when there is none - he calls things that are not as though they are and so they become. He did it at creation, he did it in the form of a little baby for a woman and a man who were as good as dead, he did it in the valley of dry bones, he did it in Elizabeth's womb, and when he raised Lazarus from the dead. Friends, he has done it time and time again in the lives of his people, and he will do it in yours and mine.
And friends, I also pray that you would hold on to the truth that the more impossible your circumstance, the more amazing it is when God moves. God's promises are an expression of His Holiness - their fulfillment a display of his glory. I once had a friend ask me about something that I am still waiting on if I wanted God to work in my life in a natural way or if I wanted him to work in a supernatural way? I will tell you today that while the waiting for promises to be fulfilled can be so hard, I would rather God move in my life in an amazing, supernatural way that bring him glory. I want to be able to speak not of a God of the possible, but of a God of the impossible. Abraham and Sarah waited many years for the fulfillment of God's promise. But imagine how that wait intensified their joy - and God's glory. I love what Sarah says - and I know what I will say one day when God steps into my waiting:
"God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me." - Genesis 21:6
My precious ones - I pray that God will bring you laughter in the near future, for he is a God who keeps his promises - he cannot help Himself - He cannot lie, and he is filled with love for you. He gives us a future because his work for us and through us - like Abraham - bring him glory, as we laugh in joy when our God of the impossible speaks life into our circumstances and calls things that are not as if they were.
Monday, December 6, 2010
The Reality of The Resurrection
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20corinthians%2015-16&version=ESV
The Resurrection is the cornerstone of Christianity and is the hope of our salvation. Paul clearly outlines the consequences of our view of the resurrection. If it didn't happen, then we are miserably poor deluded souls. But praise God, the resurrection is real. Jesus, fully God and fully man, lived a sinless life and then paid the ultimate price to redeem us from the prison of eternal damnation, hellfire, gnashing teeth, and brimstone. But the resurrection is not just for when we die. We need to live every minute in light of how we will spend eternity.
Christ is the ultimate victor and He reigns! As we ponder the majesty of the miracle of Christmas and Christ's birth, we must also keep in mind the Savior's sacrifice at the culmination of His earthly existence.
Paul wraps up his letter with some bold words of encouragement and admonishment. We would do well to heed his words.
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 Be watchful,stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.
The Resurrection is the cornerstone of Christianity and is the hope of our salvation. Paul clearly outlines the consequences of our view of the resurrection. If it didn't happen, then we are miserably poor deluded souls. But praise God, the resurrection is real. Jesus, fully God and fully man, lived a sinless life and then paid the ultimate price to redeem us from the prison of eternal damnation, hellfire, gnashing teeth, and brimstone. But the resurrection is not just for when we die. We need to live every minute in light of how we will spend eternity.
Christ is the ultimate victor and He reigns! As we ponder the majesty of the miracle of Christmas and Christ's birth, we must also keep in mind the Savior's sacrifice at the culmination of His earthly existence.
Paul wraps up his letter with some bold words of encouragement and admonishment. We would do well to heed his words.
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 Be watchful,stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Body Parts
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20corinthians%2012-14&version=NIV
"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." - 1 Corinthians 12:27
I am so glad that you are a part of the body of Christ, because you bring something to the body that I do not and cannot. You are integral part, and the body of Christ does not function the way it should without you and what you bring to it. Indeed, God has gift each one with a gift that is essential to the community - the body - of which they are a part. Some of you are part of the same body that I am, and I thank God for you because I've seen your giftedness and the difference that you make. Others are a part of another body, and I thank God that he has placed you there to make that body complete in a way that no other member can. I hope that you know and understand how essential you are to the body of Christ and the Kingdom of God. This is one of the key truths in our passage today (focusing on Ch. 12)- we have all been given Spiritual gifts to be used for the common good of the body or community of believers (vs. 7-8).
