God has been using his Word to encourage me. The book of Jeremiah has some keen insights that should help any believer as they seek to live in the battles of this world.
1) Believers are encouraged that they ought to repent, and repent often in order to have constant communion with God.
2) Idolatry is common and can occur without being in a religion such as Hinduism or Buddhism.
3) Most people will not repent, but run away from God.
I find all three points to be encouraging because the time Jeremiah was alive is very similar to the current times. People in all places either love God or hate Him. I am very thankful for the glorious relationship I have with Christ; He is my only joy.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
War!
The war is on! Actually it began the moment Satan rebelled, before humans even touched the earth. Because of Christ, man is now able to be saved and is no longer at enmity with God when they trust that Jesus took away our punishment on the cross. So where does that leave us today?
Sudan:
A team of Christians are booted out with threats of death promising. They are exiled to Tanzania until they find out if the village will let them live amongst them.
Middle East:
Public executions are a "public" event every Friday as people who have committed sexual immorality or are found out as "infidels" of Islam. The good news does not penetrate here without blood shed.
South Asia:
Countless times Buddhist nations declare, "Westerners are not wanted here!". But what does a follower of Jesus do when he knows they need the gospel? Does he cower away and slip into the pulpit? No, he or she acknowledges Jesus is worth the persecution.
Risk: “You do not evaluate a risk by the probability of success but by the value of the goal.” ~ Ralph Winter.
The war is worth fighting; for His name's sake.
Sudan:
A team of Christians are booted out with threats of death promising. They are exiled to Tanzania until they find out if the village will let them live amongst them.
Middle East:
Public executions are a "public" event every Friday as people who have committed sexual immorality or are found out as "infidels" of Islam. The good news does not penetrate here without blood shed.
South Asia:
Countless times Buddhist nations declare, "Westerners are not wanted here!". But what does a follower of Jesus do when he knows they need the gospel? Does he cower away and slip into the pulpit? No, he or she acknowledges Jesus is worth the persecution.
Risk: “You do not evaluate a risk by the probability of success but by the value of the goal.” ~ Ralph Winter.
The war is worth fighting; for His name's sake.
Monday, April 27, 2009
a seed...
Matthew 13:1-9...Parable of the Sower
seed - word of the Kingdom
People need seeds to be thrown on them so they can grow. Soil has its time and place of readiness to accept seeds. Soil can be fertile for a few years. This can occur when major changes happen, trials pour rain upon the earth, etc. Soil also can become barren and dry.
The seed however is unchangeable. The problem is not with the seed, but with the soil. The soil cannot be changed by man, but only by the Farmer.
Sowers ought only be concerned with sewing and watering. Our hands our tied when it comes to changing the nature of the soil. When sowers understand their role in the farming process, frustration will dimmer.
SEW!
seed - word of the Kingdom
People need seeds to be thrown on them so they can grow. Soil has its time and place of readiness to accept seeds. Soil can be fertile for a few years. This can occur when major changes happen, trials pour rain upon the earth, etc. Soil also can become barren and dry.
The seed however is unchangeable. The problem is not with the seed, but with the soil. The soil cannot be changed by man, but only by the Farmer.
Sowers ought only be concerned with sewing and watering. Our hands our tied when it comes to changing the nature of the soil. When sowers understand their role in the farming process, frustration will dimmer.
SEW!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
jesus + something = worthless chatter
Too many people are dazzled by philosophical ideas and traditions. Wolves and false teachers are salivating at the door of churches waiting to kidnap weak and straying sheep. The traditions of man are foolish, and the atheistic philosophies of Darwin are bringing people to hell.
What this world needs are people who abide in Jesus. Philosophy and traditions tell you that Jesus is great, but you also need (fill in the blank) to be complete. Their argument dies quicker than an un-hatched egg, and Satan proves to be King of their ideas.
