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Archive for May, 2012

He Cares

31 May

 Psalm 55:22 – 22 Cast your cares on the Lord
    and he will sustain you;
    he will never let the righteous fall.

He cares like no one else.  Never ignore Him.  Lean on Him. 

 

 

 

Not Man Made

30 May

Galatians 1:11-12- 11 I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

So very true.  The more one studies God’s Word the more non-human it is.  Man does not think like God on his own at all.  Only the Spirit of God allows man to begin to think the way he was made to think.

That’s why today you see such a falling away from God’s Word in the actions of those around the earth.  It doesn’t come natural to think and live the way God wants us to.  It’s contrary to our sinful nature.

An analogy that comes to mind that I will use is my own eating.

I love to eat.  My natural instinct is if a little tastes good then more is better.  However, is that correct?

No.   Almost everyone anymore knows that if you overeat or eat the wrong things that it is bad for you.  Diabetes can set in or heart failure.  You don’t feel very good and yet the natural thing for those who love to eat and can’t get a grip of it is to say that is just the way I am.  I can’t go about it any other way.

That natural thinking is wrong.  There is plenty of literature that spells out ones health fate if they are not willing to read those words and put them in their thinking and practice.  The truth is there for those who are willing to accept it.

So what do we do?  We have to make a choice.  Will I choose my own way that seems right to me or will I choose God’s way.  Because just like research into healthy eating makes all the sense in the world, reading God’s Word and studying it makes you realize it came from God.

Until someone seeks God though, they are blinded on understanding the Word.   The message isn’t hard, it’s actually very easy.  It’s just written in code and God is the decoder through the Holy Spirit.  The Bible to a non-believer is somebody else’s mail.   If they get saved all the sudden it clicks and it becomes their mail.

The Word of God is not man-made and when you realize that God predicts the future in prophecy it isn’t even written in the same dimension.  God’s Word is the Word of life.  We need to cherish it like it is.

 

A Day Of Remembering Sacrifice

28 May

Today we remember those who have sacrificed their own lives that we may live in freedom.

John 15:13 – 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

Truly one that dies for the cause of another is a hero.  It’s the true meaning of sacrifice.  Selfish people that love themselves more than others would never sacrifice their life.

The devil would never sacrifice his life for anyone.  He’s selfish and would destroy anything, everything, and anyone that would try and get in his way of being like the Most High.

How has God gone about this concerning the human race?

1 John 4:9-10 – 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

It’s not hard to discern a spirit of selfishness.  If the average American man and now in this age woman did not have a sacrificial heart, we would be in complete bondage.  Not to say that we have now almost come full circle and put ourselves back into that again.

If our Lord had not come and died for us, we all would be doomed for destruction and bondage.

Thank you Lord for loving us even when we are not lovable and sending Your Son so we may live with You forever.

 

Is Truth A Philosophy?

25 May

I think many people think that a certain philosophy leads to the truth.

The fact is, the Truth is not a philosophy but a Person.

John 14:6 – 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Jesus was praying for His disciples and said this:

John 17:17 – 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

So we know by Jesus that God’s Word is Truth.  What or Who is God’s Word?

John 1:1-2- 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.

Jesus is the Word of God.

To know Truth we need to know Jesus, which means is to know the Word of God.  The more you seek God’s Word the better you get to know Jesus and the Truth.

 

A Spirit Of Power

23 May

2 Timothy 1:7 – 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

When we are timid we have a tendency to keep everything to ourselves.  Things don’t come out with sincerity or conviction.

We don’t have to come off as out of control, that’s not the power.  The power comes from the Spirit of God.  God’s loving Spirit is powerful when you allow it to work through you.  God has self control and discipline and it needs to reflect in us as we communicate Him to others.

If you know a lot of facts about something you’re going to be more comfortable with your sharing or delivering of the message.  You won’t be intimidated by hard questions or be embarrassed by someone who is outspoken and doesn’t understand.  That is why we have to know our Lord’s message, which is His Word.

 

He Is Worthy Of Our Praise

21 May

Why should everyone who declares themselves a Christian find a place of worship with others?

One reason that is very important is He is worthy of our praise.

2 Samuel 22:4 – 4 I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.

1 Chronicles 16:25 – 25 For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.

Psalm 18:3 – 3 I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.

Psalm 48:1 – 1 Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain.

Psalm 96:4 – 4 For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.

Psalm 145:3 – 3 Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.

Revelation 5:12 – 12 In a loud voice they sang: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”

You hear lots of reasons from people on why they don’t go to church.  People irritate them.  They don’t get anything out of it.  They don’t have to go to church to be a Christian.