But, we also must know that our gifts aren't the same - they won't be because a body with lots of arms and no legs is worthless. God has given you a unique gift - one that should be seen as equally important as another's gift (vs.18). This diversity of gifts is intended to accomplish God's purpose in his body. I love what my study Bible stays - that God's method employs diversity to create unity. Such a wise design that only our creative, amazing God could create. So know today that if your giftedness puts you behind the scenes in the church, I thank God for your giftedness because the church cannot function without you - you are indespensable. I don't want to have to try to be in my role if I don't have you standing with me in yours. So be satisfied with your gift - it was especially chosen for you by the Holy Spirit (vs. 11).
Lastly, use your gift for the glory of God and love the body as you use it (Ch. 13). Without love, your gift is serves little purpose. Without love, we lose sight of why we have our gifts - they become a point of pride or jealousy. Without love, we cannot function as the body of Christ because love is exactly what God is - he has communicated this love to us, and commands us to love one another. With love and with everyone using their gifts according to the way the Holy Spirit has given to them, the body of Christ is a strong body - able to be Christ on earth to one another and to others. Accept your gift, use your gift, love through your gift and watch what God will do through you.
Precious friends, I pray that each of you would desire to be an active part of the body - for you are designed by God for a specific purpose and role. I pray you would know the importance of that role and feel the pleasure of using your gift for the glory of God.
Blessings to you!
Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels
"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." - 1 Corinthians 12:27
I am so glad that you are a part of the body of Christ, because you bring something to the body that I do not and cannot. You are integral part, and the body of Christ does not function the way it should without you and what you bring to it. Indeed, God has gift each one with a gift that is essential to the community - the body - of which they are a part. Some of you are part of the same body that I am, and I thank God for you because I've seen your giftedness and the difference that you make. Others are a part of another body, and I thank God that he has placed you there to make that body complete in a way that no other member can. I hope that you know and understand how essential you are to the body of Christ and the Kingdom of God. This is one of the key truths in our passage today (focusing on Ch. 12)- we have all been given Spiritual gifts to be used for the common good of the body or community of believers (vs. 7-8).
But, we also must know that our gifts aren't the same - they won't be because a body with lots of arms and no legs is worthless. God has given you a unique gift - one that should be seen as equally important as another's gift (vs.18). This diversity of gifts is intended to accomplish God's purpose in his body. I love what my study Bible stays - that God's method employs diversity to create unity. Such a wise design that only our creative, amazing God could create. So know today that if your giftedness puts you behind the scenes in the church, I thank God for your giftedness because the church cannot function without you - you are indespensable. I don't want to have to try to be in my role if I don't have you standing with me in yours. So be satisfied with your gift - it was especially chosen for you by the Holy Spirit (vs. 11).
Lastly, use your gift for the glory of God and love the body as you use it (Ch. 13). Without love, your gift is serves little purpose. Without love, we lose sight of why we have our gifts - they become a point of pride or jealousy. Without love, we cannot function as the body of Christ because love is exactly what God is - he has communicated this love to us, and commands us to love one another. With love and with everyone using their gifts according to the way the Holy Spirit has given to them, the body of Christ is a strong body - able to be Christ on earth to one another and to others. Accept your gift, use your gift, love through your gift and watch what God will do through you.
Precious friends, I pray that each of you would desire to be an active part of the body - for you are designed by God for a specific purpose and role. I pray you would know the importance of that role and feel the pleasure of using your gift for the glory of God.
Blessings to you!
Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels
Friday, December 3, 2010
1 Corinthians 5-8
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%205-8&version=ESV
1 Corinthians 6:18-20 "Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."
Sex. We have talked about it in the Bridge as we studied 1 Corinthians in class and again as we have recently finished our study of Ephesians.
But this is so important that it needs to be addressed again.
Our culture is infatuated with sex. Sex in the movies, television, Internet, billboards. Sex is displayed almost in every venue we go to.
The Corinthians were very much like our culture today. They were obsessed with sex.
Look at the arguments the Corinthians make.
In verse 12 they say that all things are lawful for them. Paul answers this by saying although you are free in Christ, all things are not helpful. He goes on further to say that he will not be enslaved by anything.
