And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Galatians 5:24
Recommended Reading
Genesis 4:1-16
Cain, the son of Adam and Eve and brother of Abel, is mentioned nineteen times in Scripture. Sixteen of them are in Genesis 4 where his story is told, and the other three occur in the New Testament where he is used as a negative example. Not a sterling legacy to leave behind!
What tarnished Cain's reputation? The Bible says only that God "did not respect Cain and his offering" (Genesis 4:5). Something in Cain's response to God--he became "very angry, and his countenance fell"--provides a clue. Anyone who gets angry when corrected legitimately by an authority reveals a selfish streak, caring ultimately only about self. Perhaps Cain was expected to bring an animal sacrifice like Abel did, but he brought fruits of the field instead, something that was handy for him. Leviticus 3:16 says it is the fat part of the animal sacrifice that becomes a "sweet aroma" to the Lord.
Submitting to God means exchanging selfishness for selflessness, living for Christ instead of living for self. Christians should be selflessness, not selfishness, personified.
Selfishness is never so exquisitely selfish as when it is on its knees.
A. W. Tozer
Showing posts with label abuse.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label abuse.. Show all posts
Monday, August 2, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
How are you doing on the Great Commission ?
The Saddest Words
And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness."
Matthew 7:23
Recommended Reading
Revelation 20:11-15
Suppose you had been living on a piece of property for twenty years and you decided to sell. When it was time to have an updated survey of the property prepared, the surveyor gave you bad news: You are not the registered owner of your property! Somehow, your name was never entered in the county's book of deeds and registrations. You know you own the property but the county registrar does not.
The absence of a name in a deed book can usually be remedied with supporting documentation. But there is one book of names that, once it is opened by God, cannot be changed. And that is the Lamb's Book of Life (Revelation 21:27). In that book are the names of all who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. For Jesus to say, "I never knew you; depart from Me" will be the saddest words anyone could ever hear. The only thing that could be as bad would be for a Christian to hear those words spoken to a person he had the opportunity to influence toward a decision for Christ. What will Jesus say to such a person?
If you know someone to whom Jesus will one day say, "I never knew you," tell that person how to avoid that sad day.
Every single believer is a God-ordained agent of evangelism.
R. B. Kuiper
And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness."
Matthew 7:23
Recommended Reading
Revelation 20:11-15
Suppose you had been living on a piece of property for twenty years and you decided to sell. When it was time to have an updated survey of the property prepared, the surveyor gave you bad news: You are not the registered owner of your property! Somehow, your name was never entered in the county's book of deeds and registrations. You know you own the property but the county registrar does not.
The absence of a name in a deed book can usually be remedied with supporting documentation. But there is one book of names that, once it is opened by God, cannot be changed. And that is the Lamb's Book of Life (Revelation 21:27). In that book are the names of all who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. For Jesus to say, "I never knew you; depart from Me" will be the saddest words anyone could ever hear. The only thing that could be as bad would be for a Christian to hear those words spoken to a person he had the opportunity to influence toward a decision for Christ. What will Jesus say to such a person?
If you know someone to whom Jesus will one day say, "I never knew you," tell that person how to avoid that sad day.
Every single believer is a God-ordained agent of evangelism.
R. B. Kuiper
Monday, June 21, 2010
The Love of the Father
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" (I John 3:1, NIV)
God gave us earthly fathers to emulate just a fraction of our heavenly Father's love and care for us. Maybe your father was faithful to this model, and maybe he wasn't. What's most important is that we learn to fix our eyes on the One who created us and who can love us, as we were meant to be loved.
Let's take a look at God's love for us as demonstrated in the parable of the prodigal son found in Luke 15. I would argue that this account is actually about the father more than it is about either of the two sons. Jesus shared this story because He wanted us to know what His Father is like. It richly portrays the love that our heavenly Father has towards us.
Christ wants us to know how God the Father feels when one of His children deliberately goes his or her own way, lives as if He doesn't exist or takes all of the blessings from the hand of the Father and then totally ignores Him. This is why Jesus tells us a story about two lost sons; one who was lost in the far country and the other who was lost at home.
The younger son deliberately and premeditatedly left home, while the father waited for him. In order to comprehend the depth of the father's sorrow here, you must understand that in Middle Eastern culture it would be unthinkable for a son to come to his father and ask for part of his estate. He basically would be saying, "Father, I wish you were dead. Hurry up and die so I can get my hands on your money."
Jesus impresses upon us how incredible, how indescribable, how inexhaustible the love and patience of God are. Even though the father is suffering in agony over the son's rebellion and rejection, he lets him go. The father could have tried to stop the boy, but he didn't. He could have sent a servant to follow the boy and report back to him, but he didn't.
But at last the son comes to his senses and returns home. The father could have told him, "You stupid, foolish boy. You caused me all this worry and pain. Now you're just slinking back to me when you're out of money and desperate." Or he could have said, "You thought you were going to be a big shot in the big city - now look at you. If you want my forgiveness, you need to prove you really mean it." But that's not what happened because it is not representative of how our heavenly Father relates to us.
The Bible says that the father "ran to his son" (v. 20). You say, "Well, isn't that sweet? Isn't that wonderful?" But there's an even deeper meaning here. In Middle Eastern culture, particularly in the days of Jesus, men never ran. In that culture, running is considered degradation.
Can you see the cross here? Remember how the Father humiliated Himself in the Son as He hung on the cross in order to provide forgiveness for sins?
What does the Father in heaven do when a sinner repents of their sin and says, "Lord, forgive me?" He embraces them and grants them forgiveness, and He puts His own robe on them. He gives them the assurance that they are a part of His family forever, and there is a celebration in heaven at the news (v. 10). Then when we join Him in eternity, He will wipe every tear from our eyes (Rev. 7:17), just as the father did for the Prodigal Son.
You - or someone you know - may be in the far country and away from God. In this state, you feel anxious and alone - maybe even fearful. I want to remind you this Father's Day that your heavenly Father is waiting for you and ready to receive you with open arms. All you need to do is surrender to Him, leave the wandering behind and come home.
God gave us earthly fathers to emulate just a fraction of our heavenly Father's love and care for us. Maybe your father was faithful to this model, and maybe he wasn't. What's most important is that we learn to fix our eyes on the One who created us and who can love us, as we were meant to be loved.
Let's take a look at God's love for us as demonstrated in the parable of the prodigal son found in Luke 15. I would argue that this account is actually about the father more than it is about either of the two sons. Jesus shared this story because He wanted us to know what His Father is like. It richly portrays the love that our heavenly Father has towards us.
Christ wants us to know how God the Father feels when one of His children deliberately goes his or her own way, lives as if He doesn't exist or takes all of the blessings from the hand of the Father and then totally ignores Him. This is why Jesus tells us a story about two lost sons; one who was lost in the far country and the other who was lost at home.
The younger son deliberately and premeditatedly left home, while the father waited for him. In order to comprehend the depth of the father's sorrow here, you must understand that in Middle Eastern culture it would be unthinkable for a son to come to his father and ask for part of his estate. He basically would be saying, "Father, I wish you were dead. Hurry up and die so I can get my hands on your money."
Jesus impresses upon us how incredible, how indescribable, how inexhaustible the love and patience of God are. Even though the father is suffering in agony over the son's rebellion and rejection, he lets him go. The father could have tried to stop the boy, but he didn't. He could have sent a servant to follow the boy and report back to him, but he didn't.
But at last the son comes to his senses and returns home. The father could have told him, "You stupid, foolish boy. You caused me all this worry and pain. Now you're just slinking back to me when you're out of money and desperate." Or he could have said, "You thought you were going to be a big shot in the big city - now look at you. If you want my forgiveness, you need to prove you really mean it." But that's not what happened because it is not representative of how our heavenly Father relates to us.