Do you know what all the reasons along with others not even mentioned above have in common?  They’re all about them.

What about God?  Is He worthy of our praise?

You bet He’s worthy and certainly is bigger than whatever it is that would be keeping a Christian away from fellowship.  He is worthy of our time.  He is worthy of our praise.

People that aren’t getting to a place of worship have many excuses, but in the long run it has to do with a ME issue.

As believers we need to find a place to strengthen ourselves with each other.  Make it a goal to ask loving questions to those who call themselves believers and are not attending.  Never accuse, push too hard or bash.  Just ask them some simple questions and leave it at that.

1.  Do you love the Lord?

2.  Is He worthy of your time and praise?

Remind them it’s not a punch the time clock thing.  It’s about showing God that you have time in your schedule to give Him glory and honor.  He is more than Worthy and what is it telling Him if we don’t have any time for Him?

 

We’re Fortunate Noah Found Favor In The Eyes Of The Lord

18 May

Genesis 6:5-8 – 5 The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. 6 The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. 7 So the Lord said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth —men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them. ”

8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.

God was so grieved at man’s wickedness that he was going to end mankind. 

I think it’s safe to say that God doesn’t like wickedness.  The hearts of men were evil all the time.  Not just man’s actions but just his thoughts were bent on evil. 

When does man’s heart get darker and more evil?  The further he gets from the truth of God.  The further he gets away from the Light.  Where are we at today?  Man is leaning on his own understanding more and more every day.  The Word of God, to many people, is nothing more than an advisement.  If it works for you go with it, if not don’t.  It’s like a customized insurance policy for some.  I’ll take a little of that, but see no need for that.  Exclude that, and we’ll add that endorsement.  Best of all it’s all kind of gray so we’ll interpret what’s left to say what we want it to say.

Wolves have stepped into the pulpit and the followers have no guide, because they don’t know the Word. 

Noah found favor in God’s eyes.  Why?  Was he perfect?  Not at all.

What did Noah have?  We know he had an obedient heart.  Anyone that takes that many years to build a giant ark when it hadn’t even rained yet, while being ridiculed by a generation so evil God was going to wipe them out, had an obedient heart.

David? Abraham?  Obedient hearts!

That’s what He wants from us.  Obedient hearts!  Why is there going to be a great tribulation on earth in these last days?  God is going to deal with disobedient hearts.  Some will soften them and some will never soften them.  I believe that is one (of many) reason when I study the timing of the rapture, I see the Church going before God’s wrath on mankind.

Find favor in the eyes of the Lord.  Work on having an obedient heart.

 

Paul Speaks Of The Battle

16 May

Romans 7:14-25- 14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!  So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

Wow there is a lot of information in two paragraphs there.

We are born into sin.  Until we renew our minds and seek the Lord the sin is the natural thing for fallen people.

By reading Paul’s description it becomes apparent that sin is always going to be crouching right there.  It’s not pushed away and on the sideline to never try to appear again.  We have to constantly put on the armor.

One thing I get out of this when I read it is, don’t get discouraged and roll over.  Fight.  Whatever your day or yesterday brought, put it behind you and fight.  Don’t get discouraged and just slip further away from the Lord because it’s no use.  Fight.  Seek.

The more we can make our mind a slave the more we can fight off the law of sin waging against us.  The Lord wants victory in our lives, not defeat.

 

Is Being On The Opposite Side Of What God Says Okay?

15 May

Is Being On The Opposite Side Of What God Says Okay?

If God in His Word says something isn’t okay and you say that it is okay, which side are you on?

Answer:  You’re on the opposite side of God regarding that issue.

hose who don’t know God’s Word and that are listening to the world are being swayed to think opposite of God.

In the last days this is to happen more and more as people chase after their own understanding and desires of their hearts.

2 Peter 3:3 – First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.

2 Timothy 4:3-5 – For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

Sincerity doesn’t define truth.  God defines Truth.  That’s why it is important for people to seek Him and not the things that make sense to the human race.

Being on the right side of God will matter more than anything.

Matthew 7:  –21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!

 

Grant Jeffrey Dies

14 May

There is some sad news in the Bible Prophecy circle.  Grant Jeffrey passed away on Friday May 11th.

Grant was one of my favorite Bible Prophecy teachers and I will greatly miss him.  His website is one of the few links that I have on the side of my blog.  You can click on it to see the message and his website.

However, even though it is a sad day for us and we will miss him and his continued ministry, what a glorious day for him.  One of Grant’s books was on Heaven.

Keep his wife close in your prayers.  Both he and Kaye worked side by side in their ministry.