The way of truth is simple. Believe that Jesus died for your sins, he rose again (defeating the power of death and giving those who trust in Him victory over satan and his works), and seek to live as salt among the earth proclaiming the Good deeds of God.
What this world needs are people who abide in Jesus. Philosophy and traditions tell you that Jesus is great, but you also need (fill in the blank) to be complete. Their argument dies quicker than an un-hatched egg, and Satan proves to be King of their ideas.
The way of truth is simple. Believe that Jesus died for your sins, he rose again (defeating the power of death and giving those who trust in Him victory over satan and his works), and seek to live as salt among the earth proclaiming the Good deeds of God.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
John the Baptist
Are you ever fascinated by a person so much that you would love to emulate them? You probably are, and I am too. My hero, and his name is John the Baptist. This John is recognized as a man who was born to "Make straight the way of the Lord." The Bible speaks clearly about him, but other religions believe he lived also. Mormons, Muslims, Mandeans, Baha'i followers, Catholics, and even the Unification Church acknowledge his existence. We even know that Jesus calls him the "greatest man born of a woman to ever live." The famous Jewish Historian Josephus writes about him. So what makes John the Baptist special?
Here is why John is the best man alive:
1) John knew his purpose on earth was to give Jesus honor.
2) When Jesus came on the scene, John decreased his role.
3) John sacrificed his body to eat locusts and honey in order to preach the gospel continually and baptize people.
4) John rebuked the religious people of his day for their unbelief in Jesus.
5) John was a leader, but let his followers leave him in order to follow after Jesus.
6) John never claimed to be the Messiah.
7) He told people to repent of their sin.
8) John knew the role of the trinity in the works of God.
9) John died in order to preserve God's holy name and proclaim Jesus as God.
Why John would be martyred if he was alive in 2009...
1) John calls the religious people names.
2) He told a king to stop having an affair with his brothers wife.
3) He was not dressed nicely.
4) He lived in the desert.
5) He called people to repent of their sin and follow after Jesus.
6) John claimed that Jesus was the "Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." Their was no other way other than through Jesus.
John the Baptist was indeed a man who would never have survived in today's society either. Although John the Baptist was unique all Christians should crave to become more like John the Baptist. He pointed people to JESUS.
"Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world" (John 1:29).
Here is why John is the best man alive:
1) John knew his purpose on earth was to give Jesus honor.
2) When Jesus came on the scene, John decreased his role.
3) John sacrificed his body to eat locusts and honey in order to preach the gospel continually and baptize people.
4) John rebuked the religious people of his day for their unbelief in Jesus.
5) John was a leader, but let his followers leave him in order to follow after Jesus.
6) John never claimed to be the Messiah.
7) He told people to repent of their sin.
8) John knew the role of the trinity in the works of God.
9) John died in order to preserve God's holy name and proclaim Jesus as God.
Why John would be martyred if he was alive in 2009...
1) John calls the religious people names.
2) He told a king to stop having an affair with his brothers wife.
3) He was not dressed nicely.
4) He lived in the desert.
5) He called people to repent of their sin and follow after Jesus.
6) John claimed that Jesus was the "Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." Their was no other way other than through Jesus.
John the Baptist was indeed a man who would never have survived in today's society either. Although John the Baptist was unique all Christians should crave to become more like John the Baptist. He pointed people to JESUS.
"Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world" (John 1:29).
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Round 2
So our first go-around of the Bible study went great. We had round 2 last Saturday, and God brought more people! It indeed is a good thing when more people come to honestly hear about God's plan of salvation through Jesus! Their is no other name among heaven whereby man can be saved (Acts 4:12), and we acknowledge that HEAVILY!
I taught out of Romans 5:12-21. God tells us that all men are condemned because of the curse that Adam brought upon us. If you look at the 3rd page of my Bible, you will clearly see that man does not get better after disobeying God, but Adam's sons have a fight and the first has occurred. By the 6th Chapter of Genesis, God wants to annihilate mankind because their have wicked intentions in their hearts continually. By Chapter 11 man tries to make a huge tower to "make a name for ourselves", only to realize that they cannot because God kills their construction plans and scatters them throughout the earth. It was only through the a perfect sacrifice being made that man could ever receive the perfect obedience necessary to attain eternal life. Whew!