Friends, sexual intimacy is meant for marriage. It is meant to be a strong force or attraction to your mate. But when sexual relations are outside of the confines of marriage, it often becomes enslaving.
We all know of people who can not stop looking at pornography on the Internet, or saying nasty jokes, or looking lustfully at members of the opposite sex, or committing acts of sexual immorality.
Friends, in our singleness, the Lord is enabling us to get this area under control. Many think that if they get married, they will no longer look at the filth that the media espouses in the sexual realm, but that all will be fine in marriage.
Friends, that is not so. It is the GIGO principle. Garbage in, garbage out.
If you are having issues in this area, seek out help now. Confide in a Christian brother, or call the church and ask about the Barnabas Center, the counseling ministry of Second Baptist.
Friends, make a vow today to not look at pornography, lust after members of the opposite sex, commit sexual immorality, or to be involved with masturbation.
Paul gives us 4 reasons we should not be involved in sexual immorality:
1. The body is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord. (v.13)
2. Your body has become a member of Christ (v.15)
3. Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (v.19)
4. Your body is not your own, you were bought at a price, therefore glorify God with your body (v.19-20)
Friends, I am not saying this will be easy. Each of us has sinned in this area, whether it be in our thought life, the consuming of media, or in committing acts of sexual immorality and /or masturbation.
By God's grace and through the power of the Holy Spirit the Lord will deliver you from this sin.
Friends, I struggled in this area in the past. But God in His mercy and grace has given me freedom in this area. There are times I am tempted, but I go to the Lord in prayer when I am tempted and He has been faithful and delivered me each time.
To be practical, I will tell you what I have done to protect myself from sinning in this area:
1. I pray each day that I would hate the things that the Lord hates and love the things that He loves. I pray that I would hate sexual immorality, pornography, masturbation, and lust.
2. I have Covenant Eyes software on my computers at home, work, and on my cell phone. A report is emailed to about 3 accountability partners who will see what I am looking at each week. Sometimes, you need to be afraid of what you know what others are going to see you seeing, before you understand that you should not want to look at stuff or do stuff that is not pleasing to the Lord.
3. I call some friends and ask them how they are doing and they ask me how I am doing, not only in this area, but all areas. Be open and accountable with other Christian friends. We are the Body of Christ and we are to build one another up in the love of Christ.
4. I have minimized watching TV, or watching movies. I will not go to a movie that has nudity in it. The only woman I want to see nude is my future wife, and I only want to see her nude when she is my wife, not during the engagement, but on the honeymoon and on. I also have minimized the time on the Internet when I am at home. I don't log on past 10:30 at night when I am at home unless another friend is with me there and we are looking up something together.
5. I have immersed myself in the study of the Word and reading good books. Some of them are Christian, some of them are not. Some are history, or Christian fiction, or sports related. There is nothing wrong with reading other works outside of the Bible, just don't let them take priority over the Bible.
I know you are probably thinking, man, this guy is nuts. Well, 1 Corinthians 10:12 says lest the man who thinks he is standing, be careful, lest he fall.
Friends, I do not want to fall. By God's grace I will not fall. How can I say that confidently? Listen to what Jude writes:
"Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen." (Jude 24-25)
Friends, to those who are struggling, let this be your prayer. For all of us, this should be our prayer daily. Pray that the Lord would change the desires of your heart. When you feel lustful thoughts coming on, think of Christ. Take those thoughts to Christ and ask Him to change them into Holy thoughts about Him, and the work He has done for you on the Cross.
I am sorry for the long blog today, but I felt that I must be upfront about this with y'all.
Pray today that you would have a Gospel Controlled sexuality. A sexuality that glorifies the Lord.
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
1 Corinthians 6:18-20 "Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."
Sex. We have talked about it in the Bridge as we studied 1 Corinthians in class and again as we have recently finished our study of Ephesians.
But this is so important that it needs to be addressed again.
Our culture is infatuated with sex. Sex in the movies, television, Internet, billboards. Sex is displayed almost in every venue we go to.
