Saturday, October 10, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
What Is The Will Of God?
In order to establish firmly one’s faith, it is important, first
and foremost, to determine whether what you are asking
for has been promised by God. To be sure of this point, the
first thing to do is search the scriptures to learn God’s will,
(Ephesians 5:17, II Timothy 3:14-17).
The Bible is literally full of promises. If you need anything,
simply study the Bible to see if it is promised. If it is, you
can then go to God in faith, knowing that He will NOT
break His promises to you. Remember, He promises to
supply every need if you will seek the Kingdom of God
and His righteousness first, which means doing that which
is right, (Matthew 6:33).
God promises that He will provide our every material
need. He is our Father. What parent wants to lie to their
children? Our God is the perfect Father, and we can take
His word and rely upon Him when we claim His promises,
(Luke 11:8-13).
Why People Lack Faith
Most people in this world today completely lack confidence
in God, even though they say they believe in Him. They
may even pray to Him, but they have no feeling or conviction
they will receive answers to their prayers. Many others
have a tendency to wait to exercise faith until they can
work up a certain positive feeling so they can believe they
will receive an answer. That, however, is not faith.
Emotional and physical reassurance have nothing to do with
faith. Simply waiting for a warm sensation or a sign from
God is not having faith.
Real faith, living faith, which comes by God’s holy spirit
working in your mind, is a simple matter of looking up
what is said in the Bible, reading God’s promises, and then
confidently asking God for those promises to be granted...
asking Him with the total assurance that your petition will
be answered.
This assurance and confidence can be hampered by our
physical surroundings. Circumstances or situations that
look impossible, that cause us to worry, can damage
our faith.
When such situations arise, think about the example of
the Apostle Peter when he walked on water (Matthew
14:27–33). In this well-known story, Peter asked Christ,
“Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the
water" (Matthew 14:28, NKJ).
When Christ did command Peter to approach Him on the
water, Peter did so in faith. Indeed, Peter did walk on the
water -- an impossible feat in our physical world. However,
after starting out in faith, Peter allowed the winds and the
stormy seas around him to cause him to doubt, and thus he
began to sink.
Christ’s question to Peter was: “O you of LITTLE faith,
why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31, NKJ). The problem
for Peter, of course, was exactly what Christ said. Peter’s
faith was small. Peter did not have the strong faith needed
to sustain him. The faith he had was temporary, fleeting;
and his lack of faith ultimately caused him to fail.
The important lesson for us in such circumstances is that
we, too, must ask: “Why am I doubting? Is my faith small,
as Peter's was?”
What is the point, after all, of asking God, the All-Powerful
Being and Spiritual Father, the Creator of All Things, to
answer our prayers if we believe the physical circumstances
that look so bleak cannot be overcome by Him?
Remember, if you ask according to the promises that are
given in the Bible, He will not deny you. Sometimes,
however, those promises will not be fulfilled, necessarily,
in the manner or method we would expect.
God’s Gift To You!
It is important to remember that faith is a GIFT given to us by
GOD . Many professing Christians believe the rewards we
receive and the blessings God gives are from Him, but the faith
required to receive such things comes from us. That is wrong.
The truth is, we must trust God because the faith we need
comes from Him (Ephesians 2:8). Faith is not simply
believing in Jesus Christ. Real faith comes from the same
source of power that Christ used to perform miracles.
As mentioned earlier, God the Father worked miracles
through Christ by the power of His holy spirit. It is God’s
holy spirit working in us that provides the faith we
humans simply lack.
You can receive this faith by drawing close to God. This is
done by first surrendering your will to Him and learning
what His will is for you, then by replacing your desire to do
things your own way with a desire to follow Him.
Then, you must spend time praying, communicating with
God. If you do not know how to pray, find out. It is through
prayer that we begin to know God more intimately, and it is
through the process of prayer that one can build confidence
in God.
Finally, search the Bible for the many promises it contains,
looking to see whether what you are asking for is promised
there (is according to God’s will). If it is, and if you are
practicing obedience to God, then you can, through faith,
have confidence God will answer your prayer.
In order to establish firmly one’s faith, it is important, first
and foremost, to determine whether what you are asking
for has been promised by God. To be sure of this point, the
first thing to do is search the scriptures to learn God’s will,
(Ephesians 5:17, II Timothy 3:14-17).
The Bible is literally full of promises. If you need anything,
simply study the Bible to see if it is promised. If it is, you
can then go to God in faith, knowing that He will NOT
break His promises to you. Remember, He promises to
supply every need if you will seek the Kingdom of God
and His righteousness first, which means doing that which
is right, (Matthew 6:33).
God promises that He will provide our every material
need. He is our Father. What parent wants to lie to their
children? Our God is the perfect Father, and we can take
His word and rely upon Him when we claim His promises,
(Luke 11:8-13).
Why People Lack Faith
Most people in this world today completely lack confidence
in God, even though they say they believe in Him. They
may even pray to Him, but they have no feeling or conviction
they will receive answers to their prayers. Many others
have a tendency to wait to exercise faith until they can
work up a certain positive feeling so they can believe they
will receive an answer. That, however, is not faith.
Emotional and physical reassurance have nothing to do with
faith. Simply waiting for a warm sensation or a sign from
God is not having faith.
Real faith, living faith, which comes by God’s holy spirit
working in your mind, is a simple matter of looking up
what is said in the Bible, reading God’s promises, and then
confidently asking God for those promises to be granted...
asking Him with the total assurance that your petition will
be answered.
This assurance and confidence can be hampered by our
physical surroundings. Circumstances or situations that
look impossible, that cause us to worry, can damage
our faith.
