Ugh I am a horrible person lol sorry this is so late!
The Infallible and Authentic Word of God
In the book of Leviticus the scripture records "These are the statues and judgments and laws, which the Lord made between him and the children of Israel... by the HAND of Moses." (26:36) This verse indicates a two fold revelation on the authenticity and reliability of the Word. First, that the originating source of the words recorded were directly from God to Moses and second, that "by the HAND of Moses" they was recorded or a written word. While the oral tradition of storytelling plays a large role in the transmission of most scripture throughout the history of Israel, the Urtext, which is a term for the main written text that began the work, was indeed a written word and inspired directly from God. The Urtext that Moses had recorded is lost to history along with all the following "autographs", another term this time indicating the original work of a copied text, that were recorded by the patriarchs of the Jewish and Christian faiths. The reason for these losses can be attributed to a number of situations.
The Israelites were lead out of captivity by Moses, who, as we have established, during this period of wandering went on to record the Urtext, and it may be presumed that, having been the son of Pharaoh for a time, Moses had been familiar with the Egyptian's practices concerning scribes and the written word. For writing the Egyptians had developed the medium of papyrus, an early form of paper consisting of beaten and pressed pulp from water reeds. While this early form of paper made recording written words easier and far more accessible then say clay tablets it also came with its downfalls. Papyrus was easily destroyed and with the elements and persecution of the Hebraic people that associated their forty year journey, it is not hard to imagine that the Urtext was lost from one form of consumption or another.
We must also take into account the ritualistic way in which sophers, a Jewish guild made up of scribes, recorded copies of texts. The original text written were considered "Holy Word" and so important to them that when a ms began to wear with age or use they would studiously rerecord the contents of that original work. Once that copy had been completed a group of word counters, another Jewish guild called the Masoretes, would go through the entire work and count each word to ensure there was no numerical fallacy in the copies. If a Masorete counted less words then were contained in the original text that copy would be burned and the scribe would begin again. If the ms was verified as being a complete copy, Masoretic text, the scribe would then take the original text and bury it in an unmarked grave so that no one could reuse it. To the Israelite society the contents (words of God) recorded on the papyrus were more important than the physical copy and so much diligence was paid to the correct recopying of those words. Through 40 years of traveling in the desert and hundreds of years of war and turmoil in their country we can assume there are thousands of texts that have been buried and in the process of time turned back into dirt therefore inaccessible to us in original form.
The use of papyrus continued throughout the centuries and the original works of the New Testament (NT) were also recorded on this ancient form of parchment. We have already established the fallibility of papyrus as an explanation to the lack of earlier autographs and may ascribe this explanation to the autographs of the patriarchs of the Church as well. But we must also take into account the persecution of the early church when considering the NT autographs. Any documents that might have survived through the ages and come to use were almost religiously hunted out by the enemies of the church and vehemently destroyed.
At one time, the Roman emperor, Diocletian, declared a personal war against Christianity. He established a place in the middle of a city for burning the Holy Bible and inscribed above it "Extinct is the name of Christians". It is recorded that a pile of ashes set below this inscription and we can presume that many of the citizens of Rome took as readily to the destruction of the Holy Word, turning over captured articles to soldiers to be consumed by the Diocletian fires. While we look back on horror at this act of atrocity it is with righteous pride that history accounts not more than 22 years had passed when Constantine came into power. Being a convert to Christianity set a commission that a copy of the Holy Scriptures be made available to him. To the surprise of all an abundance of copies were readily at hand, these had been hidden by devout members of the Church and officially compiled into a Biblical form. The indestructibility of the Word of God blooms even through the ashes!
We must consider the possibility that the original mss of Matthew, Peter, Paul and the others were destroyed in the Diocletian ousting. We may however presume also that perhaps one or two autographs had made it through this mass consumption. But the persecution of the Word didn't end with the Roman empire.
The enemy had also infiltrated the halls of the "Church" in the form of the Catholic Councils and Popes who proclaimed numerous times throughout history a moratorium on the Bible. Beginning with Council of Toulouse in 1229 and continuing through Papal decree by Pope Leo in 1897 the Bible could only be reasoned and interpreted by the clergy and all those with personal copies of the Bible were outlaws. they were required to turn over their copies immediately or personally destroy them by fire. That is over 568 years in which Bibles were destroyed by faithful saints who had been told that only heretics had personal copies and therefore had their place in Hell with Lucifer. Considering the history of God's Word and it's enemies the reliability of the Bible we have now versus the original texts or autographs is often brought into question.
The earliest copy scholars had of the Word was found dating back to A.D. 1000, far removed from the original works. Due to it's late production theologians and biblical scholars admitted that there could have been numerous errors made from one scribe to the next as it came 1000 years down throughout history. But in the 1900's a herdsman stumbled across a cave in which was stored , in remarkable condition, numerous antiquarian scrolls. The first of these scrolls to come to the attention of the biblical community in 1947 was determined to be a copy of the Book of Isaiah dating back to approximately 200 B.C.. Excitement at this discovery coursed through the world and a group of translators where put to work immediately in an attempt to not only preserve the historical discovery but also shed light on the fallacies that were contained in the modern Bible they had. This Bible is the same Bible you have in your hand today and to the surprise of many, and I'm sure the chagrin of a few, it was discovered that the two copies contained only three differences on record and those three fallacies were simple spelling differences. How awesome is the infallibility of the Word of God that even after 1200 documented years of written transmission and thousands of years of oral accounts, the Word remains complete and true.
On hand at this time we have over 24,000 ancient mss that have been discovered and preserved of the New Testament. The bible, even in ancient times, had been rigorously translated into many languages. In Greek alone we have over 5,000 copies of the NT in one form or another. These copies serve as a continuing witness to the strength of the authenticity of the Word of God. While secular historical works, such as Homer's "The Iliad", which has only 643 ancient mss, and Livy's "History of Rome", which has even less references, boasting a mere 20 partial copies, enjoy the safe scholarly stamp of authenticity, the Bible with all of this evidence to support Christian and Jewish claims of infallibility, remains, in the eyes of scholars, unauthenticated.
The contents of the Bible have proven time and again they will remain, "the word of the Lord endureth forever" (1Pt 1:25), the only viable truth in the Universe. They have been tried against destruction, against fallibility by prophecy(about 3,300 verses of prophecy have been fulfilled "Dake annt ref. Bible Pg 241 notes on 2tim"), against the possibility of an un-seamless narrative through 40 authors distant in time and space authoring 66 books, against even that great leveler, time and in each instance has come out unscathed and more true than ever. As a member of a democracy I have seen the Word removed from halls that it had helped establish and be attacked by lives it had given freedom to. The joy of personally learning that our great country was founded on the shoulders of men who believed in this Christian message is assuring to the testament of the infallibility of His Word. We have an apostolic mandate to "preach the gospel to every creature." (Mk 16:15)and must then "study to show ourselves approved...rightly dividing the word.. " (2tim 2:15) This is the importance for establishing the infallibility and authenticity of the Word of God.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Matthew 24:35
Thank you for your patience the posting was completed earlier than expected, thank you Jesus :-)
I would have to say learning about the resiliency of the Word of God throughout history has had the most personal impact this week. Not just the fact that it has withstood the test of time, for there are many transcripts that have travelled through the ages to us, albeit none so pure and untainted, but that against intense opposition it not only continued but flourished.
The antics of biblical enemies such as Diocletian, the early Catholic Church and even modern day atheist, while horrendous, have not diminished the influence of the Bible on society but brought to light the power and saving words contained in it. Bible burning has run the gamut of despots in history most notably and relevant to our time would be the Muslim attack on Christianity and the Bible.
In Gaza
But praise the Lord that “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Rom 5:20) and while in parts of the world the Word is trampled it is working great wonders for His glory in all places. That there is a Christian community in Gaza
In 1949 Moa Zedong took the reins of China Rome and like Rome
It is a joy to see the power of God’s words written or living to deliver the lost and bound and destroy the powers of evil around the world. Many times I have heard the Holy Bible referred to as a “Living Word”. This concept has been exemplified in my own life through salvation in believing on the Word and the personal growth that has flourished in the light of the great Testaments. But having a predisposition to view things in a sociological spectrum I have been blessed this week to learn further about the personal impact the Word of God has on not only individual lives but its influence and growth through whole communities and societies in the face of Satan and the spirit of the anti-christ.
“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Mat 24:35)
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Matthew 6:34
Numerous times the disciples asked Jesus to explain what he had said in a parable or while he was preaching. With the power of hind sight and the revelations preached to us we often shake our heads at them and think "But it's so obvious why couldn't they see what he was talking about?" Then we come across a verse like this.
"Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."
Excuse me Jesus? What was that you said? Could you explain that because I got lost after sufficient.
The kingdom of God is like a man, given charge over the masters land, who had also been given a plough horse. His horse was the pride of his life he spent day and night caring for the horse and tending to it's every need. The horse in turn provided a tool with which the farmer could till his ground, tow his harvest to market and turn his mill for grinding meal. To the farmer the horse was his very livelihood and he took all precaution to ensure that horse had the ability to work his daily chores. One day a little lad from the town running past the farmers field called to the man and recited to him the story of a horse thief that was terrorizing the countryside.
So frightened was the old man in the thought that one day the thief would come also for his horse that he raced back to the horse and chained him in the barn. Day and night the man stood guard watching the hills for a sign that the thief was coming for his horse. The time of planting came and went and still he kept his horse locked away from the light of day. In the time of harvest and market he was still at guard not daring to place his horse in sight of the thief should he pass by his farm.
When the old farmer heard the thief had been captured by the master he was relieved that his horse had escaped the possibility of capture and loosing the doors to the barn He brought out his horse much thinner and haggard then when he had placed him in. The horse no longer had the strength to turn the mill for feed and the man had no grain to grind for feed even if the horse had the strength.
When the master came to collect the harvest and feed the man was charged to provide He was surprised to find the old man standing empty handed. When he asked the man "What of the strength of the horse I had given you to work the land until I returned?"
The old man retold the story of the thief and his concern for the loss of the horse. The master seeing the wickedness of the man that he did not trust in the protection afforded by the master became angry that all he had given the man had gone to waste in his fretting over the future and to the man said.
"Was not the thief always among you? Yet you choose to believe the report of the child rather than my promise of protection. In your fear of the future you have squandered and wasted the land I had given and for that I will take back my land and give it to one who proved himself through the harvest and turn you out to the wilderness. "
"Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." We are always compassed about with those that would take and destroy what he has given us. We might even loss some to the thief but we should not live in fear of what the future may or may not hold. Whether the thief comes or not we have a job to work the fields (revival) and use the tools God gave us for His increase. It is enough to live for the day and let God handle our future in this world. Don't worry about what we must store up here on earth because one day He will return and it will be to late to retrieve the stuff we stored up to do the work because the time of the harvest has come and gone.
