Your claim to be a follower of Christ demands a different view of life. Our salvation should have an impact on the way we live. We need to manage the time God has given us.
Jesus demands are different than what the world promotes. As Christians, we are stewards of God’s grace He saved us from a destructive, self-absorbed way of thinking. We are now expressions of grace, called to be like Christ. Our life is not our own, it belongs to God. He has given us so much, but it is not meant to be used for our own benefit, but as a means to glorify him.
But we often use it to glorify ourselves. You should no longer be at the center of your universe. All that has been done for us has been done so that we may live to praise Christ. We have been bought with a price. We are called to proclaim Jesus Christ but we often poorly manage the things he gives us to carry this out.
Time is more than money. It’s a gift from God to be used to bring on and glorify his name.
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ephesians 5:1-2
We need to manage our time in light of our new identity. Live in a manner worth of your salvation.
17Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:17-24
8for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
"Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
Ephesians 5:8-16
We are to live wisely, characterized by making the best use of our time. The wise are to live their lives carefully and deliberately, paying close attention to the way he or she lives.
27Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,
Phillipians 1:27
We live in an age dominated by a power opposed to God. As Christians, we have been given a place in the place/time to come. But we need to bring out lives into conformity to God’s plan.
We should transformed by the renewing of our mind. We understand our identity. Our new goal should be to obey the will of the Lord for our lives, to be ambassadors for Christ wherever you are.
We often get so caught up in the monotony of life and schedule, we forget God.
13Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"— 14yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." 16As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
James 4:13-17
Presumptuous planning ignores the plans of God. God rules over all, directs as he sees fit. But does divine sovereignty make a different in our everyday lives? We often make plans without acknowledging God’s plan. The use of our time is often void of God. How many times are our plans frustrated? It should not make us angry though. We must yield to God. We are not our own. Our lives and time aren’t ours. We can make plans but we must make them in accordance with God’s sovereignty in our lives.
We are here to do God’s will. It is always the thing best for us as well. We are here for a little while and gone. We need to live our faith everyday in the midst of everyday plans. Don’t forget God. When you wake up realize that God has given you another day. Show the world Christ.
Don’t get caught up in the here and now.
34And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."
Mark 8:34-38
Christ came to save the lost, to redeem out of bondage to be his followers. We are to continue what Christ came to do. For those who suffer now will gain eternity; but our suffering is only temporary. Jesus is forever. Pray more out every decision pray about all you do. Prioritize you life in light of seeking first the kingdom of God.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
October 5- Introducing the Holy Spirit
Flesh still a reality in our lives. It moves our minds away from God, but God has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit to strengthen us.
Sometimes we neglect to speak of the Holy Spirit because we are often mystified or uneasy. He has frequently remained anonymous and faceless because of this. But the Holy Spirit is a mysterious, divine, third being, he is not forgotten just unknown.
To neglect to know the Holy Spirit is to neglect to see God’s power reflected in our lives. We will realize great joy, hope and peace as we understand that through the Spirit, God is always with us.
How does God dwell with us? What role does the Holy Spirit play?
We begin by looking to the Old Testament.
The Bible is the unfolding of God’s redemption of mankind, his blueprint, and the Holy Spirit exists and is active in the work of God. The Spirit is working to order what God has planned.
In the Old Testament, it was the Holy Spirit that enabled and empowered the Saints.
Genesis 41:38-41
38 So Pharaoh asked them, "Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God ?"
39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you."
Joseph in Charge of Egypt
41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt."
God uses the Holy Spirit to bring about his plan.
Deuteronomy 34:9
9And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses.
1 Samuel 16:13-14
13Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.
David in Saul’s Service
14 Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the LORD tormented him.
Psalm 51:10-12
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Judges 6:34
34But the Spirit of the LORD clothed Gideon, and he sounded the trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called out to follow him.
Micah 3:8
8But as for me, I am filled with power,
with the Spirit of the LORD,
and with justice and might,
to declare to Jacob his transgression
and to Israel his sin.
What does all this mean? There was not a permanent indwelling of the Spirit in the Old Testament. But there was a special power given to those God had selected.
How did God dwell in his people? He dwelt among them in structures such as the tabernacle and the Arc of the Covenant, as well as the Temple.
(See:Exodus 25:1-9; Exodus 25:20-22;1 Kings 8:6-14)
There was sporadic activity of Spirit in the Old Testament, but in the new covenant the sprit will dwell personally and permanently in us!
