Works of the Flesh:
Sexual Immorality. Impurity. Covetousness. Filthiness. Foolish Talk. Crude Joking. Sensuality. Idolatry. Strife. Jealousy. Fits of Anger. Rivalries. Divisions. Envy. Drunkenness. Orgies.
Consequence:
Those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ~Galatians 5:21
Fruit of the Spirit:
Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness. Self-Control.
Consequence:
And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. ~John 17:3
What do people look like that hate Jesus? Answer:
"For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed." ~John 3:20
What do people look like that love Jesus? Answer:
"But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God." ~John 3:21
The truth is we have all sinned against God. The only way we can truly live a repentive life is if God has saved us, and given us new hearts. If God has given us a new heart that delights in Him, sin no longer dominates our mind. If we have been given a new heart, sin is no longer appealing to us. If we have truly tasted that God is good, we will have a desire to seek Him, to grow in Him, to know Him more and more the rest of our lives. The reason I repented of my sins is ultimately because God has given me a new nature. And because God did such a miracle in me, I no longer take delight in sin. Sin leads to death. Christ leads to life. Only by grace are we saved, and only by grace in your own life does God give you a yearning that becomes satisfied by Him. We glorify God by being satisfied by Him.
What makes you happy? God? Or sin?
I pray and hope you see Christ as a treasure worth more than everything in your life.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Thought of the Day
When it comes down to it, are you forgiven of your sins or are you not? Will you suffer the eternal wrath of God forever or will you not?
This is the most important question any human being can ask them selves. The Bible says we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. So when it is all said and done, at the end of the day what could we possibly say to the Creator? We have wronged Him. That is a scary thought.
These first two paragraphs are a couple thoughts that led me to my thought of the day. Which is:
When Jesus returns, you will not be worrying about who likes you, or what type of car you drive, or what type of job you have. When Jesus returns, you will desperately be hoping your sins are forgiven.
"Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen." ~Revelation 1:7
Don't waste your life. My only advice, repent and turn to Jesus Christ now for forgiveness of sins, before it is too late.
This is the most important question any human being can ask them selves. The Bible says we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. So when it is all said and done, at the end of the day what could we possibly say to the Creator? We have wronged Him. That is a scary thought.
These first two paragraphs are a couple thoughts that led me to my thought of the day. Which is:
When Jesus returns, you will not be worrying about who likes you, or what type of car you drive, or what type of job you have. When Jesus returns, you will desperately be hoping your sins are forgiven.
"Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen." ~Revelation 1:7
Don't waste your life. My only advice, repent and turn to Jesus Christ now for forgiveness of sins, before it is too late.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Words from the Wise
"In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.
In my vain life I have seen everything. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing. Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time? It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand, for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them.
Wisdom gives strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.
Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you.Your heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed others.
All this I have tested by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me.That which has been is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out?
I turned my heart to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness that is madness. And I find something more bitter than death: the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are fetters. He who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is taken by her. Behold, this is what I found, says the Preacher, while adding one thing to another to find the scheme of things— which my soul has sought repeatedly, but I have not found. One man among a thousand I found, but a woman among all these I have not found. See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes." ~Ecclesiastes 7:14-29
Life can leave you weary and overwhelmed. Many of the things we pursue in our lives can be a burden and at times seem like a work that is too much for us. Often our thoughts can be so distracted we find ourselves asking 'where do I turn?' or 'what is my comfort suppose to be?". Nothing compares to the nurishment of the scripture applied to our lives the way God intended it to be. Here is a passage that helps me, I pray and hope it helps you.
"At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”" ~Matthew 11:25-30
In my vain life I have seen everything. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing. Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time? It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand, for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them.
Wisdom gives strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.
Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you.Your heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed others.
All this I have tested by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me.That which has been is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out?
I turned my heart to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness that is madness. And I find something more bitter than death: the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are fetters. He who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is taken by her. Behold, this is what I found, says the Preacher, while adding one thing to another to find the scheme of things— which my soul has sought repeatedly, but I have not found. One man among a thousand I found, but a woman among all these I have not found. See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes." ~Ecclesiastes 7:14-29
Life can leave you weary and overwhelmed. Many of the things we pursue in our lives can be a burden and at times seem like a work that is too much for us. Often our thoughts can be so distracted we find ourselves asking 'where do I turn?' or 'what is my comfort suppose to be?". Nothing compares to the nurishment of the scripture applied to our lives the way God intended it to be. Here is a passage that helps me, I pray and hope it helps you.