This is the same as Jesus' parable of the servants given talents but the one hid his for fear of the Lord's wrath if he lost it. The difference is this man feared the world around him and his provision for the future rather than the masters wrath. We are responsible for his work. Take out that old equipment he gave you to work (prayer, bible reading, bible studies, witnessing, outreach, altar work, singing, etc.) and put it to work now not tomorrow for we are not promised tomorrow just today! God will provide we will work.
God Bless. And may God increase your harvest everyday. I love you all.
"Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."
Excuse me Jesus? What was that you said? Could you explain that because I got lost after sufficient.
The kingdom of God is like a man, given charge over the masters land, who had also been given a plough horse. His horse was the pride of his life he spent day and night caring for the horse and tending to it's every need. The horse in turn provided a tool with which the farmer could till his ground, tow his harvest to market and turn his mill for grinding meal. To the farmer the horse was his very livelihood and he took all precaution to ensure that horse had the ability to work his daily chores. One day a little lad from the town running past the farmers field called to the man and recited to him the story of a horse thief that was terrorizing the countryside.
So frightened was the old man in the thought that one day the thief would come also for his horse that he raced back to the horse and chained him in the barn. Day and night the man stood guard watching the hills for a sign that the thief was coming for his horse. The time of planting came and went and still he kept his horse locked away from the light of day. In the time of harvest and market he was still at guard not daring to place his horse in sight of the thief should he pass by his farm.
When the old farmer heard the thief had been captured by the master he was relieved that his horse had escaped the possibility of capture and loosing the doors to the barn He brought out his horse much thinner and haggard then when he had placed him in. The horse no longer had the strength to turn the mill for feed and the man had no grain to grind for feed even if the horse had the strength.
When the master came to collect the harvest and feed the man was charged to provide He was surprised to find the old man standing empty handed. When he asked the man "What of the strength of the horse I had given you to work the land until I returned?"
The old man retold the story of the thief and his concern for the loss of the horse. The master seeing the wickedness of the man that he did not trust in the protection afforded by the master became angry that all he had given the man had gone to waste in his fretting over the future and to the man said.
"Was not the thief always among you? Yet you choose to believe the report of the child rather than my promise of protection. In your fear of the future you have squandered and wasted the land I had given and for that I will take back my land and give it to one who proved himself through the harvest and turn you out to the wilderness. "
"Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." We are always compassed about with those that would take and destroy what he has given us. We might even loss some to the thief but we should not live in fear of what the future may or may not hold. Whether the thief comes or not we have a job to work the fields (revival) and use the tools God gave us for His increase. It is enough to live for the day and let God handle our future in this world. Don't worry about what we must store up here on earth because one day He will return and it will be to late to retrieve the stuff we stored up to do the work because the time of the harvest has come and gone.
This is the same as Jesus' parable of the servants given talents but the one hid his for fear of the Lord's wrath if he lost it. The difference is this man feared the world around him and his provision for the future rather than the masters wrath. We are responsible for his work. Take out that old equipment he gave you to work (prayer, bible reading, bible studies, witnessing, outreach, altar work, singing, etc.) and put it to work now not tomorrow for we are not promised tomorrow just today! God will provide we will work.
God Bless. And may God increase your harvest everyday. I love you all.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Dueteronomy 22:5
IN an unorthodox move I have copied and posted a news story today. I do so because I wish each of you to realize the role that idols play in the world today. There is no room for parents to "accept" their childrens taste for music and musicians as a phase. These people are here to influnce your children to abandon God and follow satan.
God established a distinction between a man and a women not only biologically but in attire and manner as well. It is the work of fallen spirits to confuse and blend that distinction so that the children no longer accept the heiarchy of the kingdom. Please read this story and if you are a parent I urge you to purge your home of these unGodly influnences. If you are struggling with a pull towards fashions and attitudes that blend your sex with the opposite sex I urge you to seek the will of God through prayer, fasting and your ministry.
God Bless everyone. I am troubled and in prayer for this generation today join me please.
“The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God"
Elena Kiam, the owner and creative director of the jewelry brand Lia Sophia, says initially she was surprised to see her women's line embraced by some of rap's top acts like 50 Cent, P. Diddy and Snoop Dogg, who has worn her pieces in music videos and on magazine covers.
"When we were designing these really beautiful, sparkly necklaces, we thought more for top editors, maybe a celebrity movie star. We really weren't thinking about hip-hop," said Kiam, who also said Beyoncé, Rihanna and Miley Cyrus have worn her designs.
"There was a rapper wearing the same piece as a soccer mom from Ohio," she added.
Celebrity stylist June Ambrose says those multiplatinum musicians can pull it off because their personas stretch beyond the hip-hop culture. Of Lil Wayne's much-talked about decision to sport a pair of boxer-revealing, black-and-white leopard print pants during the VMAs, she acknowledges his attire was "eccentric, but you know, he's a rock star and pulls it off extremely well.
"Fashion should be as unisex as it is right now. It's probably the most unisex we've seen it.," she said.
West, hip-hop's ultimate metrosexual who will debut his own fashion collection in Paris next week, wore a flowing, long-sleeved women's shirt designed by French-based fashion house Celine earlier this year at Coachella. Though there were some who poked fun at his clothing choice, Ambrose saw nothing wrong with it.
"I think it's acceptable if you're not wearing a pair of heels with it and you're not wearing lipstick and neither of these guys did that," said Ambrose, who has styled Jay-Z, Diddy and Will Smith. "They treat fashion like it is art."
It's not just rappers — Russell Brand and rockers like Steven Tyler and Pete Wentz have worn women's clothes in the past; Janet Jackson says the famous black sparkly jacket Michael Jackson wore during his legendary "Motown 25" performance was from his mother's closet. And of course, androgyny has long been intertwined with pop, from David Bowie to Freddie Mercury to Prince (known for his trademark heels).
Bieber, the 17-year-old pop phenomenon, admits he has rocked women's jeans because of their suitable fit.
"I think I've worn women's jeans before because they fit me better," he told The Associated Press at a recent fashion event. "I just think that whatever works, works."
"It wasn't like it looked like a woman's sweater," continued Bieber, referring to women's shirt worn by West. "It was just a regular sweater that just happened to be a woman's."
But hip-hop culture — often defined as much by its masculinity as much as its music — always seemed to be different. It's hard to imagine Eminem raging on stage in a breezy women's top; rapper DMX once clowned Jay-Z for wearing sandals on the beach, deeming it unmanly. Hip-hop's style in recent years has ranged from oversized sports jerseys to sweats to baggy, sagging pants and plain, oversized white T-shirts. Lately though, hip-hop stars are likely to sport clothes that are made to fit, and sometimes, tightly, like rock and indie hipsters.
"(Lil Wayne and West are) small enough to pull it off and that's really what it's about," Ambrose said. "I don't think Jay-Z could pull that off. He doesn't have the body type for it. But these two guys are pretty petite and they're able to pull those things off because (the clothes) come in a size that they can wear."
Brea "BStar" Stinson, who has styled Usher, Bieber and Jaden and Willow Smith, says while women's clothes can fit better on some men, at times they can be too fit.
"I thought those pants were great (and) that print is totally in right now, but I didn't think that they were appropriate for (Lil Wayne)," Stinson said. "The fit was wrong (and) I think there's only a limited amount of stretch a man is allowed in his pants, and they were just really, really small."
Whether Lil Wayne will be sporting more women's clothes is unclear. Still, this latest trend in hip-hop isn't a new one, says Ambrose. She remembers seeing similar happenings in the 1980s with rappers like Grandmaster Flash, Kool Moe Dee and the Ultramagnetic MCs. Hip-hop was key in making diamond earrings popular for men in both ears. And Andre 3000 from OutKast was known for pushing the envelope with his style.
God established a distinction between a man and a women not only biologically but in attire and manner as well. It is the work of fallen spirits to confuse and blend that distinction so that the children no longer accept the heiarchy of the kingdom. Please read this story and if you are a parent I urge you to purge your home of these unGodly influnences. If you are struggling with a pull towards fashions and attitudes that blend your sex with the opposite sex I urge you to seek the will of God through prayer, fasting and your ministry.
God Bless everyone. I am troubled and in prayer for this generation today join me please.
“The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God"
Latest trend in hip-hop: Women's clothes
NEW YORK (AP) — The latest fashion trend in hip-hop has its male stars raiding the women's clothing department for inspiration.
Lil Wayne jumped around in skinny women's pants during his performance at this year's MTV Video Music Awards. Kanye West wore a multiprint shirt designed for women at the Coachella music festival. Kid Cudi has been seen in a plaid skirt, Snoop Dogg often wears jewelry designed for women, and Pharrell Williams is a fan of the Hermes-made Birkin bag, the ultra-expensive purse favored by Hollywood's top actresses.Elena Kiam, the owner and creative director of the jewelry brand Lia Sophia, says initially she was surprised to see her women's line embraced by some of rap's top acts like 50 Cent, P. Diddy and Snoop Dogg, who has worn her pieces in music videos and on magazine covers.
"When we were designing these really beautiful, sparkly necklaces, we thought more for top editors, maybe a celebrity movie star. We really weren't thinking about hip-hop," said Kiam, who also said Beyoncé, Rihanna and Miley Cyrus have worn her designs.
"There was a rapper wearing the same piece as a soccer mom from Ohio," she added.
Celebrity stylist June Ambrose says those multiplatinum musicians can pull it off because their personas stretch beyond the hip-hop culture. Of Lil Wayne's much-talked about decision to sport a pair of boxer-revealing, black-and-white leopard print pants during the VMAs, she acknowledges his attire was "eccentric, but you know, he's a rock star and pulls it off extremely well.
"Fashion should be as unisex as it is right now. It's probably the most unisex we've seen it.," she said.
West, hip-hop's ultimate metrosexual who will debut his own fashion collection in Paris next week, wore a flowing, long-sleeved women's shirt designed by French-based fashion house Celine earlier this year at Coachella. Though there were some who poked fun at his clothing choice, Ambrose saw nothing wrong with it.
"I think it's acceptable if you're not wearing a pair of heels with it and you're not wearing lipstick and neither of these guys did that," said Ambrose, who has styled Jay-Z, Diddy and Will Smith. "They treat fashion like it is art."
It's not just rappers — Russell Brand and rockers like Steven Tyler and Pete Wentz have worn women's clothes in the past; Janet Jackson says the famous black sparkly jacket Michael Jackson wore during his legendary "Motown 25" performance was from his mother's closet. And of course, androgyny has long been intertwined with pop, from David Bowie to Freddie Mercury to Prince (known for his trademark heels).
Bieber, the 17-year-old pop phenomenon, admits he has rocked women's jeans because of their suitable fit.
"I think I've worn women's jeans before because they fit me better," he told The Associated Press at a recent fashion event. "I just think that whatever works, works."
"It wasn't like it looked like a woman's sweater," continued Bieber, referring to women's shirt worn by West. "It was just a regular sweater that just happened to be a woman's."
