From Fear to Fellowship
II Timothy 1:3 I thank God, whom I serve from [my] forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; 4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; 5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. 6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
I. Fearful Servants Romans 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things [is] death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
A. Fear of the Damned Proverbs 10:24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.
B. Fear of the Devilish James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
C. Fear of the Delivered Proverbs 10:27 The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
D. Proverbs 19:23 The fear of the LORD [tendeth] to life: and [he that hath it] shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
II. Faithful Friends John 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
A. Condition of Friendship (commands)
B. Calling of Friendship (not earned but given)
C. Confidence of Friendship all things that I have heard
III. Fellowship Beloved Daniel 9:20 And whiles I [was] speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God; 21 Yea, whiles I [was] speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. 22 And he informed [me], and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. 23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew [thee]; for thou [art] greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.
A. Skill and Understanding (Sound Mind) II Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
B. Supplication and Unveiling (Love)
C. Steadfast and Unmoving (Power) I Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
What are you Thankful for?
What are you Thankful for?
Thanksgiving is a holiday that is celebrates being grateful. The pilgrims that came to this wonderful land but found their first winter very difficult and tragic. However, God provided for them in preparation for the next winter through the kindness and generosity of the Wampanoag Indians. The Indians taught the naive colonists about fishing, planting and hunting. With their help, the Pilgrims were ready for the winter cold. After a bountiful harvest, the Pilgrims and Wampanoag celebrated with a three day feast.
In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared a National Day of Thanksgiving. He hoped to help our country to heal after the tragic Civil War. So, he set apart the last Thursday in November, and declared, “We often forget the Source from which the blessings of fruitful years and healthful skies come. … No human wisdom hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God. … I therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States … to observe the last Thursday of November as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.”
We in our world today face the same challenges that the Pilgrims faced so long ago. For their story carries the themes of our existence. We all face a struggle to survive, whether for ourselves, our families, even in our spiritual lives. We all need help to overcome the challenges that stand in our way. And just like then, God is there to provide for our needs.
The question is, “Will we respond to life’s challenges with the same noble resolve that they did?” They responded to the harshness of the their situation with hard work. They responded with cooperation. They treated each other with kindness and compassion. But the part of the story that we most often forget is that they responded with thankfulness.
What were the Pilgrims thankful for? There were so many things. They were thankful for the Wampanoag Indians, for the harvest, for their food, and for their survival. But they were not just grateful in general. They were thankful to God in specific. They were not afraid to admit that God is the source of all blessings. He had seen them across the great ocean. He had protected them through the first heart-rending winter. He taught them about new foods through the generous Wampanoag. It was God Who provided the bountiful harvest.
If we learn anything from the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag, we should make sure that we are not just grateful, but that we are grateful to God. We need to recognize the Heavenly Father as the Giver of all good things.
We should thank God, but not just for the provision for our daily lives. More importantly, we need to acknowledge and rely on His provision for our spiritual lives. Being lost in tragedy and condemnation of our sin is worse than the horrible trials that the Pilgrims had to endure. For our sin has no remedy outside of the provision of God’s own Son Jesus Christ. However, just as God brought the Pilgrims help and salvation from harsh physical conditions, Jesus brings salvation from the absolute self destruction of man’s sin.
As the Pilgrims sat down in celebration with the Wampanoag, so Jesus wants to sit and commune with us spiritually. Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” He wants to come into your life and give you what you need most. He offers forgiveness from sin, adoption into the family of God, a home in Heaven, and escape from Hell. Most importantly, He will give you victory over sin, Satan, and your own selfish nature.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Why not call on the name of the Lord today and thank Him for all of His provision in you life? More importantly, thank God for His provision of salvation. If you want to have God’s salvation in your life, pray to God like this:
Dear Heavenly Father,
I know that I am a sinner and have disobeyed your laws. But I know that you love me and that Jesus died for me. Now, I ask you to come into my life and save me. Please, forgive me of all my sin. Please be the Lord of my life. In Jesus name, Amen.