The Corinthians were very much like our culture today. They were obsessed with sex.
Look at the arguments the Corinthians make.
In verse 12 they say that all things are lawful for them. Paul answers this by saying although you are free in Christ, all things are not helpful. He goes on further to say that he will not be enslaved by anything.
Friends, sexual intimacy is meant for marriage. It is meant to be a strong force or attraction to your mate. But when sexual relations are outside of the confines of marriage, it often becomes enslaving.
We all know of people who can not stop looking at pornography on the Internet, or saying nasty jokes, or looking lustfully at members of the opposite sex, or committing acts of sexual immorality.
Friends, in our singleness, the Lord is enabling us to get this area under control. Many think that if they get married, they will no longer look at the filth that the media espouses in the sexual realm, but that all will be fine in marriage.
Friends, that is not so. It is the GIGO principle. Garbage in, garbage out.
If you are having issues in this area, seek out help now. Confide in a Christian brother, or call the church and ask about the Barnabas Center, the counseling ministry of Second Baptist.
Friends, make a vow today to not look at pornography, lust after members of the opposite sex, commit sexual immorality, or to be involved with masturbation.
Paul gives us 4 reasons we should not be involved in sexual immorality:
1. The body is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord. (v.13)
2. Your body has become a member of Christ (v.15)
3. Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (v.19)
4. Your body is not your own, you were bought at a price, therefore glorify God with your body (v.19-20)
Friends, I am not saying this will be easy. Each of us has sinned in this area, whether it be in our thought life, the consuming of media, or in committing acts of sexual immorality and /or masturbation.
By God's grace and through the power of the Holy Spirit the Lord will deliver you from this sin.
Friends, I struggled in this area in the past. But God in His mercy and grace has given me freedom in this area. There are times I am tempted, but I go to the Lord in prayer when I am tempted and He has been faithful and delivered me each time.
To be practical, I will tell you what I have done to protect myself from sinning in this area:
1. I pray each day that I would hate the things that the Lord hates and love the things that He loves. I pray that I would hate sexual immorality, pornography, masturbation, and lust.
2. I have Covenant Eyes software on my computers at home, work, and on my cell phone. A report is emailed to about 3 accountability partners who will see what I am looking at each week. Sometimes, you need to be afraid of what you know what others are going to see you seeing, before you understand that you should not want to look at stuff or do stuff that is not pleasing to the Lord.
3. I call some friends and ask them how they are doing and they ask me how I am doing, not only in this area, but all areas. Be open and accountable with other Christian friends. We are the Body of Christ and we are to build one another up in the love of Christ.
4. I have minimized watching TV, or watching movies. I will not go to a movie that has nudity in it. The only woman I want to see nude is my future wife, and I only want to see her nude when she is my wife, not during the engagement, but on the honeymoon and on. I also have minimized the time on the Internet when I am at home. I don't log on past 10:30 at night when I am at home unless another friend is with me there and we are looking up something together.
5. I have immersed myself in the study of the Word and reading good books. Some of them are Christian, some of them are not. Some are history, or Christian fiction, or sports related. There is nothing wrong with reading other works outside of the Bible, just don't let them take priority over the Bible.
I know you are probably thinking, man, this guy is nuts. Well, 1 Corinthians 10:12 says lest the man who thinks he is standing, be careful, lest he fall.
Friends, I do not want to fall. By God's grace I will not fall. How can I say that confidently? Listen to what Jude writes:
"Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen." (Jude 24-25)
Friends, to those who are struggling, let this be your prayer. For all of us, this should be our prayer daily. Pray that the Lord would change the desires of your heart. When you feel lustful thoughts coming on, think of Christ. Take those thoughts to Christ and ask Him to change them into Holy thoughts about Him, and the work He has done for you on the Cross.
I am sorry for the long blog today, but I felt that I must be upfront about this with y'all.
Pray today that you would have a Gospel Controlled sexuality. A sexuality that glorifies the Lord.
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
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