Ezekial 36:24-27
24 I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
What took place between the Old Testament and the New Testament? The coming of Christ! Christ was the mediator who enabled us to enter the new covenant.
Spirit’s ministry is seen through Christ’s ministry. (See Luke 1:15)
The Holy Spirit, the spirit of God, led Christ through the wilderness. And the Spirit of God rested upon the anointed one.
Christ sent us the Holy Spirit
John 14:17
17even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
John 16:7
7Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
John 7:37-39
37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" 39Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
The indwelling of the spirit is now being given to the Church to carry out the work of the Kingdom.
John 14:16
16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
This is the amazing truth: that those called by Christ out of darkness, who have repented have received the gift of the Holy Spirit. God dwells in us. It doesn’t have to be looked for because it dwells inside of us!
1 Corinthians 3:16
16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
Sometimes we neglect to speak of the Holy Spirit because we are often mystified or uneasy. He has frequently remained anonymous and faceless because of this. But the Holy Spirit is a mysterious, divine, third being, he is not forgotten just unknown.
To neglect to know the Holy Spirit is to neglect to see God’s power reflected in our lives. We will realize great joy, hope and peace as we understand that through the Spirit, God is always with us.
How does God dwell with us? What role does the Holy Spirit play?
We begin by looking to the Old Testament.
The Bible is the unfolding of God’s redemption of mankind, his blueprint, and the Holy Spirit exists and is active in the work of God. The Spirit is working to order what God has planned.
In the Old Testament, it was the Holy Spirit that enabled and empowered the Saints.
Genesis 41:38-41
38 So Pharaoh asked them, "Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God ?"
39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you."
Joseph in Charge of Egypt
41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt."
God uses the Holy Spirit to bring about his plan.
Deuteronomy 34:9
9And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses.
1 Samuel 16:13-14
13Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.
David in Saul’s Service
14 Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the LORD tormented him.
Psalm 51:10-12
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Judges 6:34
34But the Spirit of the LORD clothed Gideon, and he sounded the trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called out to follow him.
Micah 3:8
8But as for me, I am filled with power,
with the Spirit of the LORD,
and with justice and might,
to declare to Jacob his transgression
and to Israel his sin.
What does all this mean? There was not a permanent indwelling of the Spirit in the Old Testament. But there was a special power given to those God had selected.
How did God dwell in his people? He dwelt among them in structures such as the tabernacle and the Arc of the Covenant, as well as the Temple.
(See:Exodus 25:1-9; Exodus 25:20-22;1 Kings 8:6-14)
There was sporadic activity of Spirit in the Old Testament, but in the new covenant the sprit will dwell personally and permanently in us!
Ezekial 36:24-27
24 I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
What took place between the Old Testament and the New Testament? The coming of Christ! Christ was the mediator who enabled us to enter the new covenant.
Spirit’s ministry is seen through Christ’s ministry. (See Luke 1:15)
The Holy Spirit, the spirit of God, led Christ through the wilderness. And the Spirit of God rested upon the anointed one.
Christ sent us the Holy Spirit
John 14:17
17even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
John 16:7
7Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
John 7:37-39
37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" 39Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
The indwelling of the spirit is now being given to the Church to carry out the work of the Kingdom.
John 14:16
16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
This is the amazing truth: that those called by Christ out of darkness, who have repented have received the gift of the Holy Spirit. God dwells in us. It doesn’t have to be looked for because it dwells inside of us!
1 Corinthians 3:16
16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
Thursday, September 25, 2008
September 21 "Looking Up, Looking Forward"
Our faith is a forward looking faith, but we cannot look forward if we aren’t looking up.
The promises of God aren’t mainly of this world. Our faith is vitally connected to the hope that the things we can’t see will come.
We have tasted the sweetness of God’s saving Grace and have been reconciled to God. We have started a beautiful relationship with the God of the universe, which will reach completion when we join him.
As Christians, we have the promise of eternal life. We should be filled with hope in a time of tribulation, because this world is not our home. God’s promises aren’t of this world, so neither should our desires.
Hebrews 11:9-16
9By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. 11By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.13These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
It is the testimony of everyone who lives by faith, that we understand the promise and fulfillment of the coming of Christ.
2 Corinthians 1:20
20For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.
Philippians 3:20
20But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Faith sees the future God offers and eagerly waits for it and a forward looking faith, sees the promises of God from afar Not only do we need to see the promises of God, but we need to change our desires so that they align with God’s.
But we are in the world for a time. How do we break out of our apathy, and joyfully accept suffering? How can we understand that this world is not our own?