Thanksgiving is a holiday that is celebrates being grateful. The pilgrims that came to this wonderful land but found their first winter very difficult and tragic. However, God provided for them in preparation for the next winter through the kindness and generosity of the Wampanoag Indians. The Indians taught the naive colonists about fishing, planting and hunting. With their help, the Pilgrims were ready for the winter cold. After a bountiful harvest, the Pilgrims and Wampanoag celebrated with a three day feast.
In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared a National Day of Thanksgiving. He hoped to help our country to heal after the tragic Civil War. So, he set apart the last Thursday in November, and declared, “We often forget the Source from which the blessings of fruitful years and healthful skies come. … No human wisdom hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God. … I therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States … to observe the last Thursday of November as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.”
We in our world today face the same challenges that the Pilgrims faced so long ago. For their story carries the themes of our existence. We all face a struggle to survive, whether for ourselves, our families, even in our spiritual lives. We all need help to overcome the challenges that stand in our way. And just like then, God is there to provide for our needs.
The question is, “Will we respond to life’s challenges with the same noble resolve that they did?” They responded to the harshness of the their situation with hard work. They responded with cooperation. They treated each other with kindness and compassion. But the part of the story that we most often forget is that they responded with thankfulness.
What were the Pilgrims thankful for? There were so many things. They were thankful for the Wampanoag Indians, for the harvest, for their food, and for their survival. But they were not just grateful in general. They were thankful to God in specific. They were not afraid to admit that God is the source of all blessings. He had seen them across the great ocean. He had protected them through the first heart-rending winter. He taught them about new foods through the generous Wampanoag. It was God Who provided the bountiful harvest.
If we learn anything from the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag, we should make sure that we are not just grateful, but that we are grateful to God. We need to recognize the Heavenly Father as the Giver of all good things.
We should thank God, but not just for the provision for our daily lives. More importantly, we need to acknowledge and rely on His provision for our spiritual lives. Being lost in tragedy and condemnation of our sin is worse than the horrible trials that the Pilgrims had to endure. For our sin has no remedy outside of the provision of God’s own Son Jesus Christ. However, just as God brought the Pilgrims help and salvation from harsh physical conditions, Jesus brings salvation from the absolute self destruction of man’s sin.
As the Pilgrims sat down in celebration with the Wampanoag, so Jesus wants to sit and commune with us spiritually. Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” He wants to come into your life and give you what you need most. He offers forgiveness from sin, adoption into the family of God, a home in Heaven, and escape from Hell. Most importantly, He will give you victory over sin, Satan, and your own selfish nature.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Why not call on the name of the Lord today and thank Him for all of His provision in you life? More importantly, thank God for His provision of salvation. If you want to have God’s salvation in your life, pray to God like this:
Dear Heavenly Father,
I know that I am a sinner and have disobeyed your laws. But I know that you love me and that Jesus died for me. Now, I ask you to come into my life and save me. Please, forgive me of all my sin. Please be the Lord of my life. In Jesus name, Amen.
Is Jesus Welcome for Dinner
Is Jesus Welcome for Dinner
Thanksgiving is a great holiday, but it is more than just a day to eat a lot of great food. It is a reminder of what we should be thankful for. In it, we celebrate good food, precious family, fellowship with those we love, and our priceless freedoms. It more than the meal. It is more than entertaining. It is the time to be close to those that mean the most.
In this season of visiting and eating, there is another more important meal to which you are invited. Jesus says to every man in Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” We can learn a great deal about the human condition from this short verse.
First, notice that Jesus is outside the door of the person’s heart. This is because our sins have separated between us and God. Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” man is not basically good. We have a sin nature and it will control us if we do not get the deliverance of God in our life.
The good news is that God has made a way to take away our sin. Jesus sacrificed Himself to wash away our sin. But Jesus is a gentleman. He still knocks. Like all the people coming over for the Holidays, Jesus waits at the door until we come and welcome Him in.