When such situations arise, think about the example of
the Apostle Peter when he walked on water (Matthew
14:27–33). In this well-known story, Peter asked Christ,
“Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the
water" (Matthew 14:28, NKJ).
When Christ did command Peter to approach Him on the
water, Peter did so in faith. Indeed, Peter did walk on the
water -- an impossible feat in our physical world. However,
after starting out in faith, Peter allowed the winds and the
stormy seas around him to cause him to doubt, and thus he
began to sink.
Christ’s question to Peter was: “O you of LITTLE faith,
why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31, NKJ). The problem
for Peter, of course, was exactly what Christ said. Peter’s
faith was small. Peter did not have the strong faith needed
to sustain him. The faith he had was temporary, fleeting;
and his lack of faith ultimately caused him to fail.
The important lesson for us in such circumstances is that
we, too, must ask: “Why am I doubting? Is my faith small,
as Peter's was?”
What is the point, after all, of asking God, the All-Powerful
Being and Spiritual Father, the Creator of All Things, to
answer our prayers if we believe the physical circumstances
that look so bleak cannot be overcome by Him?
Remember, if you ask according to the promises that are
given in the Bible, He will not deny you. Sometimes,
however, those promises will not be fulfilled, necessarily,
in the manner or method we would expect.
God’s Gift To You!
It is important to remember that faith is a GIFT given to us by
GOD . Many professing Christians believe the rewards we
receive and the blessings God gives are from Him, but the faith
required to receive such things comes from us. That is wrong.
The truth is, we must trust God because the faith we need
comes from Him (Ephesians 2:8). Faith is not simply
believing in Jesus Christ. Real faith comes from the same
source of power that Christ used to perform miracles.
As mentioned earlier, God the Father worked miracles
through Christ by the power of His holy spirit. It is God’s
holy spirit working in us that provides the faith we
humans simply lack.
You can receive this faith by drawing close to God. This is
done by first surrendering your will to Him and learning
what His will is for you, then by replacing your desire to do
things your own way with a desire to follow Him.
Then, you must spend time praying, communicating with
God. If you do not know how to pray, find out. It is through
prayer that we begin to know God more intimately, and it is
through the process of prayer that one can build confidence
in God.
Finally, search the Bible for the many promises it contains,
looking to see whether what you are asking for is promised
there (is according to God’s will). If it is, and if you are
practicing obedience to God, then you can, through faith,
have confidence God will answer your prayer.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Seven Keys to Answered Prayer
Wouldn’t you love to know exactly how to pray so that all your needs are met? So often we pray, hoping that God will hear us on time and come through with the miracle we need so desperately.
Everyone has been given the measure of faith (Rom. 12: 3), and all you need is faith the size of a mustard seed! (Mat. 17: 20) Nevertheless, prayers often don’t seem to get answered. So, how can you really know that you have prayed correctly and that God has heard you?
The seven main keys to answered prayer are:
· Clarity (Mark 10: 51)
First and foremost you need to be clear about what your need is. Do you need a healing in your body now? Are you praying for a miracle for a loved one? Or do you need the Lord’s direction on how to pursue your dream? Although God knows your need before you ask, He does want you to be specific in your petition.
Like with blind Bartimaeus, the Lord wants to hear exactly what you are believing for. Do you have faith for a small portion of your needs or for a life-changing miracle?
· Courage (Josh. 1: 9)
It takes courage to keep your faith in the midst of circumstances that are trying to overwhelm and discourage you! When Joshua was in a strange land, even though it was the land God had promised him, he was faced with many powerful enemies. In the natural it was impossible to overcome the obstacles, but He was encouraged to:
“Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest.”
Fear stifles faith. The Word will keep reinforcing it until you are fully persuaded that the Lord goes with you through all your trials!
· Persistence (Heb. 11: 6)
“He is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”
To be diligent means to earnestly, full heartedly, and conscientiously pursue a goal until it is completed. Be persistent in reminding the Lord that you believe that His Promises are for you and that you expect His blessings regardless of the circumstances you are going through. Keep on keeping on!
· Vigilance (1 Pet. 5: 7 - 9)
Be vigilant because the devil will always try to turn your faith into fear. Recognize his tactics and resist him steadfastly in the faith by casting all you cares on God, who cares for you.
· Gratitude (Phil. 4: 6)
Be thankful to God for all His wondrous works. It is especially powerful to give Him praise and thanks for the answer to your prayers. It confirms your faith in God’s faithfulness to perform His Promises.
· Patience (Jas. 1: 3)
“The trying of your faith worketh patience.” The longer it takes to get your prayer answered, the more your steadfast patience will be rewarded!
· Confidence (Phil. 1: 6)
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
Put your trust fully in the fact that God can and will do everything He promises in His Word.
“If we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.“ (1 John 5: 15)
Wouldn’t you love to know exactly how to pray so that all your needs are met? So often we pray, hoping that God will hear us on time and come through with the miracle we need so desperately.
Everyone has been given the measure of faith (Rom. 12: 3), and all you need is faith the size of a mustard seed! (Mat. 17: 20) Nevertheless, prayers often don’t seem to get answered. So, how can you really know that you have prayed correctly and that God has heard you?
The seven main keys to answered prayer are:
· Clarity (Mark 10: 51)
First and foremost you need to be clear about what your need is. Do you need a healing in your body now? Are you praying for a miracle for a loved one? Or do you need the Lord’s direction on how to pursue your dream? Although God knows your need before you ask, He does want you to be specific in your petition.
Like with blind Bartimaeus, the Lord wants to hear exactly what you are believing for. Do you have faith for a small portion of your needs or for a life-changing miracle?