The Bible says that the father "ran to his son" (v. 20). You say, "Well, isn't that sweet? Isn't that wonderful?" But there's an even deeper meaning here. In Middle Eastern culture, particularly in the days of Jesus, men never ran. In that culture, running is considered degradation.
Can you see the cross here? Remember how the Father humiliated Himself in the Son as He hung on the cross in order to provide forgiveness for sins?
What does the Father in heaven do when a sinner repents of their sin and says, "Lord, forgive me?" He embraces them and grants them forgiveness, and He puts His own robe on them. He gives them the assurance that they are a part of His family forever, and there is a celebration in heaven at the news (v. 10). Then when we join Him in eternity, He will wipe every tear from our eyes (Rev. 7:17), just as the father did for the Prodigal Son.
You - or someone you know - may be in the far country and away from God. In this state, you feel anxious and alone - maybe even fearful. I want to remind you this Father's Day that your heavenly Father is waiting for you and ready to receive you with open arms. All you need to do is surrender to Him, leave the wandering behind and come home.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Are you a disciple of Christ ?
BIBLE MEDITATION:
1 Corinthians 1:9 - “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
John Calvin was one of the greatest theologians who ever lived. He said, “I gave up all for Christ and what have I found? I have found everything in Christ.” Do you wish you could say that too? You can. Just don’t get confused about what it means to “give up all” to find Christ. So many think that being a disciple means they must get into a movement or go to the mission field or attend seminary. Friend, being a disciple is fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ — knowing Jesus intimately and following Him wherever He leads. Fellowship with Christ comes before service for Christ. We must minister to Jesus before we can minister to anyone else.
ACTION POINT:
Are you praying about where you fit in the body of Christ as His disciple? Spend some time fellowshipping with Him this week and the answer will come.
1 Corinthians 1:9 - “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
John Calvin was one of the greatest theologians who ever lived. He said, “I gave up all for Christ and what have I found? I have found everything in Christ.” Do you wish you could say that too? You can. Just don’t get confused about what it means to “give up all” to find Christ. So many think that being a disciple means they must get into a movement or go to the mission field or attend seminary. Friend, being a disciple is fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ — knowing Jesus intimately and following Him wherever He leads. Fellowship with Christ comes before service for Christ. We must minister to Jesus before we can minister to anyone else.
ACTION POINT:
Are you praying about where you fit in the body of Christ as His disciple? Spend some time fellowshipping with Him this week and the answer will come.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Do you go to fellowship with other like minded believers ?
Hebrews 10:25 - “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Do you know what is happening in America today? People who claim to be Christians are not getting involved and becoming faithful to a church — the local fellowship of believers. Such a thing was unheard of in the Bible. If you were a Christian, you were faithful to the fellowship. You attended when everyone gathered together. If you stopped attending, they assumed that you were an apostate. What is more important than the local visible expression of the body of Christ? It is the way we stay “plugged in” to the needs of the body of Christ. It is the way we show honor to Him in worship. It is simply the way.
ACTION POINT:
What do you have on your schedule this week that is more important than being a part of the blood-bought body of the Lord Jesus Christ?
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Do you know what is happening in America today? People who claim to be Christians are not getting involved and becoming faithful to a church — the local fellowship of believers. Such a thing was unheard of in the Bible. If you were a Christian, you were faithful to the fellowship. You attended when everyone gathered together. If you stopped attending, they assumed that you were an apostate. What is more important than the local visible expression of the body of Christ? It is the way we stay “plugged in” to the needs of the body of Christ. It is the way we show honor to Him in worship. It is simply the way.
ACTION POINT:
What do you have on your schedule this week that is more important than being a part of the blood-bought body of the Lord Jesus Christ?
Friday, May 14, 2010
Are you saved by works or grace ?
Ephesians 2:8-9 - “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
If you think you’re going to get to heaven by your good works, I guarantee you will always wonder if you’ve done enough. You will not have a “know-so” salvation. You will have a “hope-so” salvation. Rather than standing up straight in confidence like an exclamation point, you will be bent over and wondering like a question mark. That is, until you understand that it’s all by grace. Suppose everybody who wanted to be saved had to run around the block. Some can’t run. What if you had to read a chapter in the Bible to be saved? Some can’t read. But there is one thing that can make the promise sure, and that is grace.
ACTION POINT:
Who can you share this Good News with today? Think of at least one person, and ask God to give you a bold love and a divine opportunity to do just that.
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
If you think you’re going to get to heaven by your good works, I guarantee you will always wonder if you’ve done enough. You will not have a “know-so” salvation. You will have a “hope-so” salvation. Rather than standing up straight in confidence like an exclamation point, you will be bent over and wondering like a question mark. That is, until you understand that it’s all by grace. Suppose everybody who wanted to be saved had to run around the block. Some can’t run. What if you had to read a chapter in the Bible to be saved? Some can’t read. But there is one thing that can make the promise sure, and that is grace.
ACTION POINT:
Who can you share this Good News with today? Think of at least one person, and ask God to give you a bold love and a divine opportunity to do just that.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Who is the Trinity ?
Scriptures: Genesis 1:1, Gen. 1:26, Gen. 11:7.
Intro
Q. If you were asked to explain the Trinity… how many of us would be able to do it ? (and that’s when the enemy will attack us, in our moment of either doubt or maybe we might feel it’s just not that important to know ?)
Now, let me first say that I don’t understand all there is to know about God, not sure if there is anyone that does know EVERYTHING about the only one true God.
Yes, I said one true God, because there is only one God, and He is revealed in Three Persons… I heard a preacher that I admire say “when you get to heaven, don’t expect to see three God’s”(which you won’t see three gods and there aren’t three God’s now) and then he went on to say that God the Father is revealed in Jesus Christ, in other words there is no God the Father/God the Son/God the Holy Spirit, (this is usually called the oneness doctrine), but this doctrine is not accurate….as we will see, because God the Father is not God the Son and God the Son is not God the Holy Spirit !
But let us submerge ourselves in the Scriptures and see what God’s Word says, shall we ? (that’s always worked for me.)
This topic is what the Lord has put on my heart….Because, there are many cults out there, and they are strongly against the doctrine of the Trinity…
So let’s start with the plurality of the Godhead, ok ?
Genesis 1:1
I.
The word God used in Genesis 1:1 in the original language is ĕlôhı̂ym / el-o-heem'/ אלהים
This is the plural name of God, in Hebrew.
The plurality of persons in the Godhead is: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. If you listening say amen. (One God, revealed in three persons) Not three Gods revealed in One person.
(This name was Used in the Old Testament about 2500 times.)
There are at least two times when this name of God was used in the Scriptures, in these two verses, we will see the Trinity…
Like in Gen 1:26: And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: (this is the first talk about man, first discussed in Scripture)
(at the Tower of Babel)
Also another was: Gen 11:7: let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. (this is the arrogance of man wanting to do things our own way, not much has changed since then…)
And that’s when God first changed the language of man, at one time we all spoke the same language.
God the Father
Now, in the Trinity we first have God the Father.
The Scripture where God the Father is actually described of is here in the Book of Daniel Chap. 7 v. 9:
Dan 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
(But wait…isn’t Jesus described similar like this in the Book of Revelation ?)
Well let’s see….
Rev 1:13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
Rev 1:14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
(so in Revelation, this is speaking of Christ, however in the Book of Daniel, this is God the Father spoken of here, let’s continue.)
(Now, we will see if the oneness doctrine has any weight to it. And we will see if Jesus is also God the Father.)