"At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”" ~Matthew 11:25-30
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Some Thoughts of the Night
I don't know about you, but my life is often busy. I am always on the go. And a lot of times, I feel like I don't have enough time to relax and meditate on how good God is. Reflecting back on my past and now where my life is heading, I see so clearly that God has totally brought me a long way.
Oh, how wretched of a man I am! But God in His goodness and great mercy has shown me so much grace. In my times of meditation, it is such a sweet time to just be one on one with God. One thing I hope you can also relate with me about is "why does God love a sinner like me?" It is unbelievable to me that I am forgiven of my sins. I truly believe that if myself and other Christians spent more time meditating on the fact that sinners worthless and helpless like we are, are in fact no longer condemned, would completely transform our lives. And even so, bring a deeper, more satisfying relationship with God.
How often do you meditate on God and His powerful Word? Start doing it everyday! The Bible is loaded with amazing verses to meditate on. But here are several truths and verses of scripture that may help you in your times of meditation:
Oh, how wretched of a man I am! But God in His goodness and great mercy has shown me so much grace. In my times of meditation, it is such a sweet time to just be one on one with God. One thing I hope you can also relate with me about is "why does God love a sinner like me?" It is unbelievable to me that I am forgiven of my sins. I truly believe that if myself and other Christians spent more time meditating on the fact that sinners worthless and helpless like we are, are in fact no longer condemned, would completely transform our lives. And even so, bring a deeper, more satisfying relationship with God.
How often do you meditate on God and His powerful Word? Start doing it everyday! The Bible is loaded with amazing verses to meditate on. But here are several truths and verses of scripture that may help you in your times of meditation:
- All things are possible with God.
- "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." ~Romans 8:28
- "but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers." ~Psalm 1:2-3
- God is good.
- "remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility." ~Ephesians 2:12-14
- "but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." ~Isaiah 40:31
- "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world." ~1 John 2:1-2
- God made dirt, and dirt don't hurt. :)
Monday, August 23, 2010
God is Creator
Who do you worship? Is it the Living God? Or is it a false god? Well then, to know for sure I will ask you an even better question. Do you make God ought to be who you want Him to be or do you understand Him for who He really is?
Here is one of my favorite passages in scripture where Paul addresses this issue:
Here is one of my favorite passages in scripture where Paul addresses this issue:
22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, 28 for
“‘In him we live and move and have our being’;
as even some of your own poets have said,
“‘For we are indeed his offspring.’
29 Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” 33 So Paul went out from their midst. 34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Psalm 37
1 Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
be not envious of wrongdoers!
2 For they will soon fade like the grass
and wither like the green herb.
be not envious of wrongdoers!
2 For they will soon fade like the grass
and wither like the green herb.
3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday.
trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday.
7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!
8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
9 For the evildoers shall be cut off,
but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.
Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
9 For the evildoers shall be cut off,
but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.
10 In just a little while, the wicked will be no more;
though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
11 But the meek shall inherit the land
and delight themselves in abundant peace.
though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
11 But the meek shall inherit the land
and delight themselves in abundant peace.
12 The wicked plots against the righteous
and gnashes his teeth at him,
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he sees that his day is coming.
and gnashes his teeth at him,
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he sees that his day is coming.
14 The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose way is upright;
15 their sword shall enter their own heart,
and their bows shall be broken.
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose way is upright;
15 their sword shall enter their own heart,
and their bows shall be broken.
16 Better is the little that the righteous has
than the abundance of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
but the Lord upholds the righteous.
than the abundance of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
but the Lord upholds the righteous.
18 The Lord knows the days of the blameless,
and their heritage will remain forever;
19 they are not put to shame in evil times;
in the days of famine they have abundance.
and their heritage will remain forever;
19 they are not put to shame in evil times;
in the days of famine they have abundance.
20 But the wicked will perish;
the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures;
they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.
the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures;
they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.
21 The wicked borrows but does not pay back,
but the righteous is generous and gives;
22 for those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land,
but those cursed by him shall be cut off.
but the righteous is generous and gives;
22 for those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land,
but those cursed by him shall be cut off.