If you believe in Jesus Christ, then you have eternal salvation! Contrary to those who think God loves the world like He is hugging a teddy bear, He s sin. Those who choose to sin, enslave themselves to it, and owe God their lives in hell upon . The good news is that Jesus Christ, the perfect God-man, came to earth, died on the cross, paid our debt in full, and declared those righteous who by faith in His payment are reconciled with God.
That is our Bible Study. We are transformed people who through the gospel of Jesus Christ have been born again by the living and abiding word of God.
Blessings
I taught out of Romans 5:12-21. God tells us that all men are condemned because of the curse that Adam brought upon us. If you look at the 3rd page of my Bible, you will clearly see that man does not get better after disobeying God, but Adam's sons have a fight and the first has occurred. By the 6th Chapter of Genesis, God wants to annihilate mankind because their have wicked intentions in their hearts continually. By Chapter 11 man tries to make a huge tower to "make a name for ourselves", only to realize that they cannot because God kills their construction plans and scatters them throughout the earth. It was only through the a perfect sacrifice being made that man could ever receive the perfect obedience necessary to attain eternal life. Whew!
If you believe in Jesus Christ, then you have eternal salvation! Contrary to those who think God loves the world like He is hugging a teddy bear, He s sin. Those who choose to sin, enslave themselves to it, and owe God their lives in hell upon . The good news is that Jesus Christ, the perfect God-man, came to earth, died on the cross, paid our debt in full, and declared those righteous who by faith in His payment are reconciled with God.
That is our Bible Study. We are transformed people who through the gospel of Jesus Christ have been born again by the living and abiding word of God.
Blessings
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Soaked in the gospel
Ever read through the Matthew passage about using you bag of talents? Well, God has been prodding me into using my vision for His purpose. For over 6 months he had impressed me with the idea to begin a college group that was seeking to be centered in the Bible, worshipping the hero of the Bible, Jesus Himself.
I didn't know how this would work out, and as I continue to develop the heart to run this ministry, God ALONE works out the details. At our first meeting we had 25 people, with about 5 unbelievers mixed in. A good friend shared her story of how she "once was lost, but now was found", I taught from the Word of God, and a dear brother lead us in some music.
The message came out of Hebrews 2:5-18, which talks about the need humanity had for a human Savior. That saviour could have only been perfect, because perfect blood needed to be shed to forgive all sin. Jesus came to die as our propitiation - the appeasement of our punishment we owed God! That is rich, because each man actually has to make a payment of his life back to God. God says that either you will trust that Jesus made that payment, or you will make that payment forever in Hell. (Easy choice, right?!?!?!)
God was honored, and we are going to be meeting this coming Sat., March 14th at 7 pm in Newhall. I am eager to have him bring more unsaved to hear about the sweet name of Jesus, the Savior of the world.
I didn't know how this would work out, and as I continue to develop the heart to run this ministry, God ALONE works out the details. At our first meeting we had 25 people, with about 5 unbelievers mixed in. A good friend shared her story of how she "once was lost, but now was found", I taught from the Word of God, and a dear brother lead us in some music.
The message came out of Hebrews 2:5-18, which talks about the need humanity had for a human Savior. That saviour could have only been perfect, because perfect blood needed to be shed to forgive all sin. Jesus came to die as our propitiation - the appeasement of our punishment we owed God! That is rich, because each man actually has to make a payment of his life back to God. God says that either you will trust that Jesus made that payment, or you will make that payment forever in Hell. (Easy choice, right?!?!?!)
God was honored, and we are going to be meeting this coming Sat., March 14th at 7 pm in Newhall. I am eager to have him bring more unsaved to hear about the sweet name of Jesus, the Savior of the world.
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