(Now let’s go back and look at Daniel Chapter 7)
Dan 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
Dan 7:14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
(So as we can see, this description of these are two separate persons, one person is the Ancient of days (God the Father), and the second person is the Son of man (Christ), and we know that there is one that has the Title of the Son of man/ the Man Christ Jesus…) ok, so we see from Scripture that Christ is Christ and the Father is the Father, two separate person’s….
Now, do we pray to God the Father/God the Son or God the Holy Spirit ? and the answer is yes…. Because the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit is God .
But Jesus told His disciples: In Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Now, Jesus does tell us to pray to God the Father. However, because the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit is God, it is perfectly alright to pray to either the Holy Spirit,the Son or the Father.
God the Holy Spirit
Now Who is the Holy Spirit ?
The Holy Spirit is God/the third Person in the Trinity, but what does Scripture say…
Well in Psalms 51:11 (David) says: Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
(Before Christ died and was raised from the dead and went to glory, the Holy Spirit came upon men in the O.T./ But now we know that the Holy Spirit comes in to live within the Believer in Christ….)
Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
(This is a verse that really helped me know for a fact that when I got saved, I received the Holy Spirit and was sealed.)
(When I first got saved we were going to a Pentecostal church and some of the teaching was that you had to pray and wait on the Holy Spirit and the evidence was that you spoke in tongues)
And actually a missionary/evangelist told me that you might have a piece of the Holy Spirit, but not all of the Holy Spirit…..
And that you don’t get the full Holy Spirit when you first accept Jesus.
So when I studied the Scriptures I realized, that was not accurate teaching…
(2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. )……amen ?
Q. Another question that came to me is, does the Holy Spirit leave you ? or can you lose your salvation ?
Well, let’s look at what Scripture says:
Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
(We see here that the Holy Spirit seal’s you until the day when Christ comes for his purchased possession/ the day of redemption.)
Also we see that the Holy Spirit can be grieved, because He first of all is a Person and that He lives within the believer…
Q. Now is the Holy Spirit- God ?
Always go to the Scripture, and we must, know when each Scripture needs to be applied at the right time..
1Thessalonians 4:8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
Act 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
Act 5:4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
God the Son
Is Jesus really the Son of God ?
Well, the short answer is yes ! but because the Son of God has many enemies, let’s go to the Scripture’s…..
I saved the Son of God last because He is the target since He came to earth ….the prophecies point to the Lord Jesus the Christ…..
Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
As we just read, Matthew 3:16 was about the Spirit of God, well now the Father is speaking,at least we know that John the Baptist heard this…. So we see that God the Father says who Jesus is.
There are Many other religions that doesn’t believe that Jesus is God, like Muslims they say, that God doesn’t have any children…and the Witness’ say that Jesus is not God, and then we have the Mormons that say, Jesus is the half brother of Satan….
So we MUST (someone say must) be able to defend our faith to the non-believers, amen ?
1Pe 3:15 says: But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every everyone that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
But did anyone else know that Jesus is the Christ ?
Well, let’s ask someone who was with Christ for some 3 ½ yrs
2Pe 1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, (listen to this) but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
2Pe 1:17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
2Pe 1:18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
We have so far have God the Father who called Jesus His Son, the apostle who witnessed this on another occasion.
But, someone told me that Jesus never called Himself God… (what do you say to that, if someone asked you that ?)
Well, did Jesus actually call Himself God or the Son of God ?
Let’s go to the Word:
John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
John 8:59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid.
( The reason the Jews wanted to stone Jesus is because when He said I am, He was saying, the name of God (Exodus_3:14); it speaks of his self-existence; he does not say, I was, but I am, for he is the first and the last, like in (Rev. 1:8); thus he was not only before Abraham, but before all persons that were created, because Christ had no beginning ! like in: John_1:1...
let’s look at some more Scriptures
(woman in Samaria with mulitiple husbands)
John 4:25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
John 4:26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
(this is the man born blind)
John 9:35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?
John 9:36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?
John 9:37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.
John 9:38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
Someone else spoke of Christ: John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Now, only God is to be worshipped, not even angels (like John in the Book of Revelation tried to do and the angel said, don’t do it, I am also a worshipper of God.
And when someone tried to accept worship… listen to what happened to this guy..
Act 12:22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
Act 12:23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
And last one, who else said that Jesus is Lord ?
You and not just you, but every soul will, either willing or with no choice !!!
(listen)
Philippians 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Philippians 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Philippians 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
So saints even though the actual word Trinity isn’t in the Scripture’s, it’s still the same /concept/idea, which is:
As we see in Scripture God is revealed in three Person’s….
God the Father/ God the Son/ God the Holy Spirit.
So we must not let noone tell us any different of who God is, there is One God, revealed in three Person’s….amen ?
Intro
Q. If you were asked to explain the Trinity… how many of us would be able to do it ? (and that’s when the enemy will attack us, in our moment of either doubt or maybe we might feel it’s just not that important to know ?)
Now, let me first say that I don’t understand all there is to know about God, not sure if there is anyone that does know EVERYTHING about the only one true God.
Yes, I said one true God, because there is only one God, and He is revealed in Three Persons… I heard a preacher that I admire say “when you get to heaven, don’t expect to see three God’s”(which you won’t see three gods and there aren’t three God’s now) and then he went on to say that God the Father is revealed in Jesus Christ, in other words there is no God the Father/God the Son/God the Holy Spirit, (this is usually called the oneness doctrine), but this doctrine is not accurate….as we will see, because God the Father is not God the Son and God the Son is not God the Holy Spirit !
But let us submerge ourselves in the Scriptures and see what God’s Word says, shall we ? (that’s always worked for me.)
This topic is what the Lord has put on my heart….Because, there are many cults out there, and they are strongly against the doctrine of the Trinity…
So let’s start with the plurality of the Godhead, ok ?
Genesis 1:1
I.
The word God used in Genesis 1:1 in the original language is ĕlôhı̂ym / el-o-heem'/ אלהים
This is the plural name of God, in Hebrew.
The plurality of persons in the Godhead is: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. If you listening say amen. (One God, revealed in three persons) Not three Gods revealed in One person.
(This name was Used in the Old Testament about 2500 times.)
There are at least two times when this name of God was used in the Scriptures, in these two verses, we will see the Trinity…
Like in Gen 1:26: And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: (this is the first talk about man, first discussed in Scripture)
(at the Tower of Babel)
Also another was: Gen 11:7: let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. (this is the arrogance of man wanting to do things our own way, not much has changed since then…)
And that’s when God first changed the language of man, at one time we all spoke the same language.
God the Father
Now, in the Trinity we first have God the Father.
The Scripture where God the Father is actually described of is here in the Book of Daniel Chap. 7 v. 9:
Dan 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
(But wait…isn’t Jesus described similar like this in the Book of Revelation ?)
Well let’s see….
Rev 1:13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
Rev 1:14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
(so in Revelation, this is speaking of Christ, however in the Book of Daniel, this is God the Father spoken of here, let’s continue.)
(Now, we will see if the oneness doctrine has any weight to it. And we will see if Jesus is also God the Father.)
(Now let’s go back and look at Daniel Chapter 7)
Dan 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
Dan 7:14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
(So as we can see, this description of these are two separate persons, one person is the Ancient of days (God the Father), and the second person is the Son of man (Christ), and we know that there is one that has the Title of the Son of man/ the Man Christ Jesus…) ok, so we see from Scripture that Christ is Christ and the Father is the Father, two separate person’s….
Now, do we pray to God the Father/God the Son or God the Holy Spirit ? and the answer is yes…. Because the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit is God .
But Jesus told His disciples: In Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Now, Jesus does tell us to pray to God the Father. However, because the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit is God, it is perfectly alright to pray to either the Holy Spirit,the Son or the Father.
God the Holy Spirit
Now Who is the Holy Spirit ?