· Courage (Josh. 1: 9)
It takes courage to keep your faith in the midst of circumstances that are trying to overwhelm and discourage you! When Joshua was in a strange land, even though it was the land God had promised him, he was faced with many powerful enemies. In the natural it was impossible to overcome the obstacles, but He was encouraged to:
“Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest.”
Fear stifles faith. The Word will keep reinforcing it until you are fully persuaded that the Lord goes with you through all your trials!
· Persistence (Heb. 11: 6)
“He is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”
To be diligent means to earnestly, full heartedly, and conscientiously pursue a goal until it is completed. Be persistent in reminding the Lord that you believe that His Promises are for you and that you expect His blessings regardless of the circumstances you are going through. Keep on keeping on!
· Vigilance (1 Pet. 5: 7 - 9)
Be vigilant because the devil will always try to turn your faith into fear. Recognize his tactics and resist him steadfastly in the faith by casting all you cares on God, who cares for you.
· Gratitude (Phil. 4: 6)
Be thankful to God for all His wondrous works. It is especially powerful to give Him praise and thanks for the answer to your prayers. It confirms your faith in God’s faithfulness to perform His Promises.
· Patience (Jas. 1: 3)
“The trying of your faith worketh patience.” The longer it takes to get your prayer answered, the more your steadfast patience will be rewarded!
· Confidence (Phil. 1: 6)
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
Put your trust fully in the fact that God can and will do everything He promises in His Word.
“If we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.“ (1 John 5: 15)
Once an Adult twice a Child
Introduction:
We are at this time going to examine the cycle of life and how it affects all living beings.
Once a man, twice a child,” is a proverb. It’s not a Biblical one but a good one. Proverbs are brief sayings that distill wisdom into memorable words. We value proverbs because they illuminate the human experience. This proverb points out what we frequently see.
A child is born and is dependent upon someone else for everything necessary to sustain life. As the child grows and matures he or she is able to care for themselves and becomes fully functional as they progress and grow into adult hood, but all too often the adult reverts to childlike attitudes, actions and ability to function independently. This is caused by natural aging, an ill health condition such as a Stroke, Heart Attack, Parkinsons, Alchemizes disease. Many times it is a combination of ill health and natural ageing which compounds the effects. It is common to hear it said that someone is “in their second childhood” because of the way they act;
having to be told when, where and how to go, when and what to wear and eat, when to take medications, when to go to bed and when to get out of bed, many times having to wait for assistance with those activities and others such as; eating, grooming, bathing, toileting, getting up and down. After a child matures and starts to function as a young adult and enjoy life the thought never enters their mind that one day they will be dependent on others to help them with everything again. The only way to bypass this phase of life is that you die young.
Jesus referred to the cycle of life when He made His prediction of Peter’s death that would Glorify Him It is stated in (St. John21 :18) and it says: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.” When Peter was young he could have avoided this but in his old age he had no choice but to yield. That is true of all living beings.
If you have a relative or friend that is going through their second childhood you must first learn to be patient with them because they are not as quick moving as they once were and you will need to move slowly with them. They will not remember things you tell them or explain to them and many times will again request the same info that you just gave them. Finally you must learn to be considerate of their situation. Many times they will say harsh things to you and seem ungrateful for your help and will many times lash out at you. You must consider their situation and realize that they are not in control. The natural ageing affects or the illness is controlling them and causing them to act in ways or say things that they would never do or say were they in a normal state of mind and health. Realizing it is not them you must learn to ignore those outburst and not retaliate them. Helping one through the second childhood is usually more difficult than the first phase. There is however a humorous side if one is suffering from a loss in hearing or clarification. They will repeat many things they thought you said that will be totally different from what was said. It will sound similar but is so far off that it is downright funny. I had that problem and it got to the place that my grand kids would say something and ask me what they said and be ready for the laugh and I would laugh with them.
Conclusion
This short book was written as a result of experience and some extensive research to understand what was happening to me. I was 59, healthy and Jubilant when I was suddenly and unexpectedly hit by a major stroke. I never thought anything like this would happen to me. I had not been in a hospital as a patient for 40 years. I thought that other people got ill but not me. All of a sudden I had to accept the reality of having been hit by a serious illness that would change my life. I had been use to doing everything for myself and taking care of all of my financial affairs. The stroke affected some of my mental functions but I maintained my mobility and the use of my hands. I did however find that I did not see and hear as well as I had in the past. I lost my depth and motion perception. As a result of this my driving ability was severely affected. I had to accept the fact that I should no longer drive and I would be dependent on my wife to do the driving. In past years I had made my living as a traveling Co. representative that drove an average of 30,000 miles a year. My memory, comprehension of new material and my concentration was also heavily affected. Again I” had to accept the fact that my wife would be handling all of the household business matters.(What a scary thought) It was a learning process for her and an adaptive one for me. So far we have both survived. At this point I want to thank God for a dedicated Godly wife of 40 years As she stood beside my bed She said to me some of the most encouraging words I had ever heard. Her words were; “Honey you have taken care of me and the kids for 40 years We will now take care of you with the help of the Lord. After about 3 years my son stepped in and moved both of us into his house in Las Vegas that was much too large for him. This was done so that he could help his mom care for me until I was well. After 5 month with him I was hit with a second major stroke that partially paralyzed my left side. After discharge from the hospital I was admitted to a rehabilitation center to help restore my mobility and hand use. functions. As I write this I visit the center once weekly for outpatient therapy. This writing was done with one hand because the left fingers are not functional enough to press asdf. It has been hard for me to accept the constant help of others to do simple things like buttoning my right shirt sleeve, tying my shoe and washing my back in the shower. At the age of 63 I can see many of the second childhood signs creeping up on me. . My wife and son has been most helpful and supportive and I am learning to accept it. Many times for older seniors they do not realize that this is happening to them so family and friends must realize what is happening and put forth extra effort to help their loved ones through this final phase of the life cycle. I see a definite benefit in all this because God is molding me into what He wants me to ultimately be. I will be better than what I was and able to serve Him better and He will be Glorified through it all. I have grown stronger in my faith and have become better and not bitter. I hope that this short writing has been a blessing to you and was well worth the time you spent reading it.