But hip-hop culture — often defined as much by its masculinity as much as its music — always seemed to be different. It's hard to imagine Eminem raging on stage in a breezy women's top; rapper DMX once clowned Jay-Z for wearing sandals on the beach, deeming it unmanly. Hip-hop's style in recent years has ranged from oversized sports jerseys to sweats to baggy, sagging pants and plain, oversized white T-shirts. Lately though, hip-hop stars are likely to sport clothes that are made to fit, and sometimes, tightly, like rock and indie hipsters.
"(Lil Wayne and West are) small enough to pull it off and that's really what it's about," Ambrose said. "I don't think Jay-Z could pull that off. He doesn't have the body type for it. But these two guys are pretty petite and they're able to pull those things off because (the clothes) come in a size that they can wear."
Brea "BStar" Stinson, who has styled Usher, Bieber and Jaden and Willow Smith, says while women's clothes can fit better on some men, at times they can be too fit.
"I thought those pants were great (and) that print is totally in right now, but I didn't think that they were appropriate for (Lil Wayne)," Stinson said. "The fit was wrong (and) I think there's only a limited amount of stretch a man is allowed in his pants, and they were just really, really small."
Whether Lil Wayne will be sporting more women's clothes is unclear. Still, this latest trend in hip-hop isn't a new one, says Ambrose. She remembers seeing similar happenings in the 1980s with rappers like Grandmaster Flash, Kool Moe Dee and the Ultramagnetic MCs. Hip-hop was key in making diamond earrings popular for men in both ears. And Andre 3000 from OutKast was known for pushing the envelope with his style.
"Those guys were wearing leather pants, blouses. If you go back and look at the eccentricity, it's really just come full circle," she said of the past generations of rappers. "Back in the late '80s and early '90s, guys were wearing bright-colored jeans, skin tights, like leggings, and high boots."
Ambrose — who will launch her own VH1 reality show "Styled By June" in February — feels that fashion and hip-hop go hand-and-hand when it comes to self-expression."I think one thing about hip-hop is that it's always been uncensored and unedited in that way, and I think that if you take a lyric and you put it to a look, then it really makes sense," she said. "(Rappers) say what they want to say and they say it in their way, so why shouldn't the fashion have the same emotion and the same voice and the same freedom?"
___
AP writer Nicole Evatt contributed to this report.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Psalms 51:12-13
At the end of this week I will celebrate the first year of my restoration! I am full of joy and sober minded, recalling the past and all the things God has delivered me from. It is a joy and an honour to know Him and know that there is an answer to all of life's questions.
I lived for 25 years but I have been truly alive for 1 full year! Each day has been a new experience it has not always been easy but it has been the greatest year of my life learning to fall more in love with Jesus on each new day. My heart and soul are lifted in praise and my vision is set on the future. David said "Restore unto me the JOY of thy salvation" (vs 12) and no truer words were ever spoken. Joy is the best way to describe this life now. My worst day now is better then my best day then. I have a freedom in Christ that is indescribable "uphold me with thy free spirit." (vs 12)
But God hasn't restored me just to be free but to help free others and introduce them to the joy and freedom of His salvation and Spirit. David went on in verse 3 to say "Then will i teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee." Perhaps this will resonate with some of you today but I am truly speaking to myself.
God I will take the Joy and Freedom of this restitution to teach and convert the sinner! I will not withhold the talents you have provided like the foolish servant but will let the light of the Spirit shine through me so all those I come in contact with will feel the restorative joy of your Spirit and the saving power of your Name.
I love you Jesus, thank you for this year and I look forward to a lifetime by your side my love.
I lived for 25 years but I have been truly alive for 1 full year! Each day has been a new experience it has not always been easy but it has been the greatest year of my life learning to fall more in love with Jesus on each new day. My heart and soul are lifted in praise and my vision is set on the future. David said "Restore unto me the JOY of thy salvation" (vs 12) and no truer words were ever spoken. Joy is the best way to describe this life now. My worst day now is better then my best day then. I have a freedom in Christ that is indescribable "uphold me with thy free spirit." (vs 12)
But God hasn't restored me just to be free but to help free others and introduce them to the joy and freedom of His salvation and Spirit. David went on in verse 3 to say "Then will i teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee." Perhaps this will resonate with some of you today but I am truly speaking to myself.
God I will take the Joy and Freedom of this restitution to teach and convert the sinner! I will not withhold the talents you have provided like the foolish servant but will let the light of the Spirit shine through me so all those I come in contact with will feel the restorative joy of your Spirit and the saving power of your Name.
I love you Jesus, thank you for this year and I look forward to a lifetime by your side my love.
Friday, September 23, 2011
John 14
Roads play an important part in the history of the world. The Romans are known for establishing roads that conversed their entire kingdom and allowed them to quickly move from one place to another gaining military and economical advantage. Billions of dollars are spent each year on maintaining the roads in America and around the world to keep each country a viable force in the fast paced world of commerce. Anyone who has ever read the western genre for any amount of time is most likely familiar with the phrase "The road less travelled." This struck me yesterday on my way to church. Let me paint you a picture.
It was early night, the sun had retreated and dusk settled in for her fifteen hours. The night was silent, only an occasional owl could be heard across the expanse of country side. Mother's had diligently tucked their children in and fathers had completed the obligatory bedtime story. I drove a straight road that night headed towards a rendezvous with destiny. It was one of those moments when one could really hear themselves think and that little voice was doing a mighty bit of yappin'.
The headlights on my truck did little to break the eriee blank canvas of night giving me only a 10 or 15 foot lead. At the corner of Waterman and Sheldon I made a right and drove on just another brush stroke on that dark canvas. The road seemed to stretch on before me like a concrete ribbon with no end. In my monotony I glanced across the acres that separated my current position from the destination of my travels, 8520 Bradshaw road.
Lights illuminating the church building gave it an angelic glow filling up the empty space that must have stood there for thousands of years before it was built. Like a beacon of hope to a weary traveller I was comforted by this sight, but my heart longed for my trip to be over at that moment. I reached for the four wheeler button in my old ford and thought about how easy it would be to rip through the farmers fields and cut my travel time in half if I just left that road. Before acting on my impulse I took a moment more to look across the divide and what had previously been invisible to me in those fields came to light.
Miles of metal fencing, meticulously lined, stretched along the circumference of those fields. A deep gouge rutted out by a meandering stream ran down the middle and imposing trees cut down years ago had left stumps and turned up ground. The way was not as easy as it had initially seemed. What had been a good idea previously now was a daunting task that I knew I could not come out of in one piece. So I set back and while it took me a little longer I got to my place of rest, joyful for my safe passage.
Life is a lot like that trip I took last night. Jesus said "Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life and few there be that find." (Mat 7:14) and "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (Jhn 14:6)
Many times on the long road of life we start to get weary. We see the end across the miles and think if I could just skip all this it's right there. It looks so easy to just cut a corner here and there but in the murky darkness we miss the impediments and dangers that scatter the valley. We may think that we have the equipment to do a little off-roading but even with the limited tools we may think we have we could never make it to the other side of the field. We would be broken battered and left bogged down in the mire of this world with no way out.
The only way to the end of this journey safely is to stay the course. set your eyes on the prize and make it to the end. The only road to travel in the journey of life is Jesus Christ all other ways lead to destruction. From the statement above in John 4 Jesus is speaking with His disciples and says "If ye had known me, ye should have known the Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him." In His most open talk with them about the life to come and the way to salvation Christ emphasis' He is the Father and One and The end is the Father's (Jesus' as we have established) House (Heaven) there are many mansions (places for dwelling) in it.
In my opinion the strongest Bible Study verses are in John 4 try to study that chapter and teach someone about how to get back on the road to life today! God Bless.
It was early night, the sun had retreated and dusk settled in for her fifteen hours. The night was silent, only an occasional owl could be heard across the expanse of country side. Mother's had diligently tucked their children in and fathers had completed the obligatory bedtime story. I drove a straight road that night headed towards a rendezvous with destiny. It was one of those moments when one could really hear themselves think and that little voice was doing a mighty bit of yappin'.
The headlights on my truck did little to break the eriee blank canvas of night giving me only a 10 or 15 foot lead. At the corner of Waterman and Sheldon I made a right and drove on just another brush stroke on that dark canvas. The road seemed to stretch on before me like a concrete ribbon with no end. In my monotony I glanced across the acres that separated my current position from the destination of my travels, 8520 Bradshaw road.
Lights illuminating the church building gave it an angelic glow filling up the empty space that must have stood there for thousands of years before it was built. Like a beacon of hope to a weary traveller I was comforted by this sight, but my heart longed for my trip to be over at that moment. I reached for the four wheeler button in my old ford and thought about how easy it would be to rip through the farmers fields and cut my travel time in half if I just left that road. Before acting on my impulse I took a moment more to look across the divide and what had previously been invisible to me in those fields came to light.
Miles of metal fencing, meticulously lined, stretched along the circumference of those fields. A deep gouge rutted out by a meandering stream ran down the middle and imposing trees cut down years ago had left stumps and turned up ground. The way was not as easy as it had initially seemed. What had been a good idea previously now was a daunting task that I knew I could not come out of in one piece. So I set back and while it took me a little longer I got to my place of rest, joyful for my safe passage.
Life is a lot like that trip I took last night. Jesus said "Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life and few there be that find." (Mat 7:14) and "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (Jhn 14:6)
Many times on the long road of life we start to get weary. We see the end across the miles and think if I could just skip all this it's right there. It looks so easy to just cut a corner here and there but in the murky darkness we miss the impediments and dangers that scatter the valley. We may think that we have the equipment to do a little off-roading but even with the limited tools we may think we have we could never make it to the other side of the field. We would be broken battered and left bogged down in the mire of this world with no way out.
The only way to the end of this journey safely is to stay the course. set your eyes on the prize and make it to the end. The only road to travel in the journey of life is Jesus Christ all other ways lead to destruction. From the statement above in John 4 Jesus is speaking with His disciples and says "If ye had known me, ye should have known the Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him." In His most open talk with them about the life to come and the way to salvation Christ emphasis' He is the Father and One and The end is the Father's (Jesus' as we have established) House (Heaven) there are many mansions (places for dwelling) in it.
In my opinion the strongest Bible Study verses are in John 4 try to study that chapter and teach someone about how to get back on the road to life today! God Bless.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Psalms 97
Our God is an awesome God! I was thinking about the recent calamities throughout the world a bit ago and wondering at the terrible natural disasters that have been tearing it apart. Often we react only to the events that have a human impact (Just a few examples include the Joplin tornado, the Japanese tsunami and the Haiti earthquake) while the bulk of occurrences may go unnoticed or at least only given a cursory foot note in history. Why? Because we put no significance on issues that don't disrupt humanity. I say disrupt rather than death toll because even those that have no significant mortality rate (the Virginia earthquake, for example) will still be news worthy simply because it disrupts the day to day lives of a large portion of our human community.
