He delivered us from so great a risk of death, and He will deliver us. We have set our hope on Him that He will deliver us again.

~ 1 Corinthians 1:10 ~

God has always been with us, God is with us now, God will always be with us.

 

 

 

 



Weather Report

Weather Report

 

 

Everything!!!! relates to scripture. My Brother George M'Lay and I were supposed to get together yesterday for lunch. Well, the weather prevented him from coming but this was his text to me.

 

"Due to Proverbs 16:9 I can't make it"

 

Now, I did not know proverbs 16:9 off the top pf my head so I had to go look it up as that was the extent of his text. Proverbs 16:9 says this...

 

"In a man's heart he plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps"

 

Amen George, Amen

Get it? Got it? Good!

Get it? Got it? Good!

"Those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view...Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us." ~ 2 Corinthians Chapter 5 ~

Let's break this down.

1. We should no longer live for our own passions and pleasures, instead live for Christ. And what is the essence of Christ? Everything he did, he did for others. Got it? Good. No more self!

2. We should not judge and condemn people by the way they look, what they have or don't have, or how they act. Instead look at people through the eyes of Christ. And how did Christ see people? He was a man of great sorrow, with a hurting heart for the lost, he loved people. He said, I did not come to condemn, but to save. Got it? Good. No more judging!

3. We are ministers of reconciliation...Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ...and how can they hear unless someone preaches it? We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors. So act like it, people are watching you. Got it? Good. Be holy! 

God desires us to have the best in life as long as we are able to keep things in perspective...

God desires us to have the best in life as long as we are able to keep things in perspective...

Deuteronomy Chapter 8. Moses is recounting the days of the Israelites over the last 40 years reminding them of where they came from, how God rescued them, and the miracles He performed. The Israelites are about to go in and posses the promised land, a land full of milk and honey. In other words, a place of wealth, luxury, good food and more, a life most people today still work hard to obtain, but be careful...

 

Deuteronomy 8:10-19 is a warning of forgetting God in our wealth, (the very wealth that God provides) this is why Jesus said in Mark 10:25, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

Deuteronomy 8:10-19, "When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you. You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today. If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed. Like the nations the Lord destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the Lord your God"

Not forgetting God in your wealth doesn't just mean remembering what He did for you, it means remembering to obey Him! You might say, "but I'm not rich" If you live in America, have a home, food in the fridge, a car, a job, a t.v., a closet full of clothes, and other luxuries...Your Rich!

So remember these Words...

Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God,

failing to observe his commands...

Rules for Holy Living

Rules for Holy Living

Since, you have been raised with Christ, Set your Hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your Minds on things above, not on earthly things.

For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory

~ Colossians 3:1-4 ~

 

The earth has nothing I desire But Jesus. Let your heart and your mind be so fixed on Jesus that you desire nothing but Him. Then, as God provides your means you will be overwhelmed with gratefulness for you did not even desire it, and yet He gave it to you anyway.

Is the Old Testament still Relevant to us Today?

Is the Old Testament still Relevant to us Today?

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life

John 3:16 is probably one of the most shared verses in the entire Bible and rightly so. But do you know what precedes it? Can you quote John 3:14 &15?

Jesus said in John 3:14-15, "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.^"

Jesus is quoting Old Testament, specifically Numbers 21:9 but let's look at verses 6-9. Prior to these verses the Israelites were complaining of being in the desert, without water, and saying they detested the miserable food. (this was the very food God was providing them) in other words, there hearts had turned away from Him, forgetting what God had done in the past, and not appreciating what He was currently doing in the present.

Now let's read 6-7 "the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.”

So Moses prayed for the people" (an intercessor)

Interesting, they sinned and were bitten by a snake (the serpent) they confessed, repented, had an intercessor, and God came to their rescue. Verses 8-9 tell us, " The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived"

The Snake or serpent, is a symbol of sin and God had Moses put it up on a pole. "Although Christ was sinless and knew no sin, (upon a pole, a Cross), he became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (1 Corinthians 5:21)

The snake lifted up, was a foreshadow of Christ becoming sin for us. It is the faith placed in this God man (Jesus) who became sin for us, that makes us well. Jesus uses this in John 3:14-15 when he tells us, "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.^"

Jesus was made sin for us and hung on a cross, lifted up. If we fix our eyes upon Him and believe, we will live. Jesus is our banner, the healer of our our souls. He took MY sin, upon Himself.