Rev. eorgeryor Th.M.
Trinityman@cox.net
Author Resource:- http://www.revgeorge.myeweb.net
Introduction:
We are at this time going to examine the cycle of life and how it affects all living beings.
Once a man, twice a child,” is a proverb. It’s not a Biblical one but a good one. Proverbs are brief sayings that distill wisdom into memorable words. We value proverbs because they illuminate the human experience. This proverb points out what we frequently see.
A child is born and is dependent upon someone else for everything necessary to sustain life. As the child grows and matures he or she is able to care for themselves and becomes fully functional as they progress and grow into adult hood, but all too often the adult reverts to childlike attitudes, actions and ability to function independently. This is caused by natural aging, an ill health condition such as a Stroke, Heart Attack, Parkinsons, Alchemizes disease. Many times it is a combination of ill health and natural ageing which compounds the effects. It is common to hear it said that someone is “in their second childhood” because of the way they act;
having to be told when, where and how to go, when and what to wear and eat, when to take medications, when to go to bed and when to get out of bed, many times having to wait for assistance with those activities and others such as; eating, grooming, bathing, toileting, getting up and down. After a child matures and starts to function as a young adult and enjoy life the thought never enters their mind that one day they will be dependent on others to help them with everything again. The only way to bypass this phase of life is that you die young.
Jesus referred to the cycle of life when He made His prediction of Peter’s death that would Glorify Him It is stated in (St. John21 :18) and it says: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.” When Peter was young he could have avoided this but in his old age he had no choice but to yield. That is true of all living beings.
If you have a relative or friend that is going through their second childhood you must first learn to be patient with them because they are not as quick moving as they once were and you will need to move slowly with them. They will not remember things you tell them or explain to them and many times will again request the same info that you just gave them. Finally you must learn to be considerate of their situation. Many times they will say harsh things to you and seem ungrateful for your help and will many times lash out at you. You must consider their situation and realize that they are not in control. The natural ageing affects or the illness is controlling them and causing them to act in ways or say things that they would never do or say were they in a normal state of mind and health. Realizing it is not them you must learn to ignore those outburst and not retaliate them. Helping one through the second childhood is usually more difficult than the first phase. There is however a humorous side if one is suffering from a loss in hearing or clarification. They will repeat many things they thought you said that will be totally different from what was said. It will sound similar but is so far off that it is downright funny. I had that problem and it got to the place that my grand kids would say something and ask me what they said and be ready for the laugh and I would laugh with them.
Conclusion
This short book was written as a result of experience and some extensive research to understand what was happening to me. I was 59, healthy and Jubilant when I was suddenly and unexpectedly hit by a major stroke. I never thought anything like this would happen to me. I had not been in a hospital as a patient for 40 years. I thought that other people got ill but not me. All of a sudden I had to accept the reality of having been hit by a serious illness that would change my life. I had been use to doing everything for myself and taking care of all of my financial affairs. The stroke affected some of my mental functions but I maintained my mobility and the use of my hands. I did however find that I did not see and hear as well as I had in the past. I lost my depth and motion perception. As a result of this my driving ability was severely affected. I had to accept the fact that I should no longer drive and I would be dependent on my wife to do the driving. In past years I had made my living as a traveling Co. representative that drove an average of 30,000 miles a year. My memory, comprehension of new material and my concentration was also heavily affected. Again I” had to accept the fact that my wife would be handling all of the household business matters.(What a scary thought) It was a learning process for her and an adaptive one for me. So far we have both survived. At this point I want to thank God for a dedicated Godly wife of 40 years As she stood beside my bed She said to me some of the most encouraging words I had ever heard. Her words were; “Honey you have taken care of me and the kids for 40 years We will now take care of you with the help of the Lord. After about 3 years my son stepped in and moved both of us into his house in Las Vegas that was much too large for him. This was done so that he could help his mom care for me until I was well. After 5 month with him I was hit with a second major stroke that partially paralyzed my left side. After discharge from the hospital I was admitted to a rehabilitation center to help restore my mobility and hand use. functions. As I write this I visit the center once weekly for outpatient therapy. This writing was done with one hand because the left fingers are not functional enough to press asdf. It has been hard for me to accept the constant help of others to do simple things like buttoning my right shirt sleeve, tying my shoe and washing my back in the shower. At the age of 63 I can see many of the second childhood signs creeping up on me. . My wife and son has been most helpful and supportive and I am learning to accept it. Many times for older seniors they do not realize that this is happening to them so family and friends must realize what is happening and put forth extra effort to help their loved ones through this final phase of the life cycle. I see a definite benefit in all this because God is molding me into what He wants me to ultimately be. I will be better than what I was and able to serve Him better and He will be Glorified through it all. I have grown stronger in my faith and have become better and not bitter. I hope that this short writing has been a blessing to you and was well worth the time you spent reading it.
Rev. eorgeryor Th.M.
Trinityman@cox.net
Author Resource:- http://www.revgeorge.myeweb.net
How Can I Get to Heaven?
Short article: God's Plan of Salvation
If you ask most people how to get to heaven, their response will be something like this:
"If you do more good things than bad things, God will probably let you into heaven."
This false idea has caused multitudes to go to hell. There is nothing that you can do on your own that will erase the sins that you have committed.