But if we took a moment and considered the sum total of all natural events that have an impact on the world around us we would be surprised at the results. The world seems to be tearing itself apart at the seams! But when i think of all these things I am not frightened but humbled before our awesome God.
In philosophy class the teacher asked a question one day, "If God is a God of love then how can He allow these evil natural disasters to take place?". While there may be many answers to this question I would like to address just two that are actually just one approached from two directions.
First we must look at the history of creation and man. Before man God created all the earth and set it in motion to work in the ways that it was intended. When God creates something it is set to function in a way that benefits that creation. "Disasters" are a way to revive and reinvigorate nature. Think of a predator and how they work to keep overpopulation down among the animal kingdom by design disasters have the same effect on the planet around them.
With this in mind we must Remember that when God created man He placed him in the Garden of Eden. (Gen 2:8, 2:15) This was a separate place set aside for the habitation of man. In it God made provision for the delicate life of man to be protected and provided for. When man intentionally disobeyed He took his own life into his hands, rejecting the protection God had afforded him from conception to deal with the Good and Bad around him as he saw fit. That is a by product of the knowledge of good and evil you must then not only deal with the good but also the evil in life. So man on the face of the earth was never the intention for us. Natural disasters are intended to maintain the balance of earth and by man's own choice we set ourselves in the path of those events by acting in sin and therefore being where we never were intended to be.
The natural world also reacts to it's Creator in a mysterious way. We all have a master whether we choose to acknowledge Him or not. All of creation declares His glory (Psalms 19:1) and even the world would praise him if there were none to voice his praise (Lk 19:40). The earth is subject to it's creator and at the drawing of Him the earth trembles! I have been wrapping my mind around that concept for a few weeks now. That even the world trembles in the presence of God.
My favorite Psalms is 97. "the Lord reigneth let the earth rejoice" (vs 1) What an awesome God all of the earth is swooned in His presence. "the earth saw and trembled. The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth." (vs 4,5) So when the earth rejoices with tremblings and shaking's it makes my heart rejoice, not for the disruption of humanity, but that the earth is letting me know "We are in the presence of the Creator. GOD IS HERE!"
Again we must point out, man is in the path of destruction often because of the choice our forefathers made and the line of sin but the presence of Man doesn't trump the presence of earth's creator it will continue to worship God in the only manner it can!
So we see that man, not God, by his evil works (disobedience, sin) has placed himself in the path of the workings of the earth one day God will remedy this state of man. That day is at His return and the establishment of His kingdom which heralds in an age where no tear will be shed!
God Bless have a wonderful day and rejoice in the presence of the most high God that surrounds you!
[Clarifying Sumation: I don't believe Natural disasters are God's judgement on individuals or communal sins but a result of man's intial sin i.e. Adam and Eve's decision to disobey, which cast us out of the Garden of Eden and into the natural convulsions of the Earth.]
But if we took a moment and considered the sum total of all natural events that have an impact on the world around us we would be surprised at the results. The world seems to be tearing itself apart at the seams! But when i think of all these things I am not frightened but humbled before our awesome God.
In philosophy class the teacher asked a question one day, "If God is a God of love then how can He allow these evil natural disasters to take place?". While there may be many answers to this question I would like to address just two that are actually just one approached from two directions.
First we must look at the history of creation and man. Before man God created all the earth and set it in motion to work in the ways that it was intended. When God creates something it is set to function in a way that benefits that creation. "Disasters" are a way to revive and reinvigorate nature. Think of a predator and how they work to keep overpopulation down among the animal kingdom by design disasters have the same effect on the planet around them.
With this in mind we must Remember that when God created man He placed him in the Garden of Eden. (Gen 2:8, 2:15) This was a separate place set aside for the habitation of man. In it God made provision for the delicate life of man to be protected and provided for. When man intentionally disobeyed He took his own life into his hands, rejecting the protection God had afforded him from conception to deal with the Good and Bad around him as he saw fit. That is a by product of the knowledge of good and evil you must then not only deal with the good but also the evil in life. So man on the face of the earth was never the intention for us. Natural disasters are intended to maintain the balance of earth and by man's own choice we set ourselves in the path of those events by acting in sin and therefore being where we never were intended to be.
The natural world also reacts to it's Creator in a mysterious way. We all have a master whether we choose to acknowledge Him or not. All of creation declares His glory (Psalms 19:1) and even the world would praise him if there were none to voice his praise (Lk 19:40). The earth is subject to it's creator and at the drawing of Him the earth trembles! I have been wrapping my mind around that concept for a few weeks now. That even the world trembles in the presence of God.
My favorite Psalms is 97. "the Lord reigneth let the earth rejoice" (vs 1) What an awesome God all of the earth is swooned in His presence. "the earth saw and trembled. The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth." (vs 4,5) So when the earth rejoices with tremblings and shaking's it makes my heart rejoice, not for the disruption of humanity, but that the earth is letting me know "We are in the presence of the Creator. GOD IS HERE!"
Again we must point out, man is in the path of destruction often because of the choice our forefathers made and the line of sin but the presence of Man doesn't trump the presence of earth's creator it will continue to worship God in the only manner it can!
So we see that man, not God, by his evil works (disobedience, sin) has placed himself in the path of the workings of the earth one day God will remedy this state of man. That day is at His return and the establishment of His kingdom which heralds in an age where no tear will be shed!
God Bless have a wonderful day and rejoice in the presence of the most high God that surrounds you!
[Clarifying Sumation: I don't believe Natural disasters are God's judgement on individuals or communal sins but a result of man's intial sin i.e. Adam and Eve's decision to disobey, which cast us out of the Garden of Eden and into the natural convulsions of the Earth.]
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
1 John 4:8
"He that loveth not Knoweth not God; for God is love."
Well, I guess I would be the last person to give relationship advice. And if we were talking about human relationships I would be the first to direct you to one of the many great people I know that have developed a "successful" physical relationship. Today, however, I have been thinking about the most rewarding relationship that anyone could have with another individual, that's the relationship we have with Jesus.
The reason I use terms like relationship and individual when I refer to our connection with God is because God is a living being. He isn't a stone or wood statue. He isn't an aloof personage that holds himself separate from us. But he is a living, loving, Christ who desires a relationship on such a personal level that He not only created us but came to earth and gave His life and said I won't leave you alone I will come again and dwell with and in you! Jesus is alive.
He hears, speaks, feels, knows, sees, calls, draws, hurts, loves. The first thing we forget when we begin to walk away is, God is love. Love is not the twisted concept that this television generation has defined it to be, that is lust. Love is God and so every "love" relationship we have should, at it's core, have and draw us to Jesus. That for me is the way I test all human relationships: Does this person draw me closer to God or try to create situations in which I am drawn away or sin? To cause someone to sin is to effectively cause that person to die. How can that be called love? You can't believe in God and Heaven and hell and draw someone towards hell and say you love them.
But God is life and that more abundantly. Even just thinking about Him and writing this I am overcome with a feeling of unexplainable love. Oh, How I love my Jesus. I want more of Him everyday. I want to walk with Him and talk with him and know Him on a personal level that I have never known anyone. Bishop Wilson says it best "I fell in love with God so many years ago and each day He gets better!" There is no diminish in God's love. As we saw earlier man's love grows cold but God's love, true love, grows stronger and more beautiful each day.
For me the joy of prayer and fasting is the same as being able to talk to and commune (Eat, spend time with) the one I love with my whole heart. It's not a chore to get up and pray or push through hunger in a fast, because our mind isn't on the physical when we truly connect with Him. It is on the Spirit. Those that worship God do so in spirit and truth.
So the words of one of my favorite songs continue to ring true today. Falling in love with Jesus/ falling in love with Jesus/ Falling in love with Jesus is the best thing I've ever, ever done/ In His arms I feel protected/ In His arms never disconnected/ In His arms I feel protected/ There's no place I'd rather, rather be...
I'm falling more in love with Jesus everyday and the joy is everyone can too! Share some real love today. God Bless.
Well, I guess I would be the last person to give relationship advice. And if we were talking about human relationships I would be the first to direct you to one of the many great people I know that have developed a "successful" physical relationship. Today, however, I have been thinking about the most rewarding relationship that anyone could have with another individual, that's the relationship we have with Jesus.
The reason I use terms like relationship and individual when I refer to our connection with God is because God is a living being. He isn't a stone or wood statue. He isn't an aloof personage that holds himself separate from us. But he is a living, loving, Christ who desires a relationship on such a personal level that He not only created us but came to earth and gave His life and said I won't leave you alone I will come again and dwell with and in you! Jesus is alive.
He hears, speaks, feels, knows, sees, calls, draws, hurts, loves. The first thing we forget when we begin to walk away is, God is love. Love is not the twisted concept that this television generation has defined it to be, that is lust. Love is God and so every "love" relationship we have should, at it's core, have and draw us to Jesus. That for me is the way I test all human relationships: Does this person draw me closer to God or try to create situations in which I am drawn away or sin? To cause someone to sin is to effectively cause that person to die. How can that be called love? You can't believe in God and Heaven and hell and draw someone towards hell and say you love them.
But God is life and that more abundantly. Even just thinking about Him and writing this I am overcome with a feeling of unexplainable love. Oh, How I love my Jesus. I want more of Him everyday. I want to walk with Him and talk with him and know Him on a personal level that I have never known anyone. Bishop Wilson says it best "I fell in love with God so many years ago and each day He gets better!" There is no diminish in God's love. As we saw earlier man's love grows cold but God's love, true love, grows stronger and more beautiful each day.
For me the joy of prayer and fasting is the same as being able to talk to and commune (Eat, spend time with) the one I love with my whole heart. It's not a chore to get up and pray or push through hunger in a fast, because our mind isn't on the physical when we truly connect with Him. It is on the Spirit. Those that worship God do so in spirit and truth.
So the words of one of my favorite songs continue to ring true today. Falling in love with Jesus/ falling in love with Jesus/ Falling in love with Jesus is the best thing I've ever, ever done/ In His arms I feel protected/ In His arms never disconnected/ In His arms I feel protected/ There's no place I'd rather, rather be...
I'm falling more in love with Jesus everyday and the joy is everyone can too! Share some real love today. God Bless.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Genisis 12:2-3
New job, new car, new clothes, new house, new this and new that You just rollin' all new today baby. I feel the spirit of the most reverend Sam Emory gettin' a hold of me this morning! In a day when millions are starving, more millions are homeless and even more millions are malnourished and in need we have been blessed. Even in this financial "crisis" we are more prosperous than any generation preceding. Any way you cut it God has shown the Church favor.
With enemies surrounding us we are still blessed. Like the song of David God has set us a table of rejoicing in the midst of our enemies. But what is all this blessing for? Is it just to make us fat and happy. Is it to satisfy the insatiable desire of our flesh by spoiling us?