Sin bites like a serpent, it is by faith that we look unto Jesus to save us, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" Romans 5:1

Jesus used Old Testament to give foundation for the New Testament, and so should we. Let us not forget our past, so that we may have a foundation, for our present and future

The Message of the Gospel...Is Grace.

APOSTLE; a disciple of Christ commissioned to preach the gospel.
 

SEAL; fastening, confirming, closing, fixing in place

  

1 Corinthians 9:2 "Are you not the result of my work in the Lord?...You are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord"

Are you teaching and preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ? If so, there should be evidence, and that evidence should be changed lives. If what your preaching is only condemning people and not changing lives then it is imperative you examine yourself. Jesus preached many messages, not just fire and brimstone, He also taught love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. The warning of the gospel is wrath, but...
the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ is Grace.
Make sure you're preaching the whole Gospel, and that the Word of God which you deliver, by the power of the Holy Spirit, is changing lives, for this is your seal as an apostle.
 

"For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction...The Lord’s message rang out from you" (1 Thessalonians 1:4-5, 8)
 

The message we share, should by the Holy Spirit, convict of sin & lead to repentance without regret, resulting in a holy life set apart for the Lord. It should also be a seed fallen on good soil that produces fruit, fruit that will last, such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self control, and that they too would go and create more disciples of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

(VIDEO)

What is the result of your work? Is it people feeling condemned? or is it changed lives given over wholly to the Lord?
 

"Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God’s grace" ~ 1 Corinthians 1:12 ~

Ever wonder why the Israelite suffered for forty years in the desert? The answer is in the word and you might be surprised how it relates to you and me today!

Reading Numbers today, specifically, an account of the Israelites suffering in the desert. Despite all the miracles God performed in rescuing them out of Egypt and providing for them, they still grumbled, complained, and doubted. Numbers 14:11 Says's, "The Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the miraculous signs I have performed among them?" God had Moses send scouts to explore the land of Milk and Honey that He promised to give to them. The Scouts were gone for forty days and saw that it was good, it was everything God said it would be, however they were afraid because of the people who occupied the land at the time, the Scouts, instead of trusting God, in their own minds thought they were to small and weak to succeed. Because they were afraid, they came back and gave a false report, they said the land was bad, they deceived the people into believing it was not what God had promised and the people in turn grumbled, complained, and sinned.

Moses intercedes for them in Numbers 14:13-19. God answers in 14:20-24, 33-34 & 36 -37 "The Lord replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked. Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the Lord fills the whole earth, not one of the men who saw my glory and the miraculous signs I performed in Egypt and in the desert but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times, not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their forefathers. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it "..."Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the desert. For forty years—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.’

Here, we see God being faithful in salvation as they were forgiven. Salvation is a gift of grace, not of works, but because of their constant complaining, dis-obedience, & lack of trust, they were unable to experience many blessings God wished them to have. Also they were to wander the desert for forty years, one year for every day they scouted the promised land. You see, they Scouts were the ones to go out ahead of the others, they were to bring back the good news of God's promise and grace. Instead they deceived people, instead of believing God, they looked through their own eyes and were afraid. Their deception caused people to complain, grumble, and sin in disbelief.


As Christians we are to go out ahead of those who are either non believers or new believers. When we experience a trial, difficulty, or problem in our life, it should serve as an opportunity to witness God's faithfulness to people, before the deliverance, this way when it happens they will know it was of God. We are to believe God's promise of providing for us and bring the good news of God's promise back to people. Often though, like the Israelites, we, in our fear, complain, doubt, and worry, and in doing so, bring bad news, deceiving people that maybe God won't keep His promises, and cause others to stumble in doubt too.

Hebrews 11:1 tells us, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidencee of things not seen" The substance of your faith in believing God will provide for you and take you through the storm, is praise, the evidence is not worrying, not complaining, it is lifting hands in worship.

Be Joyous always, Pray continually, Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ~

Don't wander in the desert for forty years...Get found...Trust Jesus... & share the Good News! 

Believe it or not, God is not religious.