The Holy Spirit is God/the third Person in the Trinity, but what does Scripture say…
Well in Psalms 51:11 (David) says: Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
(Before Christ died and was raised from the dead and went to glory, the Holy Spirit came upon men in the O.T./ But now we know that the Holy Spirit comes in to live within the Believer in Christ….)
Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
(This is a verse that really helped me know for a fact that when I got saved, I received the Holy Spirit and was sealed.)
(When I first got saved we were going to a Pentecostal church and some of the teaching was that you had to pray and wait on the Holy Spirit and the evidence was that you spoke in tongues)
And actually a missionary/evangelist told me that you might have a piece of the Holy Spirit, but not all of the Holy Spirit…..
And that you don’t get the full Holy Spirit when you first accept Jesus.
So when I studied the Scriptures I realized, that was not accurate teaching…
(2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. )……amen ?
Q. Another question that came to me is, does the Holy Spirit leave you ? or can you lose your salvation ?
Well, let’s look at what Scripture says:
Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
(We see here that the Holy Spirit seal’s you until the day when Christ comes for his purchased possession/ the day of redemption.)
Also we see that the Holy Spirit can be grieved, because He first of all is a Person and that He lives within the believer…
Q. Now is the Holy Spirit- God ?
Always go to the Scripture, and we must, know when each Scripture needs to be applied at the right time..
1Thessalonians 4:8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
Act 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
Act 5:4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
God the Son
Is Jesus really the Son of God ?
Well, the short answer is yes ! but because the Son of God has many enemies, let’s go to the Scripture’s…..
I saved the Son of God last because He is the target since He came to earth ….the prophecies point to the Lord Jesus the Christ…..
Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
As we just read, Matthew 3:16 was about the Spirit of God, well now the Father is speaking,at least we know that John the Baptist heard this…. So we see that God the Father says who Jesus is.
There are Many other religions that doesn’t believe that Jesus is God, like Muslims they say, that God doesn’t have any children…and the Witness’ say that Jesus is not God, and then we have the Mormons that say, Jesus is the half brother of Satan….
So we MUST (someone say must) be able to defend our faith to the non-believers, amen ?
1Pe 3:15 says: But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every everyone that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
But did anyone else know that Jesus is the Christ ?
Well, let’s ask someone who was with Christ for some 3 ½ yrs
2Pe 1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, (listen to this) but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
2Pe 1:17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
2Pe 1:18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
We have so far have God the Father who called Jesus His Son, the apostle who witnessed this on another occasion.
But, someone told me that Jesus never called Himself God… (what do you say to that, if someone asked you that ?)
Well, did Jesus actually call Himself God or the Son of God ?
Let’s go to the Word:
John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
John 8:59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid.
( The reason the Jews wanted to stone Jesus is because when He said I am, He was saying, the name of God (Exodus_3:14); it speaks of his self-existence; he does not say, I was, but I am, for he is the first and the last, like in (Rev. 1:8); thus he was not only before Abraham, but before all persons that were created, because Christ had no beginning ! like in: John_1:1...
let’s look at some more Scriptures
(woman in Samaria with mulitiple husbands)
John 4:25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
John 4:26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
(this is the man born blind)
John 9:35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?
John 9:36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?
John 9:37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.
John 9:38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
Someone else spoke of Christ: John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Now, only God is to be worshipped, not even angels (like John in the Book of Revelation tried to do and the angel said, don’t do it, I am also a worshipper of God.
And when someone tried to accept worship… listen to what happened to this guy..
Act 12:22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
Act 12:23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
And last one, who else said that Jesus is Lord ?
You and not just you, but every soul will, either willing or with no choice !!!
(listen)
Philippians 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Philippians 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Philippians 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
So saints even though the actual word Trinity isn’t in the Scripture’s, it’s still the same /concept/idea, which is:
As we see in Scripture God is revealed in three Person’s….
God the Father/ God the Son/ God the Holy Spirit.
So we must not let noone tell us any different of who God is, there is One God, revealed in three Person’s….amen ?
Sunday, April 18, 2010
How's your grip on the Lord ?
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13
Recommended Reading
Revelation 6:1-8
How many times have we read an account in the news like this: "When I thought I wouldn't survive, I thought of my wife and children. The thought of never seeing them again gave me the strength to hang on. I literally thought I was going to die. Once I survived and was reunited with my family, I realized that the pain and anguish was worth it."
The Book of Revelation pictures a future that is going to be painful for those on planet earth. Not the least of coming travails are those represented by the "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" in Revelation 6:1-8. The white horse represents a leader bent on conquering the world; the red horse, worldwide war; the black one, worldwide famine; and the pale horse, death for a fourth of humanity by violent and tragic means. For anyone who becomes a Christian after the Rapture of the Church, that is, during the Tribulation, they will have to ask themselves, "How can I survive?" And the answer will be the same as for Christians who experience suffering now: "through Jesus Christ who strengthens me."
If you are losing your grip on life today, let the promise of seeing Christ face-to-face give you new strength (1 Corinthians 13:12).
Our greatest problem in suffering is unbelief.
Philippians 4:13
Recommended Reading
Revelation 6:1-8
How many times have we read an account in the news like this: "When I thought I wouldn't survive, I thought of my wife and children. The thought of never seeing them again gave me the strength to hang on. I literally thought I was going to die. Once I survived and was reunited with my family, I realized that the pain and anguish was worth it."
The Book of Revelation pictures a future that is going to be painful for those on planet earth. Not the least of coming travails are those represented by the "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" in Revelation 6:1-8. The white horse represents a leader bent on conquering the world; the red horse, worldwide war; the black one, worldwide famine; and the pale horse, death for a fourth of humanity by violent and tragic means. For anyone who becomes a Christian after the Rapture of the Church, that is, during the Tribulation, they will have to ask themselves, "How can I survive?" And the answer will be the same as for Christians who experience suffering now: "through Jesus Christ who strengthens me."
If you are losing your grip on life today, let the promise of seeing Christ face-to-face give you new strength (1 Corinthians 13:12).
Our greatest problem in suffering is unbelief.
The Test of Impartial Love
James 2:1-13
Q. Has anyone ever showed favoritism to anyone ?
Intro/ (Now) The writer of this letter is not James, the brother of John (the apostle), but he was the half brother of Jesus….
Because that James, was killed by Herod in the Book of Acts, (12).
What is so special about this James is that he….(like most of his family) did not believe who Jesus said He was….until after the Resurrection.
I. Chap.2 v.1
Don’t be someone who has this type of faith that looks at someone & shows favoritism……
a.) Why ?....because, we are ambassadors for Christ…this is a high calling, saints !
b.) We shouldn’t look at people and say within yourself, (this person must be Highly Blessed…) look at the way they are dressed !!! (look at the money/car’s/homes..
c.) Because, if (they) are not being a wise steward of what the Lord has given to you…..it’s gonna be trouble…
d.) Because to much is given-much is required…
e.) In Luke 12: 34: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also…
II. (v.2-4)
Gold rings/ (not common, then) here, fine apparel, speaks about a wealthy, rich person….( Bill gates, Oprah) type of person…
a.) Just because your rich, doesn’t mean that you’re closer to God…..
b.) And there’s a flipside to that….just because you’re poor….doesn’t mean, you are closer to God, because you are poor, either…
c.) I heard a comedian say once….he thinks that Blacks and because of Slavery…should automatically….go to heaven…..(well, that contradicts the Bible) and if that was true, then ever Hebrew in the wilderness went to heaven even though they didn’t believe in God…..
d.) Now let’s also remember not to get this passage twisted either, because there is room for respect, honor to certain leaders in the church…
e.) I Timothy 5:17, says: Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor , especially they who labor in the word and doctrine.