Imagine if you will your in your local grocery store. Picture row upon row of food and goodies and treats all there for you and those with you to take and enjoy how you wish. Around the corner comes a well dressed young lady and toddling beside her is her little boy. This little boy is dressed very fine like his mother his little curls meticulously shaped and presented. He bulges at the seams of his clothes and chocolate is smeared around his mouth. He stomps up and down the aisles demanding whatever he wants. But he never requests the healthy food or the good blessings he just demands the junk food that makes him feel good.
Would any of you applaud this mother as a good mother? She provides for her son, keeps him well dressed and presumably they live in a nice and safe neighborhood. He attends the finest elementary in the area and will never know want in his life besides that which he creates through his lusts. By all accounts she is doing what a provider should do. But we all know intrinsically there is something more to being a good parent. We force our children to eat their veggies and don't give them every treat they demand like this woman does. Because we know that a growing child needs more than just the gratification of his desires They need moulding and shaping to create a productive member of society.
The same concept applies int the Spirit and the kingdom. God says to Abraham "I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee," That's the first point here; God made us and God has given the blessing (Job, car, home, finances) "and make thy name great and THOU SHALT BE A BLESSING." Why are you going to make us God, Why are you going to bless us? So we can be a blessing. "And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curse thee: and in thee SHALL ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH BE BLESSED."
God didn't call us out to make a little "clique". To be just "us four and no more" (B. NJ Wilson) He called us to reach out,. Have you ever noticed that the Spirit is poured out. Poured out of heaven, poured out of the upper room, poured out upon all flesh. We can't live like hermits building up blessing and storing it up on this earth where rust and moth corrupts. We must invest in the Kingdom that has NO corruption.
God never intended for us to horde up all the blessings to appease our fat little souls but to be a blessing to and an example of the fatherhood of God. It is to our fault if we build up the walls of the church to be inclusive only to those we pick and choose fit our desires. God does the picking sometimes we may not see the necessity like little children to have those "types" in the church but God loves them just as much as you or I.
This is why so often the bible and Jesus speaks of being a good steward. A steward doesn't own the things he has. He is a manager that controls the things he is given to benefit the owner. We should live our life and use our blessings, monetary and talent, to support and build up the kingdom. I am not going to codemn anyone but I will simply ask. Is it ok that we drive around in ten thousand dollar cars and live in multi hundred thousand homes and work wonderful jobs but the church goes uncared for? The equipment to save the lost is lacking, the outreach tools can't be bought and the buses sit idly by because we can't afford gas or tune ups?
We have an apostolic mandate to realize that everything we have is not ours but the Lord's. He has given so that we might build on the kingdom not on our luxuries. God feed the Israelites in the desert he watered them from a rock so our provision is not the case here. God will provide for our families and us because He loves us but if we withhold HIS blessings from blessing the world with His message because we have the "American" mentality that "this is mine. I worked for it. I got to the top by my own hard work. I... I.... I...." God will take the blessings He gives and give to the next group to see what they will do with it.
"The best sacrifice hurts." -Mark Morgan So next service give that offering give that tithing with the mentality that "This is already yours God, Thank you for letting me mange it for you today" and if more is asked of you give that too and watch Him open the windows of heaven and bless you!
For more teaching on this read "In Bonds of Love" by Nathaniel J Wilson and get the CD from Alabama Revival Conference Cody Marks.
With enemies surrounding us we are still blessed. Like the song of David God has set us a table of rejoicing in the midst of our enemies. But what is all this blessing for? Is it just to make us fat and happy. Is it to satisfy the insatiable desire of our flesh by spoiling us?
Imagine if you will your in your local grocery store. Picture row upon row of food and goodies and treats all there for you and those with you to take and enjoy how you wish. Around the corner comes a well dressed young lady and toddling beside her is her little boy. This little boy is dressed very fine like his mother his little curls meticulously shaped and presented. He bulges at the seams of his clothes and chocolate is smeared around his mouth. He stomps up and down the aisles demanding whatever he wants. But he never requests the healthy food or the good blessings he just demands the junk food that makes him feel good.
Would any of you applaud this mother as a good mother? She provides for her son, keeps him well dressed and presumably they live in a nice and safe neighborhood. He attends the finest elementary in the area and will never know want in his life besides that which he creates through his lusts. By all accounts she is doing what a provider should do. But we all know intrinsically there is something more to being a good parent. We force our children to eat their veggies and don't give them every treat they demand like this woman does. Because we know that a growing child needs more than just the gratification of his desires They need moulding and shaping to create a productive member of society.
The same concept applies int the Spirit and the kingdom. God says to Abraham "I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee," That's the first point here; God made us and God has given the blessing (Job, car, home, finances) "and make thy name great and THOU SHALT BE A BLESSING." Why are you going to make us God, Why are you going to bless us? So we can be a blessing. "And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curse thee: and in thee SHALL ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH BE BLESSED."
God didn't call us out to make a little "clique". To be just "us four and no more" (B. NJ Wilson) He called us to reach out,. Have you ever noticed that the Spirit is poured out. Poured out of heaven, poured out of the upper room, poured out upon all flesh. We can't live like hermits building up blessing and storing it up on this earth where rust and moth corrupts. We must invest in the Kingdom that has NO corruption.
God never intended for us to horde up all the blessings to appease our fat little souls but to be a blessing to and an example of the fatherhood of God. It is to our fault if we build up the walls of the church to be inclusive only to those we pick and choose fit our desires. God does the picking sometimes we may not see the necessity like little children to have those "types" in the church but God loves them just as much as you or I.
This is why so often the bible and Jesus speaks of being a good steward. A steward doesn't own the things he has. He is a manager that controls the things he is given to benefit the owner. We should live our life and use our blessings, monetary and talent, to support and build up the kingdom. I am not going to codemn anyone but I will simply ask. Is it ok that we drive around in ten thousand dollar cars and live in multi hundred thousand homes and work wonderful jobs but the church goes uncared for? The equipment to save the lost is lacking, the outreach tools can't be bought and the buses sit idly by because we can't afford gas or tune ups?
We have an apostolic mandate to realize that everything we have is not ours but the Lord's. He has given so that we might build on the kingdom not on our luxuries. God feed the Israelites in the desert he watered them from a rock so our provision is not the case here. God will provide for our families and us because He loves us but if we withhold HIS blessings from blessing the world with His message because we have the "American" mentality that "this is mine. I worked for it. I got to the top by my own hard work. I... I.... I...." God will take the blessings He gives and give to the next group to see what they will do with it.
"The best sacrifice hurts." -Mark Morgan So next service give that offering give that tithing with the mentality that "This is already yours God, Thank you for letting me mange it for you today" and if more is asked of you give that too and watch Him open the windows of heaven and bless you!
For more teaching on this read "In Bonds of Love" by Nathaniel J Wilson and get the CD from Alabama Revival Conference Cody Marks.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Mark 11:23 "A childs story"
The Mountain and the Mustard Seed- a child's story
Once upon a time, in a field far far away, there lived a really big Mountain.
This Mountain was the biggest mountain in the whole world.
He was so tall that he blocked all the Sun from shining on any of the trees in his field.
Mountain was so loud when he laughed that he woke up all the little baby rabbits in the field.
And He was so wide that it took a whole week to walk around him!
Mountain was proud that he was so big and he would bully all the other people in the field.
One day the little trees in the field asked Mountain if he could move to the side, just a little bit, so they could get some sun and grow big and strong like Mountain.
Well mountain stood up even taller so they got less Sun then ever and this made the little trees really sad.
When Mountain saw how sad the little trees were he laughed and laughed.
Momma Rabbit asked Mountain if he could be just a little bit quieter because she had just put all the baby bunnies in bed.
But Mountain laughed even louder and woke all the little bunnies up.
This made the bunnies cry and Momma Rabbit sad.
Mountain was very happy that he could be mean and no one could stop him because he was so much bigger than them.
One day little Mustard Seed was going to Sunday School.
Mustard Seed was late so he was running as fast as he could and he ran right into big Mountain. (Ouch)
Mustard Seed looked up and up and up until he could see Mountain.
"Wow he is really big." Mustard Seed thought to himself.
"Excuse me" Mustard Seed said as loud as he could. "Mr. Mountain could you move to the side just a little so I can get to Sunday School on time?"
Mountain laughed when he saw Mustard Seed because he had never seen someone so small.
"I will not move little Mustard Seed because I am bigger than you and I am a bully. You will have to go all the way around me."
Mustard Seed would miss Sunday School if he went all the way around Mountain but he didn't get sad because he remembered what Jesus said about mean mountains.
Jesus said "If you have faith and ask a mountain to move then it has to move."
So Mustard Seed closed his eyes and prayed to Jesus that this mean mountain would move so he could go to Sunday School.
When he opened his eyes the ground started shaking!
It shook and it shook, until that big mean Mountain came tumbling down and was even smaller than the little Mustard Seed.
Mustard Seed smiled and picked up little mountain and took him to Sunday School with him.
The End
Remember that all it takes is trusting God and He can do all things for you. Read Mark 11:23-26 With your little Mustard Seeds and teach them how to pray the prayers of Faith.
God Bless everyone, have a great day and happy Monday!
Once upon a time, in a field far far away, there lived a really big Mountain.
This Mountain was the biggest mountain in the whole world.
He was so tall that he blocked all the Sun from shining on any of the trees in his field.
Mountain was so loud when he laughed that he woke up all the little baby rabbits in the field.
And He was so wide that it took a whole week to walk around him!
Mountain was proud that he was so big and he would bully all the other people in the field.
One day the little trees in the field asked Mountain if he could move to the side, just a little bit, so they could get some sun and grow big and strong like Mountain.
Well mountain stood up even taller so they got less Sun then ever and this made the little trees really sad.
When Mountain saw how sad the little trees were he laughed and laughed.
Momma Rabbit asked Mountain if he could be just a little bit quieter because she had just put all the baby bunnies in bed.
But Mountain laughed even louder and woke all the little bunnies up.
This made the bunnies cry and Momma Rabbit sad.
Mountain was very happy that he could be mean and no one could stop him because he was so much bigger than them.
One day little Mustard Seed was going to Sunday School.
Mustard Seed was late so he was running as fast as he could and he ran right into big Mountain. (Ouch)
Mustard Seed looked up and up and up until he could see Mountain.
"Wow he is really big." Mustard Seed thought to himself.
"Excuse me" Mustard Seed said as loud as he could. "Mr. Mountain could you move to the side just a little so I can get to Sunday School on time?"
Mountain laughed when he saw Mustard Seed because he had never seen someone so small.
"I will not move little Mustard Seed because I am bigger than you and I am a bully. You will have to go all the way around me."
Mustard Seed would miss Sunday School if he went all the way around Mountain but he didn't get sad because he remembered what Jesus said about mean mountains.
Jesus said "If you have faith and ask a mountain to move then it has to move."
So Mustard Seed closed his eyes and prayed to Jesus that this mean mountain would move so he could go to Sunday School.
When he opened his eyes the ground started shaking!