This is the wonderful thing about God’s salvation. God does not expect up to face the challenges of our temptations, our sins, or even just the challenges of life alone. Jesus is not satisfied to direct you from outside. No, through the Holy Spirit, He comes into your life and heart if you are willing to just open the door. He wants to see you through it all. He wants to give you power to be victorious over every addiction even if it is just the addiction to sin.
But the thing that most people miss about this verse in Revelation 3:20 is that Jesus does not only want to come in and be in our lives. He wants to have communion. This is what is meant by God’s desire to “sup” with us. He wants to have spiritual supper with us.
During the holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas, it is not just a meal that draws us to other people’s homes. It is the desire to spend time with the people we love. That is God’s desire too. He knocks at your heart’s door because He wants to come into your life. He waits for your answer, because He will not force His way in. He wants to be close to you. He wants to forgive everything that you have ever done against Him. He wants to save us all from our selves and take us to Heaven. But God’s ultimate goal is to have communion with us. He wants us to be close to Him. He wants the same communion that we crave with our families and friends during these holidays.
That is the miracle of the Gospel. Jesus offers everything that we need for complete fulfillment in our life. And just like a true gift of the holiday season, the gift of salvation is completely free. You can not buy it. It is Jesus knocking at the door of your heart. You cannot pay Him to come in. You cannot clean up your own life to make it acceptable to Him. All you can do is open the door and let Him it. He is better than your holiday guests. He wants to clean up for you and with you. You cannot make yourself acceptable to God by cleaning up your life. You cannot clean yourself up to come to God. You come to God so He can clean you up.
Jesus is knocking at the door of your life. Will you let Him in to dine with you? Is Jesus welcome in your heart? If you have never opened the door to Jesus and asked him to save you and come into life, why not pray right now a prayer like this:
Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and that has separated me from you. But You died to wash away all my sin. I hear you knocking at my heart’s door. Please come into my life and forgive all my sin. Please be the Lord of my life. In Jesus name I pray. Amen
Thanksgiving is a great holiday, but it is more than just a day to eat a lot of great food. It is a reminder of what we should be thankful for. In it, we celebrate good food, precious family, fellowship with those we love, and our priceless freedoms. It more than the meal. It is more than entertaining. It is the time to be close to those that mean the most.
In this season of visiting and eating, there is another more important meal to which you are invited. Jesus says to every man in Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” We can learn a great deal about the human condition from this short verse.
First, notice that Jesus is outside the door of the person’s heart. This is because our sins have separated between us and God. Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” man is not basically good. We have a sin nature and it will control us if we do not get the deliverance of God in our life.
The good news is that God has made a way to take away our sin. Jesus sacrificed Himself to wash away our sin. But Jesus is a gentleman. He still knocks. Like all the people coming over for the Holidays, Jesus waits at the door until we come and welcome Him in.
This is the wonderful thing about God’s salvation. God does not expect up to face the challenges of our temptations, our sins, or even just the challenges of life alone. Jesus is not satisfied to direct you from outside. No, through the Holy Spirit, He comes into your life and heart if you are willing to just open the door. He wants to see you through it all. He wants to give you power to be victorious over every addiction even if it is just the addiction to sin.
But the thing that most people miss about this verse in Revelation 3:20 is that Jesus does not only want to come in and be in our lives. He wants to have communion. This is what is meant by God’s desire to “sup” with us. He wants to have spiritual supper with us.
During the holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas, it is not just a meal that draws us to other people’s homes. It is the desire to spend time with the people we love. That is God’s desire too. He knocks at your heart’s door because He wants to come into your life. He waits for your answer, because He will not force His way in. He wants to be close to you. He wants to forgive everything that you have ever done against Him. He wants to save us all from our selves and take us to Heaven. But God’s ultimate goal is to have communion with us. He wants us to be close to Him. He wants the same communion that we crave with our families and friends during these holidays.