23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
when he delights in his way;
24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
for the Lord upholds his hand.
when he delights in his way;
24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
for the Lord upholds his hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
or his children begging for bread.
26 He is ever lending generously,
and his children become a blessing.
yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
or his children begging for bread.
26 He is ever lending generously,
and his children become a blessing.
27 Turn away from evil and do good;
so shall you dwell forever.
28 For the Lord loves justice;
he will not forsake his saints.
They are preserved forever,
but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land
and dwell upon it forever.
so shall you dwell forever.
28 For the Lord loves justice;
he will not forsake his saints.
They are preserved forever,
but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land
and dwell upon it forever.
30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,
and his tongue speaks justice.
31 The law of his God is in his heart;
his steps do not slip.
and his tongue speaks justice.
31 The law of his God is in his heart;
his steps do not slip.
32 The wicked watches for the righteous
and seeks to put him to death.
33 The Lord will not abandon him to his power
or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.
and seeks to put him to death.
33 The Lord will not abandon him to his power
or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.
34 Wait for the Lord and keep his way,
and he will exalt you to inherit the land;
you will look on when the wicked are cut off.
and he will exalt you to inherit the land;
you will look on when the wicked are cut off.
35 I have seen a wicked, ruthless man,
spreading himself like a green laurel tree.
36 But he passed away, and behold, he was no more;
though I sought him, he could not be found.
spreading himself like a green laurel tree.
36 But he passed away, and behold, he was no more;
though I sought him, he could not be found.
37 Mark the blameless and behold the upright,
for there is a future for the man of peace.
38 But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;
the future of the wicked shall be cut off.
for there is a future for the man of peace.
38 But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;
the future of the wicked shall be cut off.
39 The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.
he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Living Water
Let's just face it, this next sip is ok. I mean it is only one. I am not hurting anyone. It's not sin. I mean Jesus drank wine. So I am fine. My life is all good. God forgives sin, it is ok to mess up sometimes. Wait. I need to text my ex girl friend. It's ok. This time is different. I am going to change everything. I mean really. This time is different. But I am tired. I worked so hard at work last night. I deserve a Sunday off. I think I am just going to sleep in this morning. It's all good, I believe in Jesus.
WAKE UP!
Are you serious? Are you kidding me? You actually claim the name of Christ, and you are ok with your life looking like the rest of the world? You are ok with sin in your life, so you justify your mistakes because you know God forgives sin? You still text your ex, and you think you can fix the problem, when God doesn't want you with that person any way? And now you have decided to sleep in and miss church?
My friend, wake up, sin has a grip on you. Don't be led astray by the passions of your flesh. We are called by Christ to crucify ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow Him. Don't try to justify your sins. God is not happy about sin. He killed his son for it. Jesus died so that you would not suffer the wrath of God. Do you realize that your sin gets in the way of you loving God?
"How blessed is the man who does walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted next to streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and it's leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers." ~Psalm 1:1-3
So you say you believe in Jesus? Ok. Try not walking a life the resembles the wicked and perverse generation. Try delighting in the law of the Lord day and night. Be like a tree firmly planted next to streams of water, be rooted in God's word. Be someone that prospers in everything you do. I promise you this, you can not do any of those things unless you have been given a new heart from God. Only if God has saved you from your sins, given you a new heart, made you a new jar of clay, only then can you hold Living Water.
Have you tasted this Living Water?
WAKE UP!
Are you serious? Are you kidding me? You actually claim the name of Christ, and you are ok with your life looking like the rest of the world? You are ok with sin in your life, so you justify your mistakes because you know God forgives sin? You still text your ex, and you think you can fix the problem, when God doesn't want you with that person any way? And now you have decided to sleep in and miss church?
My friend, wake up, sin has a grip on you. Don't be led astray by the passions of your flesh. We are called by Christ to crucify ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow Him. Don't try to justify your sins. God is not happy about sin. He killed his son for it. Jesus died so that you would not suffer the wrath of God. Do you realize that your sin gets in the way of you loving God?
"How blessed is the man who does walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted next to streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and it's leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers." ~Psalm 1:1-3
So you say you believe in Jesus? Ok. Try not walking a life the resembles the wicked and perverse generation. Try delighting in the law of the Lord day and night. Be like a tree firmly planted next to streams of water, be rooted in God's word. Be someone that prospers in everything you do. I promise you this, you can not do any of those things unless you have been given a new heart from God. Only if God has saved you from your sins, given you a new heart, made you a new jar of clay, only then can you hold Living Water.