It shook and it shook, until that big mean Mountain came tumbling down and was even smaller than the little Mustard Seed.
Mustard Seed smiled and picked up little mountain and took him to Sunday School with him.
The End
Remember that all it takes is trusting God and He can do all things for you. Read Mark 11:23-26 With your little Mustard Seeds and teach them how to pray the prayers of Faith.
God Bless everyone, have a great day and happy Monday!
Friday, September 16, 2011
Matthew 24: 9-14
Hate and love. These are the forces at work in our world since the entrance of sin. If "God is love" (1 jn 4:8) Then the opposite of God is hate. A man once asked Jesus what is the greatest commandment and He responded "love the Lord your God with all thy heart...and the second is like the first...Love thy neighbor as yourself. " (Mat 22:36-39) The drastic contrast between the end time man versus the ideal man is vivid in His description of earthly relationships found in verses 9-12.
"Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you...ye shall be hated of ALL nations for my name's sake [Jesus name]" (vs. 9) I recall reading a story not many months ago in the news of a killing in the Philippines. A group of young Christians had been beheaded in the middle of the night by Muslim terrorists. What a gruesome tale and only a couple decades ago this would be unimaginable but we have seen a rapid escalation in violence, world wide, against those that teach, preach or believe in Jesus. I don't think we have gotten to the hour indicated in this part of Christ's prophecy but it is undeniable that we are rapidly heading for a day when those who bear and uphold the name of Jesus will be hated of all nations and given up to be killed.
Verse 10 indicates a group of people that will be offended by one another, shall betray one another and ultimately would come to hate one another. and this leads into verse 11 in which many false prophets will arise and deceive many. Now I may be taking a little liberty in interpreting these two scriptures but it seems to me in the context of their placement and the odd wording that this isn't speaking of the world in general. I feel these scriptures are indicating that in this time of great distress among the name sake there will be many that will turn one against another. those they formerly trusted will betray and be offended by them. and this will open the gates for false prophets to step into the body and lead many astray by adding salt to the wounds and causing even greater separation among the believers.
We must learn to forgive and love don't fall easily into the temptation of offense that escalates quickly to betrayal and hate and false doctrine. Hey, I'll be the first to admit, sometimes it's easy to be offended by church folks. But I know that I have just as much if not more wrong in me it is by the grace of God that you and I are forgiven. We need to extend that grace to those around us in the body as well. God is a God of love, if there is a man/woman in your life that is causing you to believe things about your brothers and sisters that increases separation from the body, stop listening to that false prophet! We shouldn't entertain our offenses/bitterness till they get large enough to consume our love.
"And because iniquity (immoral or grossly unfair behavior) shall abound, the love of many shall wax (grow) cold." (vs. 12)
It would be easy to box up this versus with others and say "yes man's love has always been getting colder" but in this age we need to recognize the effects of man's loss of love on towards the other. Columbine and Virginia Tech, Andrea Yates and most recently Carson City, Nevada. These weren't acts of violence with a purpose or an agenda, they were men and woman who had lost their love for fellow man and in turn did horrible things. Again, decades earlier a tragedy perpetrated as these were would have been nearly unimaginable. But today we hear almost every month a new story of unexpected seemingly random violence and acts of hate between people. We are in a world where love is departing from the hearts of man paving the way for the most wicked "hater" of all, the Anti-Christ.
But through it all Jesus didn't end it there. Thank God there is a word of hope in this tragic day that those who endure (push on) [in love {God}] "Shall be saved". Not might be saved but shall be saved! and He goes on to say that the Gospel (death, burial and resurrection of Christ/Repentance, baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost) will be preached in ALL nations before the end. Remember where sin doth abound grace doth much more abound.
It is easy as we have seen through out this chapter to get caught up in the hopeless despair and depression associated with recognizing the dire situation man is in, but we have a Hope! His name is Jesus. He is coming again! He is coming to save and deliver and reunite with those He has called out! Don't wait for this terrible day to get worse find your hope now, be rescued from this wicked world now!
When Peter told the people about the day of the Lord and described to them the horrible things to come they cried out "WHAT CAN WE DO TO BE SAVED!!" and He responded "Repent and be baptized EVERYONE OF YOU in the Name of Jesus Christ and you will receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost" What is that gift? It is the Spirit of God and the promise of being saved from that day of wrath. It is the promise that you will live with the Lamb that died for you Forever in Joy, peace and happiness. "And this promise is to you and your children and to all them that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call."
Can you hear Him calling? That's us Peter was talking about in Acts chapter 2! We will be saved!
God bless, Go out and save someone from death hell and the grave today. There is no greater miracle than the miracle of salvation when a dead soul is brought back to life in Christ to live forever your brother or sister. Amen.
"Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you...ye shall be hated of ALL nations for my name's sake [Jesus name]" (vs. 9) I recall reading a story not many months ago in the news of a killing in the Philippines. A group of young Christians had been beheaded in the middle of the night by Muslim terrorists. What a gruesome tale and only a couple decades ago this would be unimaginable but we have seen a rapid escalation in violence, world wide, against those that teach, preach or believe in Jesus. I don't think we have gotten to the hour indicated in this part of Christ's prophecy but it is undeniable that we are rapidly heading for a day when those who bear and uphold the name of Jesus will be hated of all nations and given up to be killed.
Verse 10 indicates a group of people that will be offended by one another, shall betray one another and ultimately would come to hate one another. and this leads into verse 11 in which many false prophets will arise and deceive many. Now I may be taking a little liberty in interpreting these two scriptures but it seems to me in the context of their placement and the odd wording that this isn't speaking of the world in general. I feel these scriptures are indicating that in this time of great distress among the name sake there will be many that will turn one against another. those they formerly trusted will betray and be offended by them. and this will open the gates for false prophets to step into the body and lead many astray by adding salt to the wounds and causing even greater separation among the believers.
We must learn to forgive and love don't fall easily into the temptation of offense that escalates quickly to betrayal and hate and false doctrine. Hey, I'll be the first to admit, sometimes it's easy to be offended by church folks. But I know that I have just as much if not more wrong in me it is by the grace of God that you and I are forgiven. We need to extend that grace to those around us in the body as well. God is a God of love, if there is a man/woman in your life that is causing you to believe things about your brothers and sisters that increases separation from the body, stop listening to that false prophet! We shouldn't entertain our offenses/bitterness till they get large enough to consume our love.
"And because iniquity (immoral or grossly unfair behavior) shall abound, the love of many shall wax (grow) cold." (vs. 12)
It would be easy to box up this versus with others and say "yes man's love has always been getting colder" but in this age we need to recognize the effects of man's loss of love on towards the other. Columbine and Virginia Tech, Andrea Yates and most recently Carson City, Nevada. These weren't acts of violence with a purpose or an agenda, they were men and woman who had lost their love for fellow man and in turn did horrible things. Again, decades earlier a tragedy perpetrated as these were would have been nearly unimaginable. But today we hear almost every month a new story of unexpected seemingly random violence and acts of hate between people. We are in a world where love is departing from the hearts of man paving the way for the most wicked "hater" of all, the Anti-Christ.
But through it all Jesus didn't end it there. Thank God there is a word of hope in this tragic day that those who endure (push on) [in love {God}] "Shall be saved". Not might be saved but shall be saved! and He goes on to say that the Gospel (death, burial and resurrection of Christ/Repentance, baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost) will be preached in ALL nations before the end. Remember where sin doth abound grace doth much more abound.
It is easy as we have seen through out this chapter to get caught up in the hopeless despair and depression associated with recognizing the dire situation man is in, but we have a Hope! His name is Jesus. He is coming again! He is coming to save and deliver and reunite with those He has called out! Don't wait for this terrible day to get worse find your hope now, be rescued from this wicked world now!
When Peter told the people about the day of the Lord and described to them the horrible things to come they cried out "WHAT CAN WE DO TO BE SAVED!!" and He responded "Repent and be baptized EVERYONE OF YOU in the Name of Jesus Christ and you will receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost" What is that gift? It is the Spirit of God and the promise of being saved from that day of wrath. It is the promise that you will live with the Lamb that died for you Forever in Joy, peace and happiness. "And this promise is to you and your children and to all them that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call."
Can you hear Him calling? That's us Peter was talking about in Acts chapter 2! We will be saved!
God bless, Go out and save someone from death hell and the grave today. There is no greater miracle than the miracle of salvation when a dead soul is brought back to life in Christ to live forever your brother or sister. Amen.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Psalms 76
I felt a desire to move away from Matthew 24 today just because I felt a light, joyful Spirit move over me this morning. I smile when I think about my Jesus and all He's done for me. But what good is the joy in me if I don't get to share it! I want everyone to know the joy and freedom associated with deliverance!
I like to use a scriptural reference for my blog titles. A sort of theme from the word that is a thread to weave my thoughts together. This morning I had no instant scripture or verse at hand to relate to how i was feeling but God works in mysterious ways and it just so happens that in daily devotions I am currently working through Psalms. What better book of the Bible to find uplifting and victorious chapters and songs than in the writings of the Psalmist.
So reading Psalms 76 brought joy to my heart . It is the song of a battle weary man who has found rest in the Lord. It was the song and sentiment of my heart. The battle has been long and weary but in the places where God dwells "there brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah." (vs. 3) He has delivered me from the time of war, my battle weary soul has found rest this morning, Praise God!
"The stouthearted [courageous and determined] are spoiled" Hey, God likes to spoil His people. He gives rest to the weary, strength to the weak and peace to the troubled! What other King can step into the midst of a war and give his men peace and strength and rest from the battle?
In verse 8 God's voice calms the earth to be still. This brought even more joy when I thought of Jesus standing in the bow of the boat and with His voice he caused the storm to be still. That's why the disciples wondered at him and were amazed because they knew David's song that the voice of God is the voice that calms the earth! Oh what a great God our Deliverer is! He calms not only the battle but the world around us when we call out to Him.
Reflecting on this beautiful Thursday morning in the month of September I can't help but praise my Lord and Saviour who gives me rest in the midst of the battle, peace in the midst of the storm. My God who spoils me when I don't deserve it and I can't help but echo back to the psalmist "Bring presents unto him that ought to be feared." (vs. 11) I lay it all down Lord again at your feet.
"All we want is You Take over, Take over 'Til we are consumed By nothing, nothing else but You All we want is You Take over, Take over" -Tye Tribbett "Take over"
I like to use a scriptural reference for my blog titles. A sort of theme from the word that is a thread to weave my thoughts together. This morning I had no instant scripture or verse at hand to relate to how i was feeling but God works in mysterious ways and it just so happens that in daily devotions I am currently working through Psalms. What better book of the Bible to find uplifting and victorious chapters and songs than in the writings of the Psalmist.
So reading Psalms 76 brought joy to my heart . It is the song of a battle weary man who has found rest in the Lord. It was the song and sentiment of my heart. The battle has been long and weary but in the places where God dwells "there brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah." (vs. 3) He has delivered me from the time of war, my battle weary soul has found rest this morning, Praise God!