That is the reason Jesus willingly shed his sinless blood on the cross to pay for your sins. He came to save you from the guilt of past sins and the power of sin over your life. You are about to read the most important information that you will ever read. It is called the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The word "gospel" means "message." The gospel is God's message to mankind. If you will yield to the gospel, you will be reconciled to God and you will escape eternal damnation in hell and the lake of fire. You will have abundant life right now as you walk with God in spite of all the pain and suffering that is in the world. If you are doubtful that the Bible is true, ask God for the faith to believe it and for help to understand the gospel.
Many people refer to the gospel as "good news" but it is only good news for those who receive it. To those who reject the good news, the gospel is the stench of death...eternal death. Revelation 14:6-7 tells us the message of the everlasting gospel--
"Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters."
There is only one way to do this--through the blood of Jesus Christ. Repent ye and believe the gospel!
The Bible says that no one has is good enough morally to qualify to enter heaven. Each one of us has broken God's commandments. You have personally lied and committed other sins.
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
Let God be true, but every man a liar...( Romans 3:4)
The number of good deeds you have done, including giving large amounts of money to church or charities, will not make you acceptable in the sight of God. The Bible says that you are spiritually dead in your tresspasses and sins. Your good deeds do not commend you to God in any way. You have ignored God by living our life in the way that you have seen fit.
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6)
According to the above verse, we still come up short even when we try to do good deeds because we are not doing them under God's authority. Doing good deeds in your own strength and under your own authority is an unclean thing in the sight of God.
"But I never killed anybody and I'm not a dope addict!" In God's sight you are still spiritually undone and wicked in his sight. You have broken the greatest commandment in the Bible and you are as guilty as a harlot, a whoremonger, a murderer, a thief and a liar. What is the greatest commandment?
"Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with ALL thy heart, and with ALL thy soul, and with ALL thy mind. THIS is the first and great commandment." Matthew 22:36-38
It is easy to see that you have broken this commandment every day of your life. Loving yourself and putting yourself first comes naturally. Those who are not yet reconciled to God do this as a matter of course.
If good deeds could pay for your sins then Jesus died for nothing:
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. (Galatians 2:21)
God is Holy. We are sinful. By His very nature, God cannot have fellowship with us sinners. There is no amount of "good" that we can do to make up for our crimes against God. They must be punished. And the wages of sin is DEATH- physical death (the casket) and spiritual death (when the soul is separated from God and cast into hell).
The wages of sin is death...(Romans 6:23)
God does not want to remain your enemy and He does not want you to go to Hell.
As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die... (Ezekiel 33:11)
The Lord is...not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (II Peter 3:9)
In spite of your wickedness and rebellion, God loved you enough to send His only begotten Son to die for your sins:
"... thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." (Matt 1:21).
Jesus did not die so that you could keep sinning and go to heaven. He came to save you from the guilt and the power of sin. Jesus destroyed the works of the devil on Calvary (I John 3:8). Before you surrender in faith to Jesus Christ, sin dominates you. Sin is your master and you are its servant.
You are under the wrath of a holy and just God. Murderers, thieves, fornicators, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, rebels, and all other spiritual lepers will not inherit the kingdom of God. The blood of Jesus is the propitiation for our sins. That means if we will turn in faith to Jesus Christ his blood will take way the guilt of the sins we've committed and it will usher us into a Father-child relationship with God. Through the blood of Jesus, we are to serve sin no more.
Again, the Father sent His only begotten Son, Jesus who is God, to die in your place. Remember that the wages of sin is death--that is why He died, to pay YOUR wages. The Lord Jesus Christ died in your place in order to pay for your sins and mine.
The world's greatest love story is summed up in the following verse--
For God so loved the world, that he gave his ONLY BEGOTTEN Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16
Jesus said, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13) How can you show more love than giving your very life for someone else's life? You can't. What is more amazing is that Jesus died for us WHILE WE WERE HIS ENEMIES! I mean vile, wicked, pitiful, wretched, unclean, unholy, ungodly, prideful, spiritually leperous.
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
...Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6)
God demonstrated his love for you on the cross 2,000 years ago! God is not hateful; He is loving. He gave His Son for you even though you are dead in your sins.
2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to this earth to:
(1) save you from the GUILT and POWER of your sins and
(2) RECONCILE you unto God. Through faith in the blood of Jesus you will escape the wrath to come and joyfully look forward to heaven--and you'll live an overcoming life. God will be your Father instead of your enemy--but only through the blood of Jesus.
..the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (I John 1:7)
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
After His death, the Lord's body laid in the grave three days, but praise be to God, it did not remain there. On the third day Jesus arose from the dead and was seen by over 500 people (I Corin 15:6) before He went back to heaven.
Please remember that Jesus was not some victim or just a baby in a manger--He was and is the eternal God and Savior who came to earth and gave His own blood for your sins. After He accomplished this tremendous feat, He rose from the dead like He said He would:
"Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again..." (John 10:17-18)
...Christ died for our sins...and he was buried, and...he rose again the third day... (I Corinthians 15:3-4)
Are you ready to repent of your sins? To repent means to forsake your evil ways and listen to God. All your life you've been your own authority concerning what is right and what is wrong. You've made your own decisions while ignoring what the Lord says in His holy word, the Bible. You've served yourself and not God. To repent means that you turn to GOD AND THE BIBLE AS YOUR AUTHORITY. It means you can say, "Lord everything you say in the Bible is right. If my feelings contradict the Bible I AM WRONG. Lord I want to live under YOUR AUTHORITY, not my own."