A friend and I were having dinner tonight and someone we were witnessing to told us, "I'm not religious" My first thought was, "Great! Neither is God"

When some people think of God they think of religion, fasting, being oppressed, going to church, doing things that are, well, religious. But the Bible in James 1:27 tells us this..."The only Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

 

Concerning fasting it says's...Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here I am. ~ Isaiah 58:6-9 ~

 

* Loose the chains of injustice - Do not withhold from others

 

* Set the oppressed free - Help those who are in bondage

 

* Share your food with the hungry - Don't be greedy

 

* Provide the poor with shelter - Have compassion

 

* Clothe those without - Do more than wish someone well

 

* Provide for your own - Take care of your own family

 

Then...God will answer your cry for help. Because you are dying to self, and living to intercede for others, just like Jesus did when He died on that Cross, He will intercede for you in your needs.

 

In other words... Turn from a wretched, self centered life, and Turn to a life of trusting Jesus as your Lord, Get rid of the filth in your life, Love God, Love people, Help those who can't help themselves, and Put others needs above your own. Then you are fulfilling the commandments. Matthew 22:37-40 tells us, "Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.

That doesn't sound like religion to me,

it's sounds like Love!

Did you know if you truly believe in Christ you are an Israelite? You have been adopted into God's family and are a descendant of Israel. So now what?

Remember these things, O Jacob, for you are my servant, O Israel. ... Remember these
things, Jacob: You are my servant, Israel. I formed you; you are my servant.

~ Isaiah 44:21 ~

"Servant Israel" is mention 87 times in the Bible.

Here is just a few......"O Jacob, my servant, Israel, whom I have chosen...He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful ... He said to me, "You are my servant Israel....an inheritance to his servant Israel;...God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant...Keep in mind the law of Moses, my servant...'By my servant David I will rescue my people Israel...Hear the supplications of your servant...Is Israel a servant, a slave by birth?"

Do you think God is trying to tell us something?

The Priestly Blessing

 How do you pray for people? Does it include wordly joys? Do you pray for wordly possesions?

This is what the Lord says's...

 "The Lord said to Moses, 'Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.' So they will put My name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” ~ Numbers 6:22-27 ~

The priests were solemnly to bless the people in the name of the Lord.

#1.To be under the almighty protection of God our Saviour;

#2. to enjoy his favour as the smile of a loving Father, or as the cheering beams of the sun; While God...

A. mercifully forgives our sins,

B. supplies our needs,

C. consoles the heart,

D. prepares us by his grace for eternal glory;

these things form the substance of this blessing, and the sum total of all blessings.

In so rich a list of mercies worldly joys...are not worthy to be mentioned. Here is a form of prayer. The name Jehovah is three times repeated. Many think there is some mystery; Christians know what it is, the New Testament having explained it, we are directed to expect the blessing from the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of the Father, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, 2Co 13:14; each of which Persons is Jehovah, and yet they are not three Lords, but one Lord.

To all who read this, I pray this pray over you this day...The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Detangle Yourself...

 The Levites are to be responsible for the care of the tabernacle of the Testimony ~ Numbers 1:52-53

  They that minister about holy things, should neither entangle themselves, nor be entangled, in worldly affairs. Let every believer seek to do what the Lord has commanded.

Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Distractions can be one of the enemies biggest weapons. Peter took his eyes off the Lord just for a second and started to sink like a rock. With the Holiday season upon us and Thanksgiving just a few days away, don't let the hustle and bustle, the sales, the t.v. specials, and football season, distract you from spending time alone in prayer. If you find yourself to busy, well, your going to have to choose. God or self? Even family can be a distraction with relatives stopping by. Do not forsake your family but at the same time and more importantly, DO NOT FORSAKE GOD! What distractions do you have? Time for inventory.

1 Corinthians 7:35 "And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is proper, and that you may attend upon the Lord without distraction"



What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ - Philippians 3:8

 

Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your Word... I know, O Lord that your laws are righteous and in faithfulness You have afflicted me... It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn Your laws. ~ Psalm 119:67,75,71 ~

It would be a cruel God that would allow me to always prosper in the ways I see as good, for I would never know my need of Him. Thank You God for my afflictions. Thank You Jesus that I may share in Your suffering, I wouldn't trade them for all the riches in the world.