Have you tasted this Living Water?
Monday, August 16, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Renounce All Ungodliness
Our lives are filled with idols. From a recent sermon from my Pastor Josh Greene, he said, "Our minds are idol producing factories." An idol is anything that keeps you from truly worshiping the living God. Therefore, an idol could be anything in your life that you enjoy or delight in more than God. Here is a list of what may be an idol for you:
Therefore if God designed us to delight in Him, how is it that we take delight and joy in something else? So what do you delight in? Where do you get your greatest joy from? Is it a girl friend or boy friend? Is it money? Popularity? Beauty? Sin? Whatever the greatest joy you have is, understand that if your satisfaction is not rooted in knowing God, you may very well be some one who worships an idol.
"And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil." ~John 3:19
Who is your greatest joy from? Do you love evil or do you love Jesus Christ?
Know that you can be happy with sin, but sin is fleeting and it will leave you empty. Joy from God lasts forever and only God can truly satisfy your heart's desire.
Renounce all evil in your life. Put your faith in Jesus. Be free from sin and be truly satisfied. Don't waste your life.
- Money
- Praise of man
- Fame
- Relationships
- Sports teams
- Yourself
- A false relationship with God (understanding God in your own making, instead of knowing the God from the Bible)
- Church
Therefore if God designed us to delight in Him, how is it that we take delight and joy in something else? So what do you delight in? Where do you get your greatest joy from? Is it a girl friend or boy friend? Is it money? Popularity? Beauty? Sin? Whatever the greatest joy you have is, understand that if your satisfaction is not rooted in knowing God, you may very well be some one who worships an idol.
"And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil." ~John 3:19
Who is your greatest joy from? Do you love evil or do you love Jesus Christ?
Know that you can be happy with sin, but sin is fleeting and it will leave you empty. Joy from God lasts forever and only God can truly satisfy your heart's desire.
Renounce all evil in your life. Put your faith in Jesus. Be free from sin and be truly satisfied. Don't waste your life.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
What is the Church?
"But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire." ~Matthew 5:22
"Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?" ~Matthew 7:3
"Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven." ~Matthew 18:21-22
So you want to know what the church is? It's not a building. The church is a body of disciples of Christ. The church should be marked with something in our lives. It's called: Being filled with the Holy Spirit.
That should motivate, and shape us, and move us and inspire us to have loving and forgiving lives. Lives that display grace, compassion, humility, dieing to yourself, getting over your ego and your pride and investing your time, your heart, your body, and your mind in the perseverance of the saints.
When is the last time you forgave someone? When is the last time you told some one you were thankful for them? When is the last time you payed for someone else's lunch? When is the last time you shown someone real love, with a heart that was filled with real compassion? When is the last time you had a real serious problem with someone, and you died to yourself and shown your brother or sister love and forgave them?
Life is hard. Church life takes hard work that is focused on the servant-life of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It won't always be easy, we won't always get along, but we should and ought to be joined together in like-mindedness because of the blood of Jesus.
Jesus said, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." ~John 13:34-35
Do you love me? Do you love other Christians? For this type of love is only possible through Jesus Christ. You want to be the church? Repent and believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life.
"Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?" ~Matthew 7:3
"Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven." ~Matthew 18:21-22
So you want to know what the church is? It's not a building. The church is a body of disciples of Christ. The church should be marked with something in our lives. It's called: Being filled with the Holy Spirit.
That should motivate, and shape us, and move us and inspire us to have loving and forgiving lives. Lives that display grace, compassion, humility, dieing to yourself, getting over your ego and your pride and investing your time, your heart, your body, and your mind in the perseverance of the saints.
When is the last time you forgave someone? When is the last time you told some one you were thankful for them? When is the last time you payed for someone else's lunch? When is the last time you shown someone real love, with a heart that was filled with real compassion? When is the last time you had a real serious problem with someone, and you died to yourself and shown your brother or sister love and forgave them?
Life is hard. Church life takes hard work that is focused on the servant-life of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It won't always be easy, we won't always get along, but we should and ought to be joined together in like-mindedness because of the blood of Jesus.