III. (v.5)
In general (the poor ) of this world: meaning those that are generally considered poor to us…/more likely to be used to advance the kingdom.
a.) Now, this doesn’t mean, just because your poor, you will ingerit the kingdom….(No)….listen….
b.) look again at (v.5) last part of that verse….(to them that love Him)
c.) Cause, there are poor people who hate God, for different reasons…
- some because they look at the rich driving (the Bentley’s)/living good..
- someone like a drug dealer or someone who isn’t a God-fearer..
d.) It’s to those who endure the testing of our faith until the end….(amen)
e.) And this is not just someone entering the kingdom, but ruling w/ Christ… ( II Timothy 2:11,12 read)
IV. (v.6,7)
It is the rich that are mostly the oppressors…..
a.)
The poor is waiting for that blessed hope & better things in the Lord Jesus…
b.) So respecting a person of this (sinful) world on account of their riches or outward appearance is a sin…
c.) Why ?, because if you (we) have a misunderstanding of thinking that this World’s goods are what life is all about….then we are missing the purpose of the kingdom of God.
d.) Because, so many of the rich in our society….have No place for the Lord Jesus in their lives…
e.) He is the farthest part of their life..
f.) Look at who put’s the law’s in place that’s against almost every part of God’s Word….those in Power positions..
g.) So as ambassadors for Christ/ it makes us look exceedingly sinful and foolish to support & look up to those who are against the Word of God…..
h.) That name of Christ…..what does that name mean to you ?...
i.) Because that name reflects, Honor, gives worth to us that wear that holy name !!!!
V. (8-11)
Royal law….basically is the law of love/ a law superior to all other laws…
Read ( Leviticus 19:15)
a.) What did Jesus say was the 2 greatest Commandments ?
-Love the Lord your God w/ all your heart, soul and mind…
-and the Second is like unto it/
you shall love your neighbor as yourself.
b.) God isn’t in favor of selective obedience…
c.)We as Christians must (someone say must) practice the law of love the (agape type/unconditional)
VI. (v.12,13)
Everyone in the day of judgment will fall into 1 of 2 categories…
a.) Either you will be among the vessels of wrath or vessel of mercy.
Which will you be ?
b.) The Bible says: Blessed are the merciful, for they will obtain mercy…..
c.) So, what we must do for our own good is to show love and mercy to all people..
-Especially when they don’t deserve it, now, is that right ?
Q. How much love are we to have to our neighbor ?
- ok, well the reason I ask is this, Can you think of the worst thing someone can do to you ?...& then think of the worst/most hurtful thing someone can say to you….
The worst….got it?
Now, could you share the gospel to that person?....w/ loving intentions?!
Because, if you can, at that moment….then the Love of Christ is reigning in your heart….but if not, then maybe you are still a babe in that area of your life…..not all area’s…. But maybe in this area of your growth/maturity…
We must not be judges on appearance alone, but observe the character of a person, regardless of appearances… Let’s love God w/ all our heart & love our neighbor as we love ourselves...Amen?
The Test of Impartial Love…let’s not fail this test…
Q. Has anyone ever showed favoritism to anyone ?
Intro/ (Now) The writer of this letter is not James, the brother of John (the apostle), but he was the half brother of Jesus….
Because that James, was killed by Herod in the Book of Acts, (12).
What is so special about this James is that he….(like most of his family) did not believe who Jesus said He was….until after the Resurrection.
I. Chap.2 v.1
Don’t be someone who has this type of faith that looks at someone & shows favoritism……
a.) Why ?....because, we are ambassadors for Christ…this is a high calling, saints !
b.) We shouldn’t look at people and say within yourself, (this person must be Highly Blessed…) look at the way they are dressed !!! (look at the money/car’s/homes..
c.) Because, if (they) are not being a wise steward of what the Lord has given to you…..it’s gonna be trouble…
d.) Because to much is given-much is required…
e.) In Luke 12: 34: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also…
II. (v.2-4)
Gold rings/ (not common, then) here, fine apparel, speaks about a wealthy, rich person….( Bill gates, Oprah) type of person…
a.) Just because your rich, doesn’t mean that you’re closer to God…..
b.) And there’s a flipside to that….just because you’re poor….doesn’t mean, you are closer to God, because you are poor, either…
c.) I heard a comedian say once….he thinks that Blacks and because of Slavery…should automatically….go to heaven…..(well, that contradicts the Bible) and if that was true, then ever Hebrew in the wilderness went to heaven even though they didn’t believe in God…..
d.) Now let’s also remember not to get this passage twisted either, because there is room for respect, honor to certain leaders in the church…
e.) I Timothy 5:17, says: Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor , especially they who labor in the word and doctrine.
III. (v.5)
In general (the poor ) of this world: meaning those that are generally considered poor to us…/more likely to be used to advance the kingdom.
a.) Now, this doesn’t mean, just because your poor, you will ingerit the kingdom….(No)….listen….
b.) look again at (v.5) last part of that verse….(to them that love Him)
c.) Cause, there are poor people who hate God, for different reasons…
- some because they look at the rich driving (the Bentley’s)/living good..
- someone like a drug dealer or someone who isn’t a God-fearer..
d.) It’s to those who endure the testing of our faith until the end….(amen)
e.) And this is not just someone entering the kingdom, but ruling w/ Christ… ( II Timothy 2:11,12 read)
IV. (v.6,7)
It is the rich that are mostly the oppressors…..
a.)
The poor is waiting for that blessed hope & better things in the Lord Jesus…
b.) So respecting a person of this (sinful) world on account of their riches or outward appearance is a sin…
c.) Why ?, because if you (we) have a misunderstanding of thinking that this World’s goods are what life is all about….then we are missing the purpose of the kingdom of God.
d.) Because, so many of the rich in our society….have No place for the Lord Jesus in their lives…
e.) He is the farthest part of their life..
f.) Look at who put’s the law’s in place that’s against almost every part of God’s Word….those in Power positions..
g.) So as ambassadors for Christ/ it makes us look exceedingly sinful and foolish to support & look up to those who are against the Word of God…..
h.) That name of Christ…..what does that name mean to you ?...
i.) Because that name reflects, Honor, gives worth to us that wear that holy name !!!!
V. (8-11)
Royal law….basically is the law of love/ a law superior to all other laws…
Read ( Leviticus 19:15)
a.) What did Jesus say was the 2 greatest Commandments ?
-Love the Lord your God w/ all your heart, soul and mind…
-and the Second is like unto it/
you shall love your neighbor as yourself.
b.) God isn’t in favor of selective obedience…
c.)We as Christians must (someone say must) practice the law of love the (agape type/unconditional)
VI. (v.12,13)
Everyone in the day of judgment will fall into 1 of 2 categories…
a.) Either you will be among the vessels of wrath or vessel of mercy.
Which will you be ?
b.) The Bible says: Blessed are the merciful, for they will obtain mercy…..
c.) So, what we must do for our own good is to show love and mercy to all people..
-Especially when they don’t deserve it, now, is that right ?
Q. How much love are we to have to our neighbor ?
- ok, well the reason I ask is this, Can you think of the worst thing someone can do to you ?...& then think of the worst/most hurtful thing someone can say to you….
The worst….got it?
Now, could you share the gospel to that person?....w/ loving intentions?!
Because, if you can, at that moment….then the Love of Christ is reigning in your heart….but if not, then maybe you are still a babe in that area of your life…..not all area’s…. But maybe in this area of your growth/maturity…
We must not be judges on appearance alone, but observe the character of a person, regardless of appearances… Let’s love God w/ all our heart & love our neighbor as we love ourselves...Amen?
The Test of Impartial Love…let’s not fail this test…
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
I once was a Muslim....
This is my conversion from Islam to Christianity.