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to REPENT. (Acts 17:30)
...TURN TO GOD, AND DO WORKS MEET FOR REPENTANCE. (Acts 26:20)
Repentance must be from the heart. Are you prepared to exercise your will to live for the Lord? Jesus said:
"And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:27)
You must be willing to give up your own authority over your life and surrender it to Jesus Christ. If you want to come to Jesus Christ to be saved you must be willing to live God's way. He will give you the strength to live for him but you have got to be willing for him to tell you what to do. You must turn from living in the way that leads to death. Do you want God to be your Father rather than your enemy? Do you want the Lord and His holy ways? Do you want to be delivered from the powers of darkness you have invited into your life by sinful living? If you do, you are ready to come to Jesus Christ and be saved.
Jesus waits with open arms for those that want life. The choice is yours. If you're sick of being alienated from God, if you're tired of what this wicked and perverse world has to offer, if you want Jesus Christ as Lord of your life, if you want to be reconciled unto your Creator, if you want to go to heaven, if you want to escape hell -- put your faith in the one who can do something about it! Do you believe that Jesus Christ died for you? Do you believe that He rose from the dead? Do you repent of your sins? Do you want to follow Jesus?
If so, REPENT and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. The only one who can save you is the Lord Jesus Christ. You must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved:
When he asked, "Sirs, what MUST I do to be SAVED?" (Acts 16:30)Paul and Silas said, BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." (Acts 16:31)
If you will place your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, you will be saved from your sins and be born into the family of God:
By grace are you saved, through faith, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God Ephesians 2:8
If you have placed your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ you will begin your new life of freedom and obedience to the Lord. Now you need to (1) start reading the Bible (Authorized King James Version of 1611--begin with the gospels) and (2) you need to get yourself into a Bible-believing church that uses the King James Bible so you can get baptized and discipled in the way of Christ.
(Note: We are in the last days--the time of the falling away from the faith of Jesus. (See 2 Thessalonians 2:3) There are few churches that are scriptually sound to associate with because so many deviate from the scriptures and promote false doctrines. Read your New Testament several times and begin working through the Old Testament before you consider putting yourself under the influence of institutions that call themselves churches.)
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Warning!!!
Once you get saved, the devil will try to make sure that you encounter false doctrine. Your faith is tender and you will be prone to believe anything people tell you about the Bible (that's why you need to read it for yourself everyday). If you have any questions, please write me and I will direct you to the appropriate scriptures. Please heed these warnings:
1. Don't let anybody tell you that you have to "speak in tongues" to show that you are saved. These people take one or two passages out of context and make false doctrine out of them.
2. Don't let anyone tell you that water baptism saves you. If you are saved, you WILL get baptized out of obedience. [Make sure a godly person baptizes you. You are better off being baptized by a family member or friend in a swimming pool than by an unproven pastor that you do not know for certain is godly.] Saved people are children of obedience (Heb 5:9). The gospel and baptism are separate--I Cor 1:17. You are baptized in order to outwardly identify with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and to symbolically show the washing away of sins. So if you are trusting in your baptism to save you, you are wrong. An unrepentant sinner will go down a dry sinner and come out a wet sinner.
1 Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
3. Don't let anybody tell you that you're going to hell if you don't go to church on Saturday--Colossians 2:16, Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days.
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If you have not surrendered to Jesus Christ, I hope that you won't continue to reject His offer of eternal life. You are in a dangerous position. John 3:36 says, "...he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." You will not make it into heaven on your own "good merits" or by your own conception of Who and What God should be like. He always has His way--the choice is yours to obey Jesus Christ or reject Jesus Christ.
Suffer No Harm
by Venus Laney 1/14/2009 / Church Life.
"Saying touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm." 1 Chr 16:22
After arriving at the island of Malta, the apostle Paul was adding wood to a campfire when he was bitten on the arm by a venomous viper. But the Lord is faithful to His word the word says "He shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm" Acts 28:5Now, if you're like me and suffer from a severe phobia of the slithering kind, our carnal minds would have us believe that being bitten by a viper IS considered suffering harm! But, praise the Lord, we are not slaves to the mind of our flesh. If you continue reading, you'll see that Paul was able to continue his ministry and suffered no ill effects from the bite.This spoke volumes to me today, as I am still in prayer about a number of fresh "bites" in the body of Christ (local and afar). Why would God's children suffer from affliction and persecution when we know He is true to His word? It's all about the end result. "God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28 When we live a life submitted to God and obey His word, we can trust that no matter what the circumstances may look like, it will work out for the good and therefore no real harm will be suffered. We also know that He will not put more on us than we can bear. (1 Cor 10:13) Two scriptures from the book of John speak about the importance of the end result. In the first, the disciples had brought a blind man to Jesus and asked Him who had sinned the boy or his parents, that he would be born blind. "Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him." John 9:3 This seemingly tragic situation was turned around to become one of the miracles of Christ's ministry on earth. The end result was salvation, not just for this man, but for many others who would later read this testimony.Two chapters later, a friend of Jesus has just died despite the requests of Mary and Martha that He return to heal their brother, Lazarus. How could this happen? How could He delay His return and not heal the man that the bible describes as the "one He loved"? Jesus said "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby." John 11:4 No one could deny the miracle, or fail to glorify God alone, when after four days, Lazarus was raised from the dead at Jesus' command! The situation had to be extremely dire before the awesomeness of His mighty power could be displayed. We must endure the hard times with faith and trust that in the end, we will suffer no harm. As long as God is glorified in the overcoming, the fight (and the bite) is worth it. Venus Laney is an inspirational writer, songwriter and singer. Whether through songs of praise or written word, her personal reflection and use of God's word is meant to glorify the King and draw the listener/reader closer to Him.
by Venus Laney 1/14/2009 / Church Life.