"The stouthearted [courageous and determined] are spoiled" Hey, God likes to spoil His people. He gives rest to the weary, strength to the weak and peace to the troubled! What other King can step into the midst of a war and give his men peace and strength and rest from the battle?
In verse 8 God's voice calms the earth to be still. This brought even more joy when I thought of Jesus standing in the bow of the boat and with His voice he caused the storm to be still. That's why the disciples wondered at him and were amazed because they knew David's song that the voice of God is the voice that calms the earth! Oh what a great God our Deliverer is! He calms not only the battle but the world around us when we call out to Him.
Reflecting on this beautiful Thursday morning in the month of September I can't help but praise my Lord and Saviour who gives me rest in the midst of the battle, peace in the midst of the storm. My God who spoils me when I don't deserve it and I can't help but echo back to the psalmist "Bring presents unto him that ought to be feared." (vs. 11) I lay it all down Lord again at your feet.
"All we want is You Take over, Take over 'Til we are consumed By nothing, nothing else but You All we want is You Take over, Take over" -Tye Tribbett "Take over"
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Matthew 24: 6-8
"Turkey deploys warships to monitor Israeli naval activity" "Egypt, Libya and other Muslim Countries turned over in Civil Wars" "Mexican Gov't Declares War against Drug Cartels" "Syria on the brink of Civil War" "War, WAr, WAR"
This year has been awash with wars and rumours of wars. Preceding this year, America, The United Kingdom, and others, have been in a bitter war against terrorism. Korean powers have tested long range missiles, frightening America into response for fear of war, and many nations have struggled to refine nuclear capabilities. We are in an age of unprecedented military uncertainty. There has not been a singular enemy in which one could focus on, as in wars in the past, but there have been increasingly bitter threats, attacks and escalating struggles. Humanity is at war with itself.
There is no other way to explain it. Nation has risen against nation. Long time allies (Turkey and Israel) have aligned themselves against each other in military posturing. Kingdom has risen against kingdom. The Muslim religious kingdom has moved beyond declarations of war into implementing acts of war against not only Israel but all of western culture. We are in a troubled time. A time in which flesh is not at peace with each other and desire the destruction of their neighbor as a group.
We must note that this passage addresses not personal struggles of one person against another but whole kingdoms and nations rising against each other. Binding together in a unity of destruction and hate.
"6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled. for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom..."
Jesus knew that these troubling times of war were coming. He notes that in our nature during these times we would be fearful that we are in the end, but He reminded us that, although the troubles are like nothing we have ever seen and hate resounds around us, to be not troubled. Be at peace. He gave us the comforter which is the Holy Ghost which comes in His name. Yes,we are in the midst of turbulent times when we don't know if the next flight we take could be our last but take comfort in the fact that it is not the end for us we are here to do His work. Be aware of the signs of the times but no Christian should be fearful in this time for we have the answer!!
"7 ...and there shall be famines, and pestilences (diseases), and earthquakes in divers (many) places."
I am holding in my hand over 35 pages of raw data on deadly famines, floods, storms, earthquakes, and more that have struck the earth, escalating in intensity and frequency, since the year 2000. This doesn't even include the death tolls from these events which range from over 5 million in famines alone to countless millions from earthquake related fatalities. Over 5 MILLION people starved to death in as short as 11 years. This number only takes into account the tragedy from natural famines it doesn't even include the numerous millions dead from starvation in stricken homes that couldn't afford to feed their families. No one will argue that this earth is reacting to something going on. Most disturbing is the recent rash of devestating earthquakes in unusual and varied places. From Haiti up along the east coast through Virginia, from Japan to Colorado. With more than 252 since the year 2000, earthquakes have accounted for personal loss of life and property of an inestimable amount.
A surge of dangerous diseases and pestilences, with devastating potential, have risen up in the past few years. Sars, Swine flu, Mutant staff infections, West Nile virus and Avian flu. AIDS, and an increase in cancers and untreatable medical conditions just to name a few. As fast as we progress in the world of medicine we seem to be caught in a torrential down pour of new strains and outbreaks across the planet.
Reading the headlines it would be easy to be overtaken by a sense of hopelessness and fear. Yes, we are in a time when the signs echo, not just interpretively but literally, the words of Christ in Matthew 24. The end draws close, as the signs show us, but He told us to not fear that it is not for the church to worry during these times. We must continue to work the fields of salvation like never before, knowing that the end is closer, but also double our intensity in being sober and watching the heavens for his soon return. Remember the foolish bridesmaids that weren't ready for his coming because they fell asleep with too little oil to light the way. The danger we face is not knwoing whether He is coming or not but in being unprepared for His coming.
I hope these words help to encourage you to be a soul winner and learn the truth like never before. I will continue with this study tomorrow and remember that if you dig there is even more in His words. Seek and you shall find. Be faithful to church and your leadership like never before and be ready for the end. God Bless you all and I will see you tomorrow.
This year has been awash with wars and rumours of wars. Preceding this year, America, The United Kingdom, and others, have been in a bitter war against terrorism. Korean powers have tested long range missiles, frightening America into response for fear of war, and many nations have struggled to refine nuclear capabilities. We are in an age of unprecedented military uncertainty. There has not been a singular enemy in which one could focus on, as in wars in the past, but there have been increasingly bitter threats, attacks and escalating struggles. Humanity is at war with itself.
There is no other way to explain it. Nation has risen against nation. Long time allies (Turkey and Israel) have aligned themselves against each other in military posturing. Kingdom has risen against kingdom. The Muslim religious kingdom has moved beyond declarations of war into implementing acts of war against not only Israel but all of western culture. We are in a troubled time. A time in which flesh is not at peace with each other and desire the destruction of their neighbor as a group.
We must note that this passage addresses not personal struggles of one person against another but whole kingdoms and nations rising against each other. Binding together in a unity of destruction and hate.
"6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled. for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom..."
Jesus knew that these troubling times of war were coming. He notes that in our nature during these times we would be fearful that we are in the end, but He reminded us that, although the troubles are like nothing we have ever seen and hate resounds around us, to be not troubled. Be at peace. He gave us the comforter which is the Holy Ghost which comes in His name. Yes,we are in the midst of turbulent times when we don't know if the next flight we take could be our last but take comfort in the fact that it is not the end for us we are here to do His work. Be aware of the signs of the times but no Christian should be fearful in this time for we have the answer!!
"7 ...and there shall be famines, and pestilences (diseases), and earthquakes in divers (many) places."
I am holding in my hand over 35 pages of raw data on deadly famines, floods, storms, earthquakes, and more that have struck the earth, escalating in intensity and frequency, since the year 2000. This doesn't even include the death tolls from these events which range from over 5 million in famines alone to countless millions from earthquake related fatalities. Over 5 MILLION people starved to death in as short as 11 years. This number only takes into account the tragedy from natural famines it doesn't even include the numerous millions dead from starvation in stricken homes that couldn't afford to feed their families. No one will argue that this earth is reacting to something going on. Most disturbing is the recent rash of devestating earthquakes in unusual and varied places. From Haiti up along the east coast through Virginia, from Japan to Colorado. With more than 252 since the year 2000, earthquakes have accounted for personal loss of life and property of an inestimable amount.
A surge of dangerous diseases and pestilences, with devastating potential, have risen up in the past few years. Sars, Swine flu, Mutant staff infections, West Nile virus and Avian flu. AIDS, and an increase in cancers and untreatable medical conditions just to name a few. As fast as we progress in the world of medicine we seem to be caught in a torrential down pour of new strains and outbreaks across the planet.
Reading the headlines it would be easy to be overtaken by a sense of hopelessness and fear. Yes, we are in a time when the signs echo, not just interpretively but literally, the words of Christ in Matthew 24. The end draws close, as the signs show us, but He told us to not fear that it is not for the church to worry during these times. We must continue to work the fields of salvation like never before, knowing that the end is closer, but also double our intensity in being sober and watching the heavens for his soon return. Remember the foolish bridesmaids that weren't ready for his coming because they fell asleep with too little oil to light the way. The danger we face is not knwoing whether He is coming or not but in being unprepared for His coming.
I hope these words help to encourage you to be a soul winner and learn the truth like never before. I will continue with this study tomorrow and remember that if you dig there is even more in His words. Seek and you shall find. Be faithful to church and your leadership like never before and be ready for the end. God Bless you all and I will see you tomorrow.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Matthew 24:1-5
First let me humbly apologize for my absence yesterday but welcome back to the second week, let's jump back in where we left off on Friday.
Have you ever wondered why there are so many different denominations associated with Christianity? How can so many people read the same scripture and interrupt it differently each time? Some have gone so far as to add to the scripture in order to supplement what they feel is "missing" from the Word. You could go to almost any corner in a United States city and see three or four "churches" that each teach a different system of beliefs based off of Christ's teachings and the gospel. To date there are approximately more than 38.000 Christian denominations! While we do see slight variances in other religions I challenge you to find any other religious group that is as splintered or varied in their beliefs as the "Christian" community.
The beginning of Matthew chapter 24 (verses 1-5) offers two things. It introduces us to the settings in which Christ made His end time prophecies and it Christ gives us our first sign of the second coming.
Jesus had just taught in the temple and after the disciples had given Him a tour of the temple He made the prophecy that "not one stone of the temple would be left standing on the other." (vs. 1-2) Directly following this prophetic word the disciples come to Him on the Mount of Olives and ask Him to tell them when this will happen and what is the sign of His return and the end of the world? (vs. 3)
"Take heed that no man deceive you."(vs 4)
This strange statement is the beginning of Christ's prophetic teaching on His second coming. The first indication of the end times is a day full of deceit. "For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." (vs. 5) I always thought this verse had been about the Antichrist proclaiming he is God. But after studying chapter 24 I think we see that Jesus' prophecies are in chronological order. There is a steady progression towards the end as things get worse and worse and the first thing we shall see is "Many" coming in the name of Jesus Christ.
What we see is a spiritual tug of war, not only between true and false doctrine but also among the false teachings themselves. Each vying for your soul to believe what they have to teach. All of them saying "I am He that you seek." "Here I have Christ here!" "No, I have Christ over here." "They are lying, Christ is over here!"
We don't always see an outright false teaching but a dilution of the truth that progresses over time until we have in the end many speaking and all saying they are Christ.
Paul address' this concern in his second letter to the Corinthians 11:13-15 "13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness..." Even shortly after the beginning of the church from Acts 2 we see Satan was already at work sowing the seed of sedition. Separating the church using those who would twist the teachings of Christ. As time has progressed 2,000 years later we now have a saturation of "Christians" all saying "I am Christ" and each one teaching a different Christ.
This is why it is so important for us to not let any man deceive us in these last days. We must all "study to show ourselves approved." With so many saying they have the real Christ the best way to find out who He is is go back to the bible find out who Christ said He is and what the bible says we must do to be saved. (Show us the father and it will suffice us. Have I been with you so long and you know me not. I and my father are one. And I will send the comforter in MY Name.)
