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Monthly Archives: May 2012

Cause & Effect

05 May

Cause & Effect

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

When from deep within you begin to realize your sin, your depravity, your desire to know God and live for Him, your life changes. The Gospel teaches us that the first step into that change is the realization of that sin, and the acceptance of the free Grace that God has provided through His Son, and the desire to live for Him. Once you accept Christ as the Redeemer of your soul, your faith in Him has assured your Salvation. It is by no work or good deed that you can accomplish, it is only through that humble realization of your sin, and the debt Christ has paid for you. You now are truly seen “not guilty”, or justified in the eyes of God who demands perfection. Romans 3:27-28  Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.

True faith should and will produce good works. They go hand in hand, but the works are not the key to Salvation. The works are the product of Salvation and the proof of Christ that resides in you. Luke 6:43-44  “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. James 2 speaks of these works that are a product of the great faith that resides in us. James is speaking of how they prove our faith, but we are not justified by them. James 2:22 speaks of “works faith made perfect” and this is where James is speaking of mature and complete faith. The closer you draw to God, the stronger your faith becomes, and many times even unknowingly, you are producing good works that are evident to those around you. These works are the proof or maturity of your faith in the One whom saved your soul.

 
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Posted by on May 5, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Works based Faith vs. Faith based Works

04 May

Works based Faith vs. Faith based Works

Hebrew 6:10-12    For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

I came upon this scripture a few days ago, and it has taken me down many roads of study. At first I was thankful for the encouragement that it gave me for my “labor of love.” But as a read of how Paul was writing to argue against apostasy (the falling away of religion or belief in Christ), I have seen God take me elsewhere. As a Christian we are called to obey the commands of God. The spine is the Ten Commandments (The Law), and we are bound with faith, hope, and love as Paul preaches much. 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father. The desire to attain the law is a labor of love from deep within our soul. We cannot obtain to perfection the Law directs, but we can reside in the Grace that God has provided through the acceptance of Salvation through Christ.

Do you believe that your good deeds or even the denial of certain sins will attain you a key to Heaven? Do you believe that “at least I don’t do that”; or repentance of that earns your way into heaven? Your faith cannot reside in your works alone to earn your way into heaven. James 2:17-18 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. The Gospel teaches that the only way into Heaven is the repentance of sin, the acceptance of Christ as the only way, and the desire to let Him lead your life. This life will produce change, and that desire will produce good works by which others will see your faith. The works are simply living a life of following Gods Will and directions for your life. The commands of God are revealed to you in His Word and prayer. These produce the good works, strengthen your faith, and give you the perseverance to endure. This circle of life begins at Salvation and lasts an eternity.

 
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Posted by on May 4, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Why Pray?

03 May

Why Pray?

Matthew 6:9-13 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

This being the National Day of Prayer I hope you are spurred to spend some time with God. It would be impossible for me to unfold my thoughts on prayer in this short daily ministry. I have heard the quote “Prayer is like breathing to a Christian” – Amen! What is prayer to you? A time to ask for __________ from God? Is that the only time you approach Him is when you need something? How do you feel when that is the only time you hear from a ‘friend’? God designed you for a relationship with Him, and a key to any relationship is communication. The less we pray, the farther we are from God; for the sin of the world and ourselves tugs us away. Mark 14:38 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. That scripture is the reflection of those closest to Christ failing Him in prayer when He asked them to, because their flesh is weak.

Everyone wants to hear God speak including myself, but He does through prayer and time in His Word. Henry & Richard Blackaby have written great books and studies on Experiencing God. They speak about not asking God to bless where we are at, but asking God to take us where He is blessing. Once you begin to see God for who He is, you are naturally moved into wanting to pray and we are consistently told to pray in the Bible. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. I  have talked about my struggles with Anxiety & Depression, the place I gain my strength to fight those demons is with God in prayer and His Word. Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. Until you capture the idea of prayer, your life will remain the same, and a life without prayer is a life without God. Salvation is only gained through a repentant prayer, and that alone shows that prayer changes everything. Why should you stop there?

This is a great link with many scripture resources on prayer.
http://www.gotquestions.org/why-pray.html

 
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Posted by on May 3, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Well this is what Christ did for me……

02 May

Well this is what Christ did for me……

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

Looking back on yesterday I had the opportunity to share my faith 4 times running service calls. Four different situations, yet the result was a time of sharing faith, and sharing testimonies. We all have a story, or a testament of our life, and how Christ has worked in it. If you have received Christ into your heart, simply put your life before and after Salvation is your testimony. You have now become a testament to the power of God to save a lost soul, and the story of your life before Him, and now the changes as a result of accepting Him into your heart. Your testament should not glorify you or the past sins, but point to the power of the Cross to forgive the sinner.

Everything that has happened in your life is for a reason, and everything that has happened can be used to glorify God. Your testimony can relate to someone who stands before you on common ground, sharing the same struggles you once did. God has allowed you to go through these things to attest to the power of Him to deliver you from them. They can see the difference in you as in 1 Corinthians 1:6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you. You are now living your life as ‘before’ and ‘after’ Christ. The after is the hope and faith that resides in you that God wants you to share with those around you. They see something that makes you different, and the Spirit inside you wants you to share. Don’t be afraid to share your story, for your story is unique and written by God to share that hope that lies within you of the healing power of the blood of Jesus Christ for all sin.

 
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Posted by on May 2, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Blessed Assurance

01 May

Blessed Assurance

Hebrews 10:19-22 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

This morning I have that old hymn “Blessed Assurance” running through my head. It is a hymn of praise and peace that we all can possess upon Salvation and the realization of that being washed in His blood. I researched the word Assurance, and I believe the song may come from the verses above in Hebrews. Upon further research Wikipedia states “Assurance is a Protestant Christian doctrine that states that the inner witness of the Holy Spirit allows the justified disciple to know they are saved.” I could not put it any better. When you know why, how, and you rest on that assurance that Christ has given you for eternal forgiveness in lieu of eternal punishment of sin. Assurance brings that inner peace that you possess that cannot be taken away.

Paul was speaking to the Colossians in regards to the false preaching that had begun to creep into the churches their from the neighboring cities in Colossians 2:2-3 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Many of them were lead to believe that only “certain people” were able to attain the knowledge of God and felt left out. No lack of knowledge will every leave you out of the Kingdom of God. You will gain an understanding upon Salvation with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit who will begin to open your mind to the Scriptures, once you begin to pursue God. Once you accept Christ and truly begin to pursue Him daily, you will begin to have that assurance that the great hymn speaks of.

Here is a link to the hymn with the lyrics:

 
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Posted by on May 1, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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