"This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word"

~ Isaiah 66:2 ~

Let me put it this way...God Hates Pride and Arrogance but Loves the One who has a Heart that says's, I must do my best to please the Lord. 

Lord, forgive me.

"...you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.'... Is my way unjust?
Is it not your ways that are unjust?

~ Ezekiel 18:25 ~

At times, people like to think God is not fair, that somehow He should measure up to our standards instead of us measuring up to His. We tend to forget, He is God. He created us. We are the clay and He is the potter. In other words, how dare we even think such a thing. God is perfectly Holy and Just, there is no darkness in Him at all, He and all His ways are perfect regardless of whether we understand it or not. When something doesn't line up with our way of thinking, rest assured, we are wrong and He is right. We are the ones that need to change, not God.  

Pass the Salt Please...

Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings

~ Leviticus 2:13 ~

To eat salt with one is to partake of his hospitality, to derive subsistence from him; and hence he who did so was bound to look after the host's interests. (Ezra 4:14, "...we eat the salt of the palace...") A covenant of salt was a covenant of perpetual obligation (Num 18:19, 2 Chr 13:5) Disciples are likened to salt, with reference to its cleansing and preserving uses (Matt 5:13)
Leviticus 2:13 tells us, "do not leave the salt of the covenant out of your offering, add salt to all your offerings"

Christ' death and resurrection was the end of sacrifices for atonement of sin, but we are still to offer sacrifices to God. Romans 12:1 tells us "offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship" Psalm 50:23 says, "He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God."

So we as Christians are not only to add the salt of the covenant to our daily lives, but also to our praise and worship. We who eat the salt of the palace, the salt of the covenant, that is Christ, the one that cleanses us, purifies us, and preserves us, let us be ever indebted to Him, let us forever look after His interests, as we are His representatives, His Royal Priests, a Holy People set apart.(Col 3:17, 1 Peter 2:9, Deut 14:2, Ps 4:3) The way we live and the way we treat people should be with the King's best interest at heart. (Ezra 4:14 "...we are under obligation to the palace, and it is not proper for us to see the king dishonored")
Jesus' interest is Loving God and Loving People. (Saved Souls)

So let our choices in what we do, where we go, and what we watch and listen to, be salted and bring honor to God. let us always season our conversations with salt too, so that our words are as if they are the very words of God, encouraging, filled with grace and hope, and for the lifting up of others.

Romans 15:1-6 "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: 'The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.' For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

God was well pleased with him...by George M'Lay

When Jesus was thirty, the Father spoke these words about Him publicly from heaven,

"This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased." (Mt. 3:17). And that was at a time when Jesus had not done a single miracle or even preached a single sermon!

What then was the secret of His being approved by God? It was obviously not because of His ministry, for He had not even commenced His public ministry.

It was because of the type of life that He had lived for thirty years.

We are approved by God not on the basis of the success of our ministry but rather on the basis of our faithfulness in the temptations that we face in daily life.

The only two things that we are told about the hidden thirty years of Jesus' life (apart from the incident in the temple) are - that "He was tempted in all points as we are and yet did not sin"(Heb. 4:15), and that "He never pleased Himself" (Rom. 15:3).

He had faithfully resisted temptation at every point and He had never sought His own in any matter. This was what delighted the Father.

Our external accomplishments may impress worldly people and carnal believers; but God is impressed only by our character. It is our character alone that can bring us God's approval. And so if we want to know what God's opinion of us is, we must deliberately erase from our minds what we have accomplished in our ministry, and evaluate ourselves purely by our attitude towards sin and self-centredness in our thought-life. That and that alone is the infallible gauge of our spiritual condition.

Thus, the world-traveling healer/preacher and the busy mother who is never able to leave the confines of her home, have exactly the same opportunities to acquire God's approval.

This is why we shall find at the judgment seat of Christ that many who are first here in the Christian world will be last there, and many who were considered last here on earth (because they did not have a well-recognised ministry) will be first there!



It's Polite to Whisper...

Follow Very Closely!

The crowds followed Jesus, but only those closest to Him heard the rich teaching He gave along the way. There were others who followed Him from afar. (See John 19:38.) John followed Jesus as closely as he could. As a result, John heard rich truths, which he shares in his writings.