"Saying touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm." 1 Chr 16:22
After arriving at the island of Malta, the apostle Paul was adding wood to a campfire when he was bitten on the arm by a venomous viper. But the Lord is faithful to His word the word says "He shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm" Acts 28:5Now, if you're like me and suffer from a severe phobia of the slithering kind, our carnal minds would have us believe that being bitten by a viper IS considered suffering harm! But, praise the Lord, we are not slaves to the mind of our flesh. If you continue reading, you'll see that Paul was able to continue his ministry and suffered no ill effects from the bite.This spoke volumes to me today, as I am still in prayer about a number of fresh "bites" in the body of Christ (local and afar). Why would God's children suffer from affliction and persecution when we know He is true to His word? It's all about the end result. "God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28 When we live a life submitted to God and obey His word, we can trust that no matter what the circumstances may look like, it will work out for the good and therefore no real harm will be suffered. We also know that He will not put more on us than we can bear. (1 Cor 10:13) Two scriptures from the book of John speak about the importance of the end result. In the first, the disciples had brought a blind man to Jesus and asked Him who had sinned the boy or his parents, that he would be born blind. "Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him." John 9:3 This seemingly tragic situation was turned around to become one of the miracles of Christ's ministry on earth. The end result was salvation, not just for this man, but for many others who would later read this testimony.Two chapters later, a friend of Jesus has just died despite the requests of Mary and Martha that He return to heal their brother, Lazarus. How could this happen? How could He delay His return and not heal the man that the bible describes as the "one He loved"? Jesus said "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby." John 11:4 No one could deny the miracle, or fail to glorify God alone, when after four days, Lazarus was raised from the dead at Jesus' command! The situation had to be extremely dire before the awesomeness of His mighty power could be displayed. We must endure the hard times with faith and trust that in the end, we will suffer no harm. As long as God is glorified in the overcoming, the fight (and the bite) is worth it. Venus Laney is an inspirational writer, songwriter and singer. Whether through songs of praise or written word, her personal reflection and use of God's word is meant to glorify the King and draw the listener/reader closer to Him.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Psalms study: themes of Christian forgiveness and faith
Two fundamental principles of Christian doctrine are faith and forgiveness. The Psalms teach us how these principles apply to us. Faith and forgiveness are like right and left hand to each other; they fit together perfectly. In faith that we will be heard, we ask God for forgiveness and with faith that we have been heard, we accept His forgiveness. It is by faith that we receive salvation, through Christ who died so we could be forgiven.
It is unknown when the Psalms were written and compiled, but manuscripts of the compiled text date back as early as 200 B.C. Using poetry, the Psalms tell us about God’s forgiveness, our need to forgive, His faithfulness to us and His expectation of faith from us. The Psalms are hymns, poetry meant for public performance, usually to be accompanied by music. As such, the themes of the Psalms express concepts that would have been important to their audience. Their themes are still important to us today.
Throughout the Psalms, God tells us how we can be forgiven; we just ask with faith. His willingness to forgive is universal. He doesn’t withhold the opportunity for forgiveness from anyone. “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” (Psalms 86:5) Though the Psalms predate the New Testament and teachings about the Christ, the Old Testament method of receiving forgiveness is the same as the New Testament’s method, since Christ is God.
Once we ask for forgiveness, God is faithful to forgive. “Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin.” (Psalms 85:2) He doesn’t forgive us but then keep a ledger of all our sins that He can refer back to later. He forgives and covers our sins up, making them invisible to Him. The New Testament gives us deeper understanding of this concept of God’s forgiveness. It is Christ’s blood, shed for us that covers our sins and washes them away.
When we ask forgiveness and accept with faith that it has been given, our sin is gone. Our spirit is like new again. “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalms 103:12) This renewal of the spirit is the miracle of forgiveness and faith. When we are forgiven our spirit is renewed and made whole and perfect again.
This is why asking forgiveness for sin immediately is so important. Our spirit becomes tattered with sin and we suffer for it with feelings of depression, anxiety, unhappiness, hopelessness and despair. When our sins are lifted away, our heart and spirit are renewed with hope. “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalms 51:10) This renewal of our spirit is the blessing that comes with forgiveness. “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” (Psalms 32:1)
Christians know that we have an obligation to teach God’s ways, to witness His love and mercy. (Psalms 51:13) We also have the obligation to practice what God teaches. In His behavior towards us, God models what He expects from us. This is a stumbling block for many Christians. We have been completely forgiven and renewed but hold on to the resentment and bitterness we have towards those who have hurt us. If we expect forgiveness, we must also forgive. “With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt show thyself upright;” (Psalms 18:25)
Forgiving is the right thing to do. “…but the righteous showeth mercy, and giveth.” (Psalms 37:21b) We don’t forgive because it’s good for the person we are forgiving (though it can be). We don’t forgive because the person we are forgiving deserves it. We didn’t deserve forgiveness. We forgive because it is what is right and good for us. Bitterness and resentment hurt us more than anyone else. Forgiving others brings the same renewal of spirit and blessing that we get when we ask God to forgive us. God is faithful to forgive us; we must be faithful to forgive others.
The Psalms beautifully record God’s faithful mercy in their poetry. “Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. “ (Psalms 36:5) Our capacity for faithfulness and mercy will never meet God’s. That goal is as far from our reach as the heavens and the clouds but our obligation to work at improving is not relieved. Our work on earth is to strive for perfection, to allow God to perfect us for our eternal life with Him. In order for Him to perfect us, we must have faith in Him; we must return His faithfulness with our own.