I was raised in an A.M.E. Church, (African Methodist Episcopal) for the first 18 yrs of my life… But never really understood the Biblical story, I loved the church service, it was fun, the music was exciting, but still I never had any type of relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
One day in Sunday School class, I asked some hard question’s to the teacher, but my question’s were not satisfying to me…
Also around the same time, I was working part time at my mom’s job, and I met a guy, who was a Muslim…After watching him and talking with him for a couple of months, and also paying attention to a woman who said she was a Christian, mis-treat this guy, who always treated her with respect, it showed me something, that your behavior should reflect your
Faith..
So with a friend, I started to attend the Mosque’s in Brooklyn,N.Y. and their teaching sounded ok to me, then I started to read their material and didn’t know how to defend their own faith…..also the quran, after a couple of months, I took my shahada/in other words get born again (as far as Islam goes) and I told my mother/grandmother and they were not happy, but they themselves, were not grounded enough to show me their faith in Christianity…and like many other Christians,
What that did for me is make my new found religion even more sure to me, that I was following the right religion at first….
By the age of 19, I went into the military and met many Christians and again, they didn’t know how to defend their faith….(which just strengthened my religion to me) and some time in the U.S. Navy, I met my wife in Pascagoula, Mississippi. She was from Mobile, Alabama. She wasn’t saved but after some years later, maybe like the last couple of years, there was a difference in my wife…Suddenly she was going to Church more….but her life to me, changed little, until the last year or two (2001-2003). But around that time within me, I kept feeling am I really in the right religion ?.... Because this is my eternal destiny I am talking about here, I will only get one chance at this, and there are no do over’s…..
While at work, I met a preacher, and he asked me if I went to Church with my family….and I told him no, and he then said, a man should always go to Church with his family, so I told him, there are other ways of going to Heaven, then Church….
So, he basicly told me that if I didn’t believe in Jesus I was going to Hell, after he told me that I was hot, and searched in the Bible now I had disputed many other Christians before, so I looked in the Book of Revelations and tried to find a verse, that I wasn’t able to find….Instead I ended up reading the whole Book of Revelations, and by the time I got to the end, I was sure that God loved me and that Jesus was the Christ the Son of the living God,now you would think that by reading the Book of Revelations, that is what converted me…
But when I look back at that time in my life, it wasn’t just reading that Book, I had read the Bible before, (certain parts) also leading up to that point, that year in my spirit I had a deep feeling that I could not explain, that I wasn’t sure about my religion anymore, what was happening was God was causing the seeds in my heart from a child to grow….also what changed my life was that God showed His glory to me….and at that time, I had a choice to make, to either to accept God or continue to deny Him…..I don’t believe it was just the evidence alone…..God had changed my heart/ and also gave me the faith also that I needed.. ( Ephesians 2:8,9)
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
From the time I got saved about the third week of November 2003, until maybe a week later, I was sure God was putting in my heart to preach His Word.
So, I went back to the preacher that helped me see the gospel of Christ and asked him when do you know if the Lord is calling you to preach ?
So, he told me you won’t be able to rest, and the calling won’t leave, basically you will know….
He also told me that this isn’t something you want to play around with, you must be absolutely sure about that calling….and I knew it was….
Not too long after my conversion, I felt the need to ask the Lord for wisdom and also to understand the Scriptures so I would not lead no one wrongly, and then later I felt the desire to mostly listen to teaching and scholars/theologians as well…..
God had given me the gifts that I ask for and also the gift of teaching…. I can now understand why the Lord said, teachers will be judged more strictly, because people keep that teaching with them and it (the Word) guides them also….
By what has happened to my life, has also affected my wife, because she now reads and not just reads but studies the Word for herself, to God be the glory for what He has done…..
Amen….
I was raised in an A.M.E. Church, (African Methodist Episcopal) for the first 18 yrs of my life… But never really understood the Biblical story, I loved the church service, it was fun, the music was exciting, but still I never had any type of relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
One day in Sunday School class, I asked some hard question’s to the teacher, but my question’s were not satisfying to me…
Also around the same time, I was working part time at my mom’s job, and I met a guy, who was a Muslim…After watching him and talking with him for a couple of months, and also paying attention to a woman who said she was a Christian, mis-treat this guy, who always treated her with respect, it showed me something, that your behavior should reflect your
Faith..
So with a friend, I started to attend the Mosque’s in Brooklyn,N.Y. and their teaching sounded ok to me, then I started to read their material and didn’t know how to defend their own faith…..also the quran, after a couple of months, I took my shahada/in other words get born again (as far as Islam goes) and I told my mother/grandmother and they were not happy, but they themselves, were not grounded enough to show me their faith in Christianity…and like many other Christians,
What that did for me is make my new found religion even more sure to me, that I was following the right religion at first….
By the age of 19, I went into the military and met many Christians and again, they didn’t know how to defend their faith….(which just strengthened my religion to me) and some time in the U.S. Navy, I met my wife in Pascagoula, Mississippi. She was from Mobile, Alabama. She wasn’t saved but after some years later, maybe like the last couple of years, there was a difference in my wife…Suddenly she was going to Church more….but her life to me, changed little, until the last year or two (2001-2003). But around that time within me, I kept feeling am I really in the right religion ?.... Because this is my eternal destiny I am talking about here, I will only get one chance at this, and there are no do over’s…..
While at work, I met a preacher, and he asked me if I went to Church with my family….and I told him no, and he then said, a man should always go to Church with his family, so I told him, there are other ways of going to Heaven, then Church….
So, he basicly told me that if I didn’t believe in Jesus I was going to Hell, after he told me that I was hot, and searched in the Bible now I had disputed many other Christians before, so I looked in the Book of Revelations and tried to find a verse, that I wasn’t able to find….Instead I ended up reading the whole Book of Revelations, and by the time I got to the end, I was sure that God loved me and that Jesus was the Christ the Son of the living God,now you would think that by reading the Book of Revelations, that is what converted me…
But when I look back at that time in my life, it wasn’t just reading that Book, I had read the Bible before, (certain parts) also leading up to that point, that year in my spirit I had a deep feeling that I could not explain, that I wasn’t sure about my religion anymore, what was happening was God was causing the seeds in my heart from a child to grow….also what changed my life was that God showed His glory to me….and at that time, I had a choice to make, to either to accept God or continue to deny Him…..I don’t believe it was just the evidence alone…..God had changed my heart/ and also gave me the faith also that I needed.. ( Ephesians 2:8,9)
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
From the time I got saved about the third week of November 2003, until maybe a week later, I was sure God was putting in my heart to preach His Word.
So, I went back to the preacher that helped me see the gospel of Christ and asked him when do you know if the Lord is calling you to preach ?
So, he told me you won’t be able to rest, and the calling won’t leave, basically you will know….
He also told me that this isn’t something you want to play around with, you must be absolutely sure about that calling….and I knew it was….
Not too long after my conversion, I felt the need to ask the Lord for wisdom and also to understand the Scriptures so I would not lead no one wrongly, and then later I felt the desire to mostly listen to teaching and scholars/theologians as well…..
God had given me the gifts that I ask for and also the gift of teaching…. I can now understand why the Lord said, teachers will be judged more strictly, because people keep that teaching with them and it (the Word) guides them also….
By what has happened to my life, has also affected my wife, because she now reads and not just reads but studies the Word for herself, to God be the glory for what He has done…..
Amen….
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Do Christians go through persecution in America ?
ELMIRA, NY — A man who had been arrested after praying in 2007 at a public park was suddenly arrested again last week by Elmira police while his case is still on appeal. The arrest of Julian Raven came suddenly on March 15 while he was at his office. According to his wife, police escorted him out of a court hearing Tuesday in handcuffs in front of his crying children to begin serving his 9-day jail sentence.