Closeness is determined by how well we can hear Jesus speak to us, and this ability is determined by how much we meditate on His Word day and night.

John was one of the three who were in Jesus' "inner circle." He was with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration and on the mount of Calvary. He sat right next to Jesus at the Last Supper and wanted to sit next to Him in His kingdom. Because of this very close relationship, John shared truths from Jesus that are found in no other gospel or epistle.

For example, John recorded the secret of intimate fellowship and effective discipleship through meditation on the commands of Christ. “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him” (John 14:21). John further emphasized the importance of meditation when he wrote, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (John 15:7).

Secrets bind the spirits of people together. Jesus wants to share His secrets with us, but we must follow closely to hear them.

Does your walk with Jesus allow Him to whisper secrets to you,

or does He have to shout to get your attention?

The more you meditate on Christ's words, the closer your walk with Him will be!

Through Christ our Lord,

Bill Gothard



A Christian response to the elections...

 No matter who you voted for, obey the Word, not your flesh...

and what does the word say?

1 Timothy 2:2 "...Pray for...all those in authority

Paul replied, "Brothers... it is written: 'Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.'

 

 

Romans 13:1 "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God"

 

 

Titus 3:1-15 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, ...
 

Luke 21:8,19 "...do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.” "... All men will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. By standing firm you will gain life"
 

Bottom Line: Lead your family in a godly manner. Let them observe a godly response. We serve a sovereign God. All authority is God placed, Pray for those in authority and do not speak ill of the them. Obey the laws that do not contradict God's laws, and joyfully suffer the consequences of obeying God's laws when they do, for you are suffering for Christ's sake! 



Run Forest Run!

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses ~ 1 Timothy 6:11-12 ~

Paul, when he made the above quote, just finished writing about the love of money, and how many, good, faith filled men, have fallen because of it, but he doesn't just inform us of what not to do, he also instructs us on what we should do 'if you have food and clothing, be content with that.' Paul doesn't say to just be careful concerning this area, he says's 'flee from it,' in other words 'run for your life  & instead take hold of the eternal life to which you were called.' God called you to be a Holy Priest, set apart for His service, so pursue, or in other words, make it your passion, to follow and gain righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. These are the things that make you rich, as with them you are storing up a great reward in Heaven. 

Spelling Lesson Number 1. Faith is spelled...OBEDIENCE.

Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever

~ Psalm 86:11-12 ~

An undivided heart is the key here. We must be completely sold out for the Lord. Nothing else in this world can have our attention, out time, or our actions. You might ask 'how could I function if that's all I did?" Well, the rest of the text says's, 'and I will walk in Your ways, I will fear Your name, I will glorify You' and that equates to OBEDIENCE. When my heart is undivided and given completely over to the Lord, I will treat my wife and kids the way I should, I will help those who can't help themselves, I will intercede for people in prayer, I will put others above myself, I will give up the passions and pleasures of the world that the Lord calls evil. Having an undivided heart is not passive meditation, it is active obedience. Andrew Murray puts it like this; "When understanding of God's Word takes place, and by faith it is received into the heart, there is surrender of will. When this takes place, the heart becomes the sanctuary of God, and the soul cries out, 'the law is in my heart'"

 

 

When only the mind believes there is pride and arrogance but when the heart believes, the result is sanctification and obedience. Oh' Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. 



Perspective...

For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills....When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me, till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. ~ Psalm 73:3-5, 16-17 ~

                                      

It's easy to be jealous and get upset when you try so hard to do what is right and then you see someone who is doing the exact opposite that seems to have it all. It's when we quit trying in our own strength however, and come into the peace of God's Holy Presence, that are eyes are opened to the big picture. Our time on earth is short, but the remainder of our time is eternal. The ungodly may have material possessions, health, leisure, and luxury, but it is the only reward they will see, the remainder of their days will be spent in eternal damnation. But the righteous in Christ Jesus, those who endure, will inherit a Kingdom like never seen before. Puts things in perspective real quick!

 

The Spirit of God's Son is in my Heart and Crys out, "Abba Father"...The earth has nothing I desire besides you!

 ~ Galatins 4:6, Psalm 73:25 ~  

 

 



Stop & Think

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens

 ~ Psalm 68:19 ~

Without God daily bearing our burdens, the weight would crush us. Psalm 62:5-8 tells us, and our hearts confirms it, "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge

I'm an Atheist...