Many false apostles preaching they are Christ[ians]. This is the first sign of the end and Jesus told us to not be deceived by any man. Look around you only you can answer this next question: Are they're many saying they are Christ?
Tomorrow I will move on to the next scripture and look more into current news to see if there is any correlation. I urge you to speak with your pastor before formulating any beliefs on the end times they are there by God to lead you. And as always pray and search out the scripture because the end is soon and we must be sure in our faith, for those who endure shall be saved. God Bless.
Have you ever wondered why there are so many different denominations associated with Christianity? How can so many people read the same scripture and interrupt it differently each time? Some have gone so far as to add to the scripture in order to supplement what they feel is "missing" from the Word. You could go to almost any corner in a United States city and see three or four "churches" that each teach a different system of beliefs based off of Christ's teachings and the gospel. To date there are approximately more than 38.000 Christian denominations! While we do see slight variances in other religions I challenge you to find any other religious group that is as splintered or varied in their beliefs as the "Christian" community.
The beginning of Matthew chapter 24 (verses 1-5) offers two things. It introduces us to the settings in which Christ made His end time prophecies and it Christ gives us our first sign of the second coming.
Jesus had just taught in the temple and after the disciples had given Him a tour of the temple He made the prophecy that "not one stone of the temple would be left standing on the other." (vs. 1-2) Directly following this prophetic word the disciples come to Him on the Mount of Olives and ask Him to tell them when this will happen and what is the sign of His return and the end of the world? (vs. 3)
"Take heed that no man deceive you."(vs 4)
This strange statement is the beginning of Christ's prophetic teaching on His second coming. The first indication of the end times is a day full of deceit. "For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." (vs. 5) I always thought this verse had been about the Antichrist proclaiming he is God. But after studying chapter 24 I think we see that Jesus' prophecies are in chronological order. There is a steady progression towards the end as things get worse and worse and the first thing we shall see is "Many" coming in the name of Jesus Christ.
What we see is a spiritual tug of war, not only between true and false doctrine but also among the false teachings themselves. Each vying for your soul to believe what they have to teach. All of them saying "I am He that you seek." "Here I have Christ here!" "No, I have Christ over here." "They are lying, Christ is over here!"
We don't always see an outright false teaching but a dilution of the truth that progresses over time until we have in the end many speaking and all saying they are Christ.
Paul address' this concern in his second letter to the Corinthians 11:13-15 "13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness..." Even shortly after the beginning of the church from Acts 2 we see Satan was already at work sowing the seed of sedition. Separating the church using those who would twist the teachings of Christ. As time has progressed 2,000 years later we now have a saturation of "Christians" all saying "I am Christ" and each one teaching a different Christ.
This is why it is so important for us to not let any man deceive us in these last days. We must all "study to show ourselves approved." With so many saying they have the real Christ the best way to find out who He is is go back to the bible find out who Christ said He is and what the bible says we must do to be saved. (Show us the father and it will suffice us. Have I been with you so long and you know me not. I and my father are one. And I will send the comforter in MY Name.)
Many false apostles preaching they are Christ[ians]. This is the first sign of the end and Jesus told us to not be deceived by any man. Look around you only you can answer this next question: Are they're many saying they are Christ?
Tomorrow I will move on to the next scripture and look more into current news to see if there is any correlation. I urge you to speak with your pastor before formulating any beliefs on the end times they are there by God to lead you. And as always pray and search out the scripture because the end is soon and we must be sure in our faith, for those who endure shall be saved. God Bless.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Matthew 24
"The End Is Near" You've all seen the pictures. A man on the street corner, disheveled and distressed attire, unkempt hair and the musty smell of nights spent sleeping under the park bridge. Slung across his shoulders is a double sided sign heralding the coming apocalypse. "REPENT" He cries in an alcoholic's guttural voice, barely able to string together more than a few coherent words. This has become the archetype for stereotyping the "prophet of doom" in our media cultured world. They are men you would cross the street to avoid and go out of your way to ignore. But are we wrong to ignore the message they are speaking of?
Every person that grew up in a Christian household or has spent anytime in a Christian community has, at some point in time, heard talk about the end times. The "Tribulation", "Apocalypse", "Second Coming", "Catching Away", "Day of the Lord" and many other terms are used to describe different aspects of the end of this generation*. I have heard many sermons and teachings on the end times and it has even entered main stream media recently with publications like the "Left Behind" series.
I never really felt a personal drive to study and find out what the Word said about the end times. I have even made the statement on several occasions "I think it's interesting but because it wouldn't affect my salvation I don't feel the necessity to study it yet." I must admit now that I feel I was wrong. I believe it is necessary for every Christian to understand what is coming because without a knowledge of the end I don't think we are fully equipped to witness to those around us.
It surprised me to find out the the first apostolic message preached on the day of Pentecost by Peter, when he spoke in Acts ch. 2, was a message of the coming end "This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel" going on to expand on the "Day of the Lord", [see acts 2:16, 19-21]**! The message of The Day of the Lord is indeed a terrible and frightening thing but it is given to be used as a message of salvation.
Because of the power that the prophetic preaching of the day of the Lord wields to the salvation of lost souls the enemy has used his abilities to add a stigma to the imagery associated with those who teach or preach it. It is our responsibility to "Study and show [ourselves] approved" in this area of ministry. So i encourage everyone to study the relevance of Matthew 24 in relation to current events. I intend to use this platform over the next couple posts to show that relation on a few of the more recent stories to make headlines. My greatest desire is to arouse in you a mutual desire to study out the end time teaching and spark a fire in everyone of us to become soul winners.
Make sure you are always speaking to your pastor first and foremost on any subject of prophecy. They are your Shepard given to you for a reason. I encourage all Rock Church members to begin with Pastor Young's message on CD from Tuesday night 8-30-11. This is the message that brought me under conviction about not studying the message of salvation out more and I would hope it helps inspire you as well.
It is Friday!! I wish everyone here a great weekend and will pick up again on Monday. God bless.
*[When I use the term generation here I am referring to an age or dispensation rather than a singular life span]
**[Pastor Young spoke about the importance of Peter's ref. to Joel in his message in 2011's No Limits conference I encourage you to get that CD as well for further study]
Every person that grew up in a Christian household or has spent anytime in a Christian community has, at some point in time, heard talk about the end times. The "Tribulation", "Apocalypse", "Second Coming", "Catching Away", "Day of the Lord" and many other terms are used to describe different aspects of the end of this generation*. I have heard many sermons and teachings on the end times and it has even entered main stream media recently with publications like the "Left Behind" series.
I never really felt a personal drive to study and find out what the Word said about the end times. I have even made the statement on several occasions "I think it's interesting but because it wouldn't affect my salvation I don't feel the necessity to study it yet." I must admit now that I feel I was wrong. I believe it is necessary for every Christian to understand what is coming because without a knowledge of the end I don't think we are fully equipped to witness to those around us.
It surprised me to find out the the first apostolic message preached on the day of Pentecost by Peter, when he spoke in Acts ch. 2, was a message of the coming end "This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel" going on to expand on the "Day of the Lord", [see acts 2:16, 19-21]**! The message of The Day of the Lord is indeed a terrible and frightening thing but it is given to be used as a message of salvation.
Because of the power that the prophetic preaching of the day of the Lord wields to the salvation of lost souls the enemy has used his abilities to add a stigma to the imagery associated with those who teach or preach it. It is our responsibility to "Study and show [ourselves] approved" in this area of ministry. So i encourage everyone to study the relevance of Matthew 24 in relation to current events. I intend to use this platform over the next couple posts to show that relation on a few of the more recent stories to make headlines. My greatest desire is to arouse in you a mutual desire to study out the end time teaching and spark a fire in everyone of us to become soul winners.
Make sure you are always speaking to your pastor first and foremost on any subject of prophecy. They are your Shepard given to you for a reason. I encourage all Rock Church members to begin with Pastor Young's message on CD from Tuesday night 8-30-11. This is the message that brought me under conviction about not studying the message of salvation out more and I would hope it helps inspire you as well.
It is Friday!! I wish everyone here a great weekend and will pick up again on Monday. God bless.
*[When I use the term generation here I am referring to an age or dispensation rather than a singular life span]
**[Pastor Young spoke about the importance of Peter's ref. to Joel in his message in 2011's No Limits conference I encourage you to get that CD as well for further study]
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Psalms 55
I began this morning at 4am. Waking, in the dark serene, silence that still blankets the day at that hour, I set my mind to think on God. I was unable to move beyond my praise as my mind was attacked with the thoughts of those closest to me that were making the decision to turn from God and seek answers in this world. My friends aren't bad people they are young and unsure of the direction they should be taking in life. I have found many times over that it is impossible to talk one out of a decision like that. More often than not they must find out for themselves what they will be. It doesn't mean I haven't tried to point out the dangers of following the path they are taking but alas to no avail.
The pain that comes from watching them move away from God to test the boundaries of this world is the sorrow of knowing they may not ever get back. There is hope in Christ and they may turn at any time and receive His mercy to come home but it is ultimately their decision to make. They say if you love something you must let it go and if it loves you it will return. But no one ever mentions the Lions that prowl the earth seeking to destroy those birds that have flown from the hands of the master. Even if one would return they may never have the strength to return.
I can't imagine how much it must hurt God to watch these fragile lives take flight for the dangers of those lands. My heart is breaking knowing what they will go through and the danger that they may become blind and never get home.
I feel like David in Psalms 55. I want to escape what I see around me to stop worrying about those in the midst of the city beset by all the things of this world. To fly to God and let Him wrap me in His arms and protect me from the pain of losing another person I love to death in the spirit. It hurts but like David I will call to God and the Lord will save me.
I love you all so much and I pray for you daily I pray you will return and keep from that day. I don't want to lose anymore friends and loves to what I had to go through or worse. Please be safe and know I love you always....
The pain that comes from watching them move away from God to test the boundaries of this world is the sorrow of knowing they may not ever get back. There is hope in Christ and they may turn at any time and receive His mercy to come home but it is ultimately their decision to make. They say if you love something you must let it go and if it loves you it will return. But no one ever mentions the Lions that prowl the earth seeking to destroy those birds that have flown from the hands of the master. Even if one would return they may never have the strength to return.
I can't imagine how much it must hurt God to watch these fragile lives take flight for the dangers of those lands. My heart is breaking knowing what they will go through and the danger that they may become blind and never get home.
I feel like David in Psalms 55. I want to escape what I see around me to stop worrying about those in the midst of the city beset by all the things of this world. To fly to God and let Him wrap me in His arms and protect me from the pain of losing another person I love to death in the spirit. It hurts but like David I will call to God and the Lord will save me.
I love you all so much and I pray for you daily I pray you will return and keep from that day. I don't want to lose anymore friends and loves to what I had to go through or worse. Please be safe and know I love you always....
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