When we do return His faithfulness, we enjoy His rewards and protection. “O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.” (Psalms 31:23) Acting out faith displays obedience and willingness to let God work in our lives. When we are obedient and responsive to His will, we open up doors for blessing.
God does pay attention to our behavior. Sometimes it may not feel like it, especially when we think we have been ‘good’ and deserve something. We should avoid looking at God like a blessing dispenser. While it’s true that He does entrust the faithful with nice things sometimes, our reward for faithfulness is not things. Our reward, the reward that we should long for, is the opportunity to be God’s child, to enjoy eternal life with Him. This is the true and lasting blessing that we receive from Him. “Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me” (Psalms 101:6a)
Because God is merciful, He accepts our imperfection. He knows that we aren’t capable of perfect mercy and forgiveness or perfect faith. He only asks us to let Him work on improving us. When we show this little bit of faith, accept His forgiveness and let Him into our lives, He is pleased.
When we show others the forgiveness He has shown us, we are displaying our faith in Him. Unwillingness to forgive, bitterness and resentment are all barriers to true faith. They keep us from enjoying all that God has for us. We can best display our faith in God by forgiving those who have hurt us, just as He has forgiven us.
Two fundamental principles of Christian doctrine are faith and forgiveness. The Psalms teach us how these principles apply to us. Faith and forgiveness are like right and left hand to each other; they fit together perfectly. In faith that we will be heard, we ask God for forgiveness and with faith that we have been heard, we accept His forgiveness. It is by faith that we receive salvation, through Christ who died so we could be forgiven.
It is unknown when the Psalms were written and compiled, but manuscripts of the compiled text date back as early as 200 B.C. Using poetry, the Psalms tell us about God’s forgiveness, our need to forgive, His faithfulness to us and His expectation of faith from us. The Psalms are hymns, poetry meant for public performance, usually to be accompanied by music. As such, the themes of the Psalms express concepts that would have been important to their audience. Their themes are still important to us today.
Throughout the Psalms, God tells us how we can be forgiven; we just ask with faith. His willingness to forgive is universal. He doesn’t withhold the opportunity for forgiveness from anyone. “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” (Psalms 86:5) Though the Psalms predate the New Testament and teachings about the Christ, the Old Testament method of receiving forgiveness is the same as the New Testament’s method, since Christ is God.
Once we ask for forgiveness, God is faithful to forgive. “Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin.” (Psalms 85:2) He doesn’t forgive us but then keep a ledger of all our sins that He can refer back to later. He forgives and covers our sins up, making them invisible to Him. The New Testament gives us deeper understanding of this concept of God’s forgiveness. It is Christ’s blood, shed for us that covers our sins and washes them away.
When we ask forgiveness and accept with faith that it has been given, our sin is gone. Our spirit is like new again. “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalms 103:12) This renewal of the spirit is the miracle of forgiveness and faith. When we are forgiven our spirit is renewed and made whole and perfect again.
This is why asking forgiveness for sin immediately is so important. Our spirit becomes tattered with sin and we suffer for it with feelings of depression, anxiety, unhappiness, hopelessness and despair. When our sins are lifted away, our heart and spirit are renewed with hope. “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalms 51:10) This renewal of our spirit is the blessing that comes with forgiveness. “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” (Psalms 32:1)
Christians know that we have an obligation to teach God’s ways, to witness His love and mercy. (Psalms 51:13) We also have the obligation to practice what God teaches. In His behavior towards us, God models what He expects from us. This is a stumbling block for many Christians. We have been completely forgiven and renewed but hold on to the resentment and bitterness we have towards those who have hurt us. If we expect forgiveness, we must also forgive. “With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt show thyself upright;” (Psalms 18:25)
Forgiving is the right thing to do. “…but the righteous showeth mercy, and giveth.” (Psalms 37:21b) We don’t forgive because it’s good for the person we are forgiving (though it can be). We don’t forgive because the person we are forgiving deserves it. We didn’t deserve forgiveness. We forgive because it is what is right and good for us. Bitterness and resentment hurt us more than anyone else. Forgiving others brings the same renewal of spirit and blessing that we get when we ask God to forgive us. God is faithful to forgive us; we must be faithful to forgive others.
The Psalms beautifully record God’s faithful mercy in their poetry. “Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. “ (Psalms 36:5) Our capacity for faithfulness and mercy will never meet God’s. That goal is as far from our reach as the heavens and the clouds but our obligation to work at improving is not relieved. Our work on earth is to strive for perfection, to allow God to perfect us for our eternal life with Him. In order for Him to perfect us, we must have faith in Him; we must return His faithfulness with our own.
When we do return His faithfulness, we enjoy His rewards and protection. “O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.” (Psalms 31:23) Acting out faith displays obedience and willingness to let God work in our lives. When we are obedient and responsive to His will, we open up doors for blessing.
God does pay attention to our behavior. Sometimes it may not feel like it, especially when we think we have been ‘good’ and deserve something. We should avoid looking at God like a blessing dispenser. While it’s true that He does entrust the faithful with nice things sometimes, our reward for faithfulness is not things. Our reward, the reward that we should long for, is the opportunity to be God’s child, to enjoy eternal life with Him. This is the true and lasting blessing that we receive from Him. “Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me” (Psalms 101:6a)
Because God is merciful, He accepts our imperfection. He knows that we aren’t capable of perfect mercy and forgiveness or perfect faith. He only asks us to let Him work on improving us. When we show this little bit of faith, accept His forgiveness and let Him into our lives, He is pleased.
When we show others the forgiveness He has shown us, we are displaying our faith in Him. Unwillingness to forgive, bitterness and resentment are all barriers to true faith. They keep us from enjoying all that God has for us. We can best display our faith in God by forgiving those who have hurt us, just as He has forgiven us.
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