Ever been out witnessing and had someone say as a response to the Gospel message, "I'm an Atheist" An Atheist is not someone who denies God, it is someone who believes or at least claims, there is no God. Well the next time someone tells you they are an Atheist, ask this question, "So you believe There is no God?" When they answer yes you can tell them, "Did you know the words 'there is no God' is actually in the Bible?" Now that should get their attention and enable you to be engaged in a conversation, and it's true, just not quite in the context their speaking it. Psalm 53:1-3 tells us, "The fool says in his heart, There is no God, they are corrupt, and their ways are vile..."

  (Now before you get to prideful the rest of the verse says this)  there is no one who does good. God looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. Everyone has turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one"

 

Remember, before God opened your eyes, you too were evil and wicked in His sight. As Christians we should not get into arguments over the Gospel, we are to love people and gently correct them, the purpose of this is not to prove we're right and their wrong but rather allow the word of God and the Holy Spirit to convict. 

 

A great follow up to Psalm 53:1-3 is 2 Corinthians 7:10 because it bring Hope as it tells us,

"Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret..."

This is what the Lord says...

He who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

 ~ Isaiah 43:1 ~

Stand firm knowing you are God's. You belong to God! He has redeemed you or saved you from a life separated from Himself. Fear not. If God is for you, who can possibly come against you? 

Do Not Be Afraid...

The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?

~Psalm 27:1 ~

Trust in the Lord in all things and He Himself will be your strong tower in times of trouble. 

God's Will...or...Your Will?

How are you fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how are you cut down to the ground, who did weaken the nations For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

~ Isaiah 14:12-14 ~

Five times Lucifer said ..."I will"

PRIDE

How many times per day do we say (not out loud but in our hearts), "I will" or in other words "No, I want to do it my way"

God says, "do no hate"...we say "No, they offended me, I will do it my way"

God says, "Spend time with me in prayer"...we say, "no, I want to watch T.V. I will do it my way"

God says, "Go talk to that person"...we say, "No, that would be uncomfortable, I will do it my way"

God says, "Go help that person"...we say, "No, that would inconvenience me, I will do it my way"

God says, "Be slow to speak & quick to listen"...we say, "No, I will do it my way"

Jesus said "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." Luke 22:42 And he said unto them, How is it that you sought me? knew you not that I must be about my Father's business? Luke 2:49 (Humility)

We see in Jesus that true humility is not just a reverence to God it is also obedience!
.

Not my will...but Yours!

James 4:6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble...

Before you were even formed...

New International Version (©1984)
your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

 

New Living Translation (©2007)
You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed

 

Webster's Bible Translation
Thy eyes saw my substance, yet being imperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them

No matter how you look at it...God had a plan in place for your life before you were even born! More than that, God has every moment of your life planned out. If He knows the beginning and the end, if He not only sees it, but actually planned it, don't you think it would be wise to completely trust Him with your life?

 



God believes in You!

The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. ~ Psalm 25:14 ~

God, the creator of all things, the one who breathes life into every living creature, the one who sustains the heavens and the earth, who keeps the sun and the moon and the stars in place, this God...wants to share His plans with YOU!

 

The word confide though means much more than just share it literally means "to entrust; to commit to the charge of, with a belief in the fidelity of the person entrusted; to deliver into possession of another, with assurance of safe keeping, or good management; to believe in, with assurance"

 

In other words, if you will humble yourself before God showing proper fear and respect, He in turn will make His plans for salvation know to you, but more than that, He will give you all the details and secrets of His plan, trusting and believing in you to carry them out. God is trusting you to keep safe His promises, to guard them, and to follow them. He is GIVING YOU his covenant. (deliver into possession of another) Guard it with all your heart! 

Love People.



The KEY to Life...

Let's pretend you are in the desert with nothing around for a thousand miles but sand. You have a vehicle that has enough gas to get you out of the desert but you dropped the key and can't find it. Even if you had a trunk load of money, silver, and gold, it would be useless to you, and it's to far to walk, the only thing of any value is that key. How hard would you search for the key? What if the sand was a little hot, would that stop you? What if you were hungry, would that stop you? With no other way out, is there anything that would stop you from looking for that key with intense passion? If you found it how much would you love and treasure that key?