Present power for future possession to help us endure in this world
Hebrews 10:32-39
32But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, 33sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. 34For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. 35Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. 37For,
"Yet a little while,
and the coming one will come and will not delay;
38 but my righteous one shall live by faith,
and if he shrinks back,
my soul has no pleasure in him."
39But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
The key to impenetrable joy in face of loss is knowing and believing in a better and lasting promise to come. This lasting promise is great enough that we should rejoice in loss. Jesus has triumphed over death.
We must endure, and live by faith. As Christians, we must keep running the race, knowing that Jesus is our hope to persevere through the sufferings of this world. He is the present power that we need to aid us while we wait for our future promises.
Hebrews 12:1-2
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 10:34
34For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.
The promises of God aren’t mainly of this world. Our faith is vitally connected to the hope that the things we can’t see will come.
We have tasted the sweetness of God’s saving Grace and have been reconciled to God. We have started a beautiful relationship with the God of the universe, which will reach completion when we join him.
As Christians, we have the promise of eternal life. We should be filled with hope in a time of tribulation, because this world is not our home. God’s promises aren’t of this world, so neither should our desires.
Hebrews 11:9-16
9By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. 11By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.13These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
It is the testimony of everyone who lives by faith, that we understand the promise and fulfillment of the coming of Christ.
2 Corinthians 1:20
20For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.
Philippians 3:20
20But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Faith sees the future God offers and eagerly waits for it and a forward looking faith, sees the promises of God from afar Not only do we need to see the promises of God, but we need to change our desires so that they align with God’s.
But we are in the world for a time. How do we break out of our apathy, and joyfully accept suffering? How can we understand that this world is not our own?
Present power for future possession to help us endure in this world
Hebrews 10:32-39
32But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, 33sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. 34For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. 35Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. 37For,
"Yet a little while,
and the coming one will come and will not delay;
38 but my righteous one shall live by faith,
and if he shrinks back,
my soul has no pleasure in him."
39But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
The key to impenetrable joy in face of loss is knowing and believing in a better and lasting promise to come. This lasting promise is great enough that we should rejoice in loss. Jesus has triumphed over death.
We must endure, and live by faith. As Christians, we must keep running the race, knowing that Jesus is our hope to persevere through the sufferings of this world. He is the present power that we need to aid us while we wait for our future promises.
Hebrews 12:1-2
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 10:34
34For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
September 13 "Precious Love"- Psalm 36
Psalm 36
How Precious Is Your Steadfast Love
To the choirmaster. Of David, the servant of the LORD.
1Transgression speaks to the wicked
deep in his heart;
there is no fear of God
before his eyes.
2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes
that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
3The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit;
he has ceased to act wisely and do good.
4He plots trouble while on his bed;
he sets himself in a way that is not good;
he does not reject evil.
5Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;
your judgments are like the great deep;
man and beast you save, O LORD.
7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8They feast on the abundance of your house,
and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
9For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light do we see light.
10Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you,
and your righteousness to the upright of heart!
11Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me,
nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12There the evildoers lie fallen;
they are thrust down, unable to rise.
Psalm 36
As we come to Psalm 36 we will be able to distinguish the contrast between wicked transgressions and the love of God.
The Psalms are poems, songs, and use figures of speech to get our mind thinking. The main theme to this particular Psalm is that God is all-knowing.
Verse 1-4 provide a picture of sin and wickedness. Sin begins with the intent, what is in the heart and the unbeliever never leads his heart to Godly things. Their heart will not recognize God. Those characterized by transgressions and sin will not fear God.
The wicked will approve of their own wickedness, will attempt to smooth his actions over with himself. The sinner will flatter himself, but they will only be fooling themselves. But God is all knowing, He knows your heart and will know if inequity speaks to your heart. The wicked are characterized by total depravity. They are wicked in their heard and unable to do any good.
These verses should encourage us to look differently at people, to want to introduce them to Jesus because Jesus is the way to bring them out of this life.
The Psalm then begins to speak of the confidence we have in God. The covenant love, the steadfast love was to the Jews what God’s grace is to us. He is faithful, righteous and he is the judge. There is a stark contrast from the wicked for not only do we believe in God but we believe He is great.
This passage speaks of God’s need of a relationship with his children. Without such a relationship there is God’s judgment.
Only the gospel will satisfy your soul and bring you peace, without it there is destruction and hopelessness.
Are you characterized by a covenant, relational love of God? Or are you characterized by wickedness?