Jesus said, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." ~John 13:34-35
Do you love me? Do you love other Christians? For this type of love is only possible through Jesus Christ. You want to be the church? Repent and believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Speech: What you say defiles you
The majority of our lives are filled with speaking. I would say about 95% of our life is affected by what we say. Here is a list of several things that are connected to what we say:
Jesus said, "But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone." ~Matthew 15:18-20
Question 1: What type of things do you say?
Whether you are a christian or not, what type of character do you have as a person? What type of things do you say to people? To your friends? To your boy friends or girls friends? Do you flirt? Are you even aware that you flirt? Are you a mean person? Are you aware that you are a mean person? Do you lie to people? Are you aware that you lie to people? You say a lot of cuss words often, are you even aware of how others view your character when you do that?
Just think of how you are. In each one of those examples some how and some way things you say come forth from your heart, and that behavior that you act upon is some how influenced by what you said.
Question 2: When you speak, what do you talk about?
Are your conversations usually about you? Are they about how cool you are? How pretty you are? Maybe when you talk you say things that are filled with self pity, so you talk about how much you hate your job or how you wish your circumstances were different. Or maybe you talk dirty. Maybe you joke in an inappropriate manner. Maybe you are rude. Maybe you are a jerk.
Regardless of what you struggle with, the correct response to what you have just read is to repent and believe in Jesus. We have all sinned against God. We have all said things we should have never said. A lot of things we have said in our past or present have been dishonoring to God. But our most desperate need of the hour is for our hearts to be clean. What we need is for that 95% of what proceeds from our hearts to be clean, to be changed, to be different, to be right, to be fruit from the Holy Spirit. Lets dive into Galatians chapter 5 and see the difference between our two natures.
"Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." ~Galatians 5:19-24
Before we are given new hearts, before God saves us, we are slaves to our flesh and sin. We cannot please God. And living through the flesh, we will not inherit the kingdom of God. Paul instructs us to live by the spirit. Verse 24 says that "those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."
We don't live our lives thinking every single second about what to say or how to react to people. 95% of what happens, simply just happens and over flows out of us from our hearts. I want that over flow from my heart to be the fruit of the Spirit. I want it to be love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. In every situation it is impossible for me to think and react prior to things that happen spontaneously. I don't know what will happen to me today, therefore I cannot turn a switch on that turns on the fruit of the Spirit. That fruit must be my character, my heart must be changed, my heart must be a new heart from God.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, lets build one another up in the faith with love and humility. Lets pray for one another and stir one another up to "renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age." ~Titus 2:13 Jesus said that the world will know that we are His disciples if we have love for one another. So lets continue to press on and persevere in the faith. Know that what you say in your life matters. Guard your tongue and your heart, for sin will try its best to destroy your life.
Unbeliever, today is the day of salvation. You need a new heart. Know that Jesus is Lord, know that it was your sins that held Him on the cross to bear the wrath of God for you. Know that there is no other way to God, but only through faith in Christ Jesus. Repent and turn to Jesus.
- Humor
- Character
- Our reputation
- Relationships
- Friendships
- Behavior
- ...this list could go on forever.
Jesus said, "But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone." ~Matthew 15:18-20
Question 1: What type of things do you say?
Whether you are a christian or not, what type of character do you have as a person? What type of things do you say to people? To your friends? To your boy friends or girls friends? Do you flirt? Are you even aware that you flirt? Are you a mean person? Are you aware that you are a mean person? Do you lie to people? Are you aware that you lie to people? You say a lot of cuss words often, are you even aware of how others view your character when you do that?
Just think of how you are. In each one of those examples some how and some way things you say come forth from your heart, and that behavior that you act upon is some how influenced by what you said.
Question 2: When you speak, what do you talk about?
Are your conversations usually about you? Are they about how cool you are? How pretty you are? Maybe when you talk you say things that are filled with self pity, so you talk about how much you hate your job or how you wish your circumstances were different. Or maybe you talk dirty. Maybe you joke in an inappropriate manner. Maybe you are rude. Maybe you are a jerk.
Regardless of what you struggle with, the correct response to what you have just read is to repent and believe in Jesus. We have all sinned against God. We have all said things we should have never said. A lot of things we have said in our past or present have been dishonoring to God. But our most desperate need of the hour is for our hearts to be clean. What we need is for that 95% of what proceeds from our hearts to be clean, to be changed, to be different, to be right, to be fruit from the Holy Spirit. Lets dive into Galatians chapter 5 and see the difference between our two natures.
"Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." ~Galatians 5:19-24
Before we are given new hearts, before God saves us, we are slaves to our flesh and sin. We cannot please God. And living through the flesh, we will not inherit the kingdom of God. Paul instructs us to live by the spirit. Verse 24 says that "those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."
We don't live our lives thinking every single second about what to say or how to react to people. 95% of what happens, simply just happens and over flows out of us from our hearts. I want that over flow from my heart to be the fruit of the Spirit. I want it to be love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. In every situation it is impossible for me to think and react prior to things that happen spontaneously. I don't know what will happen to me today, therefore I cannot turn a switch on that turns on the fruit of the Spirit. That fruit must be my character, my heart must be changed, my heart must be a new heart from God.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, lets build one another up in the faith with love and humility. Lets pray for one another and stir one another up to "renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age." ~Titus 2:13 Jesus said that the world will know that we are His disciples if we have love for one another. So lets continue to press on and persevere in the faith. Know that what you say in your life matters. Guard your tongue and your heart, for sin will try its best to destroy your life.
Unbeliever, today is the day of salvation. You need a new heart. Know that Jesus is Lord, know that it was your sins that held Him on the cross to bear the wrath of God for you. Know that there is no other way to God, but only through faith in Christ Jesus. Repent and turn to Jesus.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
You Need a Heart Change
We sin against God because we do not love Him. Do not ever confuse your unwillingness to live for God based on some other thought or opinion. Unwillingness to live for God is sin; and that is a fact. The entire bible tells us about our sinful nature and our disobedience to God. But this is a section from Isaiah chapter 1 that describes how we are and God's response to it:
11 “What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats.
So my advice is to be real with God. No matter what you do, it is impossible to do something wrong God doesn't know about.
11 “What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats.
12 “When you come to appear before me, who has required of you this trampling of my courts?
13 Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations—I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.
14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them.
15 When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers,
I will not listen; your hands are full of blood.
16 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes;
cease to do evil,
17 learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.
13 Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations—I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.
14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them.
15 When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers,
I will not listen; your hands are full of blood.
16 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes;
cease to do evil,
17 learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.
18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;
20 but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;
20 but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
God knows our thoughts, the intentions of our hearts; God knows everything about you more than you do. What God desires is for all peoples to worship Him in spirit and truth. This is what Jesus said, "But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him." ~John 3:23
So my advice is to be real with God. No matter what you do, it is impossible to do something wrong God doesn't know about.
So do you worship God with sincere faith? You should.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
God Became a Man
Who is God?
That is probably the most significant question any person could ever ask. Maybe you are wondering, 'well Jon, God is not a person, He can't be, that is impossible.' My friends if that is your conclusion, you will have an eternity of misery that awaits you. We have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God, that is what Romans 3:23 says. Therefore, if we have no forgiveness of sins, if we have no way to get right with God, we all face an eternity of misery.
Thanks be to God, for He became a man, and bore the wrath we deserve. This is what the word of God says:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'") And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Fathers side, he has made him known."
~John 1:1-17
Jesus was the Word. He became a man to crush the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:15). Sin has been dealt with. Jesus conquered the works of the devil on the cross. We now have a way to be made right with God.
My brothers and sisters, the righteous live by faith. So are you picking up your cross daily and following Jesus? Die to sin and be alive in God.
Unbeliever, know this, today is the day of salvation. Repent and believe in the only Son of God. For through Jesus, we can be made blameless before God.
That is probably the most significant question any person could ever ask. Maybe you are wondering, 'well Jon, God is not a person, He can't be, that is impossible.' My friends if that is your conclusion, you will have an eternity of misery that awaits you. We have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God, that is what Romans 3:23 says. Therefore, if we have no forgiveness of sins, if we have no way to get right with God, we all face an eternity of misery.
Thanks be to God, for He became a man, and bore the wrath we deserve. This is what the word of God says:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'") And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Fathers side, he has made him known."
~John 1:1-17
Jesus was the Word. He became a man to crush the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:15). Sin has been dealt with. Jesus conquered the works of the devil on the cross. We now have a way to be made right with God.