Psalm 119 is a love letter to God's Laws. The author realizes His only hope is found in God's laws, mercy, and grace. Nothing else matters, nothing else can help him. The key to survival, the key to real happiness, the key to life...is God's commands. God's laws are not meant to weigh us down, they are given to us to bring life. Now, we can start to understand some of the authors words.

 

"The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold...I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches...Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end... Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart.... Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared. Take away the disgrace I dread, for your laws are good. How I long for your precepts! Preserve my life in your righteousness"

 

Are you lost, alone, broken down, hurt, hungry, thirsty? Humble yourself, pray, seek God's face, praise Him in the morning, thank Him in the evening, and search out God's commands with all your heart that you might obey them and live

 

 



O' Lord, my comfort in suffering is Your promise...

Before I was afflicted I went astray. But now I obey your word. It was good for me to be afflicted. I know Lord, that Your laws are righteous, and in faithfulness You have afflicted me.

~ Psalm 119:67,71,75 ~

It would be an unloving parent that gave their child every desire of their heart and never disciplined them. It would also be an unloving parent that never allowed their child to fall when learning to walk. The child would grow to be helpless, needy, selfish, greedy, and prideful, everything God despises.

 

Proverbs 22:6 tells us,

 "Train a child in the way he should go,and when he is old he will not turn from  it"

 

Know that God allows you to go through things because He loves you! 

Everyone likes receiving Gifts

1 Peter 4:10-¹⁰ Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

God has given each and every believer a wonderful gift. This gift may be prayer, evangelism, serving food, preaching, and/or teaching. Whatever your gift may be, use it to further God's kingdom, and not your own. God has called us to be His servants. Be encourage my fellow laborors as your work is not done in vain. While the works of the flesh will fade away, The things done for Christ will last for an eternity! God bless you as you serve the Lord Jesus Christ! Jesus is Lord!! 

 

Posted by Pastor Steve DeVroy

Name it and claim it...is it Biblical?

Against God's Will in 1 Samuel chapter 8 the people wanted a King to place over them so they could be like other nations. (verses 4-5) "all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.”
 

The Israelites named it and claimed it because they had a desire of their heart. Now it is true that God places desires in our heart, but if He has not specifically told you it's of Him there is a danger in naming and claiming something. You may have a desire that is not of God, and if you keep asking, Like the Israelites, He may just give it to you.
 

(verse 8) the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. In verses 10-18 God told Samuel to tell the people all they horrible things a King would do to them and cause them to go through. Their lives would become much more difficult, but they had a desire and said in verse 19 “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. They were going to name it and claim it.
 

(verse 21-22)When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the Lord. The Lord answered, “Listen to them and give them a king.” Terrible hardships followed.

Anything not of God will always end up in pain, struggle, and hardship. The Israelites learned the hard way, let us learn from their mistake, and find our example in Jesus when He said in Luke 22:42 Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done" Jesus had a desire for something too, but He knew better than to lean on his own understanding, instead he placed his trust in the Father. So instead of naming and claiming something, we would be better to be like our Lord and Saviour. "Father, if you are willing, yet not my will but yours be done" 

2 Timothy 1:6

God puts a spark of love for Himself in us, but in order to grow, we must make an effort to do the things required to keep that flame burning.

2 Timothy 1:6 tells us

"I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God..."



How to be a Biblical Super-Hero

Get Cape

Repent and believe. Mark 1:15

Wear Cape

Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 13:14

Fly
those who wait on the LORD...will mount up with wings like eagles. Isa 40:31



Bible Study and Prayer

First; studying the Bible without actually reading the Bible itself is a bleak and fruitless chore. Second; the student will only benefit from the Word of God in so far as he knows it and loves it.