“Christians shouldn’t be punished for expressing their religious beliefs. It’s ridiculous to consider the act of peacefully exercising one’s faith in a public park to be ‘disorderly conduct’ worthy of a jail sentence,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Joel Oster. “We are surprised at how eager the city was to arrest Mr. Raven again in light of his appeal. Now he will serve time in jail; however, we will continue to aggressively pursue his appeal in court.”
“Christians shouldn’t be punished for expressing their religious beliefs. It’s ridiculous to consider the act of peacefully exercising one’s faith in a public park to be ‘disorderly conduct’ worthy of a jail sentence,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Joel Oster. “We are surprised at how eager the city was to arrest Mr. Raven again in light of his appeal. Now he will serve time in jail; however, we will continue to aggressively pursue his appeal in court.”
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Where is our former God honoring country going now ?
When 7 million Californians cast their vote for marriage as the union of one man and one woman, they thought they had protected marriage once and for all. But the opposition filed a federal lawsuit - the Perry v. Schwarzenegger case - in an attempt to overturn the state's marriage amendment and nullify the votes of the people. If the court rules in favor of the opposition, this could have serious implications for marriage and religious freedom across America.
Let there be no misunderstanding about the fact that God's plan for marriage is under an all-out, full-scale attack by advocates of homosexual behavior and their like-minded supporters in local, state, and federal government. And it is not just marriage that is under attack. Anyone who supports marriage as the union of one man and one woman could become fair game for discrimination and punishment.
Let there be no misunderstanding about the fact that God's plan for marriage is under an all-out, full-scale attack by advocates of homosexual behavior and their like-minded supporters in local, state, and federal government. And it is not just marriage that is under attack. Anyone who supports marriage as the union of one man and one woman could become fair game for discrimination and punishment.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Joy vs. Happiness..
BIBLE MEDITATION:
Philippians 4:4 - “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.”
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Happiness comes from outside circumstances. Joy comes from within. It’s cruel to say to people who are in sorrow, “Smile and be happy.” It’s better to come alongside and mourn with them than to try to force the square peg of happiness into a round hole of sorrow. The human life is a life of tragedy, sorrow, heartache, and pain. Yet in every difficulty, you can find joy. Happiness is an outside job. Joy is an inside job.
ACTION POINT:
There is someone in a nursing home who longs for that joy. Find some time this week to bring the joy of the Lord to them.
Philippians 4:4 - “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.”
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Happiness comes from outside circumstances. Joy comes from within. It’s cruel to say to people who are in sorrow, “Smile and be happy.” It’s better to come alongside and mourn with them than to try to force the square peg of happiness into a round hole of sorrow. The human life is a life of tragedy, sorrow, heartache, and pain. Yet in every difficulty, you can find joy. Happiness is an outside job. Joy is an inside job.
ACTION POINT:
There is someone in a nursing home who longs for that joy. Find some time this week to bring the joy of the Lord to them.
Monday, March 1, 2010
It's just one head....Christ Jesus.
BIBLE MEDITATION:
Romans 12:5 - “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
My left hand is a member of my body. So is my right hand. The right hand cannot direct the left hand and vice versa. But both hands can receive instruction from the head. If one hand is connected to the head and the other hand is connected to the head, then it simply follows that our hands are going to submit one to another. They’re not going to fight one another.
It’s the same way in the Body of Christ — the church. Who is the head of the body? The Lord Jesus Christ. Who are the members of the body? You and I. God put us in the church together that we might have a spirit of submission in the fear of the Lord.
ACTION POINT:
Is there someone in the church with whom you’re having difficulties? Submit yourself to the Lord and allow Him to give you grace to submit one to another.
Romans 12:5 - “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
My left hand is a member of my body. So is my right hand. The right hand cannot direct the left hand and vice versa. But both hands can receive instruction from the head. If one hand is connected to the head and the other hand is connected to the head, then it simply follows that our hands are going to submit one to another. They’re not going to fight one another.
It’s the same way in the Body of Christ — the church. Who is the head of the body? The Lord Jesus Christ. Who are the members of the body? You and I. God put us in the church together that we might have a spirit of submission in the fear of the Lord.
ACTION POINT:
Is there someone in the church with whom you’re having difficulties? Submit yourself to the Lord and allow Him to give you grace to submit one to another.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Why sometimes our prayers are hindered.....
II Samuel 21: 1-14.
Ever wonder why our praayers are not answered ?
There are reasons our prayers are hindered....stopped or even temporary hindered....
It is because of sin....it stops our prayers in there tracks, to the Throne of God.....
In (verse 1)- King David prayed after 3 yrs of famine in the land.
And God told David why the famine.. (Saul had killed some Gibeonites..read, Joshua 9:3-27)
Sometimes our prayers are hindered as a result of sin in the home..
But here it wasn't because of David's sin, but another before him...But it was still considered in the land (kingdom, or in our day in the Country or to bring it closer...in our home)
For our rayers to be heard... We have to confess all our sins to God and others (if it is against someone we have personally hurt).
There must be no unconfessed sin in our home (especially with the Husband of the home)..
That's very important...
look in (verse 14) When sin is removed then prayers are answered...
Is your home clean ??....
Ever wonder why our praayers are not answered ?
There are reasons our prayers are hindered....stopped or even temporary hindered....
It is because of sin....it stops our prayers in there tracks, to the Throne of God.....
In (verse 1)- King David prayed after 3 yrs of famine in the land.
And God told David why the famine.. (Saul had killed some Gibeonites..read, Joshua 9:3-27)
Sometimes our prayers are hindered as a result of sin in the home..
But here it wasn't because of David's sin, but another before him...But it was still considered in the land (kingdom, or in our day in the Country or to bring it closer...in our home)
For our rayers to be heard... We have to confess all our sins to God and others (if it is against someone we have personally hurt).
There must be no unconfessed sin in our home (especially with the Husband of the home)..
That's very important...
look in (verse 14) When sin is removed then prayers are answered...
Is your home clean ??....
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
It's just Grace, not me....
BIBLE MEDITATION:
Ephesians 2:5 - “But God, Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved).”
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Suppose your best friend offered to buy you a new car. You tell him that you can’t accept it outright and offer to help pay for the car. Then you say, “Here’s a quarter. Thank you!” Now you’re driving around, and somebody compliments you on your new car and you say, “Thanks! My friend and I bought this car.” Wouldn’t that be ridiculous? Well, that’s what we’re doing with God when we add our two bits-worth of self-effort to His grace. If you do that, you take the glory from Almighty God. When you get to heaven, all you’re going to be able to say is, “Jesus paid it all.”
ACTION POINT:
Spend some time reading Ephesians 2 today and praise God for His divine plan of salvation.
Ephesians 2:5 - “But God, Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved).”
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Suppose your best friend offered to buy you a new car. You tell him that you can’t accept it outright and offer to help pay for the car. Then you say, “Here’s a quarter. Thank you!” Now you’re driving around, and somebody compliments you on your new car and you say, “Thanks! My friend and I bought this car.” Wouldn’t that be ridiculous? Well, that’s what we’re doing with God when we add our two bits-worth of self-effort to His grace. If you do that, you take the glory from Almighty God. When you get to heaven, all you’re going to be able to say is, “Jesus paid it all.”
ACTION POINT:
Spend some time reading Ephesians 2 today and praise God for His divine plan of salvation.
Monday, February 22, 2010
America's Morality ?
BIBLE MEDITATION:
Matthew 21:21 - “Jesus answered and said...if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.”