This psalm teaches us of a great example of how we shouldn’t live. We shouldn’t be marked by wickedness, without the awe and fear of God. We should never be characterized as such. Instead we must stand in awe each and every day, in each and every decision we make. It also teaches us to understand the world. When we understand, we don’t fault them for not caring about God, but rather we realize that we should care enough to show them Jesus. We need to live like those who have experienced the love of God. Lastly, we need to pray for others to see Jesus and love Him.
If God is the light and truth- we are promised that win will be cast down not to rise again. Christ conquered death and in him we find perfect love.
How Precious Is Your Steadfast Love
To the choirmaster. Of David, the servant of the LORD.
1Transgression speaks to the wicked
deep in his heart;
there is no fear of God
before his eyes.
2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes
that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
3The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit;
he has ceased to act wisely and do good.
4He plots trouble while on his bed;
he sets himself in a way that is not good;
he does not reject evil.
5Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;
your judgments are like the great deep;
man and beast you save, O LORD.
7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8They feast on the abundance of your house,
and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
9For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light do we see light.
10Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you,
and your righteousness to the upright of heart!
11Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me,
nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12There the evildoers lie fallen;
they are thrust down, unable to rise.
Psalm 36
As we come to Psalm 36 we will be able to distinguish the contrast between wicked transgressions and the love of God.
The Psalms are poems, songs, and use figures of speech to get our mind thinking. The main theme to this particular Psalm is that God is all-knowing.
Verse 1-4 provide a picture of sin and wickedness. Sin begins with the intent, what is in the heart and the unbeliever never leads his heart to Godly things. Their heart will not recognize God. Those characterized by transgressions and sin will not fear God.
The wicked will approve of their own wickedness, will attempt to smooth his actions over with himself. The sinner will flatter himself, but they will only be fooling themselves. But God is all knowing, He knows your heart and will know if inequity speaks to your heart. The wicked are characterized by total depravity. They are wicked in their heard and unable to do any good.
These verses should encourage us to look differently at people, to want to introduce them to Jesus because Jesus is the way to bring them out of this life.
The Psalm then begins to speak of the confidence we have in God. The covenant love, the steadfast love was to the Jews what God’s grace is to us. He is faithful, righteous and he is the judge. There is a stark contrast from the wicked for not only do we believe in God but we believe He is great.
This passage speaks of God’s need of a relationship with his children. Without such a relationship there is God’s judgment.
Only the gospel will satisfy your soul and bring you peace, without it there is destruction and hopelessness.
Are you characterized by a covenant, relational love of God? Or are you characterized by wickedness?
This psalm teaches us of a great example of how we shouldn’t live. We shouldn’t be marked by wickedness, without the awe and fear of God. We should never be characterized as such. Instead we must stand in awe each and every day, in each and every decision we make. It also teaches us to understand the world. When we understand, we don’t fault them for not caring about God, but rather we realize that we should care enough to show them Jesus. We need to live like those who have experienced the love of God. Lastly, we need to pray for others to see Jesus and love Him.
If God is the light and truth- we are promised that win will be cast down not to rise again. Christ conquered death and in him we find perfect love.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
September 7 "The Strategy for a Healthy Church"
9But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
Final Instructions and Greetings
12When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. 14And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.
15All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith.
Grace be with you all.
Titus 3:9-15
We have seen false doctrine spoken of in Titus and we know that he was sent to Crete to put the church back into order.
As we have gone through Titus we have seen Paul’s plan and message is deliberate and to the point, he wants the church to teach sound doctrine so that its members may be grounded in their faith and rooted in the gospel.
13This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith
Titus 1:13
A healthy church teaches sound doctrine and sound doctrine as defined in Titus 3:8 is:
8The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.
Paul urges sound doctrine to be followed so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior (Titus 2:10).
Those who preach falsely, who are not in accord with what is sound will break down the body. This cannot be and so they must be dismissed from the Christian community. Without discipline and restoration it is difficult to teach and build up the body.
First an attempt to reclaim and restore must be made because the purity of the church cannot be compromised. If there is not a restoration, then this person must be sent away. According to Paul in Titus 2:11 this person “is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned”
Everything should be done for the glory of God, making sure that we are passionate about showing God’s grace in life though good works.
Titus lays our four things that a church must do to be healthy. It must be a church committed to the centrality of scripture in our lives. God’s word is the agent of change in our lives. The word of God can have redemptive purpose in our lives. It must be committed to purity of the gospel and the church. Also, it must remain committed to God-centered relationships within the context of the community, passing on a legacy of biblical faith. Finally, the church must remain committed to grace enabled living.