~ Peter F. Ellis ~

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth"- John 1:1,14

(Jesus is the Word...You will only benefit from Jesus in so far as you know Him and love Him)

"...Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one, whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?" - Romans 10:13-14 (you cannot believe in what you don't know, you cannot call on a God you don't believe in, and how can you believe in a God whom you have not heard speak to you? Just listening to a sermon won't do it, a preacher is not God, but when he speaks the Word of God, that Word is alive, as the Word is Jesus Himself)

Read the whole Bible, read the Word of God, get to know God intimately. Also spend much, much time in quiet time of prayer, just being still in His presence, hear His voice as He speaks personally to you and you will fall in love with Him. Jesus had no sin to confess. Jesus had all the authority and power of God at His disposal. He needed nothing, and yet He snuck off often to spend time alone with God in prayer. Why? Because He wanted intimacy with His Father.

Above everything, above ministry, above evangelism, above Bible study, above sermons, above it all...Spend intimate time with your heavenly Father...if you do not, the rest will amount to little or nothing. Fall in love with Jesus and reading the Bible will be a blessing to you.

I'm gonna do something great for God!

After David was settled in his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent.” Nathan replied to David, “Whatever you have in mind, do it, for God is with you.” That night the word of God came to Nathan, saying: "Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in. I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought Israel up out of Egypt to this day. I have moved from one tent site to another, from one dwelling place to another. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their leaders whom I commanded to shepherd my people, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?” ~ 1 Chronicles 17:1-6 ~

For God's will...PRAY PRAYoften.

 

 With the best of intentions we can try to do things for God, but if God did not direct us to do it, we are wasting our time, energy, and resources as it will never do any good for His Kingdom. Psalm 127:1 tells us, "Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain"

 

 Moral of the story...

  

Even in Ministry, if God ain't in it, you shouldn't be either! 

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever

1828 Webster's Dictionary Defintion of Grace

1. Favor; good will; kindness; disposition to oblige another; as a grant made as an act of grace.

2. Appropriately, the free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from him. And if by grace,then it is no more of works. Rom.11.

3. Favorable influence of God; divine influence or the influence of the spirit, in renewing the heart and restraining from sin. My grace is sufficient for thee. 2 Cor.12.

4. The application of Christ's righteousness to the sinner. Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. Rom.5.

5. A state of reconciliation to God. Rom.5.2.

6. Virtuous or religious affection or disposition, as a liberal disposition, faith, meekness, humility, patience, &c. proceeding from divine influence.

7. Spiritual instruction, improvement and edification. Eph.4.29.

8. Apostleship, or the qualifications of an apostle. Eph. 3.8.

9. Eternal life; final salvation. 1 Pet.1.13.

10. Favor; mercy; pardon.

Today's Dicitionary Defintion of Grace.

1. Seemingly effortless beauty or charm of movement, form, or proportion.

2. A characteristic or quality pleasing for its charm or refinement.

3. A sense of fitness or propriety.

4. A disposition to be generous or helpful; goodwill.

 

5. A favor rendered by one who need not do so; indulgence.

6. A temporary immunity or exemption; a reprieve.

7. Graces Greek & Roman Mythology Three sister goddesses, known in Greek mythology as Aglaia, Euphrosyne, and Thalia, who dispense charm and beauty.

8. Divine love and protection bestowed freely on people. The state of being protected or sanctified by the favor of God. An excellence or power granted by God.

9. A short prayer of blessing or thanksgiving said before or after a meal.

10. Grace Used with His, Her, or Your as a title and form of address for a duke, duchess, or archbishop

 

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Hebrews 13:8 tells us...

 

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever"

 

Then...9 out o 10 definitions had to do with God. The other 1 had to do with loving others.

 

Today...1 out of 10 have to do with God, and most of the others about self

 

Why is the Nation in turmoil? You do the Math.

 

 

 

Tree Climbers Unite

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way ~ Luke 19:1-4 ~

Being a tax collector in those days meant being a person that cheated people, lied, and took advantage of others. Being wealthy, or rather having a love of money, was probably worse as it kept people from seeing their need of God. Our sin keeps us from seeing God's truths. Like Zacchaeus we need to get above the crowds, the noise, and the distractions of life so we can get our eyes fixed on Jesus, as the only way to open our eyes to the truth is when we look at Him. Jesus said in John 14:6 "I am the way and the truth and the life..." Obviously climbing a tree is not going to work today, but getting alone and spending quiet time in prayer does. Need to see things clearly? Put your faith and trust in the Lord. Jesus said in John 12:44-46  “When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me. (God) I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. (or sin)

So find a tree and fix your eyes on Jesus!