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
When a nation loses its ability to discern morality, it embarks on a slippery slope toward self-destruction, especially when it comes to basic sexual morality. When a nation turns its back on the commands of God, He will say, “That’s the last step. I wash My hands. You asked for it. You got it.” America is in a crisis, and unless we have a moral rebirth, we will join the graveyard of the nations—it’s time to wake up. Time is passing—it’s time to look up. Jesus is coming—it’s time to sober up. Satan is working—it’s time to pray up. Mountains need moving.
ACTION POINT:
Ask the Lord to heal our land, forgiving the iniquities of the wicked by bringing salvation to their souls.
Matthew 21:21 - “Jesus answered and said...if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.”
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
When a nation loses its ability to discern morality, it embarks on a slippery slope toward self-destruction, especially when it comes to basic sexual morality. When a nation turns its back on the commands of God, He will say, “That’s the last step. I wash My hands. You asked for it. You got it.” America is in a crisis, and unless we have a moral rebirth, we will join the graveyard of the nations—it’s time to wake up. Time is passing—it’s time to look up. Jesus is coming—it’s time to sober up. Satan is working—it’s time to pray up. Mountains need moving.
ACTION POINT:
Ask the Lord to heal our land, forgiving the iniquities of the wicked by bringing salvation to their souls.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Eternal life..
BIBLE MEDITATION:
1 John 5:13 - “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life.”
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
A woman told the great evangelist Dwight L. Moody, “I’ve been saved twenty-five years, and I’ve never had one single doubt.” He responded, “Madam, I doubt you’ve been saved.” That would be like a couple saying they’ve been married 50 years and never had an argument. I’d say, “I doubt you’ve been married.” We all have doubts. You see, doubt is to your spirit what pain is to your body. It is a signal that something is wrong. And just as you seek to find a remedy for your pain, you should seek to find a remedy for your doubts. Jesus is your remedy. Get into His Word and know the assurance of your salvation. It’s not you. It’s Jesus that makes it possible.
ACTION POINT:
Are you doubting your salvation? Then- run to Jesus. Soak yourself in these truths from God’s Word: Romans 10:13, Ephesians 2:1-10 and Titus 3:5.
1 John 5:13 - “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life.”
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
A woman told the great evangelist Dwight L. Moody, “I’ve been saved twenty-five years, and I’ve never had one single doubt.” He responded, “Madam, I doubt you’ve been saved.” That would be like a couple saying they’ve been married 50 years and never had an argument. I’d say, “I doubt you’ve been married.” We all have doubts. You see, doubt is to your spirit what pain is to your body. It is a signal that something is wrong. And just as you seek to find a remedy for your pain, you should seek to find a remedy for your doubts. Jesus is your remedy. Get into His Word and know the assurance of your salvation. It’s not you. It’s Jesus that makes it possible.
ACTION POINT:
Are you doubting your salvation? Then- run to Jesus. Soak yourself in these truths from God’s Word: Romans 10:13, Ephesians 2:1-10 and Titus 3:5.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
How is your Worldview ??
How is your Worldview ????...
Why does the Chruch have no voice NOW, in our society ???.....is it because we have been too silent on spiritual issues, that the Bible clearly frowns on ?....is it because we have watered down the gospel some much to just say sin is your own point of view and not what the Bible says anymore ?????..............
All sin is sin, however the ones that creep into our society today is the Gay marriage and abortion and also might I add....disrespect to our parents, lying.... and all disobedience to God's Word......
Many will say, as long as it doesn't effect me......then why should I worry or do or say anything about it !!!!!......
I don't want to judge anyone........right ????....judging someone is their intentions from the heart, and only God can effectively do that, yes.....but God does want His people to stand up and be heard, in other words to speak the truth in love.....with love as your guide...(Holy Spirit)
I remember a woman in the Scriptures named......Queen Esther, what would have happened if she said nothing, while her people suffered....and then died later by the evil that lurked ?????
While she pondered this, of what to do....someone close to her said something... Mordeci, said if you stand by and do nothing.....make no mistake, deliverance WILL COME FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE, HOWEVER YOU AND YOUR FATHER'S HOUSE WILL BE DESTROYED.....
And who know's as whether you where brought here for such a time as this !!!!!
Chrurch family, WE MUST STAND FOR THE ONES WHO CAN'T STAND AND TALK FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T TALK, AND WE MUST ACT FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T ACT FOR THEMSELVES.....
LET'S ALWAYS DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR OUR FATHER..... WHO SENT HIS ONLY SON FOR US, WHEN WE DID NOT DESERVE A SAVIOUR......
Do what you can do in your sphere of influence......today !!!!
God bless of the family of faith
Why does the Chruch have no voice NOW, in our society ???.....is it because we have been too silent on spiritual issues, that the Bible clearly frowns on ?....is it because we have watered down the gospel some much to just say sin is your own point of view and not what the Bible says anymore ?????..............
All sin is sin, however the ones that creep into our society today is the Gay marriage and abortion and also might I add....disrespect to our parents, lying.... and all disobedience to God's Word......
Many will say, as long as it doesn't effect me......then why should I worry or do or say anything about it !!!!!......
I don't want to judge anyone........right ????....judging someone is their intentions from the heart, and only God can effectively do that, yes.....but God does want His people to stand up and be heard, in other words to speak the truth in love.....with love as your guide...(Holy Spirit)
I remember a woman in the Scriptures named......Queen Esther, what would have happened if she said nothing, while her people suffered....and then died later by the evil that lurked ?????
While she pondered this, of what to do....someone close to her said something... Mordeci, said if you stand by and do nothing.....make no mistake, deliverance WILL COME FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE, HOWEVER YOU AND YOUR FATHER'S HOUSE WILL BE DESTROYED.....
And who know's as whether you where brought here for such a time as this !!!!!
Chrurch family, WE MUST STAND FOR THE ONES WHO CAN'T STAND AND TALK FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T TALK, AND WE MUST ACT FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T ACT FOR THEMSELVES.....
LET'S ALWAYS DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR OUR FATHER..... WHO SENT HIS ONLY SON FOR US, WHEN WE DID NOT DESERVE A SAVIOUR......
Do what you can do in your sphere of influence......today !!!!
God bless of the family of faith
Monday, February 15, 2010
How much damage can one man do anyway ???
BIBLE MEDITATION:
Romans 5:18 - “Therefore as by the offence of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.”
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
One day Abraham Lincoln was in a slave market and saw a beautiful young slave girl being auctioned. Lecherous men were bidding on her, so Lincoln began to bid. Finally, she was sold to Lincoln. He took the certificate of sale and handed it to her saying, “You’re free.” She asked, “What do you mean free?” He said, “You are free.” She said, “Free to do what I want to do?” He said, “Yes.” “Free to say what I want to say?” He said, “Yes.” “Free to go where I want to go?” He said, “Yes.” She said, “Then I am going with you.” Friend, Jesus made you free. You have been redeemed by His precious blood. And in gratitude, your life is to be devoted to Him.
ACTION POINT:
Do you know someone who is in bondage to sin today? Share with them the free, redeeming love of Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:18 - “Therefore as by the offence of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.”
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
One day Abraham Lincoln was in a slave market and saw a beautiful young slave girl being auctioned. Lecherous men were bidding on her, so Lincoln began to bid. Finally, she was sold to Lincoln. He took the certificate of sale and handed it to her saying, “You’re free.” She asked, “What do you mean free?” He said, “You are free.” She said, “Free to do what I want to do?” He said, “Yes.” “Free to say what I want to say?” He said, “Yes.” “Free to go where I want to go?” He said, “Yes.” She said, “Then I am going with you.” Friend, Jesus made you free. You have been redeemed by His precious blood. And in gratitude, your life is to be devoted to Him.
ACTION POINT:
Do you know someone who is in bondage to sin today? Share with them the free, redeeming love of Jesus Christ.
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