That is the miracle of the Gospel. Jesus offers everything that we need for complete fulfillment in our life. And just like a true gift of the holiday season, the gift of salvation is completely free. You can not buy it. It is Jesus knocking at the door of your heart. You cannot pay Him to come in. You cannot clean up your own life to make it acceptable to Him. All you can do is open the door and let Him it. He is better than your holiday guests. He wants to clean up for you and with you. You cannot make yourself acceptable to God by cleaning up your life. You cannot clean yourself up to come to God. You come to God so He can clean you up.
Jesus is knocking at the door of your life. Will you let Him in to dine with you? Is Jesus welcome in your heart? If you have never opened the door to Jesus and asked him to save you and come into life, why not pray right now a prayer like this:
Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and that has separated me from you. But You died to wash away all my sin. I hear you knocking at my heart’s door. Please come into my life and forgive all my sin. Please be the Lord of my life. In Jesus name I pray. Amen
How to Rebuild Gods House
How to Rebuild Gods House
Ezra 1:1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and [put it] also in writing, saying, 2 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which [is] in Judah. 3 Who [is there] among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which [is] in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he [is] the God,) which [is] in Jerusalem.
I. Return to Gods Place: Leave the World (Enemy was Civil Government) Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart [is] in the hand of the LORD, [as] the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
A. Rejected God’s Word
B. Ruined God’s Ways
C. Refused God’s Worship
II. Reclaim Gods Property: Lusts of the World (Enemy was Satan) Ezra 1:7 Also Cyrus the King Brought Forth the Vessels of the House of the Lord, Which Nebuchadnezzar Had Brought Forth out of Jerusalem, and Had Put Them in the House of His Gods; 8 Even Those Did Cyrus King of Persia Bring Forth by the Hand of Mithredath the Treasurer, and Numbered Them unto Sheshbazzar, the Prince of Judah.
A. Comes to steal (lust of the eyes) John 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly.
B. Comes to kill (lust of flesh)
C. Comes to destroy (pride of life)
III. Rebuild Gods Place: Love to Worship (Enemy was Scoffers) Ezra 4:1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel; 2 Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye [do]; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.
IV. Rebuild Gods People: Love Not the World (Enemy was Self) Ezra 10:10 And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel. 11 Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.
A. Depart from Sinners
B. Deny Sin I John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
C. Die to Self
October 24, 2010sn
Ezra 1:1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and [put it] also in writing, saying, 2 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which [is] in Judah. 3 Who [is there] among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which [is] in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he [is] the God,) which [is] in Jerusalem.
I. Return to Gods Place: Leave the World (Enemy was Civil Government) Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart [is] in the hand of the LORD, [as] the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
A. Rejected God’s Word
B. Ruined God’s Ways
C. Refused God’s Worship
II. Reclaim Gods Property: Lusts of the World (Enemy was Satan) Ezra 1:7 Also Cyrus the King Brought Forth the Vessels of the House of the Lord, Which Nebuchadnezzar Had Brought Forth out of Jerusalem, and Had Put Them in the House of His Gods; 8 Even Those Did Cyrus King of Persia Bring Forth by the Hand of Mithredath the Treasurer, and Numbered Them unto Sheshbazzar, the Prince of Judah.
A. Comes to steal (lust of the eyes) John 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly.
B. Comes to kill (lust of flesh)
C. Comes to destroy (pride of life)
III. Rebuild Gods Place: Love to Worship (Enemy was Scoffers) Ezra 4:1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel; 2 Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye [do]; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.
IV. Rebuild Gods People: Love Not the World (Enemy was Self) Ezra 10:10 And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel. 11 Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.
A. Depart from Sinners
B. Deny Sin I John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
C. Die to Self
October 24, 2010sn
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Keepers Missive: The Love Song of Baruchi
Here is my newest installment on the Keeper Missives. It's got bandits and murder. It's got romance and forbidden love. And it has a happy ending. It's got it all!
Keepers Missive: The Love Song of Baruchi
Keepers Missive: The Love Song of Baruchi
Saturday, October 9, 2010
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