Final Instructions and Greetings
12When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. 14And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.
15All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith.
Grace be with you all.
Titus 3:9-15
We have seen false doctrine spoken of in Titus and we know that he was sent to Crete to put the church back into order.
As we have gone through Titus we have seen Paul’s plan and message is deliberate and to the point, he wants the church to teach sound doctrine so that its members may be grounded in their faith and rooted in the gospel.
13This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith
Titus 1:13
A healthy church teaches sound doctrine and sound doctrine as defined in Titus 3:8 is:
8The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.
Paul urges sound doctrine to be followed so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior (Titus 2:10).
Those who preach falsely, who are not in accord with what is sound will break down the body. This cannot be and so they must be dismissed from the Christian community. Without discipline and restoration it is difficult to teach and build up the body.
First an attempt to reclaim and restore must be made because the purity of the church cannot be compromised. If there is not a restoration, then this person must be sent away. According to Paul in Titus 2:11 this person “is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned”
Everything should be done for the glory of God, making sure that we are passionate about showing God’s grace in life though good works.
Titus lays our four things that a church must do to be healthy. It must be a church committed to the centrality of scripture in our lives. God’s word is the agent of change in our lives. The word of God can have redemptive purpose in our lives. It must be committed to purity of the gospel and the church. Also, it must remain committed to God-centered relationships within the context of the community, passing on a legacy of biblical faith. Finally, the church must remain committed to grace enabled living.
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
August 31- Titus 3:108
1Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 3For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.
Titus 3:1-8
Dynamic faith rooted in the truth of the gospel should be seen in a much broader context than simply the church. God’s grace in our lives shouldn’t be seen only in church but should be shown to all.
We all struggle with authority in our lives because we don’t always like people telling us what to do. But we are to be obedient and submissive. A person who has been changed by grace should respond differently than someone who is unchanged. We are a people cleansed by Christ, but our tongue can quickly ruin our testimony. We must respond to others not on the basis of how they treat us, but with how God has treated us, forgiven us, through grace, kindness and mercy. We should be gracious to others because God is gracious to us.
The harsh reality seen Titus 3:3 is a description of the human heart without God. We lack any spiritual good in our lives, apart from Christ every part of our being is affected by sin.
How can a person dead in sin, an enemy of God ever find fellowship with God? They can’t without the great hope offered in the gospel. God provides a divine rescue from sin. Since man is dead in sin there must be an act of grace for life to be in us, an act of grace to impart new regenerating life so that we may be born again.
Our salvation is completely owed to God, not based on anything we have done.
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
John 6:63
Jesus is the appearance of the goodness and love of God. Our new birth is not a vague spiritual change, but something that connects us by faith to the crucified, risen Savior. New birth happens because Christ died for our sins and he rose again. We were saved according to his mercy. We own our new life to God’s mercy and such trustworthy doctrine should have life changing effects.
Titus 3:1-8
Dynamic faith rooted in the truth of the gospel should be seen in a much broader context than simply the church. God’s grace in our lives shouldn’t be seen only in church but should be shown to all.
We all struggle with authority in our lives because we don’t always like people telling us what to do. But we are to be obedient and submissive. A person who has been changed by grace should respond differently than someone who is unchanged. We are a people cleansed by Christ, but our tongue can quickly ruin our testimony. We must respond to others not on the basis of how they treat us, but with how God has treated us, forgiven us, through grace, kindness and mercy. We should be gracious to others because God is gracious to us.
The harsh reality seen Titus 3:3 is a description of the human heart without God. We lack any spiritual good in our lives, apart from Christ every part of our being is affected by sin.
How can a person dead in sin, an enemy of God ever find fellowship with God? They can’t without the great hope offered in the gospel. God provides a divine rescue from sin. Since man is dead in sin there must be an act of grace for life to be in us, an act of grace to impart new regenerating life so that we may be born again.
Our salvation is completely owed to God, not based on anything we have done.
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
John 6:63
Jesus is the appearance of the goodness and love of God. Our new birth is not a vague spiritual change, but something that connects us by faith to the crucified, risen Savior. New birth happens because Christ died for our sins and he rose again. We were saved according to his mercy. We own our new life to God’s mercy and such trustworthy doctrine should have life changing effects.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
ESV Study Bible Promo
I am eagerly anticipating the day when mine arrives on my doorstep. The release date is coming soon!
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