My brothers and sisters, the righteous live by faith. So are you picking up your cross daily and following Jesus? Die to sin and be alive in God.
Unbeliever, know this, today is the day of salvation. Repent and believe in the only Son of God. For through Jesus, we can be made blameless before God.
Prayer of the Night
Father God, I come before you with all my burdens. Father, I need you every day. Forgive me of my sins, for they are many.
I find great comfort in my Redeemer. For Lord only you alone establish my steps, only you alone ordain all the events that unfold in my life.
Lord, I want to echo the words of your prophet Jeremiah, for he said, "I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps. Correct me, O LORD, but in justice; not in your anger, lest you bring me to nothing." ~Jeremiah 10:23-24
Heavenly Father, bring joy, comfort and peace to my life. Dress me in the robes of your righteousness. My God, I desire to be your instrument, and I pray you equip me with a heart and mind that delights to do your will.
My God, you are my God, and you reign in my heart. Give me faith that is obedient to you or I will surely perish in darkness.
Lord, lead me in the everlasting way, for your law is upon my heart. Bless me with wisdom, guide me with your word, and strengthen me with your promises, for they last forever.
I pray in Jesus name, amen.
I find great comfort in my Redeemer. For Lord only you alone establish my steps, only you alone ordain all the events that unfold in my life.
Lord, I want to echo the words of your prophet Jeremiah, for he said, "I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps. Correct me, O LORD, but in justice; not in your anger, lest you bring me to nothing." ~Jeremiah 10:23-24
Heavenly Father, bring joy, comfort and peace to my life. Dress me in the robes of your righteousness. My God, I desire to be your instrument, and I pray you equip me with a heart and mind that delights to do your will.
My God, you are my God, and you reign in my heart. Give me faith that is obedient to you or I will surely perish in darkness.
Lord, lead me in the everlasting way, for your law is upon my heart. Bless me with wisdom, guide me with your word, and strengthen me with your promises, for they last forever.
I pray in Jesus name, amen.
Monday, August 9, 2010
God's Promise to Us
Hello there friends. This is my first blog ever, and I hope this is the first of many.
My goal in my life is to live for God. That is why I am alive, that is my passion every day, to give God glory. If you are a christian and you are reading this, I hope my blogs will help strengthen your relationship with Jesus. If you are not a christian; meaning, if you are some one who does not claim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, I hope and pray that my blog will expose God and His powerful word to you.
I will start off by saying I am nothing but sin. I have sinned against God. And because of that, I was once with out hope in my life. I once had no relationship with God, I was once God's enemy. But by grace God has saved me through the power of His one and only son, Jesus Christ.
If many of you are like me, which I know all of you are, much of your lives are constantly battered with the following:
"O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires, I will make your pinnacles of agate, your gates of carbuncles, and all your wall of precious stones. All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you." ~Isaiah 54:11-14
My message is for you to hope in Christ. He is the propitiation of our sins, and through Christ is the only way we can know and understand God. I plead with you to read all of Isaiah 54, pray and meditate on what God says. It is rich with and filled with God's promise of an eternal covenant of peace with us.
God's Promise to us: The Eternal Covenant of Peace
My goal in my life is to live for God. That is why I am alive, that is my passion every day, to give God glory. If you are a christian and you are reading this, I hope my blogs will help strengthen your relationship with Jesus. If you are not a christian; meaning, if you are some one who does not claim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, I hope and pray that my blog will expose God and His powerful word to you.
I will start off by saying I am nothing but sin. I have sinned against God. And because of that, I was once with out hope in my life. I once had no relationship with God, I was once God's enemy. But by grace God has saved me through the power of His one and only son, Jesus Christ.
If many of you are like me, which I know all of you are, much of your lives are constantly battered with the following:
- sin
- problems with school
- relationships
- friendships
- loved ones
- future goals
- present anticipations
- hopes for a future wife or husband
- etc.
"O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires, I will make your pinnacles of agate, your gates of carbuncles, and all your wall of precious stones. All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you." ~Isaiah 54:11-14
My message is for you to hope in Christ. He is the propitiation of our sins, and through Christ is the only way we can know and understand God. I plead with you to read all of Isaiah 54, pray and meditate on what God says. It is rich with and filled with God's promise of an eternal covenant of peace with us.
God's Promise to us: The Eternal Covenant of Peace
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